March 20, 2011

820 years ago
1191

Died on this date
Clement III, 61 (?). Roman Catholic Pope, 1187-1191. Clement III, born Paulion (or Paolo) Scolari, succeeded Gregory VIII. He was involved in a dispute with Holy Roman Emperor Henry VI at the time of his death. Pope Clement III was succeeded in office by Celestine III.

660 years ago
1351

Died on this date
Muhammad bin Tughluq, 60-61 (?). Sultan of Delhi, 1325-1351. Muhammad bin Tughluq acceded to the throne upon the death of his father Ghiyas-ud-din, founder of the Tughluq dynasty. He was a devout Muslim who was interested in medicine and skilled in several languages, but was also described as having a bizarre character. Muhammad bin Tughluq died on his way to Thatta, Sindh, while campaigning in Sindh against the Taghi, a Turkish slave tribe. He was succeeded on the throne by his cousin Firoz Shah Tughlaq.

200 years ago
1811

Born on this date
Napoleon II. Emperor of France, 1815. Napoleon II, the son of Emperor Napoleon I, was designated as his father's successor when Napoleon I abdicated, and was titular Emperor of France from June 22-July 7, 1815. However, the Commission of Government, which held power for two weeks, never formally summoned Napoleon II, who was living in Austria with his mother. He died from tuberculosis on July 22, 1832 at the age of 21, and was succeeded by his cousin Napoleon III, who acceded to the throne in 1852.

180 years ago
1831

Born on this date
Solomon Spink. U.S. politician. Mr. Spink, a Republican, was a lawyer and journalist who was a member of the Illinois House of Representatives (1864) before moving to Dakota Territory, serving as the territory's secretary (1865-1869) and as its non-voting delegate to the U.S. Congress (1869-1871). He was defeated in his bids for re-election in 1870 and 1876, and died on September 22, 1881 at the age of 50.

Patrick Jennings. U.K.-born Australian politician. Sir Patrick, a native of Ireland, moved to Australia in 1852, became a magistrate in 1857, and eventually settled in New South Wales. He was a member of the N.S.W. Legislative Council (1867-1870), and represented Bogan in the N.S.W. Legislative Assembly (1870-1872, 1880-1887). Sir Patrick was N.S.W. Colonial Secretary (October-December 1885) and Premier (February 1886-January 1887); his government had difficulty dealing witha financial crisis, and he didn't run in the 1887 state election. Sir Patrick was nominated to the Legislative Council in 1890, and died on July 11, 1897 at the age of 66.

160 years ago
1851

Transportation
Edward Serell's Queenston-Lewiston suspension bridge, a 318-metre (1,043 foot) span supported by stone towers, formally opened at Queenston, Canada West.

150 years ago
1861

Disasters
An earthquake destroyed Mendoza, Argentina.

100 years ago
1911

Born on this date
Alfonso García Robles. Mexican diplomat and politician. Mr. García Robles held various diplomatic posts, and served as Mexico's Foreign Minister from 1975-1976. He and Alva Myrdal shared the 1982 Nobel Peace Prize "[for] their magnificent work in the disarmament negotiations of the United Nations, where they have both played crucial roles and won international recognition." Mr. García Robles died on September 2, 1991 at the age of 80.

90 years ago
1921

Europeana
The Upper Silesia plebiscite, mandated by the Versailles Treaty to determine a section of the border between Weimar Germany and Poland, resulted in 59.4% of the vote going in favour of remaining with Germany and 40.6% in favour of secession from Germany and joining Poland.

80 years ago
1931

Died on this date
Hermann Müller, 54. Chancellor of Germany, 1920, 1928-1930. Mr. Müller, a member of the Social Democratic Party (SPD), was a journalist before first being elected to the Reichstag in 1916. As Foreign Minister (1919-1920), he was one of the German signatories of the Treaty of Versailles. Mr. Müller served as Chancellor from March-June 1920, succeeding in passing several social reforms before the SPD was defeated in the general election. He led a four-party coalition government in his second term as Chancellor, and was successful in negotiating a reduction in Great War reparations and a promise by the Allies to completely remove their forces from the Rhineland by May 1930. Mr. Müller suffered a life-threatening illness in 1929, and his coalition everntually fell apart over budgetary issues; he resigned on March 27, 1930, after President Paul von Hindenburg refused to provide his government with emergency powers to deal with the budgetary crisis. Mr. Müller died after a gall blader operation.

