September 25, 2013

520 years ago
1493

Exploration
Christopher Columbus set sail from Cadiz, Spain, with a flotilla of 17 ships on his second voyage to the Western Hemisphere.

500 years ago
1513

Exploration
Spanish explorer Vasco Nunez de Balboa crossed the Isthmus of Panama to reach the Pacific Ocean.

275 years ago
1738

Born on this date
Nicholas Van Dyke. U.S. politician. Mr. Van Dyke was a Continental Congressman from Delaware from 1777-1782 and President of Delaware from 1783-1786. He died on February 19, 1789 at the age of 50.

80 years ago
1933

Died on this date
Ring Lardner, 48. U.S. writer. Mr. Lardner was a sportswriter based in Chicago whose book You Know Me Al (1916) is regarded as a classic example of humourous American fiction. He died of tuberculosis.

75 years ago
1938

On the radio
Mercury Theatre on the Air, starring Orson Welles
Tonight's episode: The Immortal Sherlock Holmes

This episode was adapted from William Gillette's play Sherlock Holmes (1899).

70 years ago
1943

Hit parade
#1 single in the U.S.A. (Billboard): Sunday, Monday, or Always--Bing Crosby and the Ken Darby Singers (3rd week at #1)

War
Soviet troops captured Roslavi and Smolensk, Germany's greatest Russian base. In hard fighting in Italy, American forces pushed the Germans back, reaching some mountain positions guarding the plain of Naples.

Diplomacy
Japan recognized the incorporation of the northern territory of the Shan States into Burma.

Politics and government
U.S. President Franklin D. Roosevelt announced the resignation of Undersecretary of State Sumner Welles, and the appointment of Edward Stettinius as his successor.

Football
WCASRFL
Winnipeg RCAF (1-0) 10 @ Regina (0-1) 2

Andy Branigan scored 2 touchdowns for the Bombers as they beat the All-Services Roughriders at Parc de Young in the first game of the Western Canada Armed Services Rugby Football League.

60 years ago
1953

Hit parade
#1 single in the U.K. (New Musical Express): Look at That Girl--Guy Mitchell (3rd week at #1)

50 years ago
1963

Scandal
Lord Denning released the British government's official report on the Profumo Affair, in which Secretary of State for War John Profumo had had a relationship with call girl Christine Keeler, reputed to be the mistress of Soviet spy Yevgeny Ivanov.

Crime
Robert George Pooley, 22, of 5501-2nd St. SW in Calgary, was convicted of indecently assaulting a 15-year-old Stony Indian boy while Mr. Pooley, a white man, was teaching at Morley Indian Residential School. The boy claimed that the incident occurred on May 31 while he was staying overnight at the school. He immediately reported the incident, criminal charges were laid, and Mr. Pooley was fired. In court, Mr. Pooley denied the assault, claiming it was a "figment of the boy's imagination." Supreme Court of Alberta Justice Neil Primrose believed the boy, however, and sentenced Mr. Pooley to one year in jail, to be served in the common jail of the provincial mental institution in Ponoka. Mr. Pooley was found not guilty on four other charges of indecency, and a fifth charge was stayed because defense counsel Neville Lindsay was unable to produce an important witness. Mr. Pooley, who had been teaching for three years, had no previous convictions.

40 years ago
1973

Space
The Skylab 2 crew of Alan Bean, Jack Lousma, and Owen Garriott splashed down in the Pacific Ocean after 59 1/2 days in space. Since leaving Cape Kennedy, Florida on July 28 to enter the Skylab space station, the astronauts had taken 77,600 pictures of the sun's corona; 16,800 pictures and 18 miles of magnetic tape data from Earth observations; data on making metallic spheres and alloys in weightless conditions; and data on the astronauts' physical reactions to the long duration in space. It was the longest U.S. manned space mission to date.

Labour
Two weeks after seizing power in a coup, the new military junta in Chile abolished the country's largest labour organization, the Central Workers Organization.

