April 28, 2011

400 years ago
1611

Academia
The Pontifical and Royal University of Santo Tomas, The Catholic University of the Philippines, was established by Miguel de Benavides, Archbishop of Manila, as the largest Roman Catholic university in the world.

230 years ago
1781

Died on this date
Cornelius Harnett, 58. American politician. Mr. Harnett was a plantation owner who held various offices in the province of North Carolina; he represented North Carolina in the Continental Congress (1777-1779). When British forces occupied Wilmington, N.C. in January 1781, they captured and imprisoned Mr. Harnett; his health declined, and he died 18 days after his 58th birthday, shortly after being released on parole.

130 years ago
1881

Crime
Billy the Kid escaped from the Lincoln County, New Mexico jail, killing two deputies on guard.

120 years ago
1891

Transportation
RMS Empress of India, carrying 486 passengers and a cargo of tea and silk became the first of the Canadian Pacific Steamships "Empress" liners to arrive at Vancouver harbour, via the Suez Canal and Hong Kong. Canadian Pacific Steamships had signed a contract for subsidized mail service between Britain and Hong Kong via Canada.

100 years ago
1911

Born on this date
Lee Falk. U.S. cartoonist, director, and producer. Mr. Falk, born Leon Gross, was best known for creating the comic strips Mandrake the Magician and The Phantom. He produced about 300 plays, and directed about 100. Mr. Falk died on March 13, 1999 at the age of 87.

Aviation
The first aeroplane flight in Alberta was made in Edmonton by Bob St. Henry.

75 years ago
1936

Died on this date
Fuad I, 68. Sultan of Egypt, 1917-1922; King of Egypt, 1922-1936. Fuad I succeeded his elder brother Hussein Kamel on the throne, and changed his title from Sultan to King in 1922, after the United Kingdom recognized Egypt's independence. He was succeeded as King by his son Farouk.

Boxing
Jersey Joe Walcott (13-2) knocked out Joe Colucci (14-22-5) in the 4th round of a heavyweight bout at Convention Hall in Camden, New Jersey.

70 years ago
1941

War
The German advance continued in Greece. New Zealand Army Sergeant Jack Hinton earned the Victoria Cross for leading a counterattack against invading German troops in Kalamata.

Abominations
The Croatian nationalist organization Ustaše massacred nearly 200 Serbs in the village of Gudovac, the first massacre of their genocidal campaign against Serbs of the Independent State of Croatia.

Defense
Famed aviator Charles Lindbergh, an outspoken opponent of potential U.S. entry into the European war, wrote President Franklin D. Roosevelt that in view of Mr. Roosevelt's remarks "concerning my loyalty," he was resigning his commission as a colonel in the Army Air Corps.

Society
In a case brought by U.S. Representative Arthur Mitchell (Democrat--Illinois), the only Negro member of Congress, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled unanimously that Negroes were entitled to Pullman car accommodation and other first-class services equal to those that white passengers received on passenger trains.

Labour
Operators of soft coal mines in the Southern United States accepted President Roosevelt's request to reopen the mines and continue wage discussions, ending the 28-day Appalachian coal strike of 400,000 miners. The U.S. National Association of Manufacturers condemned strikes as "a major bottleneck" in defense production, claiming that over three million man-days had been lost during the first three months of 1941 as a result of strikes, more than half of them in defense industries.

60 years ago
1951

Hit parade
#1 single in Australia (Kent Music Report): Nevertheless (I'm in Love with You)--Paul Weston and his Orchestra with the Norman Luboff Choir (3rd week at #1)

#1 single in the U.S.A. (Billboard): How High the Moon--Les Paul and Mary Ford (Best Seller--2nd week at #1; Disc Jockey--1st week at #1); If--Perry Como (Jukebox--5th week at #1)

U.S.A. Top 10 (Cash Box)
1 Mockin’ Bird Hill--Les Paul and Mary Ford (2nd week at #1)
--Patti Page
2 Be My Love--Mario Lanza
3 If--Perry Como
4 Aba Daba Honeymoon--Debbie Reynolds and Carleton Carpenter
5 On Top of Old Smoky--The Weavers and Terry Gilkyson
--Vaughn Monroe and his Orchestra
6 Would I Love You (Love You, Love You)--Patti Page
7 Beautiful Brown Eyes--Rosemary Clooney
8 My Heart Cries for You--Guy Mitchell
--Dinah Shore
--Vic Damone
--Jimmy Wakely
9 You’re Just in Love--Perry Como
10 Sparrow in the Tree Top--Guy Mitchell
--Bing Crosby and the Andrews Sisters

Singles entering the chart were We Kissed in a Shadow, with versions by Frank Sinatra; and Perry Como (#31); Too Late Now by Toni Arden (#32); Faithfully Yours by Tony Martin (#33); and I Love the Way You Say Goodnight by Dean Martin (#37).

War
U.S. and U.K. forces in Korea withdrew to a line four miles north of Seoul in the face of strong Chinese Communist attacks.

Diplomacy
The Hungarian government released International Telephone & Telegraph Vice President and alleged spy Robert Vogeler after 17 months' imprisonment in return for several U.S. concessions, incuding reopening of the Hungarian consulates in New York and Cleveland, and the return of $70 million in Hungarian property confiscated by the Nazis and still held in the American zone of Germany.

Politics and government
Prime Minister Robert Menzies led his Liberal Party/Country Party coalition to victory in the Australian federal election. The coalition won 69 of 121 seats in the House of Representatives--down from 74 in the most recent election in 1949--while the Labour Party, led by Ben Chifley, increased from 47 to 52 seats. The coalition achieved a majority in the Senate, taking 32 seats--an increase of 6--to 28 for Labour.



U.S. President Harry Truman authorized the dismissal of federal employees or denial of jobs to applicants on "reasonable doubt" as to their loyalty to the United States.

World events
The Paraguayan government announced the arrest in Asuncion of Captain Bartolome Araujo, leader of troops who rebelled in northern Paraguay during the 1947 civil war.

Science
California Institute of Technology physicist Robert Leighton reported the discovery of the long-sought negative proton, one of the rarest of fundamental cosmic ray particles.

Oil
Sheik Abdullah of Kuwait asked the U.S.- and U.K.-owned Kuwait Oil Company to raise his royalties to $200,000 per day.

50 years ago
1961

Hit parade
#1 single in the U.K. (New Musical Express): You're Driving Me Crazy--The Temperance Seven

On television tonight
The Twilight Zone, on CBS
Tonight’s episode: The Silence, starring Franchot Tone, Liam Sullivan, and Jonathan Harris

Died on this date
Tommy Connolly, 90. U.K.-born U.S. baseball umpire. Mr. Connolly, a native of Manchester, emigrated to the United States with his family in 1885, and soon became interested in baseball. He umpired in the New England League (1894-1897) and moved up to the National League in 1898. Unhappy with NL President Nicholas Young's reluctance to back up the league's umpires, Mr. Connolly resigned early in the 1900 season, and joined the American League when the AL began operating as a major league in 1901. He worked in the AL for the next 30 years, establishing a reputation as the league's best umpire. Mr. Connolly was removed from field duty in June 1931 by American League President Will Harridge, who was concerned about the quality of the league's umpires. Mr. Connolly was made the AL's supervisor of umpires, holding that position in 1954, coming out of retirement to work in one game in 1932. He worked 4,770 regular season major league games in 35 yers (1898-1932), and 45 World Series games in 8 years. Mr. Connolly was inducted into the Honor Rolls of Baseball in 1946; with Bill Klem of the National League, he was one of the first two umpires inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1953.

Baseball
Warren Spahn (2-1), 40, pitched his second career no-hitter as the Milwaukee Braves edged the San Francisco Giants 1-0 before 8,518 fans at County Stadium in Milwaukee. His first no-hitter had come the previous September 16 at home against the Philadelphia Phillies. Hank Aaron singled home Frank Bolling with the game’s only run with 2 out in the bottom of the 1st inning off losing pitcher Sam Jones (2-1), who allowed 5 hits and struck out 10 batters.

40 years ago
1971

Hit parade
#1 single in the U.K. (New Musical Express): Double Barrel--Dave and Ansel Collins

At the movies
Bananas, co-written and directed by Woody Allen, and starring Mr. Allen, Louise Lasser, Howard Cosell, and Carlos Montalban, opened in theatres.



Boxing
Cleveland Williams (75-11-1) won a 10-round majority decision over Ted Gullick (15-3) in a heavyweight bout at Cleveland Arena.

Basketball
NBA
Finals
Baltimore 99 @ Milwaukee 107 (Milwaukee led best-of-seven series 3-0)

Bob Dandridge scored 29 points and grabbed 10 rebounds, while Lew Alcindor added 23 points and 21 rebounds for the Bucks as they defeated the Bullets before 10,746 fans at Milwaukee Arena. Jack Marin led Baltimore scorers with 21 points, while Wes Unseld scored 20 points and grabbed 23 rebounds.

30 years ago
1981

Hit parade
Vancouver's Top 10 (CKLG)
1 Kiss on My List--Daryl Hall & John Oates (5th week at #1)
2 Keep on Loving You--REO Speedwagon
3 Morning Train (Nine to Five)--Sheena Easton
4 Angel of the Morning--Juice Newton
5 While You See a Chance--Steve Winwood
6 Somebody's Knockin'--Terri Gibbs
7 I Can't Stand It--Eric Clapton and his Band
8 You Better You Bet--The Who
9 Ain't Even Done with the Night--John Cougar
10 Take it on the Run--REO Speedwagon

Singles entering the chart were Take it on the Run; and Bette Davis Eyes by Kim Carnes (#20).

Died on this date
Mickey Walker, 77 or 79. U.S. boxer. Mr. Walker, nicknamed "The Toy Bulldog," compiled a record of 131-25-6-2 in a professional career from 1919-1935. He gradually moved up in weight classification, holding the world welterweight (1922-1926) and middleweight (1926-1929) titles before briefly moving up to the heavyweight division and finishing as a light heavyweight. Mr. Walker is regarded as one of the best middleweights in history, and was inducted into the International Boxing Hall of Fame in 1990. He became an accomplished painter and restaurateur after his boxing career, but suffered from various health problems in his later years.

Hockey
NHL
Stanley Cup
Semi-Finals
New York Rangers 2 @ New York Islanders 5 (Islanders led best-of-seven series 1-0)
Minnesota 4 @ Calgary 1 (Minnesota led best-of-seven series 1-0)

25 years ago
1986

Hit parade
#1 single in Australia (Kent Music Report): Chain Reaction--Diana Ross (2nd week at #1)

#1 single in Spain (PROMUSICAE): Si Tú Eres Mi Hombre y Yo Tu Mujer (The Power of Love)--Jennifer Rush (4th week at #1)

Disasters
The U.S.S.R. admitted that there had been an accident at the Chernobyl nuclear power plant in Ukraine.

Defense
The United States Navy aircraft carrier USS Enterprise became the first nuclear-powered aircraft carrier to transit the Suez Canal, navigating from the Red Sea to the Mediterranean Sea to relieve the USS Coral Sea.

Hockey
NHL
Stanley Cup
Division Finals
St. Louis 3 @ Toronto 5 (Best-of-seven series tied 3-3)
Edmonton 5 @ Calgary 2 (Best-of-seven series tied 3-3)

20 years ago
1991

Hit parade
#1 single in New Zealand (RIANZ): Trippin'--Push Push (3rd week at #1)

#1 single in Switzerland: Joyride--Roxette (4th week at #1)

Austria's Top 10 (Ö3)
1 Joyride--Roxette (5th week at #1)
2 No Coke--Dr. Alban
3 Secret Love--Bee Gees
4 How to Dance--Bingoboys featuring Princessa
5 Should I Stay or Should I Go--The Clash
6 Sister Soul & Mr. Beat--Beat 4 Feet featuring Kim Cooper
7 Crazy--Seal
8 Gonna Make You Sweat (Everybody Dance Now)--C & C Music Factory featuring Freedom Williams
9 Blue Hotel--Chris Isaak
10 (I Wanna Give You) Devotion--Nomad featuring MC Mikee Freedom

Singles entering the chart were Where the Streets Have No Name (I Can't Take My Eyes Off You) by Pet Shop Boys (#14); One More Try by Timmy T (#20); You Got the Love (Erens Bootleg Mix) by The Source featuring Candi Staton (#25); Too Late (True Love) by the Real Milli Vanilli (#26); Venedig im Regen by Thomas Forstner (#27); and Wiggle It by 2 in a Room (#30).

Died on this date
Ken Curtis, 74. U.S. actor and singer. Mr. Curtis, born Curtis Gates, sang with the orchestras of Tommy Dorsey and Shep Fields before joining the Sons of the Pioneers from 1949-1953. He was best known for playing Festus Haggen in the television Western series Gunsmoke from 1963-1975.

Economics and finance
Ontario Treasurer Floyd Laughren presented a $52.8-billion spending budget that would triple the provincial deficit to a record $9.7 billion; Mr. Laughren went against the advice of the federal government of Prime Minister Brian Mulroney.

Hockey
IIHF Men’s World Championship
Group A
Czechoslovakia (3-4) 4 Canada (4-2-1) 3
U.S.S.R. (6-0-1) 5 Sweden (3-0-4) 5
Switzerland (1-6) 5 Germany (0-6-1) 2
U.S.A. (3-2-2) 2 Finland (3-3-1) 1

NHL
Stanley Cup
Division Finals
St. Louis 2 @ Minnesota 3 (Minnesota led best-of-seven series 4-2)
Los Angeles 3 @ Edmonton 4 (OT) (Edmonton won best-of-series 4-2)

Baseball
The Minnesota Twins defeated the Seattle Mariners 8-2 before 18,039 fans at Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome in Minneapolis as Jack Morris (2-3) allowed 7 hits and 2 earned runs in 6 innings to get his 200th career major league win.

10 years ago
2001

Space
Dennis Tito, 60, a billionaire businessman and former NASA employee from California, became the first paying passenger to go into space, aboard Soyuz TM-32, a Russian mission with a crew of Talgat Musabayev (Commander) and Yuri Baturin (Flight Engineer).

Baseball
Geoff Jenkins hit 3 home runs and drove in 6 runs to lead the Milwaukee Brewers past the Montreal Expos 8-4 before 40,877 fans at Miller Park in Milwaukee.