July 31, 2013

310 years ago
1703

Journalism
English writer Daniel Defoe was placed in a pillory for the crime of seditious libel after publishing a satirical pamphlet critical of Anglican High Church Tories, but was pelted with flowers.

250 years ago
1763

War
British forces commanded by Major Henry Gladwin were beaten by Odawa Chief Pontiac at Bloody Ridge, Ohio, and left Detroit after reinforcements arrived.

200 years ago
1813

War
In the War of 1812, British troops captured Plattsburgh, New York, on Lake Champlain.

125 years ago
1888

Baseball
Gus Weyhing became the second member of the Philadelphia Athletics in six days to pitch a no-hitter as he led the Athletics to a 4-0 win over the Kansas City Blues at Jefferson Street Grounds in Philadelphia. Ed Seward had pitched a no-hitter for the Athletics in a 12-2 win over the Cincinnati Reds on July 26, also at Jefferson Street Grounds.

100 years ago
1913

Born on this date
Bryan Hextall. Canadian hockey player. Mr. Hextall played left wing and right wing with the New York Rangers from 1937-1944; 1945; and 1946-1948. He led the NHL in goals in 1939-40 with 24 and again the following season with 26, and scored the Stanley Cup-winning goal in overtime in the sixth game of the 1940 finals against the Toronto Maple Leafs, giving the Rangers their last Stanley Cup until 1994. Mr. Hextall won the Art Ross Trophy in 1941-42, leading the NHL with 56 points. In 449 NHL regular season games he scored 362 points on 187 goals and 175 assists, and added 8 goals and 9 assists in 37 playoff games. Mr. Hextall was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame in 1969. His sons Bryan, Jr. and Dennis and grandson Ron Hextall all had respectable careers as NHL players, while great-grandson Brett Hextall is currently playing in the American Hockey League. Mr. Hextall died on July 25, 1984, 6 days before his 71st birthday.

War
The Balkan States signed an armistice at Bucharest.

Aviation
Alys Bryant became the first woman in Canada to make a solo flight, departing from the Vancouver racetrack.

75 years ago
1938

Defense
Bulgaria signed a non-aggression pact with Greece and other states of the Balkan Antanti (Turkey, Romania, and Yugoslavia).

Archaeology
Engraved gold and silver plates from King Darius the Great were discovered in Persepolis.

70 years ago
1943

Hit parade
#1 single in Australia (Kent Music Report): White Christmas--Bing Crosby (2nd month at #1)

#1 single in the U.S.A. (Billboard): You'll Never Know--Dick Haymes and the Song Spinners (2nd week at #1)

War
Yugoslavian troops led by General Draja Mikhailovich fought their way through Axis lines into the Udine district of northeastern Italy. The Swiss government reported that soldiers were joining workers in peace demonstrations throughout northern Italy and that the Fascists in the Popolo d'Italia building in Milan had surrendered after Vito Mussolini, nephew of recently-deposed Duce Benito Mussolini, was seriously injured.

Defense
The French Committee of National Liberation named General H.H. Giraud as military commander subject to committee decisions, and appointed a National Defense Committee headed by General Charles de Gaulle.

Diplomacy
The U.S. State Department instructed its representatives to call on the governments of Sweden, Turkey, Spain, Portugal, Switzerland, Argentina, and Vatican City not to give asylum to Axis leaders.

Journalism
George S. Viereck, longtime propagandist on behalf of Germany, was sentenced by a U.S. federal court in Washington to 1-5 years in prison for violation of the Foreign Registration Act.

Labour
U.S. Attorney General Francis Biddle ruled that any group could call for a strike vote in a war plant under the Connally-Harness-Smith Act.

