May 1, 2013

350 years ago
1663

Politics and government
Augustin de Saffray de Mezy was appointed first Royal Governor of New France; he served from September 15, 1663 to May 5, 1665.

325 years ago
1688

Canadiana
In Quebec City's Lower Town, the cornerstone was laid for the Church of Notre-Dame-des-Victoires.

150 years ago
1863

War
In the U.S. Civil War, the Battle of Chancellorsville began in Spotsylvania County, Virginia.

130 years ago
1883

World events
The Amsterdam World's Fair opened.

Popular culture
"Buffalo Bill" Cody put on his first Wild West Show.

Sport
The New York Athletic Club hired Bob Rogers as the first American professional sports trainer.

Baseball
Baseball returned to Philadelphia as the city hosted its first National League game since 1876. The Philadelphia Quakers, after holding their first spring training at Recreation Park, opened their regular season there, losing 4-3 to the Providence Grays.

125 years ago
1888

Politics and government
Frederick Arthur, Baron Stanley of Preston was appointed Governor-General of Canada. He served from June 11, 1888 to September 6, 1893, and is best remembered for donating hockey's Stanley Cup.

120 years ago
1893

Literature
The May 1893 issue of The Strand Magazine contained the short story The Adventure of the Musgrave Ritual, sixth in a series that was published in book form in 1894 as The Memoirs of Sherlock Holmes.

World events
The World's Columbian Exposition opened in Chicago.

Exploration
Joseph Burr Tyrell of the Geological Survey of Canada left Ottawa with his brother J. W. Tyrell to map 5,150 km of Barren Lands from Hudson Bay to Lake Athabasca.

100 years ago
1913

Born on this date
Walter Susskind. Czech-born orchestra conductor. Mr. Susskind, a native of Prague, began his career in his native country, but fled to the United Kingdom two days before German forces invaded Czechoslovakia in 1939. He became a British subject, but spent much of his working life in other countries. Mr. Susskind conducted the Scottish Orchestra (1946-1952); Melbourne Symphony Orchestra (1953-1955); Toronto Symphony Orchestra (1956-1965); and St. Louis Symphony Orchestra (1968-1975). He founded the National Youth Orchestra of Canada in 1960, and served as artistic adviser to the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra from 1978 until his death on March 25, 1980 at the age of 66.

80 years ago
1933

Diplomacy
The Roca-Runciman Treaty, a commercial agreement between Argentina and Great Britain, was signed in London by Argentine Vice-President Julio Argentino Roca, Jr., and Sir Walter Runciman, president of the British Board of Trade.

70 years ago
1943

Hit parade
#1 single in the U.S.A. (Billboard): I've Heard That Song Before--Harry James and his Music Makers with Helen Forrest (9th week at #1)

Died on this date
Johan Oscar Smith, 71. Norwegian religious leader. Mr. Smith had a Christian conversion experience in 1898, and went on to found the evangelical non-denominational movement which became the Brunstad Christian Church.

War
American forces in Tunisia cleared Djebel Tahent, and with the help of Moroccans, captured part of Djebel Hazemat in a two-pronged attack on Mateur.

Diplomacy
Bolivia announced its adherence to the United Nations Pact.

World events
The Netherlands were placed under martial law by Nazi Commissioner Arthur Seyss-Inquart.

Technology
In Princeton, New Jersey, RCA demonstrated a radio-electronic sewing machine that stitched thermoplastics with radio frequency current instead of thread.

Horse racing
Count Fleet, with Johnny Longden up, won the 69th running of the Kentucky Derby before 60,000 fans at Churchill Downs in Louisville in a time of 2:04 2/5, 3 lengths ahead of Blue Swords, with Slide Rule finishing third.



60 years ago
1953

Hit parade
#1 single in the U.K. (New Musical Express): I Believe--Frankie Laine (2nd week at #1)

On television tonight
Tales of Tomorrow, on ABC
Tonight's episode: The Evil Within, starring Rod Steiger, Margaret Phillips, and James Dean



50 years ago
1963

Disasters
More residents were evacuated from Hay River, Northwest Territories because of flooding from the Mackenzie River. Many of those evacuated were flown to Edmonton, where relief efforts were underway.

Politics and government
Former British Prime Minister Sir Winston Churchill, 88, announced that he would not run for re-election to the House of Commons in the next general election because recent injuries had made it difficult for him to enter and sit in the House, where he had been a member since 1900.

Energy
Hydro-Quebec expropriated the 11 remaining private power companies in Quebec for $600 million, extending its operation province-wide.

