June 13, 2017

150 years ago
1867

War
The U.S. gunboats Hartford and Wyoming launched an attack on the island of Formosa to avenge the murders of the crew of the bark Rover, which had been wrecked on March 12, 1867.

Disasters
The steamboat George Sharkey sank in the Mississippi River, with the loss of several lives.

120 years ago
1892

Born on this date
Basil Rathbone. South African-born U.K. actor. One of this blogger's favourite actors, Mr. Rathbone played villains in movies such as David Copperfield (1935); Captain Blood (1935); and The Adventures of Robin Hood (1938), before achieving his greatest fame, playing Sherlock Holmes in 14 movies and over 200 radio broadcasts from 1939-1946. He died in New York on July 21, 1967 at the age of 75, the day after being given a clean bill of health by his doctor.

100 years ago
1917

Born on this date
Augusto Roa Bastos. Paraguayan author. Mr. Roa Bastos was best known for the novel Yo el Supremo (I, the Supreme) (1974). He died on April 26, 2005 at the age of 87.

War
The deadliest German air raid on London of World War I was carried out by Gotha G.IV bombers and resulted in 162 deaths--including 46 children--and 432 injuries.

75 years ago
1942

Hit parade
#1 single in the U.S.A. (Billboard): Tangerine--Jimmy Dorsey and his Orchestra (6th week at #1)

War
U.S. Coast Guardsman John Cullen, 21, spotted four German saboteurs as they landed from a U-boat at Amagansett, Long Island, New York. 27 Japanese bombers, escorted by 12-15 Zero fighters, attacked the airfield at Darwin, Australia.

Politics and government
The United States government created the Office of War Information, with Elmer Davis as Director.

Journalism
The weekly U.S. Army magazine Yank first appeared, to be sold only to soldiers overseas. The first issue was dated June 17, 1942.

70 years ago
1947

Politics and government
Hungarian Liberal Party leader Dezso Sulyok threatened to boycott upcoming parliamentary elections unless Soviet troops were withdrawn from Hungary and freedoms of speech and assembly were restored. Communist newspapers demanded Mr. Sulyok's ouster from parliament.

Protest
The Chilean capital of Santiago was placed under a state of emergency following the previous day's clashes between striking bus drivers and soldiers called out to man the city's transportation system.

Society
The Knights of the Ku Klux Klan voluntarily surrendered its Georgia charter in Atlanta, but Klan officials said that the organization would continue to operate in Georgia without corporate privileges.

60 years ago
1957

Hit parade
U.S.A. Top 10 (Music Vendor)
1 Love Letters in the Sand--Pat Boone
2 Dark Moon--Bonnie Guitar
--Gale Storm
3 Bye Bye Love--The Everly Brothers
--Webb Pierce
--T. Tommy
--Chuck Miller
4 A White Sport Coat--Marty Robbins
--Johnny Desmond
5 So Rare--Jimmy Dorsey and his Orchestra
6 All Shook Up--Elvis Presley
7 Four Walls--Jim Reeves
--Jim Lowe
--Dorothy Collins
8
9 Start Movin' (In My Direction)--Sal Mineo
10 It's Not for Me to Say--Johnny Mathis
--Jane Morgan

Defense
The U.S.S.R. rejected U.S. President Dwight D. Eisenhower's proposal for a limited trial of nuclear test inspection plans in the Arctic areas of the Soviet Union and the United States.

U.S. President Eisenhower signed an executive order freeing members of the military Ready Reserve from draft liability.

Politics and government
The French National Assembly confirmed the elevation of Defense Minister Maurice Bourges-Maunoury to the office of Prime Minister, following the resignation of Guy Mollet.

50 years ago
1967

War
The United Nations Security Council rejected Soviet demands for an immediate vote on a resolution condemning Israel's aggression in the Six-Day War.

Law
U.S. President Lyndon B. Johnson nominated Solicitor General Thurgood Marshall to become the first Negro justice on the U.S. Supreme Court.

Boxing
Henry Cooper (35-13-1) retained his British and Commonwealth heavyweight titles with a technical knockout of Jack Bodell (41-9) at 2:18 of the 2nd round at Molineaux Grounds, Wolverhampton, West Midlands, England.



Mac Foster (6-0) knocked Lino Armenteros (27-26-7) down 3 times in the 3rd round and scored a technical knockout at 1:45 of the 3rd round of a heavyweight bout at Selland Arena in Fresno, California.

