July 17, 2016

225 years ago
1791

Protest
Members of the French National Guard under the command of General Lafayette opened fire on a crowd of radical Jacobins at the Champ de Mars, Paris, during the French Revolution, killing as many as 50 people.

160 years ago
1856

Disasters
The Great Train Wreck of 1856--the worst railroad disaster to date--killed 59-67 people and injured over 100 in Whitemarsh Township, Pennsylvania.

140 years ago
1876

Born on this date
Maxim Litvinov. U.S.S.R. politician and diplomat. Mr. Litvinov, born Meir Henoch Wallach, joined the Russian Social Democratic Labour Party (SDLP) in Kiev in 1898 when the party was an illegal organization, and adopted the name Maxim Litvinov. He was arrested in 1901 and spent 18 months in captivity, but escaped, and spent several years in exile in Geneva and London. Mr. Litvinov met V.I. Lenin in 1903, and joined the Bolsheviks, returning to Russia during the 1905 Revolution. He fled the country again in 1906, and lived in England from 1908-1918, returning to Moscow late in 1918. Mr. Litvinov served as a diplomat during the 1920s, advocating disarmament and favouring Soviet support of the Kellogg-Briand Pact of 1928, which outlawed war as an instrument of national policy. He proposed the Litvinov Protocol, in which signatories formally proclaimed themselves in mutual compliance with the goals of the Kellogg-Briand Pact. It was signed in Moscow in February 1929 by the Soviet Union, Poland, Romania, Latvia, and Estonia, and later by several other countries. Mr. Litvinov was People's Commissar for Foreign Affairs of the Soviet Union (1930-1939), and was successful in obtaining American recognition of the Soviet Union. He was dismissed for holding anti-German views, while dictator Josef Stalin was negotiating a non-aggression pact with Germany. Mr. Litvinov served as Soviet Ambassador to the United States (1941-1943), and was Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs (1943-1946), but was dismissed after giving an interview to an American journalist in which he stated his belief that war between the U.S.A. and U.S.S.R. was inevitable. Mr. Litvinov reportedly died of a heart attack in Moscow at the age of 75 on December 31, 1951, after suffering serious heart problems, but there were rumours that he was assassinated on Mr. Stalin's instructions to the MVD (Interior Ministry), dying from injuries received after a truck deliberately collided with his car as he rounded a bend on the way to his dacha.

120 years ago
1896

Born on this date
Rupert Atkinson. Chinese-born U.K. military officer. Captain Atkinson served with the Royal Flying Corps/Royal Air Force in World War I, recording five combat victories from May-October 1918, earing the Distinguished Flying Cross and Military Cross. He was home on leave when he fell victim to the influenza epidemic and died of pneumonia on March 7, 1919 at the age of 22.

Died on this date
Joseph Alfred Novello, 85-86. U.K. publisher. Mr. Novello, the son of composer and publisher Vincent Novello, was a professional singer before he took over his father's music publishing house Novello & Co in 1829 and grew it into a commercial success, greatly reducing the price of sheet music. He played and compose organ music in his later years.

80 years ago
1936

War
The Spanish Civil War began with an armed forces rebellion against the recently elected leftist Popular Front government.

75 years ago
1941

War
The Supreme Soviet announced that political commissars were being restored to Red Army units under the title of "war commissars."

Diplomacy
U.S. President Franklin D. Roosevelt issued a "Proclaimed list of Certain Blocked Nationals," including 1,800 Latin American firms and individuals acting in the interests of Germany and Italy. All U.S. trade with these firms was prohibited.

Defense
A second draft lottery was held in Washington to determine the order of conscription for 750,000 men.

Politics and government
Cuban President Fulgencio Batista formed a new cabinet.

Baseball
The New York Yankees edged the Cleveland Indians 4-3 before 67,438 fans at Municipal Stadium in Cleveland, but Cleveland pitchers Al Smith and Jim Bagby combined to end New York center fielder Joe DiMaggio's hitting streak at 56 games, which remains the major league record.

Dom DiMaggio drove in 3 runs with a home run and a double to help the Boston Red Sox defeat the Chicago White Sox 7-4 before 27,437 fans at Comiskey Park in Chicago.

The Cincinnati Reds scored 3 runs in the top of the 1st inning and 2 in the 3rd, and held on for a 5-4 win over the New York Giants before 20,289 fans at the Polo Grounds in New York. Elmer Riddle pitched a 10-hit complete game to improve his record for the season to 11-0.