70 years ago
1941

War
German bombers subjected Plymouth, England to its worst raids of the European war. The British battleship Malaya was struck by a German torpedo in the mid-Atlantic Ocean, but there were reportedly no injuries. U.S. Army Colonel Charles Lindbergh said in the article A Letter to Americans in the March 29, 1941 issue of Collier's magazine that the United States was being led toward war "with ever-increasing rapidity and with every conceivable deception."

Defense
U.S. Representative Joseph Mansfield (Democrat--Texas) urged that the Panama Canal be converted to a sea-level canal to lessen the danger of air raids. Seven U.S. warships arrived in Sydney, Australia on a goodwill visit.

Law
U.S. Attorney General Robert Jackson asked Congress to legalize the use of wire-tapping evidence against spies, saboteurs, kidnappers, and extortionists.

Golf
Sam Snead won the North-South Open at Pinehurst, North Carolina.

60 years ago
1951

On television tonight
Suspense, on CBS
Tonight’s episode: Telephone Call, starring Russell Collins, Robert Emhardt, and Eileen Heckart



Born on this date
Happy Birthday, Cliff Lander!

Died on this date
Alfredo Baquerizo Moreno, 91. President of Ecuador, 1916-1920; Vice President of Ecuador, 1903-1906. Mr. Baquierzo, a member of the Ecuadorian Radical Liberal Party, was Minister of Foreign Affairs (1901-1903) and President of the Senate (1912-1915) in addition to his other offices. His presidency included public works, social reforms such as the abolition of debtors' prisons, and the Muñoz Vernaza-Suárez Treaty, defining the border between Ecuador and Colombia. Mr. Baquierzo continued in public life until 1931 as a Senator and special ambassador. He died in New York.

Politics and government
Indonesian Prime Minister Mohammed Natsir of the Masjumi (Muslim) Party and his coalition cabinet resigned when the powerful Nationalist Party withdrew its support from the government.

Terrorism
Martial law was imposed on Tehran in an attempt to curb terrorism.

Japanica
Fujiyoshida, a city located in Yamanashi Prefecture, in the centre of the main island of Honshū, was founded.

Defense
U.S. Labor Secretary Maurice Tobin established a Women's Advisory Committee on Defense Manpower, naming himself as chairman and former Representative Mary Norton (Democrat--New Jersey) as vice chairman.

Crime
New York Police Commissioner Thomas Murphy announced that there was no organized gambling or police corruption in New York City, following a drive against bookmakers.

Agriculture
France announced plans for a conference of 16 countries to study a Western European agricultural community similar to the recently-created European Coal and Steel Community.

Business
Eva Peron's Social Aid Foundation opened a chain of grocery stores in Buenos Aires to sell goods at slightly lower prices than in privately-operated stores.

Boxing
Rocky Marciano (33-0) scored a technical knockout over Harold Mitchell (3-14-3) at 2:45 of the 2nd round of a heavyweight bout at Hartford Auditorium in Hartford, Connecticut.

50 years ago
1961

Hit parade
#1 single in Spain (PROMUSICAE): Quince Años Tiene Mi Amor--Dúo Dinámico (2nd week at #1)

#1 single in France (IFOP): Non, je ne regrette rien--Édith Piaf (10th week at #1)

U.S.A. Top 10 (Billboard)
1 Surrender--Elvis Presley
2 Pony Time--Chubby Checker
3 Don't Worry--Marty Robbins
4 Where the Boys Are--Connie Francis
5 Dedicated to the One I Love--The Shirelles
6 Apache--Jorgen Ingmann and his Guitar
7 Wheels--The String-A-Longs
8 Ebony Eyes--The Everly Brothers
9 Walk Right Back--The Everly Brothers
10 Baby Sittin' Boogie--Buzz Clifford

Singles entering the chart were (Love Theme from) One Eyed Jacks by Ferrante and Teicher (#75); Fell in Love on Monday (#84)/Shu Rah (#97) by Fats Domino; Foolin' Around by Kay Starr (#89); A Hundred Pounds of Clay by Gene McDaniels (#91); Theme from Dixie by Duane Eddy (#93); (Theme from) My Three Sons by Lawrence Welk and his Orchestra (#94); Some Kind of Wonderful by the Drifters (#95); Seventeen by Frankie Ford (#99); and The Blizzard by Jim Reeves (#100). As the titles indicate, (Love Theme from) One Eyed Jacks was a version of the theme from the movie, and (Theme from) My Three Sons was a version of the theme from the television series.

