January 13, 2009

160 years ago
1849

War
British forces retreated from the Sikhs in the Battle of Tooele in Punjab in the Second Anglo-Sikh War.

Canadiana
The Colony of Vancouver Island was established.

130 years ago
1879

Track and field
Ada Anderson, who had begun on December 16, 1878, completed a great feat of pedestrianism--2,700 quarter-miles in 2,700 quarter-hours--at Mozart Garden in Brooklyn, earning her $8,000.

120 years ago
1889

Born on this date
Mike Konnick. U.S. baseball player. Mr. Konnick, born Michael Aloysius Kozicky, was a catcher and shortstop with the Cincinnati Reds (1909-1910) who batted .250 with no home runs and 1 run batted in in 3 games. He played 1,573 games in 17 seasons in the minor leagues (1909-1929), managed in the minors (1925-1929), and scouted with the Philadelphia Phillies from 1961 until his death on July 9, 1971 at the age of 82.

Died on this date
Solomon Bundy, 65. U.S. politician. Mr. Bundy, a Republican, represented New York's 21st District in the United States House of Representatives from 1877-1879.

110 years ago
1899

Business
William Mackenzie and Donald Mann incorporated the Canadian Northern Railway (CNoR) after amalgamating the Winnipeg Great Northern Railway Company and the Lake Manitoba Railway and Canal Company.

80 years ago
1929

Died on this date
Wyatt Earp, 80. U.S. lawman. Mr. Earp led a colourful life with various occupations, but was best known as a law enforcement official in the American West in the 1870s and '80s. His most famous adventure occurred when he was deputy marshal of Tombstone, Arizona; he and his brothers Virgil and Morgan, along with Doc Holliday, faced off against the outlaw Cochise County Cowboys in the Gunfight at the O.K. Corral on October 26, 1881. Mr. Earp also refereed boxing matches, and was chosen to officiate the heavyweight bout between Bob Fitzsimmons and Tom Sharkey in San Francisco in 1896. Mr. Fitzsimmons was winning handily in the 8th round, when Mr. Sharkey went down, claiming to have been fouled. No one else saw the alleged low blow, but Mr. Earp awarded the bout to Mr. Sharkey, and the crowd was so outraged that Mr. Earp was forced to leave the city.

H. B. Higgins, 77. U.K.-born Australian judge and politician. Henry Bournes Higgins, a member of the Protectionist Party, was involved in state politics in Victoria before representing Northern Melbourne in the Australian House of Representatives from 1901-1906, serving as Attorney General from April-August 1904. He was appointed to the High Court of Australia in 1906, serving until his death. Mr. Higgins was also president of the Commonwealth Court of Conciliation and Arbitration from 1907-1921.

70 years ago
1939

Disasters
The Black Friday bushfires burned 20,000 square kilometres of land in Australia, claiming the lives of 71 people.

60 years ago
1949

Theatre
The musical Along Fifth Avenue, co-written by Nat Hiken, with music by Gordon Jenkins, and starring Nancy Walker, Carol Bruce, and Jackie Gleason, opened at the Broadhurst Theatre on Broadway in New York City.

War
United Nations mediator Ralph Bunche began Israeli-Egyptian armistice talks at his headquarters on the island of Rhodes.

Communist forces shelled Peking for the first time in the Chinese civil war.

Diplomacy
U.S. President Harry Truman met with U.K. Ambassador to the United States Sir Oliver Franks to discuss Middle East problems, later denying any strain on U.S.-U.K. relations.

World events
U.K. authorities ordered West German Communist Party leader Max Reimann to stand trial on charges of threatening German politicians who cooperated with the Western Allies on international control of the Ruhr.

Defense
The U.S. Army temporarily suspended conscription due to a high voluntary enlistment and anticipated financial curtailments resulting from President Truman's budget request. President Truman appointed Generals Omar Bradley and Carl Spaatz and Admiral Raymond Spruance to permanent four-star rank.

Politics and government
A Philippine electoral tribunal annulled the House of Representatives mandate of Hukbalahap guerrilla leader Luis Taruc.

