August 10, 2015

Born on this date
Happy Birthday, Grant Devitt!

275 years ago
1740

Born on this date
Samuel Arnold. U.K. musician and composer. Mr. Arnold was appointed as organist at the Chapel Royal in 1783 and Westminster Abbey in 1793. He wrote several oratorios and comic operas, and died on October 22, 1802 at the age of 62.

225 years ago
1790

Born on this date
George McDuffie. U.S. politician. Mr. McDuffie, a Democrat, represented Edgefield District in the South Carolina House of Representatives (1818-1820), South Carolina's 6th District (1821-1823) and 5th District (1823-1834) in the U.S. House of Representatives; served as Governor of South Carolina (1834-1836); and represented South Carolina in the U.S. Senate (1842-1846). He was an opponent of states' rights in the early 1820s, but by the early 1830s had become an advocate of the right of states to nullify federal laws within their borders. Mr. McDuffie fought a series of duels with Colonel William Cumming, suffering serious wounds that ultimately led to his death on March 11, 1851 at the age of 60.

175 years ago
1840

Aviation
In Saint John New Brunswick, Star of the East became the first known balloon to fly in what is now Canada.

150 years ago
1865

Born on this date
James Wilson Morrice. Canadian artist. Mr. Morrice, a native of Montreal, was a modernist painter, known for his landscapes. He died in Tunis on January 23, 1924 at the age of 58.

Alexander Glazunov. Russian composer. Mr. Glazunov wrote over 110 works, including nine symphonies and the ballets The Seasons and Raymonda. He was so associated with the Romantic era that when he died in 1936 at the age of 70, many people were shocked, as they thought he'd been dead for years.

130 years ago
1885

Transportation
The U.S.A.'s first commercially-operated electric streetcar began operation in Baltimore.

125 years ago
1890

Born on this date
Angus L. Macdonald. Canadian politician. Mr. Macdonald, a Liberal, was Premier of Nova Scotia from 1933-1940 and 1945-1954. He served as Minister of National Defence for Naval Services from 1940-1945 in the government of Prime Minister Mackenzie King, overseeing the growth of the Royal Canadian Navy during World War II. Mr. Macdonald returned to provincial politics in 1945, and, while still Premier, died at the age of 63 on April 13, 1954, two days after suffering a heart attack.

110 years ago
1905

Born on this date
Eugene Dennis. U.S. politician. Mr. Dennis, born Francis Xavier Waldron, joined the Communist Party USA in 1926; he fled to the Soviet Union in 1929 in order to avoid criminal charges for his political activities under the California Criminal Syndicalism Act, but returned to the United States in 1935, assuming the name by which he was best known. Mr. Dennis was General Secretary of the National Committee of the Communist Party USA (1945-1959), and Chairman of the National Committee of the party from 1957 until his death from cancer on January 31, 1961 at the age of 55. He was one of 11 Communists convicted in 1949 under the Alien Registration Act, and was in prison from 1951-1955. Mr. Dennis was identified in the Venona project as a source of information for Soviet intelligence in the U.S.A. during World War II.

War
Russo-Japanese War peace negotiations began in Portsmouth, New Hampshire.

90 years ago
1925

Politics and government
37 candidates identifying themselves as Conservatives, led by John Baxter, were elected to the Legislative Assembly in the New Brunswick provincial election, while 11 were elected who identified themselves as Liberals. Political parties had no standing in law at the time.

80 years ago
1935

Politics and government
British author John Buchan was made Baron Tweedsmuir of Elsfield and appointed Governor General of Canada, with his term to begin on November 2, 1935, replacing the Earl of Bessborough.

Baseball
The New York Yankees swept a doubleheader from the Philadelphia Athletics 18-7 and 7-2 before 25,000 fans at Yankee Stadium. George Selkirk hit 2 home runs--including a grand slam--and a single, driving in 8 runs, in the first game. Lou Gehrig hit a home run and drove in 5 runs in the first game and added 4 RBIs in the second game.

Moose Solters led off the bottom of the 10th inning with a double and Ray Pepper followed with a single to bring Mr. Solters home with the winning run as the St. Louis Browns came from behind to edge the Cleveland Indians 6-5 at Sportsman's Park in St. Louis. The Indians led 5-2 before the Browns came back with a run in the 8th and tied the game in the 9th on a 2-run home run by Harlond Clift.