Football
CFL
Winnipeg (3-7) 25 @ Saskatchewan (7-3) 23

Don Jonas completed touchdown passes of 28 and 4 yards to Bob LaRose in the 2nd half as the Blue Bombers upset the Roughriders at Taylor Field in Regina. Mr. LaRose's second touchdown, converted by Walt McKee, came with 5:29 remaining in the game and gave the Blue Bombers a 24-23 lead. Mr. McKee added a single with 1:21 remaining. Stan Brown, playing his 10th and last CFL game, scored the other Winnipeg touchdown on a 33-yard rush in the 1st quarter. Saskatchewan quarterback Ron Lancaster threw touchdown passes to Rick Eber and George Reed in the 2nd quarter and Tom Campana in the 3rd quarter.

30 years ago
1983

Hit parade
#1 single in Switzerland: I Like Chopin--Gazebo (2nd week at #1)

Died on this date
Leopold III, 81. King of the Belgians, 1934-1951. Leopold III succeeeded to the throne upon the death of his father Albert I. He was King during World War II, and led his troops when the Nazis attacked Belgium. King Leopold surrendered to the Nazis on May 27, 1940, a move which was heavily criticized by the Allies. Leopold spent most of the war as a prisoner of the German occupation before being deported to Germany in 1944 and to Austria in 1945. He and his family spent the next five years in exile in Switzerland, returning to Belgium in 1950 after a referendum favoured his return. He soon abdicated in favour of his son Baudoin.

War
The Lebanese and Syrian governments announced that they had agreed to a cease-fire, effective the following day.

Diplomacy
British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher arrived in Canada for a three-day state visit.

U.S. Defense Secretary Caspar Weinberger arrived in Beijing to help arrange an exchange of visits between leaders of the U.S.A. and China. Chinese Defense Minister Zhang Aiping asserted that China would not "attach ourselves to any big power or bloc of powers."

Crime
38 prisoners escaped from the Maze Prison in Lisburn, Northern Ireland, and a guard was killed in the biggest prison break in British history.

Football
CFL
Hamilton (4-7) 25 @ Ottawa (4-6) 29
Edmonton (6-5) 30 @ British Columbia (8-3) 31

J.C. Watts completed a 50-yard touchdown pass to Tyron Gray with 1:17 remaining to give the Rough Riders the win over the Tiger-Cats before 26,014 fans at Lansdowne Park. The touchdown came two plays after Mr. Watts completed a pass to Michael Collymore, who appeared to fumble as he hit the ground, with the ball recovered by a Hamilton defender. The play was ruled a complete pass with Mr. Collymore down by contact. Hamilton head coach Bud Riley chased referee Bud Ulrich across the field after the game, loudly expressing his displeasure. Mr. Watts also completed a 10-yard touchdown pass to Mariet Ford and handed off to Skip Walker for a 25-yard touchdown run, which was followed by Mr. Walker's run for a 2-point convert. Dieter Brock, who had been acquired four days earlier in a trade with the Winnipeg Blue Bombers for Tom Clements, played his first game as a Tiger-Cat, rushing for a 1-yard touchdown and passing 12 yards to Ron Johnson for another TD. Gerald Bess returned an interception 32 yards for the other Hamilton touchdown as the Tiger-Cats scored 22 points in the 2nd quarter to take a 22-10 halftime lead.

Edmonton kicker Dave Cutler missed a 36-yard field goal on the last play of the game and it went for a single point, allowing the British Columbia Lions to escape with a win over the Eskimos before 52,430 fans at B.C. Place Stadium in Vancouver. The Lions took an early 17-0 lead, but the Eskimos gradually chipped away at the lead on touchdowns by Warren Moon and Neil Lumsden and 2 converts and 5 field goals by Mr. Cutler. The Lions scored both their TDs in the 1st quarter on a 9-yard pass from Roy Dewalt to John Pankratz and a 48-yard run on a reverse by receiver Sammy Greene. Lui Passaglia added 2 converts, 5 field goals, and 2 singles. Mr. Moon completed 24 of 46 passes for 363 yards, while Mr. Dewalt was 21 for 35 for 245 yards. Bryan Hall's play-by-play calling of the last few minutes, as he attempted to yell above the ear-splitting crowd noise, was one of the high points of his career as radio voice of the Eskimos, then on CJCA.



