September 11, 2010

1,410 years ago
600

Born on this date
Yuknoom Chʼeen II. King of Kaan, 636-686. Yuknoom Chʼeen II was possibly the son of King Scroll Serpent, and was a Mayan ruler for about 50 years during the height of the kingdom's power. He died in his 80s.

620 years ago
1390

War
The Teutonic Knights began a five-week siege of Vilnius as part of the Lithuanian Civil War.

230 years ago
1780

War
At least 10 members of the Northampton County volunteer militia were killed in Luzerne County, Pennsylvania when they were attacked by Indians and Loyalists in what became known as the Sugarloaf Massacre.

210 years ago
1800

Born on this date
Daniel S. Dickinson. U.S. politician. Mr. Dickinson, a Democrat, was a member of the New York State Senate (1837-1840); Lieutenant Governor of New York (1843-1844); represented New York in the U.S. Senate (1844-1851); and served as Attorney General of New York (1862-1863). He died on April 12, 1866 at the age of 65.

Defense
The Maltese National Congress Battalions were disbanded by British Civil Commissioner Alexander Ball.

200 years ago
1810

Died on this date
Francis Baring, 1st Baronet Baring, 70. U.K. banker and politician. Sir Francis and his brother John, who was mostly a silent partner, founded the John and Francis Baring Company, which eventually became Barings Bank, a merchant bank that achieved success and influence in Europe and America. Sir Francis served as an adviser to the British government, promoting liberalization of trade, and was also a director of the East India Company, supporting the company's monopoly. He represented various ridings in the House of Commons (1784-1790, 1794-1806), and was created 1st Baronet Baring in 1793.

180 years ago
1830

Politics and government
The U.S. Anti-Masonic Party held a convention in Philadelphia.

160 years ago
1850

Music
Swedish soprano Jenny Lind made her American debut at the Castle Garden Theatre in New York City, beginning a 93-stop American tour organized by P.T. Barnum.

125 years ago
1885

Born on this date
D. H. Lawrence. U.K. writer. David Herbert Lawrence wrote fiction, non-fiction, plays, and poetry, but was best known for his novels Sons and Lovers (1913); Women in Love (1920); and Lady Chatterley's Lover (1928). His short stories included The Rocking-Horse Winner (1926), which, in 1949, was made into one of this blogger's favourite movies. Mr. Lawrence explored issues of sexuality and emotional health, and the dehumanizing effects of modernity. He had to deal with official censorship of his works, and was regarded in his own time as a pornographer who had wasted his talent, but his reputation improved after his death from tuberculosis at the age of 44 on March 2, 1930 in France, where he spent his last years.

120 years ago
1890

Golf
John Ball, an amateur, shot a 2-round total of 164 to win the British Open at Prestwick Golf Club in Prestwick, Scotland, 3 strokes ahead of Willie Fernie and Archie Simpson.

100 years ago
1910

Died on this date
Louis Henri Boussenard, 62. French author. Dr. Boussenard was a physician who travelled throughout the French colonies, especially in Africa. His experiences inspired him to write several dozen adventure novels, and he was known during his lifetime as the "French Rider Haggard." Dr. Boussenard's novels expressed a French nationalistic point of view and anti-German, anti-British, and anti-American biases, which may explain why his works are more popular in Eastern Europe than in Francophone and Anglophone countries. He died 23 days before his 63rd birthday.

90 years ago
1920

Died on this date
Bill Hallman, 53. U.S. baseball player. Mr. Hallman was an infielder with six major league teams, including three from Philadelphia, from 1888-1898 and 1901-1903, batting .272 with 21 home runs and 769 runs batted in in 1,507 games. While playing with the St. Louis Cardinals in 1897, he managed the team for part of the season, compiling a record of 13-36. After his major league career was over, Mr. Hallman played and managed in the minor leagues through 1909. He died of heart disease. Mr. Hallman's nephew, also named Bill Hallman, was an outfielder in the major leagues from 1901-1907.

Baseball
Babe Ruth hit 2 doubles and Del Pratt drove in 4 runs for the New York Yankees as they beat the Cleveland Indians 6-2 before 30,000 fans at Dunn Field in Cleveland to move to within 1 percentage point of the first-place Indians, 1 game ahead of the Chicago White Sox in the American League pennant race. Hank Thormahlen (8-4) pitched a 7-hitter to wiin over Jim Bagby (27-10).

