May 15, 2015

130 years ago
1885

War
The North-West Rebellion in the Northwest Territories ended when rebel leader Louis Riel surrendered to Canadian government forces commanded by Frederick Dobson Middleton. The rebellion lasted 100 days, resulting in 80 fatalities on each side, and costing the government of Canada over $5 million.

125 years ago
1890

Born on this date
Ben Spencer. U.S. baseball player. Mr. Spencer played left field with the Washington Nationals (1913), batting .286 with no home runs and 2 runs batted in in 8 games. He died on September 1, 1970 at the age of 80. Mr. Spencer's grandson Jim Spencer was a major league first baseman from 1968-1982.

Katherine Anne Porter. U.S. author. Miss Porter, born Callie Russel Porter, won a Pulitzer Prize and a National Book Award for The Collected Stories of Katherine Anne Porter (1965), but is best known for her only novel, Ship of Fools (1962). She died on September 18, 1980 at the age of 90.

120 years ago
1895

Born on this date
William D. Byron. U.S. politician. Mr. Byron, a Democrat, served in local and state politics in Maryland before representing Maryland's 6th District in the United States House of Representatives from 1939 until his death on February 27, 1941 at the age of 45 as one of the passengers of Eastern Air Lines Flight 21 when the Douglas DC-3 crashed while preparing to land in Atlanta.

Prescott Bush. U.S. politician. Mr. Bush was a Wall Street banker who represented Connecticut in the United States Senate from 1952-1963. He took a liberal stand on population control and was involved with the American Birth Control League and Planned Parenthood. Mr. Bush disapproved of Senator Joseph McCarthy's attempts to expose Communists in the U.S. government, and was one of the majority of 67 Senators who voted to censure Mr. McCarthy in 1954. Mr. Bush was the father of George H.W. Bush (President of the United States from 1989-1993) and the grandfather of George W. Bush (President of the United States from 2001-2009). Prescott Bush died on October 8, 1972 at the age of 77.

110 years ago
1905

Americana
Las Vegas was founded when 110 acres (0.45 square kilometres), in what later would become downtown, were auctioned off.

100 years ago
1915

Born on this date
Paul Samuelson. U.S. economist. Dr. Samuelson wrote Economics: An Introductory Analysis (1948), the best-selling economics textbook in history. He became the first American to be awarded the Nobel Prize in Economic Sciences, winning in 1970 "for the scientific work through which he has developed static and dynamic economic theory and actively contributed to raising the level of analysis in economic science." Dr. Samuelson died on December 13, 2009 at the age of 94.

Baseball
Claude Hendrix pitched a no-hitter and had 2 hits of his own for the Chicago Whales as they blanked the Pittsburgh Rebels 10-0 in a Federal League game at Exposition Park in Pittsburgh.

90 years ago
1925

Journalism
Al-Insaniyyah, the first Arabic communist newspaper, was founded by Yusuf Ibrahim Yazbak, general secretary of the Lebanese People's Party (the public front organization of the Syrian-Lebanese Communist Party). It circulated in Lebanon and Syria.

80 years ago
1935

At the movies
The Headline Woman, directed by William Nigh, and starring Heather Angel and Roger Pryor, opened in theatres.



Transportation
The Moscow Metro was opened to the public.

Baseball
Lloyd Waner hit 3 singles and scored 5 runs as the Pittsburgh Pirates whipped the Philadelphia Phillies 20-5 at National League Park in Philadelphia. Pittsburgh shortstop Arky Vaughan hit a home run and a double and drove in 6 runs.

75 years ago
1940

Space
Professor Albert Einstein told the American Scientific Congress that man was capable of solving the riddle of the universe's origin.

War
The official capitulation of the Netherlands army to German forces was signed at 11 A.M. German forces in France advanced south and west of Sedan. The French Ninth Army was routed by German forces along a 50-mile front from Philippevilleto Liart. German forces captured Stonne.

Diplomacy
British Prime Minister Winston Churchill flew to Paris for talks with French Prime Minister Paul Reynaud after Mr. Reynaud telephoned him and told him the battle was lost.

Politics and government
The Supreme Court of Canada declared the Communist Party of Canada illegal in an attempt to curb fifth column activities.

U.S. Vice President John Nance "Cactus Jack" Garner claimed that he had no interest in being a candidate for the vice presidency again, saying that President Franklin D. Roosevelt would win the 1940 Democratic Party presidential nomination.

Defense
The United States Navy submarine USS Sailfish, originally the USS Squalus, was recommissioned.

Terrorism
Colombia's oil pipelines were destroyed, allegedly by German fifth columnists in the country.

Labour
In an unprecedented move, the United States House of Representatives Immigration Commitee approved a bill to deport International Longshore and Warehouse Union (ILWU) President Harry Bridges to his native Australia.