The Chicago Cubs and Philadelphia Phillies played to a 2-2 tie before 1,500 fans at Shibe Park in Philadelphia in a game that was called after 6 innings. Philadelphia catcher Bennie Warren hit a 2-run home run in the 4th inning.

70 years ago
1946

Died on this date
Draja Mikhailovich, 53. Serbian military officer. General Mikhailovich led the Chetnik Detachments of the Yugoslav Army during World War II. He and nine fellow officers were executed by firing squad in Belgrade after being convicted by the Military Section of the People's Supreme Court on charges of high treason and war crimes in a trial whose fairness was disputed.

Diplomacy
U.S.S.R. Lieutenant Redin was acquitted by a U.S. federal jury in Seattle on charges of espionage and conspiracy, and thanked the court for "this fair trial."

Politics and government
U.S. Senator Burton K. Wheeler (Democrat--Montana) lost his party's nomination for the November 1946 election to Leif Erickson, who had attacked Sen. Wheeler for his pre-World War II isolationist views and for being insufficiently liberal.

60 years ago
1956

At the movies
High Society, starring Bing Crosby, Grace Kelly, and Frank Sinatra, opened in theatres.



Diplomacy
U.S.S.R. Premier Nikolai Bulganin and East German Premier Otto Grotewohl issued a joint statement in Moscow reiterating their support for German reunification through "agreement between both German states."

Indian Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru conferred with French officials in Paris on the Algerian situation.

The U.S. Senate Foreign Relations Committee unanimously endorsed President Dwight Eisenhower's nomination of five U.S. delegates to the next United Nations General Assembly session, including Senators William Knowland (Republican--California) and Hubert Humphrey (Democrat--Minnesota), and Ambassador to the United Nations Henry Cabot Lodge, Jr.

Transportation
The Canadian Northern Railway, Grand Trunk Pacific Railway, and 15 other subsidiaries were amalgamated into the Canadian National Railway.

Oil
The U.S.S.R. signed an agreement with the Israeli firms Delek and Palestine Electric Company for delivery of $18-$20 million worth of Soviet oil, estimated at 40% of Israel's needs for 1957.

Labour
The Metropolitan Opera Association of New York cancelled its 1956-57 season because of a personnel dispute with the American Guild of Musical Artists.

Disasters
A series of earthquakes near Mandalay, Burma caused 10 deaths.

40 years ago
1976

Hit parade
#1 single in Italy (Hit Parade Italia): Non si puo' morire dentro--Gianni Bella (2nd week at #1)

#1 single in the Netherlands (Veronica Top 40): Arms of Mary--Sutherland Brothers and Quiver (3rd week at #1)

#1 single in the U.K.: The Roussos Phenomenon (EP)--Demis Roussos

#1 single in the U.S.A. (Billboard): Afternoon Delight--Starland Vocal Band (2nd week at #1)

U.S.A. Top 10 (Cash Box)
1 Kiss and Say Goodbye--The Manhattans
2 Afternoon Delight--Starland Vocal Band
3 More, More, More (Part 1)--Andrea True Connection
4 Love is Alive--Gary Wright
5 Moonlight Feels Right--Starbuck
6 Let Her In--John Travolta
7 Got to Get You Into My Life--The Beatles
8 I'll Be Good to You--The Brothers Johnson
9 Take the Money and Run--Steve Miller Band
10 The Boys are Back in Town--Thin Lizzy

Singles entering the chart were Street Singin' by Lady Flash (#86); The More You Do It (The More I Like it Done to Me) by Ronnie Dyson (#91); Getaway by Earth, Wind & Fire (#92); Can't Change My Heart by the Cate Brothers (#96); and Listen to the Buddha by Ozo (#100).

Canada's Top 10 (RPM)
1 More, More, More (Part 1)--Andrea True Connection
2 Never Gonna Fall in Love Again--Eric Carmen
3 Afternoon Delight--Starland Vocal Band
4 Misty Blue--Dorothy Moore
5 Shop Around--Captain & Tennille
6 Moonlight Feels Right--Starbuck
7 Get Up and Boogie (That's Right)--Silver Convention
8 Takin' it to the Streets--The Doobie Brothers
9 Love is Alive--Gary Wright
10 Roxy Roller--Sweeney Todd

Singles entering the chart were You Should Be Dancing by the Bee Gees (#89); Don't Go Breaking My Heart by Elton John and Kiki Dee (#90); Silver Bird by the Guess Who (#91); Sweet Love Bandit by the Stampeders (#93); Somebody's Gettin' It by Johnnie Taylor (#94); On the Boulevard by Murray McLauchlan (#95); I Never Cry by Alice Cooper (#96); Hot Stuff by the Rolling Stones (#97); Play That Funky Music by Wild Cherry (#98); Nutbush City Limits by Bob Seger (#99); and Don't Touch Me There by the Tubes (#100).