U.S.A. Top 10 (Music Vendor)
1 Surrender--Elvis Presley
2 Don't Worry--Marty Robbins
3 Pony Time--Chubby Checker
4 Blue Moon--The Marcels
5 Wheels--The String-A-Longs
--Billy Vaughn and his Orchestra
6 Ebony Eyes--The Everly Brothers
7 Dedicated to the One I Love--The Shirelles
8 Where the Boys Are--Connie Francis
9 Apache--Jorgen Ingmann and his Guitar
10 Think Twice--Brook Benton

Singles entering the chart were Brass Buttons by the String-A-Longs (#54); Please Tell Me Why by Jackie Wilson (#56); Runaway by Del Shannon (#57); Model Girl by Johnny Maestro (#88); Tonight I Fell in Love by the Tokens (#90); Some Kind of Wonderful by the Drifters (#91); Apache by Sonny James (#93); Memphis by Donnie Brooks (#94); Like, Long Hair by Paul Revere and the Raiders (#95); Out of a Clear Blue Sky by Lawrence Welk and his Orchestra (#96); Theme from Dixie by Duane Eddy and the Rebels (#97); Early in the Morning by Ray Charles (#98); Ling-Ting-Tong by Buddy Knox (#99); and Little Girl, Little Boy by Al Martino (#100).

World events
Five days after announcing that his country would be leaving the Commonwealth of Nations upon becoming a republic on May 31, South African Prime Minister Hendrik Verwoerd received a hero's welcome from thousands of admirers upon his return to Johannesburg.

40 years ago
1971

Hit parade
#1 single in Rhodesia (Lyons Maid): Rose Garden--Lynn Anderson

#1 single in Italy (FIMI): Il cuore e' uno zingaro--Nicola Di Bari (2nd week at #1)

#1 single in Ireland (IRMA): Another Day--Paul McCartney

#1 single in the U.K. (BMRB): Hot Love--T. Rex

Australia's Top 10 (Go-Set)
1 My Sweet Lord--George Harrison (6th week at #1)
2 The Pushbike Song--The Mixtures
3 Knock Three Times--Dawn
4 Eleanor Rigby--Zoot
5 I Hear You Knocking--Dave Edmunds
6 Have You Ever Seen the Rain/Hey Tonight--Creedence Clearwater Revival
7 Apeman--The Kinks
8 Band of Gold--Freda Payne
9 Rose Garden--Lynn Anderson
10 I'll Be Gone--Spectrum

Singles entering the chart were Amazing Grace by Judy Collins (#46); Wichita Lineman by King Harvest (#48); Hey Diddle Diddle by Co. Shears (#53); Share the Land by the Guess Who (#56); Grandad by Clive Dunn (#57); Armstrong by Reg Lindsay (#58); Good Feeling by Max Merritt and the Meteors (#59); and Chirpy Chirpy Cheep Cheep by Middle of the Road (#60).

Netherlands Top 10 (De Nederlandse Top 40)
1 Du--Peter Maffray (2nd week at #1)
2 Butterfly--Danyel Gerard
3 Chirpy Chirpy Cheep Cheep--Middle of the Road
4 There's No More Corn on the Brasos--The Walkers
5 Invitation--Earth and Fire
6 Nothing Rhymed--Gilbert O'Sullivan
7 Silver Moon--Michael Nesmith & the First National Band
8 Chirpy, Chirpy, Cheep, Cheep--Lally Stott
9 Mozart - First Movement Symphony No. 40--Waldo De Los Rios
10 Rose Garden--Lynn Anderson

Singles entering the chart were What is Life by George Harrison (#14); Another Day by Paul McCartney (#19); Nathalie by George Baker Selection (#26); Ich bin verliebt in die Liebe by Chris Roberts (#28); Jaren Komen, Jaren Gaan by Anja & Johnny (#35); Maybe I'm Amazed by Fickle Pickle (#36); It's Impossible by Perry Como (#37); and The Song of My Life by Petula Clark (#40).

