August 11, 2009

Born on this date
Happy Birthday, Audrianna (Huszti) De Souza!

1,090 years ago
919

Died on this date
Dhuka al-Rumi. Governor of Egypt, 915-919. Dhuka al-Rumi was a Byzantine Greek who served the Abbasid Caliphate. He was both preceded and succeeded as Governor by Takin al-Khazari.

750 years ago
1259

Died on this date
Möngke Khan, 50. Khagan of the Mongol Empire, 1251-1259. Möngke Khan was the son of Tolui and the grandson of Genghis Khan, and succeeded Güyük Khan on the throne. Möngke Khan made administrative reforms, and his troops conquered Iraq, Syria, and the Kingdom of Dali in what is now China. He died of dysentery or cholera while waging war against China, and was succeeded on the throne by his younger brother Kublai Khan.

490 years ago
1519

Died on this date
Johann Tetzel, 53 or 54 (?). German clergyman. Mr. Tetzel was a Roman Catholic Dominican friar who was Inquisitor for Poland and Saxony, but was best known for his service as Grand Commissioner for indulgences in Germany. His practice of granting indulgences in exchange for money angered Martin Luther, and helped to spur the Reformation.

100 years ago
1909

Born on this date
Yūji Koseki. Japanese composer. Mr. Koseki wrote popular and military music, as well as film scores. He died on August 18, 1989, a week after his 80th birthday.

Communications
S.S. Arapahoe became the first American ship to use the SOS distress signal. Wireless operator P.B. Haubner radioed for help when his ship, on its way from New York to Jacksonville, Florida by way of Charleston, South Carolina, broke its tail shaft near Diamond Shoals. The call was heard by the United Wireless station "HA" at Hatteras, North Carolina.

90 years ago
1919

Died on this date
Andrew Carnegie, 83. U.K.-born U.S. industrialist and philanthropist. Mr. Carnegie, a native of Scotland, moved to the United States with his parents in 1848. He made his fortune in steel, and founded the Carnegie Steel Company in 1892, later founding U.S. Steel in 1901. Mr. Carnegie was renowned for his philanthropy, and gave away $350 million (about $5.15 billion in 2019 dollars) during his last 18 years. He was best known for financing the construction of libraries; among those built as a result of Mr. Carnegie's generosity are Strathcona Public Library in Edmonton and the downtown branch of Regina Public Library.

Baseball
Tris Speaker had 3 hits and 2 bases on balls, and scored 5 runs as his Cleveland Indians defeated the New York Yankees 15-9 before 7,000 fans at the Polo Grounds in New York.

Herb Pennock (10-6) pitched a 4-hitter to win the pitchers' duel over Allen Sothoron as the Boston Red Sox edged the St. Louis Browns 1-0 at Fenway Park in Boston. Babe Ruth singled home Harry Hooper in the 7th inning for the game's only run.

The Pittsburgh Piarates scored all their runs in the 4th inning as they beat the Brooklyn Robins 5-2 before 2,000 fans at Ebbets Field in Brooklyn. Frank Miller pitched a 6-hit shutout and batted 2 for 2 with a double, sacrifice, and 2 runs batted in.

Gene Paulette's grand slam--his first of two career major league home runs--was the big blow of a 5-run 7th inning for the Philadelphia Phillies as they beat the Cincinnati Reds 5-3 before 8,246 fans at Redland Field in Cincinnati. Eppa Rixey pitched a 5-hitter to win the matchup over Hod Eller.

80 years ago
1929

Died on this date
Red Long, 52. Canadian baseball pitcher. Nelson Long, a native of Burlington, Ontario, played 1 game for the Boston Beaneaters, starting and recording no decision on September 11, 1902, allowing 4 hits and 2 runs--1 earned--in 8 innings, with 3 bases on balls and 5 strikeouts, and an earned run average of 1.13. He played at least 7 seasons in the minor leagues from 1900-1908. Mr. Long died in Hamilton, Ontario.

Americana
The first Bud Billiken Parade and Picnic, the oldest and largest Negro American parade in the United States, was held in Chicago.

