May 22, 2015

175 years ago
1840

Law
The transportation of British convicts to New South Wales was abolished.

100 years ago
1915

Americana
Lassen Peak in northern California erupted with a powerful force, spreading volcanic ash as far as 200 miles to the east. It was the only mountain other than Mount St. Helens to erupt in the contiguous United States during the 20th century.

Disasters
Three trains collided in the Quintinshill rail disaster near Gretna Green, Scotland, killing 227 people and injuring 246. The accident was found to be the result of non-standard operating practices during a shift change at a busy junction.

75 years ago
1940

War
British Prime Minister Winston Churchill conferred in Paris with French Prime Minister Paul Reynaud and French commander-in-chief General Maxim Weygand. German General Heinz Guderian's panzers reached the outskirts of Boulogne and Calais on the Channel coast of France. A French counterattack toward Cambrai was repulsed.

Diplomacy
German Ambassador to Japan Eugen Ott informed Japanese Foreign Minister Hachirō Arita that Germany was not interested in the Netherlands East Indies.

Politics and government
C.G. "Chubby" Power was named Air Minister in the Canadian cabinet of Prime Minister Mackenzie King.

U.S. President Franklin D. Roosevelt evaded former Republican Party presidential candidate Alf Landon's request that he refuse a third term as President as a price for Republican cooperation in an emergency cabinet.

Defense
The United States Senate approved and sent to the House of Commons a $1.823-billion defense appropriation bill.

U.S. Senator James Byrnes (Democrat--South Carolina) accused famed aviator Colonel Charles Lindbergh of fifth column activities.

Economics and finance
The British Parliament extended the Emergency Powers Defense Bill, putting the U.K.'s war industries under direct government contract.

Health
The American Medical Association's Council on Foods gave its first seal of approval to the Birdseye Corporation for its quick frozen foods.

70 years ago
1945

War
The Canadian government of Prime Minister Mackenzie King announced that Japanese incendiary "balloon bombs" designed to start forest fires had been found in western Canada. The U.S. Selective Service announced that a 25% reduction in manpower needs of the armed services and a need for younger men would enable local boards to grant indefinite deferments to men over 30 in essential jobs. U.S. troops entered the ruins of Yonabaru on Okinawa as Japanese forces had apparently abandoned the town. Chinese troops fanning out from captured Hochih drove 21 miles into the Japanese corridor above French Indochina.

Defense
In what was originally Operation Overcast but became known as Operation Paperclip, United States Army Major Robert B. Staver recommended that the U.S. evacuate German scientists and engineers to help in the development of rocket technology.

Politics and government
British Prime Minister Winston Churchill said that the conditions for a coalition cabinet no longer existed.

The United States Senate Appropriations Committee approved a recent House of Representatives bill to grant $2,500 annually in tax-free expenditure money for Congressmen.

Diplomacy
U.S. Ambassador to Argentina Spruille Braden said it was necessity and not choice that forced the United States to recognize the current Argentine government.

Americana
The U.S. Census Bureau estimated that the population of the United States was 138,955,469 as of January 1, 1945.

50 years ago
1965

Hit parade
#1 single in Australia (Kent Music Report): Mrs. Brown You've Got a Lovely Daughter--Herman's Hermits

#1 single in France: La Nuit--Salvatore Adamo (7th week at #1)

#1 single in Italy (FIMI): Un anno d'amore--Mina (8th week at #1)

#1 single in West Germany (Media Control): The Last Time--The Rolling Stones

#1 single in the Netherlands (De Nederlandse Top 40): Ticket to Ride--The Beatles (3rd week at #1)

#1 single in the U.K. (New Musical Express): Where Are You Now (My Love)--Jackie Trent

#1 single in the U.S.A. (Billboard): Ticket to Ride--The Beatles

U.S.A. Top 10 (Cash Box)
1 Mrs. Brown You've Got a Lovely Daughter--Herman's Hermits (4th week at #1)
2 Ticket to Ride--The Beatles
3 Help Me, Rhonda--The Beach Boys
4 Count Me In--Gary Lewis and the Playboys
5 Silhouettes--Herman's Hermits
6 I'll Never Find Another You--The Seekers
7 Back in My Arms Again--The Supremes
8 Wooly Bully--Sam the Sham and the Pharaohs
9 Crying in the Chapel--Elvis Presley
10 Just Once in My Life--The Righteous Brothers

