December 12, 2008

Born on this date
Happy Birthday, Robb Findlay!

250 years ago
1758

Disasters
The U.K. transport ship Violet, carrying Acadians from Ile St. Jean (now Prince Edward Island) to France, sank in a storm in the North Atlantic Ocean, with the loss of all 280-400 people aboard. Since the ship's departure on November 25, 90 passengers had already died because of the horrible conditions. Another transport ship, the Duke William, which witnessed the sinking of the Violet, sank the next day, with the loss of over 360 lives.

225 years ago
1783

Journalism
William Lewis and John Ryan published the first newspaper in New Brunswick, the Royal Saint John Gazette and Nova Scotian Intelligencer.

150 years ago
1858

Died on this date
Jacques Viger, 71. Canadian archaeologist and politician. Mr. Viger, a native of Montréal, served as the city's first Mayor from 1833-1836. He had a great reputation as an archaeologist, and founded the Historical Society of Montreal.

Economics and finance
The Province of Canada released its first decimal 1¢, 5¢, 10¢ and 20¢ coins; only 421,000 cents, struck at the Royal Mint in England, were ready for circulation.

125 years ago
1883

Energy
Canadian Pacific Railway crews digging for water struck natural gas at Langevin, Northwest Territories, west of Medicine Hat in present-day Alberta.

90 years ago
1918

Europeana
The Flag of Estonia was raised atop the Pikk Hermann in Tallinn for the first time.

Sport
The National Palestra of Canada's National Amateur Athletic Association, on Rue Cherrier in Montreal, opened its doors for the first time. The building housed the modern equipment needed to develop advanced athletes, with facilities for swimming, fencing, gymnastics, boxing, wrestling, and other sports. The National Palestra was officially inaugurated on January 19, 1919.

75 years ago
1933

Hockey
NHL
Irvine "Ace" Bailey of the Toronto Maple Leafs suffered a career-ending and near-fatal fractured skull when he was hit by Boston Bruins' defenceman Eddie Shore in a game at Maple Leaf Gardens. Mr. Bailey had won the Art Ross Trophy in 1928-29 as the league's leading scorer. He was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame in 1975.

70 years ago
1938

Died on this date
James McNeill, 69. Governor-General of the Irish Free State, 1928-1932. Mr. McNeill served in the Provisional Government under Michael Collins, and helped to draft the Constitution of the Irish Free State. He resigned as Governor-General a month before his intended retirement after clashing with Executive Council President Éamon de Valera, and died in London.

Politics and government
Camilien Houde was re-elected Mayor of Montréal.

Religion
Al Rashid Mosque, the first mosque in western Canada, opened in Edmonton.

60 years ago
1948

On the radio
The New Adventures of Sherlock Holmes, starring John Stanley and George Spelvin (Wendell Holmes), on MBS
Tonight's episode: London Tower

War
Chinese Communist forces drove on the Nationalist capital of Nanking, approaching within 50 miles of the city.

Abominations
During the Malayan Emergency, 14 members of the Scots Guards stationed in Batang Kali, Malaya allegedly massacred 24 unarmed civilians and set fire to the village. No charges were ever brought against the perpetrators, whose training hadn't involved the laws of war.

Diplomacy
The United Nations General Assembly accepted the recommendation of its Political Committee by voting to recognize South Korea as the legitimate Korean government, declaring that the May 1948 UN-observed election had been free and democratic.

Pope Pius XII bestowed his "affectionate blessing" on the Spanish government of Generalissimo Francisco Franco as he received Joaquin Ruiz Jimenez Cortes, the new Spanish Ambassador to the Vatican.

The Council of Scholars of Cairo's El Azhar University, the highest spiritual authority in the Muslim world, warned King Abdullah of Transjordan against taking control of Arab Palestine.

Communications
U.S.S.R. authorities allowed partial resumption of mail deliveries between West Berlin and Soviet-occupied Germany.

Economics and finance
The U.S.S.R. and Italy signed a one-year trade agreement providing for a $50-million exchange of goods, and Soviet confiscation of Italian property in Eastern Europe as part of Italy's World War II reparations debt to the U.S.S.R.

Business
The Saskatchewan Roughriders of the Western Interprovincial Football Union reported a record turnover of $70,000 for 1948, with a balance of $5,000. Stacks Tibbits was elected to succeed Jack Rowand as club president.

Sport
NCAA
The University of Michigan was admitted to the Western Collegiate Athletic Conference, which became the "Big 10."

Football
AAFC
East Division Playoff
Buffalo 28 @ Baltimore 17

The Bills and Colts had finished the regular season tied for first place in the East Division with records of 7-7, necessitating a playoff. 27,327 fans at Babe Ruth Stadium saw the Colts go into the 4th quarter with a 17-7 lead, but Buffalo quarterback George Ratterman completed a 66-yard touchdown pass to Bill Gompers early in the 4th quarter, with convert making the score 17-14. A few minutes later, Buffalo halfback Chet Mutryn took a few steps and fumbled after catching a pass and Baltimore recovered, but the play was ruled an incomplete pass, and Buffalo kept possession of the ball. Six plays later, Mr. Ratterman completed a 35-yard pass to Al Baldwin for what turned out to be the winning touchdown. The Bills won the right to go to Cleveland to meet the 14-0 Browns for the All-America Football Conference championship on December 19.

