August 7, 2015

150 years ago
1865

Politics and government
Narcisse-Fortunat Belleau took office as co-Premier of the Province of Canada from Canada East, joining Sir John A. Macdonald, who was co-Premier from Canada West.

125 years ago
1890

Born on this date
Elizabeth Gurley Flynn. U.S. feminist activist. Mrs. Flynn was a leading organizer with Industrial Workers of the World (IWW) and was a founding member of the American Civil Liberties Union. She joined the Communist Party U.S.A. in 1936, and served as its chairman from January 31, 1961 until her death at the age of 74 on September 5, 1964, while on a visit to the U.S.S.R.

Died on this date
Anna Månsdotter, 48. Swedish criminal. Mrs. Månsdotter and her son Per Nilsson were convicted of the March 28, 1889 murder in Yngsjö, Sweden of Mr. Nilsson's wife Hanna Johansdotter, 22. During the trial it was revealed that Mrs. Månsdotter, who was only about 13 years older than her son, had had an incestuous relationship with him. Mr. Nilsson was 13 years older than his wife. Ms. Johansdotter was possibly beaten with a piece of wood and then strangled. Mrs. Månsdotter was put to death on the district jail grounds in Kristianstad by executioner Albert Gustaf Dahlman, who chopped off her head with an ax. Mrs. Månsdotter became the last woman in Sweden to be executed.

80 years ago
1935

Boxing
Joe Louis (21-0) knocked down King Levinsky (66-25-5) 4 times before referee Norm McGarrity stopped the heavyweight bout just 2:21 into the 1st round at Comiskey Park in Chicago.



75 years ago
1940

On the radio



War
Striking in three columns, Italian forces drove 50 miles inside British Somaliland.

Abominations
Alsace-Lorraine was annexed by Germany.

Defense
Singaporean authorities began intensive training of a civilian volunteer military force.

Politics and government
The Philippine National Assembly voted full powers over the country to Governor Manuel Quezon.

Labour
Officials of the International Labor Office departed Geneva for Lisbon.

70 years ago
1945

War
Dispatches from Frankfurt reported that former Nazi leaders to be tried for war crimes included Hermann Goering; Joachim von Ribbentrop; Franz von Papen; Arthur Seiss-Inquart; and Gustav Jodl.

Politics and government
Alberto Llevas Camargo was inaugurated as President of Colombia for the remainder of the term of former President Alfonso Lopez Pumarejo.

U.S. President Harry Truman arrived back in Washington from the Potsdam Conference and immediately conferred with his cabinet.

Abominations
Yugoslavian leader Marshal Josip Tito said that a monarchy was "incompatible with democracy in Yugoslavia" and indicated that there would be legislation to bar the return of King Peter II.

Economics and finance
The U.S. War Production Board announced a new plan to speed reconversion, involving the transfer of some cancelled war contracts to other government buying agencies that needed the items being produced.

Medicine
General Motors Chairman Alfred P. Sloan announced a $4-million grant financed by the Alfred P. Sloan Foundation for a Sloan-Kettering Institute for Cancer Research in New York City.

60 years ago
1955

Radio
Tokyo Telecommunications Engineering, the precursor to Sony, sold its first transistor radios in Japan.

50 years ago
1965

Hit parade
#1 single in Australia (Kent Music Report): (I Can't Get No) Satisfaction--The Rolling Stones

#1 single in France: C'est Toi Que J'aime--Sheila

#1 single in Italy (FIMI): Se non avessi più te--Gianni Morandi

#1 single in West Germany (Media Control): Il Silenzio--Nini Rosso (5th week at #1)

#1 single in the Netherlands (De Nederlandse Top 40): Help!--The Beatles

#1 single in the U.K. (New Musical Express): Help!--The Beatles (2nd week at #1)

#1 single in the U.S.A. (Billboard): I'm Henry VIII, I Am--Herman's Hermits

U.S.A. Top 10 (Cash Box)
1 I'm Henry VIII, I Am--Herman's Hermits
2 What's New Pussycat?--Tom Jones
3 (I Can't Get No) Satisfaction--The Rolling Stones
4 I Got You Babe--Sonny and Cher
5 Save Your Heart for Me--Gary Lewis and the Playboys
6 I Like it Like That--The Dave Clark Five
7 Don't Just Stand There--Patty Duke
8 Cara, Mia--Jay & the Americans
9 I Can't Help Myself (Sugar Pie, Honey Bunch)--The Four Tops
10 All I Really Want to Do--Cher
--The Byrds

Singles entering the chart were Houston by Dean Martin (#70); Sad, Sad Girl by Barbara Mason (#77); I Don't Wanna Lose You Baby by Chad & Jeremy (#79); Oowee, Oowee by Perry Como (#80); Is it Really Over? by Jim Reeves (#81); The Sweetheart Tree by Johnny Mathis (#82); Annie Fanny by the Kingsmen (#84); Colours by Donovan (#86); Simple Gimpel by Horst Jankowski and his Orchestra (#88); Summer Wind by Wayne Newton (#93); Where were You When I Needed You by Jerry Vale (#95); I Live for the Sun by the Sunrays (#96); I've Cried My Last Tear by the O'Jays (#97); Who'll Be the Next in Line by the Kinks (#98); Summer Wind by Roger Williams and the Harry Simeone Chorale (#99); What are We Going to Do? by David Jones (#100); and Moonlight and Roses (Bring Mem’ries of You) by Vic Dana (also #100). David Jones became famous a year later as Davy Jones of the Monkees.