U.S.A. Top 10 (Billboard)
1 Me and Bobby McGee--Janis Joplin
2 She's a Lady--Tom Jones
3 Just My Imagination (Running Away with Me)--The Temptations
4 One Bad Apple--The Osmonds
5 For All We Know--Carpenters
6 Proud Mary--Ike & Tina Turner
7 Doesn't Somebody Want to Be Wanted--The Partridge Family
8 What's Going On--Marvin Gaye
9 Help Me Make it Through the Night--Sammi Smith
10 If You Could Read My Mind--Gordon Lightfoot

Singles entering the chart were I Won't Mention it Again by Ray Price (#72); Friends by Elton John (#73); Who Gets the Guy by Dionne Warwick (#74); I Don't Blame You at All by Smokey Robinson & the Miracles (#79); Man in Black by Johnny Cash (#80); Time and Love by Barbra Streisand (#82); I Think of You by Perry Como (#86); Could I Forget You by Tyrone Davis (#88); Nickel Song by the New Seekers (#90); Soldier's Last Letter by Merle Haggard and the Strangers (#91); Booty Butt by the Ray Charles Orchestra (#92); I'm Girl Scoutin' by the Intruders (#93); Melting Pot by Booker T. & the M.G.'s (#94); Adrienne by Tommy James (#95); Here Comes the Sun by Richie Havens (#96); I Don't Know How to Love Him/Everything's Alright by the Kimberlys (#99); and Me and My Arrow by Nilsson (#100). Friends was the title song from the movie, for which Mr. John performed all the songs.

U.S.A. Top 10 (Cash Box)
1 Just My Imagination (Running Away With Me)--The Temptations
2 Doesn’t Somebody Want to Be Wanted--The Partridge Family
3 Me and Bobby McGee--Janis Joplin
4 She’s a Lady--Tom Jones
5 One Bad Apple--The Osmonds
6 For All We Know--Carpenters
7 Have You Ever Seen the Rain--Creedence Clearwater Revival
8 Proud Mary--Ike & Tina Turner
9 Mama’s Pearl--The Jackson 5
10 Don’t Let the Green Grass Fool You--Wilson Pickett

Singles entering the chart were Friends by Elton John (#52); I Am...I Said by Neil Diamond (#54); If by Bread (#72); Who Gets the Guy by Dionne Warwick (#74); I Play and Sing by Dawn (#81); Someone Who Cares by Kenny Rogers and the First Edition (#82); Time and Love by Barbra Streisand (#83); I Wish I Were by Andy Kim (#85); Booty Butt by the Ray Charles Orchestra (#86); Love Makes the World Go Round by Odds & Ends (#92); Adrienne by Tommy James (#93); Sweet and Innocent by Donny Osmond (#96); Layla by Derek and the Dominoes (#98); L.A. Goodbye by the Ides of March (#99); and C’mon by Poco (#100).

U.S.A. Top 10 (Record World)
1 Me and Bobby McGee--Janis Joplin
2 She's a Lady--Tom Jones
3 Have You Ever Seen the Rain/Hey Tonight--Creedence Clearwater Revival
4 One Bad Apple--The Osmonds
5 Amos Moses--Jerry Reed
6 Doesn't Somebody Want to Be Wanted--The Partridge Family
7 For All We Know--Carpenters
8 Just My Imagination (Running Away with Me)--The Temptations
9 Mama's Pearl--The Jackson 5
10 Proud Mary--Ike & Tina Turner

Singles entering the chart were I Play and Sing by Dawn (#56); We Can Work it Out by Stevie Wonder (#65); I Am...I Said by Neil Diamond (#69); If by Bread (#77); I Wish I Were by Andy Kim (#80); Friends by Elton John (#83); Timothy by the Buoys (#84); Could I Forget You by Tyrone Davis (#85); Put Your Hand in the Hand by Ocean (#86); I Don't Blame You at All by Smokey Robinson & the Miracles (#90); Who Gets the Guy by Dionne Warwick (#93); Someone Who Cares by Kenny Rogers and the First Edition (#95); Love Makes the World Go Round by Odds & Ends (#96); Melting Pot by Booker T. & the M.G.'s (#98); I Believe in Music by Marion Love (#99); and Cool Aid by Paul Humphrey & his Cool Aid Chemists (#100).

