May 30, 2013

420 years ago
1593

Died on this date
Christopher Marlowe, 29. English playwright. Born the same year as William Shakespeare, Mr. Marlowe wrote such plays as Tamburlaine (Parts 1 and 2) (c. 1587-1588); The Jew of Malta (c. 1589); The Tragicall History of the Life and Death of Doctor Faustus (c. 1589 or 1593); and Edward II (c. 1592). He was stabbed to death by Ingram Frizer, several days after being arrested, apparently for blasphemy. Conspiracy theories abound.

230 years ago
1783

Journalism
The Pennsylvania Evening Post, the first daily newspaper in the United States, began publication.

130 years ago
1883

Disasters
In New York City, a rumour that the Brooklyn Bridge was going to collapse caused a stampede that crushed 12 people.

Baseball
It was a busy and confusing Decoration Day of American Association baseball. As part of a unique Memorial Day doubleheader‚ the Cincinnati Red Stockings played in two different cities. The Red Stockings started a 9:30 a.m. game at New York's Polo Grounds‚ losing 1-0 to the Metropolitans‚ then travelled by train to Philadelphia where they fared better‚ scoring twice in the final frame and beating the Athletics 10-8 in 11 innings. The Red Stockings played the Athletics in Philadelphia the previous day. The Metropolitans‚ after beating Cincinnati in the a.m. game‚ whipped the Columbus Buckeyes 12-5 in an afternoon game. (This was on the western diamond of the original Polo Grounds on 110th Street‚ just north of the Polo Grounds. At the same time on the eastern diamond‚ the New York Gothams of the National League were playing a doubleheader against the Detroit Wolverines‚ splitting 2-5 and 4-8. Between games of the New York-Detroit doubleheader‚ the first of which started at 10 a.m.‚ was a game between Yale and Princeton to decide the college championship). Columbus was the loser on the day‚ dropping an a.m. game in Philadelphia 8-5. Meanwhile‚ the Cleveland Blues of the National League lost 3-1 to the Beaneaters in Boston in the morning‚ then travelled to Providence to beat the Grays 5-2. The Buffalo Bisons lost to Providence 4-2 in the morning‚ then took the train to Boston to lose 2-1 in the afternoon. The Chicago White Stockings had the easiest of the day's doubleheaders‚ feasting on the Philadelphia Quakers 15-8 and 22-4. In the second game‚ the White Stockings scored 7 runs in the 1st inning and 9 runs in the 5th as Mike Kelly‚ Fred Pfeffer‚ and Tommy Burns made 3 hits apiece.

100 years ago
1913

War
The Treaty of London, 1913, was signed by Bulgaria, Serbia, Greece, Montenegro, Italy, Germany, Russia, Austria-Hungary, and the Ottoman Empire, ending the First Balkan War.

Auto racing
Jules Goux of France became the first non-American driver to win the Indianapolis 500. His average speed was 75.933 miles per hour.



90 years ago
1923

Auto racing
Tommy Milton, who had won the Indianapolis 500 in 1921, became the first driver to win the race more than once. His average speed was 90.95 miles per hour. Howdy Wilcox relieved Mr. Milton from laps 103-151.



80 years ago
1933

Died on this date
Burley Byers, 55. U.S. baseball player. On June 17, 1899, Mr. Byers, a native of Louisville, Kentucky, played his only major league game as a shortstop with the Louisville Colonels. He went 0 for 3 at bat, and made 2 putouts, 1 assist, and 2 errors in the field.

Mark Billman, 28. U.S. auto racing driver. Mr. Billman died in hospital an hour after crashing on the 79th lap of the Indianapolis 500. His left arm was torn off, and both his legs were broken. It took rescue workers 20 minutes to get him out of the car. He placed 30th in the race.