Health
New findings were published in Montreal on asbestosis and the dangers of asbestos in insulation, dealing a blow to one of Quebec's major mining industries.

Economics and finance
Supreme Commander for the Allied Powers (SCAP) in Japan General Douglas MacArthur issued a directive to the Japanese government easing restrictions on foreign business investments in Japan.

The government of Prince Edward Island banned the sale and manufacture of margarine, to protect the dairy industry.

50 years ago
1959

Abominations
Rejecting protests against the execution of officials in the recently-deposed government of President Fulgencio Batista, Cuban guerrilla leader Fidel Castro pledged to keep revolutionary courts running until "all criminals of the Batista regime" were tried.

Politics and government
Belgian Prime Minister Gaston Eyskens pledged action to "organize in the Congo a democracy capable of exercising sovereignty and making decisions about its independence."

Cyprus Governor Sir Hugh Foot offered to arrange for the return to Cyprus of Archbishop Makarios if Greek Cypriots agreed to transform the current truce into "a permanent peace."

50 years ago
1969

Hit parade
#1 single in Japan (Oricon Singles Chart): Koi no Kisetsu--Pinky and the Killers (16th week at #1)

#1 single in Spain (PROMUSICAE): Those were the Days--Mary Hopkin (6th week at #1)

Canada's Top 10 (RPM)
1 Soulful Strut--Young-Holt Unlimited
2 Wichita Lineman--Glen Campbell
3 I'm Gonna Make You Love Me--Diana Ross and the Supremes & the Temptations
4 I Love How You Love Me--Bobby Vinton
5 Going Up the Country--Canned Heat
6 Hooked on a Feeling--B.J. Thomas
7 Cinnamon--Derek
8 I Heard it Through the Grapevine--Marvin Gaye
9 I Started a Joke--The Bee Gees
10 If I Can Dream--Elvis Presley

Singles entering the chart were But You Know I Love You by the First Edition (#70); I Forgot to Be Your Lover by William Bell (#81); Kum Ba Yah by Tommy Leonetti (#89); Early Morning Blues and Greens by Sue Raney (#90); This Old Heart of Mine (Is Weak for You) by Tammi Terrell (#93); I'm in Love with You by the Kasenetz-Katz Singing Orchestral Circus (#94); Kay by John Wesley Ryles I (#95); Bubble Gum Music by the Rock and Roll Dubble Bubble Trading Card Co. of Philadelphia--19141 (#97); Hello it's Me by the Nazz (#98); Untie Me by James & Bobby Purify (#99); and The Grooviest Girl in the World by the Fun and Games (#100).

Music
The album Yellow Submarine by the Beatles was released in North America on Apple Records; it contained songs by the Beatles on side 1 and instrumental music composed by George Martin for the movie on side 2. The album was released in the United Kingdom four days later.

War
More than 1,200 suspected Viet Cong were detained after a big sweep by U.S. and South Vietnamese forces on Cape Batangan.

Journalism
The Communist Party and Czech journalists settled a week-long censorship dispute, with the press agreeing to self-censorship reportedly based on controls imposed earlier by the government.

Disasters
28 of 43 passengers survived when a Scandinavian Airlines jetliner crashed in the Pacific Ocean while making its final approach to Los Angeles International Airport.

30 years ago
1979

Hit parade
#1 single in Rhodesia (Lyons Maid): Three Little Words (I Love You)--Dave Loggins (2nd week at #1)

#1 single in Italy (Hit Parade Italia): Meteor Man--D. D. Jackson

#1 single in Ireland: Y.M.C.A.--Village People

#1 single in the U.K. (BMRB): Y.M.C.A.--Village People (2nd week at #1)

Netherlands Top 10 (De Nederlandse Top 40)
1 Paradise by the Dashboard Light--Meat Loaf (3rd week at #1)
2 Y.M.C.A.--Village People
3 A Little More Love--Olivia
4 Do Ya Think I'm Sexy?--Rod Stewart
5 Stumblin' In--Suzi Quatro & Chris Norman
6 Trojan Horse--Luv'
7 Blame it on the Boogie--The Jacksons
8 Le Freak--Chic
9 Mary's Boy Child/Oh My Lord--Boney M.
10 Giving Up, Giving In--The Three Degrees

Singles entering the chart were Hey Joe by Pussycat (#27); September by Earth, Wind & Fire (#29); How You Gonna See Me Now by Alice Cooper (#32); Hold the Line by Toto (#35); and Ik Ben Verliefd Op John Travolta by Sandy (#36).