25 years ago
1988

Hit parade
#1 single in New Zealand (RIANZ): Cecilia--Times Two (2nd week at #1)

#1 single in Switzerland: Hand in Hand--Koreana (2nd week at #1)

Died on this date
Billy Carter, 51. U.S. businessman. Mr. Carter was the younger brother of Jimmy Carter, the 39th President of the United States of America (1977-1981). Billy upheld the presidential tradition of the colourful or disreputable brother. During Jimmy Carter's presidency, Billy marketed Billy Beer, which soon went out of business. In the late 1970s Billy Carter registered as an agent of the Libyan government, which led to a U.S. Senate investigation. Billy Carter died of pancreatic cancer.

Politics and government
U.S. Vice President and Republican Party presidential candidate George Bush and Massachusetts Governor and Democratic Party presidential candidate Michael Dukakis engaged in a nationally-televised "debate" at Wake Forest University in Winston-Salem, North Carolina. Mr. Dukakis accused Mr. Bush of questioning his patriotism, and said that Mr. Bush would "brand a woman a criminal" if she chose to have an abortion. Mr. Bush defended the sanctity of life.



Medicine
A surgical team in Toronto performed the first human sciatic nerve transplant, on a 9-year-old boy.

Olympics
Matt Biondi of the United States won his fifth gold medal in Seoul when he swam the butterfly leg of the men's 4 x 100-metre medley relay event.

Football
CFL
Edmonton (8-4) 22 @ Toronto (8-4) 35
Hamilton (7-5) 24 @ Saskatchewan (8-4) 26

Toronto defensive tackle Rodney Harding set a CFL single-game record with 5 quarterback sacks as the Argonauts defeated the Eskimos at Exhibition Stadium. The Eskimos' offensive highlight came on their second possession in the 1st quarter, when quarterback Tracy Ham completed a short pass to Henry "Gizmo" Williams that turned into an 85-yard touchdown. Edmonton fullback Tony Spoletini rushed 1 yard for his first CFL touchdown, and Cliff Toney returned an interception for the other Eskimo TD. It was the first CFL game for Toronto wide receiver Paul Masotti.





20 years ago
1993

Hit parade
#1 single in Australia (ARIA): I'd Do Anything for Love (But I Won't Do That)--Meat Loaf (4th week at #1)

#1 single in Italy: Mr. Vain--Culture Beat (2nd week at #1)

#1 single in Spain (PROMUSICAE): El Gallinero--Ramírez

#1 single in Flanders (VRT): What's Up?--4 Non Blondes (3rd week at #1)

#1 single in France (SNEP): Darla dirladada--Les G.O. Cul-ture

#1 single in the Netherlands (De Nederlandse Top 40): What's Up?--4 Non Blondes (8th week at #1)

#1 single in the U.K. (Chart Information Network): Boom! Shake the Room--DJ Jazzy Jeff & the Fresh Prince

#1 single in the U.S.A. (Billboard): Dreamlover--Mariah Carey (3rd week at #1)

U.S.A. Top 10 (Cash Box)
1 Dreamlover--Mariah Carey
2 If--Janet Jackson
3 Right Here/Human Nature--SWV
4 (I Can't Help) Falling in Love with You--UB40
5 The River of Dreams--Billy Joel
6 Whoomp! (There it Is)--Tag Team
7 Lately--Jodeci
8 Runaway Train--Soul Asylum
9 Will You Be There--Michael Jackson
10 Another Sad Love Song--Toni Braxton

Singles entering the chart were Two Steps Behind by Def Leppard (#42); What is Love by Haddaway (#47); I'd Do Anything for Love (But I Won't Do That) by Meat Loaf (#53); Too Much Information by Duran Duran (#55); Hopelessly by Rick Astley (#57); Better than You by Lisa Keith (#59); Everybody Hurts by R.E.M. (#62); Come Baby Come by K7 (#67); Come Inside by Intro (#68); Heaven Knows by Luther VanDross (#75); Pink Cashmere by Prince (#76); and I'm in Luv by Joe (#78).