Lester Spangler, 27. U.S. auto racing driver; Monk Jordan. U.S. auto mechanic. Mr. Spangler, the driver, and Mr. Jordan, his riding mechanic, were killed in a crash on the 132nd lap of the Indianapolis 500. Their car hit that driven by Malcolm Fox head-on at 100 miles per hour, ejecting Messrs. Spangler and Jordan. Mr. Spangler placed 26th in the race.

Auto racing
Louis Meyer won the Indianapolis 500 for the second time, with an average speed of 104.162 miles per hour, a record at the time.



Baseball
Dale Alexander of the Boston Red Sox suffered a career-shortening injury when he twisted his knee sliding into home in the second game of a doubleheader loss to the Philadelphia Athletics. The first baseman underwent a new therapy‚ diathermy‚ which led to third degree burns‚ gangrene and the near loss of his leg. The previous year’s batting champion hit just .281 in 1933, and left the major leagues with a career mark of .331. He continued his career in the minor leagues. The Athletics won 7-3 behind the relief pitching of Lefty Grove‚ then 11-8 in 12 innings‚ with Mr. Grove throwing scoreless 10th and 11th innings. Lloyd Brown went all the way for the Red Sox before tiring and walking 3 and giving up a pair of singles in the 12th.

Detroit outfielder John Stone became the first major leaguer to collect 6 long hits in a regulation length doubleheader‚ as he banged out 4 doubles and 2 home runs for the Tigers in a split with the St. Louis Browns. National Leaguers Chick Hafey and Mel Ott had collected 6 long hits‚ but their games ran more than regulation length. The Tigers took the opener‚ 8-6‚ then dropped the second game 3-1.

75 years ago
1938

Died on this date
Raden Sutomo, 49. Indonesian nationalist. Dr. Sutomo, a key founder of the nationalist movement Boedi Oetomo, espoused the radical idea that Islam detracted from nationalism. He became leader of the nationalists when Sukarno’s radical rhetoric led to his internment. Dr. Sutomo advocated a dual program of social welfare and political progress. Under his auspices, and despite police surveillance, his study clubs worked to increase literacy, and establish schools and cooperatives. In 1931, he established the Indonesian People’s Party (P.B.I.), a group looked upon with suspicion by the Dutch government. Four years later, the BO and the PBI merged to form Parindra with Dr. Sutomo as chairman.

Everett Spence, 33. U.S. accident victim. Mr. Spence was a spectator at the Indianapolis 500 auto race who died after being struck by the right front wheel of the car driven by Emil Andres, who had crashed into a wall on the 45th lap. The wheel travelled 100 feet through the air before hitting Mr. Spence.

Auto racing
Floyd Roberts started from the pole position and led 92 laps as he won the Indianapolis 500 with an average speed of 117.200 miles per hour, a record at the time. Defending champion Wilbur Shaw finished second.



Baseball
The largest crowd in Yankee Stadium history‚ 83‚533‚ saw Red Ruffing end Lefty Grove's 8-game winning streak in a 10-0 victory over the Boston Red Sox. 6,000 fans were turned away‚ and 511 were given refunds because there was no place to sit. The Yankees also took the second game of the doubleheader 5-4‚ in a game made famous for a fight between Yankees’ outfielder Jake Powell and Boston player-manager Joe Cronin. The brawl started when Boston pitcher Archie McKain hit Mr. Powell with a pitch in the stomach. Mr. Powell's charge to the mound was intercepted by Mr. Cronin and the two pummelled each other for 2-3 minutes. Mr. Cronin and Mr. Powell were ejected, but continued the fight in the area beneath the stands‚ until they were separated by Yankee players. Both players were fined and suspended for 10 days.

Rudy York hit his third grand slam of the month to help the Detroit Tigers beat the St. Louis Browns 10-9 in the first game of a Memorial Day doubleheader.

