May 14, 2013

380 years ago
1633

Canadiana
Olivier Le Jeune, a slave left in Quebec by the Kirkes, was baptized into the Roman Catholic faith. He was the first Negro recorded in Canada.

370 years ago
1643

Died on this date
Louis XIII, 41. King of France, 1610-1643; King of Navarre, 1610-1620. A monarch of the House of Bourbon, Louis XIII succeeded his father Henry IV at the age of 8, replacing his mother as regent in 1617.
He died, apparently of intestinal tuberculosis, 33 years to the day of his succession to the throne, and was succeeded by his 4-year-old son Louis XIV.

180 years ago
1833

Died on this date
Johann Wilhelm Cornelius von Konigslow, 88. Composer. I don’t know who he was, but I do know this...

Law
In England, the Whig government introduced the Bill for the Abolition of Slavery, formally saluting William Wilberforce in the process. Mr. Wilberforce, by then on his deathbed, had been leading the political battle in Britain against slavery for several decades.

150 years ago
1863

War
In the U.S. Civil War, Union Army forces commanded by General U.S. Grant defeated Confederate forces led by General Joseph Johnston in the Battle of Jackson in Mississippi.

100 years ago
1913

Americana
New York Governor William Sulzer approved the charter for the Rockefeller Foundation, which began operations with a $100 million donation from John D. Rockefeller.

90 years ago
1923

Died on this date
Charles de Freycinet, 94. Prime Minister of France, 1879-1880; 1882; 1886; 1890-1892. Mr. Freycinet belonged to the Opportunist Republicans faction. The governments he led were defeated either in parliament or in elections.

80 years ago
1933

Baseball
With rain pelting down at Ebbets Field in Brooklyn‚ Hack Wilson pounded a 9th-inning pinch grand slam‚ the first in Brooklyn Dodgers' history‚ to beat the Philadelphia Phillies’ Ad Liska 8-6. The home run was inside-the-park‚ just the third pinch inside-the-park grand slam homer in history‚ and the first since 1910.

75 years ago
1938

Died on this date
Jacobus C J "Jacques" Hermans, 81. Actor. Mr. Hermans appeared in a production called Ghetto; other than that, I know nothing about him.

Soccer
England defeated Germany 6-3. German Chancellor Adolf Hitler was presumably unhappy with the result.

Baseball
After a 7-6 10-inning loss to the St. Louis Cardinals‚ the Cincinnati Reds filed a protest regarding a disputed hit by the Reds’ Dusty Cooke. Mr. Cooke hit a ball that bounced off the part of the right field pavilion at Sportsman's Park that jutted out over the playing field. The ball bounced back in play, and Mr. Cooke reached third base. Reds’ manager Bill McKechnie contended that it should have been a home run‚ stating that if it had been hit lower it would have missed the pavilion and been a homer. On June 3‚ National League President Ford Frick ruled that the game should be replayed as part of an August 20 doubleheader. The Reds went on to win the first game 4-2‚ then lost the nightcap 5-4.

70 years ago
1943

On the radio
The New Adventures of Sherlock Holmes, starring Basil Rathbone and Nigel Bruce, on MBS
Tonight's episode: The Man with the Twisted Lip

Died on this date
Henri La Fontaine, 89. Belgian politician. Mr. La Fontaine, a Socialist, was a member of the Belgian Senate from 1895-1932. He was president of the International Peace Bureau from 1907 until his death, and was awarded the Nobel Prize for Peace in 1913.

War
The Australian Hospital Ship Centaur was torpedoed and sunk by a Japanese submarine off North Stradbroke Island, Queensland, with the loss of 268 lives. The 64 survivors had to wait for 36 hours before they were rescued.

50 years ago
1963

On television tonight
The Untouchables, starring Robert Stack, on ABC
Tonight's episode: Line of Fire

Radio
Edmonton station CHED moved from 1080 to 630 on the AM dial.

Space
After a wait of six hours in his Faith 7 spacecraft, U.S. astronaut Gordon Cooper had his Mercury-Atlas 9 mission scrubbed until the next day because of an engine with a dirty fuel line that failed to pull away the gantry, and a defective radar computer in Bermuda.

Diplomacy
Kuwait joined the United Nations.

Politics and government
The Social Credit Party of Canada split into two wings, as Réal Caouette led a Quebec breakaway group known as Ralliement des Creditistes. The remaining party continued to be led by Robert Thompson.

