August 4, 2014

225 years ago
1789

Politics and government
In France, members of the National Constituent Assembly took an oath to end feudalism and abandon their privileges.

175 years ago
1839

Religion
John Strachan was appointed the first Anglican Bishop of Toronto, serving until his death in 1867.

170 years ago
1844

Born on this date
Henri Berger. Prussian-born Hawaiian bandleader and composer. Mr. Berger was a member of the German Imperial Army band before Kaiser Wilhelm I lent his services to King Kamehameha V of Hawaii. Mr. Berger arrived in Hawaii in 1872 and remained there, leading the Royal Hawaiian Band and building what is now the Honolulu Symphony Orchestra. He composed several Hawaiian marches, and died in Honolulu on October 14, 1929 at the age of 85.

130 years ago
1884

Cycling
Thomas Stevens became the first person to bicycle across the United States.

Baseball
Pud Galvin pitched a no-hitter as the Buffalo Bisons whipped the Detroit Wolverines 18-0 in a National League game at Recreation Park in Detroit. Frank Meinke took the loss.

125 years ago
1889

Disasters
The Great Fire of Spokane Falls (now Spokane), Washington destroyed 32 blocks of the city, prompting a mass rebuilding project.



100 years ago
1914

War
Germany invaded Belgium. In response, Belgium and the United Kingdom declared war on Germany. The United States declared its neutrality.

90 years ago
1924

At the movies
Manhandled, produced and directed by Allan Dwan, and starring Gloria Swanson, Tom Moore, Lilyan Tashman, and Ian Keith, opened in theatres.



Diplomacy
Mexico and the Soviet Union established diplomatic relations.

80 years ago
1934

Baseball
The Philadelphia Phillies and New York Giants split a doubleheader at Baker Bowl in Philadelphia. The Phillies won the opener 5-4, but the Giants scored 11 runs in the 9th inning to complete a 21-4 rout in the second game. Giants’ outfielder Mel Ott reached base 6 times, and scored 6 runs. He hit 2 home runs, a double and a single, and drove in 4 runs. He also reached base with a base on balls, and being hit by a pitch.

The New York Yankees defeated the Philadelphia Athletics 5-1. Babe Ruth hit his 18th home run of the season, a 3-run shot, while Jack Saltzgaver hit a 2-run homer. Jimmy DeShong picked up his fifth straight win.

70 years ago
1944

Died on this date
Ian Bazalgette, 25. Canadian military aviator. A native of Calgary, Mr. Bazalgette was a Squadron Leader with the Royal Canadian Air Force in World War II, winning the Distinguished Flying Cross in 1943. He was killed in a bombing run over France when his Lancaster was severely damaged by enemy fire, but he managed to drop his load and ordered all members of his crew who were able to do so to bail out. Four did so, but crew members Ivan Hibbert and Vernon Leeder perished with Mr. Bazalgette. Squadron Leader Bazalgette was awarded a posthumous Victoria Cross for his gallantry.

War
U.S. forces in France continued their quick advance in Brittany, with columns reaching to within 75 miles of Brest. Allied patrols in Italy entered Florence. A U.S. carrier task force attacked a large Japanese convoy in the Bonin and Volcano Islands, reportedly sinking 17 and damaging at least 23 enemy ships. The last organized Japanese resistance was crushed at Myitkyina, Burma.

World events
A tip from a Dutch informer led the Gestapo to a sealed-off area in an Amsterdam warehouse, where they found and arrest Jewish diarist Anne Frank, her family, and four others.

Reports from Berlin said that German dictator Adolf Hitler had established a "court of honour" at the request of the army and that 12 officers held for complicity in the July 20 assassination attempt against Mr. Hitler would be tried.

Politics and government
Major Gualberto Villaroel, who had assumed the presidency of Bolivia on December 20, 1943 after a coup d'état, was confirmed as Presdident by the Constituent Assembly.

Labour
U.S. Director of War Mobilization James Byrnes announced that labour ceilings would be imposed in nonessential industries in areas with labour shortages.

Track and field
Gunder Haegg set a record for the men's 2-mile run with a time of 8:42.8 in Stockholm.

50 years ago
1964

Crime
U.S. civil rights workers Michael Schwerner, Andrew Goodman and James Chaney were found murdered in Mississippi after disappearing on June 21.

