August 3, 2009

180 years ago
1829

Diplomacy
The Shawnee and Seneca peoples signed the Treaty of Lewistown with the United States, exchanging land in Ohio for land west of the Mississippi River.

150 years ago
1859

Medicine
The American Dental Association was founded in Niagara Falls, New York.

125 years ago
1884

Baseball
The Washington Nationals, created by the American Association to fight the rival Union Association, were disbanded after compiling a 12-51 record.

110 years ago
1899

Disasters
Fire destroyed the downtown core of Greenwood, British Columbia.

100 years ago
1909

Born on this date
Walter Van Tilburg Clark. U.S. author. Mr. Clark, a native of Maine, moved to Nevada in his youth, and remained associated with that state for the rest of his life. He was known for his Western novels The Ox-Bow Incident (1940) and The Track of the Cat (1949), and for his numerous short stories, winning the O. Henry Award five times. Mr. Clark abandoned writing fiction in his last 20 years, concentrating on teaching creative writing at the University of Montana (1954-1956); San Francisco State University (1956-1962); and University of Nevada at Reno (1962-1971). He died of cancer on November 10, 1971 at the age of 62.

Jack Service. Chinese-born U.S. diplomat. Mr. Service, the son of American missionaries, spent his childhood in the Chinese province of Sichuan, moving to California as a teenager. He joined the U.S. Foreign Service in 1933, and became one of the State Department's "China hands." Mr. Service was the political analyst with the "Dixie Mission" (1944-1947), the first U.S. attempt to establish relations with the Communist Party of China. He praised the Communists, while criticizing the Nationalist Chinese regime of Generalissimo Chiang Kai-shek. Mr. Service passed loyalty reviews in the late 1940s, but in March 1950, U.S. Senator Joseph McCarthy (Republican--Wisconsin) accused him of being a Communist, and Mr. Service was soon fired by Secretary of State Dean Acheson. Mr. Service took his dismissal to court, and in 1957, the U.S. Supreme Court ordered Mr. Service reinstated, ruling that Mr. Acheson had violated State Dept. regulations in firing him. Mr. Service resumed work with the State Dept., but was never promoted until his retirement in 1962. He worked as a librarian with the University of California's Center for Chinese Studies in later years, and died on February 3, 1999 at the age of 89.

Baseball
The Philadelphia Athletics swept a doubleheader from the Chicago White Sox 2-1 and 10-4 at Shibe Park in Philadelphia. In the 8th inning of the second game, Eddie Collins of the Athletics appeared to be safe at second base, but was called out by umpire Tim Hurst. Mr. Collins followed the umpire around the infield calling him names such as "blind bat" and "crook," whereupon Mr. Hurst spat in Mr. Collins’ face. After the game, police battled with fans for 20 minutes, and Mr. Hurst was hit by cushions and bottles.

Smokey Joe Wood pitched a 3-hitter for the Boston Red Sox as they edged the Detroit Tigers 2-1 in the first game of a doubleheader at Huntington Avenue Baseball Grounds in Boston. The Red Sox scored 2 runs in the bottom of the 9th inning to win the second game 8-7 to complete the sweep.

The New York Giants scored a run in the top of the 10th inning to break a 6-6 tie and defeat the Cincinnati Reds 7-6 at Redland Field in Cincinnati. Christy Mathewson (16-3) pitched a 15-hit complete game.

90 years ago
1919

Baseball
Jesse Barnes pitched a 5-hitter, improving his 1919 record to 17-4 as the New York Giants shut out the Cincinnati Reds 4-0 before 31,363 fans at Redland Field in Cincinnati. New York manager John McGraw yelled at the crowd‚ "We beat you today and we'll be glad to get out of the home of the Huns." His words inspired a policeman to take a swing at Mr. McGraw‚ but he missed and connected with Giants’ first baseman Hal Chase. Mr. Chase then slugged the cop‚ and as the crowd surged‚ mounted policemen intercepted them.

Wally Pipp's 3-run home run was the big blow of an 8-run 6th inning as the New York Yankees beat the Detroit Tigers 10-2 before 30,000 fans at the Polo Grounds in New York. Bob Shawkey pitched an 8-hit complete game victory to improve his 1919 record to 15-8.

80 years ago
1929

Died on this date
Emile Berliner, 78. German-born U.S. inventor. Mr. Berliner, a native of Hanover, emigrated to the United States in 1870 and became an American citizen in 1881. He was granted his first patent for what he called the "Gramophone" in 1887, and founded the United States Gramophone Company in 1894, and similar companies in other countries over the next few years. Mr. Berliner also invented a form of helicopter in 1909. He died of a heart attack.