Baseball
Babe Ruth’s 30th home run of the season and 500th of his major league career (off Willis Hudlin in the 2nd inning) wasn’t enough to prevent the Cleveland Indians from defeating the New York Yankees 6-5 before more than 25,000 fans at League Park in Cleveland. The home run was Mr. Ruth’s 6 in the last 7 games. The ball landed on Lexington Avenue, where it was recovered by Mr. Jake Geiser, who handed it to Mr. Ruth. The Babe rewarded Mr. Geiser with $20 and a pair of new autographed balls.

Roy Johnson’s inside-the-park solo home run with 2 out in the bottom of the 11th inning gave the Detroit Tigers a 9-8 win over the Philadelphia Athletics at Navin Field in Detroit. The Athletics scored 5 runs in the top of the 1st inning, but the Tigers scored 4 runs in the 9th inning (3 coming on a home run by Bubbles Hargrave) to tie the game 8-8.

Johnny Frederick, Harvey Hendrick, and Del Bissonette hit home runs in the bottom of the 8th inning, producing 4 runs for the Brooklyn Robins as they came back from a 3-1 deficit to defeat the Pittsburgh Pirates 5-3 before 9,000 fans at Ebbets Field in Brooklyn.

75 years ago
1934

At the movies
Der Herr der Welt (The Master of the World), directed by Harry Piel, and starring Walter Janssen, Sybille Schmitz, and Walter Franck, opened in theatres in Germany.



Americana
Alcatraz Federal Penitentiary, on Alcatraz Island in San Francisco Bay, welcomed its first prisoners.

Baseball
The Boston Red Sox twice came back from one-run deficits to defeat the New York Yankees 3-2 in 13 innings at Fenway Park in Boston. Babe Ruth and Tony Lazzeri hit home runs for the Yankees.

70 years ago
1939

At the movies
The Wizard of Oz, directed by Victor Fleming, and starring Judy Garland, received advance screenings in Cape Cod, Massachusetts and Kenosha, Wisconsin.

Died on this date
Jean Bugatti, 30. German-born French automotive engineer. Mr. Bugatti, the son of Automobiles E. Bugatti founder Ettore Bugatti, designed and tested cars for his father's company.
While taking a race car for a test drive, he was killed when he crashed into a tree after striking a cyclist who had come onto the track through a hole in a fence.

60 years ago
1949

On the radio
A Book at Bedtime, read by Laidman Browne, on BBC Light Programme
Tonight's episode: The Speckled Band, Part 4

War
A 60-nation International Red Cross conference in Geneva adopted four new rules of war, providing greater protection for civilians and prisoners of war.

Diplomacy
Philippine President Elpido Quirino ended a four-day visit to Washington after failing to obtain a clear-cut U.S. commitment to participate in the proposed Pacific Union of anti-Communist states.

The United Nations Security Council voted to relieve Ralph Bunche of his duties as UN Palestine mediator, allowing him to resume direction of the Trusteeship Commission.

Defense
U.S. President Harry Truman named General Omar Bradley to serve as the first permanent chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, replacing temporary chairman Gen. Dwight D. Eisenhower.

Politics and government
Paul-Henri Spaak of Belgium was elected president of the Council of Europe's Consultative Assembly in Strasbourg.

The U.S. Appeals Court for the District of Columbia dismissed a suit by the Joint Anti-Fascist Refugee Committee and upheld President Truman's loyalty program and Attorney General Tom Clark's subversive organizations list.

Economics and finance
The U.S. Interstate Commerce Commission authorized a 4% increase in railroad freight rates.

Basketball
NBA
The merger agreed to eight days earlier between the 11-team Basketball Association of America and 6-team National Basketball League took effect, creating a 17-team National Basketball Association.

50 years ago
1959

On the radio
The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes, starring Carleton Hobbs and Norman Shelley, on BBC Light Programme
Tonight’s episode: The Copper Beeches

Literature
The novel Advise and Consent by Allen Drury was published in New York by Doubleday.