50 years ago
1958

Hit parade
#1 single in the U.K. (New Musical Express): Hoots Mon--Lord Rockingham's XI (3rd week at #1)

Died on this date
Albert Walsh, 58. Canadian politician and judge. Sir Albert represented Harbour Main in the Newfoundland House of Assembly (1928-1932), and served as Speaker of the House. After losing his seat in the 1932 election, he served as district magistrate for Grand Falls and Cornerbrook. Sir Albert was appointed Commissioner of Home Affairs and Education in 1944 and Justice of Defense in 1947. He was Newfoundland's first Lieutenant Governor upon the province's entry into Confederation, serving from April 1-September 15, 1949. Sir Albert resigned his vice-regal post to become Newfoundland's Chief Justice.

Diplomacy
The U.S.A., U.S.S.R., and U.K. approved a draft treaty article providing for the creation of a control commission, a detection system, and staff to oversee a nuclear test ban agreement.

The United Nations General Assembly approved a 37-nation resolution denouncing "the continued refusal" of the U.S.S.R. and Hungary to cooperate with the UN Special Commission on Hungary.

Politics and government
Economist Paul Delouvrier was named to replace General Raoul Salan as French Prime Minister Charles de Gaulle's designate-general in Algeria, ending the French Army's military rule in the territory.

The Cuban government of President Fulgencio Batista again extended for 45 days the national state of emergency.

Bowling
Ed Lubanski of Detroit won the men's world championship in Chicago, with first prize money of $5,000.

40 years ago
1968

On television tonight
Dragnet 1969, on NBC
Tonight's episode: Internal Affairs: DR-20



Died on this date
Tallulah Bankhead, 66. U.S. actress. After an unsuccessful attempt at a Broadway career, Miss Bankhead made a name for herself on the London stage in the 1920s. Returning to America in the early 1930s, she appeared in 13 Broadway productions between 1933-1949, including starring roles in Dark Victory (1934); Rain (1935); Antony and Cleopatra (1937); The Little Foxes (1939); Clash by Night (1941); and Private Lives (1948). Miss Bankhead's best known film role was in Alfred Hitchcock's Lifeboat (1944).

Politics and government
Ernest Manning officially retired as Premier of Alberta after 25 1/2 years as the best Premier the province ever had. He was succeeded by Municipal Affairs Minister Harry Strom, who had been elected leader of the Social Credit Party of Alberta at the party's leadership convention six days earlier.

Italian Prime Minister-designate Mariano Rumor, leader of the Christian Democratic Party, announced the formation of a 20-member centre-left coalition cabinet of Christian Democrats, Socialists, and Republicans, which, he said, would seek reforms to mitigate the student and worker unrest in the country. Mr. Rumor and his cabinet took office the next day.

Medicine
Dr. Henry K. Beecher of Harvard University Medical School asserted that the best definition of death was based on "irreversible brain death," describing it as "when the individual shows no responsiveness or awareness of any kind, no movement or spontaneous breathing and no reflex activity."

30 years ago
1978

On television tonight
The Paper Chase, on CBS
Tonight's episode: Bell's in Love

Died on this date
Fay Compton, 84. U.K. actress. Miss Compton, born Virginia Lilian Emmeline Compton-Mackenzie, was a member of a large acting family. She was best known as a stage actress, especially in plays by J.M. Barrie, including the first London production of Mary Rose (1920). Miss Compton's films included Odd Man Out (1947) and Othello (1952).

Protest
Two days of demonstrations against Shah Mohammed Reza Pahlevi in Isfahan, Iran's second-largest city, concluded with at least 50 people killed and 500 injured.

25 years ago
1983

Hit parade
#1 single in Australia (Kent Music Report): Islands in the Stream--Kenny Rogers with Dolly Parton

Terrorism
Six bombings in Kuwait killed 7 people and injured more than 60.

20 years ago
1988

Hit parade
#1 single in Australia (Australian Music Report): Don't Worry Be Happy--Bobby McFerrin (5th week at #1)

#1 single in Spain (PROMUSICAE): Nothing's Gonna Change My Love For You--Glenn Medeiros (4th week at #1)

Business
The Canadian Football League approved the sale of the Toronto Argonauts from Carling O'Keefe breweries to Harry Ornest. The CFL extended its television broadcasting agreement with the Canadian Football Network through 1990.

Disasters
35 people were killed and 100 injured in the collision of three trains at Clapham Junction, south London.

Football
CFL
Roy McMurtry was appointed Chairman-Chief Executive Officer and Bill Baker President-Chief Operating Officer of the Canadian Football League. CFL game rosters were to consist of 20 non-imports, 14 imports and 2 quarterbacks.

NCAA
Army 20 Navy 15 @ Veterans Stadium, Philadelphia

10 years ago
1998

Died on this date
Mo Udall, 76. U.S. politician. Mr. Udall, a Democrat, represented Arizona's 2nd District in the U.S. House of Representatives from 1961-1991; he was initially elected to replace his older brother Stewart, who had resigned to accept the position of U.S. Secretary of the Interior. Mo Udall was Chairman of the House Interior Committee from 1977-1991, and was known for his support for conserving the environment. He ran unsuccessfully for the Democratic Party U.S. presidential nomination in 1976. Mr. Udall developed Parkinson's disease in 1980, and its increasing effects eventually led him to retire.

Politics and government
The U.S. House of Representatives Judiciary Committee approved a fourth article of impeachment against President Bill Clinton and submitted the case to the full House.