April 18, 2016

170 years ago
1846

Protest
The Draper-Viger government's special Commission on Rebellion Losses in Lower Canada made its preliminary report. Asked to distinguish between claims made by persons participating in the rebellion and those who had given no support to the insurrectionist party, they came up with an amount of £242,000. Following a more thorough enquiry into the claims they were unable to make, the amount to be paid by the government should not go beyond £100,000.

110 years ago
1906

Disasters
More than 3,000 people died when a major earthquake struck San Francisco and set off raging fires.

100 years ago
1916

Born on this date
Doug Peden. Canadian athlete. Mr. Peden, a native of Victoria, excelled in various sports; he and his brother Torchy competed in six-day bicycle races in the 1930s, and Doug was a member of the Canadian men's basketball team that won the silver medal at the 1936 Summer Olympic Games in Berlin. Doug Peden died on April 11, 2005, a week before his 89th birthday.

80 years ago
1936

On the radio
The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes, starring Louis Hector and Harry West, on MBS
Tonight’s episode: The Illustrious Client

Died on this date
Ottorino Respighi, 56. Italian composer. Mr. Respighi wrote several operas and ballets, and numerous orchestral and choral works, but was best known for the orchestral tone poems Fountains of Rome (1916); Pines of Rome (1924); and Roman Festivals (1928). He died of endocarditis.

Milton Brown, 32. U.S. musician. Mr. Brown was a bandleader and singer who was known as the "Father of Western Swing." He became popular in Texas as the leader of the Light Crust Doughboys, and later, the Musical Brownies. Mr. Brown died five days after being seriously injured in a car accident.

75 years ago
1941

Died on this date
Alexandros Koryzis, 55 or 56. Prime Minister of Greece, 1941. Mr. Koryzis took office as Prime Minister on January 18, 1941 upon the death of dictator Ioannis Metaxas. Mr. Koryzis committed suicide by shooting himself as German troops were advancing toward Athens and the city was placed under martial law; he was succeeded as Prime Minister by Emmanouil Tsouderos.

War
80 German prisoners of war attempted to escape from Camp 101 (X) at Angler in northern Ontario; 28 POWs reached freedom through a 150-foot-long tunnel they dug under the camp. The United Kingdom warned Italy that if German planes bombed Athens and Cairo, the Royal Air Force would begin "systematic" bombing of Rome.

Defense
The British Royal Air Force in Singapore revealed that U.S. pursuit planes had arrived to stengthen the naval and air base's defenses. U.S. Senator Alben Barkley (Democrat--Kentucky) told the Senate that he had been authorized by Navy Secretary Frank Knox and Naval Operations Chief Admiral Harold Stark to deny categorically that the Navy was secretly engaged in convoying supply ships to the United Kingdom.

World events
The Paraguayan government stated in a communique that an attempted revolt on April 17 against President Higinio Morinigo had been suppressed.

Journalism
The Spanish Falangist Party newspaper Arriba warned Portugal that she must choose between Britain and Spain.

Economics and finance
U.S. Senator Robert Taft (Republican--Ohio) said in the Senate that U.S. Price Administrator Leon Henderson's price-fixing orders "are absolutely illegal and represent a usurpation of the authority which only Congress may exercise."

70 years ago
1946

At the movies
La devoradora, directed by Fernando de Fuentes, and starring María Félix, Luis Aldas, Julio Villareal, and Felipe de Alba, opened in theatres in Mexico.



War
Communist forces captured the Manchurian city of Changchun, taking U.S. military attache Robert Rigg and five American correspondents into custody.

At the Nuremberg trial of accused Nazi war criminals, former Nazi Governor of Poland Hans Frank admitted that he had ordered the extermination of Jews and the introduction of forced labour. A U.S. military tribunal in Manila sentenced General Shiyoku Kuo, former head of Japanese prisoner of war camps in the Philippines, to death by hanging for war crimes during World War II.

Diplomacy
The League of Nations formally expired at midnight, turning over its property to the United Nations. The UN Security Council Committee of Experts voted that the Council had the right to keep the dispute over the presence of Soviet troops in Iran on the agenda, despite U.S.S.R. objections. British, Brazilian, Chinese, and Australian delegates to the Security Council expressed opposition to breaking relations with Spain.

