February 8, 2009

300 years ago
1709

Died on this date
Giuseppe Torelli, 50. Italian composer. Mr. Torelli was the most prolific Baroque composer for trumpets, and contributed to the development of the concerto for strings and continuo.

170 years ago
1839

War
U.S. and New Brunwick loggers clashed in the Aroostook lumber war, sometimes called "the Pork and Beans War," in the disputed territory of Madawaska, over an undefined boundary with Maine along the St. Croix River. Maine and New Brunswick called out the militia, Nova Scotia passed an appropriation for defense, and British troops were called from Halifax to guard the border, while the U.S. Congress voted $10 million to raise a force of 50,000 men if needed. On March 25, Lieutenant-Governor Sir John Harvey and General Winfield Scott arranged a temporary truce, to be settled by international arbitration. The border was eventually settled by the Webster-Ashburton Treaty signed on August 9, 1842.

160 years ago
1849

Died on this date
François Habeneck, 68. French composer and conductor. Mr. Habeneck was joint First Conductor of the Paris Opera from 1824-1831 and its sole First Conductor from 1831-1846; he was Principal conductor of the Orchestre de la Société des Concerts du Conservatoire from 1828-1848. Mr. Habeneck composed two concertos, works for violin, and several songs. He died 17 days after his 68th birthday.

130 years ago
1879

World events
In a lecture to the Royal Canadian Institute in Toronto, Sandford Fleming first proposed the adoption of Universal Standard Time, by dividing the world into 24 equal time zones, with standard time within each zone; in lecture at the Canadian Institute in Toronto; idea adopted by North American railways four years later, and by 24 countries at a conference in 1884.

Protest
Enraged by a controversial umpiring decision, cricket spectators rioted and attacked the English cricket team during a match in Sydney, Australia.

110 years ago
1899

Born on this date
Lonnie Johnson. U.S. musician. Mr. Johnson was a blues and jazz singer who was one of the first musicians to play an electric guitar, and the first to play an electric violin. He was popular mainly from the late 1920s through the late 1940s; his biggest hit was Tomorrow Night (1948), which held the #1 position on the Billboard Race Records chart for seven weeks and reached #19 on the pop chart, selling three million copies. Mr. Johnson settled in Toronto in his later years, and died there on June 16, 1970 at the age of 71, 15 months after being hit by a car while walking on a sidewalk.

Hockey
CAHL
Montreal Shamrocks (4-1) 4 @ Montreal (3-3) 3

100 years ago
1909

Died on this date
Catulle Mendès, 67. French writer. Mr. Mendès wrote several novels and collections of poetry, as well as plays and libretti for operas. Mr. Mendès' body was found in the railway tunnel of the Paris suburb of Saint-Germain, and it was believed that he'd accidentally opened his train compartment door while the train was still moving, but others thought he'd committed suicide.

Mieczysław Karłowicz, 32. Polish composer and conductor. Mr. Karłowicz was a late Romantic composer whose works included Symphony in E minor "Rebirth"; a violin concerto; six tone poems; and numerous songs for voice and piano. He founded and conducted the Warsaw Music Society's string orchestra in 1903, and conducted performances of his own works. Mr. Karłowicz enjoyed skiing and hiking in the Tatra Mountains near his home in southern Poland, and he was skiing alone in the Tatras when he was killed in an avalanche. Many of his works were lost during World War II.

80 years ago
1929

Crime
Gordon Northcott, 22, was convicted in Riverside County, California of the "Wineville Chicken Coop murders" of three boys from 1926-1928. He was sentenced to death five days later.



60 years ago
1949

Abominations
A court in Budapest sentenced Josef Cardinal Mindszenty to life imprisonment for treason and other crimes against the Hungarian state. His six co-defendants received sentences ranging from three years to life.

The Polish government reported the arrest of 20 Catholic priests for reading a forbidden pastoral letter charging government officials with anti-religious actions.

World events
The U.S. Army Department released details of a report, prepared by General Douglas MacArthur's staff, on a Soviet espionage network in the Far East during World War II. Headed by Richard Sorge, German press attache in Tokyo, the ring informed the U.S.S.R. government of German plans to invade Russia, Japan's intention to strike at Southeast Asia rather than Siberia, and other important developments.

Politics and government
New York Governor Thomas Dewey complained at a Lincoln Day dinner in Washington that the Republican Party was "split wide open" by reactionaries "who want to turn the clock back" and by "liberals" who tried to "outpromise the Democrats."