U.S.A. Top 10 (Billboard)
1 Too Much Heaven--Bee Gees (2nd week at #1)
2 Le Freak--Chic
3 My Life--Billy Joel
4 You Don't Bring Me Flowers--Barbra & Neil
5 Hold the Line--Toto
6 Sharing the Night Together--Dr. Hook
7 Y.M.C.A.--Village People
8 Ooh Baby Baby--Linda Ronstadt
9 (Our Love) Don't Throw It All Away--Andy Gibb
10 Promises--Eric Clapton and his Band

Singles entering the chart were You Make Me Feel (Mighty Real) by Sylvester (#85); Take That to the Bank by Shalamar (#87); I Go to Rio by Pablo Cruise (#88); Run Home Girl by Sad Cafe (#89); and Superman by Herbie Mann (#90).

U.S.A. Top 10 (Cash Box)
1 Le Freak--Chic (5th week at #1)
2 Too Much Heaven--Bee Gees
3 My Life--Billy Joel
4 You Don't Bring Me Flowers--Barbra & Neil
5 Y.M.C.A.--Village People
6 Hold the Line--Toto
7 September--Earth, Wind & Fire
8 Ooh Baby Baby--Linda Ronstadt
9 Sharing the Night Together--Dr. Hook
10 (Our Love) Don't Throw it All Away--Andy Gibb

Singles entering the chart were Heaven Knows by Donna Summer with Brooklyn Dreams (#73); Lady by the Little River Band (#84); Crazy Love by Poco (#85); and Not Fade Away by Tanya Tucker (#97).

Canada's top 10 (RPM)
1 Le Freak--Chic
2 Too Much Heaven--Bee Gees
3 Y.M.C.A.--Village People
4 My Life--Billy Joel
5 I Just Wanna Stop--Gino Vannelli
6 You Don't Bring Me Flowers--Barbra & Neil
7 I Love the Night Life (Disco 'round)--Alicia Bridges
8 Promises--Eric Clapton and his Band
9 Sharing the Night Together--Dr. Hook
10 (Our Love) Don't Throw it All Away--Andy Gibb

Singles entering the chart were Blue Morning, Blue Day by Foreigner (#86); Sing for the Day by Styx (#89); I Will Survive by Gloria Gaynor (#91); No Tell Lover by Chicago (#92); Storm by Santana (#93); I Don't Know if it's Right by Evelyn "Champagne" King (#94); Baby I'm Burnin' by Dolly Parton (#95); Get Down by Gene Chandler (#96); Silver Lining by Player (#98); Good Lovin' by the Grateful Dead (#99); and Take it Any Way You Want It by the Outlaws (#100).

Died on this date
Marjorie Lawrence, 71. Australian-born U.S. singer. Miss Lawrence was a soprano who was best known for performing operas by Richard Wagner. She moved to the United States in the mid-1930s; she was struck by polio in 1941, but continued her career, performing while seated, until 1952.

Donny Hathaway, 33. U.S. singer and musician. Mr. Hathaway was known for his duets with Roberta Flack. The Grammy Award-winning Where is the Love hit #1 on the Billboard R&B chart in 1972, and #5 on the Hot 100; The Closer I Get to You was a #1 R&B and #2 pop hit in 1978. On January 13, 1979, Mr. Hathaway had dinner at Miss Flack's New York apartment with his manager, David Franklin, and then returned to his room on the 15th floor of the Essex Hotel. His body was found on the ground directly below the window (the safety glass had been removed, and Mr. Hathaway's death was ruled a suicide. He had battled paranoid schizophrenia for much of the 1970s, and was said to be fascinated with suicide.

Terrorism
Israeli troops killed three Palestinian guerrillas as they attempted to take over a hotel with 230 guests in the northern Israeli town of Maalot.