War
U.S. destroyers USS Maddox and USS Turner Joy reported coming under attack from North Vietnamese forces in the Gulf of Tonkin.

Football
CFL
British Columbia (0-0-1) 10 @ Winnipeg (0-0-1) 10

George Fleming's 29-yard field goal late in the game gave the Blue Bombers their tie with the Lions before 15,125 fans at Winnipeg Stadium. Don Vicic rushed 1 yard for the B.C. touchdown, while Billy Cooper, playing his first CFL game, caught a pass from quarterback Kenny Ploen for the Winnipeg TD.

40 years ago
1974

Died on this date
Bob Pleso, 21. U.S. daredevil. Mr. Pleso was killed at a drag racing strip in Phenix City, Alabama when, in attempt to jump his motorcycle over 30 cars, a sudden head wind slowed him up and caused him to crash into the 27th car. He was thrown from his motorcycle and landed 150 feet away (see video), and was pronounced dead in hospital two hours later.

Terrorism
A bomb exploded in the Italicus Express train at San Benedetto Val di Sambro, Italy, killing 12 people and wounding 22.

30 years ago
1984

Hit parade
#1 single in Italy (FIMI): Self Control--Raf (7th week at #1)

#1 single in Flanders (VRT Top 30): Dancing with Tears in My Eyes--Ultravox

#1 single in the Netherlands (De Nederlandse Top 40): Two Tribes--Frankie Goes to Hollywood

#1 single in Ireland (IRMA): Two Tribes--Frankie Goes to Hollywood (6th week at #1)

#1 single in the U.K.: Two Tribes--Frankie Goes to Hollywood (8th week at #1)

#1 single in the U.S.A. (Billboard): When Doves Cry--Prince (5th week at #1)

U.S.A. Top 10 (Cash Box)
1 When Doves Cry--Prince (4th week at #1)
2 Ghostbusters--Ray Parker, Jr.
3 State of Shock--The Jacksons with Mick Jagger
4 Dancing in the Dark--Bruce Springsteen
5 What's Love Got to Do with It--Tina Turner
6 Jump (For My Love)--The Pointer Sisters
7 Eyes Without a Face--Billy Idol
8 Infatuation--Rod Stewart
9 Breakin'...There's No Stopping Us--Ollie & Jerry
10 Sad Songs (Say So Much)--Elton John

Singles entering the chart were Let's Go Crazy by Prince and the Revolution (#43); Drive by the Cars (#55); The Lucky One by Laura Branigan (#73); Hard Habit to Break by Chicago (#78); The Only Flame in Town by Elvis Costello and the Attractions (#83); What the Big Girls Do by Van Stephenson (#86); It's a Hard Life by Queen (#87); She Loves My Car by Ronnie Milsap (#88); and Cleanin' Up the Town by the Bus Boys (#90). Let's Go Crazy was from the movie Purple Rain (1984).

Canada's Top 10 (RPM)
1 When Doves Cry--Prince
2 Sister Christian--Night Ranger
3 Ghostbusters--Ray Parker, Jr.
4 Almost Paradise...Love Theme from Footloose--Mike Reno and Ann Wilson
5 Self Control--Laura Branigan
6 Oh Sherrie--Steve Perry
7 Dancing in the Dark--Bruce Springsteen
8 Jump (For My Love)--Pointer Sisters
9 Legs--ZZ Top
10 State of Shock--The Jacksons with Mick Jagger

Singles entering the chart were Two Tribes by Frankie Goes to Hollywood (#51); If This is It by Huey Lewis and the News (#52); The Warrior by Scandal (#53); Lights Out by Peter Wolf (#54); Round and Round by Ratt (#55); Borderline by Madonna (#56); Right by Your Side by Eurythmics (#57); Sexy Girl by Glenn Frey (#58); No Way Out by Jefferson Starship (#59); Mama Weer All Crazee Now by Quiet Riot (#60); Dancing with Tears in My Eyes by Ultravox (#61); Bringin' on the Heartbreak by Def Leppard (#62); Dynamite by Jermaine Jackson (#64); Sad, Sad Rain by Platinum Blonde (#66); Leave a Tender Moment Alone by Billy Joel (#67); My Oh My by Slade (#69); It Ain't Enough by Corey Hart (#71); Big in Japan by Alphaville (#72); Modern Day Delilah by Van Stephenson (#73); The Lebanon by the Human League (#74); Don't Walk Away by Rick Springfield (#75); Beat Street Breakdown by Grandmaster Melle Mel (#77); Take This Heart by Harlequin (#79); Gonna Get Close to You by Dalbello (#83); Must I Always Remember by the Box (#84); Sunshine Reggae by Allen Harris (#87); High Energy by Evelyn Thomas (#89); The Body Electric by Rush (#90); Can't Shake You by Santers (#91); The Ghost in You by the Psychedelic Furs (#92); Would You Miss Me by Sherry Kean (#93); Can't Wait All Night by Juice Newton (#94); Let it Go by Luba (#97); You're the Best Thing by the Style Council (#98); Two Sides of Love by Sammy Hagar (#99); and Turn to You by the Go-Go's (#100). Beat Street Breakdown was from the movie Beat Street (1984).

