December 11, 2013

325 years ago
1688

World events
King James II of England, while trying to flee to France, threw the Great Seal of the Realm into the River Thames.

260 years ago
1753

War
George Washington, a young Major from Virginia, arrived in the Ohio Valley with Tanaghrisson and two other chiefs to help the Senecas and counter the French.

200 years ago
1813

War
In the War of 1812, U.S. troops under Major McClure fled Newark, Upper Canada (now known as Niagara-on-the-Lake, Ontario) at the approach of British troops, burning 149 houses and leaving 400 citizens homeless.

175 years ago
1838

Born on this date
John Labatt. Canadian brewer. Mr. Labatt, a native of Westminster Township, Upper Canada (near present-day London, Ontario) inherited the Labatt Brewing Company upon the death of his father in 1866. Under his leadership, the company became the largest brewery in Canada. Mr. Labatt died on April 27, 1915 at the age of 76.

170 years ago
1843

Born on this date
Robert Koch. German microbiologist and physician. Dr. Koch was awarded the 1905 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine "for his investigations and discoveries in relation to tuberculosis." He was known as the "father of bacteriology," and gave experimental support for the concept of infectious disease. Dr. Koch died on May 27, 1910 at the age of 66, seven weeks after suffering a heart attack.

150 years ago
1863

Born on this date
Annie Jump Cannon. U.S. astronomer. Miss Cannon was the world's foremost female astronomer; she was credited with the creation of the Harvard Classification Scheme, and classified more than 400,000 stars. Miss Cannon died on April 13, 1941 at the age of 77.

120 years ago
1893

Born on this date
Leo Ornstein. Russian-born U.S. musician and composer. Mr. Ornstein moved with his family to the United States in 1906. He was a child prodigy as a pianist, and was a leading and early "futurist" composer. Mr. Ornstein's compositions and concerts provoked mixed and often hostile reactions. He quit performing in public in his 30s, and spent much of the rest of his life as a music teacher, while his new compositions remained unpublicized. Toward the end of his life, new compositions by Mr. Ornstein were published, with his last work, the Eighth Piano Sonata, being published in 1990, when he was 94. Mr. Ornstein died on February 24, 2002 at the age of 106.

100 years ago
1913

Baseball
The New York Giants and Chicago White Sox continued their post-season exhibition tour, arriving in Shanghai aboard RMS Empress of China. Their scheduled game in Shanghai was cancelled because of rain, and the teams sailed that night for Hong Kong.

90 years ago
1923

At the movies
The Chechahcos, written and directed by Lewis H. Moomaw, and starring William Dills, Albert Van Antwerp, and Eva Gordon, received its premiere screening in Anchorage. It was the first feature film to be entirely filmed in Alaska.



75 years ago
1938

Died on this date
Christian Lous Lange, 69. Norwegian historian. Dr. Lange was a leading internationalist, and was awarded a share of the 1921 Nobel Peace Prize "[For his work as] the first secretary of the Norwegian Nobel Committee" and "the secretary-general of the Inter-Parliamentary Union." Dr. Lange was Secretary of the Norwegian Nobel Committee from 1900-1909.

Football
NFL
Championship
Green Bay 17 @ New York 23

Ed Danowski's 23-yard touchdown pass to Hank Soar in the 3rd quarter provided the winning margin as they defeated the Packers before 48,120 fans at the Polo Grounds. New York led 9-0 after the 1st quarter on a 13-yard field goal by Ward Cuff and a 6-yard touchdown rush by Tuffy Leemans (Johnny Gildea's convert attempt was unsuccessful). Both scores were set up by blocked punts. The Packers hit the scoreboard in the 2nd quarter on a 40-yard touchdown pass from Arnie Herber to Moose Mulleneaux, converted by Tiny Engebretsen to make the score 9-7. The Giants replied with a 20-yard touchdown pass from Mr. Danowski to Hap Barnard, converted by Mr. Cuff. Green Bay replied with a 1-yard touchdown rush by Clark Hinkle, converted by Mr. Engebretsen, to make the score 16-14 at halftime in favour of the Giants. The Packers took their only lead of the game early in the 3rd quarter on a 15-yard field goal by Mr. Engebretsen. New York drove 61 yards for the winning touchdown shortly after, which held up through a scoreless 4th quarter. Mr. Soar rushed 21 times for 65 yards, caught 3 passes for 41, returned 1 kickoff for 16, and threw 1 incomplete pass. Mr. Danowski completed 7 of 11 passes for 77 yards and 2 touchdowns, rushed once for 4 yards, punted 6 times for an average of 39.5 yards, and made an interception for zero yards. Mr. Herber completed 5 of 14 passes for 123 yards and a touchdown. Green Bay's Don Hutson, who had led the league in yards and touchdowns receiving, was injured, and didn't catch a pass. He did record a 10-yard gain on a lateral from a teammate who caught a pass.