Economics and finance
India purchased 16 Caribou transport planes from Canada.

40 years ago
1973

Hit parade
#1 single in Australia (Kent Music Report): Top of the World--Carpenters (4th week at #1)

#1 single in France: Et surtout ne m'oublie pas--Crazy Horse (2nd week at #1)

Space
The first U.S. space station, Skylab, was launched from Pad A at Kennedy Space Center Launch Complex 39 in Cape Kennedy, Florida atop a Saturn V rocket. 63 minutes after launch, the craft's solar-powered wings failed to deploy (during launch the micrometeoroid shield had separated from the workshop and torn away, taking one of two main solar panel arrays with it and jamming the other), delaying the launch of the station's three-man crew--Pete Conrad, Joseph Kerwin, and Paul Weitz--until May 25. The rocket that carried Skylab into space was the 13th and last Saturn V ever used.





30 years ago
1983

Hit parade
#1 single in France: Let's Dance--David Bowie

#1 single in the Netherlands (De Nederlandse Top 40): Beat It--Michael Jackson (2nd week at #1)

#1 single in Ireland (IRMA): True--Spandau Ballet

#1 single in the U.K.: True--Spandau Ballet (3rd week at #1)

#1 single in the U.S.A. (Billboard): Beat It--Michael Jackson (3rd week at #1)

U.S.A. Top 10 (Cash Box)
1 Beat It--Michael Jackson (2nd week at #1)
2 Let's Dance--David Bowie
3 Come On Eileen--Dexys Midnight Runners & the Emerald Express
4 Mr. Roboto--Styx
5 Der Kommissar--After the Fire
6 She Blinded Me with Science--Thomas Dolby
7 Flashdance...What a Feeling--Irene Cara
8 Overkill--Men at Work
9 Even Now--Bob Seger & the Silver Bullet Band
10 Little Red Corvette--Prince

Singles entering the chart were Inside Love (So Personal) by George Benson (#80); Easy for You to Say by Linda Ronstadt (#85); Wishing (If I Had a Photograph of You) by A Flock of Seagulls (#89); and Where Everybody Knows Your Name (The Theme from "Cheers") by Gary Portnoy (#97). Cheers was a popular television comedy series that ran from 1982-1993.

Canada's Top 10 (RPM)
1 Beat It--Michael Jackson
2 Let's Dance--David Bowie
3 She Blinded Me with Science--Thomas Dolby
4 Sex (I'm a...)--Berlin
5 Rio--Duran Duran
6 Jeopardy--Greg Kihn Band
7 Billie Jean--Michael Jackson
8 Mr. Roboto--Styx
9 Midnight Blue--Louise Tucker
10 Always Something There to Remind Me--Naked Eyes

Singles entering the chart were Too Shy by Kajagoogoo (#44); I'm Still Standing by Elton John (#48); So Wrong by Patrick Simmons (#49); and Change by Tears for Fears (#50).

Died on this date
Roger J. Traynor, 83. U.S. jurist. Dr. Traynor obtained doctorates in both political science and jurisprudence, and was a law professor and California government bureaucrat in the 1930s. He was Deputy Attorney General of California from January-August 1940, and was then appointed to the California Supreme Court, serving as an Associate Justice (1940-1964), and Chief Justice (1964-1970). Justice Traynor believed in using the power of the judiciary to redress social problems, and was perhaps best known for his 1963 ruling creating true strict liability in product liability cases. His liberal activism on the court led him to be viewed by the legal community as one of the greatest justices in American history, and perhaps the greatest not to serve on the U.S. Supreme Court. Dr. Traynor died of cancer.

Miguel Aleman Valdes, 82. President of Mexico, 1946-1952. Before becoming President, Mr. Aleman was a Senator from the state of Veracruz (1934-1936), Governor of Veracruz (1936-1939), and Minister of the Interior (1940-1945). His presidential administration pursued improvements in transportation and industrial development, and made Baja California a state, but was characterized by corruption and crony capitalism. As well, Mr. Aleman made the horrible mistake of allowing women to vote in municipal elections.

Protest
About 1,000 people were arrested in Santiago for demonstrating against the Chilean government of Gen. Augusto Pinochet; many were soon released.

Hockey
NHL
Stanley Cup
Finals
Edmonton 1 @ New York Islanders 5 (Mew York led best-of-seven series 3-0)

Baseball
Ben Oglivie slugged 3 home runs as the Milwaukee Brewers came from behind to beat the Boston Red Sox 8-7 in 10 innings. Mr. Oglivie’s third homer tied the score at 6-6 in the bottom of the 9th.

