April 6, 2009

810 years ago
1199

Died on this date
Richard I, 41. King of England, 1189-1199. Richard I, popularly known as Richard Cœur de Lion or Richard the Lionheart, participated, while a teenager, with his two older brothers in an unsuccessful revolt against his father Henry II, but made peace with King Henry and helped to put down further revolts against him. However, Richard later led another revolt against his father, defeating him in battle and succeeding him on the throne upon King Henry's death two days later. King Richard I was known for courage in battle, and he helped to lead the Third Crusade in the early 1190s, achieving success against Saladin's Muslim forces, including the conquest of Cyprus, but failing to take Jerusalem. King Richard spent most of his adult life in France, and he was in Châlus in the Duchy of Aquitaine when he was struck in the shoulder by an arrow fired from a crossbow by a young man who was reportedly trying to avenge the deaths of his father and two brothers. Surgery to remove the arrow led to gangrenous infection, and King Richard I died 12 days after being wounded. He left no legitimate heirs, and was succeeded by his younger brother John.

140 years ago
1869

Technology
John Wesley Hyatt patented a method of covering billiard balls with the addition of collodion.

100 years ago
1909

Born on this date
William Branham. U.S. religious figure. Mr. Branham was generally acknowledged as the founder of the post-World War II healing "revival." He claimed to be the "Elijah" prophet of the time just prior to the return of Jesus to Earth, and became the object of a personality cult. He died on December 24, 1965 at the age of 56, six days after suffering serious injuries in a car accident; his followers apparently expected Mr. Branham to rise from the dead, and didn't bury him until April 11, 1966. Other people have done a better job than this blogger ever could of cataloguing Mr. Branham's heresies and false prophecies; for further information, I suggest Seek the Truth.

Exploration
Robert Peary and Matthew Henson became the first men to reach the North Pole. The claim, disputed by skeptics, was upheld in 1989 by the Navigation Foundation.

80 years ago
1929

Politics and government
Louisiana Governor Huey P. Long was impeached by the Louisiana House of Representatives.

70 years ago
1939

Hockey
NHL
Stanley Cup
Finals
Toronto 1 @ Boston 2 (Boston led best-of-seven series 1-0)

Bobby Bauer scored with 3:29 remaining in regulation time to break a 1-1 tie as the Bruins edged the Maple Leafs at Boston Garden.

60 years ago
1949

Died on this date
Ezra Winter, 63. U.S. artist. Mr. Winter was known for painting murals on buildings such as Radio City Music Hall in New York City and the Library of Congress in Washington. While working on one of his murals, he forgot how high above the ground he was and took a step back, falling and breaking his tailbone. An unsteady hand and pain from his injury left him unable to paint, and he committed suicide, 27 days after his 63rd birthday.

Andrew Somers, 54. U.S. politician. Mr. Somers, a Democrat, represented New York's 6th (1925-1945) and 10th (1945-1949) Districts in the U.S. House of Representatives, and was chairman of the House Public Lands Committee at the time of his death. he was succeeded in this position by Rep. J. Hardin Peterson (Democrat--Florida).

War
In a speech to members of Congress, U.S. President Harry Truman said that he would not hesitate to order the use of the atomic bomb under circumstances similar to those under which it was dropped on Japan in 1945.

Defense
The U.S. Navy announced plans to shift its focus of strength from the Pacific to the Atlantic Fleet in line with post-World War II strategy changes.

Americana
The last Army Day was observed throughout the United States, as Defense Secretary Louis Johnson ordered Army, Navy, and Marine Corps days to be merged into a single Armed Forces Day.

Aviation
Curtiss-Wright Corporation announced that its X-1 rocket plane had achieved speeds of 1,100 miles per hour, the fastest by a piloted aircraft.

Crime
Herbert Philbrick, an undercover Communist Party member and Federal Bureau of Investigation informant since 1940, appeared as a surprise prosecution witness in the New York trial of 11 accused Communist Party leaders. He testified that the party had planned "violent revolution" since 1945, and that Communists in Boston were instructed to infiltrate key industries in Massachusetts. Mr. Philbrick told the full story of his activities in his book I Led 3 Lives (1952).

Economics and finance
U.K. Chancellor of the Exchequer Sir Stafford Cripps presented Parliament with a severe austerity budget, calling for reduced food subsidies and maintenance of sales and income taxes at their existing levels.

Basketball
BAA
Finals
Washington 62 @ Minneapolis 76 (Minneapolis led best-of-seven series 2-0)

Don Carlson scored 16 points and Herm Schaefer added 13 to help the Lakers defeat the Capitols before 10,212 fans at Minneapolis Auditorium. George Mikan scored just 10 points for Minneapolis. Sonny Hertzberg led Washington scorers with 13 points.