World events
The Cuban government of Prime Minister Fidel Castro crushed a plot by former military officers in the regime of deposed President Fulgencio Batista and landowners to oust Mr. Castro's regime.

War
The U.S. State Department accused North Vietnam of directly aiding Laotian guerrillas, and hinted that the entire Laotian campaign was begun with Soviet complicity in an effort to keep "tensions alive in Southeast Asia."

Diplomacy
Japanese Prime Minister Nobusuke Kishi returned to Tokyo from his world tour, saying that Japan would would seek economic and military integration with other nations in an effort to match the "remarkable economic prosperity" of the United Kingdom and Europe.

Defense
The U.S. State Department confirmed reports that the Big Four foreign ministers had discussed in Geneva the creation of anew 10-nation disarmament council after "appropriate consultations" with United Nations Secretary-General Dag Hammarskjold.

Transportation
Sheremetyevo International Airport, the second-largest airport in Russia, opened in Moscow.

Economics and finance
U.S. President Dwight D. Eisenhower nominated Ohio banker Vance Brand, a director of the U.S. Export-Import Bank, as managing director of the Development Loan Fund.

Baseball
Alvin Dark and Tony Taylor hit solo home runs in the bottom of the 10th inning to give the Chicago Cubs a 5-4 win over the Los Angeles Dodgers before 15,793 fans at Wrigley Field in Chicago.

Joe Nuxhall posted 10 strikeouts, including 4 in the 6th inning, for the Cincinnati Reds as they defeated the Milwaukee Braves 4-3 in the first game of a doubleheader before 29,896 fans at Crosley Field in Cincinnati. Gus Bell and Frank Robinson hit home runs off losing pitcher Warren Spahn, while Joe Adcock homered for the Braves. Mr. Adcock batted 4 for 4 with a solo home run and 2 doubles and 2 runs batted in to help the Braves win the second game 7-3, as Lou Burdette pitched a 7-hitter to win the matchup over Jay Hook.

Willie Mays led off the top of the 10th inning with a double, advanced to third base on a wild pitch, and scored on a 1-out single by Willie Kirkland to break a 4-4 tie as the San Francisco Giants edged the St. Louis Cardinals 5-4 before 16,526 fans at Busch Stadium in St. Louis. Bob Duliba, the second of four St. Louis pitchers, allowed 2 hits and no runs in 2 innings, with 1 strikeout in his major league debut.

The New York Yankees scored 2 runs in the 2nd inning and 6 in the 5th as they held on to defeat the Boston Red Sox 8-5 before 25,032 fans at Fenway Park in Boston.

Al Kaline's 3-run home run climaxed a 4-run 1st inning for the Detroit Tigers as they beat the Chicago White Sox 8-1 before 34,417 fans at Briggs Stadium in Detroit. Jim Bunning pitched an 8-hit complete game victory.

The Kansas City Athletics scored 5 runs in the bottom of the 1st inning and coasted to a 7-3 win over the Cleveland Indians before 10,884 fans at Municipal Stadium in Kansas City. Bud Daley pitched a 9-hit complete game victory to improve his 1959 record to 13-7. Cleveland left fielder Minnie Minoso batted 3 for 3 with a solo home run and a double, and was hit by a pitch.

40 years ago
1969

Hit parade
#1 single in Japan (Oricon Singles Chart): Kinjirareta Koi--Ryoko Moriyama (5th week at #1)

#1 single in Spain (PROMUSICAE): María Isabel--Los Payos (4th week at #1)

On the radio
The Challenge of Space, on Springbok Radio
Tonight’s episode: The Eyes that Guard the Plough

Crime
Defense counsel for Major Thomas Middleton, one of the Green Berets charged in the June killing of a Vietnamese spy, told newsmen in Saigon that the deceased, Thai Khac Chuyen, had been a "dangerous Communist double agent."

