August 19, 2014

2,000 years ago
14

Died on this date
Augustus, 76. Roman Emperor, 27 B.C.-A.D. 14. Born Gaius Octavius, Augustus was the great-nephew of Julius Caesar, who named Augustus in his will as his adopted son and heir. Augustus Caesar's reign was relatively peaceful and was known as Pax Romana. Augustus was succeeded as Emperor by his adopted son (also stepson and former son-in-law) Tiberius.

200 years ago
1814

War
In the War of 1812, British forces began their move toward Washington, D.C., as troops landed at Benedict, Maryland and warships began sailing up the Potomac River.

175 years ago
1839

Technology
The French government announced that Louis Daguerre's photographic process was a gift "free to the world."

160 years ago
1854

War
The First Sioux War began in Nebraska Territory (present-day Wyoming) when United States Army soldiers led by Second Lieutenant John Grattan killed Lakota chief Conquering Bear and were massacred in return.

100 years ago
1914

Born on this date
Gypsy Boots. U.S. health advocate. Mr. Boots, born Robert Bootzin, was the leader of the "Nature Boys," a group of people in California in the 1940s who lived off the land, adopted a vegetarian diet, and advocated practices such as yoga. He ran a health food store in Hollywood called Health Nut, and frequently made appearances on television talk shows. Mr. Boots died on August 8, 2004, 11 days short of his 90th birthday.

Diplomacy
The Ottoman-Bulgarian alliance was signed in Sofia.

80 years ago
1934

Born on this date
Happy Birthday, Bryan Hall!

Politics and government
The German people voted to make Adolf Hitler their Fuehrer, combining the offices of President and Chancellor. The turnout of eligible voters for the plebiscite was about 95%, and 90%--about 38 million--voted their approval of Mr. Hitler’s usurpation of absolute power. Only about 4.25 million Germans voted against it.

Auto racing
The first All-American Soap Box Derby was held in Dayton, Ohio. The winner was Robert Turner of Muncie, Indiana.

Baseball
Before a record crowd of 46,995 at Fenway Park in Boston, the Red Sox lost a doubleheader to the Detroit Tigers, 8-6 and 4-3. Moose Solters of the Red Sox hit for the cycle in the opener against winning pitcher General Crowder.

75 years ago
1939

Died on this date
Achille Fortier, 74. Canadian composer and teacher. Mr. Fortier, a native of Saint-Clet, Quebec, became the first Canadian to attend regular composition classes at the Conservatoire de Paris in 1889. He wrote mainly choral and chamber works, but was better known as a teacher at various music schools in Montreal. Mr. Fortier died in Viauville, Quebec.

Baseball
Ted Williams hit his first major league grand slam to help the Boston Red Sox to an 8-6 win over the Washington Nationals in the first game of a doubleheader before 7,000 fans at Griffith Stadium in Washington. The Nationals won the second game 2-1.

70 years ago
1944

Hit parade
#1 single in the U.S.A. (Billboard): Swinging on a Star--Bing Crosby with John Scott Trotter and his Orchestra and the Williams Brothers Quartet (Best Seller--3rd week at #1; Jukebox--1st week at #1)

Died on this date
Henry Wood, 75. U.K. orchestra conductor. Sir Henry was best known as conductor of the annual series of promenade concerts in London known as the Proms from 1895 until his death. The concerts are now named in his honour.

War
More than 20,000 members of the French Force of the Interior revolted against the rearguard German garrison in Paris. Allied commander General Dwight Eisenhower moved to the support of the French force. U.S. 3rd Army tanks reached the suburbs of Paris. Allied forces freed the French towns of St. Maximin and La Roquebrusanne on their way to Marseilles. U.S. President Franklin D. Roosevelt announced that War Production Board Chairman Donald Nelson and Major General Patrick Hurley would leave for China soon on special missions. Soviet troops took Kolomiya, the principal German bulwark defending the southern approaches in East Prussia. Japanese forces were driven from Assam in northeastern India after air-supported British troops and Chindits led a successful offensive against them. Chinese troops in the province of Hupeh along the Yangtze River gained to the north in the direction of Kiangling and south toward Hwajung and Owchikhow.

Labour
U.S. President Franklin D. Roosevelt ordered 99 more west coast machine plants seized when workers persisted in refusing to work 48 hours per week.

60 years ago
1954

Died on this date
Alcide De Gasperi, 73. Prime Minister of Italy, 1945-1953. Mr. De Gasperi, one of the founders of the Italian People's Party and founder of the Christian Democracy Party, held various cabinet posts before becoming Prime Minister, where his eight years in office set a remarkable standard for postwar Italian politics. Mr. De Gaspari was regarded as one of the founding fathers of the European Union. He died two months after resigning as leader of the Christian Democrats.

