June 8, 2016

Born on this date
Happy Birthday, Natalija!

825 years ago
1191

War
King Richard I of England arrived in Acre in Palestine, thus beginning his crusade.

240 years ago
1776

War
Simon Fraser led the 24th Regiment in beating back Colonel Arthur St. Clair's 1,800 retreating American invaders at the Battle of Trois-Rivières in Quebec; the Americans lost 25 killed and 200 taken prisoner, including Brigadier General William Thompson; the British lost 8 killed.

160 years ago
1856

Australiana
A group of 194 Pitcairn Islanders, descendants of the mutineers of HMS Bounty, arrived at Norfolk Island, commencing the Third Settlement of the Island.

150 years ago
1866

Politics and government
The fifth session of the eighth Parliament of of the Province of Canada began, meeting for the first time in the still unfinished Parliament buildings in Ottawa. The session ended August 15, the last session as the Province of Canada before Confederation.

War
The Canadian cabinet suspended the writ of Habeas Corpus for one year to capture persons suspected of complicity in the Fenian raids. Fenian General Samuel Spiers, with 2,000 supporters, crossed the boundary near St. Alban's, Quebec and occupied Pigeon Hill; the Hochelaga Voltigeurs soon drove him back him across the American border.

Economics and finance
Gold was discovered in Hastings County, Canada West.

110 years ago
1906

Environment
U.S. President Theodore Roosevelt signed the Antiquities Act into law, authorizing the President to restrict the use of certain parcels of public land with historical or conservation value.

100 years ago
1916

Born on this date
Francis Crick. U.K. biologist, biophysicist, and neuroscientist. Dr. Crick and James Watson co-discovered the DNA molecule in 1953. Dr. Crick, Dr. Watson, and Maurice Wilkins shared the 1962 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine "for their discoveries concerning the molecular structure of nucleic acids and its significance for information transfer in living material." Dr. Crick died on July 28, 2004 at the age of 88.

75 years ago
1941

War
The Allies commenced the Syria–Lebanon Campaign against the possessions of Vichy France in the Levant as about 20,000 Australian, Indian, and Free French troops commanded by General Sir Henry Maitland invaded Syria in three columns.

Disasters
Eight people, including five asleep in a farmhouse, were killed by a tornado north of Wichita, Kansas.

70 years ago
1946

Hit parade
#1 single in the U.S.A. (Billboard): The Gypsy--The Ink Spots (Best Seller--3rd week at #1; Juke Box--2nd week at #1 ); The Gypsy--Dinah Shore (Airplay--1st week at #1); The Gypsy--The Ink Spots; Dinah Shore (Honor Roll of Hits--3rd week at #1)

Died on this date
John L. Bates, 86. U.S. politician. Mr. Bates, a Republican, was a member of the Massachusetts House of Representatives (1894-1899); Lieutenant Governor of Massachusetts (1900-1903); and Governor of Massachusetts (1903-1905). He stepped up enforcement of the state's liquor laws, and angered agricultural and labour interests with his actions, resulting in his defeat in his bid for re-election in 1904.

War
A Nationalist Chinese spokesman charged that Communist troops had attacked four strategic points in Manchuria after agreeing to a 15-day truce.

World events
Haj Amin el Husseini, exiled Grand Mufti of Jerusalem, disappeared from France, causing an international controversy over his whereabouts.

Medicine
U.S. Army Colonel Paul Keller reported in the Journal of the American Medical Association that primary results of the radiation disease suffered by survivors of the atomic bombs dropped on Hiroshima and Nagasaki in 1985 were suppression of the blood formation system and disturbed liver function.

Track and field
Bob Fitch of the University of Minnesota set a world record in the discus throw of 180 feet 2¾ inches.

60 years ago
1956

Hit parade
#1 single in the U.K. (New Musical Express): No Other Love--Ronnie Hilton (6th week at #1)

Boxing
Floyd Patterson (30-1) won a split 12-round decision over Tommy "Hurricane" Jackson (27-5-1) at Madison Square Garden in New York in an elimination bout for the vacant world heavyweight title.

50 years ago
1966

At the movies
Boy, Did I Get a Wrong Number! , starring Bob Hope, Elke Sommer, and Phyllis Diller, opened in theatres.



Died on this date
Joe Walker, 45; Carl Cross. U.S. aviators. Mr. Walker was one of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration's top test pilots; he made 24 flights in the X-15 rocket plane, including two flights in 1963 that exceeded an altitude of 100 kilometres, marking the threshold of space. He was flying an F-104 Starfighter chase aircraft as part of a five-plane tight formation for an unauthorized General Electric publicity photo near Edwards Air Force Base, California, when his plane was sucked into tip vortices of the North American XB-70 Valkyrie prototype No. 2 being piloted by Mr. Cross, a United States Air Force test pilot. Mr. Walker's plane flipped over, and rolling inverted, passed over the top of the XB-70, struck the vertical stabilizers and left wing and exploded, destroying the Valkyrie's rudders and damaging its left wing. Both pilots were killed; because the formation and photo shoot were unauthorized, several USAF officers lost their jobs.

