July 4, 2017

200 years ago
1817

Transportation
Construction on the Erie Canal began in Rome, New York.

190 years ago
1827

Born on this date
George Washington Glick. U.S. politician. Mr. Glick, a Democrat, was a member of the Kansas State Legislature for 14 years and was Governor of Kansas (1883-1885). He was forced to give up his political career because of a throat infection that impaired his ability to speak, but he continued his career as a lawyer for various railroads. Mr. Glick died on April 13, 1911 at the age of 83.

Society
Slavery was abolished in New York State.

180 years ago
1837

Transportation
The Grand Junction Railway, the world's first long-distance railway, opened between Birmingham and Liverpool, England.

150 years ago
1867

Politics and government
Hiram Blanchard was sworn in as Premier of Nova Scotia, replacing Charles Tupper, who had moved into federal politics.

125 years ago
1892

Oddities
Western Samoa changed the International Date Line, causing Monday (July 4) to occur twice, resulting in a year with 367 days.

Transportation
The first double-decked street car service was inaugurated in San Diego.

110 years ago
1907

Boxing
Tommy Burns (35-3-8) retained his world heavyweight title by knocking Bill Squires (20-2) down 3 times and out just 1:28 into the 1st round at Mission Street Arena in Colma, California; the fight was scheduled for a maximum of 45 rounds. Former champion Jim Jeffries was the referee.

100 years ago
1917

Born on this date
Manolete. Spanish bullfighter. Manolete, whose real name was Manuel Laureano Rodríguez Sánchez, was regarded as one of the best bullfighters in history. He was fatally gored at the age of 30 on August 29, 1947 in Linares, Andalucia as he killed his fifth bull of the day.

90 years ago
1927

Aviation
The Lockheed Vega made its first flight, from Lockheed's Los Angeles plant.

75 years ago
1942

Hit parade
#1 single in the U.S.A. (Billboard): Sleepy Lagoon--Harry James and his Orchestra (3rd week at #1)

Theatre
This is the Army, a soldier revue written by Irving Berlin with a cast of 300 Army men, opened at the Broadway Theatre in New York.

War
British forces claimed success in counterattacks against Axis forces west of El Alamein. The 250-day Siege of Sevastopol in the Crimea ended when the city fell to Axis forces. U.S. Navy submarines torpedoed four Japanese destroyers in the Aleutian Islands, sinking three of the ships.

World events
German-American Bund leader Gerhard William Kunze was turned over to U.S. authorities in Brownsville, Texas after his capture in Mexico.

Protest
60 people were injured and Axis-owned stores were wrecked during anti-Axis riots in San Jose, Costa Rica.

Business
A U.S. government report indicated that 507 Axis-owned or controlled firms in the United States had been liquidated and over 2,000 patents seized.

Tennis
Don Budge defeated Bobby Riggs to win the men's singles final in the U.S. professional championships at Forest Hills, New York.

70 years ago
1947

War
British authorities in Berlin commuted the death sentences of three German officers, including General Albert Kesselring, to life imprisonment for war crimes committed during World War II.

The Chinese Council of State in Nanking ordered the total mobilization of manpower and resources in Nationalist-controlled areas to combatl the Communist "rebellion."

World events
Labour Party politician Cipriano Reyes, leader of the faction in the Argentine Chamber of Deputies that was opposed to President Juan Peron, survived an assassination attempt in La Plata.

A United Air Lines plane flying over Idaho was reportedly passed by nine "flying discs," described as "flat and round," and "bigger than aircraft." The U.S. Air Force disclamed knowledge of the craft, saying that they may have been weather phenomena.

Politics and government
U.K. Prime Minister Clement Attlee presented to Parliament the government's Indian independence bill, which had been accepted by Hindu and Muslim leaders in India, proposing the independence of the Provinces of British India into two sovereign countries: India and Pakistan.

Defense
The U.S. Navy announced the scrapping of its oldest active battleship, the 36-year-old USS Wyoming.

Economics and finance
The French National Assembly gave Prime Minister Paul Ramadier a vote of confidence on new anti-inflation measures, including drastic anti-black market laws.

The Japanese Economic Stabilization Board announced new industrial "standard wages" ranging from 1,124 yen ($8) to 2,441 yen ($17) per month.

Golf
Fred Daly won the British Open at Royal Liverpool Golf Club in Hoylake, England with a 21-over-par score of 293, 1 stroke ahead of Reg Horne and Frank Stranahan. Mr. Daly became the first Irishman to win the tournament. First prize money was £150.

60 years ago
1957

Died on this date
Hugh Roy Cullen, 76. U.S. oil executive. Mr. Cullen founded South Texas Petroleum Company and Quintana Oil Company. He died the day after his 76th birthday.

Americana
The U.S. Postal Service issued the 4¢ flag stamp.

