January 28, 2015

160 years ago
1855

Transportation
The first locomotive with freight and passenger cars passed from sea to sea across the Isthmus of Panama along the 47-mile Panama Railroad.

130 years ago
1885

War
Frederick Charles Denison reached Khartoum with his Canadian Nile Voyageurs too late to rescue British General Charles Gordon, who had been killed two days earlier by Mahdist warriors. 16 Canadians lost their lives in this, Canada's first overseas military expedition.

125 years ago
1890

Born on this date
Robert Stroud. U.S. criminal and ornithologist. Mr. Stroud was a murderer whose death sentence was commuted to life in prison in solitary confinement, first at Leavenworth Penitentiary in Kansas (1920-1942), and then at Alcatraz Federal Penitentiary in California (1942-1959) and Medical Center for Federal Prisoners in Springfield, Missouri (1959-1963). While at Leavenworth, he found a nest with three injured sparrows, and began studying ornithology, eventually writing the book Diseases of Canaries (1933). Mr. Stroud became famous as the "Birdman of Alcatraz," although he was not allowed to keep birds when he was transferred from Leavenworth. Mr. Stroud died on November 21, 1963 at the age of 73.

100 years ago
1915

Music
Maurice Ravel's Piano Trio in A Minor was given its premiere performance.

Defense
An act of the U.S. Congress merged the United States Revenue Cutter Service and the United States Life Saving Service to create the United States Coast Guard as a branch of the United States Armed Forces.

80 years ago
1935

Died on this date
Mikhail Ippolitov-Ivanov, 75. Russian composer. Mr. Ippolitov-Ivanov was best known for Caucasian Sketches (1894; 1896).

Abominations
Iceland became the first Western country to legalize therapeutic abortion.

75 years ago
1940

War
Japanese forces tightened their blockade of Tientsin, China.

Diplomacy
Italian Foreign Minister Count Ciano urged a new anti-Comintern grouping, omitting Germany from the revised agreement.

A Gallup Poll reported that 34% of the American people had given thought to an international peace after the war, and favoured the creation of a new international organization and complete disarmament.

Protest
Riots among pacifists, Communists, and military personnel erupted in Auckland, New Zealand.

Religion
The German government of Fuehrer Adolf Hitler denied Vatican charges of persecution against Polish Catholics and the closing of their churches.

70 years ago
1945

Died on this date
Roza Shanina, 20. U.S.S.R. soldier. Senior Sergeant Shanina was a sniper credited with 59 confirmed kills, including 12 during the Battle of Vilnius in 1944. She was killed in action during the East Prussian offensive while shielding a fellow soldier.

War
In a sudden attack, U.S. troops moved norheast of St. Vith and gained up to 2 miles, while French troops to the south threatened to outflank Colmar. Soviet forces captured Memel in Lithuania and cleared German forces from German-Polish Silesia, areas that produced 20% of Germany's coal supply. U.S. troops in the Philippines took Angeles in the province of Pampanga, 44 air miles northwest of Manila. The first convoy of American supplies from India arrived at Wanting in northern Burma over the newly reopened Burma Road. Japanese troops captured Kukong in the province of Kwangtung, the last Chinese strong point on the Hangkow-Canton railway, thus cutting the eastern section of China to the coast from the rest of the country.

Defense
The 27,000-ton aircraft carrier USS Antietam was commissioned in Philadelphia.

Golf
Sammy Byrd won the Texas Open, finishing 1 stroke ahead of Byron Nelson.

60 years ago
1955

Hit parade
#1 single in the U.K. (New Musical Express): The Finger of Suspicion--Dickie Valentine with the Stargazers (3rd week at #1)

50 years ago
1965

Hit parade
#1 single in the U.K. (Record Retailer): Go Now!--The Moody Blues

Abominations
Alan Beddoe's design of the Flag of Canada was chosen by an act of Parliament. The winning design was chosen from about 2,000 entries.

40 years ago
1975

On television tonight
Be My Valentine, Charlie Brown, on CBS

This was the first broadcast of this Peanuts special. The first Canadian broadcast was on CBC on February 10, 1975.

Politics and government
A motion in the Danish parliament calling for the resignation of Prime Minister Poul Hartling passed 86-85.

Defense
U.S. President Gerald Ford asked Congress for $522 million in added military aid for South Vietnam and Cambodia.

30 years ago
1985

Hit parade
#1 single in Australia (Kent Music Report): Do They Know it's Christmas?--Band Aid (3rd week at #1)

#1 single in Japan (Oricon Singles Chart): You Gotta Chance: Dance de Natsu wo Dakishimete--Kōji Kikkawa (2nd week at #1)

#1 single in Spain (PROMUSICAE): ¿Cómo Pudiste Hacerme Esto a Mí?--Alaska y Dinarama (3rd week at #1)

Music
Various prominent artists performing together as USA for Africa (United Support of Artists for Africa) recorded the song We Are the World to help raise funds for Ethiopian famine relief. The single was the American equivalent of the recent British single Do They Know it's Christmas? by Band Aid.