Joe Jackson drove in 5 runs with a grand slam and a single, but his Chicago White Sox still lost 9-7 to the Boston Red Sox at Comiskey Park in Chicago. Sad Sam Jones (12-15) allowed 10 hits and 6 runs--all earned--in 6 innings, but got the win over Dickie Kerr (17-9). The game was played in 1 hour 50 minutes.

Ken Williams hit a home run in each game to help the St. Louis Browns sweep a doubleheader from the Washington Nationals 13-6 and 17-2 at Sportsman's Park in St. Louis. The Browns amassed a total of 33 hits in the 2 games. Joe Gleason, the last of three Washington pitchers in the first game, allowed 1 hit and 3 runs--all earned--in 1 inning, walking 2 batters and striking out none in his first major league game.

Leon Cadore (14-12) pitched a 10-hit complete game and batted 3 for 4 with a home run, double, 2 runs, and 4 runs batted in to lead the Brooklyn Robins over the St. Louis Cardinals 15-4 in the first game of a doubleheader before 28,000 fans at Ebbets Field in Brooklyn. Sherry Smith (9-8) pitched a 5-hitter to outduel Lou North (2-2) and Zach Wheat his a solo home run as the Robins won the second game 2-0 to complete the sweep. Tim Griesenbeck caught the last 2 innings for St. Louis in the first game, batting 0 for 1 with no fielding chances in his first major league game. Jack Sheehan played the 8th inning at shortstop for Brooklyn in the first game, with no plate appearances and 1 assist in his major league debut.

Walton Cruise and Rabbit Maranville scored on an error by third baseman Heinie Groh with 2 out in the bottom of the 8th inning, enabling the Boston Braves to defeat the Cincinnati Reds 5-4 in the first game of a doubleheader at Braves Field. Joe Oeschger (12-12) pitched a 7-hitter and singled and scored the first run of a 2-run 6th inning as the Braves won the second game 2-0 to complete the sweep. Losing pitcher Ray Fisher (9-8) allowed 7 hits and 2 earned runs in 7 innings as the defending World Series champion Reds dropped 3 games behind the National League-leading Robins.

70 years ago
1940

War
U.K. Prime Minister Winston Churchill warned Britain that an invasion by German forces may be imminent. Acting upon a report that German troops were about to invade England, British forces launched air and sea attacks upon French and Norwegian coastal ports. A Chinese military spokesman stated in Chungking that Chinese troops were destroying the Yunnan railway bridge over the Red River to prevent its use by the Japanese.

Diplomacy
French Indochinese Governor General Jean Decoux sent a plea to U.S. President Franklin D. Roosevelt for assistance in curbing the Japanese demands upon Indochina.

Defense
Ford Motor Company began the construction of an $11-million plant for the production of airplane engines.

Politics and government
The Norwegian Parliament named Ingold Ilster Christensen as regent.

U.S. President Roosevelt officially opened his campaign for a third term in office with a speech in Washington hailing the success of labour in America, and reasserted his desire to avoid a "foreign war." Republican Party presidential candidate Wendell Willkie asserted that Mr. Roosevelt's desire for an unprecedented third term was a key issue in the campaign, for if Mr. Roosevelt and his people stayed in power, it would be "destructive of democracy." National Association for the Advancement of Colored People chairman William Pickens established a Negro citizens committee to support Mr. Willkie's campaign.

Aviation
Jacqueline Cochrane of the United States won the annual trophy of the International League of Aviators as the world's outstanding female pilot.

Baseball
The New York Yankees and Cleveland Indians split a doubleheader before 33,471 fans at Municipal Stadium in Cleveland. The Yankees won the first game 3-1, with Ernie Bonham (6-2) pitching a 5-hitter to outduel Bob Feller (24-9). The Indians won 5-3 in the second game, which was called because of rain after 5½ innings. They scored all their runs--4 unearned--in the second game in the 3rd inning, aided by errors by first baseman Babe Dahlgren and pitcher Red Ruffing. Al Smith (14-7) won over Mr. Ruffing (13-11). New York manager Joe McCarthy later claimed that Mr. Dahlgren's error cost the Yankees the pennant. Mr. McCarthy whispered to others that Mr. Dahlgren was a marijuana user, and traded him after the season. Mr. Dahlgren and his family accused Mr. McCarthy of defaming him and blackballing him from baseball.