50 years ago
1959

Hit parade
#1 single in Spain (PROMUSICAE): Mariquilla--José Luís y su Guitarra (8th week at #1)

U.S.A. Top 10 (Billboard)
1 Venus--Frankie Avalon (5th week at #1)
2 Come Softly to Me--The Fleetwoods
3 It's Just a Matter of Time--Brook Benton
4 Pink Shoe Laces--Dodie Stevens
5 Tragedy--Thomas Wayne with the DeLons
6 Never Be Anyone Else But You--Ricky Nelson
7 Charlie Brown--The Coasters
8 Alvin's Harmonica--David Seville and the Chipmunks
9 It's Late--Ricky Nelson
10 Guitar Boogie Shuffle--The Virtues

Singles entering the chart were So Fine by the Fiestas (#77); Lovey Dovey by Clyde McPhatter (#83); Only You (Loin de Vous) by Franck Pourcel’s French Fiddles (#95); 77 Sunset Strip by Don Ralke (#96); That's My Little Suzie by Ritchie Valens (#98); and I Never Felt Like This by Jack Scott (#99).

Vancouver's Top 10 (CKWX)
1 I Need Your Love Tonight/(Now and Then There's) A Fool Such as I--Elvis Presley
2 Guitar Boogie Shuffle--The Virtues
3 It's Late/Never Be Anyone Else But You--Ricky Nelson
4 Venus--Frankie Avalon
5 Come Softly to Me--The Fleetwoods
6 Sea Cruise--Frankie Ford
7 Pink Shoe Laces--Dodie Stevens
8 I've Had It--The Bell Notes
9 It Doesn't Matter Anymore--Buddy Holly
10 Raw-Hide--Link Wray and the Wraymen

Singles entering the chart were Who's That Knocking by the Genies (#34); Poor Jenny/Take a Message to Mary by the Everly Brothers (#35); As Time Goes By by Johnny Nash (#45); That's My Little Suzie by Ritchie Valens (#48); I Still Get a Thrill by Joni James (#51); Almost Grown/Little Queenie by Chuck Berry (#52); Only You (Loin de Vous) by Franck Pourcel’s French Fiddles (#53); Love Me in the Daytime by Doris Day (#54); Bonaparte's Retreat/The Kissing Tree by Billy Grammer (#57); and The Walls Have Ears by Patti Page (#60).

At the movies
The Sound and the Fury, directed by Martin Ritt, and starring Yul Brynner, Joanne Woodward, and Margaret Leighton, opened in theatres.

Movies
The Academy Awards for 1958 were presented at the Pantages Theatre in Hollywood. The winners included: Picture--Gigi; Director--Vincente Minnelli (Gigi); Actor--David Niven (Separate Tables); Actress--Susan Hayward (I Want to Live!); Supporting Actor--Burl Ives (The Big Country); Supporting Actress--Wendy Hiller (Separate Tables); Foreign Language Film--Mon Oncle.

Protest
French troops were flown to Dahomey to halt demonstrations against the government of Prime Minister Sourou Migan Apithy stemming from opposition charges that recent legislative assembly elections were rigged.

World events
Paris police arrested 172 Algerians, seven of them suspected nationalist leaders, in raids throughout the metropolitan area.

Crime
Caryl Chessman, sentenced to death in 1948 for kidnapping and attempted rape, lost a California Supreme Court appeal for release from San Quentin State Prison on a writ of habeas corpus.

40 years ago
1969

Disasters
11 people, including 6 children, died in a tenement fire in Bridgeport, Connecticut.

At least 20 were killed in floods in Azerbaijan.

25 died in the fiery collision of a Taiwanese freighter and an oil barge under the New Orleans Mississippi River Bridge.

Hockey
NHL
Stanley Cup
Quarter-Finals
Montreal 4 @ New York 3 (Montreal won best-of-seven series 4-0)
Boston 3 @ Toronto 2 (Boston won best-of-seven series 4-0)
St. Louis 4 @ Philadelphia 1 (St. Louis won best-of-seven series 4-0)
Oakland 2 @ Los Angeles 4 (Best-of-seven series tied 2-2)

Derek Sanderson scored shorthanded 1:21 into the game and scored the eventual winning goal with 3:53 remaining in the 2nd period as the Bruins eliminated the Maple Leafs at Maple Leaf Gardens. Punch Imlach, who had led Toronto to four Stanley Cup championships in 11 seasons as coach and general manager, was fired immediately after the game.

CHL
Adams Cup
Semi-Finals
Omaha 1 @ Dallas 4 (Dallas won best-of-five series 3-0)
Tulsa 4 @ Oklahoma City 3 (OT) (Tulsa led best-of-seven series 3-2)

Jim Marsh scored at 2:18 of the 1st overtime period to give the Oilers their win over the Blazers.

