February 4, 2009

840 years ago
1169

Disasters
A strong earthquake struck the Ionian coast of Sicily, causing tens of thousands of injuries and deaths, especially in Catania.

220 years ago
1789

Politics and government
George Washington and John Adams were elected President and Vice President, respectively, of the United States of America. Mr. Washington was unopposed for the presidential nomination and received a unanimous vote from the 69 electors.

150 years ago
1859

Literature
The Codex Sinaiticus, one of the four great ancient handwritten copies of the Greek Bible, was shown to German scholar Constantin von Tischendorf on a visit to Saint Catherine's Monastery in the Sinai Peninsula.

130 years ago
1879

Politics and government
The Conservative Party, led by Premier William Sullivan, won a third consecutive majority in the Prince Edward Island provincial election, taking 24 of 30 seats in the House of Assembly, with the remaining 6 seats going to the Liberals, led by L.H. Davies. In the most recent election, in 1876, the Conservatives had won 15 seats, with the Liberals taking 7.

110 years ago
1899

War
The Philippine–American War began with the Battle of Manila.

Hockey
CAHL
Quebec (0-5) 4 @ Montreal Shamrocks (3-1) 13
Montreal Victorias (3-1) 7 @ Ottawa (2-2) 5

Harry Trihey scored 10 goals for the Shamrocks as they routed Quebec.

70 years ago
1939

Transportation
Toronto Island Airport opened.

60 years ago
1949

On television tonight
Your Show Time, hosted and narrated by Arthur Shields, on NBC
Tonight's episode: Mademoiselle Fifi, starring Jay Adler, Roman Bohnen, Tanis Chandler, and Hurd Hatfield

War
Greek Communist radio announced the replacement of General Markos Vafiades as guerrilla leader by Party General Secretary Nicholas Zachariades.

World events
Iranian Shah Mohammed Reza Pahlevi was shot and wounded by reporter Fakhr Raiee, who was beaten to death by the crowd and the Shah's guards.

Testifying at his treason trial in Budapest, Josef Cardinal Mindszenty denied that his confession had been forced by torture or drugs, and retracted a pre-trial statement repudiating any confession he might make. The U.K. and U.S.A. protested the exclusion of their observers from the trial, claiming that this violated the Hungarian peace treaty.

Crime
The third week of the trial of 11 accused Communists in a U.S. federal court in New York ended without a jury being chosen, as Judge Harold Medina charged defense lawyers with "stalling" and attempting to wear him down.

Aviation
The U.S. Civil Aeronautics Administration authorized commercial planes to use ground-controlled approach radar as a "primary aid" for landings in bad weather.

50 years ago
1959

Died on this date
Una O'Connor, 78. U.K.-born U.S. actress. Miss O'Connor, born Agnes Teresa McGlade in Belfast, began her career on stage in Ireland before moving to England before moving to the United States in the 1930s. She was a character actress best known for her comic portrayals of servants in plays, television programs, and movies such as The Invisible Man (1933); Bride of Frankenstein (1935); and Witness for the Prosecution (1957). Miss O'Connor died after suffering from a congenital heart condition.

War
General E.L.M. Burns of Canada resigned as United Nations Emergency Force commander and was replaced by General Prem Singh Gyani of India. The force had been in place in the Middle East since the Suez Crisis of 1956.

World events
The Iraqi Military Supreme Court sentenced three leading officials of the overthrown regime of King Faisal to death for murder, torture, and election fraud.

Politics and government
Spanish dictator Generalissimo Francisco Franco indicated that he would not permit restoration of the Spanish monarchy during his lifetime.

Protest
The Federation of Havana University Students, led by Major Jose Puente Blanco, seized Havana University and announced that all professors who had collaborated with the overthrown regime of President Fulgencio Batista would be fired.

Business
The U.S. Justice Department served a subpoena on General Motors officials in New York, disclosing that it had ordered a far-reaching grand jury investigation of the firm on possible charges of anti-trust violations.

40 years ago
1969

Hit parade
#1 single in Switzerland (Swiss Hitparade): Ob-La-Di, Ob-La-Da--The Beatles (2nd week at #1)

Terrorism
Yasser Arafat took over as chairman of the Palestine Liberation Organization.

