May 26, 2013

Born on this date
Happy Birthday, Isatou Ndow!

720 years ago
1293

Disasters
An earthquake struck Kamakura, Kanagawa, Japan, killing about 30,000.

475 years ago
1538

World events
Protestant reformer John Calvin and his followers were expelled from Geneva, Switzerland. Mr. Calvin lived in exile in Strasbourg, France for the next three years.

440 years ago
1573

War
A Spanish fleet, commanded by the count of Bossu, fought a Dutch fleet of rebellious Sea Beggars, commanded by Marinus Brandt, who were trying to break the Siege of Haarlem in the Battle of Haarlemmermeer, a naval engagement in the Dutch War of Independence. The result was a Spanish victory after the Sea Beggars finally retreated.

210 years ago
1703

Died on this date
Louis-Hector de Callière, 54. Governor General of New France, 1699-1703. Mr. Callière was the military commander at Montreal from 1684-1698. Upon the death of Louis de Frontenac in November 1698, Mr. Callière was named acting Governor General of New France, and the appointment was made permanent in the spring of 1699. In 1701 he negotiated a peace treaty between the Iroquois and a number of western tribes allied with the French.

220 years ago
1793

Exploration
George Vancouver explored the Pacific coast of North America, circumnavigating the island that now bears his name. He just missed meeting Alexander Mackenzie, who had come overland.

150 years ago
1863

Born on this date
Bob Fitzsimmons. U.K.-born boxer. "Ruby Robert," a native of Cornwall who moved to New Zealand at the age of 9, became a blacksmith and began boxing professionally in Australia before moving to the United States. He knocked out "Nonpareil" Jack Dempsey to win the world middleweight title in 1891. He relinquished that title in 1897, but challenged world heavyweight champion "Gentleman Jim" Corbett in Carson City, Nevada on St. Patrick's Day. Mr. Fitzsimmons, at 165 pounds, became the lightest man to hold the title, winning by a knockout in the 14th round when he floored Mr. Corbett with a punch to the "solar plexus." He lost the title to Jim Jeffries on an 11-round knockout in 1899, and was knocked out by Mr. Jeffries again in 8 rounds in 1902. Mr. Fitzsimmons then challenged George Gardner for the world light heavyweight title in 1903, and took the belt with a 20-round decision, becoming the first boxer to hold titles in three weight divisions. He lost the light heavyweight championship to Philadelphia Jack O'Brien in 1905 when he retired after the 13th round of a fight which was really an elimination bout for the heavyweight title that had been vacated by Mr. Jeffries. Mr. Fitzsimmons had his last fight in 1914, finishing his career with 68 wins, 8 losses, 4 or 5 draws, and 19 no contests in 98 or 99 bouts. He was regarded as the hardest puncher of his era and one of the hardest punchers in boxing history, recording 59 of his wins by knockout. Mr. Fitzsimmons died on October 22, 1917 at the age of 54.

130 years ago
1883

Died on this date
Abd al-Qadir, 74. Algerian scholar and military leader. Mr. al-Qadir led a number of guerrilla revolts against French colonial rule in the 1830s and 1840s, but eventually had to surrender to superior force. After being exiled to France, Mr. al-Qadir was freed on condition that he not cause further trouble in Algeria. Eventually he made his way to Damascus, devoting himself to Islamic theology and philosophy. In 1860 Mr. al-Qadir saved the lives of large numbers of Christians who were under attack from Druze warriors in Damascus. The French government gave him the Grand Cross of the Légion d'honneur, and Abraham Lincoln sent him several guns in honour of his chivalry. Abd al-Qadir remains a national hero in Algeria.

125 years ago
1888

Baseball
With flawless fielding and 3 hits‚ Hardie Richardson of the Detroit Wolverines starred in a 9-8 win over the Chicago White Stockings. His last hit was a game-winning home run in the 9th inning.

100 years ago
1913

Born on this date
Peter Cushing. U.K. actor. Mr. Cushing was one of the 20th century's most famous actors in horror films, especially those produced by Hammer studios. His movies included A Chump at Oxford (1940); The Curse of Frankenstein (1957); The Revenge of Frankenstein (1958); The Evil of Frankenstein (1964); Dr. Terror's House of Horrors (1965); Dr. Who and the Daleks (1965); Island of Terror (1966); Frankenstein Created Woman (1967); Frankenstein Must be Destroyed (1969); Tales from the Crypt (1972); and The Beast Must Die (1974). In 1959 he starred as Sherlock Holmes in a Hammer version of The Hound of the Baskervilles, and reprised the role in a 13-episode BBC television series in 1968 and the made-for-television movie The Masks of Death (1984). He died on August 11, 1994 at the age of 81.

80 years ago
1933

Died on this date
Jimmie Rodgers, 35. U.S. musician and songwriter. "The Singing Brakeman" was the first country music star, and is often called "The Father of Country Music." He was also known as "The Blue Yodeler" for such songs as Blue Yodel and Blue Yodel No. 9. Other notable songs of his included Mississippi Delta Blues and Blue Yodel No. 8 (Mule Skinner Blues). Mr. Rodgers battled tuberculosis for years, and died just two days after making his last recordings.

