May 28, 2011

1,390 years ago
621

War
Li Shimin, the son of the Chinese Emperor Gaozu, defeated the numerically superior forces of Dou Jiande in the Battle of Hulao near the Hulao Pass (Henan). This victory decided the outcome of the civil war that followed the Sui dynasty's collapse in favour of the Tang dynasty.

1,270 years ago
741

Died on this date
Ucha'an K'in B'alam. King of Dos Pilas, 727-741. Uchaʼan Kʼin Bʼalam succeeded Itzamnaaj Kʼawiil as Mayan King of Dos Pilas, in what is now the Guatemelan department of Petén. Uchaʼan Kʼin Bʼalam was known for capturing Yichʼaak Bʼalam, king of Seibal, and was succeeded on the throne by Itzamnaaj Kʼawiil's son Kʼawiil Chan Kʼinich.

200 years ago
1811

Died on this date
Henry Dundas, 1st Viscount Melville, 69. U.K. politician. Mr. Dundas, an "independent Whig," was the trusted lieutenant of Prime Minister William Pitt the Younger, and was the most powerful politician in Scotland in the latter decades of the 18th century. He held several cabinet posts, including Secretary of State for War (1794-1801) and First Lord of the Admiralty (1804-1805). Mr. Dundas was elevated to the House of Lords in 1802 as 1st Viscount Melville. He died a month after his 69th birthday.

160 years ago
1851

Society
The Ohio Woman's Rights Convention began a two-day conference in Akron. The conference called for women’s suffrage and for an improvement in the conditions of labouring women.

140 years ago
1871

World events
The Paris Commune fell after two months.

110 years ago
1901

Oil
Mozaffar ad-Din, Shah of Persia, granted exclusive rights to prospect for oil in the country to British investor William Knox D'Arcy.

100 years ago
1911

Born on this date
Fritz Hochwälder. Austrian playwright. Mr. Hochwälder wrote about two dozen plays in a career spanning more than 50 years; his works were characterized by moralistic themes. Mr. Hochwälder died on October 21, 1986 at the age of 75.

Thora Hird. U.K. actress. Dame Thora appeared in more than 100 movies and television programs in a career spanning more than 70 years, and won three BAFTA TV Awards. She died on March 15, 2003 at the age of 91.

70 years ago
1941

War
British forces began the evacuation of Crete under heavy German pressure. The German command announced the capture by German and Italian troops of Halfaya Pass in Egypt southeast of Solum.

Defense
U.S. President Franklin D. Roosevelt told a special press conference that he had no intention of asking Congress to repeal or modify the Neutrality Act, and that he did not plan to institute convoys for war material being shipped to Britain. The U.S. Maritime Commission requisitioned the 26,454-ton liner America, the largest merchant ship ever built in the United States, which would be turned over to the Navy.

Aviation
A spinproof private plane designed by Dr. Otto Koppen for General Aircraft Corporation was demonstrated in Newark, New Jersey.

Scandal
Former Kansas City Democratic Party boss Tom Pendergast and two other men were found guilty of contempt for deceiving a U.S. federal court in a $10-million fire insurance settlement.

Economics and finance
U.S. Interior Secretary Harold Ickes urged priorities on gasoline, oil, and electric power on the Eastern seaboard because of the increasing shortage.

Labour
The American Federation of Labor Executive Council pledged its support for U.S. President Roosevelt's plea for labour peace, and called upon its unions to refrain from striking against defense industries without first seeking mediation.

International Longshore and Warehouse Union (ILWU) President Harry Bridges, a native of Australia, testified at his U.S. deportation hearing that he now or ever was a member of the Communist Party. It wasn't until the 1990s that it was revealed that Mr. Bridges had lied.

Boxing
Tony Zale (48-15-2) retained his National Boxing Association world middleweight title with a knockout of Al Hostak (54-5-8) at 2:32 of the 2nd round at Chicago Stadium Outdoor Arena. Mr. Zale was knocked down for no count in the 1st round, but knocked Mr. Hostak down 8 times in the 2nd round.