Luis Leal and Roy Lee Jackson of the Toronto Blue Jays combined to one-hit the Cleveland Indians 8-1‚ allowing only an 8th-inning single to Chris Bando. Starter Leal pitched 5 innings‚ and was replaced by Jackson after a 1:42 rain delay.

25 years ago
1988

Hit parade
#1 single in Italy (FIMI): I'm Not Scared--Eighth Wonder

#1 single in Flanders (Ultratop 50): Gimme Hope Jo'anna--Eddy Grant (5th week at #1)

#1 single in the Netherlands (De Nederlandse Top 40): Yé ké yé ké--Mory Kanté

#1 single in France (SNEP): N'importe quoi--Florent Pagny (2nd week at #1)

#1 single in Ireland (IRMA): Perfect--Fairground Attraction (2nd week at #1)

#1 single in the U.K. (New Musical Express): Perfect--Fairground Attraction

This was the last week in which New Musical Express published its own chart.

#1 single in the U.K. (BMRB): Perfect--Fairground Attraction

#1 single in the U.S.A. (Billboard): Anything for You--Gloria Estefan and Miami Sound Machine

U.S.A. Top 10 (Cash Box)
1 Anything for You--Gloria Estefan and Miami Sound Machine
2 Wishing Well--Terence Trent D'Arby
3 Angel--Aerosmith
4 Where Do Broken Hearts Go--Whitney Houston
5 Pink Cadillac--Natalie Cole
6 One More Try--George Michael
7 Always on My Mind--Pet Shop Boys
8 Naughty Girls (Need Love Too)--Samantha Fox
9 Shattered Dreams--Johnny Hates Jazz
10 Electric Blue--Icehouse

Singles entering the chart were New Sensation by INXS (#71); I Should Be So Lucky by Kylie Minogue (#73); Paradise by Sade (#77); Blue Monday 1988 by New Order (#80); Broken Land by the Adventures (#83); Route 66/Behind the Wheel by Depeche Mode (#85); Love Changes (Everything) by Climie Fisher (#86); Just Got Paid by Johnny Kemp (#87); Forgive Me for Dreaming by Elisa Fiorillo (#88); Rooty Toot Toot by John Cougar Mellencamp (#89); Wild, Wild West by Kool Moe Dee; and My Love by Julio Iglesias featuring Stevie Wonder (#91).

Canada's Top 10 (RPM)
1 Wishing Well--Terence Trent D'Arby (2nd week at #1)
2 Get Outta My Dreams, Get Into My Car--Billy Ocean
3 Devil Inside--INXS
4 Always on My Mind--Pet Shop Boys
5 I'm Still Searching--Glass Tiger
6 Where Do Broken Hearts Go--Whitney Houston
7 Push It--Salt-N-Pepa
8 I Saw Him Standing There--Tiffany
9 Never Gonna Give You Up--Rick Astley
10 Electric Blue--Icehouse

Singles entering the chart included Dirty Diana by Michael Jackson (#76); Rooty Toot Toot by John Couger Mellencamp (#87); and Magic Carpet Ride by Bardeux (#96).

Died on this date
Willem Drees, 101. Prime Minister of the Netherlands, 1948-1958. Mr. Drees was leader of the Dutch Labour Party. His government presided over decolonization and the introduction of the modern welfare state.

Diplomacy
The Soviet commander in Afghanistan, Lt. Boris Gromov, said that one fourth of the Soviet force would be pulled out of the country by the end of May in order to create "an atmosphere of trust" at the summit between U.S.S.R. leader Mikhail Gorbachev and U.S. President Ronald Reagan, scheduled to begin May 29 in Moscow.

Politics and government
French President Francois Mitterand dissolved the National Assembly and scheduled parliamentary elections for June.

Crime
A pickup truck and a bus returning from a church outing crashed head-on near Carrollton, Kentucky, causing the deaths of 27 of the 67 people on the bus. Most of the dead were teenagers; all the deaths were attributed to smoke inhalation. The truck had been travelling north in a southbound lane of Interstate 71; the truck’s driver, Larry Mahoney, was found to be legally drunk at the time of the crash. Two days later, he was charged with 27 counts of murder.