60 years ago
1953

Hit parade
#1 single in the U.K. (New Musical Express): I Believe--Frankie Laine (14th week at #1)

Died on this date
Robert Taft, 63. U.S. politician. Mr. Taft, a Republican and eldest son of former U.S. President William Howard Taft, represented Ohio in the United States Senate from 1939-1953 and was Senate Majority Leader from January 3, 1953 until his death from cancer. He was known for advocating a foreign policy of non-interventionism and for the Taft-Hartley Act of 1947, which remains basic labour law in the U.S.A. Mr. Taft unsuccessfully campaigned for the Republican party U.S. presidential nomination in 1940, 1948, and 1952.

50 years ago
1963

Died on this date
Joe Miller, 64. Canadian football and hockey player. Mr. Miller was a member of the Ottawa Senators when they won the Grey Cup in 1925 and 1926. In the 1926 Grey Cup semi-final, he punted for 6 singles in the 2nd half as the Senators overcame a 6-1 halftime deficit to edge Toronto Balmy Beach 7-6. Mr. Miller punted for 5 more singles as the Senators defeated the University of Toronto 10-7 in the Grey Cup. Immediately after the game he joined the New York Americans of the National Hockey League as a goaltender. In the 1928 Stanley Cup finals, the New York Rangers lost regular goalie Lorne Chabot to injury. After 44-year-old general manager Lester Patrick filled in for a memorable overtime win, Mr. Miller was obtained from the Americans as a temporary substitute, and he played the remainder of the series as the Rangers defeated the Montreal Maroons to win the Stanley Cup.

Football
CFL
Pre-season
Toronto (2-2) 3 @ Calgary (2-0) 8

40 years ago
1973

Hit parade
#1 single in Switzerland: Goodbye, My Love, Goodbye--Demis Roussos (8th week at #1)

War
Canada formally ended its role as a member of the International Commission of Control and Supervision in South Vietnam. The United States announced that Iran had agreed to take Canada's place.

Politics and government
The Philippines' Commission on Elections reported that 90% of voters in the July 27-28 referendum had affirmed Ferdinand Marcos as President and had authorized him to continue the reforms he had initiated under martial law. Former Liberal Party Senator Jovito Salonga called the vote "fictitious," charging that martial law had prevented a free and fair exchange of ideas and that fear of reprisals had led people to vote in favour of Mr. Marcos. Mr. Salong and 11 other leaders had urged Mr. Marcos to lift martial law a month before the elections.

The Northern Ireland Assembly, the first democratically-elected assemby in Northern Ireland since direct rule had been imposed by the British government in March, met for the first time in Stormont, Belfast. The first meeting, which was to elect a presideing officer and invite nominations to a committee for drawing up procedural rules, was repeatedly interrupted by protests from Protestants led by Rev. Ian Paisley.

Scandal
Sam Ervin, chairman of the U.S. Senate Select Committee on Campaign Activities, said that the previous day's testimony of former presidential aide Bob Haldeman had been a "planned action" by the White House to "leak" a favourable version of tapes of White House conversations, which President Richard Nixon was refusing to release. Several members of the committee expressed resentment that Mr. Nixon had allowed Mr. Haldeman to take tapes home after his resignation as presiential adviser.

Disasters
All but one of 90 people aboard a Delta Air Lines jetliner died when it crashed while landing in heavy fog at Logan International Airport in Boston.

Football
CFL
Toronto (1-0) 25 @ Ottawa (0-1) 9
Edmonton (1-0) 33 @ Winnipeg (0-1) 22
Saskatchewan (1-0) 21 @ British Columbia (0-1) 5

Tim Anderson returned an interception 26 yards for a touchdown as the Argonauts made John Rauch's first regular season CFL game as their head coach a success, defeating the Rough Riders at Lansdowne Park. Rick Cassata started at quarterback for Ottawa but was relieved by Frank DiMaggio, who completed just 2 of 10 passes for 42 yards and 2 interceptions in his only CFL game.