Disasters
A tornado that registered as an F5 on the Fujita scale devastated Topeka, Kansas; it was the first tornado to exceed $100 million in damages. 16 people were killed, hundreds more injured, and thousands of homes were damaged or destroyed.

Football
The National Football League and American Football League agreed to merge in 1970. The AFL had begun play in 1960, and was increasing in popularity at the time of the announcement of the future merger.

40 years ago
1976

Hit parade
#1 single in Sweden (Topplistan): Baretta's Theme--Sammy Davis, Jr. (3rd week at #1)

Law
William Morrow, Justice of the Supreme Court of the Northwest Territories from 1966-1976, was sworn in as a Kustice of the Supreme Court of Alberta (Appellate Division) at the Court House in Calgary.

Environment
British Columbia Supreme Court Justice Thomas Berger ended hearings into the social and environmental effects of the Mackenzie Valley gas pipeline in the Northwest Territories. Hearings had begun on March 3, 1975.

30 years ago
1986

Hit parade
#1 single in New Zealand: Living Doll--Cliff Richard featuring the Young Ones (6th week at #1)

#1 single in Switzerland: Midnight Lady--Chris Norman (5th week at #1)

Basketball
NBA
Finals
Houston 97 @ Boston 114 (Boston won best-of-seven series 4-2)

Larry Bird scored 29 points, grabbed 11 rebounds, and added 12 assists as the Celtics beat the Rockets before 14,890 fans at Boston Garden. Kevin McHale also scored 29 points for Boston. Mr. Bird was named the finals' Most Valuable Player.



25 years ago
1991

Hit parade
#1 single in Australia (Australian Music Report): The Grease Megamix--Olivia Newton-John and John Travolta

#1 single in Italy (FIMI): Se Stiamo Insieme--Riccardo Cocciante (13th week at #1)

#1 single in Spain (PROMUSICAE): El 7 de Septiembre--Mecano

#1 single in Denmark (Nielsen Music Control & IFPI): Last Train To Trancentral--The KLF (2nd week at #1)

#1 single in Flanders (Ultratop 50): Wind of Change--Scorpions

#1 single in France (SNEP): Désenchantée--Mylène Farmer (7th week at #1)

#1 single in the U.K. (CIN): I Wanna Sex You Up--Color Me Badd

Netherlands Top 10 (De Nederlandse Top 40)
1 Wind of Change--Scorpions (2nd week at #1)
2 Last Train To Trancentral (Live from the Lost Continent)--The KLF
3 Ring Ring Ring (Ha Ha Hey)--De La Soul
4 Just a Groove--Nomad
5 Senza Una Donna (Without a Woman)--Zucchero & Paul Young
6 One More Try--Timmy T
7 Strike it Up--Black Box
8 Fading Like A Flower (Every Time You Leave)--Roxette
9 Future Love Paradise--Seal
10 Anasthasia--T99

Singles entering the chart were Gypsy Woman (La Da Dee La Da Da) by Crystal Waters (#16); More than Words by Extreme (#18); It Ain't Over 'til it's Over by Lenny Kravitz (#29); The Shoop Shoop Song (It's in his Kiss) by Cher (#30); and Mooi Man by Mannenkoor Karrespoor (#31).

U.S.A. Top 10 (Billboard)
1 More than Words--Extreme
2 I Wanna Sex You Up--Color Me Badd
3 Rush Rush--Paula Abdul
4 I Don't Wanna Cry--Mariah Carey
5 Love is a Wonderful Thing--Michael Bolton
6 Losing My Religion--R.E.M.
7 I Like the Way (The Kissing Game)--Hi-Five
8 Unbelievable--EMF
9 Miracle--Whitney Houston
10 Power of Love/Love Power--Luther Vandross

Singles entering the chart were It Ain't Over 'til it's Over by Lenny Kravitz (#64); My Body Says Yes by Titiyo featuring Papa Dee (#85); Forever Amo'r by D'zyre (#87); Can't Forget You by Gloria Estefan (#90); What a Price to Pay by Michael Damian (#92); and Surrender by Trixter (#94).

U.S.A. Top 10 (Cash Box)
1 More than Words--Extreme
2 I Don’t Wanna Cry--Mariah Carey
3 Love is a Wonderful Thing--Michael Bolton
4 Rhythm of My Heart--Rod Stewart
5 Rush Rush--Paula Abdul
6 I Wanna Sex You Up—Color Me Badd
7 Losing My Religion--R.E.M.
8 I Like the Way (The Kissing Game)--High-Five
9 Touch Me (All Night Long)--Cathy Dennis
10 I Touch Myself--Divinyls

Singles entering the chart were What a Price to Pay by Michael Damian (#74); Can’t Forget You by Gloria Estefan (#79); Dirty Love by Thunder (#80); Kissing You by Keith Washington (#86); Over and Over by Timmy -T- (#87); Temptation by Corina (#88); and My Body Says Yes by Titiyo featuring Papa Dee (#90).