Thorstein Veblen, 72. U.S. economist and sociologist. Professor Veblen was a critic of capitalism who was known as the founder of institutional economics. He emphasized the distinction between "institutions" and "technology," and coined the terms "conspicuous consumption" and "conspicuous leisure" in books such as The Theory of the Leisure Class (1899). He died four days after his 72nd birthday.

Religion
Jiddu Krishnamurti, believed likely to be the messianic "World Teacher" by Theosophical Society member Charles Webster Leadbeater, shocked the Theosophy movement by dissolving the Order of the Star, the organisation established to support him.

75 years ago
1934

Baseball
Schoolboy Rowe won his fourth game in seven days as the Detroit Tigers whipped the Chicago White Sox 14-0 at Navin Field in Detroit. Mr. Rowe allowed just 1 hit in 7 innings.

70 years ago
1939

Baseball
Catcher Joe Sprinz of the San Francisco Seals of the Pacific Coast League tried to break the altitude record for a catch as a stunt at the Treasure Island Exhibition in San Francisco. A ball was dropped 800 feet from a blimp and hit him in the face. Mr. Sprinz suffered a compound fracture of the jaw and lost several teeth.

60 years ago
1949

Defense
The Netherlands completed ratification of the North Atlantic Treaty.

Crime
A U.S. federal grand jury in Rome, Georgia indicted 12 white men, including Dade County Sheriff John Lynch, on charges of flogging Negro prisoners.

Technology
Columbia University Professor Arthur Pollister demonstrated a micro-spectro-photometer, which determined the constituents of individual cells by measuring the amount of light absorbed by different substances.

Boxing
Laurent Dauthuille (30-7-3), a Frenchman currently based in Montreal, knocked out hometown favourite Johnny Greco (66-12-4) with 3 seconds remaining in the 5th round of a welterweight bout before 20,000 fans at Delorimier Stadium in Montreal.

Basketball
The Basketball Association of America and the National Basketball League finalized the merger, to create the National Basketball Association.

50 years ago
1959

Hit parade
#1 single in Spain (PROMUSICAE): Recordándote--Los Cinco Latinos (3rd week at #1)

U.S.A. Top 10 (Billboard)
1 Lonely Boy--Paul Anka (4th week at #1)
2 A Big Hunk o' Love--Elvis Presley
3 My Heart is an Open Book--Carl Dobkins, Jr.
4 The Battle of New Orleans--Johnny Horton
5 Tiger--Fabian
6 There Goes My Baby--The Drifters
7 Waterloo--Stonewall Jackson
8 Lavender-Blue--Sammy Turner
9 Sweeter than You--Ricky Nelson
10 Forty Miles of Bad Road--Duane Eddy and the Rebels

Singles entering the chart were Baby Talk by Jan & Dean (#65); Red River Rock by Johnny and the Hurricanes (#66); Leave My Kitten Alone by Little Willie John (#70); Caribbean by Mitchell Torok (#73); Angel Face by Jimmy Darren (#75); My Own True Love by Jimmy Clanton (#76); Time Marches On by Roy Hamilton (#89); I Love You, Porgy by Nina Simone (#91); Soldier's Joy by Hawkshaw Hawkins (#92); Midnight Flyer by Nat "King" Cole (#94); I Got Stripes by Johnny Cash (#95); Miami by Eugene Church (#96); Gee by George Hamilton IV (#99); and Alimony by Frankie Ford (#100).

Vancouver's Top 10 (CKWX)
1 Lonely Boy--Paul Anka (3rd week at #1)
2 Robbin' the Cradle--Tony Bellus
3 A Big Hunk o' Love/My Wish Came True--Elvis Presley
4 The Battle of New Orleans--Johnny Horton
5 Lipstick on Your Collar/Frankie--Connie Francis
6 Personality--Lloyd Price
7 Mona Lisa--Conway Twitty
8 My Heart is an Open Book--Carl Dobkins, Jr.
9 Velvet Waters--The Megatrons
10 Waterloo--Stonewall Jackson

Singles entering the chart were Sleep Walk by Santo & Johnny (#39); Kissin' Time by Bobby Rydell (#42); I'm Gonna Be a Wheel Someday/I Want to Walk You Home by Fats Domino (#44); My Own True Love by Jimmy Clanton (#45); I've Been There by Tommy Edwards (#53); Midnight Flyer by Nat "King" Cole (#58); and So Close to My Heart by Kathy Linden (#59).

Abominations
Portugal's state police force PIDE fired upon unarmed striking workers in Bissau, Portuguese Guinea, killing over 50 people. The strike had been instigated by the African Party for the Independence of Guinea and Cape Verde (PAIGC), who thereafter adopted a policy of armed struggle.