Football
CFL
Saskatchewan (2-0) 21 @ Edmonton (1-2) 20

Edmonton quarterback Corey Colehour threw touchdown passes to Terry Swarn, Karl Sneider, and Jim Thomas, but Bill Goods, in his second and last game as an Eskimo, converted just one of the scores. The other two converts were nullified by penalty--more examples of the unfairness of the rule than in place that had similarly deprived the Hamilton Tiger-Cats of a victory two nights earlier. Mr. Goods also missed both his field goal attempts, one of which went for a single point.

Baseball
Los Angeles Dodgers’ pitcher Don Drysdale, who had begun his major league career with the Dodgers when the team was still in Brooklyn, announced his retirement because of damage to his right shoulder. In 14 seasons he posted a record of 208-166 (5-4 in 1969), with a 2.95 earned run average. Mr. Drysdale’s 58 2/3 consecutive scoreless innings in 1968 stood as a major league record for 20 years. He was elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1984. This blogger had the privilege of meeting and working in the same press box as Mr. Drysdale for several days in 1981.

30 years ago
1979

Hit parade
#1 single in Zimbabwe Rhodesia (Lyons Maid): I Want to See the Bright Lights Tonight--Julie Covington (3rd week at #1)

#1 single in Italy (Hit Parade Italia): Tu Sei l'Unica Donna Per Me--Alan Sorrenti (8th week at #1)

#1 single in Ireland: I Don't Like Mondays--The Boomtown Rats (2nd week at #1)

#1 single in the U.K. (BMRB): I Don't Like Mondays--The Boomtown Rats (3rd week at #1)

Netherlands Top 10 (De Nederlandse Top 40)
1 I was Made for Lovin' You--Kiss (2nd week at #1)
2 Ring My Bell--Anita Ward
3 Theme from 'The Deer Hunter' (Cavatina)--The Shadows
4 Voulez-Vous--ABBA
5 Lavender Blue--Mac Kissoon
6 Quiereme Mucho--Julio Iglesias
7 Aan de Grens Van de Duitse Heuvelen--The Sunstreams
8 Bad Girls--Donna Summer
9 El Lute/Gotta Go Home--Boney M.
10 This is My Life (La Vita)--Shirley Bassey

Singles entering the chart were Don't Bring Me Down by the Electric Light Orchestra (#26); You Can't Change That by Raydio (#28); (Never Listen to a) Bouzouki Player by Babe (#30); Bad Case of Lovin' You (Doctor, Doctor) by Robert Palmer (#31); Gloria by Umberto Tozzi (#33); Mary Mary by Inner Circle (#37); and Ik Wil Jou In M'n Armen by Corry (#39).

U.S.A. Top 10 (Billboard)
1 Bad Girls--Donna Summer (5th week at #1)
2 Good Times--Chic
3 The Main Event/Fight--Barbra Streisand
4 My Sharona--The Knack
5 Gold--John Stewart
6 When You're in Love with a Beautiful Woman--Dr. Hook
7 Ring My Bell--Anita Ward
8 Makin' It--David Naughton
9 Hot Stuff--Donna Summer
10 You Can't Change That--Raydio

Singles entering the chart were Pop Muzik by M (#61); Sail On by the Commodores (#68); Get it Right Next Time by Gerry Rafferty (#82); Dependin' on You by the Doobie Brothers (#83); Ghost Dancer by the Addrisi Brothers (#85); Good Friend by Mary Macgregor (#86); Do it Good by A Taste of Honey (#87); Then You Can Tell Me Goodbye by Toby Beau (#88); Just Another Night by Ian Hunter (#89); Spooky by Atlanta Rhythm Section (#90); and You've Lost that Lovin' Feelin' by Long John Baldry and Kathi MacDonald (#91).

U.S.A. Top 10 (Cash Box)
1 Good Times--Chic
2 Bad Girls--Donna Summer
3 My Sharona--The Knack
4 Ring My Bell--Anita Ward
5 When You're in Love with a Beautiful Woman--Dr. Hook
6 Gold--John Stewart
7 The Main Event/Fight--Barbra Streisand
8 I was Made for Lovin' You--Kiss
9 I Want You to Want Me--Cheap Trick
10 You Can't Change That--Raydio

Singles entering the chart were Pop Muzik by M (#53); Sail On by the Commodores (#62); Dependin' on You by the Doobie Brothers (#79); Get it Right Next Time by Gerry Rafferty (#80); So Good, So Right by Brenda Russell (#84); Don't Stop 'Til You Get Enough by Michael Jackson (#85); Firecracker by Mass Production (#88); Good Friend by Mary Macgregor (#89); and Ghost Dancer by the Addrisi Brothers (#90).