Football
CFL
Montreal (0-1) 9 @ Hamilton (1-0) 18
Edmonton (0-2) 13 @ British Columbia (1-1) 38

The Tiger-Cats scored 2 touchdowns in the final 5 minutes of the game to defeat the Alouettes before 21,735 fans at Civic Stadium. It was the first game for Bernie Faloney in a Montreal uniform since being traded after 8 seasons with the Tiger-Cats.

Two fumble recoveries and an interception enabled the Lions to turn a 14-7 lead into a rout over the Eskimos before 32,055 fans at Empire Stadium in Vancouver. Edmonton starting quarterback Jon Anabo was injured and replaced by flanker Randy Kerbow, who scored a touchdown and punted for a single. Bill Tobin scored the other Edmonton touchdown.

40 years ago
1975

Hit parade
#1 single in Ireland (IRMA): Give a Little Love--Bay City Rollers (2nd week at #1)

Economics and finance
Canadian Prime Minister Pierre Trudeau announced that Canada would seek an agreement to set up a 200-mile economic coastal zone.

Baseball
Graig Nettles and Thurman Munson hit home runs to help the New York Yankees defeat the Cleveland Indians 6-3 before 11,124 fans at Municipal Stadium in Cleveland. George Medich allowed 6 hits and 3 runs--2 earrned--and walked 7 batters in 6 2/3 innings to get the win. Bill Sudakis played the 9th inning at catcher for the Indians in the 530th and final game of his 8-year major league career.

The Baltimore Orioles scored 6 runs in the top of the 6th inning to take a 6-3 lead over the Detroit Tigers, but were unable to hold the lead, and had to score a run in the 10th to win 7-6 before 11,321 fans at Tiger Stadium. The Tigers scored a run in the bottom of the 6th and 2 in the 9th to tie the game. Their 9th-inning rally began when pinch hitter Gates Brown led off with his 1st home run of the season, setting an American League record with his 16th career homer as a pinch hitter.

The Boston Red Sox scored 3 runs in the 3rd inning as they defeated the Milwaukee Brewers 4-2 before a County Stadium crowd of 24,187, bringing Milwaukee's home attendance over 1 million for the season. Rick Wise pitched an 8-hit complete game for his eighth straight win, boosting his 1975 record to 15-6. Jim Slaton pitched a 9-hit complete game in taking the loss. Mike Hegan accounted for the Milwaukee scoring with 2 solo home runs.

Jorge Orta batted in 3 runs and Nyls Nyman drove in 2 as the Chicago White Sox beat the California Angels 8-4 before 10,543 fans at White Sox Park. Dave Hamilton relieved starting pitcher Pete Vuckovich and allowed 3 hits in 6 scoreless innings to get the win. California starter Andy Hassler allowed 4 hits, 5 bases on balls, and 5 runs--all earned--in 2 1/3 innings to drop to 3-11 for the season, tying Ken McBride's team record with his 10th straight loss.

Fred Patek hit Vic Albury's first pitch of the game for an inside-the-park home run, and Al Cowens batted 3 for 3 with a double, 2 runs, and 2 runs batted in as the Kansas City Royals defeated the Minnesota Twins 10-2 before 15,596 fans at Royals Stadium. Paul Splittorff, coming off a 1-hit shutout against the Oakland Athletics in his most recent game, allowed 4 hits and no bases on balls in pitching 6 scoreless innings to get the win, but had to leave because of a blister on one of the fingers of his pitching hand.

Joe Rudi hit a grand slam and Billy Williams drove in 3 runs with 2 home runs as the Oakland Athletics routed the Texas Rangers 10-1 before 20,373 fans at Arlington Stadium. Vida Blue pitched a 4-hit complete game victory, striking out 9 to improve his record for the season to 15-8.

Tom Seaver pitched a 3-hitter, striking out 7, while singling and scoring a run, to improve his 1975 record to 15-7 as the New York Mets shut out the Montreal Expos 7-0 before 18,036 fans at Shea Stadium. Steve Rogers started on the mound for Montreal and allowed 7 hits and 5 runs--all earned--in 4 innings in taking the loss.

Philadelphia manager Danny Ozark ordered pitcher Larry Christenson to intentionally walk Jerry Morales in order to face Andre Thornton, but Mr. Thornton hit a 3-run home run to give the Chicago Cubs a 5-3 win over the Phillies before 20,259 fans at Veterans Stadium in Philadelphia. Rick Reuschel pitched a 7-hit complete game victory, allowing 1 earned run, while batting 2 for 4.