Canada's Top 10 (RPM)
1 Dreamlover--Mariah Carey (2nd week at #1)
2 Rain--Madonna
3 The River of Dreams--Billy Joel
4 If--Janet Jackson
5 Runaway Train--Soul Asylum
6 Reason to Believe--Rod Stewart
7 Will You Be There--Michael Jackson
8 (I Can't Help) Falling in Love with You--UB40
9 Believe--Lenny Kravitz
10 Cryin'--Aerosmith

Singles entering the chart were Waiting for a Miracle by Marc Jordan (#82); Delicate by Terence Trent D'Arby (#83); Runaway Love by En Vogue (#89); Send Me a Lover by Taylor Dayne (#90); When There's Time (For Love) by Lawrence Gowan (#94); I'm Not Your Lover by Jann Arden (#95); and Blue Eyes by the Steve Miller Band (#96).

Scandal
Former Philippines first lady Imelda Marcos was sentenced to 18 years in prison for corruption.

Football
CFL
Toronto (2-10) 22 @ Ottawa (3-9) 30
Saskatchewan (8-5) 31 @ British Columbia (8-5) 16

Tom Burgess threw touchdown passes of 23 and 89 yards to Jock Climie and 76 yards to Stephen Jones as the Rough Riders defeated the Argonauts before 24,631 fans at Frank Clair Stadium. Shawn Daniels rushed 1 yard for the other Ottawa TD. Toronto quarterback Tracy Ham threw touchdown passes of 29 yards to Wally Zatylny and 3 yards to Manny Hazard, and Pat Jackson rushed 7 yards for the other Argonaut touchdown.



Kent Austin threw 2 touchdown passes to Don Narcisse and rushed for a TD of his own as the Roughriders beat the Lions before 31,888 fans at B.C. Place Stadium in Vancouver. Charles Anthony returned a fumble 92 yards for the other Saskatchewan touchdown. Cory Philpot rushed 10 yards for the only B.C. touchdown. Dave Ridgway kicked a field goal for the Roughriders, but he also had an unsuccessful attempt, ending his CFL record string of 28 consecutive field goals. Paul McCallum played his first CFL game for the Lions, replacing injured kicker Lui Passaglia, and was good on 3 of 4 field goal attempts and added a convert.

10 years ago
2003

Died on this date
Franco Modigliani, 85. Italian-born U.S. economist. Dr. Modigliani won the Nobel Prize in Economic Sciences in 1985. With Merton Miller, he formulated the Modigliani-Miller theorem of corporate finance, demonstrating that under certain assumptions, the value of a firm is not affected by whether it is financed by equity or debt. Dr. Modigliani also originated the life-cycle hypothesis, attempting to explain the level of saving in an economy.

George Plimpton, 76. U.S. writer. Mr. Plimpton was known for trying out for various professional sports teams and then writing about his experiences in such books as Out of My League (1961) and Paper Lion (1966).

Herb Gardner, 68. U.S. playwright. Mr. Gardner's best-known his plays were A Thousand Clowns (1962) and I'm Not Rappaport (1985).

Edward Said, 67. Palestinian-born U.S. scholar. Dr. Said was a public intellectual whose book Orientalism (1978), which criticized the way Western cultures viewed Eastern cultures, was very influential in the field of Middle East studies. He was a supporter of an independent Palestinian state, and his strong views attracted strong reacrtions pro and con.

Weather
It was reported that the recent summer heat wave in France had taken 14,000 lives.

Politics and government
U.S. Secretary of State Colin Powell set a six-month deadline for Iraq's Governing Council to complete a new constitution.

War
The United Nations announced that it was withdrawing more staff from Iraq.

Diplomacy
The government of Sudan agreed to withdraw most of its troops from the rebel-held south of the country and concluded a security pact with the Sudan People's Liberation Army. The accord was seen as a significant step toward ending 20 years of civil war.

Scandal
The Hutton inquiry into the recent suicide of British scientist and United Nations weapons expert David Kelly heard closing statements from lawyers.