September 4, 2013

950 years ago
1063

Died on this date
Tughril, 73. Sultan of the Seljuq Empire, 1037-1063. Tughril founded the Seljuq Empire--a Turko-Persian Sunni Muslim empire in the 11th and 12th centuries including the Hindu Kush (the mountain range between central Afghanistan and northern Pakistan) and eastern Anatolia (in modern Turkey), stretching from central Asia to the Persian Gulf. Tughril united the Turkomen warriors of the Great Eurasian Steppes into a confederacy of tribes who traced their ancestry to a single ancestor named Seljuq, and led them in conquest of eastern Iran.

210 years ago
1803

Born on this date
Sarah Polk. U.S. First Lady, 1845-1849. Sarah Childress met future President James K. Polk when she was 12 and he was 19, and they married on January 1, 1824. They had no children, perhaps as a result of bladder stone surgery which made Mr. Polk sterile, but raised a nephew for a few years. Mrs. Polk helped her husband prepare his speeches, and advised him on various matters. Mr. Polk died just three months after leaving the White Houe, and Mrs. Polk lived as a widow for 42 years until her death at the age of 87 on August 14, 1891, three weeks before her 88th birthday.

170 years ago
1843

Married on this date
Emperor Dom Pedro II of Brazil and Teresa Cristina of the Two Sicilies were wed in a cathedral in Rio de Janeiro, the day after Teresa Cristina's arrival. The couple had been married by proxy on May 30.

140 years ago
1873

Scandal
In Ottawa, a special inquiry by the Canadian Parliament into the awarding of contracts for the building of the Canadian Pacific Railway began. The Pacific Scandal ultimately brought down the Conservative government of Prime Minister Sir John A. Macdonald.

125 years ago
1888

Technology
George Eastman registered the trademark Kodak and received a patent for his camera that used roll film.

100 years ago
1913

Born on this date
Mickey Cohen. U.S. gangster. Mr. Cohen, a member of the Jewish Mafia, worked in Chicago and Cleveland before going to Los Angeles in 1939 to work under Bugsy Siegel. He helped to set up the Flamingo Hotel in Las Vegas and ran its sports book operation. Mr. Cohen became famous after serving four years in prison from 1951-1955 for income tax evasion; his interview with Mike Wallace on Mr. Wallace's New York television program caused a media sensation. Mr. Cohen met evangelist Billy Graham in 1957 and professed faith in Jesus Christ, but when his lifestyle didn't change to reflect the profession of his newfound faith, he was quoted as saying, "Christian football players, Christian cowboys, Christian politicians; why not a Christian gangster?"--thus showing a lack of comprehension of the true meaning of repentance. Mr. Cohen later served time in the prison on Alcatraz Island for income tax evasion, where he survived an attempt on his life by another inmate. He also served time at Atlanta Federal Penitentiary, and was released in 1972. Mickey Cohen died in his sleep on July 29, 1976 at the age of 62.

Stanford Moore. U.S. chemist. Dr. Moore shared the 1972 Nobel Prize in Chemistry with Christian B. Anfinsen and William Howard Stein for "contribution to the understanding of the connection between chemical structure and catalytic activity of the active centre of the ribonuclease molecule." He died on August 23, 1982 at the age of 68.

90 years ago
1923

Aviation
The first U.S. airship, the U.S. Navy craft USS Shenandoah, made its maiden flight from Lakehurst, New Jersey.

Baseball
Sam Jones pitched a no-hitter for the New York Yankees as they blanked the Philadelphia Athletics 2-0 at Shibe Park in Philadelphia.

70 years ago
1943

Hit parade
#1 single in the U.S.A. (Billboard): In the Blue of Evening--Tommy Dorsey and his Orchestra with Frank Sinatra (3rd week at #1)

War
Soviet troops driving toward the Donets Basin steel centre of Stalino captured Ilovask and took key railway lines. Italian troops evacuated the Melito district on the south coast of Calabria as well as the Reggio Calabria and San Giovanni areas on the west coast. A large Allied force landed on the north shore of Huon Gulf, east of Lae, New Guinea, and isolated the Japanese bases at Lae and Salamaua.

Politics and government
U.S. President Franklin D. Roosevelt accepted the resignation of Rubber Director William Jeffers, who declared that "the big job" of organizing synthetic rubber production "is done."

Business
U.S. Fuel Administrator Harold Ickes ordered 369 more solft-coal mines returned to their owners, raising to 549 the number of such mines restored to their owners.

60 years ago
1953

Hit parade
#1 single in the U.K. (New Musical Express): I Believe--Frankie Laine (18th week at #1)

Literature
The September 4 issue of Collier's magazine contained the short story The Adventure of the Two Women by Adrian Conan Doyle, the tenth in a series known as The Exploits of Sherlock Holmes.