75 years ago
1940

Hit parade
#1 single in the U.S.A. (Billboard): I'll Never Smile Again--Tommy Dorsey and His Orchestra (vocal refrain by Frank Sinatra and the Pied Pipers) (3rd week at #1)

War
The United Kingdom announced that it would purchase 4,000 American-made tanks at a cost exceeding $200 million. The French Fine Arts Ministry reported little damage to cathedrals and other architectural monuments during the war with Germany.

World events
The government of Argentina announced the arrest of 26 Nazi leaders for fifth-column activities.

Former U.S. President Herbert Hoover declared that 18 million people faced starvation in occupied Europe this winter, and he urged immediate U.S. action to send food to Belgium, the Netherlands, Poland, and Norway. The U.S. government was reportedly opposed to the plan because it believed that the food would help the German occupation.

Defense
A Gallup Poll reported that 66% of Americans favoured compulsory military service. U.S. Senator Burton K. Wheeler (Democrat--Montana) called for a national referendum on universal conscription.

Society
At its 66th annual meeting in Chicago, the U.S. Women's Christian Temperance Union adopted a resolution opposing the drinking of alcoholic beverages in motion pictures.

70 years ago
1945

Died on this date
Robert H. Goddard, 62. U.S. physicist and engineer. Dr. Goddard was one of the fathers of the space age, and the founder of modern rocketry. He received 214 patents, but was most famous for launching the world's first liquid fuel rocket in 1926. Dr. Goddard launched 35 such rockets from 1926-1941, reaching a height of 1.6 miles. He died of throat cancer.

War
The Japanese cabinet ratified Emperor Hirohito's decision of the previous day to unconditionally surrender to the Allies, with the provision that the Emperor be allowed to remain in power. A message to that effect was sent to Washington. Soviet forces advanced 105 miles into Manchuria from the west along the Chinese Eastern Railroad.

Diplomacy
The Tangier Conference opened in Paris, with U.S.S.R. representatives joining those of the U.S.A., U.K., and France.

The U.K. gave France two of its Berlin boroughs for occupation.

Economics and finance
The U.S. War Production Board authorized six companies to begin production of civilian electronic equipment, including radios.

Scandal
Batimore & Ohio Railroad President Roy White denied the charges of U.S. Senator Burton K. Wheeler that Reconstruction Finance Corporation officials were speculating in Baltimore & Ohio Railroad securities, and demanded an investigation.

Business
Richard Muckerman became president of the St. Louis Browns baseball team with the purchase of stock from Don Barnes.

Agriculture
The United States Agriculture Department predicted that the 1945 food crops would be the third-largest in the nation's history.

60 years ago
1955

Football
CRU
WIFU-IRFU
Pre-season
Saskatchewan (1-0) 12 @ Montreal (0-1) 3
Hamilton (0-1) 6 @ Edmonton (1-0) 21
Toronto (0-1) 24 @ British Columbia (1-0) 30

20,276 fans were at Molson Stadium to see the Roughriders defeat the defending IRFU champion Alouettes.

Johnny Bright, Rollie Miles, and Dave West scored touchdowns for the Eskimos as they beat the Tiger-Cats before 10,000 fans at Clarke Stadium.

22,448 fans at Empire Stadium in Vancouver saw the Lions defeat the Argonauts.

50 years ago
1965

Died on this date
Freddie Slack, 55. U.S. musician. Mr. Slack was a jazz pianist who played swing and boogie-woogie styles. He was a member of Jimmy Dorsey's band in the 1930s, and was a founding member of the Will Bradley Orchestra in 1939, playing the piano solo on the recording of Beat Me Daddy, Eight to the Bar, a major hit in 1940. Mr. Slack formed his own band in 1942 and signed with Capitol Records; the band's version of Cow Cow Boogie (1942), with a vocal by Ella Mae Morse, became Capitol's first gold record. Mr. Slack co-wrote and recorded The House of Blue Lights (1946), and recorded with Capitol through at least 1950. Three days after his 55th birthday, he was found dead in his bedroom, from undetermined causes.

40 years ago
1975

Space
Richard M. West of the European Southern Observatory discovered Comet West.

Diplomacy
U.S. Congressmen concluded two days of talks at Yalta with U.S.S.R. leader Leonid Brezhnev.

Golf
Jack Nicklaus shot a 1-over-par 71 to win the Professional Golfers Association Championship at Firestone Country Club in Akron, Ohio with a 4-round score of 4-under-par 276, finishing 2 strokes ahead of Bruce Crampton and 3 ahead of Tom Weiskopf. First prize money was $45,000. It was the fourth PGA championship for The Golden Bear, and the 16th major championship of his career.