Singles entering the chart were (Remember Me) I'm the One Who Loves You by Dean Martin (#74); I Do by the Marvelows (#85); Laurie (Strange Things Happen) by Dickey Lee (#87); Too Many Rivers (#88)/No One (#95) by Brenda Lee; What the World Needs Now is Love by Jackie DeShannon (#94); Oo Wee Baby, I Love You by Fred Hughes (#97); Let Me Cry on Your Shoulder by Georgia Gibbs (#98); Break Up by Del Shannon (#99); and I'll Be with You in Apple Blossom Time by Wayne Newton (#100).

40 years ago
1975

Hit parade
#1 single in Ireland (IRMA): Oh Boy--Mud (3rd week at #1)

Died on this date
Lefty Grove, 75. U.S. baseball pitcher. Robert Moses Grove was one of the greatest pitchers in history, playing with the Philadelphia Athletics (1925-1933) and Boston Red Sox (1934-1941), compiling a record of 300-141. He began his professional career in 1920 with the Martinsburg Mountaineers of the Class D Blue Ridge League, compiling a record of 3-3 in 6 games before joining the Baltimore Orioles of the International League. From 1920-1924, Mr. Grove compiled a 108-36 record as the Orioles won the IL pennant every year. The Orioles weren't a farm team of any major league team in those days, and Baltimore owner Jack Dunn was reluctant to sell his players to major league clubs. Mr. Dunn finally agreed to sell Mr. Grove's contract to the Athletics for the then-record price of $100,600. Mr. Grove became the ace of the staff that helped the Athletics win American League pennants from 1929-1931, winning World Series championships in 1929 and 1930. Mr. Grove's best season may have been 1931, when he was 31-4. In addition to his pitching excellence, Mr. Grove was known for his fiery temper, and intimidated teammates and opponents alike. He led the American League in earned run average for a record 9 seasons, and led the AL in strikeouts for 7 straight seasons. Mr. Grove was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1947, his first year of eligibility.

Ron Copeland, 28. U.S. football player. Mr. Copeland was a track star who also played wide receiver with the University of California at Los Angeles Bruins in the late 1960s, and played with the Chicago Bears in 1969. He was an assistant football and track coach at Mount San Antonio College in Walnut, California when he died of a heart attack after running a challenge race with a member of the track team.

Politics and government
Former Progressive Conservative MPP Arthur Maloney was appointed the first Ombudsman of Ontario.

Hockey
NHL
Stanley Cup
Finals
Philadelphia 2 @ Buffalo 4 (Best-of-seven series tied 2-2)

Jerry Korab, Gilbert Perreault, and Jim Lorentz scored in the 2nd period as the Sabres defeated the Flyers before 15,863 fans at War Memorial Auditorium. Andre Dupont scored in the 1st period to give Philadelphia a 1-0 lead, but Mr. Korab scored to tie the game at 3:46 of the 2nd period. Ross Lonsberry scored 34 seconds later to give the Flyers a 2-1 lead, but Mr. Perreault scored at 10:07 and Mr. Lorentz at 15:07 to put the Sabres ahead. With Philadelphia goalie Bernie Parent on the bench for an extra attacker, Danny Gare scored into an empty net with 32 seconds remaining in regulation time. Buffalo goalie Gerry Desjardins made 23 saves, as did Mr. Parent.

Basketball
ABA
Finals
Indiana 105 @ Kentucky 110 (Kentucky won best-of-seven series 4-1)

Artis Gilmore scored 28 points and six of his teammates scored in double figures as the Colonels defeated the Pacers before 16,622 fans at Freedom Hall in Louisville for their only American Basketball Association championship. Kentucky led 108-99 with 58 seconds remaining in regulation time, but the Pacers mounted a furious comeback, reducing the deficit to 108-105 with 16 seconds left, until a foul by Lenny Elmore allowed Mr. Gilmore to sink 2 free throws to put the game away. Indiana rookie Billy Knight led all scorers with 40 points, and teammate George McGinnis added 31.