50 years ago
1964

Space
The U.S.A. launched the communications satellite Syncom 3.

Football
CFL
Saskatchewan (2-2) 16 @ British Columbia (3-0-1) 27

The Roughriders rallied from a 14-3 deficit to take a 16-14 lead with 7 minutes remaining in the game before 35,618 fans at Empire Stadium in Vancouver, but B.C. quarterback Joe Kapp completed an 80-yard touchdown pass to Willie Fleming to put the Lions ahead to stay. Rookie B.C. fullback Bob Swift scored 2 touchdowns in the 1st half and added a third TD in the last 40 seconds of the game. It was the last game as a Lion for rookie tight end Jim McNaughton.

40 years ago
1974

Hit parade
#1 single in Australia (Kent Music Report): Evie--Stevie Wright (2nd week at #1)

#1 single in Spain (PROMUSICAE): Love's Theme--The Love Unlimited Orchestra (5th week at #1)

Died on this date
Roger Davies. U.S. diplomat. Mr. Davies, the U.S. Ambassador to Cyprus, along with an embassy secretary who had rushed to his aid, was shot and killed in the midst of a demonstration in Nicosia of Greek Cypriots who were expressing their bitterness at being defeated by Turkish forces armed with U.S. weapons.

Politics and government
Greece's Supreme Council of National Defense, dominated by civilian cabinet officers, fired 10 key generals and appointed new generals to top service posts. The move was part of the purge of people who had been involved with the military junta that had ruled Greece from 1967-1974.

Law
U.S. President Gerald Ford, in an address in Chicago to the Veterans of Foreign Wars, said that he favoured "leniency" for the nation's estimated 50,000 draft dodgers as a move to "bind up the nation's wounds." Mr. Ford's statement marked a reversal of the policy of his predecessor, Richard Nixon. Mr. Ford opposed "unconditional blanket amnesty," but he ordered a study to find a way in which young men who had refused to fight in the Vietnam War could "work their way back" to full citizenship, and disclosed that he had directed Attorney General William Saxbe and Defense Secretary James Schlesinger to report to him by September 1 on the status of men charged with draft evasion or desertion. In response to Mr. Ford's statement, Ray Soden, National Commander of the 1.8-million member VFW, said that his organization would remain opposed to any kind of amnesty.

Football
CFL
Ottawa (2-3) 6 @ Edmonton (3-1) 23

Tom Wilkinson set a league record for passing percentage in a single game (.905), completing 19 of 21 passes, including touchdowns to Don Warrington and Calvin Harrell, and Roy Bell rushed for 186 yards as the Eskimos defeated the defending Grey Cup champion Rough Riders before 21,966 fans, including this blogger, at Clarke Staium. Garry Lefebvre led the Eskimos with 7 receptions for 55 yards. It was the fourth and last CFL game for Edmonton cornerback Jodie Carter, who was beaten by Ottawa receivers for several big plays.

Baseball
Bill Lee gave up just 5 hits and 1 run in 7 1/3 innings as the Boston Red Sox defeated the Chicago White Sox 6-1 before 23,923 fans at Fenway Park in Boston. Jim Rice, making his major league debut as Boston's designated hitter, was 0 for 2, but drove in a run with a sacrifice fly in the 4th inning and was hit by a pitch in the 8th.

Mexican League
Semi-Finals
Jalisco 1 @ Mexico City Reds 6 (Best-of-seven series tied 2-2)
Saltillo 1 @ Gomez Palacio 2 (Gomez Palacio led best-of-seven series 3-2)

Manuel Rodriguez picked up his second win of the series with relief help from Aurelio Lopez as the Reds beat the Charros.

Adolfo de la Torre pitched a 3-hitter for the Cottongrowers as they edged the Saraperos. Domingo Cruz hit a home run in the top of the 2nd inning to give Saltillo a 1-0 lead, but Gomez Palacio scored single runs in the 3rd and 4th innings.

30 years ago
1984

Hit parade
#1 single in France: Toute première fois--Jeanne Mas

#1 single in Switzerland: Self Control--Laura Branigan (8th week at #1)

World events
A Ugandan government spokesman acknowledged that 15,000 people had been killed in political and tribal violence in that country since President Milton Obote had come to power in 1980.

Football
CFL
British Columbia (6-1) 19 @ Hamilton (1-5-1) 11
Saskatchewan (1-5-1) 11 @ Calgary (3-4) 32

Calgary receiver Mike Levenseller set a team single-game record and a CFL best for the season with 14 receptions in the Stampeders' win over the Roughriders at McMahon Stadium. On the last play of the game he made his 14th reception, but fumbled, and Roughrider defensive back Steve Johnson returned it 99 yards for Saskatchewan’s only touchdown of the game. After the game, Mr. Levenseller was unsuccessful in attempting to persuade Mr. Johnson to let him have the ball.



