November 30, 2013

200 years ago
1813

Americana
William Black arrived at Astoria, Oregon territory off the mouth of the Columbia River in the 26-gun Royal Navy sloop Raccoon, and renamed the North West Company's Fort Astoria Fort George.

120 years ago
1893

Communications
The Canadian Pacific Railway telegraph line was completed into Nelson, British Columbia.

80 years ago
1933

At the movies
Hoop-la, directed by Frank Lloyd, and starring Clara Bow, Preston Foster, and Richard Cromwell, opened in theatres. It was Miss Bow's last film.



Died on this date
Arthur Currie, 58. Canadian military officer. Sir Arthur was Canada's greatest military commander and one of the greatest Allied officers in World War I. He was appointed commander of the 2nd Canadian Infantry Brigade on September 29, 1914; commander of the 1st Canadian Division on September 13, 1915; and commander of the Canadian Corps on June 9, 1917. General Currie led Canada's "100 days" from August 8-November 11, 1918, the most successful of all Allied offensives during the war, culminating in the rout of German forces and the liberation of the French city of Mons on the last day of the war.

Crime
Johnny Copp, a University of Toronto student and halfback on the Varsity football team, was shot and critically wounded by a would-be burglar outside the home that he shared with his family in Toronto. Mr. Copp's parents were hosting a bridge party downstairs and Mr. Copp and a classmate were studying on the third floor when Mr. Copp looked out the window and saw a man on the porch roof about to break into a second-floor bedroom, where the party guests' coats and purses were left. Mr. Copp chased the man to the ground and was attempting to accost him when the criminal took out a gun and shot him in the struggle. Mr. Copp was taken to hospital, where he died three days later. The criminal was never caught, and the crime remains unsolved.

70 years ago
1943

Hit parade
#1 single in Australia (Kent Music Report): Why Don't You Fall in Love with Me--Dinah Shore (1st month at #1)

War
U.K. units in Italy gave ground on the west bank of the Sangro River in the face of German counterattacks. U.S.S.R. forces abandoned the Korosten rail junction, 90 miles northwest of Kiev. U.S. naval forces shelled Gasmata, New Britain, and Madang in the first attacks of this type against these Japanese bases.

Defense
U.S. Navy Secretary Frank Knox announced that Lieutenant General Alexander Vandergrift would become Marine Corps Commandant on January 1, 1944, succeeding Lt. Gen. Thomas Holcomb, who had passed the mandatory retirement age of 64.

Politics and government
Chester Carrier, a Republican, was elected in Kentucky's 4th District of the U.S. House of Representatives to fill the vacancy caused by the death on October 13, 1943 of Rep. E.W. Creel (Democrat).

Labour
U.S. Fair Employment Practices Commission Chairman Malcolm Ross notified 20 railroads and 7 unions that they must cease discrimination "on grounds of race, creed or color," and directed 10 railroads operating in southeastern states to cancel an agreement with unions which limited employment of Negroes.

Congress of Industrial Organizations United Auto Workers of America President R.J. Thomas was acquitted by a jury in Houston of violating the Texas state law forbidding a solicitation of union membership without a license. He was acquitted on the technical grounds that the complaint was improperly drawn.

50 years ago
1963

Hit parade
#1 single in Australia (Kent Music Report): Sugar Shack--Jimmy Gilmer and the Fireballs (2nd week at #1)

#1 single in France: Pour Moi la Vie Va Commencer--Johnny Hallyday (3rd week at #1)

#1 single in Italy (FIMI): Sabato triste--Adriano Celentano

#1 single in West Germany (Media Control): Vom Stadtpark die Laternen--Gitte and Rex Gildo (8th week at #1)

#1 single in the U.K. (New Musical Express): She Loves You--The Beatles (2nd week at #1)

#1 single in the U.S.A. (Billboard): I'm Leaving it Up to You--Dale & Grace (2nd week at #1)

U.S.A. Top 10 (Cash Box)
1 Dominique--The Singing Nun
2 I'm Leaving it Up to You--Dale & Grace
3 Deep Purple--Nino Tempo & April Stevens
4 Sugar Shack--Jimmy Gilmer and the Fireballs
5 It's All Right--The Impressions
6 She's a Fool--Lesley Gore
7 Everybody--Tommy Roe
8 Washington Square--The Village Stompers
9 Maria Elena--Los Indios Tabajaras
10 Walking the Dog--Rufus Thomas

