September 17, 2013

220 years ago
1793

War
French forces defeated a Spanish force in the Battle of Peyrestortes in France during the War of the Pyrenees.

130 years ago
1883

Born on this date
Leo Hafford. U.S. baseball pitcher and football coach. Mr. Hafford played with the Cincinnati Reds (1906), posting a 1-1 record with an earned run average of 0.95 in 3 games. He played at least 5 seasons in the minor leagues (1907-1911). Mr. Hafford became football coach at the University of Connecticut in 1911, but died of typhoid fever three weeks later at the age of 28 on October 1, 1911, two weeks after his 28th birthday, after a season-opening loss. He was still credited as head coach for the whole season, with the Aggies finishing 0-5.

90 years ago
1923

Died on this date
Stefanos Dragoumis, 81. Prime Minister of Greece, 1910. Mr. Dragoumis was appointed Prime Minister in January 1910, heading a reformist government, but resigned in October 1910 after King George I invited Eleftherios Venizelos to form a government. Mr. Dragoumis later served as Governor General of Crete and later, of Macedonia.

75 years ago
1938

Died on this date
Bruno Jasieński, 37. Polish poet. Mr. Jasieński, born Wiktor Zysman, was one of the founders of the Polish Futurist movement. He joined the Communist Party and moved to the U.S.S.R. in 1929, but was caught up in the purges of the late 1930s, and was executed at Butyrka prison in Moscow.

Football
CRU
WIFU
Edmonton (0-3) 3 @ Calgary (1-2) 16

Paul Rowe, Johnny Sullivan, and Buzz Buzzard scored touchdowns for the Bronks as they defeated the Eskimos at Mewata Stadium.

70 years ago
1943

On the radio
Sherlock Holmes, starring Poul Reumert and Bjarne Forchhammer, on Statsradiofonien (Danish Broadcasting Corporation)

This was based on the play Sherlock Holmes by William Gillette.

The New Adventures of Sherlock Holmes, starring Basil Rathbone and Nigel Bruce, on MBS
Tonight's episode: The Dying Rose Bush

At the movies
Sherlock Holmes Faces Death, starring Basil Rathbone and Nigel Bruce, opened in theatres.



War
Allied forces linked up to form a 225-mile line from the east to west coasts of Italy. "Free Milan" radio declared that Italian troops had seized a stretch of railway track 35 miles south of the Brenner Pass. Chinese government sources claimed that the Japanese had sent 5,000-8,000 troops to the Arakan district of Burma in anticipation of an Allied offensive.

60 years ago
1953

Boxing
Sonny Liston (2-0) won a 4-round decision over Ponce de Leon (12-20-4) in a heavyweight bout at Kiel Auditorium in St. Louis.

50 years ago
1963

On television tonight
The Fugitive, on ABC
Tonight's episode: Fear in a Desert City, with guest stars Vera Miles and Brian Keith

This was the first episode of the series.

Diplomacy
Canadian Prime Minister Lester Pearson addressed the United Nations General Assembly, outlining proposals to strengthen peacekeeping forces.

Football
AFL
Frank Tripucka announced that he was quitting as quarterback of the Denver Broncos. He had joined the team at its inception in 1960 after seven seasons in Canada and had shouldered most of the Broncos' quarterbacking duties, but in the first 2 games of 1963 had thrown 5 interceptions and no touchdowns in just 15 passes. The next day he rejoined the Saskatchewan Roughriders, for whom he had played from 1953-1959.

40 years ago
1973

Hit parade
#1 single in Australia (Kent Music Report): Never, Never, Never (Grande, Grande, Grande)--Shirley Bassey

#1 single in France: Tout donné, tout repris--Mike Brant (3rd week at #1)

Died on this date
Hugo Winterhalter, 64. U.S. bandleader and composer. Mr. Winterhalter was best known for his recording of Canadian Sunset, which reached #2 on the Billboard singles charts in 1956.

Politics and government
A general election in Sweden resulted in 175 seats in palriament for the governing Social Democratic Party and 175 seats for the non-socialist opposition. The Social Democrats, who lost 7 seats from their total entering the campaign, received their lowest percentage of the vote since assuming power in 1932. Gains by the Communists saved the Social Democrats and Prime Minister Olaf Palme from certain ouster. The campaign had centred upon the economy and the high cost of maintaining Sweden's welfare state.

