November 2, 2014

Born on this date
Happy Birthday, Sil!

275 years ago
1739

Born on this date
Carl Ditters von Dittersdorf. Austrian composer. Born August Carl Ditters, Mr. Ditters von Dittersdorf was a violinist who wrote at least 120 symphonies and numerous concertos for violin or oboe. He died on October 24, 1799, nine days before his 60th birthday.

210 years ago
1804

Politics and government
Voting began in the U.S. Presidential election, in which President Thomas Jefferson, the Democratic-Republican candidate, was running for re-election with vice presidential running mate George Clinton against Federalist Party candidate Charles Pinckney and running mate Rufus King. Voting continued until December 5.

170 years ago
1844

Born on this date
John J. Loud. U.S. inventor. Mr. Loud was trained as a lawyer but worked mainly as a bank cashier. He obtained the first patent for a ballpoint pen in 1888, but eventually let the patent lapse. He also obtained patents for a firecracker cannon and a toy cannon. Mr. Loud died on August 10, 1916 at the age of 71.

Mehmed V. Sultan of the Ottoman Empire, 1909-1918. Mehmed V, a son of Sultan Abdulmejid I, succeeded his half-brother Hamid II on the throne. Sultan Mehmed V's reign was characterized by the loss of territories and the Ottoman Empire's participation in World War I on the side of the Central Powers. Mehmed V died on July 3, 1918 at the age of 73, four months before the end of the war, and was succeeded by his half-brother Mehmed VI, who became the last Sultan of the Ottoman Empire.

125 years ago
1889

Americana
North Dakota and South Dakota entered the union as the 39th and 40th states, respectively.

Football
ORFU
Queen’s University 9 @ Ottawa Rough Riders 11

This was the third challenge to the Rough Riders’ title in 1889.

100 years ago
1914

Born on this date
Johnny Vander Meer. U.S. baseball pitcher. Mr. Vander Meer played with the Cincinnati Reds (1937-1943, 1946-1949); Chicago Cubs 91950); and Cleveland Indians (1951), compiling a record of 119-121 with an earned run average of 3.44. He will forever be remembered for being the first (and so far, only) man to pitch two consecutive no-hitters: June 11, 1938 against the Boston Bees, and June 15, 1938 against the Brooklyn Dodgers. Mr. Vander Meer died on October 6, 1997 at the age of 82.

Ray Walston. U.S. actor. Mr. Walston was best known as the star of the television comedy series My Favorite Martian (1963-1966) and as a member of the cast of the dramatic series Picket Fences (1992-1996). He died on January 1, 2001 at the age of 86.

War
The Russian Empire declared war on the Ottoman Empire, and the Dardanelles were subsequently closed.

Law
With war between the United Kingdom and the Ottoman Empire a virtual certainty, Sir John Maxwell, British military commander in Egypt, imposed martial law in Egypt, declaring that it was intended to supplement rather than supersede the civilian administration. Compensation was to be paid for requisitioned property, and no civilian would be interfered with if he conformed to all orders given by the competent military authorities.

75 years ago
1939

Transportation
The first Trans Canada Airlines (Air Canada) flight arrived at the Maritime terminal in Moncton, New Brunswick.

70 years ago
1944

Died on this date
Thomas Midgley, Jr., 55. U.S. inventor. Mr. Midgley invented ethyl gasoline and was a pioneer researcher in synthetic rubber and chlorofluorocarbons. He was stricken by polio in 1940 and devised an elaborate system of strings and pulleys to help raise him from his bed. He died from accidental strangulation when he became entangled in the ropes.

War
U.S. President Franklin D. Roosevelt said that the advance on Japan was "many months ahead of our own optimistic schedule." U.S. troops on Leyte Island in the Philippines reached to within 6 miles of the Japanese retreat route to Ormoc on the island's west coast.

Defense
The political bureau of the French Communist Party refused "to associate itself in any way" with the government's decision to disarm and dissolve the so-called Patriotic Guard.

Economics and finance
U.S. President Franklin D. Roosevelt asked former Donald Nelson to return to China to organize a War Production Board for that country to increase its war productivity.

60 years ago
1954

On the radio
The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes, starring John Gielgud and Ralph Richardson, on BBC Light Programme
Tonight's episode: A Case of Identity

Football
CRU
ORFU
Bob Celeri, quarterback with the Kitchener-Waterloo Dutchmen, was named the winner of the Imperial Oil Trophy as the most valuable player in the Ontario Rugby Football Union for 1954.