70 years ago
1943

Hit parade
#1 single in the U.S.A. (Billboard): Paper Doll--The Mills Brothers (6th week at #1)

War
German troops in Italy abandoned Mignano, gateway to the Liri Valley, to the Allies. Australian troops moving up the coast from Bonga, New Guinea reached the mouth of the Sowi River.

Defense
General Pedro de Goes Monteiro announced his resignation as chief of the Brazilian Army general staff.

Politics and government
The Wisconsin Democratic committee, meeting in Milwaukee, endorsed Franklin D. Roosevelt for a fourth term as President of the United States.

Music
The New York Center of Music and Drama opened with a concert by the New York Philharmonic Symphony Orchestra.

Tennis
The United States Lawn Tennis Association ranked Joseph R. Hunt and Pauline Betz as the mal and female national champions, respectively, for 1943.

60 years ago
1953

Hit parade
#1 single in the U.K. (New Musical Express): Answer Me--Frankie Laine (5th week at #1); Answer Me--David Whitfield (2nd week at #1)

50 years ago
1963

Died on this date
Luis Russell, 61. Panamanian-born U.S. musician. Mr. Russell moved to New Orleans in 1919 and later to Chicago and New York City, where he was a jazz pianist, who also played guitar and violin. He worked with the bands of Doc Cook and King Oliver, and led his own band in the late 1920s and early '30s, and again from 1943-1948, while recording several dozen sides from 1926-1934. Mr. Russell retired from regular performing in 1948, and opened a notions shop.

40 years ago
1973

Soccer
NASL
The North American Soccer League awarded an expansion franchise to Seattle; the team was named the Sounders a month later.

30 years ago
1983

Hit parade
#1 single in Switzerland: Come Back and Stay--Paul Young (2nd week at #1)

Politics and government
Gary Filmon was elected leader of the Manitoba Progressive Conservative party.

25 years ago
1988

Hit parade
#1 single in New Zealand (RIANZ): Melting Pot--When the Cat's Away

#1 single in Switzerland: Orinoco Flow--Enya

Disasters
At least 62 people were killed and 80 injured when illegal fireworks exploded and sent a fire racing through a crowded market in Mexico City.

20 years ago
1993

Hit parade
#1 single in Australia (ARIA): Please Forgive Me--Bryan Adams (3rd week at #1)

#1 single in Italy: Living on My Own--Freddie Mercury (10th week at #1)

#1 single in Spain (PROMUSICAE): Boom! Shake the Room--DJ Jazzy Jeff & the Fresh Prince (6th week at #1)

#1 single in Flanders (VRT): Please Forgive Me--Bryan Adams

#1 single in France (SNEP): Living on My Own (1993)--Freddie Mercury (10th week at #1)

#1 single in the Netherlands (De Nederlandse Top 40): I'd Do Anything for Love (But I Won't Do That)--Meat Loaf (6th week at #1)

#1 single in the U.K. (Chart Information Network): Mr Blobby--Mr Blobby

#1 single in the U.S.A. (Billboard): Again--Janet Jackson

#1 single in the U.S.A. (Cash Box): I'd Do Anything for Love (But I Won't Do That)--Meat Loaf (6th week at #1)

Canada's Top 10 (RPM)
1 Please Forgive Me--Bryan Adams (2nd week at #1)
2 Both Sides of the Story--Phil Collins
3 Hero--Mariah Carey
4 Again--Janet Jackson
5 All That She Wants--Ace of Base
6 I'll Always Be There--Roch Voisine
7 Said I Loved You...But I Lied--Michael Bolton
8 5 Days in May--Blue Rodeo
9 I'd Do Anything for Love (But I Won't Do That)--Meat Loaf
10 All for Love--Bryan Adams, Rod Stewart, and Sting

Singles entering the chart were Time and Chance by Color Me Badd (#66); Hard to Explain by Cowboy Junkies (#75); Daughter by Pearl Jam (#78); Come to My Window by Melissa Etheridge (#79); Stay (Faraway, So Close!) by U2 (#85); Will You Be There (In the Morning) by Heart (#91); Loveland by Wild T and the Spirit (#92); and North Country by the Rankin Family (#95).

10 years ago
2003

Protest
Opponents of Haitian President Jean-Bertrand Aristide staged a general strike and demonstrations aimed at forcing his resignation.