Football
NFL
New York Jets (0-1) 7 Green Bay (1-0) 23 @ Milwaukee

See video.

30 years ago
1983

Hit parade
#1 single in France: Sweet Dreams (Are Made of This)--Eurythmics (5th week at #1)

#1 single in the Netherlands (De Nederlandse Top 40): Codo--DÖF

#1 single in Ireland (IRMA): Red Red Wine--UB40 (2nd week at #1)

#1 single in the U.K.: Red Red Wine--UB40 (3rd week at #1)

#1 single in the U.S.A. (Billboard): Maniac--Michael Sembello (2nd week at #1)

U.S.A. Top 10 (Cash Box)
1 Puttin' on the Ritz--Taco
2 Every Breath You Take--The Police
3 The Safety Dance--Men Without Hats
4 Sweet Dreams (Are Made of This)--Eurythmics
5 Maniac--Michael Sembello
6 Tell Her About It--Billy Joel
7 Total Eclipse of the Heart--Bonnie Tyler
8 She Works Hard for the Money--Donna Summer
9 Don't Cry--Asia
10 (She’s) Sexy + 17--Stray Cats

Singles entering the chart were All Night Long (All Night) by Lionel Richie (#50); Dr. Heckyll & Mr. Jive by Men at Work (#63); Modern Love by David Bowie (#70); Break My Stride by Matthew Wilder (#80); Trouble in Paradise by Jarreau (#81); Fight Fire with Fire by Kansas (#83); Queen of the Broken Hearts by Loverboy (#84); and Cum on Feel the Noize by Quiet Riot (#89).

Canada's Top 10 (RPM)
1 Sweet Dreams (Are Made of This)--Eurythmics (2nd week at #1)
2 Maniac--Michael Sembello
3 Total Eclipse of the Heart--Bonnie Tyler
4 She Works Hard for the Money--Donna Summer
5 Every Breath You Take--The Police
6 Rock 'N' Roll is King--Electric Light Orchestra
7 Our House--Madness
8 I'll Tumble 4 Ya--Culture Club
9 (She’s) Sexy + 17--Stray Cats
10 Don't Cry--Asia

Singles entering the chart were Islands in the Stream by Kenny Rogers and Dolly Parton (#44); Can't Shake Loose by Agnetha Faltskog (#46); Twenty Questions by TICTOC (#48); and What am I Gonna Do by Rod Stewart (#50).

War
Syria, whose forces occupying part of Lebanon had been bombarded from U.S. ships the day before, said that it would attack anyone who attacked Syria.

Diplomacy
The U.S.S.R. announced that Foreign Minister Andrei Gromyko would not attend the session of the United Nations General Assembly and that the United States had violated its obligations as host of the UN by allowing New York Governor Mario Cuomo and New Jersey Governor Thomas Kean to bar Soviet diplomats from landing at John F. Kennedy or Newark airports in reprisal for the September 1 downing of Korean Air Lines Flight 007 over Soviet air space with the loss of all 269 people aboard.

Americana
Vanessa Williams was chosen Miss America for 1984, becoming the first Negro woman to win the tiara.

Football
CFL
British Columbia (7-3) 42 @ Montreal (2-8) 26

Roy Dewalt completed 22 of 30 passes for 404 yards and 3 touchdowns to Merv Fernandez as the Lions beat the Concordes before 17,161 fans at Olympic Stadium. Mr. Fernandez caught 4 passes for 188 yards, and his touchdowns, covering 41, 70, and 74 yards, came in the 1st half, as the Lions rolled up a 32-3 lead before a Don Sweet single with 57 seconds remaining and a 28-yard touchdown pass from Johnny Evans to Todd Brown reduced the halftime deficit to 32-10. B.C. defensive back Jo Jo Heath scored 2 touchdowns, the first on a 34-yard interception return in the 2nd quarter, and a 30-yard fumble return with 1 second remaining in the game. Mr. Heath was awarded his second touchdown by the referee when a Montreal player on the sidelines reached into the field of play and interfered with Mr. Heath. Mr. Evans, who completed 35 of 43 passes for 304 yards but surrendered 4 interceptions, rushed for two 1-yard touchdowns. Mr. Brown led Montreal receivers with 171 yards on 12 receptions.