Football
CFL
The Edmonton Eskimos signed defensive end Fred James, the day after he was released by the Calgary Stampeders. Mr. James was in his ninth season with Calgary, and had played in the team's first 3 games of 1975.

British Columbia (1-3) 28 @ Saskatchewan (3-1) 27

Eric Guthrie broke a 27-27 tie with a 50-yard punt single with 2:12 remaining in the game as the Lions edged the Roughriders before 21,804 fans in their first win at Taylor Field in Regina since September 26, 1965. The Roughriders had just tied the game on a 31-yard field goal by Jack Abendschan with 4:36 remaining. B.C. quarterback Peter Liske completed 13 of 15 passes for 215 yards and a 60-yard touchdown to Jim Young, while handing off to Lou Harris for another TD. Rookie B.C. running back Wayne Moseley had his best CFL game, rushing 18 times for 135 yards and a touchdown, catching 4 passes for 93 yards, and returning punts and kickoffs for 39 yards, for a total of 267 yards. Saskatchewan quarterback Ron Lancaster completed 18 of 34 passes for 273 yards and touchdowns of 29 yards to Tom Campana and 10 yards to Rhett Dawson. Mr. Campana rushed 18 yards for another TD in the 4th quarter. The win was the 147th and last (including post-season games) in the 16-year career of Eagle Keys as a head coach in the CFL. Mr. Keys' total was second at the time to Frank Clair's 172.

NFL
Pre-season
New York Giants (1-0) 28 @ New England (0-1) 14
Cleveland (0-1) 13 @ San Francisco (1-0) 17
Oakland (1-0) 34 Detroit (0-1) 0 @ Berkeley, California

Baseball
Bert Blyleven pitched a 4-hitter as the Minnesota Twins shut out the Detroit Tigers 4-0 before 11,851 fans at Tiger Stadium, handing the Tigers their 15th straight loss. Losing pitcher Ray Bare allowed 7 hits and 2 runs--both earned--in 7 innings. Backup catcher Phil Roof put the game away for Minnesota by hitting a 2-run home run in the 9th inning.

The Milwaukee Brewers scored 4 runs in the bottom of the 3rd inning to overcome a 4-1 deficit and went on to defeat the Texas Rangers 7-4 before 13,893 fans at County Stadium in Milwaukee. Texas starting pitcher Bill Hands failed to retire any of the 4 batters he faced in the 3rd inning, and they all came around to score. Mr. Hands allowed 6 hits and 5 earned runs in 2+ innings in the 374th and last game of his 11-year major league career.

The Chicago White Sox scored 3 runs in the bottom of the 9th inning to defeat the Baltimore Orioles 3-2 before 12,431 fans at White Sox Park. Baltimore starting pitcher Mike Torrez carried a 4-hit shutout into the 9th inning, but was relieved by Grant Jackson after walking leadoff hitter Bucky Dent. With 1 out, Brian Downing it a home run to tie the score. In the midst of pitching to Pat Kelly, Mr. Jackson was relieved by Ross Grimsley, who walked Mr. Kelly (the walk was charged to Mr. Jackson), and gave up a double to Jorge Orta, as Mr. Kelly scored the winning run.

Cecil Cooper and Jim Rice each hit 2-run home runs as the Boston Red Sox beat the Oakland Athletics 5-3 before 18,806 fans at Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum.

Leroy Stanton doubled home Dave Collins with 1 out in the bottom of the 9th inning to give the California Angels a 1-0 win over the New York Yankees before 11,682 fans at Anaheim Stadium. Bill Singer allowed just 4 hits in 8 innings for the Angels before being relieved by Mickey Scott, who pitched the 9th and got the win. Losing pitcher Rudy May, a former Angel, allowed 4 hits and 4 bases on balls in pitching a complete game, striking out 8.

All the scoring took place in the 4th inning as the Los Angeles Dodgers edged the New York Mets 2-1 before 39,915 fans at Shea Stadium in New York. John Hale led off the top of the inning with a home run, and Steve Garvey walked and scored on a single by Steve Yeager to give the Dodgers a 2-0 lead. The Mets scored in the bottom of the inning when Rusty Staub singled with 1 out and scored on a 2-out single by Mike Phillips. Don Sutton pitched a 3-hit complete game to improve his 1975 recrd to 16-9, winning the pitchers' duel with Hank Webb, who allowed 5 hits and 2 earned runs in 5 innings. Ken Sanders entered the game in relief for New York to begin the 8th inning, but was struck in the right eye by the ball on a throw from catcher John Stearns while warming up, and was removed in favour of Skip Lockwood.