Canada's Top 10 (RPM)
1 Have You Ever Seen the Rain/Hey Tonight--Creedence Clearwater Revival (2nd week at #1)
2 She’s a Lady--Tom Jones
3 Doesn’t Somebody Want to Be Wanted--The Partridge Family
4 Stay Awhile--The Bells
5 Amos Moses--Jerry Reed
6 What is Life--George Harrison
7 For All We Know--Carpenters
8 Mama’s Pearl--The Jackson 5
9 Oye Como Va--Santana
10 One Bad Apple--The Osmonds

Singles entering the chart were I Wish I Were by Andy Kim (#69); Sault Ste. Marie by the Original Caste (#70); I Think of You by Perry Como (#71); Got to Find Someone to Love by Dee Higgins (#85); Man from the City by Humphrey and the Dump Trucks (#89); 20 Years by the Jarvis Street Revue (#97); What’s Going On by Marvin Gaye (#98); Jodie by Joey Gregorash (#99); and All God’s Children by Doug Hutton (#100).

Calgary's Top 10 (Glenn's Music)
1 Woodstock--Matthews' Southern Comfort (2nd week at #1)
2 Have You Ever Seen the Rain--Creedence Clearwater Revival
3 I Was Wondering--The Poppy Family
4 Carry Me--Stampeders
5 Theme from Love Story--Henry Mancini, his Orchestra and Chorus
6 One Bad Apple--The Osmonds
7 Me and Bobby McGee--Janis Joplin
8 What is Life--George Harrison
9 Stay Awhile--The Bells
10 She's a Lady--Tom Jones
Pick hit of the Week: Ain't it Sad--R. Dean Taylor

Died on this date
Orville Mosher, 85. U.S. historian. "Sir" Orville earned a law degree from Harvard University before receiving a doctorate in history in France. In 1929 he settled to Emporia, Kansas, where he remained for the rest of his life, teaching history at Kansas State Teachers College (now known as Emporia State University) and was curator of the Lyon County History Center from the late 1930s through the 1960s. "Sir" Orville received the 'medaille d'Honneur Academique avec le titre 'Chevalier Lancier d'Honneur' from the French academie in 1963, hence his title. This blogger's father took a course from "Sir" Orville, and the two remained lifelong friends.

Politics and government
Under heavy pressure from Protestant conservatives in a continuing dispute over the tactics to be used against Roman Catholic terrorists, James Chichester-Clark resigned as Prime Minister of Northern Ireland and leader of the Ulster Unionist Party. He was succeeded in both positions three days later by Brian Faulkner.

30 years ago
1981

Hit parade #1 single in Sweden (Topplistan): När vi två blir en--Gyllene Tider (15th week at #1)

#1 single in France (IFOP): Reality--Richard Sanderson (8th week at #1)

South Africa's Top 10 (Springbok Radio)
1 Shaddap You Face--Joe Dolce Music Theatre (3rd week at #1)
2 Celebration--Kool & The Gang
3 Give Me Back My Love--Maywood
4 Stop the Cavalry--Jona Lewie
5 Never Knew Love Like This Before--Stephanie Mills
6 Lady--Kenny Rogers
7 De Do Do Do, De Da Da Da--The Police
8 A Lot of Things--Peach
9 Can You Feel It--The Jacksons
10 Fashion--David Bowie

Singles entering the chart were Gypsy Girl by David Scobie (#16); Rapture by Blondie (#18); and Spend the Night in Love by the Four Seasons (#20).

Protest
At least four two-hour strikes were held in cities in northern Poland to protest harassment by authorities. The leaders of the trade union movement Solidarity broke off all talks with Polish authorities and told union members to prepare to go on strike.

Defense
The United States Defense Department announced that 18 of the 54 military advisers who had been sent to El Salvador would return to the U.S. by July, following the completion of their assignments.

25 years ago
1986

Hit parade
Edmonton's Top 30 (CHED)
1 How Will I Know--Whitney Houston
2 These Dreams--Heart
3 Sara--Starship
4 Secret Lovers--Atlantic Starr
5 Nikita--Elton John
6 Kiss--Prince and the Revolution
7 Don't Forget Me (When I'm Gone)--Glass Tiger
8 R.O.C.K. in the U.S.A.--John Cougar Mellencamp
9 Rock Me Amadeus--Falco
10 This Could Be the Night--Loverboy
11 Life in a Northern Town--The Dream Academy
12 Kyrie--Mr. Mister
13 The Sweetest Taboo--Sade
14 Eurasian Eyes--Corey Hart
15 King for a Day--Thompson Twins
16 Sanctify Yourself--Simple Minds
17 What You Need--INXS
18 People See Through You--Bruce Cockburn
19 Silent Running--Mike + the Mechanics
20 Manic Monday--Bangles
21 Feel it Again--Honeymoon Suite
22 There was a Time--One to One
23 Living in America--James Brown
24 If I Was--Midge Ure
25 Let's Go All the Way--Sly Fox
26 Flippin' to the A Side--Cats Can Fly
27 Calling America--Electric Light Orchestra
28 Tarzan Boy--Baltimora
29 West End Girls--Pet Shop Boys
30 She Sells Sanctuary--The Cult

On television tonight
The Twilight Zone, on CITV
Tonight’s episode: Need to Know (starring William Petersen); Red Snow (starring George Dzundza).