Diplomacy
U.S. Senator Hubert Humphrey (Democrat--Minnesota), in a report to the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, proposed the creation of a United Nations commission to seek a solution to Arab refugee problems.

Agriculture
The U.S.S.R. government announced the abolition of compulsory state deliveries of produce grown on individual plots at the end of the current year.

Auto racing
Bob Finney won the Pikes Peak Hill Climb, which was then part of the United States Auto Club championship series.

50 years ago
1967

Died on this date
William Fechteler, 71. U.S. military officer. Admiral Fechteler joined the U.S. Navy in 1916, and served in both World Wars. He succeeded the late Admiral Forrest Sherman as U.S. Chief of Naval Operations in 1951, and in 1953 traded positions with Admiral Robert Carney, becoming Commander in Chief, Allied Forces, Southern Europe, serving at the command's headquarters in Naples until his retirement in July 1956.

Boxing
Fighting Harada (48-3) retained his world bantamweight title with a 15-round unanimous decision over Bernardo Caraballo (51-2-2) at Nippon Budokan in Tokyo.

40 years ago
1977

Hit parade
#1 single in Australia (Kent Music Report): Walk Right In--Dr. Hook

#1 single in Japan (Oricon Singles Chart): Nagisa no Sindbad--Pink Lady (2nd week at #1)

#1 single in Spain (PROMUSICAE): Linda--Miguel Bosé (4th week at #1)

Terrorism
The George Jackson Brigade planted a bomb at the main power substation for the Washington state capitol in Olympia, in solidarity with a prison strike at the Walla Walla State Penitentiary Intensive Security Unit.

Energy
Canada's National Energy Board approved the Alaska Highway route to transport Alaskan natural gas to the United States.

Soccer
Manchester United manager Tommy Docherty, 49, who had led the club to the English FA Cup championship two months earlier, was sacked by the club's directors, two weeks after announcing that he was leaving his wife after 27 years of marriage, for Mary Brown, 31, a mother of two and wife of Manchester United physiotherapist Laurie Brown.

Baseball
The Chicago Cubs released pitcher Joe Decker. Mr. Decker had pitched with the Cubs from 1969-1972, and rejoined the Cubs in 1977 after his release by the Detroit Tigers. In 14 games with the Wichita Aeros of the AAA American Association in 1977, Mr. Decker was 5-7 with an earned run average of 4.70, and was batting .194. He finished the season with the Mexico City Reds of the Mexican League.

The Montreal Expos tied the team record for runs in a game as they beat the Chicago Cubs 19-3 in the first game of an Independence Day doubleheader before 31,641 fans at Wrigley Field in Chicago. They completed the sweep with a 7-6 win in the second game.

Dave Parker led off the bottom of the 9th inning with a home run, giving the Pittsburgh Pirates a 4-3 win over the St. Louis Cardinals and a sweep of their doubleheader before 22,810 fans at Three Rivers Stadium in Pittsburgh. St. Louis starting pitcher Buddy Schultz was injured while warming up on the mound prior to to the bottom of the 1st inning and was relieved by Clay Carroll before facing a batter. The Pirates won the first game 5-2.

Biff Pocoroba doubled home 3 runs with 2 out in the bottom of the 8th inning to enable the Atlanta Braves to defeat the Cincinnati Reds 5-4 before 50,595 fans at Atlanta-Fulton County Stadium in the Monday Night Baseball telecast on ABC. Phil Niekro allowed 7 hits, 9 bases on balls, and 3 runs--all earned--in 8 innings to get the win over Tom Seaver, who pitched a complete game, allowing 8 hits and 5 earned runs.

Don Sutton pitched a 3-hitter to improve his 1977 record to 10-3, singled, and scored a run as the Los Angeles Dodgers shut out the San Francisco Giants 4-0 before 14,777 fans at Candlestick Park in San Francisco. Johnny Oates led off the 3rd inning with his 1st home run of the season to open the scoring.

The Houston Astros broke a scoreless tie with 7 runs in the top of the 3rd inning on their way to a 12-7 win over the San Diego Padres before 35,735 fans at San Diego Stadium.

The Boston Red Sox hit 8 home runs, including 2 each by George Scott and Fred Lynn, as they defeated the Toronto Blue Jays 9-6 before 21,073 fans at Fenway Park in Boston. Otto Velez homered for Toronto.

The Baltimore Orioles scored 6 runs after the first 2 batters of the 6th inning were retired and held on for a 6-4 win over the Detroit Tigers before 45,339 fans at Memorial Stadium in Baltimore. Eddie Murray's 2-run home run got Baltimore on the scoreboard. Johnny Wockenfuss hit 2 solo homers for Detroit. Rudy May won the pitchers' duel over Mark "The Bird" Fidrych, who had his 6-game winning streak snapped. The 6th inning may have been when Mr. Fidrych suffered what turned out to be a torn rotator cuff; he won only 4 more games in his major league career. The game was played in 1 hour 59 minutes.