Edmonton's Garry Lefebvre, punting from his end zone in the 3rd quarter, punted the ball off one of the goal posts, and Winnipeg defensive back Tom Oberg picked it up and walked in for a touchdown on what was officially recorded as a 7-yard punt return. The misplay didn't prevent the Eskimos from defeating the Blue Bombers at Winnipeg Stadium.

John Payne's regular season debut as head coach of the Roughriders was a success as they easily defeated the Lions at Empire Stadium in Vancouver. Saskatchewan quarterback Ron Lancaster completed 2 touchdown passes to Rick Eber and another to Tom Campana. It was the first CFL game for Mr. Eber, who had formerly played with the Atlanta Falcons and San Diego Chargers.

30 years ago
1983

Hit parade
#1 single in Switzerland: Flashdance...What a Feeling--Irene Cara (4th week at #1)

Diplomacy
U.S. Central American envoy Richard Stone met with Salvadoran rebel leader Ruben Zamora in Bogota, Colombia.

Golf
John Cook won the Canadian Open, defeating Johnny Miller in a playoff at Glen Abbey Golf Course in Oakville, Ontario. Andy Bean, who had knocked in a 2-inch putt with his club handle the previous day; had taken a two-stroke penalty, exactly the number of strokes he finished behind Mr. Cook.

Football
CFL
Montreal (1-3) 10 @ Calgary (2-1) 42

James Sykes rushed 17 times for 153 yards and Ray Crouse carried 5 times for 89 yards, including a 67-yard touchdown, as the Stampeders routed the Concordes at McMahon Stadium. Calgary safety Darrell Moir added another touchdown on a 20-yard interception return.

25 years ago
1988

Hit parade
#1 single in New Zealand (RIANZ): Sweet Lovers--Holidaymakers (3rd week at #1)

#1 single in Switzerland: Im Nin'Alu--Ofra Haza (6th week at #1)

Diplomacy
In a televised address, King Hussein of Jordan said that he was renouncing all claims to the Israeli-occupied West Bank, which Jordan had ruled from 1948-1967 until losing it after the Six-Day War. After 1967, Jordan had continued to provide services to the West Bank, regulating business, subsidizing hospitals and schools, and administering laws in the land lying west of the Jordan River, home to 850,000 Palestinians. Jordan also paid salaries to 21,000 public employees. King Hussein said, "We repsect the wish of the Palestine Liberation Organization, the sole legitimate representative of the Palestinian people, to secede from us in an independent Palestinian state."

Disasters
32 people were killed and 1,674 injured when a bridge at the Sultan Abdul Halim ferry terminal collapsed in Butterworth, Penang, Malaysia.

20 years ago
1993

Hit parade
#1 single in Australia (ARIA): (I Can't Help) Falling in Love With You--UB40 (4th week at #1)

#1 single in Italy: Gli Spari Sopra--Vasco Rossi

#1 single in Spain (PROMUSICAE): Five Live (EP)--George Michael & Queen (2nd week at #1)

#1 single in Flanders (VRT): (I Can't Help) Falling in Love With You--UB40 (2nd week at #1)

#1 single in France (SNEP): What is Love?--Haddaway (3rd week at #1)

#1 single in the Netherlands (De Nederlandse Top 40): Mr. Vain--Culture Beat

#1 single in the U.K. (Chart Information Network): Pray--Take That (3rd week at #1)

#1 single in the U.S.A. (Billboard): (I Can't Help) Falling in Love with You--UB40 (2nd week at #1)

U.S.A. Top 10 (Cash Box)
1 (I Can't Help) Falling in Love with You--UB40
2 Weak--SWV
3 Whoomp! (There it Is)--Tag Team
4 I'm Gonna be (500 Miles)--The Proclaimers
5 That's the Way Love Goes--Janet Jackson
6 Slam--Onyx
7 I'll Never Get Over You (Getting Over Me)--Exposé
8 Show Me Love--Robin S
9 Lately--Jodeci
10 I Don't Wanna Fight--Tina Turner

Singles entering the chart were Keep Ya Head Up by 2 Pac (#57, charting as the B-side of I Get Around); Teddy Bear by G-Wiz (#80); Hey Jealousy by Gin Blossoms (#82); and The Ways of the Wind by PM Dawn (#84).