Singles entering the chart were There! I've Said it Again by Bobby Vinton (#52); Be Mad Little Girl by Bobby Darin (#85); Stewball by Peter, Paul and Mary (#86); Please by Frank Ifield (#90); Come Dance with Me by Jay and the Americans (#92); The Marvelous Toy by the Chad Mitchell Trio (#93); Today's Teardrops by Rick Nelson (#95); What's Easy for Two is So Hard for One by Mary Wells (#96); Drag City by Jan & Dean (#97); Girls Grow Up Faster than Boys by the Cookies (#98); Pain in My Heart by Otis Redding (#99); and Gotta Lotta Love by Steve Alaimo (#100).

On the radio
Sherlock Holmes, starring Fridtjof Hansen Mjoen and Arne Bang-Hansen, on Norsk Rikskringkasting (Norwegian State Broadcasting Corporation)
Tonight's episode: Den vansirete tiggeren (The Man with the Twisted Lip)

Politics and government
Prime Minister Robert Menzies led his Liberal/Country coalition to an unprecedented seventh straight victory in the Australian federal election, as the coalition won 72 of 124 seats in the House of Representatives, an increase of 10 from before the election. The Labour Party, led by Arthur Calwell, dropped from 62 seats to 52.



Prime Minister Keith Holyoake led his governing National Party to a second straight victory in the New Zealand general election, taking 45 of 80 seats in Parliament, with the Labour Party, led by Arnold Nordmeyer, taking the remaining 35 seats. National gained 1 seat from before the election, with Labour losing 1 seat.

Crime
Hooligans in Vancouver, British Columbia rioted in the streets after the B.C. Lions' loss to the Hamilton Tiger-Cats in the Grey Cup. The arrest totals were:
Intoxication--249
Unlawful assembly--28
Fighting--15
Impaired driving--13
Damaging property--6
Obstructing police--3
Assault--3
Reckless driving--1
Drunken driving--1
Total--319

Football
CFL
Grey Cup @ Empire Stadium, Vancouver
Hamilton 21 British Columbia 10

Bernie Faloney completed touchdown passes of 4 yards to Willie Bethea in the 2nd quarter and 70 yards to Hal Patterson in the 3rd quarter as the Tiger-Cats spoiled the Lions' first Grey Cup appearance, sending most of the 36,545 fans home unhappy. Art Baker rushed 1 yard for the second Hamilton touchdown with 1:28 remaining, both converted by Mr. Sutherin, as the Tiger-Cats took a 14-3 halftime lead, with Peter Kempf's 29-yard field goal between the touchdowns accounting for B.C.'s scoring. B.C. halfback Willie Fleming left the game with a concussion in the 2nd quarter when he was hit by Hamilton defensive tackle Angelo Mosca at the end of a play as Mr. Fleming was on the ground. No penalty was called, and the Lions officially regarded the ply as "borderline," but the fans were outraged. Mr. Patterson's touchdown, converted by Mr. Sutherin, gave the Tiger-Cats a comfortable lead. B.C. quarterback Joe Kapp led his team on an 81-yard drive late in the game, culminating in a 5-yard touchdown pass to Mack Burton, converted by Mr. Kempf with 1:18 remaining. B.C. fullback Nub Beamer retired after the game to end a 5-year CFL career; he led all rushers with 56 yards on 11 carries. Mr. Faloney led the Tiger-Cats with 9 carries for 54 yards; Mr. Baker carried 10 times for 50, Mr. Bethea rushed 4 times for 41 yards, and Jim Pace added 32 yards on 11 carries. Hamilton flanker Tommy Grant led all receivers with 100 yards on 6 receptions; Mr. Patterson caught 3 for 95. Jerry Janes, playing the final game of his 7-year CFL career, led the Lions with 72 yards on 3 receptions; Mr. Burton caught 4 for 49.



Boxing
Eddie Machen (46-4-2) knocked out Dave Bailey (14-10-3) in the 8th round of a heavyweight bout in Reno, Nevada.