War
North Vietnam warned that it could not remain indifferent to fighting near its borders by Laotian government troops and Pathet Lao guerrillas.

Diplomacy
U.S. President Dwight D. Eisenhower announced that he would visit the U.S.S.R. before winter after Soviet Premier Nikita Khrushchev came to Washington in September. U.S. Vice President Richard Nixon conferred with Polish Communist Party First Secretary Wladyslaw Gomulka for 5½ hours in Warsaw.

Law
The West German government signed status of forces agreements with several North Atlantic Treaty Organization powers, granting West German courts jurisdiction over NATO personnel charged with non-military crimes and reducing special provileges enjoyed by Allied servicemen.

Football
CFL
Pre-Season
Ottawa (1-1) 7 @ Edmonton (3-0) 20

Baseball
Second Major League All-Star Game @ Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum
American League 5 @ National League 3

Frank Malzone, Yogi Berra, and Rocky Colavito hit home runs for the AL as they defeated the NL before 55,105 fans. Frank Robinson and Jim Gilliam homered for the NL.



40 years ago
1969

On television tonight
Conquest of Space, hosted by Percy Saltzman, on CBC

Died on this date
Alexander Mair, 79. Australian politician. Mr. Mair was originally a member of the United Australia Party, and represented Albury in the New South Wales Parliament from 1932-1946. He was elected UAP leader on August 5, 1939, and took office as Premier the same day, succeeding Bertram Stevens,who had resigned. Mr. Mair served as Premier until the UAP's loss in the 1941 election, and remained as Leader of the Opposition through the disintegration of the UAP in 1943, taking the leadership of the Democratic Party. Mr. Mair was a central figure in the formation of the Liberal Party in 1944, and led the New South Wales Liberal party from November 1945-March 1946. He ran for a seat in the Australian Senate in 1946, but was defeated, and left politics. Mr. Mair died 22 days before his 80th birthday.

Diplomacy
U.S. President Richard Nixon met British Prime Minister Harold Wilson in England for a brief conference before returning to the United States after his global tour.

Protest
Protestants attempting to march on a Roman Catholic district in Belfast, Northern Ireland clashed with police in the second night of religious violence there. The cabinet earlier held a two-hour emergency meeting, announcing that it would take any steps required to end the violence.

Defense
An inquiry showed that many of the signers of a prominently circulated newspaper advertisement promoting the anti-ballistic missile proposal had defense industry associations and could benefit financially if the program were approved. The ad was placed by the Citizens’ Committee for Peace with Security.

A report to the United States Government Accounting Office charged that B.F. Goodrich had consistently altered test results to hide defects in brakes that it made for the new USAF A-7D attack plane.

Crime
The U.S. Army announced the arrest of Robert Rheault, 43, commander of the 5th Special Forces Group (Airborne) in Vietnam, and seven other members of the group (six of whom were officers), on charges of killing a Vietnamese spy. The death of Thai Khac Chuyen took place in June, but the Army refused to disclose details.

Politics and government
The platform of the ruling Labour party in Israel called for retention of the Golan Heights, the Gaza Strip, and parts of the Sinai peninsula that were conquered in the Six-Day War in 1967.

Disasters
A freight train explosion ripped through Noel, Missouri, killing 1 and injuring at least 100.

Football
CFL
British Columbia (0-2) 20 @ Saskatchewan (1-0) 22

The Lions filed a protest after this game because of the suspiciously slow way in which the clock ticked down when the Roughriders were marching the ball down the field for the winning points in the final minutes. The Lions also expressed unhappiness about a fence at the back of one end zone at Taylor Field, where a plank was sticking out. The edge of the plank pierced the face mask of B.C. defensive back Craig Murray, and he was lucky not to lose an eye. The game also marked the end of the career of veteran B.C. defensive end Dick Fouts, who had been one of the "Headhunters" who had helped lead the Lions to the 1964 Grey Cup championship. He retired after this game to become an assistant coach with the team.

Baseball
Pinch hitter Rich Reese’s grand slam in the bottom of the 7th inning enabled the Minnesota Twins to defeat the Baltimore Orioles 5-2 before 40,661 fans at Metropolitan Stadium in Bloomington. Jim Kaat was the winning pitcher, while Dave McNally took the loss, ending his 17-game winning streak. His record for 1969 now stood at 15-1. Mr. Reese was batting for Jim Kaat, who allowed 5 hits and was credited with the win, improving to 11-7. Baltimore right fielder Frank Robinson and manager Earl Weaver were both ejected by home plate umpire Frank Umont in the 1st inning for arguing a third-strike call.