Gary Matthews drove in 4 runs with a pair of home runs to lead the San Francisco Giants to an 8-1 win over the Philadelphia Phillies before 35,405 fans at Veterans Stadium in Philadelphia. Jim Barr pitched an 8-hit complete game victory and hit a single.

Johnny Bench and Tony Perez each had 3 hits and 2 runs batted in as the Cincinnati Reds beat the Montreal Expos 11-3 before 30,660 fans at Riverfront Stadium in Cincinnati.

The St. Louis Cardinals scored 2 runs in the bottom of the 10th inning to defeat the San Diego Padres 3-2 before 26,474 fans at Busch Memorial Stadium in St. Louis. Tito Fuentes hit a home run in the top of the 10th to give the Padres a 2-1 lead, but Ken Reitz homered with 1 out in the bottom of the inning to tie the score, and Mike Tyson, Bake McBride, and Lou Brock followed with singles, the last of which brought Mr. Tyson home with the winning run.

30 years ago
1985

Hit parade
#1 single in Italy (FIMI): 19--Paul Hardcastle

#1 single in Flanders (Ultratop 50): I'm on Fire--Bruce Springsteen

#1 single in the Netherlands (De Nederlandse Top 40): Axel F--Harold Faltermeyer

#1 single in Ireland (IRMA): Into the Groove--Madonna

#1 single in the U.K.: Into the Groove--Madonna (2nd week at #1)

#1 single in the U.S.A. (Billboard): Shout--Tears for Fears (2nd week at #1)

U.S.A. Top 10 (Cash Box)
1 Shout--Tears for Fears
2 If You Love Somebody Set Them Free--Sting
3 You Give Good Love--Whitney Houston
4 The Power of Love--Huey Lewis and the News
5 Never Surrender--Corey Hart
6 Everytime You Go Away--Paul Young
7 Raspberry Beret--Prince and the Revolution
8 Freeway of Love--Aretha Franklin
9 Glory Days--Bruce Springsteen
10 Sentimental Street--Night Ranger

Singles entering the chart were Every Step of the Way by John Waite (#65); C-I-T-Y b John Cafferty and the Beaver Brown Band (#70); Some People by Belouis Some (#84); And We Danced by the Hooters (#87); The Power of Love (You are My Lady) by Air Supply (#89); and I Want My Girl by Jesse Johnson's Revue (#90).

Canada's Top 10 (RPM)
1 You Spin Me Around (Like a Record)--Dead or Alive
2 19--Paul Hardcastle
3 Never Surrender--Corey Hart
4 Everytime You Go Away--Paul Young
5 If You Love Somebody Set Them Free--Sting
6 In My House--Mary Jane Girls
7 Walk of Life--Dire Straits
8 The Power of Love--Huey Lewis and the News
9 Walking On Sunshine--Katrina and the Waves
10 Fresh--Kool & The Gang

Singles entering the chart were Pop Life by Prince (#93); Hurts to Be in Love by Gino Vannelli (#95); Live Every Moment by REO Speedwagon (#96); and Act of War by Elton John and Millie Jackson (#97).

Died on this date
Nate Barragar, 78. U.S. football player. Mr. Barragar was a center with the University of Southern California Trojans before playing in the National Football League with the Minneapolis Red Jackets (1930); Frankford Yellow Jackets (1930-1931); and Green Bay Packers (1931-1935).

Kenny Baker, 72. U.S. singer. Mr. Baker was best known as the featured singer on The Jack Benny Program in the 1930s. He left the radio program in 1939 to pursue a movie career, and retired from show business in the early 1950s.