Technology
Nylon stockings, introduced by Du Pont Corporation, went on sale in the United States for the first time at Gimbels Department Store in New York City for $1.35 per pair.

Business
The first McDonald's restaurant, "McDonald's Bar-B-Q," opened at 1398 North E Street at West 14th Street in San Bernardino, California. The restaurant had 25 menu items, mostly barbecue.

70 years ago
1945

Died on this date
F.W. Ricketts aka Kenneth J. Alford, 64. U.K. bandleader and composer. Mr. Ricketts, who composed under the name Kenneth J. Alford, was a British Army Bandmaster who was known as the "British March King." His best-known works were The Colonel Bogey March (1914) and The Voice of the Guns (1917).

War
The Battle of Poljana, the final World War II skirmish in Europe, was fought near Prevalje, Slovenia between Yugoslavian partisans and a large retreating Axis column of more than 30,000 men.

U.S. Marines captured Chocolate Drop Hill after a five-day struggle on Okinawa's southern front. U.S. forces in the Philippines took Balete Pass in northern Luzon, gaining the only road entrance to the Cagayan Valley, where the main Japanese forces were concentrated. Chinese troops in Foochow were forced out in the face of large Japanese reinforcements.

World events
The U.S.S.R. reported that Soviet troops had found former Nazi Propaganda Minister Josef Goebbels and his family dead from suicide in bunkers beneath the Tiergarten in Berlin.

Politics and government
Yugoslavian partisans established their own military government in Klagenfurt, capital of the province of Carinthia, Austria, side by side with the British military government.

Defense
U.S. President Harry Truman proposed that a postwar security treaty be negotiated for all American republics.

Energy
U.S. President Harry Truman said that the United States government would take whatever steps were necessary to obtain coal, as Interior Secretary Harold Ickes pressed for an agreement between coal operators and miners.

Horse racing
Santa Anita racetrack in Arcadia, California reopened after a long wartime idleness.

60 years ago
1955

Baseball
The Boston Red Sox and Detroit Tigers split a doubleheader before 28,752 fans at Fenway Park in Boston. Boston first baseman Harry Agganis batted 2 for 5 with a double, triple, run, and 3 runs batted in as the Red Sox won the first game 10-4. Harvey Kuenn batted 4 for 6 and Ferris Fain batted 3 for 4 with a double, home run, 3 runs, and 3 runs batted in as the Tigers won the second game 9-3. Mr. Agganis batted 3 for 5 with a double and a run, but complained after the doubleheader of severe pain in his right side, and was coughing heavily. He was taken to hospital and diagnosed with pneumonia of the right lung.

50 years ago
1965

Hit parade
#1 single in Australia (Kent Music Report): Ticket to Ride/Yes It Is--The Beatles (3rd week at #1)

#1 single in France: La Nuit--Salvatore Adamo (6th week at #1)

#1 single in Italy (FIMI): Un anno d'amore--Mina (7th week at #1)

#1 single in West Germany (Media Control): Downtown--Petula Clark (8th week at #1)

#1 single in the Netherlands (De Nederlandse Top 40): Ticket to Ride--The Beatles (2nd week at #1)

#1 single in the U.K. (New Musical Express): Ticket to Ride--The Beatles (5th week at #1)

#1 single in the U.S.A. (Billboard): Mrs. Brown You've Got a Lovely Daughter--Herman's Hermits (3rd week at #1)

U.S.A. Top 10 (Cash Box)
1 Mrs. Brown You've Got a Lovely Daughter--Herman's Hermits (3rd week at #1)
2 Ticket to Ride--The Beatles
3 Count Me In--Gary Lewis and the Playboys
4 I'll Never Find Another You--The Seekers
5 Silhouettes--Herman's Hermits
6 I Know a Place--Petula Clark
7 Game of Love--Wayne Fontana and the Mindbenders
8 Help Me, Rhonda--The Beach Boys
9 Cast Your Fate to the Wind--Sounds Orchestral
10 Wooly Bully--Sam the Sham and the Pharaohs

Singles entering the chart were I Can't Help Myself (Sugar Pie, Honey Bunch) by the Four Tops (#74); I've Been Loving You Too Long (To Stop Now) by Otis Redding (#78); Tears Keep on Falling by Jerry Vale (#87); Here Comes the Night by Them (#88); Bring it on Home to Me by the Animals (#91); Soul Sauce (Guacha Guaro) by Cal Tjader (#92); Then I'll Count Again by Johnny Tillotson (#93); You Turn Me On (Turn On Song) by Ian Whitcomb and Bluesville (#94); You Can Have Her by the Righteous Brothers (#96); Yes, I'm Ready by Barbara Mason (#97); Before and After by Chad & Jeremy (#98); It's Wonderful to Be in Love by the Ovations (#99); and It's Almost Tomorrow by Jimmy Velvet (#100).