Willie Horton hit a grand slam with 1 out in the bottom of the 9th inning to give the Detroit Tigers a 6-2 win over the Chicago White Sox before 21,001 fans at Tiger Stadium.

Bubba Morton tripled to lead off the bottom of the 11th inning and scored on a bases-loaded single by pinch hitter Billy Cowan to give the California Angels a 3-2 win over the Washington Senators before 8,994 fans at Anaheim Stadium.

The Cincinnati Reds pounded 25 hits and scored 10 runs in the 5th inning in a 19-17 win over the Philadelphia Phillies before 13,181 fans at Connie Mack Stadium in Philadelphia. The Phillies led 9-6 after the 4th inning, but the Reds took an 18-9 lead in the 6th before the Phillies struck back with 7 runs in the bottom of the 6th. Johnny Bench led the Reds with 5 hits.

Johnny Edwards batted 3 for 4 with a home run, triple, and 2 runs to help the Houston Astros beat the Montreal Expos 7-3 in the first game of a doubleheader before 24,235 fans at Jarry Park in Montreal. Gary Sutherland scored from third base when Mack Jones grounded into a fielder's choice with 1 out in the bottom of the 9th inning to give the Expos a 1-0 win in the second game. Howie Reed pitched a 4-hitter to win the pitchers' duel over Larry Dierker, who allowed 5 hits.



Jerry Grote led off the bottom of the 11th inning with a home run to give the New York Mets a 6-5 win over the Atlanta Braves before 34,696 fans at Shea Stadium in New York. The Braves scored 4 runs in the top of the 6th to take a 5-0 lead, but the Mets rallied for 5 in the bottom of the 6th to tie the score.

Billy Williams' 3-run home run with none out in the bottom of the 8th inning enabled the Chicago Cubs to defeat the San Diego Padres 4-3 before 32,566 fans at Wrigley Field in Chicago. San Diego center fielder Cito Gaston hit his first major league home run, a 2-run shot in the 6th inning that gave the Padres a 3-1 lead.

30 years ago
1979

Hit parade
#1 single in Sweden (Topplistan): Born to Be Alive--Patrick Hernandez (2nd week at #1)

#1 single in West Germany (Media Control): So Bist Du--Peter Maffay (2nd week at #1)

#1 single in France (IFOP): Honesty--Billy Joel (4th week at #1)

Died on this date
Bertil Ohlin, 80. Swedish economist and politician. Dr. Ohlin taught at the Stockholm School of Economics for many years, and with Eli Heckscher, developed the Heckscher-Ohlin theorem regarding international trade. Dr. Ohlin and James Meade shared the 1977 Nobel Prize in Economic Sciences "for their pathbreaking contribution to the theory of international trade and international capital movements." Dr. Ohlin represented Stockholm Municipality in the Swedish Parliament from 1938-1970, and led the People's Party from 1944-1967. He served as Sweden's Minister for Trade (1944-1945) and President of the Nordic Council (1959-1969).

Abominations
The New York Times reported that Red Cross officials were saying that 2.25 million Cambodians were facing starvation. In trying to deliver aid, international relief agencies were encountering problems with rival governments who sought to have the relief efforts limited to areas controlled by them. The relief organizations had not been able to gain permission to have officials monitor the relief programs in order to insure that food and medicine were not being given only to military forces. The relief officials reported seeing evidence of systematic torture by the Pol Pot government, and also charged that the former regime had destroyed the intellectual life and whatever they could find of 20th Century civilization in Cambodia.

World events
Equatorial Guinean President Nguema Biyoto Masie was overthrown in a coup and replaced by a junta calling itself the Revolutionary Military Council. Mr. Masie’s 11-year reign was considered to be one of the most brutal in Africa. The new leader of the country was identified as Mr. Masie’s nephew, Defense Minister Theodore Nguema Mbasago.

Labour
The United States Bureau of Labor Statistics reported that unemployment had risen a tenth of a percentage point in July, to 5.7% of the work force.

United Auto Workers leaders rebuffed Chrysler on a proposed two-year wage freeze to bail out the financially troubled company.

Baseball
Tony LaRussa became manager of the Chicago White Sox, a day after the resignation of Don Kessinger. The White Sox were in fifth place in the American League West Division with a record of 46-60.

25 years ago
1984

Diplomacy
The United States announced that it was lifting some of the sanctions it had imposed against Poland after that country imposed martial law in 1981. Priority went to removing a ban on U.S. landing rights for the Polish airline, and an end to U.S. opposition to Polish membership in the International Monetary Fund.