Politics and government
U.S. President Ronald Reagan said that his Democratic Party challenger, Walter Mondale, planned spending increases that would raise taxes by $1,500 per household. Mr. Reagan said he would propose no personal tax increases if re-elected in order "to keep the economic recovery going."

Football
CFL
Calgary (2-4) 14 @ Montreal (2-3) 28

25 years ago
1989

Hit parade
#1 single in West Germany (Media Control): Das Omen (Teil I)--Mysterious Art (6th week at #1)

Diplomacy
The Sandanista government of Nicaragua reached an agreement with opposition political parties on a plan to demobilize the Contra rebels. The terms included free elections and no curbs on campaigning.

Labour
The United States Labor Department reported that unemployment held steady at 5.2% in July.

Football
CFL
British Columbia (0-4) 38 @ Hamilton (4-0) 44



Baseball
Roberto Kelly doubled with 2 out in the 9th inning to ruin Dave Stieb’s bid for a perfect game, and Mr. Stieb had to hold on to win a 2-1 2-hitter before 48,789 fans at SkyDome. It was the third time in his major league career that Mr. Stieb had lost a no-hitter with just 1 out to go.

20 years ago
1994

Hit parade
#1 single in Finland (Musiikkituottajat – IFPI Finland): 7 Seconds--Youssou N'Dour and Neneh Cherry

Diplomacy
Yugoslavian President Slobodan Milosevic announced that Yugoslavia was ending economic and political relations with the Bosnian Serb republic.

Football
CFL
Winnipeg (3-2) 54 @ Toronto (2-3) 34
Saskatchewan (2-3) 23 @ Edmonton (4-1) 42
Sacramento (3-2) 10 @ British Columbia (4-1) 46

Matt Dunigan threw 5 touchdown passes and Eddie Thomas returned the 2nd-half kickoff 97 yards for a touchdown as the Blue Bombers defeated the Argonauts before 13,407 fans at SkyDome. Mike Kerrigan started at quarterback for Toronto and threw 2 touchdown passes, and Reggie Slack relieved him and threw another 3 TD passes.

Henry "Gizmo" Williams returned a missed field goal 115 yards for a touchdown on the final play of the 1st quarter to open the scoring as the Eskimos went on to beat the Roughriders before 27,633 fans at Commonwealth Stadium.

Kent Austin threw 2 touchdown passes to Mike Trevathan and Sean Millington rushed for 2 more TDs as the Lions routed the Gold Miners before 18,459 fans at B.C. Place Stadium in Vancouver.

10 years ago
2004

Died on this date
Mary Sherman Morgan, 82. U.S. engineer. Mrs. Morgan was a rocket scientist with North American Aviation in the 1940s and '50s who was credited with the invention of the liquid fuel Hydyne in 1957, which powered the Jupiter-C rocket that boosted the United States' first satellite, Explorer 1. She died from emphysema.

Diplomacy
British Defense Secretary Geoff Hoon visited Gibraltar to mark the 300th anniversary of British acquisition of the colony. The Spanish government was upset by Mr. Hoon's action.

Scandal
The Canadian government of Prime Minister Paul Martin announced that it was investigating whether the Israeli spy agency Mossad was using altered Canadian passports to move around the world, after promising in 1997 never to do so again.

Health
Research published in the Canadian Medical Association Journal showed that a deadly bacterium called Clostridium difficile was infecting patients at a hospital in Sherbrooke, Quebec. The "superbug" had already been blamed for at least 80 deaths in Montreal and Calgary.