40 years ago
1977

Hit parade
#1 single in Australia (Kent Music Report): Don't Cry for Me Argentina--Julie Covington (6th week at #1)

#1 single in Japan (Oricon Singles Chart): Amayadori--Masashi Sada (4th week at #1)

#1 single in Spain (PROMUSICAE): Linda--Miguel Bosé

Died on this date
Tom Clark, 77. Associate Justice of the Supreme Court of the United States, 1949-1967. Mr. Clark, a Democrat, was a close friend of President Harry Truman, and served as Attorney General in his cabinet from 1945-1949, and was a strong supporter of Mr. Truman's civil rights program. He was appointed to the Supreme Court by President Truman, and supported the majority in opposition to racial segregation, while supporting the rights of defendants in criminal cases. Justice Clark retired in order to avoid a possible conflict of interest when his son Ramsey was appointed as Attorney General by President Lyndon Johnson. Mr. Clark died in his sleep in his son's apartment.

Crime
James Earl Ray, convicted of the 1968 assassination of U.S. civil rights leader Martin Luther King, was recaptured in Tennessee, three days after escaping from Brushy Mountain State Penitentiary in Petros, Tennessee. Six other prisoners had escaped with Mr. Ray, all of whom were recaptured by June 14.

30 years ago
1987

Hit parade
#1 single in Italy: I Wanna Dance with Somebody (Who Loves Me)--Whitney Houston

#1 single in Spain (PROMUSICAE): Multimix--The Communards (5th week at #1)

#1 single in Flanders (Ultratop 50): Hold Me Now--Johnny Logan (2nd week at #1)

#1 single in the Netherlands (De Nederlandse Top 40): You Want Love (Maria Maria)--Mixed Emotions (2nd week at #1)

#1 single in Ireland (IRMA): I Still Haven't Found What I'm Looking For--U2

#1 single in the U.K. (New Musical Express): I Wanna Dance with Somebody (Who Loves Me)--Whitney Houston (2nd week at #1)

#1 single in the U.K. (BMRB): I Wanna Dance with Somebody (Who Loves Me)--Whitney Houston (2nd week at #1)

#1 single in the U.S.A. (Billboard): Always--Atlantic Starr

U.S.A. Top 10 (Cash Box)
1 Always--Atlantic Starr (2nd week at #1)
2 Head to Toe--Lisa Lisa and Cult Jam
3 You Keep Me Hangin' On--Kim Wilde
4 In Too Deep--Genesis
5 I Wanna Dance with Somebody (Who Loves Me)--Whitney Houston
6 The Lady in Red--Chris DeBurgh
7 Wanted Dead or Alive--Bon Jovi
8 Diamonds--Herb Alpert (vocals by Lisa Keith and Janet Jackson)
9 With or Without You--U2
10 Looking for a New Love--Jody Watley

Singles entering the chart were I Still Haven't Found What I'm Looking For by U2 (#56); Hearts on Fire by Bryan Adams (#67); Seven Wonders by Fleetwood Mac (#71); Don't Mean Nothing by Richard Marx (#75); Since You've Been Gone by the Outfield (#83); I Want Action by Poison (#87); Mary's Prayer by Danny Wilson (#88); and Can't We Try by Dan Hill (with Vonda Shepard) (#89).

Canada’s Top 10 (RPM)
1 Looking for a New Love--Jody Watley
2 (I Just) Died in Your Arms--Cutting Crew
3 Nothing's Gonna Change My Love For You--Glenn Medeiros
4 Boom Boom (Let's Go Back to My Room)--Paul Lekakis
5 You Keep Me Hangin' On--Kim Wilde
6 I Wanna Dance with Somebody (Who Loves Me)--Whitney Houston
7 La Isla Bonita--Madonna
8 With or Without You--U2
9 Talk Dirty to Me--Poison
10 Lean on Me--Club Nouveau

Singles entering the chart were I Still Haven't Found What I'm Looking For by U2 (#83); Songbird by Kenny G (#86); Hearts on Fire by Bryan Adams (#90); Rock the Night by Europe (#93); I Will by Rock and Hyde (#94); Good Times by Hoodoo Gurus (#95); and It Doesn't Have to Be this Way by Blow Monkeys (#96).

Died on this date
Geraldine Page, 62. U.S. actress. Regarded as one of the best actresses of the 20th century, Miss Page had a successful career on stage in New York before appearing in movies and television shows. She was an Academy Award nominee for her performances in Hondo (1953); Summer and Smoke (1961); Sweet Bird of Youth (1962); You're a Big Boy Now (1966); Pete 'n' Tillie (1972); Interiors (1978); and The Pope of Greenwich Village (1984). She finally won the Oscar as Best Actress for The Trip to Bountiful (1985).

Johnny High, 30. U.S. basketball player. Mr. High was a guard with the Phoenix Suns of the NBA from 1979-81 and 1982-84, scoring 1,396 points with 617 rebounds and 525 assists in 274 regular season games, and 79 points with 54 rebounds and 32 assists in 18 playoff games. He was killed in a car accident in Phoenix while driving drunk.