Baseball
Philadelphia Phillies’ outfielder Chuck Klein hit for the cycle for the second time in his career‚ but the Phillies lost to the St. Louis Cardinals 5-4 in 14 innings.

75 years ago
1938

Politics and government
The United States House of Representatives Committee on Un-American Activities (HUAC) began its first session. The committee's chairman was Martin Dies (Democrat--Texas).

70 years ago
1943

Died on this date
Edsel Ford, 49. U.S. automobile executive. Mr. Ford, the son of Henry Ford, was president of the Ford Motor Company from 1919 until his death. He founded and named the Mercury division of automobiles, introduced the Ford Model A, and purchased the Lincoln Motor Company. Mr. Ford died of brucellosis after an operation for stomach cancer. The car known as the Edsel, (model years 1958-1960) was named after him.

Education
The government of Quebec passed a law requiring free and compulsory education in the province.

60 years ago
1953

On television tonight
Suspense, on CBS
Tonight's episode: The Adventure of the Black Baronet, starring Basil Rathbone and Martyn Greene

This was an adaptation of the short story by Adrian Conan Doyle and John Dickson Carr which was in the current (May 23, 1953) issue of Collier's magazine, and was the second story they wrote that comprised a collection published as The Exploits of Sherlock Holmes. It was the only story of the Exploits to be adapted for another medium (so far). Basil Rathbone, who had famously portrayed Sherlock Holmes in movies and on radio from 1939-1946, made his only television appearance as Sherlock Holmes. Nigel Bruce, who had played Dr. Watson alongside Mr. Rathbone, was too ill to play the role again, so Martyn Greene played Dr. Watson in The Adventure of the Black Baronet.

40 years ago
1973

Hit parade
#1 single in the Netherlands (Veronica Top 40): Tie a Yellow Ribbon Round the Ole Oak Tree--Dawn featuring Tony Orlando

#1 single in the U.K.: See My Baby Jive--Wizzard (2nd week at #1)

Australia's Top 10 (Go-Set)
1 Killing Me Softly with His Song--Roberta Flack (6th week at #1)
2 Last Song--Edward Bear
3 Top of the World--Carpenters
4 Tie a Yellow Ribbon Round the Ole Oak Tree--Dawn featuring Tony Orlando
5 Funny Face--Donna Fargo
5 Part of the Union--The Strawbs
7 Don't Expect Me to Be Your Friend--Lobo
8 Goondiwindi Grey--Tex Morton
9 Dead Skunk--Loudon Wainwright III
10 Crocodile Rock--Elton John

Singles entering the chart were The Twelfth of Never by Donny Osmond (#26); Daniel by Elton John (#35); Neither One of Us by Linda George (#36); Cum on Feel the Noize by Slade (#38); Stuck in the Middle with You by Stealers Wheel (#39); and I Can't Get Sunday Out of Mind by Rod Kirkham (#40).

#1 single in the U.S.A. (Billboard): Frankenstein--The Edgar Winter Group

U.S. Top 10 (Cash Box)
1 Frankenstein--The Edgar Winter Group
2 My Love--Paul McCartney & Wings
3 Stuck in the Middle with You--Stealers Wheel
4 Tie a Yellow Ribbon Round the Ole Oak Tree--Dawn featuring Tony Orlando
5 You are the Sunshine of My Life--Stevie Wonder
6 Daniel--Elton John
7 Reeling in the Years--Steely Dan
8 Pillow Talk--Sylvia
9 Wildflower--Skylark
10 The Right Thing to Do--Carly Simon

Singles entering the chart were Time to Get Down by the O'Jays (#76); What About Me by Anne Murray (#77); I'd Rather Be a Cowboy by John Denver (#79); You Can Call Me Rover by the Main Ingredient (#85); Smoke on the Water by Deep Purple (#87); Giving it All Away by Roger Daltrey (#88); Misdemeanor by Foster Sylvers (#93); If That's the Way You Want It by Diamond Head (#95); Avenging Annie by Andy Pratt (#97); Moonshine (Friend of Mine) by John Kay (#98); A Passion Play (Edit #8) by Jethro Tull (#99); and Doing it to Death by Fred Wesley and the J.B.'s (#100).

Canada's Top 10 (RPM)
1 Little Willy--The Sweet
2 Stuck in the Middle with You--Stealers Wheel
3 I'm a Stranger Here--Five Man Electrical Band
4 Tie a Yellow Ribbon Round the Ole Oak Tree--Dawn featuring Tony Orlando
5 The Cisco Kid--War
6 The First Cut is the Deepest--Keith Hampshire
7 Daniel--Elton John
8 You are the Sunshine of My Life--Stevie Wonder
9 Close Your Eyes--Edward Bear
10 Drift Away--Dobie Gray

Singles entering the chart were Will it Go Round in Circles by Billy Preston (#72); Shambala by Three Dog Night (#75); With a Child's Heart by Michael Jackson (#83); Kodachrome by Paul Simon (#90); The Free Electric Band by Albert Hammond (#94); Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy by Bette Midler (#95); C'mon C'mon by Fludd (#96); Carnival Town by Karl Erikson (#97); I Like You by Donovan (#98); Diamond Girl by Seals and Crofts (#99); and California Saga (On My Way to Sunny Californ-i-a) by the Beach Boys (#100).