60 years ago
1953

Hit Parade
#1 single in Australia (Kent Music Report): Till I Waltz Again with You--Teresa Brewer (2nd week at #1)

#1 singles in the U.S.A. (Billboard): The Song from Moulin Rouge (Where is Your Heart)--Percy Faith and his Orchestra (Best seller--3rd week at #1; Disc Jockey--3rd week at #1; Jukebox--2nd week at #1)

U.S.A. Top 10 (Cash Box)
1 The Song from Moulin Rouge (Where is Your Heart)--Percy Faith and his Orchestra (4th week at #1)
--[Mantovani and his Orchestra]
2 April in Portugal--Les Baxter and his Orchestra
--[Ralph Marterie and his "Down Beat" Orchestra]
3 Ruby--Richard Hayman and his Orchestra
4 I'm Walking Behind You--Eddie Fisher
5 I Believe--Frankie Laine
--[Jane Froman]
6 Say You're Mine Again--Perry Como
7 Pretend--Nat "King" Cole
8 Anna--Silvana Mangano
9 The Doggie in the Window--Patti Page
10 The Ho Ho Song--Red Buttons

Singles entering the chart were My Flaming Heart (#15)/I am in Love (#36) by Nat "King" Cole; Terry's Theme from "Limelight" by Frank Chacksfield and his Orchestra (#21); (How Much is) That Hound Dog in the Window by Homer and Jethro (#22); The Breeze (That's Bringin' My Honey Back to Me) by Trudy Richards (#26); Say Si Si by the Mills Brothers (#31); P.S. I Love You by the Hilltoppers (#32); and Send My Baby Back to Me by Judy Garland (#38).

Literature
The May 30 issue of Collier's magazine contained the short story The Adventure of the Gold Hunter by Adrian Conan Doyle and John Dickson Carr, the third in a series known as The Exploits of Sherlock Holmes.

Died on this date
Dooley Wilson, 67. U.S. actor and singer. Mr. Wilson was best known for his performance as Sam, the pianist in the movie Casablanca (1942).

Carl Scarborough, 38. U.S. auto racing driver. Mr. Scarborough, who had been relieved by Bob Scott for 121 laps, finished 12th in the Indianapolis 500, 10 laps behind winner Bill Vukovich. The temperature on the racetrack exceeded 130 F., and Mr. Scarborough was one of 11 drivers who required relief. At the conclusion of the race, Mr. Scarborough was taken to the infield hospital, where he died of heat prostration.

Auto racing
Bill Vukovich won the Indianapolis 500 with an average speed of 128.740 miles per hour.





50 years ago
1963

Hit parade
#1 single in the U.K. (Record Retailer): From Me to You--The Beatles (5th week at #1)

Protest
A protest by members of South Vietnam's majority Buddhist population against pro-Catholic discrimination was held outside the country's National Assembly, the first open demonstration during the eight-year rule of President Ngo Dinh Diem.

Auto racing
Parnelli Jones won the Indianapolis 500 with an average speed of 143.137 miles per hour, a record at the time.



40 years ago
1973

Died on this date
Armando Teran, 22. Mr. Teran was a member of the pit crew of Graham McRae, a driver in the Indianapolis 500 auto race. He was struck by a fire truck while running to the scene of the crash of Swede Savage on the 59th lap of the race.

Diplomacy
West Germany and Czechoslovakia completed negotiations on a treaty to re-establish normal relations, ending 35 years of hostility.

Auto racing
Gordon Johncock won the Indianapolis 500 with an average speed of 159.014 miles per hour in a race that was called after 133 laps (332.5 miles) because of rain. The race was marred by the crash of Swede Savage on the 59th lap and the death of pit worker Armando Teran as he was running toward the scene. Mr. Savage, who had led the race for 12 laps, died on July 2 after contracting Hepatitis B from a blood transfusion in hospital.







30 years ago
1983

Hit parade
#1 single in Australia (Kent Music Report): Total Eclipse of the Heart--Bonnie Tyler

Died on this date
Alfred Gruenther, 84. U.S. military officer. General Gruenther was the youngest Major General in World War II and later served as Supreme Allied Commander in Europe from 1953-1956.

