July 5, 2017

1,050 years ago
967

Died on this date
Murakami, 40. Emperor of Japan, 946-967. Murakami, born Nariakira-shinnō, succeeded his older brother Suzaku on the throne. Murakami died nine days before his 41st birthday, and was succeeded by his son Reizei.

300 years ago
1717

Born on this date
Pedro III. King of Portugal and the Algarves, 1777-1786. Pedro III became King when his niece and wife Maria I ascended to the throne, and the two were co-sovereigns. She reigned alone after his death.

210 years ago
1807

War
Local militias in Buenos Aires repelled the British soldiers in the Second English Invasion of the River Plate.

150 years ago
1867

Died on this date
James M. Wayne, 76 or 77. Associate Justice of the Supreme Court of the United States, 1835-1867. Mr. Wayne, a Democrat, represented Georgia in the United States House of Representatives from 1829-1835, and was chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Committee from 1834-1835. He resigned his seat when he was appointed to the Supreme Court by President Andrew Jackson. Justice Wayne opposed recognition of the Cherokee Indians as a nation, and voted with the majority in Dred Scott v. Sandford (1857), in which the Negro was held to be a piece of chattel property. Justice Wayne, although a Southerner, supported the Union during the U.S. Civil War.

Diplomacy
Relations between Mexico and France were suspended.

90 years ago
1927

Died on this date
Albrecht Kossel, 73. German biochemist. Dr. Kossel was awarded the 1910 Nobel Prize for Physiology or Medicine "in recognition of the contributions to our knowledge of cell chemistry made through his work on proteins, including the nucleic substances." He died after a recurring attack of angina pectoris.

80 years ago
1937

Weather
The temperature reached 113 °F (45 °C) at Yellow Grass, Saskatchewan, the highest temperature ever recorded in Canada.

Business
The luncheon meat Spam was introduced into the market by the Hormel Foods Corporation.

75 years ago
1942

War
German troops reportedly reached the Don River after breaking the Russian defense lines between Kharkov and Kursk.

Economics and finance
The U.S. War Department announced new regulations by which foreign governments would supply U.S. troops abroad with facilities, supplies, and equipment, without payment of cash, but would receive credits for Lend-Lease supplies.

Labour
United Mine Workers of America regional director Bernard Borah said in Chattanooga, Tennessee that 30 locals were quitting the union because UMW President John L. Lewis was hindering the war effort.

Sport
Jimmie Running of Beloit, Wisconsin defeated Walter Swanson of Kodiak, Alaska in two straight falls--the first after 48 minutes 9 seconds, the second after 7 minutes 12 seconds--to win the men's world log rolling championship at the World's Championship Roleo and Water Festival in Gladstone, Michigan. Defending champion Jimmie Herron of Kelso, Washington was unable to compete because he had enlisted in the U.S. Coast Guard. Mary Jean Malott of Cornell, Wisconsin successfully defended her women's title by defeating Marietta Terrill of Stevens, Point, Wisconsin. Mark Olson of Marquette, Michigan defeated Irving DeRoeck of Gladstone to win the junior title.

70 years ago
1947

Hit parade
#1 single in the U.S.A. (Billboard): Chi-Baba, Chi-Baba (My Bambino Go to Sleep)--Perry Como (2nd week at #1)

Politics and government
The Venezuelan National Assembly approved a new constitution, giving the government a large role in economic planning, but subjecting political arrests to congressional approval.

Diplomacy
The International Postal Union signed an agreement establishing close ties--bot not affiliation--with the United Nations.

Labour
Danish newspapers resumed publication as printers ended a four-month strike for increased pay and benefits.

Baseball
Larry Doby, 22, became the first Negro player in the American League, three months after Jackie Robinson had broken the colour line with the Brooklyn Dodgers. Mr. Doby struck out as a pinch hitter with the Cleveland Indians in the 7th inning of the Indians' 6-5 loss to the Chicago White Sox before 14,655 fans at Comiskey Park in Chicago.

Bobby Doerr, Jake Jones, and Roy Partee each drove in 2 runs for the Boston Red Sox as they edged the Washington Nationals 7-6 before 17,050 fans at Fenway Park in Boston. Mickey singled in a run for Washington in the 1st inning and hit a solo home un in the 3rd. Early Wynn, normally a pitcher with the Nationals, led off the 7th inning as a pinch hitter, and homered. Joe Dobson started on the mound for Boston and allowed 9 hits and 6 earned runs in 6+ innings, but was still the winning pitcher; Earl Johnson pitched 3 scoreless innings to get the save.

Clint Hartung pitched a 6-hit shutout and Johnny Mize hit a pair of solo home runs--his 23rd and 24th homers of the season--as the New York Giants blanked the Philadelphia Phillies 4-0 before 26,379 fans at Shibe Park in Philadelphia.