50 years ago
1963

Politics and government
A split between Quebec and western wings within the Social Credit Party of Canada that had erupted at the party's convention in Granby, Quebec several days earlier resulted in the announcement by Quebec Member of Parliament Real Caouette of the creation of the Ralliement des Creditistes. 13 of the Social Credit members of the House of Commons joined Mr. Caouette, with the remainder--including 5 Quebec MPs--supporting the leadership of Robert Thompson of Red Deer, Alberta.

Disasters
Swissair Flight 306, en route from Zurich to Rome via Vienna, crashed near Dürrenäsch, Switzerland shortly after takeoff from Zurich Airport, killing all 80 people on board the Sud Aviation SE-210 Caravelle III jetliner.

Football
CFL
The Toronto Argonauts paid $350 to obtain quarterback Sandy Stephens from the Montreal Alouettes on waivers. Mr. Stephens, who had led the Alouettes into the playoffs as a rookie in 1962, had been suspended after the second regular season game of 1963, ostensibly because he had reduced his weight from 225 pounds to 218, not the 210 pounds requested by head coach Jim Trimble.

40 years ago
1973

Hit parade
#1 single in Switzerland: Goodbye, My Love, Goodbye--Demis Roussos (12th week at #1)

Personal
This blogger started Grade 8 at Yellowknife Public School.

Scandal
Former White House adviser John Ehrlichman and three former officials with the administration of President Richard Nixon--G. Gordon Liddy, Egil Krogh, and David Young--were indicted by a grand jury in Los Angeles on charges arising from the 1971 break-in at the office of the psychiatrist of former U.S. Defense Department employee Daniel Ellsberg, who had recently leaked the "Pentagon Papers"--documents related to U.S. conduct of the Vietnam War--to the Washington Post. Mr. Liddy had recently been convicted for his part in the June 1972 break-in at the headquarters of the Democratic National Commitee at the Watergate office complex in Washington, D.C. Messrs. Krogh and Young supervised the White House "plumbers unit," formed in 1971 after the release of the Pentagon Papers, to trace and plug security leaks. Mr. Ehrlichman was also charged with perjury before the grand jury investigating the break-in at the psychiatrist's office.

30 years ago
1983

Hit parade
#1 single in Switzerland: Moonlight Shadow--Mike Oldfield

Football
CFL
Winnipeg (5-3) 30 @ Saskatchewan (2-6) 32

Ken Clark, mourning the death of his mother days earlier, kicked a 41-yard field goal in the last minute to give the Roughriders the win over the Blue Bombers before 23,387 fans at Taylor Field in Regina. The win ended a 6-game losing streak for the Roughriders and was their first win under head coach Reuben Berry, who had replaced the fired Joe Faragalli when the team was 1-5. Saskatchewan's regular kicker, Dave Ridgway, was injured during the game, and it was left to Mr. Clark, a punter who booted a 101-yard single in the 1st quarter but who hadn't kicked a field goal in 7 years, to make the game-winning kick. It was the 10th and last field goal of Mr. Clark's career; his only previous CFL experience as a placekicker was in 1976 with the Hamilton Tiger-Cats, when he made 9 of 22 attempts, none longer than 32 yards. Winnipeg's Willard Reaves rushed 23 times for 171 yards and touchdowns of 75 yards and 1 yard, and also returned 1 kickoff for 47 yards.

25 years ago
1988

Hit parade
#1 single in Switzerland: The Twist (Yo, Twist!)--The Fat Boys with Stupid Def Vocals by Chubby Checker (5th week at #1)

Football
CFL
Winnipeg (4-5) 19 @ Saskatchewan (5-4) 29

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

#1 single in Italy: All that She Wants--Ace of Base (6th week at #1)

#1 single in Spain (PROMUSICAE): What Is Love?--Haddaway (3rd week at #1)

#1 single in Flanders (VRT): Mr. Vain--Culture Beat (4th week at #1)

#1 single in France (SNEP): Darla dirladada--Les G.O. Cul-ture (3rd week at #1)

#1 single in the Netherlands (De Nederlandse Top 40): What's Up?--4 Non Blondes (5th week at #1)

#1 single in the U.K. (Chart Information Network): Mr. Vain--Culture Beat (2nd week at #1)

#1 single in the U.S.A. (Billboard): (I Can't Help) Falling in Love with You--UB40 (7th week at #1)

U.S. top 10 (Cash Box)
1 (I Can't Help) Falling in Love with You--UB40 (6th week at #1)
2 Dreamlover--Mariah Carey
3 Whoomp! (There it Is)--Tag Team
4 Runaway Train--Soul Asylum
5 I'm Gonna Be (500 Miles)--The Proclaimers
6 If--Janet Jackson
7 Lately--Jodeci
8 If I Had No Loot--Tony Toni Tone
9 Slam--Onyx
10 Right Here/Human Nature--SWV

Singles entering the chart were Reason to Believe by Rod Stewart (#44); Love for Love by Robin S (#57); Something in Your Eyes by Bell Biv Devoe (#60); Hey Mr. D.J. by Zhane (#71); No Rain by Blind Melon (#72); What Might Have Been by Little Texas (#78); Sunday Morning by Earth, Wind and Fire (#81); Delicate by Terence Trent D'Arby (#85); and Soul to Squeeze by Red Hot Chili Peppers (#86).

Canada's top 10 (RPM)
1 Runaway Train--Soul Asylum (2nd week at #1)
2 (I Can't Help) Falling in Love with You--UB40
3 Rain--Madonna
4 I'm Free--Jon Secada
5 Dreamlover--Mariah Carey
6 If--Janet Jackson
7 Will You Be There--Michael Jackson
8 The River of Dreams--Billy Joel
9 I'm Gonna Be (500 Miles)--The Proclaimers
10 I Don't Wanna Fight--Tina Turner

Singles entering the chart were Two Steps Behind by Def Leppard (#64); Family Man by Barney Bentall (#70); I'm in a Philly Mood by Daryl Hall (#82); What is Love by Haddaway (#83); Why Must We Wait Until Tonight by Tina Turner (#84); Rise Again by the Rankin Family (#85); Better than You by Lisa Keith (#87); My Back Pages by Bob Dylan (#89); Nothing 'Bout Me by Sting (#90); I'd Do Anything for Love (But I Won't Do That) by Meat Loaf (#91); and Hopelessly by Rick Astley (#93).

Died on this date
Hervé Villechaize, 50. French-born U.S. actor. Mr. Villechaize, a midget, was known for his co-starring role as Tattoo in the television series Fantasy Island (1977-1983), shouting "De plane, boss, de plane!". Despondent over health problems, he shot himself in his Los Angeles home

Football
CFL
British Columbia (7-3) 25 @ Ottawa (2-8) 24

Quarterback Danny Barrett rushed 1 yard for a touchdown in the last minute of regulation time to give the Lions the win over the Rough Riders before 21,567 fans at Lansdowne Park. The winning score came after the Rough Riders had taken the lead 24-19 with less than 1 1/2 minutes remaining on a 1-yard touchdown pass from Tom Burgess to Stephen Jones, but a 2-point convert attempt was unsuccessful.

Baseball
Jim Abbott pitched a no-hitter for the New York Yankees as they shut out the Cleveland Indians 4-0 before 27,125 fans at Yankee Stadium.



The Kansas City Royals, trailing 2-0, scored 4 runs in the top of the 9th inning and held on to defeat the Boston Red Sox 4-2 before 31,223 fans at Fenway Park in Boston. The Royals got on the scoreboard when Greg Gagne led off with a double, and Brian McRae followed with a home run, resulting in the removal of relief pitcher Greg Harris.

Jose Rijo allowed 7 hits and 1 run--earned--in 7 innings and drove in 4 runs with a single and double to get the win as the Cincinnati Reds withstood a 4-run 9th-inning rally and defeated the Philadelphia Phillies 6-5 before 31,166 fans at Riverfront Stadium in Cincinnati. Cincinnati second baseman Juan Samuel batted 4 for 4 with 2 runs and a run batted in, while Philadelphia right fielder Jim Eisenreich was 4 for 4 with a double and an RBI. The Phillies had runners on first and third bases with 2 out in the 9th, but Kevin Stocker grounded out to first base to end the game.

Pinch hitter Shawon Dunston doubled home Ryne Sandberg to tie the score and Sammy Sosa followed with a single to score Mr. Dunston with the winning run in the bottom of the 8th inning as the Chicago Cubs edged the New York Mets 9-8 before 38,484 fans at Wrigley Field in Chicago. The Mets lost despite hitting 5 home runs--2 each by Bobby Bonilla and Ryan Thompson, and another by Eddie Murray.

Ken Hill allowed 7 hits and 3 runs--all earned--in 8 1/3 innings to get the win, doubled home 2 runs and then scored on a home run by Marquis Grissom as the Montreal Expos scored 5 runs in the 2nd inning and withstood a 5-run 9th-inning rally to defeat the Houston Astros 7-5 before 22,771 fans at the Astrodome. The Astros had the potential tying run at bat with 2 out in the 9th, but pinch hitter Kevin Bass popped up to end the game.