Canada's Top 10 (RPM)
1 Bad Girls--Donna Summer
2 I Want You to Want Me--Cheap Trick
3 Ring My Bell--Anita Ward
4 Shine a Little Love--Electric Light Orchestra
5 Gold--John Stewart
6 You Take My Breath Away--Rex Smith
7 The Logical Song--Supertramp
8 When You're in Love with a Beautiful Woman--Dr. Hook
9 She Believes in Me--Kenny Rogers
10 I was Made for Lovin' You--Kiss

Singles entering the chart were Don't Turn Around by the Raes (#85); Don't Bring Me Down by Electric Light Orchestra (#90); Gone, Gone, Gone by Bad Company (#91); Outside and Inside by Peter Pringle (#92); Wondering Where the Lions Are by Bruce Cockburn (#95); Life in Tokyo by Japan (#97); Saturday Night by Herman Brood (#98); and Different Worlds by Maureen McGovern (#100).

Died on this date
J.G. Farrell, 44. U.K. author. James Gordon Farrell was a novelist who was best known for his Empire Trilogy (1970-1978). He moved to Ireland in 1979, and drowned when he fell from rocks into the sea while fishing during a storm.

Defense
The New York Times reported that, out of fear of a nuclear arms race on the Indian subcontinent, the United States was preparing a last-ditch effort to prevent Pakistan’s acquisition of nuclear weapons. New U.S. intelligence estimates thought that Pakistan could explode an atomic device by the end of 1979.

Diplomacy
U.S. President Jimmy Carter affirmed to Israel his continued opposition to a Palestinian state, and pledged no change in United States policy toward the Palestine Liberation Organization.

The U.S. State Department asked Ambassador to the United Nations Andrew Young about a meeting he was said to have had with Palestine Liberation Organization UN observer Zehdi Labib Terzi on July 26. Mr. Young confirmed that the meeting had occurred, but said that it was inadvertent and limited to social amenities. U.S. Middle east policy barred any direct contact with the PLO until it accepted Israel's right to exist.

Disasters
A rain-weakened dam burst in western India and sent a wall of water nearly 20 feet high through the city of Morvi, killing an estimated 5,000-15,000 people. After the water receded, there was a blanket of mud that reached the second floors of some buildings.

Baseball
This blogger was among the 9,535 in attendance at Metropolitan Stadium in Bloomington to watch the Minnesota Twins defeat the Oakland Athletics 9-7. Twins’ center fielder Ken Landreaux had 4 singles and a base on balls in 5 plate appearances, with 2 runs and 3 runs batted in. Oakland first baseman Jeff Newman was 3 for 4 with 2 runs and 4 RBIs, including his 20th home run of the season.

The Milwaukee Brewers scored 3 runs in the top of the 10th inning to break a 6-6 tie as they defeated the Boston Red Sox 9-6 before 33,343 fans at Fenway Park in Boston. Milwaukee leadoff hitter Jim Gantner batted 4 for 5 with a double, sacrifice, run, and 2 runs batted in.

Ed Ott’s grand slam off Tug McGraw in the 8th inning gave the Pittsburgh Pirates a 14-11 win over the Philadelphia Phillies before 51,118 fans at Veterans Stadium in Philadelphia. It was the fourth grand slam given up by Mr. McGraw that season, tying a record set by Ray Narleski in 1959. Mr. Ott batted 4 for 5 with 2 runs and 5 runs batted in. The Phillies led 8-0 after 4 innings.