Economics and finance
The week concluded with a record trading on the New York Stock Exchange of 236.57 million shares. The Dow Jones Industrial Average rose 36.0 points to 1,202.08. The Dow’s gain for the week, 87.46 points, set another record.

Labour
The United States Labor Department reported a rise in the jobless figure for July to 7.4%, the first increase in that figure since the 1982 recession.

Olympics
Mary Lou Retton became the first American gymnast to win an Olympic gold medal when she won the women’s vault competition at the Summer Olympics in Los Angeles.

Football
CFL
Winnipeg (4-1) 22 @ Edmonton (2-3) 21

The Blue Bombers trailed 21-12 after 3 quarters, but Willard Reaves scored a touchdown, converted by Trevor Kennerd, and then Mr. Kennerd kicked a 26-yard field goal with just over 3 minutes left to provide the winning points. Quarterback Matt Dunigan’s attempts to rally the Eskimos in the final minutes were thwarted by 2 interceptions. Neil Lumsden rushed for an early Eskimo touchdown before Mr. Dunigan hit Brian Kelly with 2 touchdown passes in the third quarter. For Mr. Kelly, they were his 11th and 12th touchdowns of the season. This blogger had the privilege of taking photographs from the sidelines at Commonwealth Stadium during the game; one photo ended up winning a prize in a national contest, and another was published in a book.

20 years ago
1989

Hit parade
#1 single in Finland (Finnish Singles Chart): Minä olen muistanut--Kim Lönnholm (10th week at #1)

#1 single in Ireland (IRMA): Too Much--Bros (2nd week at #1)

Football
CFL
Toronto (2-2) 21 @ Edmonton (3-1) 22

Tracy Ham threw touchdown passes to Craig Ellis and Tom Richards and ran for another TD himself as the Eskimos held on to edge the Argos at Commonwealth Stadium. Toropnto kicker Lance Chomyc missed a 42-yard field goal with about a minute remaining in the game, and it went for a single point.



Baseball
The Cincinnati Reds scored 14 runs in the first inning of an 18-2 win over the Houston Astros before 20,179 fans at Riverfront Stadium in Cincinnati. The Reds had 16 hits in the inning, and 7 players had 2 hits in the inning. Mariano Duncan and Luis Quinones each batted 3 times in the first inning to tie a major league record. Tom Browning went the distance for the win. Jim Clancy, who gave up 7 runs without recording an out, was the loser, while Bob Forsch allowed 10 runs on 18 hits in 7 innings.



With 2 out and nobody on base in the bottom of the 12th inning Rafael Belliard singled, stole second base, and scored on a single by pinch hitter Benny Distefano to give the Pittsburgh Pirates a 1-0 win over the Montreal Expos before 12,292 fans at Three Rivers Stadium in Pittsburgh.

Tom Gordon pitched a 3-hitter for the Kansas City Royals as they shut out the Toronto Blue Jays 5-0 before 48,731 fans at SkyDome in Toronto.

Pinch hitter Tracy Jones singled home 2 runs to climax a 3-run 8th inning to break a 6-6 tie as the Detroit Tigers beat the Texas Rangers 9-6 before 16,039 fans at Tiger Stadium.

10 years ago
1999

Died on this date
Byron Farwell, 78. U.S. historian. Mr. Farwell was a military historian and biographer. His books included Prisoners of the Mahdi (1967); The Great War in Africa, 1914–1918 (1986); and The Great Anglo-Boer War (1990).

Leroy Vinnegar, 71. U.S. musician. Mr. Vinnegar was a jazz bassist who performed in Los Angeles in the 1950s and '60s, leading his own band and playing with others. He was known as "The Walker" because of his trademark "walking bass" line of ascending and descending notes. Mr. Vinnegar moved to Portland, Oregon in 1986 and spent the rest of his life there.

Politics and government
Almost two months after the votes were cast, Indonesian President B.J. Habibie announced the results of parliamentary elections. The opposition Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle polled 34%, and the Golkar party (Mr. Habibie’s party) received 22.4%. 48 parties competed in the country’s first free election in 44 years. Complaints of fraud had delayed the announcement of the results.

Economics and finance
A United States Senate and House of Representatives conference committee approved the final draft of a Republican-backed bill providing for a $792 billion tax cut. All income tax rates would be cut by 1%. The top rate on capital gains would drop from 20% to 18%. The inheritance tax on large estates would be phased out, and many married couples would get a tax break.

Business
The Toronto Dominion Bank announced that it would take over Canada Trust in an $8-billion deal.

Labour
The major league baseball umpires union filed unfair labour practice charges with the National Labor Relations board to block the American and National Leagues from using minor league replacements.