25 years ago
1989

Hit parade
#1 single in Italy (FIMI): Viva la mamma--Edoardo Bennato (6th week at #1)

#1 single in Flanders (Ultratop 50): Lambada--Kaoma

#1 single in the Netherlands (De Nederlandse Top 40): We are Growing (Shaka Zulu)--Margaret Singana (2nd week at #1)

#1 single in France (SNEP): Lambada--Kaoma (4th week at #1)

#1 single in the U.K. (BMRB): Swing the Mood--Jive Bunny and the Mastermixers (3rd week at #1)

U.S.A. Top 10 (Billboard)
1 Right Here Waiting--Richard Marx (2nd week at #1)
2 On Our Own--Bobby Brown
3 Cold Hearted--Paula Abdul
4 Don't Wanna Lose You--Gloria Estefan
5 Once Bitten Twice Shy--Great White
6 Hangin' Tough--New Kids on the Block
7 I Like It--Dino
8 Batdance--Prince
9 Secret Rendezvous--Karyn White
10 So Alive--Love and Rockets

Singles entering the chart were Cherish by Madonna (#37); When I Looked at Him by Expose (#71); Ain't Too Proud to Beg by Rick Astley (#93); Let Go by Sharon Bryant (#98); and Don't Shut Me Out by Kevin Paige (#99).

U.S.A. Top 10 (Cash Box)
1 Right Here Waiting--Richard Marx
2 On Our Own--Bobby Brown
3 Cold Hearted--Paula Abdul
4 I Like It--Dino
5 Once Bitten Twice Shy--Great White
6 Don't Wanna Lose You--Gloria Estefan
7 Hangin' Tough--New Kids on the Block
8 The End of the Innocence--Don Henley
9 Batdance--Prince
10 Secret Rendezvous--Karyn White

Singles entering the chart were Cherish by Madonna (#55); When I Looked at Him by Expose (#70); What I Like About You by Michael Morales (#80); When the Radio is On by Paul Shaffer (#82); Let Go by Sharon Bryant (#85); It's No Crime by Babyface (#88); and Let the Day Begin by the Call (#90).

Radio
Radio Caroline, the offshore pirate station in the North Sea, was raided by the British and Dutch governments.

World events
Several hundred East Germans crossed the frontier between Hungary and Austria during the Pan-European Picnic, part of the events that began the process of the fall of the Berlin Wall.

Crime
Colombian President Virgilio Barco reinstated a decree that permitted drug lords to be extradited to the United States for trial. Colombian police and army units confiscated more than $125 million in property, including hundreds of planes and houses, as well as helicopters and yachts, from the traffickers. The action came the day after hitmen assassinated anti-drug presidential candidate Luis Carlos Galan.

Politics and government
Polish President Wojciech Jaruzelski chose Tadeusz Mazowiecki, one of three people suggested by Solidarity trade union leader Lech Walesa, to be the new Prime Minister of Poland, the first non-Communist Prime Minister in 42 years.

20 years ago
1994

Hit parade
#1 single in Sweden (Topplistan): Love is All Around--Wet Wet Wet (3rd week at #1)

#1 single in Ireland (IRMA): Riverdance--Bill Whelan (16th week at #1)

Died on this date
Linus Pauling, 93. U.S. chemist. Dr. Pauling was awarded the 1954 Nobel Prize in Chemistry "for his research into the nature of the chemical bond and its application to the elucidation of the structure of complex substances" and the 1962 Nobel Peace Prize "for his campaign against nuclear weapons testing". He lost a libel suit against National Review when the magazine, in 1962, accused him of being a "fellow traveller" in sympathy with Soviet Communism. Dr. Pauling received his reward, however, when he was one of seven winners of the 1968-1969 International Lenin Peace Prize from the U.S.S.R. In his later years, Dr. Pauling was a prominent advocate of the use of large amounts of vitamin C for health and longevity.

Diplomacy
U.S. President Bill Clinton announced that he was ending the 28-year U.S. policy of allowing Cuban refugees to take up U.S. residence if they could reach the country. He said that refugees would now be picked up at sea and put in holding camps at the U.S. military base at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba or in the United States.

Football
CFL
Saskatchewan (3-4) 15 @ Calgary (6-1) 54

The Stampeders, behind quarterback Doug Flutie, took a 41-0 lead in the 3rd quarter as they routed the Roughriders before 29,044 fans at McMahon Stadium. Calgary defensive back Marvin Coleman returned a kickoff 77 yards for a touchdown in the 3rd quarter.



10 years ago
2004

Business
The Internet search engine Google held an initial public offering, but the demand for shares was lower than expected. The price of shares was $85, lower than the $108-$135 range originally targeted.

Football
CFL
Hamilton (4-5) 31 @ Ottawa (4-5) 19