September 23, 2016

375 years ago
1641

Disasters
The English merchant ship Merchant Royal, carrying a treasure of over 100,000 pounds of gold (worth over £1 billion today), was lost at sea off Land's End, Cornwall.

210 years ago
1806

Exploration
After a three-year journey to the Pacific Northwest of the United States, the Lewis and Clark expedition returned to St. Louis.

170 years ago
1846

Space
Astronomers Urbain Jean Joseph Le Verrier, John Couch Adams and Johann Gottfried Galle collaborated on the discovery of Neptune.

140 years ago
1876

Football
The new Ottawa Football Club played its first game, against the Aylmer Football Club at Cartier Square in Ottawa.

130 years ago
1886

Born on this date
Bob Higgins. U.S. baseball player. Mr. Higgins was a catcher with the Cleveland Naps (1909) and Brooklyn Dodgers (1911-1912), batting .143 with no home runs and 2 runs batted in in 13 games. His minor league career spanned the years 1908-1920 and 1924-1925. Mr. Higgins died on May 25, 1941 at the age of 54.

100 years ago
1916

Born on this date
Aldo Moro. Prime Minister of Italy, 1963-1968, 1974-1976. Mr. Moro, a member of the Christian Democracy Party, held numerous cabinet posts in addition to the prime ministership. He was regarded as a patient mediator, especially within his own party. Mr. Moro was kidnapped on March 16, 1978 by Red Brigade terrorists and was murdered on May 9, 1978 at the age of 61 after 55 days of captivity.

80 years ago
1936

Adventure
German mountineers Karl Wien and Adi Göttner became the first people to complete the ascent of Siniolchu in the Indian state of Sikkim.

75 years ago
1941

War
The German command claimed that 50 Soviet divisions had been "completely destroyed" and 380,000 prisoners had been taken in the "trap" east of Kiev.

World events
Raul Damonte Taborda, chairman of the Argentine Chamber of Deputies committee investigating Nazi activity in Argentina, announced that Argentine troops the previous day had thwarted a Nazi plot to overthrow the government.

Defense
U.S. President Franklin D. Roosevelt told a press conference that the United States was heading toward arming her merchant ships. He said that ships tied up by striking seamen must be moved, and warned that strikes freezing vital defense materials would not be tolerated.

Terrorism
Italian press reported that 50 "Communists and Jews" had been executed in Zagreb, Yugoslavia for recent bomb explosions in the telephone exchange.

Protest
Eight people were killed and 24 wounded when soldiers guarding the home of Mexican President Manuel Avila Camacho fired on demonstrating members of the Union of Munition Workers who refused to disperse.

Politics and government
U.S. Representative Wall Doxey (Democrat) was elected by less than 1,000 votes in a special election in Mississippi to fill the 15-month unexpired term of the late U.S. Senator Pat Harrison.

Agriculture
U.S. Agriculture Secretary Claude Wickard said that the United States must send $1 billion worth of food to the United Kingdom by February 28, 1942 "unless the British are to lose to Nazi Germany."

Economics and finance
The U.S. Federal Reserve increased reserve requirements for member banks by about one-seventh, to the present statutory limit, in a further attempt to check inflation.

70 years ago
1946

Hit parade
U.S.A. Top 10 (Cash Box)
1 To Each his Own--Eddy Howard and his Orchestra with Eddy Howard and Trio (7th week at #1)
--Freddy Martin and his Orchestra with Stuart Wade
--Tony Martin
--The Modernaires with Paula Kelly
--The Ink Spots
2 Five Minutes More--Frank Sinatra
--The Three Suns
--Tex Beneke and the Glenn Miller Orchestra
3 South America, Take it Away--Bing Crosby and the Andrews Sisters
--Xavier Cugat and the Waldorf-Astoria Orchestra
4 Surrender--Perry Como
--Woody Herman and his Orchestra
5 Doin' What Comes Natur'lly--Dinah Shore and Spade Cooley and his Orchestra
--Freddy Martin and his Orchestra
--Jimmy Dorsey and his Orchestra
6 Blue Skies--Count Basie and his Orchestra
--Benny Goodman and his Orchestra
7 The Gypsy--The Ink Spots
--Dinah Shore
--Sammy Kaye and his "Swing and Sway" Orchestra
8 Pretending--Andy Russell
9 This is Always--Harry James and his Orchestra
--Jo Stafford
10 Prisoner of Love--Perry Como
--The Ink Spots

The only single entering the chart was I Guess I'll Get the Papers (And Go Home), with versions by the Mills Brothers; and Les Brown and his Orchestra (#22).