Defense
U.S. Representative L. Mendel Rivers (Democrat--South Carolina) told Defense Secretary Melvin Laird that Congress would not authorize the Sentinel anti-ballistic missile system without a "definitive statement" of approval by the administration of President Richard Nixon.

Academia
The faculty of Harvard University voted to drop academic standing for Reserve Officers Training Corps, to strip its instructors of the title of professor, and to relegate ROTC to an extra-curricular activity.

Economics and finance
French President Charles de Gaulle and U.K. Ambassador to France Christopher Soames held a secret meeting to discuss possible British membership in the European Economic Community.

Disasters
At least 28 travelling atop a train were killed when swept off Coleron River bridge girders in Tamil Nadu, India.

Baseball
Three months after firing former U.S. Air Force General William Eckert as Commissioner, major league owners settled on Bowie Kuhn, their chief legal counsel, to replace him.

30 years ago
1979

Hit parade
#1 single in New Zealand (RIANZ): Le Freak--Chic (2nd week at #1)

#1 single in Switzerland: Y.M.C.A.--Village People (3rd week at #1)

Hockey
NHL
Minnesota 6 Toronto 4

25 years ago
1984

Hit parade
#1 single in Italy (FIMI): La Donna Cannone--Francesco De Gregori (5th week at #1)

#1 single in Flanders (VRT Top 30): Love of the Common People--Paul Young

#1 single in the Netherlands (De Nederlandse Top 40): Love of the Common People--Paul Young (2nd week at #1)

#1 single in Ireland (IRMA): A Rockin' Good Way--Shakin' Stevens and Bonnie Tyler

#1 single in the U.K.: Relax--Frankie Goes to Hollywood (2nd week at #1)

#1 single in the U.S.A. (Billboard): Karma Chameleon--Culture Club

U.S.A. top 10 (Cash Box)
1 Karma Chameleon--Culture Club
2 Break My Stride--Matthew Wilder
3 Owner of a Lonely Heart--Yes
4 Talking in Your Sleep--The Romantics
5 I Guess That's Why They Call it the Blues--Elton John
6 Joanna--Kool & The Gang
7 Jump--Van Halen
8 Think of Laura--Christopher Cross
9 Running with the Night--Lionel Richie
10 That's All--Genesis

Singles entering the chart were Thriller by Michael Jackson (#24); The Language of Love by Dan Fogelberg (#69); Back Where You Belong by 38 Special (#75); Red Red Wine by UB40 (#78); Tender Years by John Cafferty and the Beaver Brown Band (#84); You Make My Heart Beat Faster (And That’s All That Matters) by Kim Carnes (#86); Come Back and Stay by Paul Young (#87); She was Hot by the Rolling Stones (#89); Breaking Up is Hard on You (Don’t Take Ma Bell Away From Me) by American Comedy Network (#96); and Electric Kingdom by Twilight 22 (#98).

Canada's top 10 (RPM)
1 Karma Chameleon--Culture Club (3rd week at #1)
2 Owner of a Lonely Heart--Yes
3 Talking in Your Sleep--The Romantics
4 Red Red Wine--UB40
5 Major Tom (Coming Home)--Peter Schilling
6 Say Say Say--Paul McCartney and Michael Jackson
7 Twist of Fate--Olivia Newton-John
8 Break My Stride--Matthew Wilder
9 I Guess That's Why They Call it the Blues--Elton John
10 Union of the Snake--Duran Duran

Singles entering the chart were Freak-A-Zoid by Midnight Star (#44); Let the Music Play by Shannon (#46); Joanna by Kool & The Gang (#48); Got a Hold on Me by Christine McVie (#49); and Just One More Time by the Headpins (#50).