50 years ago
1964

Hit parade
#1 single in Spain (PROMUSICAE): A Hard Day's Night--The Beatles

Canada's Top 10 (RPM)
1 Have I the Right?--The Honeycombs
2 Unless You Care--Terry Black
3 When I Grow Up (To Be a Man)--The Beach Boys
4 We'll Sing in the Sunshine--Gale Garnett
5 Hold Me--P.J. Proby
6 Last Kiss--J. Frank Wilson and the Cavaliers
7 A Summer Song--Chad Stuart and Jeremy Clyde
8 Tobacco Road--The Nashville Teens
9 Leader of the Pack--The Shangri-Las
10 Let it Be Me--Betty Everett & Jerry Butler

Died on this date
José Ramón Guizado, 65. 17th President of Panama, 1955. Mr. Guizado, a member of the National Patriotic Coalition (CNP), was Vice President under Arnulfo Arias (1949-1951); Alcibíades Arosemena (1951-1952); and José Antonio Remón (1952-1955). When Mr. Remón was assassinated on January 2, 1955, Mr. Guizado succeeded him as President, serving until March 29, 1955. He died 18 days after his 65th birthday.

Politics and government
King Saud of Saudi Arabia was deposed by a family coup and replaced by his half-brother Faisal.

40 years ago
1974

Hit parade
#1 single in the Netherlands (Veronica Top 40): Kung Fu Fighting--Carl Douglas (4th week at #1)

#1 single in the U.K.: Everything I Own--Ken Boothe (2nd week at #1)

#1 single in the U.S.A. (Billboard): You Haven't Done Nothin'--Stevie Wonder

U.S.A. Top 10 (Cash Box)
1 You Haven't Done Nothin'--Stevie Wonder
2 Jazzman--Carole King
3 Whatever Gets You Thru the Night--John Lennon with the Plastic Ono Nuclear Band
4 You Ain't Seen Nothing Yet--Bachman-Turner Overdrive
5 Can't Get Enough--Bad Company
6 The Bitch is Back--Elton John
7 Stop and Smell the Roses--Mac Davis
8 Love Me for a Reason--The Osmonds
9 Tin Man--America
10 I Honestly Love You--Olivia Newton-John

Singles entering the chart were You're the First, the Last, My Everything by Barry White (#70); Black Lassie (Featuring Johnny Stash) by Cheech & Chong (#73); Must of Got Lost by J. Geils Band (#85); I'll Be Your Everything by Percy Sledge (#92); Never Can Say Goodbye by Gloria Gaynor (#98); Shoe Shoe Shine by the Dynamic Superiors (#99); and Funky President (People it’s Bad) by James Brown (#100).

Canada's Top 10 (RPM)
1 The Bitch is Back--Elton John
2 You Haven't Done Nothin'--Stevie Wonder
3 Can't Get Enough--Bad Company
4 You Ain't Seen Nothing Yet--Bachman-Turner Overdrive
5 Jazzman--Carole King
6 I Honestly Love You--Olivia Newton-John
7 Stop and Smell the Roses--Mac Davis
8 Never My Love--Blue Swede
9 Straight Shootin' Woman--Steppenwolf
10 Life is a Rock (But the Radio Rolled Me)--Reunion

Singles entering the chart were It's Midnight by Elvis Presley (#81); Fire, Baby I'm on Fire by Andy Kim (#87); Laughter in the Rain by Neil Sedaka (#89); Crazy Talk by Chilliwack (#91); Give Me a Reason to Be Gone by Maureen McGovern (#92); Don't Eat the Yellow Snow by Frank Zappa (#93); Doraville by Atlanta Rhythm Section (#95); Woman to Woman by Shirley Brown (#96); Let's Straighten it Out by Latimore (#97); Kissin' in the Back Row of the Movies by the Drifters (#98); Candy Baby by Strongheart (#99); and Kung Fu Fighting by Carl Douglas (#100). It's Midnight was the B-side of Promised Land, which had entered the chart the previous week at #99.

Calgary's Top 10
1 You Ain't Seen Nothing Yet--Bachman-Turner Overdrive (2nd week at #1)
2 Jazzman--Carole King
3 Tin Man--America
4 Can't Get Enough--Bad Company
5 Steppin' Out (Gonna Boogie Tonight)--Tony Orlando and Dawn
6 It's Only Rock and Roll (But I Like It)--Rolling Stones
7 Sideshow--Blue Magic
8 I Honestly Love You--Olivia Newton-John
9 Carefree Highway--Gordon Lightfoot
10 Tell Me Something Good--Rufus
Pick hit of the week: So You are a Star--The Hudson Brothers

Disasters
78 people in Seoul died when the Time Go-Go Club burned down. Six of the victims jumped to their deaths from the seventh floor after a club official barred the doors after the fire started.