On the radio
The Casebook of Gregory Hood, starring Elliot Lewis and Howard McNear, on MBS
Tonight's episode: The Frightened Librarian

Beginning with this episode, Elliot Lewis replaced Gale Gordon in the role of Gregory Hood.

War
Jordanian troops shelled an Israeli archaeological expedition inspecting ruins near Jerusalem, killing 4 civilians and wounding 17.

Diplomacy
The U.S. embassy in Belgrade was notified that Roy Stoeckel, an American civilian, was being held on charges of entering Yugoslavia illegally and photographing "prohibited objects."

Society
An American Crusade to End Lynching delegation led by singer Paul Robeson warned President Harry Truman that if the government did not take steps to halt mob violence, "the Negroes will."

Academia
Champlain College, the first "GI university" in America, opened in Plattsburg, New York with state and private support.

Journalism
British newsprint restrictions were partially lifted, allowing London newspapers to issue 6-12 page editions.

Economics and finance
U.S. and U.K. authorities in Germany increased the basic ration in their occupation zones from 340 calories to 1,550 calories per person per day.

Business
U.S. Government Accounting Office accountant Ralph Casey declared before the House of Representatives Merchant Marine Committee that 19 firms operating government-built shipyards during World War II had made profits estimated at $356 million on capital investments of $23 million, a profit ratio which he called a "gift."

60 years ago
1956

Diplomacy
Indian Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru said in New Delhi that his country supported Egypt's ownership of the Suez Canal, but "would not have followed the same procedure by which Egypt nationalized the canal."

World events
Nicaraguan police rounded up 200 suspects in Managua in the wake of the September 21 assassination attempt against President Anastasio Somoza.

Politics and government
The New York Times reported a dispatch from the Communist Party of the Soviet Union Central Committee to Eastern European leaders warning against the acceptance of Yugoslavians as true Communists.

In the first of a projected series of statements to Democratic Party officials outlining his "New America" plan, Democratic Party U.S. presidential candidate Adlai Stevenson issued an old-age security program proposal calling for establishment of an Office of Older Person' Welfare in the department of Health, Education and Welfare to promote employment and job training for workers over 45 years of age.

Tennis
Herb Flam and Althea Gibson won the men's and women's singles titles, respectively, in the Pacific Southwest tournament in Los Angeles.

50 years ago
1966

Hit parade
#1 single in New Zealand: Yellow Submarine--The Beatles

Edmonton's Top 10 (CJCA)
1 Black is Black--Los Bravos
2 Sunshine Superman--Donovan
3 Hey Joe!--The Enemys
4 Born a Woman--Sandy Posey
5 Yellow Submarine/Eleanor Rigby--The Beatles
6 Bus Stop--The Hollies
7 Stagecoach to Cheyenne--Wayne Newton
8 Sweet Dreams--Tommy McLain
9 Last Train to Clarksville--The Monkees
10 Somewhere, My Love--Ray Conniff and the Singers
Pick hit of the week: Hooray for Hazel--Tommy Roe
New this week: Comin' On Strong--Brenda Lee
(You Don't Have To) Paint Me a Picture--Gary Lewis and the Playboys
Boa Constrictor--Johnny Cash
Lady Godiva--Peter and Gordon
Only When You're Lonely--The Grass Roots

Space
The U.S. probe Surveyor 2 crashed on the Moon, three days after launch and one day after NASA officials had lost contact with it.

Economics and finance
U.S. President Lyndon Johnson signed legislation raising the minimum wage to $1.60 per hour by 1968.

40 years ago
1976

Politics and government
U.S. President Gerald Ford and Democratic Party presidential nominee Jimmy Carter participated in the first of three televised debates, this one at Walnut Street Theater in Philadelphia.



Disasters
Eight workers were killed in a fire aboard the British Royal Navy destroyer HMS Glasgow as it was being fitted out at a shipyard near Newcastle-upon-Tyne, England.

30 years ago
1986

Baseball
Tim Raines and Andre Dawson each had 3 hits and four other Montreal Expos each had 2 hits as the Expos beat the Chicago Cubs 10-5 before 4,684 fans at Wrigley Field in Chicago. Dennis Martinez started on the mound for Montreal and doubled in 2 runs in the 2nd inning, but the Cubs reached him for 4 runs in the 4th, reducing the Montreal lead to 6-4. Mr. Martinez was replaced after 3+ innings by Randy St. Claire (2-0), who allowed 1 hit in 3 scoreless innings and was credited with the win. Greg Maddux (1-4) started for Chicago and allowed 9 hits, 3 bases on balls, and 6 runs--all earned--in 3.1 innings and was charged with the loss.