25 years ago
1992

Hit parade
#1 single in Australia (ARIA): Take it from Me--Girlfriend

#1 single in Japan (Oricon Singles Chart): Blowin'--B'z

#1 single in Italy (FIMI): Rhythm is a Dancer--Snap! (3rd week at #1)

#1 single in Spain (PROMUSICAE): Please Don't Go--Double You (7th week at #1)

#1 single in Flanders (Ultratop 50): Please Don't Go--Double You (4th week at #1)

#1 single in France (SNEP): Joy--François Feldman (8th week at #1)

#1 single in the Netherlands (De Nederlandse Top 40): Rhythm is a Dancer--Snap! (2nd week at #1)

#1 single in the U.K. (Chart Information Network): Abba-esque (EP)--Erasure

#1 single in the U.S.A. (Billboard): Jump--Kris Kross (8th week at #1)

U.S.A. Top 10 (Cash Box)
1 Jump--Kris Kross (3rd week at #1)
2 Under the Bridge--Red Hot Chili Peppers
3 Baby Got Back--Sir Mix-a-Lot
4 My Lovin' (You're Never Gonna Get It)--En Vogue
5 Damn I Wish I was Your Lover--Sophie B. Hawkins
6 In the Closet--Michael Jackson
7 Live and Learn--Joe Public
8 If You Asked Me To--Celine Dion
9 Just Take My Heart--Mr. Big
10 Achy Breaky Heart--Billy Ray Cyrus

Singles entering the chart were Make Love Like a Man by Def Leppard (#70); Friday I'm in Love by the Cure (#74); Giving Him Something He Can Feel by En Vogue (#81) ; Slowly by Stacy Earl (#86); Strawberry Letter 23 by Tevin Campbell (#88); Baby-Baby-Baby by TLC (#89); Warm it Up by Kris Kross (#92); Take this Heart by Richard Marx (#94); All You've Got by RTZ (#96); and All I Want by Toad the Wet Sprocket (#97).

Canada's Top 10 (RPM)
1 If You Asked Me To--Celine Dion (2nd week at #1)
2 Hold on My Heart--Genesis
3 Sinking Like a Sunset--Tom Cochrane
4 Under the Bridge--Red Hot Chili Peppers
5 You Won't See Me Cry--Wilson Phillips
6 Damn I Wish I was Your Lover--Sophie B. Hawkins
7 Do it to Me--Lionel Richie
8 One--U2
9 I Will Remember You--Amy Grant
10 My Lovin' (You're Never Gonna Get It)--En Vogue

Singles entering the chart were It's Probably Me by Sting and Eric Clapton (#38); Take this Heart by Richard Marx (#55); Wanna Be the One by Haywire (#63); 57 Channels (And Nothin' On) by Bruce Springsteen (#69); Everytime I Roll the Dice by Delbert McClinton (#70); Whatcha' Need by Bootsauce (#72); Just for Tonight by Vanessa Williams (#73); Living in a Dream by Arc Angels (#77); Make Love Like a Man by Def Leppard (#78); The Ballad of Peter Pumpkinhead by XTC (#85); How Do I Get Over You by Wendy Maharry (#86); and I Run to You by Scott Dibble and Watertown (#87).

Labour
Bob White, president of the Canadian Auto Workers, was elected president of the Canadian Labour Congress; Jean-Claude Parrot, head of the Canadian Union of Postal Workers, was elected vice president.

20 years ago
1997

Hit parade
#1 single in Germany (Media Control): Sonic Empire--Members of Mayday

#1 single in Sweden (Topplistan): Bailando--Paradisio (7th week at #1)

Terrorism
A jury sentenced Timothy McVeigh to death for his part in the 1995 Oklahoma City bombing.

Football
CFL
Pre-season
Hamilton (0-2) 14 @ Toronto (1-0) 18
Winnipeg (0-2) 21 @ Saskatchewan (1-0) 39

Basketball
NBA
Finals
Utah 86 @ Chicago 90 (Chicago won best-of-seven series 4-2)

Michael Jordan scored 39 points and added 11 rebounds as the Bulls came from behind to defeat the Jazz before 24,544 fans at United Center to win their second straight National Basketball Association championship, and their fifth in the last seven years. Chicago outscored Utah 26-16 in the 4th quarter, and won the game with field goals by Steve Kerr and Toni Kukoč in the final 25 seconds. Mr. Jordan was named the Finals' Most Valuable Player for the fifth time.



10 years ago
2007

Died on this date
Walid Eido, 65. Lebanese politician. Hussein Dokmak, 26; Hussein Naeem, 20. Lebanese soccer players. Mr. Eido, a member of the March 14 Coalition, was a member of the Lebanese parliament from 2000 until he was assassinated when a vehicle packed with explosives detonated its load as the car carrying Mr. Eido was leaving a Beirut beach club. Mr. Eido's son Khaled was killed in the explosion, as were Messrs. Dokmak and Naeem, members of Nejmeh Football Club.

Terrorism
The Al Askari Mosque in the Iraqi city of Sāmarrā was bombed for a second time; the first bombing had occurred in February 2006.