25 years ago
1990

Hit parade
#1 single in New Zealand (RIANZ): Love Shack--The B-52's (3rd week at #1)

#1 single in Switzerland: Girl I'm Gonna Miss You--Milli Vanilli (9th week at #1)

Austria's Top 10 (Ö3)
1 All Around the World--Lisa Stansfield (4th week at #1)
2 Another Day in Paradise--Phil Collins
3 Listen to Your Heart--Roxette
4 I Feel the Earth Move--Martika
5 Leave a Light On--Belinda Carlisle
6 Don't Know Much--Linda Ronstadt (featuring Aaron Neville)
7 We Didn't Start the Fire--Billy Joel
8 The Road to Hell (Part 2)--Chris Rea
9 Girl I'm Gonna Miss You--Milli Vanilli
10 Bakerman--Laid Back

Singles entering the chart were This is the Right Time by Lisa Stansfield (#23); Easy by Ice MC (#28); and I'm Not the Man I Used to Be by Fine Young Cannibals (#29).

Died on this date
Sandra "Puma" Jones, 36. U.S. singer. Miss Jones was a member of the Jamaican reggae group Black Uhuru from 1979-1987. She died after a long battle with breast cancer.

Protest
Tens of thousands of Romanian pro-democracy demonstrators took to the streets of Bucharest to protest against the interim government of Premier Ion Iliescu.

Football
NFL
Super Bowl XXIV @ Louisiana Superdome, New Orleans
San Francisco 55 Denver 10

Joe Montana completed 22 of 29 passes (including 13 straight completions at one point) for 297 yards and 5 touchdowns in leading the 49ers to their second straight Super Bowl win, which was basically over at halftime, when the 49ers led 27-3 before 72,919 fans (see video). Mr. Montana was the game’s Most Valuable Player. Jerry Rice, who caught 7 passes for 148 yards, was on the receiving end of 3 of Mr. Montana’s touchdown passes, with the others going to Brent Jones and John Taylor. Tom Rathman rushed for 2 touchdowns on short runs, and Roger Craig rushed 1 yard for the game’s final major score. Mike Cofer was successful on 7 of 8 convert attempts. Denver quarterback John Elway scored the Broncos’ only touchdown on a 3-yard run in the third quarter. David Treadwell, who had kicked a 42-yard field goal in the first quarter, converted. Mr. Craig led all rushers with 69 yards, and caught 5 passes for 34. Mr. Rathman rushed for 38 yards and caught 4 passes for 43. Mr. Taylor caught 3 passes for 49 yards and returned 3 punts for 38. The 49ers amassed 461 yards in net offense. Mr. Elway completed just 10 of 26 passes for 108 yards and 2 interceptions. Bobby Humphrey led the Broncos with 61 yards rushing and 38 yards on 3 pass receptions. George Seifert, who had replaced the retired Bill Walsh, won the Super Bowl in his first season as an NFL head coach.

20 years ago
1995

Hit parade
#1 single in Australia (ARIA): Zombie--The Cranberries (7th week at #1)

#1 single in Denmark (Nielsen Music Control & IFPI): Old Pop in an Oak--Rednex (4th week at #1)

#1 single in Flanders (VRT): Zombie--The Cranberries (3rd week at #1)

#1 single in France (SNEP): Can You Feel the Love Tonight--Elton John (9th week at #1)

#1 single in the Netherlands (De Nederlandse Top 40): No Limit--Irene Moors & de Smurfen

#1 single in the U.K. (BMRB): Cotton Eye Joe--Rednex (3rd week at #1)

U.S.A. Top 10 (Billboard)
1 Creep--TLC
2 On Bended Knee--Boyz II Men
3 Another Night--Real McCoy
4 Always--Bon Jovi
5 Take a Bow--Madonna
6 Here Comes the Hotstepper--Ini Kamoze
7 You Gotta Be--Des'ree
8 Before I Let You Go--BLACKstreet
9 Sukiyaki--4 P.M.
10 I'm the Only One--Melissa Etheridge

Singles entering the chart were I Know by Dionne Farris (#61); Everlasting Love by Gloria Estefan (#77); Dreamer by Livin' Joy (#80); Woman to Woman by Jewell (#86); and Hold On by Jamie Walters (#88).

U.S.A. Top 10 (Cash Box)
1 On Bended Knee--Boyz II Men (9th week at #1)
2 Another Night--Real McCoy
3 Take a Bow--Madonna
4 Here Comes the Hotstepper--Ini Kamoze
5 Creep--TLC
6 Always--Bon Jovi
7 You Want This/70's Love Groove--Janet Jackson
8 I Wanna Be Down--Brandy
9 Hold My Hand--Hootie & the Blowfish
10 Every Day of the Week--Jade

Singles entering the chart were Bang and Blame by R.E.M. (#21); Candy Rain by Soul For Real (#69); Whiney, Whiney (What Really Drives Me Crazy) by Willi One Blood (#73); and I Apologize by Anita Baker (#89).

Diplomacy
The U.S.A. and Vietnam agreed to exchange low-level diplomats and open liaison offices in each other's capital city. Vietnam agreed to pay $208.5 million to settle claims on American property confiscated at the end of the Vietnam War in the 1970s, while the U.S. would unfreeze $130 million in Vietnamese assets in the United States.

Hockey
NHL
Toronto 2 Calgary 1

10 years ago
2005

Died on this date
Jim Capaldi, 60. U.K. musician. Mr. Capaldi was a drummer who was best known as a founding member of the group Traffic in the late 1960s. He had some success as a solo artist in the 1970s and '80s, with Love Hurts (1975) being his biggest hit. Mr. Capaldi died of stomach cancer.