25 years ago
1988

Hit parade
#1 single in Italy (FIMI): Gimme Five 2--Jovanotti (3rd week at #1)

#1 single in Flanders (Ultratop 50): Stop--Sam Brown

#1 single in the Netherlands (De Nederlandse Top 40): Stop--Sam Brown (2nd week at #1)

#1 single in France (SNEP): Un Roman d'amitié (Friend You Give Me Reason)--Elsa and Glenn Medeiros

#1 single in Ireland (IRMA): A Groovy Kind of Love--Phil Collins (2nd week at #1)

#1 single in the U.K. (BMRB): A Groovy Kind of Love--Phil Collins (2nd week at #1)

#1 single in the U.S.A. (Billboard): Sweet Child o' Mine--Guns 'N' Roses (2nd week at #1)

U.S.A. Top 10 (Cash Box)
1 Sweet Child o' Mine--Guns 'N' Roses (2nd week at #1)
2 Simply Irresistible--Robert Palmer
3 Monkey--George Michael
4 Perfect World--Huey Lewis and the News
5 If it Isn't Love--New Edition
6 I'll Always Love You--Taylor Dayne
7 Don't Worry Be Happy--Bobby McFerrin
8 When it's Love--Van Halen
9 Nobody's Fool--Kenny Loggins
10 Love Bites--Def Leppard

The only single entering the chart was Edge of a Broken Heart by Vixen (#88).

Canada's Top 10 (RPM)
1 Monkey--George Michael
2 Perfect World--Huey Lewis and the News
3 Simply Irresistible--Robert Palmer
4 I Don't Wanna Live Without Love--Chicago
5 Diamond Sun--Glass Tiger
6 Fast Car--Tracy Chapman
7 Sweet Child o' Mine--Guns 'N' Roses
8 It Would Take a Strong Man--Rick Astley
9 Hands to Heaven--Breathe
10 Look Out Any Window--Bruce Hornsby and the Range

Singles entering the chart were A Word in Spanish by Elton John (#76); Slow Turning by John Hiatt (#82); King of Portugal by Al Stewart (#84); Hands on the Radio by Henry Lee Summer (#86); Tumblin' Down by Ziggy Marley and the Melody Makers (#88); My Song by Glass Tiger (#90); Only a Fool by Neo A4 (#93); I Will Take You Forever by Christopher Cross (#95); Don't Know What You Got (Till it's Gone) by Cinderella (#96); and If We Never Meet Again by Reckless Sleepers (#99).

Weather
Hurricane Gilbert, which had reached 179 miles per hour three days earlier, was now reduced to 35 miles per hour as it passed over the mainland of Mexico.

Politics and government
Henri Namphy was ousted as President of Haiti after three months in office when he was arrested by noncommissioned military officers at the presidential palace.

Football
CFL
Calgary (4-7) 20 @ Winnipeg (5-6) 14

20 years ago
1993

Died on this date
Christian Nyby, 80. U.S. film and television director. Mr. Nyby, who was an editor before moving into directing, was best known for directing the movie The Thing from Another World (1951).

Politics and government
The British National Party won its first council seat in a by-election in East London.

Football
CFL
Edmonton (7-5) 10 @ Hamilton (5-7) 34

Earl Winfield returned punts 65 and 46 yards for touchdowns and scored another TD on a 79-yard pass from Don MacPherson to lead the Tiger-Cats over the Eskimos before 17,102 fans at Ivor Wynne Stadium. Mr. Winfield amassed 232 yards in receiving and returns, while the Hamilton defense limited the Edmonton offense to 162 yards and no touchdowns.

10 years ago
2003

War
U.S. President George W. Bush admitted, "We've had no evidence that Saddam Hussein was involved with September the 11th."

Scandal
Richard Grasso resigned as chairman and chief executive officer of the New York Stock Exchange resigned after it was revealed that in 2003 he was taking $139.5 million in deferred pay and retirement benefits.