Economics and finance
In the final statement of the Williamsburg summit, the leaders pledged to further the economic recovery by resisting protectionism and by encouraging development of new technologies. High interest rates and budget deficits in the United States were criticized by the other leaders as major factors in the economic difficulties. The leaders supported an increase in the resources of the International Monetary Fund to help developing countries deal with their mounting debts. The nations represented at the summit were the United States, Canada, Britain, Japan, Italy, France, and West Germany.

25 years ago
1988

Hit parade
#1 single in Australia (Australian Music Report): The Flame--Cheap Trick

Died on this date
Ella Raines, 67. U.S. actress. Among Miss Raines’ movies were The Suspect (1944); Hail the Conquering Hero (1944); Phantom Lady (1944); Brute Force (1947); and Impact (1949).

Diplomacy
U.S. President Ronald Reagan and U.S.S.R. leader Mikhail Gorbachev continued their summit in Moscow. Mr. Gorbachev proposed that the size of the NATO and Warsaw Pact forces be gradually reduced to about 500,000 on each side, or an approximate 50% cut. Progress was reported after the meeting on reducing long-range nuclear weapons. In a speech at a monastery and at a meeting with Soviet dissidents, President Reagan returned to the theme of human rights. The Reagans were guests of the Gorbachevs at a state dinner that evening.

World events
France’s Defense Minister said that several commandos who had rescued 23 French hostages from Melanesian separatist guerrillas on the island of New Caledonia on May 5 had committed "acts contrary to military duty."

Basketball
NBA
Eastern Conference
Finals
Boston 79 @ Detroit 78 (Best-of-seven series tied 2-2)

20 years ago
1993

Hit parade
#1 single in New Zealand: That's the Way Love Goes--Janet Jackson

#1 single in Austria (Ö3): What is Love?--Haddaway (4th week at #1)

#1 single in Switzerland: Informer--Snow (4th week at #1)

#1 single in Ireland (IRMA): In Your Eyes--Niamh Kavanagh (2nd week at #1)

Died on this date
Sun Ra, 79. U.S. musician. Born Herman Pole Blount, Sun Ra was known for composing and performing various genres of jazz. He was a pioneer of electronic music and was one of the first musicians to make extensive use of electronic keyboards. Sun Ra claimed to have been teleported to Saturn in 1936 or 1937, an experience that influenced the rest of his life.

Auto racing
Emerson Fittipaldi won the Indianapolis 500 for the second time, with an average speed of 157.207 miles per hour.



Basketball
NBA
Western Conference
Finals
Phoenix 101 @ Seattle 120 (Best-of-seven series tied 2-2)

10 years ago
2003

Died on this date
Mickie Most, 64. U.K. singer and music producer. Mr. Most, born Michael Peter Hayes in Aldershot, Hampshire, England, Mr. Most moved to South Africa and sang lead with a group named Mickie Most and the Playboys, recording 11 consecutive #1 singles in South Africa. After returning to England in 1962, Mr. Most became a producer, and produced a string of hit singles for artists such as the Animals, Herman's Hermits, and Donovan.

Abominations
At least 70 people associated with the National League for Democracy in Myanmar were killed by a government-sponsored mob in Depayin. Aung San Suu Kyi, the 1991 Nobel Peace Prize winner, fled the scene but was arrested soon afterwards and was held in "protective custody."

War
British Prime Minister Tony Blair denied that intelligence about Iraq's chemical and biological weapons was distorted or exaggerated to justify an attack on Iraq. U.S. Secretary of State Colin Powell also denied such accusations in a similar speech that day.

Economics and finance
The Dow Jones industrial average closed at 8,850 points, up 4.4% since May 1.

Football
CFL
Pre-season
Montreal (0-1) 19 @ Ottawa (1-0) 21