Paul Thormodsgard pitched a 5-hit shutout and Mike Cubbage hit a 3-run home run as the Minnesota Twins blanked the Milwaukee Brewers 5-0 before 13,070 fans at County Stadium in Milwaukee.

30 years ago
1987

Hit parade
#1 single in Italy: Let it Be--Ferry Aid (6th week at #1)

#1 single in Spain (PROMUSICAE): Voyage, voyage--Desireless

#1 single in Flanders (Ultratop 50): I Wanna Dance with Somebody (Who Loves Me)--Whitney Houston

#1 single in the Netherlands (De Nederlandse Top 40): I Wanna Dance with Somebody (Who Loves Me)--Whitney Houston (3rd week at #1)

#1 single in Ireland (IRMA): It's a Sin-- Pet Shop Boys

#1 single in the U.K. (New Musical Express): Star Trekkin'--The Firm (2nd week at #1)

#1 single in the U.K. (BMRB): It's a Sin-- Pet Shop Boys

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

U.S.A. Top 10 (Cash Box)
1 I Wanna Dance with Somebody (Who Loves Me)--Whitney Houston
2 Alone--Heart
3 Head to Toe--Lisa Lisa and Cult Jam
4 Songbird--Kenny G
5 Shakedown--Bob Seger
6 Always--Atlantic Starr
7 In Too Deep--Genesis
8 You Keep Me Hangin' On--Kim Wilde
9 Just to See Her--Smokey Robinson
10 Point of No Return--Expose

Singles entering the chart were La Bamba by Los Lobos (#70); Here I Go Again by Whitesnake (#81); Shattered Glass by Laura Branigan (#85); When Smokey Sings by ABC (#86); Dreamin' by Will to Power (#87); In Love with Love by Debbie Harry (#88); Want You for My Girlfriend by 4 by Four (#89); and Falling in Love by the Fat Boys (#90). La Bamba was the title song from the movie.

Canada’s top 10 (RPM)
1 I Wanna Dance with Somebody (Who Loves Me)--Whitney Houston
2 Nothing's Gonna Change My Love For You--Glenn Medeiros
3 Always--Atlantic Starr
4 You Keep Me Hangin' On--Kim Wilde
5 Head to Toe--Lisa Lisa and Cult Jam
6 Boom Boom (Let's Go Back to My Room)--Paul Lekakis
7 Alone--Heart
8 La Isla Bonita--Madonna
9 (I Just) Died in Your Arms--Cutting Crew
10 Looking for a New Love--Jody Watley

Singles entering the chart were Cross My Broken Heart by the Jets (#80); Too Good to Be Enough by Corey Hart (#83); It's Not Over ('Til it's Over) by Starship (#86); Wot's it to Ya by Robbie Nevil (#89); Don't You Just Know It by Amazulu (#90); Living in a Box by Living in a Box (#94); Back in the High Life Again by Steve Winwood (#96); and Dragnet by The Art of Noise (#97). Dragnet was the title song from the movie.

Crime
A court in Lyon, France convicted former Nazi Gestapo chief Klaus Barbie of crimes against humanity. Previously sentenced to death in absentia, Mr. Barbie was now convicted on new charges of deportations of 842 people resulting in 370 deaths. In one incident, he was convicted of deporting 44 children and 7 adults from a children’s home to the Auschwitz death camp in Poland, where all but one died. Mr. Barbie had lived in Bolivia for 32 years until being returned to France in 1983. Since the death penalty was no longer in force in France, Mr. Barbie was sentenced to life in prison.

Five policemen in South Korea were sentenced to 5-15 years in prison for the death of a student in January.

Football
CFL
Toronto (0-1-1) 33 @ Saskatchewan (0-2-1) 33

The Argonauts were leading the Roughriders 26-9 with less than 6 minutes remaining in regulation time, but Saskatchewan struck back with a 62-yard touchdown pass from Tom Burgess to Albert Brown, converted by Dave Ridgway; a 56-yard interception return for a touchdown by safety Glen Suitor; and a 32-yard field goal by Dave Ridgway with 2 seconds remaining. Tony Johns rushed 4 yards for a Toronto touchdown, converted by Lance Chomyc, with 45 seconds remaining in the first 5-minute overtime period, and the Roughriders tied the game with 2:11 remaining in the second overtime period on a 12-yard touchdown pass from Mr. Burgess to Tron Armstrong, converted by Mr. Ridgway. Mr. Ridgway attempted to kick a single from field goal formation on the last play of the game, but Paul Tripoli of the Argonauts ran the ball out of the end zone to the Toronto 1-yard line. Toronto quarterback John Congemi was immediately slugged in the face by Saskatchewan defensive tackle James Curry as Mr. Suitor returned the ball for his touchdown. Several days later, CFL Commissioner Doug Mitchell suspended Mr. Curry for one game, but Mr. Curry appealed, and he never did serve the suspension.