30 years ago
1985

At the movies
A View to a Kill, starring Roger Moore in his final performance as James Bond, received its world premiere screening at the Palace of Fine Arts in San Francisco.



Baseball
Pinch hitter Brian Dayett his only home run of the season--a grand slam off Tom Browning in the 6th inning--to help the Chicago Cubs to a 7-4 win over the Cincinnati Reds before 27,863 fans at Wrigley Field in Chicago. Dennis Eckersley was the winning pitcher.

25 years ago
1990

Died on this date
Rocky Graziano, 71. U.S. boxer. Mr. Graziano, born Thomas Rocco Barbella, was world middleweight champion from 1947-1948. His three title fights against Tony Zale were regarded as classics of ferocity. Mr. Graziano retired in 1952 after compiling a professional record of 67-10-6; 52 of his wins were by knockout, and he was regarded as one of the hardest punchers in boxing history. Mr. Graziano's autobiography Somebody Up There Likes Me (1955) was made into a movie in 1956, starring Paul Newman.

Asiatica
North Yemen and South Yemen merged to form the Republic of Yemen.

Politics and government
Lucien Bouchard, who had resigned from the Canadian cabinet and the Progressive Conservative caucus the day before, lashed out at a House of Commons report that had recommended compromises in order to save the Meech Lake constitutional accord, and he denounced the federal government for "making an alliance with those who want Quebec to continue to be humiliated." Speaking in the House of Commons, Mr. Bouchard urged Quebec Premier Robert Bourassa to boycott a first ministers’ conference to resolve the deadlock. In a later news conference, Mr. Bouchard predicted that Quebec would separate if the accord wasn’t approved by the June 23 deadline. Unfortunately, that prediction proved inaccurate.

Defense
The North Atlantic Treaty Organization scrapped plans for a low-level flight training centre at Goose Bay, Labrador, citing the $500 million cost, plus reduction in east-west tensions.

War
15 Palestinians had been killed by Israeli forces in the Gaza Strip and the West Bank since rioting had broken out two days earlier.

Technology
Microsoft released the Windows 3.0 computer operating system.

Hockey
NHL
Stanley Cup
Finals
Boston 1 @ Edmonton 5 (Edmonton led best-of-seven series 3-1)

Glenn Anderson and Craig Simpson each scored 2 goals for the Oilers as they beat the Bruins at Northlands Coliseum.



20 years ago
1995

Hit parade
#1 single in Italy: Missing--Everything but the Girl (3rd week at #1)

#1 single in Spain (PROMUSICAE): Scatman (Ski Ba Bop Ba Dop Bop)--Scatman John (6th week at #1)

#1 single in #1 single in Norway (VG-lista): Back for Good--Take That

Germany (Media Control): Back for Good--Take That (4th week at #1)

Canada's Top 10 (RPM)
1 No More "I Love You's"--Annie Lennox (2nd week at #1)
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 Let Her Cry--Hootie & the Blowfish
7 I Know--Dionne Farris
8 It's Good to Be King--Tom Petty
9 Wonderdrug--Jann Arden
10 Connection--Elastica

Singles entering the chart were This is How We Do It by Montell Jordan (#71); Water Runs Dry by Boyz II Men (#74); Leave Virginia Alone by Rod Stewart (#80); The Way that You Love by Vanessa Williams (#81); So Hard Done By by the Tragically Hip (#85); Misery by Soul Asylum (#86); and Naveed by Our Lady Peace (#90).

World events
Israeli Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin suspended a plan to confiscate 134 acres of land in East Jerusalem. The land, mostly owned by Arabs, was to be the site of a police station and housing for Jews, while Palestinians visualized East Jerusalem as their future capital.

10 years ago
2005

Politics and government
Nambaryn Enkhbayar of the Mongolian People's Revolutionary Party (MPRP) won the Mongolian presidential election, taking 54.2% of the vote. Democratic Party candidate Mendsaikhany Enkhsaikhan received 20.2% of the vote.