Football
CFL
Hamilton (1-4) 29 @ Saskatchewan (3-2) 33

Saskatchewan quarterbacks Joe Paopao and Homer Jordan each threw 2 touchdown passes, including 1 each to Craig Ellis, to lead the Roughriders over the Tiger-Cats before 24,697 fans at Taylor Field in Regina. Mr. Paopao’s other touchdown pass went to Stephen Jones, while Mr. Jordan’s other touchdown strike was to Ray Elgaard. Dave Ridgway converted the first three and added 2 singles, but injured his groin, and punter Terry Leschuk took over the kicking and converted the last Roughrider touchdown and kicked a 20-yard field goal with exactly 3 minutes remaining to extend the Roughriders’ lead to 4 points. Ken Hobart rushed for a Hamilton touchdown and passed to Rocky DiPietro for another. The first Tiger-Cat touchdown, their only one of the first half, came on a 109-yard interception return by Paul Bennett. Bernie Ruoff converted all 3 and added 5 singles and a field goal.



Baseball
Dave Kingman hit his 400th career major league home run, a 2-run blow in the 1st inning, as his Oakland Athletics beat the Seattle Mariners 11-5 before 12,212 fans at the Kingdome in Seattle.

The St. Louis Cardinals swept a doubleheader from the Philadelphia Phillies 5-4 and 13-4 before 37,321 fans at Veterans Stadium in Philadelphia. The Cardinals were led by Willie McGee, who batted 7 for 10.

25 years ago
1990

Space
The U.S. probe Magellan arrived at Venus after a 15-month journey.

Defense
Canadian Prime Minister Brian Mulroney announced that Canada would send three ships and 800 sailors to the Persian Gulf as part of the multinational force massed to prevent an Iraqi invasion of Saudi Arabia and to force Iraqi President Saddam Hussein to withdraw from Kuwait. In making the announcement, Mr. Mulroney called the Iraqi leader "a criminal of historic significance." Responding to criticism that the move was a major departure from Canada’s traditional peacekeeping role because the ships would not be part of a United Nations force, Mr. Mulroney said that Canadian peacekeeping activities "do not remove us from the responsibility for ensuring...the integrity of free nations." He said the action would not jeopardize the safety of 550 Canadians still remaining in Iraq and Kuwait. Before their departure, the ships were modernized with new electronic warfare equipment.

World events
More than 127 Muslims were killed in northeastern Sri Lanka by paramilitary troops.

Scandal
Washington, D.C. Mayor Marion Barry was found guilty on one count of possession of crack and was acquitted on another count. The jury was unable to reach a verdict on 12 other misdemeanour and felony charges, and Judge Thomas Jackson declared a mistrial on those counts.

Economics and finance
The United States Labor Department reported that producer prices had declined 0.1% in July.

20 years ago
1995

Hit parade
#1 single in Finland (Musiikkituottajat – IFPI Finland): Shy Guy--Diana King

Terrorism
Michael Fortier, a U.S. Army friend of convicted Oklahoma City bombing prime suspect Timothy McVeigh, reached a plea-bargain agreement with prosecutors and agreed to testify about the bombing. He admitted conspiring to transport stolen firearms and then transporting them; making false statements to the Federal Bureau of Investigation; and failing to report a crime. Mr. McVeigh and Terry Nichols were indicted on new charges, including conspiracy to blow up the Alfred P. Murrah Federal Building and robbing a gun dealer, which, according to prosecutors, helped finance the plot. U.S. Attorney Patrick Ryan said that he would seek the death penalty for Messrs. McVeigh and Nichols. In Detroit, charges against Mr. Nichols' brother James related to detonation of bombs on Terry Nichols' property were dropped.

World events
It was announced that Jordan had granted asylum to the two eldest daughters of Iraqi dictator Saddam Hussein, their husbands, and other senior Iraqi army officers who had defected the previous day. King Hussein of Jordan rejected an appeal from Mr. Hussein to extradite the defectors.

Health
U.S. President Bill Clinton endorsed proposed Food and Drug Administration regulations aimed at curbing the use of tobacco by young people. The new rules would allow tobacco to be sold only to persons aged 18 or older; prohibit the sale of cigarettes by mail or from vending machines; ban brand-name tobacco advertising at athletic events; keep outdoor tobacco advertising 1,000 yards from schools or playgrounds; and require the tobacco industry to spend $150 million per year on ads to discourage smoking. Five tobacco companies and an advertising agency filed suit in North Carolina against the regulations, claiming the FDA was exceeding its authority. In a suit in New York, advertising groups and a publishing group asserted that the rules violated the First Amendment to the Constitution.

Environment
The Canadian government of Prime Minister Jean Chretien shut down British Columbia's Fraser River salmon fishery over concerns about fish stocks.

Economics and finance
The United States Labor Department reported that prices charged by manufacturers and farmers for finished goods remained unchanged in July.