Asiatica
The former Portuguese colony of East Timor was annexed by Indonesia, becoming Indonesia's 27th province. Indonesian forces had invaded and occupied East Timor in November 1975 after the Revolutionary Front for an Independent East Timor (FRETILIN) had declared the territory's independence.

Diplomacy
West German Chancellor Helmut Schmidt concluded a three-day visit to the United States.

Politics and government
The Spanish cabinet announced that legislative elections would be held by June 30, 1977.

Olympics
The opening of the Summer Olympic Games in Montreal was marred by a boycott of 25 African nations, who protested the inclusion of New Zealand because of New Zealand's sporting links with South Africa.

30 years ago
1986

Football
CFL
Saskatchewan (2-2) 21 @ Toronto (2-2) 14
Ottawa (2-2) 39 @ Edmonton (4-0) 49

Dan Bass scored on the recovery of a blocked punt and fellow linebacker Stew Hill caught a touchdown pass to help the Eskimos defeat the Rough Riders at Commonwealth Stadium.

25 years ago
1991

Hit parade
#1 single in Sweden (Topplistan): Senza una donna--Zucchero featuring Paul Young (5th week at #1)

Football
CFL
Ottawa (0-2) 33 @ Edmonton (2-0) 40

Henry "Gizmo" Williams of the Eskimos returned punts for 232 yards, breaking his own CFL single-game record, and returned one for a touchdown, but he should have had a second touchdown. He appeared to have scored on a long return, but he accidentally dropped the ball on the Ottawa 5-yard line, and the only people who seemed to notice were the officials and Rough Rider defensive back Sean Foudy, who returned the ball 74 yards as fans and other players at Commonwealth Stadium wondered what was going on. The winning touchdown scored on a pass from Tracy Ham to Jim Sandusky with 33 seconds remaining in regulation time.



20 years ago
1996

Died on this date
Chas Chandler, 57. U.K. musician. Mr. Chandler played bass guitar with the rock group the Animals in the mid-1960s, leaving the group in 1966 because the group's records and tours weren't generating enough revenue. He then became a talent scout, helping to propel Jimi Hendrix to prominence, and then managing the group Slade for 12 years. Mr. Chandler died of an aortic aneurysm.

Diplomacy
The Community of Portuguese Language Countries was founded, with headquarters in Lisbon.

Disasters
Trans World Airlines Flight 800, a Boeing 747 en route from New York to Paris, exploded off the coast of Long Island, killing all 230 on board. Conspiracy theories abound, especially since numerous eyewitnesses said they saw something that looked like a missile heading toward the plane from the ground.

Football
CFL
Ottawa (1-3) 4 @ Toronto (3-1) 34

Doug Flutie completed 23 of 36 passes for 316 yards and touchdown passes to Tyrone Williams and Paul Masotti, and rushed 8 times for 52 yards and a touchdown to lead the Argonauts over the Rough Riders before 17,288 fans at SkyDome.



Winnipeg (2-2) 27 @ Edmonton (2-2) 16

The Blue Bombers scored 10 points in the final 1 minute 21 seconds to clinch their victory over the Eskimos before 28,751 fans at Commonwealth Stadium. Edmonton quarterback Danny McManus completed 24 of 48 passes for 297 yards, including a 15-yard touchdown to Shalon Baker. Frank Jagas converted Mr. Baker's TD and added 3 field goals.

10 years ago
2006

Died on this date
Mickey Spillane, 88. U.S. author. Mr. Spillane was known for creating the detective Mike Hammer in more than a dozen novels, beginning with I, the Jury (1947). The novels, featuring more sex and violence than was common at the time, helped to popularize the sale of paperback books. The first six Mike Hammer novels were published between 1947-1952, and at one time, Mr. Spillane had seven of the top ten bestselling books in the United States.

Disasters
The 7.7 Mw Pangandaran earthquake and tsunami severely affected the Indonesian island of Java, killing 668 people and leaving more than 9,000 injured.

Severe thunderstorms hit the Sudbury, Manitoulin and Nipissing regions in Ontario. Two people were killed, and power was cut to more than 170,000 homes and businesses, with some areas going without power for a week.