The United States granted full diplomatic recognition to the Yugoslavian government of President Josip Tito.

U.S. Army General George Marshall arrived in the Chinese capital of Chungking after conferring in Tokyo with General Douglas MacArthur.

Defense
U.S. sources in Berlin revealed plans to rebuild the American Air Force in Europe, which would consist of 500 B-29s as well as A-26 and P-80 jets.

Law
The International Court of Justice held its inaugural meeting in The Hague.

Communications
A method of telephoning using microwave radar pulses was demonstrated in Paris.

Baseball
Jackie Robinson became the first Negro in modern times to play in organized baseball, batting 4 for 5 with a 3-run home run, 4 runs, 3 runs batted in, and 2 stolen bases to lead the Montreal Royals to a 14-1 rout of the Jersey City Giants in an International League game at Roosevelt Stadium in Jersey City.

60 years ago
1956

At the movies
The Scarlet Hour, directed by Michael Curtiz, and starring Carol Ohmart, Tom Tryon, and Jody Lawrance, opened in theatres in Los Angeles.



Married on this date
U.S. actress Grace Kelly married Prince Rainier of Monaco in a civil ceremony Monte Carlo. A religious ceremony took place the next day.

Economics and finance
U.K. Chancellor of the Exchequer Harold Macmillan unveiled plans for a new state saving scheme offering cash prizes instead of interest.

50 years ago
1966

Hit parade
#1 single in Spain (PROMUSICAE): Yo Soy Aquel--Raphael (5th week at #1)

#1 single in Ireland (IRMA): Sea Around Us--The Ludlows (4th week at #1)

Canada's Top 10 (RPM)
1 Daydream--The Lovin' Spoonful
2 I'm So Lonesome I Could Cry--B.J. Thomas and the Triumphs
3 Walkin' My Cat Named Dog--Norma Tanega
4 (You're My) Soul and Inspiration--The Righteous Brothers
5 Magic Town--The Vogues
6 Spanish Flea--Herb Alpert & the Tijuana Brass
7 Hey Girl Go it Alone--Big Town Boys
8 It's Too Late--Bobby Goldsboro
9 Time--The Pozo-Seco Singers
10 You Laugh Too Much--Little Caesar and the Consuls

Singles entering the chart were Monday, Monday by the Mamas and the Papas (#75); Darling Baby by the Elgins (#86); This Old Heart of Mine (Is Weak for You) by The Isley Brothers (#89); Let's Start All Over Again by Ronnie Dove (#90); Backstage by Gene Pitney (#92); The Ballad of Irving by Frank Gallop (#93); He Cried by the Shangri-Las (#94); Love's Made a Fool of You by the Bobby Fuller Four (#95); Band of Gold by Mel Carter (#96); Don't Make Me Over by the Swinging Blue Jeans (#97); Substitute by the Who (#99); and That's My Story by Simon & Garfunkel (#100).

Movies
The Academy Awards for 1965 were presented at Santa Monica Civic Auditorium in Santa Monica, California (see video). The Sound of Music won five awards, including Best Picture and Best Director (Robert Wise). Other awards included: Best Actor--Lee Marvin (Cat Ballou); Best Actress--Julie Christie (Darling); Best Supporting Actor--Martin Balsam (A Thousand Clowns); and Best Supporting Actress--Shelley Winters (A Patch of Blue). Doctor Zhivago also won five Oscars, including Best Original Score (Maurice Jarre).

40 years ago
1976

Hockey
NHL
Stanley Cup
Quarter-Finals
Montreal 4 @ Chicago 1 (Montreal won best-of-seven series 4-0)



30 years ago
1986

Hit parade
#1 single in West Germany (Media Control): Geil--Bruce and Bongo (3rd week at #1)

Died on this date
Marcel Dassault, 94. French aviation executive. Mr. Dassault, born Marcel Bloch, invented a type of propeller used by the French Army during World War I, and founded Avions Marcel Dassault after World War II, which became France's largest manufacturer of military aircraft.