Canada's Top 10 (RPM)
1 I Don't Wanna Fight--Tina Turner (2nd week at #1)
2 Fields of Gold--Sting
3 (I Can't Help) Falling in Love with You--UB40
4 Have I Told You Lately--Rod Stewart
5 Break it Down--Tears for Fears
6 That's the Way Love Goes--Janet Jackson
7 Regret--New Order
8 Come Undone--Duran Duran
9 Runaway Train--Soul Asylum
10 Can't Get Enough of Your Love--Taylor Dayne

Singles entering the chart were Oochigeas (Indian Song) by Roch Voisine (#75); Who Let in the Rain by Cyndi Lauper (#85); Can You Forgive Her by Pet Shop Boys (#86); What if I Came Knocking by John Mellencamp (#87); I'll Sleep When I'm Dead by Bon Jovi (#88); Stuck in the 90's by Moxy Fruvous (#94); and The River by the Tea Party (#96).

Died on this date
Sam Langford, 93. U.S. baseball player. Mr. Langford was an outfielder with the Boston Red Sox (1926) and Cleveland Indians (1927-1928), batting .275 with 5 home runs and 57 runs batted in in 131 games. He played at least 1,502 games in 12 seasons in the minor leagues from 1921-1933, hitting at least 95 homers.

Baudouin, 62. King of the Belgians, 1951-1993. Baudoin, the eldest son of King Leopold III, acceded to the throne upon his father's abdication. He was a devout Roman Catholic who, in 1990, refused to grant royal assent to a bill legalizing abortion. He requested that the government declare him temporarily unable to govern, and his request was granted. King Baudoin died of heart failure; he had no children, and was succeeded by his younger brother Albert II.

War
Israel and pro-Iranian guerrillas agreed to a U.S. proposal--with Syria the main power broker--to cease fighting in southern Lebanon after seven days of shelling and air attacks.

Football
CFL
Toronto (0-5) 17 @ Saskatchewan (2-3) 36
Edmonton (3-1) 43 @ Sacramento (1-4) 11

Kent Austin rushed for 2 touchdowns and passed to Jeff Fairholm for another as the Roughriders beat the Argonauts before 18,212 fans on a windy night at Taylor Field in Regina.



Sean Fleming kicked 5 field goals--including a career-longest kick of 58 yards--and the Eskimos scored 23 points in the 2nd quarter as they beat the Gold Miners before 17,827 fans at Hornet Field. Blake Marshall scored 2 touchdowns in the 2nd quarter--one on a short rush and the other on a 6-yard reception from Glenn Harper's pass on a fake field goal attempt. The touchdowns were the 64th and 65th--and last--of Mr. Marshall's 7-year CFL career. Edmonton defensive end Bennie Goods recovered a Sacramento fumble in the Gold Miners' end zone for a touchdown in the 3rd quarter, and Damon Allen completed a 59-yard pass to Eddie Brown for the final Eskimo TD in the 4th quarter.

Baseball
The Toronto Blue Jays acquired left fielder Rickey Henderson from the Oakland Athletics. He was batting .327 with 17 home runs, 47 runs batted in, and 31 stolen bases in 90 games with Oakland in 1993.

10 years ago
2003

Society
The Vatican issued a strongly-worded document condemning any legislation recognizing same-sex unions or permitting homosexual couples to adopt children.

Football
CFL
Edmonton (4-3) 31 @ Ottawa (2-5) 26

Baseball
The Montreal Expos honoured retired catcher Gary Carter in a ceremony at Olympic Stadium. Mr. Carter came up through the Expos' farm system and played with the team from 1974-1984 and finished his career with them in 1992.