Energy
A test tube containing one ounce of uranium oxide was discovered to be missing from a U.S. Atomic Energy Commission laboratory in Palos Park, Illinois, setting off an intensive search.

Journalism
Cleveland Press editor Louis Seltzer and three Press staff members were fined $1,000 for arranging and publishing a false divorce in an effort to demonstrate that divorces were easy to obtain in Cleveland.

Economics and finance
U.S. farm commodity prices began a rapid decline as the Dun & Bradstreet wholesale food price index fell to $5.66, its lowest level since late 1946.

Chase National Bank of New York announced a $25-million short-term private loan to Spain.

50 years ago
1959

Hit parade
#1 single in France (IFOP): Come Prima--Dalida (4th week at #1)

On television tonight
Alfred Hitchcock Presents, on CBS
Tonight's episode: The Last Dark Step, starring Robert Horton, Fay Spain, and Joyce Meadows

Died on this date
William J. "Wild Bill" Donovan, 76. U.S. military officer. Major General Donovan served in both world wars, and was best known for serving as U.S. Coordinator of Information (1941-1942), leading directly to his appointment as the first director of the Office of Strategic Services (1942-1945), the precursor to the Central Intelligence Agency. Among Maj. Gen. Donovan's other positions was that of U.S. Ambassador to Thailand (1953-1954). He remains the only person to receive all four of the U.S.A.'s highest awards: Medal of Honor; Distinguished Service Cross; Distinguished Service Medal; and National Security Medal, in addition to a Silver Star and Purple Heart. Maj. Gen. Donovan died after suffering from dementia for several years.

Defense
The Indonesian Foreign Ministry announced a U.S. agreement to sell Indonesia $10 million worth of military equipment and arms needed to outfit 20 new Army battalions.

Politics and government
Cuban President Manuel Urrutia and his cabinet approved the Fundamental Law of the Republic, to remain in effect until elections were held.

French Prime Minister Michel Debre arrived in Algiers for an inspection tour of Algeria.

Five Italian Democratic Socialists resigned from their party's parliamentary delegation to form an "autonomous" Socialist Initiative Party.

Music
The Cantata Singers made their debut in Christ Church Cathedral in Vancouver, British Columbia, singing Johan Sebastian Bach's Mass in B-Minor. The 40-voice mixed choir was led by Hugh McLean, the founding conductor from 1958-1967.

40 years ago
1969

Hit parade
#1 single in Australia (Kent Music Report): Lily the Pink--The Scaffold

#1 single in Rhodesia (Lyons Maid): Ob-La-Di, Ob-La-Da--The Marmalade

#1 single in France: Casatchok--Dimitri Dourakine and his Orchestra (6th week at #1)

#1 single in Italy (FIMI): Scende la pioggia--Gianni Morandi (4th week at #1)

#1 single in West Germany (Media Control): Eloise--Barry Ryan (4th week at #1)

#1 single in Ireland (IRMA): Lonely Woods of Upton--Sean Dunphy (2nd week at #1)

#1 single in the U.K. (New Musical Express): Albatross--Fleetwood Mac (2nd week at #1)

Netherlands Top 10 (De Nederlandse Top 40)
1 Ain't Got No--I Got Life--Nina Simone (3rd week at #1)
2 Hair--Zen
3 I Started a Joke--The Bee Gees
4 Albatross--Fleetwood Mac
5 Ob-La-Di, Ob-La-Da--The Beatles
6 Kiele, Kiele, Kiele...--Toon Hermans en De Driedonken Blaaskapel
7 Lily the Pink--The Scaffold
8 Atlantis--Donovan
9 Antoinette--Leo Den Hop
10 Spooky's Day Off--Swinging Soul Machine

Singles entering the chart were Casatchok by Les Dimitri's (#28); Keep in Touch by the Free (#32); Soul Sister, Brown Sugar by Sam & Dave (#33); and Crosstown Traffic by the Jimi Hendrix Experience (#40).

U.S.A. Top 10 (Billboard)
1 Crimson and Clover--Tommy James and the Shondells (2nd week at #1)
2 Everyday People--Sly & the Family Stone
3 Worst that Could Happen--Brooklyn Bridge
4 Touch Me--The Doors
5 Build Me Up Buttercup--The Foundations
6 I Started a Joke--The Bee Gees
7 I Heard it Through the Grapevine--Marvin Gaye
8 I'm Gonna Make You Love Me--Diana Ross and the Supremes & the Temptations
9 Hang 'em High--Booker T. & the M.G.'s
10 Can I Change My Mind--Tyrone Davis

Singles entering the chart were Time of the Season by the Zombies (#60); Traces by Classics IV (#61); To Susan on the West Coast Waiting by Donovan (#67); You Gave Me a Mountain by Frankie Laine (#69); Sophisticated Cissy by the Meters (#71); Long Line Rider by Bobby Darin (#81); Honey (I Miss You) by O.C. Smith (#86); My World is Empty Without You by Jose Feliciano (#87); Johnny One Time by Brenda Lee (#88); Heaven by the Rascals (#90); Me About You by the Lovin' Spoonful (#91); Witchi Tai To by Everything is Everything (#93); The Tra La La Song (One Banana, Two Banana) by the Banana Splits (#96); Great Balls of Fire by Tiny Tim (#97); Glad She's a Woman by Bobby Goldsboro (#98); Try a Little Tenderness by Three Dog Night (#99); and Only the Lonely by Sonny James (#100).

U.S.A. Top 10 (Cash Box)
1 Touch Me--The Doors
2 Crimson and Clover--Tommy James and the Shondells
3 Everyday People--Sly & the Family Stone
4 Worst that Could Happen--Brooklyn Bridge
5 Build Me Up Buttercup--The Foundations
6 I Started a Joke--The Bee Gees
7 Can I Change My Mind--Tyrone Davis
8 You Showed Me--The Turtles
9 This Magic Moment--Jay and the Americans
10 If I Can Dream--Elvis Presley

Singles entering the chart were Heaven by the Rascals (#48); My Whole World Ended (The Moment You Left Me) by David Ruffin (#55); Time of the Season by the Zombies (#65); Glad She's a Woman by Bobby Goldsboro (#68); Honey (I Miss You) by O.C. Smith (#76); Hot Smoke & Sasafrass by the Bubble Puppy (#77); Maybe Tomorrow by the Iveys (#83); No Not Much by Smoke Ring (#84); Foolish Fool by Dee Dee Warwick (#85); Sweeter than Sugar by Ohio Express (#86); Mr. Sun, Mr. Moon by Paul Revere and the Raiders (#88); Grits Ain't Groceries (All Around the World) by Little Milton (#89); Snap-Out by the Interpretations (#92); Somebody Loves You by the Delfonics (#93); I Don't Want to Cry by Ruby Winters (#96); Let it Be Me by Glen Campbell and Bobbie Gentry (#97); One Eye Open by Maskman and the Agents (#99); and Switch it On by Cliff Nobles & Co. (#100).

Calgary's Top 10 (Glenn's Music)
1 Crimson and Clover--Tommy James and the Shondells (4th week at #1)
2 Touch Me--The Doors
3 Build Me Up Buttercup--The Foundations
4 Cruel War--Sugar n' Spice
5 This Magic Moment--Jay and the Americans
6 Sweet Cream Ladies--The Box Tops
7 Baby Let's Wait--The Royal Guardsmen
8 I Started a Joke--The Bee Gees
9 Twilight Woman--The 49th Parallel
10 Feelin' So Good--The Archies
Pick hit of the week: Electric Stories--The 4 Seasons

Journalism
This date’s issue of The Saturday Evening Post was the magazine’s last for several years (see January 10, 2009).

Diplomacy
French Prime Minister Raymond Barre visited Québec City.

World events
Italian Communist leader Luigi Longo restated that his party disapproved of the Soviet bloc intervention in Czechoslovakia.

Romanian President Nicolae Ceaucescu said that the new Soviet doctrine of "limited sovereignty" was "damaging to Communist unity," and warned against "outside interference" when differences arose within any Communist party.

Politics and government
Pakistani President Mohammed Ayub Khan was re-elected to the leadership of the ruling Moslem League Party.

Terrorism
FLQ terrorists exploded a bomb on McGill Street in Montréal.

30 years ago
1979

On television tonight
Family, on ABC
Tonight's episode: Disco Queen

Died on this date
Dennis Gabor, 78. Hungarian-born U.K. physicist and engineer. Dr. Gabor, born Günszberg Dénes in Budapest, moved to Germany to pursue graduate studies, but fled to England after the Nazis came to power in Germany. He was awarded the 1971 Nobel Prize in Physics "for his invention and development of the holographic method."

Art Williams, 44. U.S. baseball pitcher and umpire. Mr. Williams compiled a record of 27-25 in 4 seasons in the minor leagues (1953-1956), never rising above Class C before his career was ended by an elbow injury. He began umpiring in the minor leagues in 1969, and worked 806 regular season games (1972-1977), plus the National League Championship Series in 1975, as the NL's first Negro umpire. Mr. Williams was fired after the 1977 season, and filed a complaint with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, alleging that racism was behind his dismissal. The complaint was still pending when Mr. Williams suffered a brain seizure, underwent brain surgery, and spent six weeks in a coma until his death, 16 days before his 45th birthday.

Defense
The United States terminated military ties with Nicaragua because of President Anastasio Somoza’s refusal to accept U.S. or Organization of American States mediation of that country’s civil strife.

Protest
One million people marched in Tehran to demand the ouster of Iranian Prime Minister Shahpur Bakhtiar. Mr. Bakhtiar vowed not to accede to opposition demands for his resignation

World events
The United States Justice Department dropped perjury charges against a former executive of International Telephone and Telegraph involving ITT’s alleged bid to block Salvador Allende’s election as President of Chile in 1970. The U.S. Justice Dept. feared possible disclosures regarding U.S. intelligence activities.

Hockey
NHL-U.S.S.R.
Challenge Cup @ Madison Square Garden, New York
Game 1
NHL 4 U.S.S.R. 2 (NHL led three-game series 1-0)

The National Hockey League had decided to scrap its annual all-star game for 1979 in favour of a three game series called the Challenge Cup, pitting the NHL's best players against those of the U.S.S.R. Guy Lafleur of the Montreal Canadiens scored just 16 seconds into the game to open the scoring, and Mike Bossy of the New York Islanders and Bob Gainey of the Canadiens scored later in the 1st period, with Boris Mikhailov replying for the Soviets. Clark Gillies of the Islanders scored in the 2nd period, and Vladimir Golikov scored for the U.S.S.R. in the 3rd, before 17,438 fans. Ken Dryden of the Montreal Canadiens made 22 saves in one of the few good games he ever played against the Soviets, winning the goaltending duel over Vladislav Tretiak.



25 years ago
1984

Space
The U.S.S.R. launched three cosmonauts into space aboard a Soyuz-10 spacecraft. The U.S.A. had launched a five-member crew into orbit aboard the space shuttle Challenger five days earlier on mission STS-41-B, and the eight people in space at one time was a record.

War
U.S. ships began launching artillery barrages against Syrian positions in Lebanon. U.S. House of Representatives Speaker Tip O'Neill (Democrat--Massachusetts) said that the action went beyond the war powers authorized in a congressional resolution on Lebanon adopted in October 1983. Walid Jumblat, leader of Lebanon's Druze population, warned that if the shelling of Druze villages continued, his forces would retaliate against U.S. diplomats and other civilians.

Economics and finance
A bipartisan congressional delegation met with White House officials to seek ways to reduce U.S. budget deficits.

The Dow-Jones industrial average slipped to 1,156, a drop of 10% in five weeks.

20 years ago
1989

Hit parade
#1 single in Finland (Musiikkituottajat – IFPI Finland): Like a Yo-Yo--Sabrina

#1 single in Sweden (Topplistan): Buffalo Stance--Neneh Cherry

On television tonight
The Wonder Years, on ABC
Tonight's episode: Coda

Disasters
Independent Air Flight 1851, a chartered Boeing 707 jetliner carrying Italian tourists to the Dominican Republic, crashed into a fog-shrouded mountain while on approach to Santa Maria Airport in the Azores, killing all 137 passengers and 7 crew members aboard.

10 years ago
1999

Died on this date
Iris Murdoch, 79. U.K. authoress. Dame Iris was known for her novels exploring morality and the power of the unconscious. Her novels included The Bell (1958); The Sea, The Sea (1978); and The Philosopher's Pupil (1983). Dame Iris died of Alzheimer's disease.

World events
The funeral of King Hussein of Jordan was held in Amman. United States President Bill Clinton was in attendance, along with former presidents Gerald Ford, Jimmy Carter, and George Bush. Great Britain was represented by Prince Charles and Prime Minister Tony Blair. Other world leaders at the funeral included French President Jacques Chirac, German Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder, Russian President Boris Yeltsin, and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Conspicuous by his absence was Canadian Prime Minister Jean Chretien; he preferred to go skiing, confirming yet again that he was senile, retarded, and an embarrassment to the country.

Scandal
All 13 of the House of Representatives impeachment managers participated in the closing arguments at the trial of President Bill Clinton. Rep. Henry Hyde (Republican, Illinois) admonished the senators that if the president had committed the deeds he was accused of, but voted not guilty, they would be "saying a perjurer and obstructer of justice can be president." White House Counsel Charles Ruff, in his closing remarks, maintained that Mr. Clinton had not committed perjury or obstruction of justice.