Calgary’s Top 10
1 Daniel--Elton John
2 Drift Away--Dobie Gray
3 The Twelfth of Never--Donny Osmond
4 Tie a Yellow Ribbon Round the Ole Oak Tree--Dawn featuring Tony Orlando
5 I'm a Stranger Here--Five Man Electrical Band
6 My Love--Paul McCartney & Wings
7 Daisy a Day--Jud Strunk
8 Stuck in the Middle with You--Stealers Wheel
9 I'm Doin' Fine Now--New York City
10 Lady Run, Lady Hide--April Wine
Pick hit of the week: Kodachrome--Paul Simon

Space
Working closely with National Aeronautics and Space Administration ground personnel, the Skylab 1 crew of Pete Conrad, Joe Kerwin, and Paul Weitz attached a makeshift sunshield to the U.S. space station Skylab to compensate for the loss of the craft's thin aluminum micrometeoroid and thermal shield during launch on May 14. Loss of the shield had exposed Skylab to dangerous overheating from the sun's rays. Problems with the launch of the space station had delayed the launch of the Skylab 1 manned mission until May 25.

Protest
Captain Nicholas Pappas and 30 officers and enlisted men aboard the Greek destroyer HNS Velos (D-16), who had mutinied the previous day while participating in a NATO exercise, in order to protest against the dictatorship in Greece, anchoring at Fiumicino, Italy and refusing to return to Greece, requested and received asylum from the Italian government. Greece's military leaders claimed that Capt. Pappas was part of an abortive coup.

30 years ago
1983

World events
U.S. President Ronald Reagan said that the previous day’s killing of Lieutenant Commander Albert Schaufelberger, deputy commander of the U.S. Military Group, would not deter the U.S. from supporting the Salvadoran government against leftist guerrillas.

Society
Margaret Bush Wilson, chairman of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP), reversed her decision of six days earlier, and reinstated Benjamin Hooks as the NAACP’s executive director. The reversal was apparently made under pressure from other directors.

Disasters
An earthquake and tsunami on the western coast of Honshu, in Japan, killed at least 104 people and destroyed thousands of buildings. The quake measured 7.7 on the Richter scale.

Basketball
NBA Finals
Los Angeles Lakers 93 @ Philadelphia 103 (Philadelphia led best-of-seven series 2-0)

25 years ago
1988

Hit parade
#1 single in Spain (PROMUSICAE): Eloise--Tino Casal (2nd week at #1)

#1 single in Finland (Musiikkituottajat – IFPI Finland): Got to Be Certain--Kylie Minogue

War
The Sandanista government of Nicaragua and the Contra rebels began three days of meetings in Managua. The Contras proposed to lay down their arms if the Sandanistas would declare a general amnesty, remove the police and army from Sandanista control, establish an independent judiciary, guarantee free speech, permit non-governmental television channels, and help prepare for a constituent assembly.

Defense
A condition supported by United States Senate Majority Leader Robert Byrd (Democrat--West Virginia) was attached to the intermediate-range nuclear forces (INF) treaty. The condition established a constitutional Senate authority over the treaty’s interpretation.

Hockey
NHL
Stanley Cup
Finals
Boston 3 @ Edmonton 6 (Edmonton won best-of-seven series 4-0)

Wayne Gretzky's powerplay goal at 9:44 of the 2nd period gave the Oilers a 4-2 lead over the Bruins at Northlands Coliseum, and proved to be the winner as the Oilers won their fourth Stanley Cup championship in the past five years. It turned out to be Mr. Gretzky's last game in an Edmonton uniform after 10 years with the Oilers; he was traded to the Los Angeles Kings on August 9, 1988.

Basketball
NBA
Eastern Conference
Finals
Detroit 115 @ Boston 119 (Best-of-seven series tied 1-1)

20 years ago
1993

Hit parade
#1 single in Sweden (Topplistan): Informer--Snow (6th week at #1)

Diplomacy
The German parliament voted to bar entry to the country to thousands of foreigners seeking asylum who claimed they would suffer persecution in their own countries.

Basketball
NBA
Western Conference
Finals
Seattle 103 @ Phoenix 99 (Best-of-seven series tied 1-1)

10 years ago
2003

Died on this date
Kathleen Winsor, 83. U.S. authoress. Miss Winsor was best known for her novel Forever Amber (1944), which was banned in fourteen American states because of its sexual content.

World events
Rwandans voted to approve a new constitution that instituted a balance of power between the Hutu and Tutsi groups.

Disasters
A plane crash in Turkey killed all 74 people aboard, 62 of whom were Spanish soldiers returning from peacekeeping duty in Afghanistan.