60 years ago
1957

Hit parade
#1 single in France (IFOP): Bambino--Dalida (14th week at #1)

#1 single in the U.K. (New Musical Express): Puttin' on the Style/Gamblin' Man--Lonnie Donegan (2nd week at #1)

Died on this date
Charles Noble. Canadian inventor. Mr. Noble was a farmer in Alberta who, in 1935, invented the Noble Blade, a plough that sliced under the sod, leaving grass and weeds behind to protect topsoil from the wind.

Economics and finance
The West German Bundestag approved ratification of the Common Market and Euratom pacts.

Tennis
Lew Hoad defeated Ashley Cooper in the final of the men's singles event at Wimbledon.

Golf
Bobby Locke won the British Open for the fourth and final time, with a 9-under-par score of 279 on the Old Course at St. Andrews, Scotland, 3 strokes ahead of Peter Thomson. First prize money was ₤1,000.

50 years ago
1967

Hit parade
Australia's top 10 (Go-Set)
1 This is My Song--Petula Clark (5th week at #1)
2 Puppet on a String--Sandie Shaw
3 New York Mining Disaster 1941--Bee Gees
4 Young Girl-The Twilights
5 Creeque Alley--The Mamas and the Papas
6 When I was Young--Eric Burdon & the Animals
7 Groovin'--The Young Rascals
8 The Girls in Paris--Lee Hazlewood
9 Somethin' Stupid--Nancy Sinatra and Frank Sinatra
10 A Whiter Shade of Pale--Procol Harum

Singles entering the chart were San Francisco (Be Sure to Wear Some Flowers in Your Hair) by Scott McKenzie (#22); Ding! Dong! The Witch is Dead by the Fifth Estate (#25); Carrie-Anne by the Hollies (#31); She'd Rather Be with Me by the Turtles (#35); and My Aim is to Please You by the Executives (#39).

War
The Battle of the Crater concluded with British Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders, commanded by Lieutenant Colonel Colin "Mad Mitch" Mitchell, retaking the Crater district in what is now South Yemen, following the Arab Police mutiny during the Aden Emergency.

White mercenaries and Katangese followers began a rebellion in Kisangani and Bukavu, Congo.

Canadiana
Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip concluded a week-long visit to Canada, the last three days of which were spent at Expo 67 in Montreal.

40 years ago
1977

World events
Zulfikar Ali Bhutto, the first elected Prime Minister of Pakistan, was overthrown in a bloodless military coup. Army Chief of Staff General Mohammed Zia ul-Haq took over as martial law administrator, with President Fazal Elahi Choudhry remaining as head of state. The military government promised to hold elections in October 1977. Gen. Zia announced that Mr. Bhutto and his cabinet had been taken into "temporary protective custody."

Politics and government
Jack Lynch took office as Prime Minister of Ireland, after his Fianna Fail party had won the June 16 parliamentary elections.

Canadian Prime Minister Pierre Trudeau set up the Task Force on Canadian Unity (Pépin-Robarts Commission), chaired by former federal cabinet minister Jean-Luc Pépin and former Ontario Premier John Robarts.

Football
CFL
Pre-season
Hamilton (2-2) 19 @ Montreal (2-2) 27
Calgary (2-2) 11 @ Winnipeg (4-0) 28
Edmonton (3-1) 39 @ Saskatchewan (0-4) 20

The Eskimos scored 4 touchdowns in the 4th quarter as they came back from a 20-11 deficit to defeat the Roughriders at Taylor Field in Regina.

30 years ago
1987

Hit parade
#1 single in New Zealand (RIANZ): I Wanna Dance with Somebody (Who Loves Me)--Whitney Houston (2nd week at #1)

#1 single in Switzerland: I Wanna Dance with Somebody (Who Loves Me)--Whitney Houston (4th week at #1)

#1 single in France: Viens boire un p'tit coup à la maison--License IV (13th week at #1)

Personal
This blogger saw a new Canadian $1 coin, popularly known as a loonie, for the first time. I found it in the street outside Ivor Wynne Stadium in Hamilton while waiting to get a ticket for the game between the Tiger-Cats and the Edmonton Eskimos. The coins had been issued on June 30.

War
In the Sri Lankan Civil War, the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) carried out their first of 378 suicide attacks, as Captain Miller of the Black Tigers drove a small truck carrying explosives through the wall of a fortified Sri Lankan army camp, reportedly killing 40 soldiers.

Disasters
More than 300 people were believed to have died when a barge crossing the Luapula River between Zaire and Zambia hit a sandbar, overturned, and sank.

Tennis
Pat Cash defeated Ivan Lendl in straight sets to win the men’s singles title at Wimbledon, and started a tradition by going into the stands to celebrate his victory.

Golf
Curtis Strange won the Canadian Open at Glen Abbey Golf Course in Oakville, Ontario for the second time in three years, finishing with a 12-under-par total of 276, 3 strokes ahead of David Frost, Jodie Mudd, and Nick Price. First prize money was $108,000.