30 years ago
1979

Hit parade
#1 single in Sweden (Topplistan): Y.M.C.A.--Village People (9th week at #1)

#1 single in West Germany (Media Control): Heart of Glass--Blondie (6th week at #1)

#1 single in France (IFOP): Born to Be Alive--Patrick Hernandez (6th week at #1)

Died on this date
Norman Tokar, 59. U.S. film and television director. Mr. Tokar was an actor in radio before he directed 93 episodes of the television comedy series Leave it to Beaver (1957-1960) and 22 episodes of The Donna Reed Show (1960-1962). His success in directing juvenile actors led to work with Walt Disney Productions, directing episodes of Mr. Disney's television programs in addition to movies such as Big Red (1962); The Happiest Millionaire (1967); and The Apple Dumpling Gang (1975). Mr. Tokar died of a heart attack in his sleep.

Protest
Student demonstrations began in Kathmandu, protesting the April 4 execution of Pakistani Prime Minister Ali Bhutto. The protests later expanded to demanding political reforms within Nepal.

Energy
The Nuclear Regulatory Commission in the United States turned down a request by California Governor Jerry Brown to temporarily close the Rancho Seco nuclear plant near Sacramento, a twin of the Three Mile Island plant in Pennsylvania.

Economics and finance
The United States cut off all aid to Pakistan after intelligence sources reported that Pakistan was acquiring capability of building nuclear weapons.

Hockey
NHL
Guy Chouinard of the Atlanta Flames scored his 50th goal of the season, in a game against the New York Rangers.

25 years ago
1984

Hit parade
#1 single in New Zealand (RIANZ): Poi E--Patea Maori Club (4th week at #1)

#1 single in West Germany (Media Control): Big in Japan--Alphaville

Died on this date
Ral Donner, 41. U.S. singer. Mr. Donner had a voice that sounded like that of Elvis Presley, which enabled him to achieve several hit singles in the early 1960s. His biggest hit was You Don't Know What You've Got (Until You Lose It), which reached #4 on the Billboard Hot 100 in the summer of 1961. Mr. Donner died of lung cancer.

Space
The U.S. space shuttle Challenger was launched from Cape Canaveral, Florida to begin mission STS-41-C (originally numbered STS-13), with a five-man crew commanded by Robert Crippen.

World events
Members of Cameroon's Republican Guard unsuccessfully attempted to overthrow the government of President Paul Biya.

Defense
Reports began to appear that U.S. Central Intelligence Agency personnel on a ship operating in the Pacific Ocean off the Nicaraguan coast had helped Latin American nationals to plant mines in the ports of Corinto and Puerto Sandino. The mining, which had begun in February, had resulted in damage to at least eight ships--including a Soviet tanker--from six nations.

Economics and finance
The United States Labor Department reported that the unemployment rate was holding steady at 7.7% in March.

The U.S. Federal Reserve Board voted to raise the interest rate it charged on loans to financial institutions from 8.5%-9%, the first change in the rate since December 1982.

20 years ago
1989

Hit parade
#1 single in Finland (Finnish Singles Chart): Like a Prayer--Madonna (2nd week at #1)

#1 single in Ireland (IRMA): Eternal Flame--Bangles

Diplomacy
U.S.S.R. President Mikhail Gorbachev and British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher held day-long talks in London. Mr. Gorbachev repeatedly opposed Mrs. Thatcher's insistence that U.S. short-range nuclear missiles in West Germany must be modernized. At a state dinner, Mr. Gorbachev called himself a "confirmed opponent" of nuclear weapons.

Israeli Prime Minister Yitzhak Shamir, meeting with U.S. President George Bush in Washington, said that Israel would be willing to hold elections in the occupied territories that could lead to a "self-governing administration."

Labour
The British government of Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher announced plans to abolish legislation to guarantee jobs for more than 9,000 dock workers.

Hockey
In first-round Stanley Cup playoff action, the Los Angeles Kings defeated the Edmonton Oilers 5-2, while the Montreal Canadiens edged the Hartford Whalers 3-2 at the Montreal Forum to take a 2 games to 0 lead in their best-of-seven series.

10 years ago
1999

Died on this date
Red Norvo, 91. U.S. musician. Mr. Norvo, born Kenneth Norville, was nicknamed "Mr. Swing," and was one of the first jazz vibraphonists, playing with bands such as those of Paul Whiteman and Benny Goodman, and also leading his own band in a career spanning 60 years from the mid-1920s to the mid-1980s. He died six days after his 91st birthday.

War
Yugoslavian President Slobodan Milosevic declared a unilateral cease-fire in the rebellious province of Kosovo. The North Atlantic Treaty Organization said that Mr. Milosevic had to withdraw Serb troops and allow refugees to return under international protection.

Diplomacy
Chinese Premier Zhu Rongji began a visit to the United States, but was unable to reach a comprehensive trade agreement with the administration of U.S. President Bill Clinton.

Politics and government
The Supreme Court of Nigeria annulled some of the results of February elections for local and regional offices.

Crime
Pierre Lebrun, a former employee of the Ottawa bus company OC Transpo, shot and killed four former co-workers and wounded another before killing himself.