Hockey
NHL
Just three days after acquiring veteran defenceman Rod Seiling on waivers from the New York Rangers, the Washington Capitals traded him to the Toronto Maple Leafs for left wing Tim Ecclestone and defenseman Willie Brossart. Mr. Seiling had played 1 game for the Capitals, not scoring any points. Mr. Ecclestone had scored 1 goal and 1 assist in 5 games in 1974-75, while Mr. Brossart had failed to score a point in 4 games with Toronto in 1974-75.

Football
CFL
Ottawa (7-9) 20 @ Montreal (9-5-2) 27
Edmonton (10-5-1) 15 @ British Columbia (8-8) 7

Sonny Wade's 75-yard touchdown pass to Larry Sherrer with 1:05 remaining in the game broke a 20-20 tie and gave the Alouettes their victory over the Rough Riders before 16,311 fans at Autostade.

Bruce Lemmerman handed off to Joe Moore for a touchdown and passed to Larry Highbaugh for another TD as the Eskimos beat the Lions before 22,730 fans at Empire Stadium in Vancouver. Mr. Moore rushed 17 times for 67 yards and caught 1 pass for 1 yard in his only CFL game as he became the only player (so far) to score a touchdown in every game he played in an Edmonton uniform. Despite playing in just one CFL game, Mr. Moore gained a measure of "immortality," as a stylized negative view of his touchdown run was used in the opening for the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation's CFL telecasts in 1975. This was the last game for Edmonton defensive tackle John LaGrone, who was in his eighth season with the team.

CIAU
Saskatchewan 29 @ Manitoba 24
Alberta (4-2) 46 @ British Columbia (0-7) 0

The Golden Bears rushed for 397 yards and passed for 296 more as they routed the Thunderbirds at Thunderbird Stadium in Vancouver. Jack Raymond caught 2 touchdown passes and Brian Fryer caught another, while Dalton Smarsh and Brian Adam rushed for touchdowns.

30 years ago
1984

Hit parade
#1 single in New Zealand (RIANZ): I Just Called to Say I Love You--Stevie Wonder (4th week at #1)

#1 single in West Germany (Media Control): I Just Called to Say I Love You--Stevie Wonder (6th week at #1)

#1 single in Sweden (Topplistan): I Just Called to Say I Love You--Stevie Wonder (8th week at #1)

Died on this date
Velma Barfield, 52. U.S. murderess. Mrs. Barfield, who was convicted of one murder but eventually confessed to six, became the first woman in the United States to be executed by lethal injection, and the first woman to be executed in the U.S. since 1962. She was put to death at Central Prison in North Carolina.

Football
CIAU
Manitoba (0-8) 6 @ Calgary (7-1) 64

25 years ago
1989

Hit parade
#1 single in Finland (Finnish Singles Chart): Lambada--Kaoma (2nd week at #1)

#1 single in Ireland (IRMA): Swing the Mood Again--Various Artists (3rd week at #1)

Diplomacy
The Farabundo Marti National Liberation Front (FMLN) pulled out of peace talks with the government of El Salvador after 10 were killed in the bombing of a labour federation headquarters.

Journalism
The Los Angeles Herald-Examiner ceased publication. The Examiner, a morning paper founded by William Randolph Hearst in 1903, merged with the Herald-Express, an afternoon paper, in 1962 to form the Herald-Examiner. A strike of Herald-Examiner employees that began in December 1967 lasted more than nine years, and the paper never recovered.

20 years ago
1994

Economics and finance
The United States Commerce Department reported that the Index of Leading Economic Indicators had remained unchanged in September.

10 years ago
2004

Died on this date
Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, 86. Emir of Abu Dhabi, 1966-2004; 1st President of United Arab Emirates, 1971-2004. Sheikh Zayed, the son and grandson of Emirs of Abu Dhabi, took power in 1966 in a bloodless coup that ousted his older brother Sheikh Shakhbut bin Sultan Al Nahyan. Sheikh Zayed was the principal force behind the creation of the United Arab Emirates in 1971. He was succeeded as Emir of Abu Dhabi and UAE President by his son Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan.

Theo van Gogh, 47. Dutch film director. Mr. van Gogh, a descendant of painter Vincent van Gogh, directed the short film Submission (2004), which criticized the treatment of women in Islam. Mr. van Gogh was cycling to work in Amsterdam when he was shot to death by a Muslim named Mohammed Bouyeri.

Politics and government
U.S. President George W. Bush and Vice President Dick Cheney were re-elected, with Mr. Bush taking 286 electoral votes (50.7% of the popular vote) to 251 electoral votes (48.3%) to Democratic Party candidate John Kerry. One "faithless" elector cast a presidential vote for U.S. Senator John Edwards, who was Mr. Kerry's vice-presidential running mate. Mr. Bush's margin of victory was the smallest ever for an incumbent president who was re-elected.