Communications
New Zealand inaugurated the North-South Islands undersea cable, 354 miles across Cook Strait.

40 years ago
1975

Hit parade
#1 single in Ireland (IRMA): Oh Boy--Mud (2nd week at #1)

Died on this date
Johnny Gooch, 77. U.S. baseball player. Mr. Gooch was a catcher with the Pittsburgh Pirates (1921-1928); Brooklyn Robins (1928-1929); Cincinnati Reds (1929-1930); and Boston Red Sox (1933), batting .280 with 7 home runs and 293 runs batted in in 805 games. He was a member of the Pirates' World Series championship team in 1925 and their National League championship team in 1927.

Politics and government
Jeno Fock resigned "for health reasons" after eight years as Prime Minister of Hungary, and was replaced by economic planner Gyorgy Lazar.

Hockey
NHL
Stanley Cup
Finals
Buffalo 1 @ Philadelphia 4 (Philadelphia led best-of-seven series 1-0)

Bill Barber scored 2 goals and Ross Lonsberry and Bobby Clarke also scored as the Flyers beat the Sabres before 17,007 fans at the Spectrum in a game in which all the scoring came in the 3rd period. Buffalo outshot Philadelphia 22-10 in the first 2 periods, but were unable to score on Philadelphia goalie Bernie Parent. Mr. Barber opened the scoring with 16:18 remaining in regulation time, and Mr. Lonsberry scored the eventual winning goal with 12:31 remaining. Rick Martin scored the only Buffalo goal with 8:53 remaining, but Mr. Clarke restored the Flyers' 2-goal lead 34 seconds later. Mr. Barber scored his second goal into an empty net with 58 seconds left in the game.

Basketball
ABA
Dave DeBusschere, 34, a former star with the New York Knickerbockers of the National Basketball Association and current general manager of the New York Nets of the ABA, was named Commissioner of the American Basketball Association.

Finals
Indiana 93 @ Kentucky 95 (Kentucky led best-of-seven series 2-0)

What appeared to be a 45-foot 3-point field goal at the final buzzer by Indiana's Billy Keller was disallowed by referee Ed Rush, leaving the Colonels with the win over the Pacers before 13,212 fans at Freedom Hall in Louisville. Kentucky had broken a 93-93 tie with 2 or 3 seonds remaining--the time was in dispute--on a field goal by Artis Gilmore. Indiana general manager John Weissert officially protested the result after reviewing tapes of the final shot. Indiana's George McGinnis led all scorers with 30 points, while Dan Issel led Kentucky with 22 points.

Baseball
The Atlanta Braves traded catcher Jim Essian, acquired eight days earlier from the Philadelphia Phillies as part of the trade for first baseman Dick Allen, to the Chicago White Sox along with cash to complete the deal of December 3, 1974 in which the White Sox had traded Mr. Allen to Atlanta. Mr. Essian had not played since joining the Braves.

The Atlanta Braves were leading the Montreal Expos 4-1 with Montreal's Bob Bailey on first base and none out in the bottom of the 4th inning at Jarry Park in Montreal, when play was stopped because of rain. The game was called after a one-hour delay, prompting Atlanta manager Clyde King to officially protest the decision on the grounds that umpire Chris Pelekoudas hadn't waited the mandatory 1 hour and 15 minutes before calling the game, and hadn't physically tested the field. The protest was upheld, and play resumed on July 20 at the same point in the game, but with a different crew of umpires.

Pinch hitter Ollie Brown hit a 3-run home run with 2 out in the bottom of the 9th inning to give the Philadelphia Phillies a 6-3 win over the Cincinnati Reds in the first game of a twi-night doubleheader before 24,038 fans at Veterans Stadium in Philadelphia. The Phillies completed the sweep with a 5-3 win in the second game. Philadelphia shortstop Larry Bowa had 4 singles in as many at bats in the second game, but no runs scored or batted in.

In the completion of a suspended game from May 14, Jackie Brown hit Don Money with a pitch with the bases loaded and 2 out in the top of the 15th inning, forcing pinch runner Rob Ellis home with the winning run as the Milwaukee Brewers edged the Texas Rangers 3-2 in 15 innings before 12,090 fans at Arlington Stadium. The game had been suspended by a curfew after 14 innings. In the regularly scheduled game, Hank Aaron drove in 4 runs with a 3-run home run and a sacrifice fly to lead the Brewers to an 8-5 win before 22,823 fans.

Steve Busby (6-2) pitched a 4-hit shutout to win a pitchers' duel against Luis Tiant (3-5) as the Kansas City Royals blanked the Boston Red Sox 3-0 before 10,300 fans at Fenway Park in Boston.

The Minnesota Twins blew a 6-2 lead but recovered to defeat the Cleveland Indians 7-6 before 5,531 fans at Metropolitan Stadium in Bloomington when Rod Carew singled home pinch runner Dan Ford with 2 out in the bottom of the 9th inning.