Baseball
George Selkirk came to bat as a pinch hitter and hit a grand slam to climax a 5-run 8th inning to lead the New York Yankees past the Washington Nationals 6-5 before 25,000 fans in the first night game ever played at Griffith Stadium in Washington.

The Philadelphia Athletics scored 2 runs in the top of the 16th inning to defeat the Boston Red Sox 8-6 before 1,400 fans at Fenway Park in Boston. Philadelphia third baseman Pete Suder batted 4 for 7 with a double, 3-run home run, and 4 runs batted in. Boston third baseman Jim Tabor also hit a 3-run homer, with both blasts coming in the 6th inning. Tom Ferrick allowed 8 hits and 1 earned run in 10 innings to get the win in relief of Bill Beckmann, who allowed 7 hits and 5 earned runs in 6 innings.

60 years ago
1951

On television tonight
Lights Out, on NBC
Tonight's episode: The Pattern, starring Martha Scott, Murvyn Vye, Larry Kerr, and Klock Ryder



At the movies
Hollywood Story, directed by William Castle, and starring Richard Conte and Julia Adams, received its premiere screening in Chicago.



War
United Nations forces in Korea retook Inje in the east and Hwachon and Yonchon on the central front, all north of the 38th Parallel. Soviet delegate to the United Nations Jacob Malik denied reports that the U.S.S.R. was making peace feelers in Korea. U.S. Air Force Chief of Staff General Hoyt Vandenberg testified before the Senate Foreign Affairs and Armed Services Committees, claiming that full-scale bombing of Communist China and Manchuria could not end the Korean War, as maintained by Gen. Douglas MacArthur.

India informed the U.S. State Department that it agreed with Britain's refusal to sign a Japanese peace treaty negotiated with Nationalist China.

Protest
South African police clashed with 50,000 Asians demonstrating in Cape Town against segregated voting registration lists, seriously injuring 28 people in the worst riot in the city's history.

Television
The U.S. Supreme Court upheld the right of the Federal Communications Commission to approve the CBS colour television system over its RCA competitor.

Britannica
Princess Elizabeth opened the Exhibition of Industrial Power in Glasgow, the latest show in the Festival of Britain.



Law
The U.S. Supreme Court ruled in the case of Samuel Hoffman of Philadelphia that witnesses who refused to testify for fear of self-incrimination did not have to show good faith by explaining how their testimony could incriminate them.

Oil
Iran refused to recognize the International Court of Justice's right to order arbitration in the oil nationalization dispute with the United Kingdom.

Baseball
Bob Elliott's 2-run home run climaxed a 3-run 1st inning for the Boston Braves as they beat the New York Giants 4-1 before 23,101 fans at the Polo Grounds in New York. After going hitless in his first 12 at bats in the major leagues since being called up from the Minneapolis Millers of the American Association, Willie Mays of Giants broke the streak with a home run onto the left field roof in the bottom of the 1st. It was the only run Mr. Spahn (5-3) gave up in a 7-hit complete game.

Carl Furillo led off the top of the 9th inning with a home run to break a 3-3 tie as the Brooklyn Dodgers edged the Philadelphia Phillies 4-3 before 20,387 fans at Shibe Park in Philadelphia. Ralph Branca (2-1) pitched a 7-hit complete game to outduel Ken Heintzelman (1-5), who allowed 10 hits in a complete game.

Red Schoendienst singled home Del Rice with 2 out and the bases loaded in the bottom of the 10th inning to give the St. Louis Cardinals a 6-5 win over the Pittsburgh Pirates before 9,757 fans at Sportsman's Park in St. Louis. Paul LaPalme (0-1), the last of three Pittsburgh pitchers, allowed 2 hits and 1 earned run in 1.2 innings in taking the loss, walking 3 batters and striking out none in his first major league game.

50 years ago
1961

Died on this date
Fred Smith, 69. U.S. baseball player. Mr. Smith was a third baseman and shortstop with the Boston Braves (1913); Buffalo Blues (1914-1915); Brooklyn Tip-Tops (195); and St. Louis Cardinals (1917), batting .226 with 8 home runs and 158 runs batted in in 438 games. He hit .244 with at least 14 homers in 939 games in 8 seasons in the minor leagues (1909-1921).

Journalism
Peter Benenson's article The Forgotten Prisoners was published in the British newspaper The Observer. This was later thought of as the founding of the human rights organization Amnesty International.

Baseball
A total of 39 home runs were hit in 11 major league games, a record for a single day.

40 years ago
1971

Hit parade
#1 single in New Zealand (RIANZ): I Am...I Said--Neil Diamond

#1 single in West Germany (Media Control): Butterfly--Danyel Gérard (2nd week at #1)

South Africa's Top 10 (Springbok Radio)
1 Put Your Hand in the Hand--Alan Garrity (4th week at #1)
2 If Not for You--Olivia Newton-John
3 Understanding--Peanutbutter Conspiracy
4 Have You Ever Seen the Rain--Creedence Clearwater Revival
5 Amazing Grace--Judy Collins
6 Vicki--Lance James
7 What is Life--George Harrison
8 Joy to the World--Three Dog Night
9 Theme from Love Story--Francis Lai Orchestra
10 Another Day--Paul McCartney

Singles entering the chart were Funny Funny by the Sweet (#17); and When Love Comes Knocking at Your Door by the Dealians (#19).

Vancouver's Top 10 (CKLG)
1 Indian Reservation (The Lament of the Cherokee Reservation Indian)--Raiders
2 Sweet and Innocent--Donny Osmond
3 Brown Sugar--The Rolling Stones
4 It Don't Come Easy--Ringo Starr
5 Here Comes the Sun--Richie Havens
6 Me and You and a Dog Named Boo--Lobo
7 Jodie--Joey Gregorash
8 Toast and Marmalade for Tea--Tin Tin
9 Superstar--Murray Head with the Trinidad Singers
10 It Takes Time--Anne Murray

Singles entering the chart were Double Lovin' by the Osmonds (#26); Done Too Soon by Neil Diamond (#27); Treat Her Like a Lady by Cornelius Brothers & Sister Rose (#28); Nathan Jones by the Supremes (#29); and High Time We Went by Joe Cocker (#30).

Vancouver's Top 10 (CKVN)
1 Brown Sugar--The Rolling Stones (3rd week at #1)
2 Love Her Madly--The Doors
3 Hot Love--T. Rex
4 Toast and Marmalade for Tea--Tin Tin
5 Me and You and a Dog Named Boo--Lobo
6 It Don't Come Easy--Ringo Starr
7 Never Ending Song of Love--Delaney & Bonnie & Friends
8 It's Too Late/I Feel the Earth Move--Carole King
9 Indian Reservation (The Lament of the Cherokee Reservation Indian)--Raiders
10 Joy to the World--Three Dog Night

Singles entering the chart were High Time We Went by Joe Cocker (#28); Spaceship Races by Tom Northcott (#29); and Different Drum by Uproar (#30).

Died on this date
Audie Murphy, 45. U.S. soldier and actor. First Lieutenant Murphy was the most-decorated soldier in American history, earning every medal for valour, including the Medal of Honor, for his actions in Italy and southern France in World War II. He later had a successful acting career, which included playing himself in To Hell and Back(1955), based on his 1949 autobiography. Other notable films of his included The Red Badge of Courage (1951); Night Passage (1957); and No Name on the Bullet (1959). Mr. Murphy was a fan of country music, and co-wrote 18 songs. He suffered from what would today be described as post-traumatic stress disorder, sleeping with a loaded handgun under his pillow and consuming addictive sleeping pills. Mr. Murphy was one of six people killed in a plane crash near Roanoke, Virginia, 23 days before his 46th birthday.

Space
The U.S.S.R. launched the probe Mars 3, nine days after launching Mars 2. Mars 2 was expected to reach Mars about November 15, 1971, with Mars 3 following about a week later.

Baseball
Atlanta Braves’ third baseman Clete Boyer, who had hit safely in his last 9 games, with 5 home runs and 14 runs batted in, was released after disputes with general manager Paul Richards and manager Lum Harris over what Mr. Boyer charged were silly rules and mismanagement. He was batting .245 with 6 homers and 19 RBIs in 30 games with Atlanta in 1971. No major league team signed Mr. Boyer, but he was able to finish the season with the Hawaii Islanders of the Pacific Coast League, and played in Japan with the Taiyo Whales (1972-1975).

30 years ago
1981

Hit parade
Edmonton's Top 20 (CHED)
1 Bette Davis Eyes--Kim Carnes
2 High School Confidential--Rough Trade
3 Being with You--Smokey Robinson
4 Watching the Wheels--John Lennon
5 You Better You Bet--The Who
6 Take it on the Run--REO Speedwagon
7 I Love You--Climax Blues Band
8 Her Town Too--James Taylor and J.D. Souther
9 I Missed Again--Phil Collins
10 Just the Two of Us--Grover Washington, Jr.
11 Babe--Jack Green
12 Too Much Time on My Hands--Styx
13 Medley--Stars on 45
14 Angel of the Morning--Juice Newton
15 Sweetheart--Franke and the Knockouts
16 It Just Occurred to Me--Peter Pringle
17 Lady of the '80s--Loverboy
18 What are We Doin’ in Love--Dottie West (with Kenny Rogers)
19 Kiss on My List--Daryl Hall & John Oates
20 The Waiting--Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers

Died on this date
Mary Lou Williams, 71. U.S. musician. Mrs. Williams was a jazz pianist, arranger, and composer who became one of the first women to become successful in jazz. She was married to saxophonist John Overton Williams from 1927-1940, and they performed together in the group Twelve Clouds of Joy, with Mrs. Williams serving as the band's arranger. Her compositions included Zodiac Suite, which was first performed on December 31, 1945. Mrs. Williams withdrew from performing in the mid-1950s and converted to Roman Catholicism. She often performed sacred music after that, and contributed to Catholic and other charities. Mrs. Williams died of bladder cancer, 20 days after her 71st birthday.

Baseball
The California Angels, off to a 22-25 start and 7½ games out of first place in the American League West Division, fired Jim Fregosi as manager, and replaced him with Gene Mauch. Mr. Fregosi had taken over as Angels’ manager at approximately the same point in the 1978 season and had led them to their first divisional title in 1979.

25 years ago
1986

Hit parade
#1 single in Sweden (Topplistan): The Final Countdown--Europe

Died on this date
Taylor Douthit, 85. U.S. baseball player. A native of Little Rock, Mr. Douthit played 11 years as an outfielder in the major leagues from 1923-1933, mostly with the St. Louis Cardinals. He was the starting center fielder with the team that won the World Series in 1926 and National League pennants in 1928 and 1930. He was traded to the Cincinnati Reds during the 1931 season and to the Chicago Cubs in 1933. In 1,074 major league games, Mr. Douthit batted .291. In 13 World Series games he batted just .140, with a best of .267 in 1926.

20 years ago
1991

War
Addis Ababa fell to the Ethiopian People's Revolutionary Democratic Front, ending both the Derg regime in Ethiopia and the Ethiopian Civil War.

Business
Edmonton-based Mel Hurtig sold Hurtig Publishing Ltd.--with a 100-book backlist including the Canadian Encyclopedia--to Avie Bennett's McClelland & Stewart.

10 years ago
2001

Died on this date
Joe Moakley, 74. U.S. politician. Mr. Moakley, a Democrat, represented the 7th Suffolk District in the Massachusetts House of Representatives (1953-1963); the 4th Suffolk District in the Massachusetts Senate (1965-1971); and Massachusetts' 9th District in the U.S. House of Representatives from 1973 until his death from a form of blood cancer. He chaired the House Rules Committee (1989-1995), and led a panel that investigated the 1989 deaths of six Jesuit priests and two women in El Salvador.

Baseball
The Florida Marlins, with a record of 22-26, fired John Boles as manager and replaced him with Tony Perez.