Dave Roberts pitched a 3-hit complete game victory and singled in a run as the Houston Astros defeated the Pittsburgh Pirates 6-1 before 15,255 fans at the Astrodome. Greg Gross drove in 2 runs for the Astros with a pair of doubles, and Wilbur Howard batted 3 for 4 with 2 runs.

Ken Macha's home run climaxed a 4-run rally in the bottom of the 9th inning as the Charleston Charlies defeated the Rochester Red Wings 6-3 in an International League game at Watt Powell Park in Charleston, West Virginia. Jim Minshall, who pitched 1 scoreless inning of relief, was the winning pitcher.

Tom Kelly pitched a 4-hit shutout and Jeff Geach hit a home run in the 10th inning for the only run of the game as the Richmond Braves edged the Toledo Mud Hens 1-0 in an International League game at Lucas County Stadium in Toledo.

30 years ago
1985

Space
Takao Doi, Mamoru Mohri, and Chiaki Mukai were chosen as Japan's first astronauts.

Crime
The White House Farm murders of Nevill Bamber and his wife June, their adopted daughter Sheila, and Sheila's 6-year-old twin sons took place near the English village of Tolleshunt D'Arcy, Essex.

25 years ago
1990

Hit parade
#1 single in Finland (Musiikkituottajat – IFPI Finland): Hanky Panky--Madonna (2nd week at #1)

Diplomacy
Two days of talks between the South African government and the African National Congress concluded with the ANC announcing that it was suspending its 30-year armed struggle against the white regime, with the cease-fire beginning immediately. President F.W. de Klerk’s government agreed to free political prisoners; allow exiled dissidents to return; and repeal the nation’s security laws. Both sides agreed to end the violence in the province of Natal, where 3,000 people had been killed in fighting among factions of the Zulu tribe. Fighting had also occurred in Transvaal between Zulus and other Negroes.

Defense
U.S. President George Bush ordered U.S. troops and warplanes to Saudi Arabia to guard the oil-rich desert kingdom against a possible invasion by Iraq.

Oil
Executives of oil companies, testifying before the U.S. Congress, said that the cost of fuel had jumped quickly because their companies paid for oil when it was delivered to U.S. refineries, rather than when it was contracted for in the Middle East, so the worldwide rise in the cost of oil per barrel was reflected almost immediately.

Football
CFL
Saskatchewan (2-3) 31 @ Edmonton (3-2) 57

Despite giving up 31 points, the Eskimo defense had a big game before 39,060 fans at Commonwealth Stadium, sacking Roughrider quarterback Kent Austin 10 times and making 2 interceptions. Stew Hill had 4 of the sacks. Tracy Ham threw 4 touchdown passes for the Eskimos, and Henry "Gizmo" Williams returned a kickoff 92 yards for another Eskimo score, the first kickoff return touchdown of his CFL career. Backup quarterback Steve Taylor relieved Mr. Ham in the 4th quarter and threw his first CFL touchdown pass, 7 yards to Darrell Colbert on the last play of the game.

20 years ago
1995

Hit parade
#1 single in Italy: The Colour Inside--Ti.Pi.Cal. (7th week at #1)

#1 single in Spain (PROMUSICAE): Never Forget--Take That (2nd week at #1)

#1 single in Norway (VG-lista): Hold Me, Thrill Me, Kiss Me, Kill Me--U2

#1 single in Germany (Media Control): Wish You were Here--Rednex (6th week at #1)

Canada's Top 10 (RPM)
1 I'll Be There for You--The Rembrandts (4th week at #1)
2 This Ain't a Love Song--Bon Jovi
3 Only Wanna Be with You--Hootie & the Blowfish
4 Hold Me, Thrill Me, Kiss Me, Kill Me--U2
5 Leave Virginia Alone--Rod Stewart
6 Misery--Soul Asylum
7 Made in England--Elton John
8 Water Runs Dry--Boyz II Men
9 Have You Ever Really Loved a Woman?--Bryan Adams
10 December--Collective Soul

Singles entering the chart included Not Enough by Van Halen (#77); Ants Marching by the Dave Matthews Band (#78); Satisfied by the Odds (#79); Until I Hear it from You by Gin Blossoms (#85); Come and Get Your Love by Real McCoy (#97); and Trust the Love You See by Ariel (#98).

10 years ago
2005

Died on this date
Peter Jennings, 67. Canadian-born U.S. journalist. Mr. Jennings, reputed to be distantly related to this blogger, was born in Toronto, where he began his broadcasting career before moving to Brockville, Ontario and then to Ottawa. He co-anchored the CTV nightly newscast from 1962-1964, when he was hired by the American Broadcasting Company. He anchored the ABC nightly newscast from 1965-1968, worked as a foreign correspondent from 1968-1978, and returned to the anchor desk, at first as co-anchor, and then as sole anchorman from 1983 until his death from cancer. Mr. Jennings, who hosted the Miss Canada pageant during his time with CTV, became an American citizen in 2003.