Hockey
NHL
Buffalo 2 @ Montreal 5
Toronto 4 Colorado 2

Football
NCAA
Senior Bowl
South 41 North 21

Olympia Challenge Bowl
Pac-10 36 Big 8 23

25 years ago
1984

Hit parade
#1 single in New Zealand (RIANZ): Uptown Girl--Billy Joel (6th week at #1)

#1 single in West Germany (Media Control): Jenseits von Eden--Nino de Angelo (3rd week at #1)

Economics and finance
The United States Labor Department reported that prices paid by producers for finished goods had risen just 0.6% in 1983. A sharp decline in energy prices had helped to produce the smallest increase since 1964. The U.S. Federal Reserve Board reported that industrial production averaged 6.5% higher in 1983 than in 1982.

20 years ago
1989

Hit parade
#1 single in West Germany (Media Control): First Time--Robin Beck

Died on this date
Ray Morehart, 89. U.S. baseball player. Mr. Morehart was a shortstop and second baseman with the Chicago White Sox (1924, 1926) and New York Yankees (1927), batting .269 with 1 home run and 49 runs batted in in 177 games. On August 31, 1926, he set a major league record, since tied, with 9 hits in a doubleheader. Mr. Morehart was with the Yankee team that's regarded as the greatest team in major league history; he didn't play in their four-game World Series sweep of the Pittsburgh Pirates, but was on their active roster. He batted .287 with 32 homers in 1,192 games in 10 seasons in the minor leagues from 1922-1933. Mr. Morehart died in his rocking chair of an apparent heart attack.

Scandal
Judge Gerhard Gesell dismissed two of the counts against former U.S. National Security Council staff member Lieutenant Colonel Oliver North in connection with the Iran-Contra arms-for-hostages scandal, saying the court was "totally powerless" to pursue them. Lt. Col. North had contended that he needed thousands of pages of government documents to defend himself against charges that he had conspired to defraud the U.S. government and had stolen government property, but the administration of President Ronald Reagan had refused to provide some of the secret documents, citing national security. Prosecutor Lawrence Walsh had moved on January 5 to dismiss the two charges.

Crime
Bernhard H. Goetz, who in 1984 had shot four youths whom he said were about to rob him on a New York City subway train, was sentenced to one year in prison for possessing an unlicensed gun that he used in the incident.

Economics and finance
The United States Labor Department reported that prices paid by producers for finished goods had risen 4% for all of 1988.

Hockey
NHL
Washington 5 Edmonton 3

10 years ago
1999

Weather
To the amusement of Canadians elsewhere, Toronto called in the Canadian Army to help dig its way out of the "Snowstorm of the Century;" the city had a total 118.4 centimetres (over 46 inches) during the month of January.

Football
CFL
Don Matthews was named head coach of the Edmonton Eskimos, replacing the departed Kay Stephenson. Mr. Matthews had begun his professional coaching career with the Eskimos as an assistant to Hugh Campbell from 1977-1982, winning Grey Cup rings in the last five seasons. He became head coach of the British Columbia Lions in 1983, and won a Western Division title that year, and the Grey Cup in 1985. After being fired late in the 1987 season, Mr. Matthews returned to the Eskimos as an assistant coach under Joe Faragalli in 1989, then became head coach of the Toronto Argonauts in 1990. After that season he was head coach for a season with Orlando in the World League of American Football, then returned to the Canadian Football League as head coach of the Saskatchewan Roughriders, replacing John Gregory midway through 1991. In 1994 Mr. Matthews became head coach of the expansion Baltimore Football Club, leading them to the Eastern Division title that year, and coaching the team (renamed the Stallions) to a Grey Cup title in 1995. He returned to Toronto in 1996, winning Grey Cups that year and in 1997, thus becoming the only man to coach Grey Cup winners in consecutive years with different teams. When quarterback Doug Flutie left the Argonauts for the NFL in 1998, the Argonauts dropped to 9-9, and lost the Eastern semi-final. The return of Don Matthews to the Eskimos seemed to promise a return to the glory days of 20 years earlier. Unfortunately, such was not to be.