20 years ago
1989

Hit parade
#1 single in Italy (FIMI): C'è da spostare una macchina--Francesco Salvi (8th week at #1)

#1 single in Flanders (Ultratop 50): Can't Stay Away from You--Gloria Estefan and Miami Sound Machine

#1 single in the Netherlands (De Nederlandse Top 40): Tonight--Tina Turner and David Bowie (2nd week at #1)

#1 single in France (SNEP): High--David Hallyday (5th week at #1)

#1 single in the U.K. (BMRB): Something's Gotten Hold of My Heart--Marc Almond featuring Gene Pitney (2nd week at #1)

U.S.A. Top 10 (Billboard)
1 When I'm with You--Sheriff
2 Straight Up--Paula Abdul
3 When the Children Cry--White Lion
4 Born to Be My Baby--Bon Jovi
5 Wild Thing--Tone Loc
6 Armageddon It--Def Leppard
7 The Way You Love Me--Karyn White
8 Don't Rush Me--Taylor Dayne
9 All This Time--Tiffany
10 Two Hearts--Phil Collins

Singles entering the chart were Eternal Flame by the Bangles (#56); Thinking of You by SaFire (#80); Tell Her by Kenny Loggins (#85); 24/7 by Dino (#86); Fading Away by Will to Power (#90); We've Saved the Best for Last by Kenny G (vocal by Smokey Robinson) (#92); Sincerely Yours by Sweet Sensation (with Romeo J.D.) (#93); and Got it Made by Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young (#96).

U.S.A. top 10 (Cash Box)
1 When I'm with You--Sheriff
2 Straight Up--Paula Abdul
3 Armageddon It--Def Leppard
4 Born to Be My Baby--Bon Jovi
5 The Way You Love Me--Karyn White
6 When the Children Cry--White Lion
7 Wild Thing--Tone Loc
8 All This Time--Tiffany
9 Holding On--Steve Winwood
10 Don't Rush Me--Taylor Dayne

Singles entering the chart were Feels So Good by Van Halen (#60); Eternal Flame by the Bangles (#63); She Won't Talk to Me by Luther Vandross (#66); Superwoman by Karyn White (#71); Bring Down the Moon by Boy Meets Girl (#75); End of the Line by the Traveling Wilburys (#78); We've Saved the Best for Last by Kenny G (vocal by Smokey Robinson) (#80); Sing by Mickey Thomas (#85); Into You by Giant Steps (#88); and Second Chance by Thirty Eight Special (#92). Sing was the title song from the movie, which didn't open in theatres until March 31.

Died on this date
Kenneth "Jethro" Burns, 68. U.S. comedian and musician. Mr. Burns, a country and jazz mandolinist, performed with Henry "Homer" Haynes as the country music comedy duo Homer and Jethro from 1936 until Mr. Haynes' death from a heart attack on August 8, 1971, 11 days after his 51st birthday. The duo recorded more than 50 albums, and won a Grammy Award in 1959 for Best Comedy Performance – Musical for The Battle of Kookamonga, a spoof of Johnny Horton's hit The Battle of New Orleans. They were inducted as a duo into the Country Music Hall of Fame in 2001. Mr. Burns performed with guitarist Ken Eidson as Homer for some time after Mr. Haynes' death, and also toured and performed with folk musician Steve Goodman. Mr. Burns died of prostate cancer.

Health
Canadian Transport Minister Benoît Bouchard announced a smoking ban on commercial flights between Canadian cities as part of the Non-Smokers' Health Act; the ban was expanded to include international flights in 1990.

Hockey
NHL
New York Rangers 5 @ Montreal 7

Guy Lafleur, who had starred with the Canadiens from 1971-1984 before retiring, played his first game at the Montreal Forum since coming out of retirement to join the Rangers for the 1988-89 season. He scored 2 goals and received more than one standing ovation from the Montreal fans, but the Canadiens came back from a 5-2 deficit to win in Hockey Night in Canada's national telecast.





10 years ago
1999

Died on this date
Amadou Diallo, 22. African-born crime victim. Mr. Diallo, an unarmed African immigrant with no criminal record, was killed when he was struck by 19 of 41 shots fired by four New York City police officers. The police had been looking for a rape suspect when they encountered Mr. Diallo in the vestibule of his Bronx apartment building. Lawyers for the officers said that they had fired at Mr. Diallo because they thought he was reaching for a gun.

Scandal
In the impeachment trial of President Bill Clinton, the United States Senate voted 70-30 to reject a proposal by House of Representatives impeachment managers to have former White House intern Monica Lewinsky testify in person before the Senate itself. The managers did not seek to have White House advisors Vernon Jordan or Sidney Blumenthal called to testify directly, but the Senate voted 62-38 to let the managers show the videotaped depositions of Mr. Jordan and Mr. Blumenthal to the Senate.