25 years ago
1992

Hit parade
#1 single in Australia (ARIA): Jump--Kris Kross (2nd week at #1)

#1 single in Japan (Oricon Singles Chart): Kimi ga iru dakede--Kome Club (6th week at #1)

#1 single in Italy (FIMI): Rhythm is a Dancer--Snap! (6th week at #1)

#1 single in Spain (PROMUSICAE): Sensacion de Vivir--Xuxa (2nd week at #1)

#1 single in Flanders (Ultratop 50): Jump--Kris Kross

#1 single in France (SNEP): Smells Like Teen Spirit--Nirvana (3rd week at #1)

#1 single in the Netherlands (De Nederlandse Top 40): Knockin' on Heaven's Door--Guns N' Roses

#1 single in the U.K. (Chart Information Network): Abba-esque (EP)--Erasure (4th week at #1)

#1 single in the U.S.A. (Billboard): Baby Got Back--Sir Mix-a-Lot

U.S.A. Top 10 (Cash Box)
1 I'll Be There--Mariah Carey (2nd week at #1)
2 Baby Got Back--Sir Mix-a-Lot
3 Under the Bridge--Red Hot Chili Peppers
4 Jump--Kris Kross
5 Achy Breaky Heart--Billy Ray Cyrus
6 Damn I Wish I was Your Lover--Sophie B. Hawkins
7 If You Asked Me To--Celine Dion
8 My Lovin' (You're Never Gonna Get It)--En Vogue
9 Tennessee--Arrested Development
10 The Best Things in Life are Free--Luther Vandross and Janet Jackson

Singles entering the chart were This Used to Be My Playground by Madonna (#80); Come and Talk to Me by Jodeci (#83); Honey Love by R. Kelly and Public Announcement (#86); Even Better than the Real Thing by U2 (#89); Give U My Heart by Babyface (featuring Toni Braxton) (#95); and Crucify by Tori Amos (#97).

Canada's Top 10 (RPM)
1 You Won't See Me Cry--Wilson Phillips
2 If You Asked Me To--Celine Dion
3 Hold on My Heart--Genesis
4 I'll Be There--Mariah Carey
5 Under the Bridge--Red Hot Chili Peppers
6 America--Kim Mitchell
7 Damn I Wish I was Your Lover--Sophie B. Hawkins
8 Do it to Me--Lionel Richie
9 Why--Annie Lennox
10 Steel Bars--Michael Bolton

Singles entering the chart included This Used to Be My Playground by Madonna (#60); Restless Heart by Peter Cetera (#81); and Even Better than the Real Thing by U2 (#85).

Died on this date
Astor Piazzolla, 71. Argentinian composer. Mr. Piazzolla played the bandoneon and was the world's foremost composer of tango music; he died almost two years after suffering a cerebral hemorrhage, which had left him in a coma.

Environment
The Canadian Scientific Committee on Atlantic Fisheries, after recommending the cessation of the cod fishery in northeastern Newfoundland, recommended a 13% reduction in catches in the Gulf of St. Lawrence for 1993. The measure directly affected fishermen in the Gaspé, Lower St. Lawrence and Îles-de-la-Madeleine regions. Fisheries Minister John Crosbie also called for an immediate halt to fishing off Cape Breton Island.

20 years ago
1997

Hit parade
#1 single in Germany (Media Control): I'll Be Missing You--Puff Daddy featuring Faith Evans and 112 (2nd week at #1)

#1 single in Sweden (Topplistan): Bailando--Paradisio (10th week at #1)

Died on this date
Charles Kuralt, 62. U.S. journalist. Mr. Kuralt was a columnist with the Charlotte News before moving to CBS in the mid-1950s. He did "On the Road" segments for the CBS Evening News from 1967 until the 1990s, and anchored CBS News Sunday Morning from 1979-1994. Mr. Kuralt won three Peabody Awards and 10 Emmy Awards; he died of complications from systemic lupus erythematosus.

Space
The U.S. Pathfinder probe landed on Mars.

Football
CFL
Edmonton (2-0) 24 @ Saskatchewan (1-1) 18

Kavis Reed's 45-yard interception return for a touchdown with 1:22 remaining in the 3rd quarter made the difference for the Eskimos as they defeated the Roughriders at Taylor Field in Regina. Darren Flutie led Edmonton receivers with 133 yards on 9 receptions, while Eddie Brown caught 5 for 90. Eric Blount led the Edmonton rushing attack with 16 carries for 88 yards.