Hockey
NHL
Stanley Cup
Prince of Wales Conference
Finals
New Jersey 2 @ Boston 6 (Boston won best-of-seven series 4-3)

Basketball
NBA
Eastern Conference
Semi-Finals
Detroit 101 @ Chicago 79 (Detroit led best-of-seven series 2-1)

Western Conference
Semi-Finals
Denver 107 @ Dallas 105 (Denver led best-of-seven series 2-1)

Baseball
St. Louis Cardinals’ infielder Jose Oquendo became the first non-pitcher in 20 years to get a major league decision in the Cardinals' 7-5 19-inning loss to the Atlanta Braves. St. Louis had used 7 pitchers when Mr. Oquendo came in to pitch the 16th inning. He shut out the Braves for 3 innings before surrendering the game-winning runs.

20 years ago
1993

Died on this date
William Randolph Hearst, Jr., 85. U.S. journalist and publisher. Mr. Hearst, the son of magnate William Randolph Hearst, became editor-in-chief of his father's newspaper chain after the death of the elder Mr. Hearst in 1951. Mr. Hearst, Jr. won a Pulitzer Prize in 1955 for his interview with U.S.S.R. leader Nikita Khrushchev and associated commentaries.

Hockey
NHL
Stanley Cup
Prince of Wales Conference
Division Finals
New York Islanders 4 @ Pittsburgh 3 (OT) (New York won best-of-seven series 4-3)

David Volek scored at 5:16 of the 1st overtime period to give the Islanders the win at Civic Arena and end the Penguins' two-year reign as Stanley Cup champions. New York led 3-1 late in the 3rd period, but Ron Francis scored with 3:47 remaining to reduce the deficit to 3-2, and Rick Tocchet tied the score with 1 minute remaining to send the game into overtime. It was the second time the Islanders had upset the Penguins in a seventh game in Pittsburgh; the first time was in 1975, when the Islanders lost the first 3 games of their quarter-final series and won the last 4, winning the final game 1-0 on a goal by Ed Westfall with less than 5 minutes remaining in regulation time.



Basketball
NBA
Eastern Conference
Semi-Finals
New York 106 @ Charlotte 110 (New York led best-of-seven series 2-1)

10 years ago
2003

Died on this date
Wendy Hiller, 91. U.K. actress. Miss Hiller won the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress for her performance in Separate Tables (1958), but was best known as a stage actress in London's West End and on Broadway.

Robert Stack, 84. U.S. actor. Mr. Stack appeared in movies such as The Mortal Storm (1940); Written on the Wind (1956); and Airplane! (1980), but was best known as the star of the television crime series The Untouchables (1959-1963)--for which he won an Emmy Award in 1960--and as host of the television documentary series Unsolved Mysteries (1987-2002).

Dave DeBusschere, 62. U.S. basketball and baseball player. Mr. DeBusschere was a forward with the Detroit Pistons from 1962-68 and New York Knickerbockers from 1968-74, winning all-star honours in 8 of his 12 seasons and playing for NBA championship teams in 1969-70 and 1972-73. He also coached the Pistons from 1964-67, becoming the youngest coach in NBA history (24 when he assumed the position), but resigned as coach to resume being a full-time player. Mr. DeBusschere served as the American Basketball Association's commissioner in 1975-76, the ABA's last season. He was inducted into the Basketball Hall of Fame in 1993, and his jersey #22 was retired by the Knickerbockers. Before playing in the NBA, Mr. DeBusschere was a pitcher for the Chicago White Sox in 1962 and 1963, posting a 3-4 record with a 2.90 earned run average in 36 games. His best game was a 6-hit shutout of the Cleveland Indians on August 13, 1963.

Abominations
Sheriff's deputies outside Victoria, Texas stopped a van, and opened it to find it packed with 70-100 illegal aliens from Mexico, Guatemala, and El Salvador. 19 of those inside were found dead, or died later, from heat. The driver and three others were charged the next day with conspiracy to smuggle, transport, and conceal undocumented immigrants.

Terrorism
In Illiskhan-Yurt, Chechnya, a woman detonated explosives apparently intended to kill Akhmed Kadyrov, Russian administrator in Chechnya. He survived, but 16 others, including 4 of his bodyguards, were killed.

Politics and government
Carlos Menem, who had been President of Argentina from 1989-1999, withdrew from the current presidential runoff election, leaving Peronist candidate Nestor Kirchner as the winner.

Health
The World Health Organization removed Toronto from the list of places where severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) was spreading.