In the annual Mayor's Trophy exhibition game, the New York Yankees scored 6 runs in the 7th inning off relief pitcher Randy Tate to take a 9-0 lead as they defeated the New York Mets 9-4 before 26,427 fans at Shea Stadium. Yankee first baseman Chris Chambliss had 2 singles and drove in 4 runs. George Stone, who had been on the Mets' disabled list since August 10, 1974 because of a strained left shoulder, pitched the first 6 innings, allowing 4 hits and 3 runs in taking the loss. Mike Wallace started on the mound for the Yankees, pitched 2 innings, and was followed by Bob Johnson, who pitched 3 scoreless innings after being called up from the Syracuse Chiefs of the AAA International League, and was credited with the win in his only appearance in a Yankee uniform. Dave Pagan pitched the next 2 innings, and Ken Clay, called up from the West Haven Yankees of the AA Eastern League, allowed all 4 Met runs in the 8th inning before pitching a scoreless 9th.



25 years ago
1990

On television tonight
The Wonder Years, on ABC
Tonight's episode: Moving

This was the last episode of the season.

World events
Communist rebels claimed responsibility for the shooting deaths of two American airmen near Clark Air Force Base in the Philippines two days earlier. Negotiations between the U.S. and the Philippines on the future of U.S. bases in the country had begun in Manila on May 14.

Protest
Demonstrators supporting unity with the U.S.S.R., believed to be mostly ethnic Russians, stormed the parliament buildings in Latvia and Estonia.

Terrorism
A U.S. presidential commission issued a report on the December 1988 of a Pan American jetliner over Lockerbie, Scotland that had killed all 259 people aboard and 11 more on the ground. The commission said that it was not certain how the bomb was smuggled aboard the plane, but cited evidence that it was an unaccompanied suitcase loaded in Frankfurt, West Germany. The report said that the security system for U.S. civil aviation "is seriously flawed and has failed to provide the proper level of protection to the traveling public." The commission called for greatly increased security at U.S. airports, the creation of the post of assistant secretary of transportation for security and intelligence, and establishment of a national system for warning passengers of credible threats against airlines or flights.

Art
A record price for a painting sold at auction was set at Christie’s in New York City when Ryoei Saito, a Japanese businessman, paid $82.5 million (including Christie’s commission) for Vincent van Gogh’s Portrait of Dr. Gachet.

Economics and finance
U.S. President George Bush, leaders of his administration, and Congressional leaders began a budget summit at the White House amid concern about the growing national budget deficit. Administration estimates for the 1991 fiscal budget deficit had jumped from $101 billion to at least $123 billion.

Hockey
NHL
Stanley Cup
Finals
Edmonton 3 @ Boston 2 (3 OT) (Edmonton led best-of-seven series 1-0)

Petr Klima, who had spent most of the game sitting on the bench, scored the winning goal at 15:13 of the 3rd overtime period at Boston Garden, ending the longest game in finals history. The game ended 5 hours and 32 minutes after it started.



20 years ago
1995

Hit parade
#1 single in Italy: Missing--Everything but the Girl (2nd week at #1)

#1 single in Spain (PROMUSICAE): Scatman (Ski Ba Bop Ba Dop Bop)--Scatman John (5th week at #1)

#1 single in Norway (VG-lista): Wish You were Here--Rednex (2nd week at #1)

#1 single in Germany (Media Control): Back for Good--Take That (3rd week at #1)

Canada's Top 10 (RPM)
1 No More "I Love You's"--Annie Lennox
2 Have You Ever Really Loved a Woman?--Bryan Adams
3 Lightning Crashes--Live
4 Believe--Elton John
5 Can't Stop Lovin' You--Van Halen
6 I Know--Dionne Farris
7 You Lose You Gain--John Bottomley
8 Let Her Cry--Hootie & the Blowfish
9 Wonderdrug--Jann Arden
10 Gel--Collective Soul

Singles entering the chart were Good by Better than Ezra (#76); Army of Me by Bjork (#78); Circles by Rainbow Butt Monkeys (#81); Ol' 55 by Sarah McLachlan (#89); and Macarena by Los Del Rio (#96).

10 years ago
2005

Hockey
IIHF World Men's Championship
Final @ Wiener Stadthalle, Vienna
Czech Republic 3 Canada 0

Václav Prospal's goal at 4:13 of the 1st period held up as the winner for the Czech Republic as they shut out Canada before 7,999 fans to win their fifth world championship. Martin Ručinský scored at 3:12 of the 3rd period, and Josef Vašíček scored into an empty net with 53 seconds remaining. Tomáš Vokoun made 27 saves to get the shutout in goal, while Canadian goalie Martin Brodeur made 26 saves.