25 years ago
1984

Theatre
Eleusinian Rites, Mysteries, and Drama Soirees staged a mock murder mystery in St. Albert, Alberta. Unlike the previous week’s mystery, this one wasn’t as successful. It wasn’t the fault of this blogger, who played a victim. I did feel a little awkward trying to act casual while walking several blocks to the car while covered in stage blood, as cars drove by.

Olympics
Carl Lewis of the United States won his fourth gold medal of the 1984 Olympics when he anchored the men’s 400 metre relay at Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum. Sam Graddy, Ron Brown, Calvin Smith, and Mr. Lewis won by 7 metres in 37.83 seconds for the only track and field record at the Los Angeles Olympics.

Politics and government
While testing a radio microphone, U.S. President Ronald Reagan said, "My fellow Americans, I'm pleased to tell you today that I've signed legislation that will outlaw Russia forever. We begin bombing in five minutes." Democratic party presidential candidate Walter Mondale deplored the choice of subject matter for a joke, and the U.S.S.R. professed to be offended.

Law
U.S. President Ronald Reagan signed into law an act of Congress that would prohibit public high schools from barring students who wished to assemble for religious or political activities outside school hours. He said it would "allow student religious groups to begin enjoying a right they’ve too long been denied, the freedom to meet in public high schools...just as other student groups are allowed to do."

Football
CFL
Ottawa (3-4) 21 @ British Columbia (5-1) 34

20 years ago
1989

Hit parade
#1 single in West Germany (Media Control): Das Omen (Teil I)--Mysterious Art (7th week at #1)

Died on this date
John Meillon, 55. Australian actor. Mr. Meillon was a character actor in movies and television programs, best known internationally for his appearances in the movies Crocodile Dundee (1986) and Crocodile Dundee II (1988). He died of cirrhosis of the liver.

Space
The U.S. probe Voyager 2 discovered two partial rings of Neptune during its flyby of that planet.

Diplomacy
South African President P.W. Botha publicly disputed an assertion by his foreign minister that he had been consulted on the proposed meeting between F. W. de Klerk, who had been chosen the previous day to succeed him as National Party leader, and Zambian President Kenneth Kaunda.

10 years ago
1999

Space
Up to 350 million people in Europe and Asia witnessed the last total solar eclipse of the 20th Century.

War
Pakistan fired a missile at two Indian planes and three helicopters that were flying journalists to the site of the crash of a Pakistani naval plane that had been shot down by an Indian military plane the previous day.

Terrorism
U.S. President Bill Clinton offered to commute the sentences of 16 Puerto Ricans who belonged to Armed Forces of National Liberation (FALN), a terrorist organization that promoted independence for Puerto Rico. Mr. Clinton said that those to whom he offered clemency hadn’t been directly involved in the attacks that harmed others. Most of the 16 had served at least 19 years in prison. Those offered clemency had to agree to renounce violence and comply with parole requirements.

Crime
Buford Furrow, Jr., who had wounded five people at the North Valley Jewish Community Center in Los Angeles the previous day and then shot and killed a Filipino-American letter carrier a few miles away, surrendered to authorities in Las Vegas, saying he had committed the shootings because he was "concerned about the decline of the white race."

Business
Aluminum companies based in three countries announced that they planned a merger that would create the largest company in the industry. The companies were Alcan Aluminum Ltd. (Canada); Alusuisse Lonza Group AG (Switzerland); and Pechiney SA (France). Their total revenue in 1998 was about $25 billion.

Education
The Kansas Board of Education voted 6-4 to drop the theory of evolution from the public school science curriculum, and also approved omitting from the curriculum references to the Big Bang theory of the origin of the universe. Kansas Governor Bill Graves and leading educators in Kansas criticized the board’s actions, and the mainstream media frequently misreported (deliberately, in the view of this blogger) that Kansas had forbidden the teaching of evolution in schools. In fact, no such prohibition had taken place; teachers were free to teach evolution, but students weren’t required to know it in order to graduate.

Disasters
A rare tornado struck downtown Salt Lake City, killing one person and injuring at least 100 others. It was the first tornado documented in Utah to result in a fatality since 1884, and caused $170 million in damages.