Canada’s Top 10 (RPM)
1 More than Words--Extreme
2 Rhythm of My Heart--Rod Stewart
3 Baby Baby--Amy Grant
4 I Don’t Wanna Cry--Mariah Carey
5 Love is a Wonderful Thing--Michael Bolton
6 Animal Heart--Glass Tiger
7 Silent Lucidity--Queensryche
8 Couple Days Off—Huey Lewis and the News
9 Losing My Religion--R.E.M.
10 Touch Me (All Night Long)--Cathy Dennis

Singles entering the chart were How Much by the Jeff Healey Band (#53); Chocolate Cake by Crowded House (#76); Mea Culpa (Part II) by Enigma (#78); Texarkana by R.E.M. (#87); People are Still Having Sex by Latour (#91); Place in This World by Michael W. Smith (#92); The Dream is Still Alive by Wilson Phillips (#93); and What Am I Doing Here by Blue Rodeo (#95).

Horse racing
Hansel, with Jerry Bailey up, won the 123rd running of the Belmont Stakes at Belmont Park, New York in a time of 2:28.10; it was his second straight win in a Triple Crown race, having won the Preakness Stakes three weeks earlier.



Baseball
NCAA
College World Series
Final @ Johnny Rosenblatt Stadium, Omaha
Louisiana State 6 Wichita State 3

The Tigers, behind the pitching of Chad Ogea, defeated the Shockers to win their first College World Series championship. LSU catcher Gary Hymel was named the Series' Most Outstanding Player.



20 years ago
1996

Hit parade
#1 single in Australia (ARIA): Fastlove--George Michael (3rd week at #1)

#1 single in Flanders (VRT): Lift U up--2 Fabiola (4th week at #1)

#1 single in Wallonia (Ultratop 40): Con te partirò--Andrea Bocelli

#1 single in France (SNEP): The X-Files--Mark Snow

#1 single in the Netherlands (De Nederlandse Top 40): Macarena--Los del Río

#1 single in the U.K. (BMRB): Killing Me Softly--The Fugees

U.S.A. Top 10 (Billboard)
1 Tha Crossroads--Bone Thugs-N-Harmony (4th week at #1)
2 Always Be My Baby--Mariah Carey
3 Because You Loved Me--Céline Dion
4 Give Me One Reason--Tracy Chapman
5 You're the One--SWV
6 Nobody Knows--The Tony Rich Project
7 You're Makin' Me High/Let it Flow--Toni Braxton
8 Fastlove--George Michael
9 Ironic--Alanis Morissette
10 Until it Sleeps--Metallica

Singles entering the chart were You're Makin' Me High/Let it Flow; Until it Sleeps; Why I Love You So Much/Ain't Nobody by Monica (#16); They Don't Care About Us by Michael Jackson (#30); and For the Love of You by Jordan Hill (#90).

U.S.A. Top 10 (Cash Box)
1 Tha Crossroads--Bone Thugs-N-Harmony (3rd week at #1)
2 Give Me One Reason--Tracy Chapman
3 Always Be My Baby--Mariah Carey
4 Old Man and Me (When I Get to Heaven)--Hootie & the Blowfish
5 Because You Loved Me--Céline Dion
6 You're the One--SWV
7 Keep On, Keepin' On--MC Lyte featuring Xscape
8 Fastlove--George Michael
9 Ironic--Alanis Morissette
10 Nobody Knows--The Tony Rich Project

Singles entering the chart were Who Will Save Your Soul by Jewel (#35); You're Makin' Me High by Toni Braxton (#49); Wrong by Everything But the Girl (#61); Only You by 112 (#64); and It's All the Way Live (Now) by Coolio (#73).

Horse racing
Editor's Note, with Chris McCarron up, won the 128th running of the Belmont Stakes at Belmont Park, New York in a time of 2:28.96.



Hockey
NHL
Stanley Cup
Finals
Colorado 3 @ Florida 2 (Colorado led best-of-seven series 3-0)

Mike Keane and Joe Sakic scored within an 82-second span early in the 2nd period to give the Avalanche the lead, and there was no further scoring as they edged the Panthers at Miami Arena.



10 years ago
2006

Died on this date
Robert Donner, 75. U.S. actor. Mr. Donner was a character actor in numerous television programs and films, often playing villains in Western movies such as El Dorado (1966); The Undefeated (1969); Chisum (1970); and Rio Lobo (1970).

Society
The conviction of Saskatchewan aboriginal leader David Ahenakew for promoting hatred against Jews was overturned; he was acquitted in February 2009. Mr. Ahenakew had expressed derogatory views of Jews in an interview with a reporter.

Basketball
NBA
Finals
Miami 80 @ Dallas 90 (Dallas led best-of-seven series 1-0)

Jason Perry scored 32 points to lead the Mavericks over the Heat before 20,475 fans at American Airlines Center in the first finals game for both teams.



Football
CFL
Pre-season
Winnipeg (0-2) 15 @ Montreal (2-0) 30
British Columbia (1-1) 57 @ Calgary (1-1) 13