Society
South African President P.W. Botha announced that pass laws limiting the movement of blacks within the country would no longer be enforced, and that blacks convicted under the laws or awaiting trial on such charges would be released.

Space
A U.S. Titan 34-D rocket carrying secret military payload--believed to be a spy satellite--blew up five minutes after lifting off from Vandenberg Air Force Base in California.

Economics and finance
The U.S. Federal Reserve Board reduced from 7% to 6.5% the interest rate charged to member financial institutions, leaving the discount rate at its lowest level since 1978.

Hockey
NHL
Stanley Cup Playoffs
Division Finals
Toronto 1 @ St. Louis 6 (St. Louis led best-of-seven series 1-0)
Calgary 4 @ Edmonton 1 (Calgary led best-of-seven series 1-0)

25 years ago
1991

Hit parade
#1 single in Ireland (IRMA): Deep Deep Trouble--The Simpsons (3rd week at #1)

Abominations
Ontario Provincial Police laid new charges of physical and sexual abuse of children against the Christian Brothers, a lay Roman Catholic teaching order; after evidence of alleged incidents in schools in Uxbridge and Alfred.

Economics and finance
The U.S. Commerce Department reported that the merchandise trade deficit stood at $5.33 billion in February, its lowest level in eight years.

Labour
The one-day-old strike of 235,000 U.S. railroad workers ended after President George Bush signed legislation providing for a three-member panel appointed by the president that would have 65 days to resolve the dispute.

Hockey
NHL
Stanley Cup
Division Finals
Minnesota 2 @ St. Louis 1 (Minnesota led best-of-seven series 1-0)
Edmonton 3 @ Los Angeles 4 (OT) (Los Angeles led best-of-seven series 1-0)

Baseball
Frank Tanana (1-1) pitched a 7-hitter as the Detroit Tigers routed the Chicago White Sox 16-0 before 42,191 fans in the first game at the new Comiskey Park in Chicago. The Tigers scored all their runs in the 3rd and 4th innings--6 in the 3rd and 10 in the 4th. Rob Deer hit 2 home runs for Detroit, and Cecil Fielder hit another, with each driving in 4 runs.





20 years ago
1996

Hit parade
#1 single in Finland (Musiikkituottajat – IFPI Finland): Firestarter--The Prodigy (4th week at #1)

#1 single in Denmark (Nielsen Music Control & IFPI): How Deep is Your Love--Take That (2nd week at #1)

Died on this date
Brook Berringer, 22. U.S. football player. Mr. Berringer was a quarterback with the University of Nebraska Cornhuskers from 1992-1995. He played behind Tommie Frazier for most of his career, but when Mr. Frazier was injured in 1994, Mr. Berringer led the team to seven straight wins and a birth in the 1995 Orange Bowl, in which the two split the quarterbacking as the Cornhuskers defeated the University of Miami Hurricanes 24-17 to win the national championship. Mr. Berringer and his friend Tobey Lake were killed in the crash of a Piper Cub that Mr. Berringer was piloting; the crash occurred two days before the 1996 National Football League draft, in which Mr. Berringer was expected to be selected.

War
At least 106 civilians were killed when the Israel Defense Forces shelled the United Nations compound at Quana, Lebanon, where more than 800 civilians had taken refuge.

The Turkish government renewed its offensive against Kurdish rebels; 90 rebels and 27 soldiers were killed.

Terrorism
Members of the Islamic group al-Gamaa al-Islamiya gunned down 17 Greek tourists and an Egyptian tour guide, and wounded 15 others, outside the Europe Hotel in Cairo; the killers claimed that they thought the victims were Israelis.

Hockey
NHL
Stanley Cup
Conference Quarter-Finals
Tampa Bay 2 @ Philadelphia 1 (OT) (Best-of-seven series tied 1-1)
Montreal 5 @ New York Rangers 3 (Montreal led best-of-seven series 2-0)
St. Louis 4 @ Toronto 5 (OT) (Best-of-seven series tied 1-1)
Vancouver 5 @ Colorado 4 (Best-of-seven series tied 1-1)