Barry Bonds hit a 2-run home run with 1 out in the bottom of the 9th inning to climax a 3-run inning and giving the Pittsburgh Pirates a 6-5 win over the Philadelphia Phillies before 3,631 fans at Three Rivers Stadium in Pittsburgh. The Phillies led 5-0 after 3½ innings and 5-1 after 7½ innings, but the Pirates rallied for 2 runs in the 8th and 3 in the 9th.

Jim Deshaies (10-5) of the Houston Astros set a major league record by striking out the first 8 batters, finishing with 10 strikeouts and allowing only 2 hits as the Astros shut out the Los Angeles Dodgers 4-0 before 27,734 fans at the Astrodome.

Tony Fernandez doubled home Damaso Garcia and Garth Iorg to climax a 4-run 9th inning as the Toronto Blue Jays beat the Detroit Tigers 6-3 before 14,364 fans at Tiger Stadium. Jesse Barfield began the 9th-inning rally with a solo home run with 1 out.

The New York Yankees scored 2 runs in the top of the 10th inning to break a 3-3 tie and defeat the Baltimore Orioles 5-3 before 19,728 fans at Memorial Stadium in Baltimore. The Orioles had runners on first and second bases with none out in the bottom of the 10th, but Fred Lynn bunted into a force play at third base, and Eddie Murray grounded into a double play to end the game.

25 years ago
1991

Hit parade
#1 single in Japan (Oricon Singles Chart): Say Yes--Chage and Aska (8th week at #1)

#1 single in Finland (Musiikkituottajat – IFPI Finland): Don't Cry--Guns N' Roses (2nd week at #1)

#1 single in Germany (Media Control): Bacardi Feeling (Summer Dreamin')--Kate Yanai (6th week at #1)

Politics and government
The Liberal Party under Premier Frank McKenna retained its majority in the New Brunswick provincial election with 46 of 58 seats in the Legislative Assembly, down from their 58-seat sweep in the 1987 election. The anti-bilingual Confederation of Regions Party, led by Arch Pafford, formed the official opposition, winning 8 seats. 3 Progressive Conservatives and New Democratic Party leader Elizabeth Weir were also elected.

Hockey
Former New York Islanders Mike Bossy and Denis Potvin were inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame.

20 years ago
1996

Hit parade
#1 single in Spain (PROMUSICAE): Stranger in Moscow--Michael Jackson

#1 single in Norway (VG-lista): Wannabe--Spice Girls (5th week at #1)

#1 single in Germany (Media Control): Wannabe--Spice Girls (2nd week at #1)

Canada's Top 10 (RPM)
1 Key West Intermezzo (I Saw You First)--John Mellencamp (3rd week at #1)
2 Change the World--Eric Clapton
3 I Love You Always Forever--Donna Lewis
4 Standing Outside a Broken Phone Booth with Money in My Hand--Primitive Radio Gods
5 You're Makin' Me High--Toni Braxton
6 Walls--Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers
7 That Girl--Maxi Priest
8 Good Friday--The Black Crowes
9 Tucker's Town--Hootie & the Blowfish
10 Gift Shop--The Tragically Hip

Singles entering the chart were But Anyway by Blues Traveler (#90); Walking in Memphis by Cher (#92); King of New Orleans by Better than Ezra (#95); How Bizarre by OMC (#96); Under the Birdbath by Big Picture (#97); Over Now by Alice in Chains (#98); and Do Ya Own Thing by Camille (#99).

Personal
This blogger began a short-term job with Alberta Report publications as a researcher for one in a series of volumes on Alberta history.

10 years ago
2006

Died on this date
Malcolm Arnold, 84. U.K. composer. Sir Malcolm's works included nine symphonies, five ballets, and numerous film scores. He won an Academy Award for his score for The Bridge on the River Kwai (1957).

Football
CFL
Toronto (7-6) 18 @ Calgary (9-5) 39

The Stampeders had little difficulty in defeating the Argonauts before 31,539 fans at McMahon Stadium.



CIS
Alberta (2-2) 14 @ Manitoba (4-0) 29
Simon Fraser (0-3) 16 @ Regina (1-2) 53
British Columbia (1-2) 33 @ Saskatchewan (4-0) 35