40 years ago
1973

Hit parade
#1 single in New Zealand: The Ballroom Blitz--The Sweet (2nd week at #1)

#1 single in West Germany (Media Control): I'd Love You to Want Me--Lobo (4th week at #1)

Scandal
Egil Krogh, former head of the White House special investigation unit known as the "Plumbers," pled guilty to civil rights violations in connection with the September 1971 burglary of the office of the psychiatrist treating former Defense Department employee Daniel Ellsberg, who had leaked the "Pentagon Papers" concerning U.S. military involvement in Vietnam to The New York Times. In return for the guilty plea and Mr. Krogh's promise to cooperate with Leon Jaworski, special prosecutor investigating the June 1972 break-in at the headquarters of the Democratic National Committee at the Watergate office complex in Washington, D.C., U.S. District Court Judge Gerhard Gesell dropped additional charges of perjury that were before the Watergate grand jury. State charges in California against Mr. Krogh arising from the break-in at the psychiatrist's office were also dropped.

30 years ago
1983

Defense
U.S. President Ronald Reagan rejected, by pocket veto, legislation that would link continued military aid to El Salvador to semiannual certification by the U.S. State Department that El Salvador was making progress on human rights. Both houses of the U.S. Congress had unanimously approved the legislation to replace an expiring law.

Politics and government
The 1st Session of the 32nd Parliament of Canada, the longest session on record, closed after 1,326 days. There were 591 sitting days of the House of Commons and 329 sitting days of the Senate from April 14, 1980.

25 years ago
1988

Hit parade
#1 single in Sweden (Topplistan): Sarah--Mauro Scocco (3rd week at #1)

On television tonight
The Wonder Years, on ABC
Tonight's episode: Heart of Darkness

This was the first episode of the season, which had been delayed because of a writers' strike.

Politics and government
Republicans who would be serving in the United States Senate in the 101st Congress chose Bob Dole of Kansas as their leader.

Health
The Ontario government of Premier David Peterson became the first provincial government in Canada to bring in legislation to restrict smoking in the workplace and private offices.

Business
Tobacco and food corporation RJR Nabisco was acquired for $25.07 billion, about twice the size of any previous merger. The management group of Kohlberg Kravis Roberts & Co. made the offer that was accepted by the outside directors of RJR Nabisco. A slightly higher offer by a management group led by RJR President F. Ross Johnson was rejected.

20 years ago
1993

Died on this date
David Houston, 57. U.S. musician. Mr. Houston was a country singer-songwriter who was popular in the 1960s and early '70s, with 22 singles that made the top 10 on the Billboard country chart from 1963-1974, and six that reached #1. His biggest hit was Almost Persuaded, which spent nine weeks at #1 on the country chart in 1966, and reached #24 on the Billboard Hot 100 pop chart. Mr. Houston died of a brain aneurysm, nine days before his 58th birthday.

At the movies
Schindler's List, co-produced and directed by Steven Spielberg, and starring Liam Neeson, Ralph Fiennes, and Ben Kingsley, received its premiere screening in Washington, D.C.



Diplomacy
Israeli army chief of staff Ehud Barak apologized for what he called the inadvertent killing of a young Palestinian who had spoken out against violence by Palestinians. Israeli officials and Palestine Liberation Organization leaders met in Gaza to seek ways to restore calm in the area.

British Prime Minister John Major said that he wished to continue contacts with the outlawed Irish Republican Army in order to end violence in Northern Ireland.

Society
Maureen McTeer's Canadian Royal Commission on Reproductive Technologies issued its final report, calling for a ban on cloning and on sale of fetal tissue.

Law
U.S. President Bill Clinton signed into law the Brady Handgun Violence Prevention Act, which would require a 5-day waiting period for approval of the purchase of a handgun. The "Brady Bill" was named after former White House press secretary James Brady, who had been critically wounded in the March 30, 1981 assassination attempt against President Ronald Reagan by John Hinckley. The new law also established a national computer network as a means to check the background of prospective gun purchasers.

Crime
Authorities in California arrested Richard Allen Davis, who confessed to abducting and killing 12 year-old Polly Klaas of Petaluma on October 1, 1993.

10 years ago
2003

War
U.S. troops killed at least 46 Iraqi insurgents in a shootout north of Baghdad.