40 years ago
1973

Hit parade
#1 single in Switzerland: Der Junge mit der Mundharmonika--Bernd Clüver (2nd week at #1)

Scandal
U.S. federal investigators reported that they had evidence linking high-ranking White House and Campaign to Re-Elect the President (CREEP) officials to a carefully-designed cover-up to obstruct investigation of the June 1972 break-in at the headquarters of the Democratic National Committee in the Watergate office complex in Washington, D.C. According to investigators, the plot, co-ordinated by White House aides John Ehrlichman and Bob Haldeman and Attorney General John Mitchell, had been formulated in secret meetings at CREEP headquarters in late June 1972. Jeb Stuart Magruder, John Dean, and Frederick LaRue were allegedly also involved. Investigators said the basic scheme called for all involved to deny knowledge, and for CREEP to issue statements to that effect. Also reported as part of the alleged plot were payments to the arrested defendants and promises of executive clemency.

Terrorism
Two Lebanese noncommissioned officers were kidnapped by Palestinian guerrillas in Beirut.

Labour
In Britain, about 1.6 million workers joined the Trades Union Congress' call for a one-day strike today in protest at the government's pay restraint policy and price rises.

Hockey
NHL
Stanley Cup
Finals
Chicago 1 @ Montreal 4 (Montreal led best-of-seven series 2-0)

Yvan Cournoyer scored his 10th and 11th goals of the 1973 playoffs to lead the Canadiens over the Black Hawks at the Montreal Forum.

30 years ago
1983

Hit parade
#1 single in Switzerland: Billie Jean--Michael Jackson (3rd week at #1)

Diplomacy
Stansfield Turner, former director of the Central Intelligence Agency, warned in a newspaper article that the CIA should avoid getting involved in providing covert aid to rebels operating inside Nicaragua. He said that the United States was perceived as backing supporters of the former dictator Anastasio Somoza, and that the CIA might be drawn into breaking U.S. law.

Economics and finance
The United States Commerce Department reported that the nation’s per capita income for 1982 had increased only 5.3%--$11,056, up from $10,495 in 1981.

Hockey
NHL
Stanley Cup
Clarence S. Campbell Conference Finals
Edmonton 3 @ Chicago 2 (Edmonton led best-of-seven series 3-0)

Andy Moog won the goaltending duel over Tony Esposito as the Oilers edged the Black Hawks at Chicago Stadium.

25 years ago
1988

Hit parade
#1 single in New Zealand (RIANZ): One Tree Hill--U2 (6th week at #1)

#1 single in Switzerland: I Should be So Lucky--Kylie Minogue

Politics and government
The two leading parties in El Salvador continued to argue over the outcome of the March elections to the Legislative Assembly. With the Supreme Court having ruled that a disputed seat be left vacant pending a final court decision, the parties seated their assembly members separately. The National Republican Alliance (ARENA) claimed that with one seat unresolved, their 30 members constituted an absolute majority of the remaining 59 seats.

Basketball
NBA
Playoffs
Eastern Conference
First Round
Milwaukee 97 @ Atlanta 104 (Atlanta led best-of-five series 2-0)
New York 102 @ Boston 128 (Boston led best-of-five series 2-0)
Cleveland 101 @ Chicago 106 (Chicago led best-of-seven series 2-0)

Western Conference
First Round
Seattle 111 @ Denver 91 (Best-of-five series tied 1-1)
San Antonio 112 @ Los Angeles Lakers 130 (Los Angeles led best-of-five series 2-0)

20 years ago
1993

Hit parade
#1 single in Australia (ARIA): Are You Gonna Go My Way--Lenny Kravitz (5th week at #1)

#1 single in Italy: Sei un Mito--883 (5th week at #1)

#1 single in Spain (PROMUSICAE): I Feel You--Depeche Mode (7th week at #1)

#1 single in Flanders (VRT): All that She Wants--Ace of Base

#1 single in France (SNEP): No Limit--2 Unlimited

#1 single in the Netherlands (De Nederlandse Top 40): Mr. Blue--René Klijn (4th week at #1)

#1 single in the U.K. (Chart Information Network): Five Live (EP)--George Michael & Queen with Lisa Stansfield

Five Live contained the following tracks: Somebody to Love, performed by Queen and George Michael; Killer, performed by George Michael; Papa Was a Rollin' Stone, performed by George Michael; These Are the Days of Our Lives, performed by Queen, George Michael and Lisa Stansfield; and Calling You, performed by George Michael.

#1 single in the U.S.A. (Billboard): Freak Me--Silk

U.S.A. Top 10 (Cash Box)
1 Looking Through Patient Eyes--PM Dawn
2 Love Is--Vanessa Williams and Brian McKnight
3 I Have Nothing--Whitney Houston
4 Informer--Snow
5 If I Ever Lose My Faith in You--Sting
6 Freak Me--Silk
7 Two Princes--Spin Doctors
8 Don't Walk Away--Jade
9 Cat's in the Cradle--Ugly Kid Joe
10 I'm So Into You--SWV

Singles entering the chart were That's the Way Love Goes by Janet Jackson (#28); Somebody to Love by George Michael and Queen (#38); Show Me Love by Robin S (#64); Tap the Bottle by Young Black Teenagers (#68); Weak by SWV (#69); Touch My Light by Big Mountain (#72); That's the Way Love Is by Bobby Brown (#78); Let's Go Through the Motions by Jodeci (#81); and In These Arms by Bon Jovi (#84).

Canada's Top 10 (RPM)
1 I Have Nothing--Whitney Houston
2 If I Ever Lose My Faith in You--Sting
3 Two Princes--Spin Doctors
4 Love Is--Vanessa Williams and Brian McKnight
5 The Crying Game--Boy George
6 Simple Life--Elton John
7 Lost in Your Eyes--The Jeff Healey Band
8 Angel--Jon Secada
9 Informer--Snow
10 That's What Love Can Do--Boy Krazy

Singles entering the chart were That's the Way Love Goes by Janet Jackson (#41); The Right Decision by Jesus Jones (#89); I'll Never Get Over You (Getting Over Me) by Expose (#90); Hero by David Crosby and Phil Collins (#91); I'm Not in Love by the Pretenders (#95); At the 100th Meridian by the Tragically Hip (#96); Have I Told You Lately by Rod Stewart (#97); and Ships by Big Country (#98). I'm Not in Love was from the movie Indecent Proposal (1993).

Died on this date
Ranasinghe Premadasa, 68. President of Sri Lanka, 1989-1993. Mr. Premadasa was assassinated in Colombo by a suicide bomber associated with the terrorist organization Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE). His death occurred just eight days after the assassination in Colombo of his leading political opponent, Lalith Athulathmudali. A presidential commission concluded that Mr. Premadasa had been directly responsible for the deaths of Mr. Athulathmudali and a Tamil youth named Ragunathan, whose body had been found the next day near the crime scene.

Pierre Bérégovoy, 67. Prime Minister of France, 1992-1993. Mr. Bérégovoy, a Socialist, served as Prime Minister under President Francois Mitterand from April 2, 1992-March 29-1993, and resigned the day after the second round of legislative elections, which saw the Socialists drop from 260 seats in the National Assembly to 53. Mr. Bérégovoy died after apparently shooting himself in the head.

Horse Racing
Sea Hero, with Jerry Bailey aboard, won the 119th running of the Kentucky Derby before 136,817 fans at Churchill Downs in Louisville in a time of 2:02.42. Prairie Bayou placed second and Wild Gale third.



Hockey
NHL
Stanley Cup
Clarence S. Campbell Conference
Division Semi-Finals
Toronto 4 @ Detroit 3 (OT) (Toronto won best-of-seven series 4-3)

Nikolai Borschevsky scored at 2:35 of the 1st overtime period to give the Maple Leafs their win over the Red Wings at Joe Louis Arena. Detroit led 3-2 until Doug Gilmour tied the score with 2:43 remaining in regulation time.

Basketball
NBA
Playoffs
Eastern Conference
First Round
Charlotte 99 @ Boston 98 (Best-of-five series tied 1-1)
New Jersey 101 @ Cleveland 99 (Best-of-five series tied 1-1)

Western Conference
First Round
Los Angeles Clippers 95 @ Houston 83 (Best-of-five series tied 1-1)
San Antonio 96 @ Portland 105 (Best-of-five series tied 1-1)

10 years ago
2003

War
Speaking off the coast of California on board the USS Abraham Lincoln, U.S. President George W. Bush declared, "Major combat operations in Iraq have ended. In the battle of Iraq, the United States and our allies have prevailed." Mr. Bush called the "liberation of Iraq...a crucial advance in the campaign against terror." He also declared an end to combat operations in Afghanistan, making the formal transition from military operations to rebuilding.

U.S. defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld, in a meeting with Afghan President Hamid Karzai in Kabul, declared that U.S. military forces had concluded major combat operations there. 8,000 U.S. soldiers and a 5,500-member International Security Assistance Force remained in Afghanistan.

Abominations
The British Columbia Court of Appeal gave the federal and provincial governments in Canada until July 2004 to allow for the "marriages" of sodomites and lesbians.

Health
The United States House of Representatives voted 375-41 in favour of a $15-billion program to fight HIV/AIDS around the world. The decision included a provision that 1/3 of the money was to be used to encourage abstinence.

Disasters
An earthquake in southeastern Turkey measuring 6.4 on the Richter scale destroyed a bridge and dozens of buildings, killing more than 100 people.