August 21, 2012

150 years ago
1862

Born on this date
Emilio Salgari. Italian author. Mr. Salgari wrote more than 200 short stories and novels, mainly in the genres of swashbuckling adventure and science fiction. His works were popular not just in Italy but in Spanish-speaking countries, influencing other writers and filmmakers. Several tragedies drove Mr. Salgari into depression, and shortly after his wife Ida was committed to a mental ward, he committed suicide in an imitation of harakiri on April 25, 1911 at the age of 48.

Defense
The United States Navy commissioned the wooden-hulled broadside ironclad battleship USS New Ironsides.

100 years ago
1912

Americana
Arthur Eldred of Oceanside, New York became the first American to achieve the rank of Eagle Scout.

60 years ago
1952

At the movies
Gefährliches Abenteuer (Dangerous Adventure), directed by Emile Edwin Reinert, and starring Gustav Fröhlich, Cornell Borchers, Franz Lederer, and Inge Konradi, received its premiere screening in Hanover. It opened in Austria on September 21, 1952 under the title Abenteuer in Wien (Adventure in Vienna), and was remade in English and released in the United States in 1953 under the title Stolen Identity.



50 years ago
1962

On the radio
The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes, starring Carleton Hobbs and Norman Shelley, on BBC Light Programme
Tonight’s episode: The Abbey Grange

40 years ago
1972

Space
The U.S.A. launched Copernicus, the fourth and last orbiting astronomical observatory (OAO). The 4,900-pound satellite was equipped with the largest ultraviolet telescope ever orbited, and was the most expensive, complicated, and heaviest unmanned satellite yet launched by the United States. The objective was to observe interstellar gases and young hot stars and to X-ray stars and other phenomena.

Adventure
Mark Yarry, an American, and Donald Cameron, a Scotsman, flew a 120-foot balloon at an altitude of 17,000 feet to go over Monte Rosa, western Europe’s tallest mountain, completing the first hot-air balloon flight over the Alps when they landed in Biella, Italy.

Disasters
The Texanita, an empty oil tanker, exploded and sank within four minutes after colliding with the Oswego Guardian, another oil tanker, in heavy fog off Cape Agulhas, South Africa. 47 of the Texanita’s 50-man crew were killed, while one member of Oswego Guardian’s crew was killed. The explosion could be heard 63 miles away. Both tankers were registered in Liberia.

30 years ago
1982

Hit parade
#1 single in the U.K.: Come on Eileen--Dexys Midnight Runners & the Emerald Express (3rd week at #1)

#1 single in the U.S.A.: (Billboard): Eye of the Tiger--Survivor (5th week at #1)

U.S.A. Top 10 (Cash Box)
1 Eye of the Tiger--Survivor (4th week at #1)
2 Abracadabra--Steve Miller Band
3 Hard to Say I'm Sorry--Chicago
4 Hold Me--Fleetwood Mac
5 Hurts So Good--John Cougar
6 You Should Hear how She Talks About You--Melissa Manchester
7 Take it Away--Paul McCartney
8 Vacation--Go-Go's
9 Wasted on the Way--Crosby, Stills & Nash
10 Even the Nights are Better--Air Supply

Singles entering the chart were Voyeur by Kim Carnes (#65); Break it to Me Gently by Juice Newton (#77); Workin' for a Livin' by Huey Lewis and the News (#78); The One You Love by Glenn Frey (#81); Jump to It by Aretha Franklin (#83); He Got You by Ronnie Milsap (#85); Right Away by Kansas (#86); Steppin' Out by Joe Jackson (#87); He Could Be the One by Josie Cotton (#88); and Nobody by Sylvia (#89).

Canada’s Top 10 (RPM)
1 Eye of the Tiger--Survivor (4th week at #1)
2 Abracadabra--Steve Miller Band
3 Hurts So Good--John Cougar
4 Hard to Say I'm Sorry--Chicago
5 Eyes of a Stranger--Payolas
6 Your Daddy Don't Know--Toronto
7 Even the Nights are Better--Air Supply
8 Love in Control (Finger on the Trigger)--Donna Summer
9 I've Never Been to Me--Charlene
10 Going to a Go-Go--Rolling Stones

Singles entering the chart were Emotions in Motion by Billy Squier (#43); Calling All Girls by Queen (#45); Don't it Make Ya Feel by the Headpins (#46); Hot in the City by Billy Idol (#48); and Boys of Autumn by David Roberts (#49).

Died on this date
Sobhuza II, 83. King of Swaziland, 1899-1982. Sobhuza II was four months old when he succeeded his father Ngwane V on the throne. Sobhuza II's grandmother Labotsibeni Mdluli served as regent until 1921, and then Sobhuza II ruled directly until his death. He played a major role in obtaining Swaziland's independence from British rule in 1968. King Sobhuza's reign of 82 years 254 days is the longest on record. He had 70 wives who gave him 210 children; his son Mswati III succeeded him on the throne.

Calvin Simmons, 32. U.S. orchestra conductor. Mr. Simmons, the first Negro American to conduct a major symphony orchestra, worked as an assistant conductor under Zubin Mehta with the Los Angeles Philharmonic Orchestra before becoming the music director of the Oakland Symphony Orchestra in 1978. He was still active in that position when he died in a canoeing accident near Lake George in New York.

Terrorism
A bomb placed beneath the car of U.S. embassy commercial counsellor Roderick Grant exploded in Paris near the Eiffel Tower, killing a policeman. The policeman was a demolition expert who was attempting to defuse the bomb when it exploded.

Politics and government
Italian Prime Minister Giovanni Spadolini, whose government had resigned on August 7 after withdrawal of support by the Socialists, announced that he would form a five-party coalition pledged to economic restraint and changes in parliamentary rules. The parties would be the Christian Democrats, Liberals, Republicans, Social Democrats, and Socialists.

Defense
20 days after an attempted coup against Kenya’s civilian government by air force officers, the Kenyan government announced that it had formally disbanded the Kenyan air force.

Football
CFL
Hamilton (3-4) 15 @ Saskatchewan (3-3) 18

Rookie Dave Ridgway’s third field goal of the game, a 42-yard kick on the last play, gave the Roughriders the win over the Tiger-Cats before 28,457 fans at Taylor Field in Regina. Hamilton led 15-7 in the 4th quarter on the strength of 5 field goals by Bernie Ruoff, but Saskatchewan scored the game’s only touchdown on a 37-yard pass from Joe Adams to Joey Walters, and Mr. Adams completed a pass to Chris DeFrance for a 2-point convert to tie the game with 9:41 remaining in the game. The game was interrupted in the 2nd quarter by a 65-minute delay because of a power failure that knocked out the lights.

Baseball
Rollie Fingers recorded his 300th career major league save, pitching the last 2 innings as the Milwaukee Brewers edged the Seattle Mariners 3-2 at the Kingdome in Seattle.

25 years ago
1987

At the movies
Hope and Glory, co-produced, written, and directed by John Boorman, and starring Sebastian Rice-Edwards, Sarah Miles, David Hayman, and Ian Bannen, received its premiere screening at the Montreal World Film Festival.





War
300 members of the French Foreign Legion arrived in Lebanon to be part of a multinational peacekeeping force in Beirut.

Economics and finance
The United States Commerce Department reported that the consumer price index had risen 0.2% in July, and that after-tax profits of U.S. corporations had risen 4.2% in the second quarter of 1987.

Football
CFL
Hamilton (5-3) 28 @ Toronto (5-3-1) 25

Bernie Ruoff’s fourth field goal of the game, a 41-yard kick with 19 seconds remaining in regulation time, gave the Tiger-Cats their win over the Argonauts before 33,648 fans at Exhibition Stadium. The winning field goal came 2 minutes and 30 seconds after Hamilton had tied the game on a 28-yard touchdown pass from Tom Porras to Steve Stapler and Mr. Ruoff’s convert. Darrell K. Smith caught 2 touchdown passes for the Argonauts, the first from Gilbert Renfroe and the second from John Congemi, who entered the game after Mr. Renfroe left with an injury. Gill Fenerty rushed 2 yards for the other Toronto touchdown. The Tiger-Cats’ first TD came on a 10-yard pass to Tony Champion from Mr. Porras, who completed 36 of 53 passes for 432 yards.



20 years ago
1992

Weather
A cold front dumped snow on Edmonton and Calgary. It was the first time in 46 years that snow had fallen in Calgary in August, and the last time before that had been 46 years earlier.

Abominations
U.S. federal marshals shot and killed Sammy Weaver, the son of white separatist Randy Weaver after killing the family dog, beginning a 1--day siege at Ruby Ridge in northern Idaho.

Football
CFL
British Columbia (0-7) 23 @ Calgary (5-2) 44

After a scoreless 1st quarter, the Stampeders took a 25-1 halftime lead and coasted to victory over the Lions before 21,508 fans at McMahon Stadium. Doug Flutie completed 24 of 35 passes for 408 yards and touchdowns to Carl Bland and Derrick Crawford, and rushed 1 yard for a touchdown of his own. Eric Mitchel rushed 10 yards for a Calgary touchdown in the 3rd quarter and 62 yards for another in the 4th quarter. B.C. scored 3 touchdowns in the 4th quarter on passes from backup quarterback Mike Johnson, who relieved starter Tony Kimbrough. Mr. Johnson threw 2 touchdown passes to Matt Clark and another to Mike Trevathan.

10 years ago
2002

Football
CFL
Montreal (8-1) 37 @ British Columbia (4-5) 48

Damon Allen’s fourth touchdown pass to Alfred Jackson, a record-tying 109-yard completion with 1:27 remaining in regulation time, provided the winning margin as the Lions defeated the Alouettes before 17,221 fans at B.C. Place Stadium in Vancouver. Just 21 seconds later, Eric Carter intercepted an Anthony Calvillo pass and returned it 47 yards for a touchdown. Mr. Allen, who also rushed 1 yard for a touchdown, completed 20 of 29 passes for 490 yards. Mr. Jackson finished with 7 receptions for 247 yards. Mr. Calvillo threw touchdown passes to Sylvain Girard, Thomas Haskins, and Keith Stokes, while Ryan Terry rushed 3 yards for the other Alouette touchdown.