Politics and government
Jacques Chirac, the mayor of Paris and leader of a non-Gaullist party, accepted the offer of French President Francois Mitterand and took office as Premier of France.

Terrorism
Two people were killed and 28 injured when a bomb exploded on the Champs Elysees in Paris.

Defense
The United States House of Representatives voted 222-210 to deny aid for the Contras of Nicaragua in their war against the ruling Sandanistas. 16 Republican Congressmen voted against the bill, thus voting against the policy of President Ronald Reagan.

Scandal
2,300 pages of documents that former Philippines President Ferdinand Marcos had taken with him to Hawaii were made public by a U.S. House of Representatives subcommittee. The documents revealed holdings of Mr. Marcos valued at about $1 billion in banks, stock, and real estate. The Philippines government sued Mr. Marcos and his wife Imelda in Texas, charging that they and their associates had used stolen funds to buy $50 million in Texas real estate.

Economics and finance
The Dow Jones Industrial Average closed above 1,800 for the first time.

20 years ago
1991

Hit parade
#1 single in Sweden (Topplistan): Joyride--Roxette (2nd week at #1)

On television tonight
The Wonder Years, on ABC
Tonight’s episode: When Worlds Collide

Politics and government
Kuwaiti Premier Crown Prince Saad al-Abdallah Al Sabah and his entire cabinet resigned amid public protest over the government’s failure to supply necessities such as food, electricity, and water.

Yugoslavian President Borislav Jovic, whose March 15 resignation hadn’t been accepted by Serbia, returned to the executive body and resumed his role as Yugoslavia’s head of state.

Keith Spicer issued What We Have Heard So Far--the interim report of the Citizen's Forum on Canada's Future; the Spicer Commission talked to 75,000 Canadians.

Economics and finance
Consumer and Corporate Affairs Canada reported that personal and business bankruptcies had reached their highest level ever; up 68% from 1990.

The United States Commerce Department reported that the merchandise trade deficit stood at $7 billion in January.

10 years ago
2001

Died on this date
Luis Alvarado Martínez, 52. U.S. baseball player. Mr. Alvarado, a native of Puerto Rico, was an infielder with the Boston Red Sox (1968-1970); Chicago White Sox (1971-1974); St. Louis Cardinals (1974, 1976); Cleveland Indians (1974); New York Mets (1977); and Detroit Tigers (1977), batting .214 with 5 home runs and 84 runs batted in in 463 games, earing a reputation for outstanding defensive skills. He concluded his playing career with three seasons in the Mexican League (1979-1981), and returned to Puerto Rico, working in sports and recreation. Mr. Alvarado was coaching youngsters in basketball when he collapsed on the court with a fatal heart attack.

Diplomacy
U.S. President George W. Bush met in Washington with Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon. Mr. Bush assured Mr. Sharon that the United States remained solidly supportive of Israel. The two leaders agreed that Middle East peace talks could not be pressed during the current climate of violence.

Environment
U.S. President George W. Bush repealed a last-minute decision by the previous administration of Bill Clinton to reduce the amount of arsenic traces allowed in drinking water.

Economics and finance
The U.S. Federal Reserve Board cut interest rates by 0.5%, stating that there was "substantial risk" that the economy would be weak for some time.

The Dow Jones Industrial Average fell 238.35 points.

Disasters
Testifying before a United States Navy investigation, Cdr. Scott Waddle, commander of the submarine USS Greenville, which had surfaced and collided with a Japanese fishing boat on February 9 with the deaths of nine people on the trawler, accepted full responsibility for the accident, although he added that some of his subordinates had contributed to the accident by failing to follow standard procedures.

The world’s largest oil rig collapsed off the coast of Brazil, about 120 miles north of Rio de Janeiro, and sank into the Atlantic Ocean, five days after one of the structural support beams had been destroyed by three explosions. Ten workers had died, while the rest fought to keep the rig afloat.