Football
CFL
Edmonton (2-0) 36 @ Hamilton (0-2) 33

Damon Allen completed 16 of 28 passes for 381 yards and 4 touchdowns and rushed 7 times for 83 yards and a touchdown to lead the Eskimos past the Tiger-Cats in a rematch of the 1986 Grey Cup contestants before a crowd announced at 15,720 (it looked larger), including this blogger, on a beautiful Sunday afternoon at Ivor Wynne Stadium. The Eskimos were leading 1-0 midway through the 1st quarter and were facing a second-down-and-31 yards-to-go situation on their own 13-yard line when Mr. Allen completed a pass to Brian Kelly for a 97-yard touchdown. It was the longest play of Mr. Kelly’s Hall of Fame career; he caught a 6-yard TD pass late in the 3rd quarter, and finished the game with 6 receptions for 198 yards. Mr. Allen’s other touchdown passes went to Tom Richards and Steve Howlett, and he ran 40 yards for the other Edmonton touchdown. Tom Dixon added 5 converts and a single on a missed field goal. Defensive tackle Mike Walker returned an interception 37 yards for the first Hamilton touchdown in the 1st quarter. Ken Hobart started at quarterback for the Tiger-Cats but broke his leg on a run out of bounds late in the 2nd quarter. Tom Porras relieved him and promptly completed a 6-yard touchdown pass to Steve Stapler. Bernie Ruoff converted the first 2 Hamilton touchdowns and added a single in the 3rd quarter. The Tiger-Cats scored a safety touch when Eskimo punt returner Henry “Gizmo” Williams made the mistake of fielding a punt in the field of play and running back into the end zone, where he was downed. The Tiger-Cats trailed 36-17, but scored 2 touchdowns and 2 two-point converts in the last 1 minute and 31 seconds of the game. Dan Huclack rushed 1 yard for a touchdown, and Mr. Porras rushed for the convert. The Tiger-Cats were awarded possession on the ensuing short kickoff, and Mr. Porras completed a 1-yard touchdown pass to Rocky DiPietro on a third-down gamble with 45 seconds remaining, and completed a pass to Mr. Stapler for the convert. Tracy Ham, dressing for his first CFL regular season game, relieved Mr. Allen late in the game and threw one incomplete pass. It was also the first CFL game for Hamilton wide receiver Earl Winfield; he caught 7 passes for 139 yards, but lost a costly fumble. Mr. Porras completed 20 of 31 passes for 234 yards. One oddity was a rare kickoff return for Edmonton centre Rod Connop, who managed 20 yards on the runback. The Eskimos sacked Messrs. Hobart and Porras 5 times, while the Tiger-Cats recorded 4 sacks of their own. Johnnie Jones, playing his first CFL game at running back for Hamilton, was held to 11 yards on 4 carries. For Jackie Parker, it turned out to be his last game as head coach of the Eskimos. He resigned the next day because of ulcers.

25 years ago
1992

Hit parade
#1 single in New Zealand (RIANZ): White Men Can't Jump--Riff (2nd week at #1)

#1 single in Austria (Ö3): It's My Life--Dr. Alban (4th week at #1)

#1 single in Switzerland: Rhythm is a Dancer--Snap! (2nd week at #1)

Died on this date
Pauline Jewett, 69. Canadian politician. Ms. Jewett was a Liberal party member of the House of Commons in the Ontario riding of Northumberland from 1962-1965, and represented the riding of New Westminster-Coquitlam for the New Democratic Party from 1979-1988. She died of cancer.

Diplomacy
U.S. President George Bush arrived in Poland, accompanied by the remains of Ignace Jan Paderewski, famed pianist and Prime Minister of Poland, who had died in New York City in 1941. Mr. Paderewski had expressed the hope of one day being buried in a free Poland.

Horse racing
Alydeed, with Craig Perret up, won the 133rd running of the Queen’s Plate at Woodbine Race Track in Toronto in a time of 2:04 3/5 seconds.

20 years ago
1997

Hit parade
#1 single in Italy (Hit Parade Italia): Around the World--Daft Punk (6th week at #1)

#1 single in Spain (PROMUSICAE): A Contratiempo--Ana Torroja

#1 single in France (SNEP): Alane--Wes (4th week at #1)

#1 single in Flanders (Ultratop 50): Ecuador--Sash! (4th week at #1)

#1 single in Wallonia (Ultratop 40): María--Ricky Martin (9th week at #1)

#1 single in Ireland (IRMA): I'll Be Missing You--Puff Daddy and Faith Evans featuring 112

#1 single in the U.K. (Chart Information Network): I'll Be Missing You--Puff Daddy and Faith Evans featuring 112 (2nd week at #1)

#1 single in the U.S.A. (Billboard): I'll Be Missing You--Puff Daddy and Faith Evans featuring 112 (4th week at #1)

Died on this date
Arunasalam Thangathurai, 61. