August 18, 2011

800 years ago
1211

Died on this date
Sithu II, 73 (?). King of Burma, 1174-1211. Narapati Sithu seized the throne by assassinating his brother Naratheinkha. Sithu II was the last important king of the Pagan dynasty, with a peaceful and prosperous reign that gave rise to Burmese culture. He founded the Royal Palace Guards, and the Pagan Empire reached its height during his reign. Sithu II was succeeded by his son Htilominlo.

290 years ago
1721

War
The Azerbaijani city of Shamakhi, Safavid Shirvan was sacked by 15,000 Sunni Muslim Lezgins, who slaughtered the Shia Muslim population.

180 years ago
1831

Born on this date
Ernest Noel. U.K. politician. Mr. Noel, a Liberal, represented the Scottish riding of Dumfries Burghs (1874-1886). As a Liberal Unionist, he was an unsuccessful candidate in the elections of 1886 and 1892. Mr. Noel died on May 20, 1931 at the age of 99.

170 years ago
1841

Born on this date
William Halford. U.K.-born U.S. military officer. Lieutenant Halford, a native of Gloucestershire, joined the United States Navy in 1869. He was serving aboard the USS Saginaw when she ran aground near Kure Atoll in 1870. Lt. Halford and three other officers took the ship's boat and sailed 1,500 miles to Honolulu, braving difficult conditions through 31 days. The others were drowned in the heavy surf, but Lt. Halford reached land, and was able to obtain help for the Saginaw,earning the Medal of Honor. Lt. Halford served in the Navy until retiring in 1903, and returned to service during World War I in 1917, and was still active when he died on February 7, 1919 at the age of 77.

120 years ago
1891

Born on this date
Wally Gerber. U.S. baseball player. Mr. Gerber was a shortstop with the Pittsburgh Pirates (1914-1915); St. Louis Browns (1917-1928); and Boston Red Sox (1928-1929), batting .257 with 7 home runs and 476 runs batted in in 1,522 games. He batted .248 in 1,055 games in 8 seasons in the minor leagues (1910-1917, 1930). Mr. Gerber umpired in the Mid-Atlantic League (1935-1938), and was men's supervisor with the Columbus (Ohio) Recreation Department (1939-1949). He died after a heart attack on June 19, 1951 at the age of 59.

Disasters
A major hurricane struck Martinique, leaving 700 dead.

Baseball
The Milwaukee Brewers, formerly of the Western League, played their first game in the American Association, beating the St. Louis Browns 7-2.

80 years ago
1931

Baseball
Lou Gehrig played his 1,000th consecutive game, but batted 0 for 5 as his New York Yankees lost 5-4 to the Detroit Tigers before 5,000 fans at Navin Field in Detroit. Detroit second baseman Charlie Gehringer batted 4 for 6 with a run, singling home Hub Walker with the tying run with 1 out in the bottom of the 9th inning, and then doubling home Tommy Bridges from second base with the winning run with 1 out in the 11th.

Paul Waner batted 5 for 6 with 2 runs and a run batted in to help the Pittsburgh Pirates beat the Philadelphia Phillies 14-5 before 1,500 fans at National League Park in Philadelphia.

Rabbit Maranville doubled to lead off the bottom of the 9th inning, advanced to third base on an error, and scored on a 1-out single by Red Worthington to give the Boston Braves a 3-2 win over the Chicago Cubs before 3,000 fans at Braves Field. Fred Frankhouse (8-3) pitched a 5-hitter, allowing 1 earned run, to win the pitchers' duel over Lon Warneke (1-4), who allowed 11 hits and 2 earned runs in a complete game.

75 years ago
1936

Boxing
Joe Louis (25-1) knocked out former world heavyweight champion Jack Sharkey (37-13-3) at 1:02 of the 3rd round of their bout at Madison Square Garden in New York. It was Mr. Sharkey's last fight.





70 years ago
1941

War
The Soviet government announced that Kingisepp, 70 miles southwest of Leningrad, had been evacuated, indicating that German forces had crossed the Luga River. The Finnish command reported the capture of Kurkijoki, 95 miles north of Leningrad.

Diplomacy
U.S. Ambassador to Japan Joseph Grew protested against restrictions placed upon Americans who wished to leave Japan. A Japanese news agency reported that Denmark had granted recognition to the Japanese-sponsored Chinese government in Nanking.

Defense
U.S. President Franklin D. Roosevelt announced that agreements had been concluded under which the Pan American Airways system would ferry warplanes from the United States to British forces in the Middle East via West Africa. Mr. Roosevelt signed the bill extending Army service by 18 months.

Terrorism
Four youths were arrested on charges of throwing three bombs in a labour dispute in Havana, injuring at least 12 people.

Technology
Dr. C.E. Kenneth Mees of Eastman Kodak Company announced that the company had perfected Kodachrome colour prints for use by the general public in taking still photographs.

Disasters
At least 13 men were killed when fire destroyed the freighter Panuco and its pier in Brooklyn, New York.

60 years ago
1951

Hit parade
#1 single in Australia (Kent Music Report): My Heart Cries for You--Guy Mitchell (3rd week at #1)

#1 single in the U.S.A. (Billboard): Come On-A My House--Rosemary Clooney (Best Seller--4th week at #1; Disc Jockey--4th week at #1; Jukebox--3rd week at #1)

U.S.A. Top 10 (Cash Box)
1 Come On-A My House--Rosemary Clooney (2nd week at #1)
--Kay Starr
2 Too Young--Nat "King" Cole
3 Jezebel--Frankie Laine
4 Sweet Violets--Dinah Shore
5 Because of You--Tony Bennett
--Les Baxter and his Orchestra
6 The Loveliest Night of the Year--Mario Lanza
7 My Truly, Truly Fair--Guy Mitchell
--Vic Damone
8 I Get Ideas--Tony Martin
9 On Top of Old Smoky--The Weavers and Terry Gilkyson
--Vaughn Monroe and his Orchestra
10 (Why Did I Tell You I was Going to) Shanghai--Doris Day
--Billy Williams Quartet

Singles entering the chart were I've Got You Under My Skin by Stan Freberg (#32); Cara Cara, Bella Bella by Perry Como (#33); and Kisses Sweeter than Wine by the Weavers (#34).

War
U.S. forces began a limited offensive in central Korea to prevent a possible Communist buildup.

World events
Indonesia announced the arrest of 200 more suspected revolutionary plotters in East Java.

Aviation
Keith Compton flew an F-86 Sabre jet on a 100-mile closed course at an average speed of 555 miles per hour to win the Bendix Air Trophy in Detroit.

Academia
An Associated Press survey reported that U.S. college tuition costs averaged $1,800 per year, 400% more than 50 years earlier and likely to rise still higher.

Economics and finance
Panamanian President Alcibiades Arosomena signed a decree prohibiting the country's 950 chartered merchant ships from carrying United Nations-embargoed goods to Communist China and North Korea.

Football
CRU
WIFU
Pre-season
Saskatchewan 12 @ Edmonton (1-0) 13

50 years ago
1961

Hit parade
#1 single in the U.K. (New Musical Express): You Don't Know--Helen Shapiro (3rd week at #1)

On television tonight
The Lawless Years, starring James Gregory, on NBC
Tonight's episode: The Victor Gorido Story

Music
The first Mariposa Folk Festival began at Oval Park in Orillia, Ontario. 1,500 people gathered over two days to hear such performers as The Travellers, Ian and Sylvia, and fiddler Al Cherny.

40 years ago
1971

Hit parade
#1 single in the U.K. (New Musical Express): Never Ending Song of Love--The New Seekers

Died on this date
Eamonn McDevitt, 24. U.K. protester. Mr. McDevitt, a deaf mute, was shot by British soldiers during a disturbance in Strabane, near Londonderry. Soldiers said that Mr. McDevitt was brandishing a pistol, but civilian witnesses said he was just waving his arms around to attract attention.

War
Australian Prime Minister William McMahon and N.Z. Prime Minister Keith Holyoake announced that their countries' combat forces would be withdrawn from Vietnam before the end of the year.

Football
CFL
Edmonton (1-4) 1 @ British Columbia (2-2) 11

Edmonton fullback Bob Houmard rushed for 107 yards, but it wasn't enough, as the Eskimos scored 1 point for the second straight game. The only touchdown in the game at Empire Stadium in Vancouver came on the first play of the 4th quarter on a pass from B.C. quarterback Paul Brothers to tight end Lefty Hendrickson.

30 years ago
1981

Died on this date
Anita Loos, 93. U.S. authoress. Miss Loos, who wrote short stories, non-fiction, and screenplays, was best known for her comic novel Gentlemen Prefer Blondes (1925).

25 years ago
1986

Hit parade
#1 single in Australia (Kent Music Report): Papa Don't Preach--Madonna (3rd week at #1)

#1 single in Spain (PROMUSICAE): Rock Me Amadeus--Falco

20 years ago
1991

Hit parade
#1 single in New Zealand (RIANZ): (Everything I Do) I Do it for You--Bryan Adams

#1 single in Switzerland: (Everything I Do) I Do it for You--Bryan Adams (3rd week at #1)

Austria's Top 10 (Ö3)
1 Wind of Change--Scorpions (7th week at #1)
2 Bobby Brown--Frank Zappa
3 Sailing on the Seven Seas--OMD (Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark)
4 Gypsy Woman (La Da Dee La Da Da)--Crystal Waters
5 The Shoop Shoop Song (It's in his Kiss)--Cher
6 Jesus Loves You--Bow Down Mister
7 Losing My Religion--R.E.M.
8 (Everything I Do) I Do it for You--Bryan Adams
10 Senza una donna (Without a Woman)--Zucchero & Paul Young
9 Fading Like a Flower (Every Time You Leave)--Roxette

Singles entering the chart were Love and Understanding by Cher (#23); and Keep Your Love Alive by Bilgeri (#29).