60 years ago
1950

On television tonight
Lights Out, on NBC
Tonight's episode: The Dark Corner, starring Alan Marshal, John Newland, and Mary Sinclair

Died on this date
Álvaro de Figueroa, 1st Count of Romanones, 87. Prime Minister of Spain, 1912-1913, 1915-1917, 1918-1919. The Count of Romanes, a Liberal, was a member of the Chamber of Deputies, city councillor and Mayor of Madrid, and held various cabinet posts in addition to serving three brief terms as Prime Minister. He supported the Allies during World War I, contrary to the prevailing neutralist sentiment. The Count of Romanones held several offices in the 1920s, and continued to represent Guadalajara in the Chamber of Deputies into the 1930s. He supported the Nationalists during the Spanish Civil War, and was one of the signatories of a legal opinion justifying Francisco Franco's seizure of power.

Jan Smuts, 80. Prime Minister of South Africa, 1919-1924, 1939-1948. Field Marshal Smuts commanded Boer forces against British troops in the Boer War (1899-1902), but led South African forces in World War I and was a member of the Imperial War Cabinet (1917-1919), helping to found what became the Royal Air Force. He was appointed a field marshal in the British Army in 1941, and was the only person to sign the treaties ending both World Wars. As a member of the South African Party and then the United Party, Mr. Smuts held several cabinet posts in addition to the office of Prime Minister in a political career spanning a half-century. He initially supported racial segregation, but eventually changed his mind, and his government was defeated in 1948 by hard-line nationalists who imposed the country's racial policy of apartheid. Field Marshal Smuts died of a heart attack.

War
U.S. President Harry Truman approved military operations north of the 38th parallel in Korea.

Technology
The Intertype Fotosetter Photographic Line Composing Machine, the first typesetting machine to dispense with metal type, was exhibited for the first time, in Chicago.

Economics and finance
The U.S. Economic Cooperation Administration announced that it would spend $138 million, twice as much as the previous year, on stockpiling strategic materials this year.

U.S. Commerce Secretary Charles Sawyer asked the heads of 20 steel corporations to expand steel capacity as soon as possible.

Football
CRU
WIFU
Winnipeg (3-2) 6 @ Calgary (1-5) 13
Saskatchewan (3-2) 12 @ Edmonton (4-2) 24

8,000 fans at Mewata Stadium saw the Stampeders defeat the Blue Bombers.

Mike King scored 2 touchdowns for the Eskimos in their win over the Roughriders before 8,000 fans at Clarke Stadium. Jim Macrae and Don Simon scored the other Edmonton touchdowns, with Annis Stukus kicking 4 converts.

Baseball
The New York Yankees won a doubleheader from the Washington Nationals 5-1 and 6-2 before 6,222 fans at Griffith Stadium in Washington to move into first place in the American League, ½ game ahead of the idle Detroit Tigers. Whitey Ford (6-0) and Eddie Lopat (16-8) were the respective winning pitchers. New York leadoff hitter Jackie Jensen had 3 hits in the first game, including his first major league home run.

50 years ago
1960

Politics and government
About 90 students from 44 universities in 24 states gathered at the Sharon, Connecticut home of journalist William F. Buckley and founded the conservative organization Young Americans for Freedom, signing its founding document, the Sharon Statement.

Olympics
Wilma Rudolph anchored the victorious American team in the women’s 4 X 100 metre relay track event, winning her third gold medal at the Rome Olympics.

Football
CFL
Hamilton (0-5) 12 @ Toronto (5-0) 16

30,863 were in attendance at CNE Stadium.

AFL
Buffalo (0-1) 3 @ New York (1-0) 27
Houston (1-0) 37 @ Oakland (0-1) 22

Only 9,607 saw the Titans defeat the Bills at the Polo Grounds, while 12,703 fans at Kezar Stadium in San Francisco saw the Oilers defeat the Raiders.

Baseball
The Montreal Royals played their last game in the International League, losing 2-1 in 11 innings to the Red Wings at Red Wing Stadium in Rochester. The final standings of the IL were:

Toronto 100-54
Richmond 82-70 17 games behind leader
Rochester 81-73 19
Buffalo 78-75 21½
Jersey City 76-77 23½
Columbus 69-84 30½
Miami 65-88 34½
Montreal 62-92 38

40 years ago
1970

Hit parade
#1 single in New Zealand (RIANZ): Pinocchio--Maria Dallas (3rd week at #1)

#1 single in Ireland (IRMA): 21 Years--Dermot Hegarty (2nd week at #1)

South Africa's Top 10 (Springbok Radio)
1 The Wedding--Jody Wayne (3rd week at #1)
2 Lola--The Kinks
3 In the Summertime--Mungo Jerry
4 A Song of Joy (Himno a la Alegria)--Miguel Rios
5 Down the Dustpipe--Status Quo
6 Neanderthal Man--Hotlegs
7 Sally--Gerry Munroe
8 Keep On Smiling--James Lloyd
9 Let it Be Me--Percy Sledge
10 Lady D'Arbanville--Cat Stevens

The only single entering the chart was Everybody's Talkin' by Nilsson (#20).

Vancouver's Top 10 (CKLG)
1 Indiana Wants Me--R. Dean Taylor (2nd week at #1)
2 Yellow River--Christie
3 Patches--Clarence Carter
4 Julie, Do Ya Love Me?--Bobby Sherman
5 Lookin' Out My Back Door/Long as I Can See the Light--Creedence Clearwater Revival
6 As the Years Go By--Mashmakhan
7 Me and Bobby McGee--Gordon Lightfoot
8 Candida--Dawn
9 Joanne--Michael Nesmith & the First National Band
10 All Right Now--Free

Singles entering the chart were We Can Make Music by Tommy Roe (#25); It's Only Make Believe by Glen Campbell (#27); We've Only Just Begun by the Carpenters (#29); and Only You Know and I Know by Dave Mason (#30).

Vancouver's Top 10 (CKVN)
1 Lookin' Out My Back Door/Long as I Can See the Light--Creedence Clearwater Revival
2 Indiana Wants Me--R. Dean Taylor
3 Patches--Clarence Carter
4 Yellow River--Christie
5 As the Years Go By--Mashmakhan
6 War--Edwin Starr
7 Overture from Tommy (A Rock Opera)--The Assembled Multitude
8 Candida--Dawn
9 Riki Tiki Tavi--Donovan
10 All Right Now--Free

Singles entering the chart were Rainbow by the Marmalade (#19); Look What They've Done to My Song Ma by the New Seekers (#27); Peace Will Come (According to Plan) by Melanie (#28); Fire and Rain by James Taylor (#29); and We've Only Just Begun by the Carpenters (#30).

Edmonton's Top 10 (CJCA)
1 Me and Bobby McGee--Gordon Lightfoot
2 In the Summertime--Mungo Jerry
3 Lookin' Out My Back Door/Long as I Can See the Light--Creedence Clearwater Revival
4 Snowbird--Anne Murray
5 Indiana Wants Me--R. Dean Taylor
6 Patches--Clarence Carter
7 Tell it All Brother--Kenny Rogers and the First Edition
8 As the Years Go By--Mashmakhan
9 Lay a Little Lovin' on Me--Robin McNamara
10 Cracklin' Rosie--Neil Diamond

Terrorism
88 of the passengers aboard the jets that had been hijacked over western Europe four days earlier and taken to the Jordanian desert were released by the Palestinian guerrillas and flown to Cyprus after first being taken to a hotel in Amman. Some of the other hostages were also taken to Amman.

U.S. President Richard Nixon ordered U.S. federal armed guards to start flying immediately on overseas flights of U.S. airliners as the first step in a three-part anti-hijacking program. He called for joint international action against countries that refused to punish or extradite hijackers.

Disasters
At least 132 people died and 70 were missing after Typhoon Georgia struck Casiguran in the Philippines.

A truck carrying pilgrims from a religious festival in Ceara state in Brazil veered off a hilly curve and into a lake, drowning 19 and injuring 33.

Boxing
Former world welterweight champion Curtis Cokes (58-11-3) won a 10-round decision over Fate Davis (35-9-1) in a middleweight bout at Will Rogers Coliseum in Fort Worth, Texas.

In one of the shortest fights ever, Jose Manuel Urtain (33-1) of Spain knocked out Tony Brown (0-2) just 17 seconds into their heavyweight bout in Barcelona. It was the last professional fight for Mr. Brown, unless he had other fights under another name.

Baseball
Don Buford led off the bottom of the 13th inning with a double and Mark Belanger followed with a single to score Mr. Buford, giving the Baltimore Orioles a 3-2 win over the Boston Red Sox before 15,799 fans at Memorial Stadium in Baltimore. Eddie Watt (5-7) pitched a scoreless 13th and got the win in relief of Jim Palmer, who allowed 10 hits and 2 earned runs in 12 innings. Sparky Lyle (1-7) took the loss in relief of Sonny Siebert, who allowed 9 hits and 2 earned runs in 12 innings.

Vida Blue (1-0), in his first major league start, gave up just 1 hit--a single by Pat Kelly with 2 out in the 8th inning-- and batted 2 for 4 for the Oakland Athletics as they blanked the Kansas City Royals 3-0 before 6,993 fans at Municipal Stadium in Kansas City. Wally Bunker (1-10) allowed 8 hits and 3 runs--2 earned--in 7.1 innings to take the loss.

Coco Laboy singled to lead off the bottom of the 8th inning, advanced to second on a sacrifice bunt, and scored on a 1-out single by Gary Sutherland for the game's only run as the Montreal Expos edged the Philadelphia Phillies 1-0 before 14,637 fans at Jarry Park in Montreal. Carl Morton (16-10) pitched a 2-hitter to win the pitchers' duel over Chris Short (8-15), who allowed 5 hits. Philadelphia third baseman John Vukovich made his major league debut, batting 0 for 3, making 1 putout and 4 assists.

Jose Cardenal doubled home Joe Hague and Joe Torre, and scored on a single by Carl Taylor as part of a 4-run 4th inning for the St. Louis Cardinals as they beat the New York Mets 5-2 before 50,555 fans at Shea Stadium in New York. Bob Gibson (21-6) pitched a 5-hitter to outduel Tom Seaver (18-11), who allowed 5 hits and 4 runs--3 earned--in 6 innings. Tim Foli played the 9th inning at shortstop for the Mets, with no fielding chances in his first major league game.

30 years ago
1980

Politics and government
Approximately two-thirds of Chileans voted in favour of a new constitution, giving the President increased powers. General Augusto Pinochet, who had seized power in coup exactly seven years earlier, was to remain as President for another eight years, after which he would face a re-election referendum. The constitution remains in force, although numerous modifications have been made since 1990.

Crime
Two Chicago gangsters stole the Marlborough diamond from the Graff jewellery shop in Knightsbridge in London, getting away with £1,429,000 worth of diamonds. 11 hours later they were arrested as they stepped off a British Airways jet in Chicago.

25 years ago
1985

Died on this date
Eleanor Dark, 84. Australian authoress. Mrs. Dark was known for novels such as Prelude to Christopher (1934); Return to Coolami (1936); and The Timeless Land (1941). She and her husband attracted government surveillance because of their left-wing associations, and she developed writer's block in later years. Mrs. Dark died 16 days after her 84th birthday.

William Alwyn, 79. U.K. composer. Mr. Alwyn wrote five symphonies, four operas, and over 70 film scores.

Baseball
Pete Rose of the Cincinnati Reds singled off Eric Show of the San Diego Padres for his 4,192nd career major league hit, breaking the official record previously held by Ty Cobb. The Reds won 2-0 before 47,237 fans at Riverfront Stadium in Cincinnati.

Cesar Cedeno hit a home run leading off the 10th inning to give the St. Louis Cardinals a 1-0 win over the New York Mets before 52,616 fans at Shea Stadium in New York, as John Tudor outduelled Dwight Gooden and Jesse Orosco.

Fernando Valenzuela hit his first home run of the season to open the scoring in the 6-run 3rd inning and drove in a run with a ground out in the 5-run 4th as the Los Angeles Dodgers beat the Atlanta Braves 12-3 before 6,205 fans at Atlanta-Fulton County Stadium. Mr. Valenzuela allowed 5 hits and 1 earned run in 6 innings to improve his record for the season to 17-9.

Pinch hitter Mike Felder made his major league debut with a single to lead off the bottom of the 9th inning, scoring the winning run on a single by Cecil Cooper to give the Milwaukee Brewers a 4-3 win over the New York Yankees before 8,540 fans at County Stadium in Milwaukee. Mr. Felder's hit came one inning after teammate Billy Robidoux had grounded out as a pinch hitter in his major league debut. Ted Higuera allowed 6 hits in pitching a complete game victory to improve his 1985 record to 13-6.

20 years ago
1990

Died on this date
Myrna Mack Chang, 40. Guatemalan anthropologist. Mrs. Chang was murdered by a military death squad because of her criticism of the Guatemalan government's treatment of the indigenous Maya population. Thanks to the persistence of her sister Helen Mack, Mrs. Chang's killer was eventually convicted, and the government admitted its responsibility for her murder.

World events
U.S. President George Bush, addressing a joint session of Congress, said that the United States could not allow oil to be controlled by someone as ruthless as Iraqi President Saddam Hussein. Mr. Bush said that in any future action he would not be deterred by Iraq’s policy of using Western hostages as shields. It was in this speech that Mr. Bush spoke of a coming "New World Order."

Politics and government
Premier Gary Filmon led his Progressive Conservatives to victory in the Manitoba provincial election, capturing 30 of 57 seats in the legislature for a slight majority. The New Democrats won 20 seats and the Liberals 7. NDP MLA Elijah Harper, whose refusal to grant unanimous consent had helped to sink the Meech Lake constitutional accord in June, was re-elected in his northern riding. The Manitoba PCs had distanced themselves from the federal party because of the unpopularity of Prime Minister Brian Mulroney.

The Equality Party joined with the Unity Party to fight for English rights in provincial politics in Quebec.

Economics and finance
U.S.S.R. Premier Nikolai Ryzhkov, addressing the Supreme Soviet, warned that the "Shatalin plan," which stressed private property and economic freedom, would, if implemented, lead to high unemployment and a decline in the standard of living. However, Soviet President Mikhail Gorbachev spoke and endorsed the Shatalin plan.

Business
Alberta Telecommunications Minister Fred Stewart announced the $951-million sale of 60% of Telus Corporation (formerly Alberta Government Telephones) a success; 140,000 Albertans owned shares.

Disasters
As many as 160 people may have drowned when a crowded boat capsized in the Mahava River in the Indian state of Uttar Pradesh.

More than 77 people died and 82,000 were left homeless after flooding resulting from heavy rainfall in the vicinity of Seoul.

10 years ago
2000

Politics and government
Canadian Alliance leader Stockwell Day (Okanagan-Coquihalla) and Progressive Conservative leader Joe Clark (King’s/Hants) were both elected to Canada’s House of Commons in federal by-elections.

Canadian premiers struck a health care deal with Prime Minister Jean Chretien that would raise federal transfers to $18.3 billion in 2001. The provinces wanted federal transfer payments restored to 1994 levels of $18.7 billion.

Former Ontario Premier Bob Rae tried to mediate an agreement between Mi’kmaq fishermen from the Burnt Church First Nation and the Canadian federal Fisheries and Ocean Department over control of the lobster fishery in Miramichi Bay, but gave up when he concluded that the sides were too far apart.

Scandal
The U.S. government reached a deal to release scientist Wen Ho Lee, who had been held for nine months on charges of stealing nuclear secrets. Mr. Lee agreed to plead guilty to 1 of 59 charges. The judge apologized for the government’s actions, which he said had "embarrassed our entire nation."

Baseball
Johnny Damon batted 5 for 5 with 2 doubles, a home run, 2 runs, and 2 runs batted in to lead the Kansas City Royals to a 6-3 win over the Seattle Mariners before 33,366 fans at Safeco Field in Seattle.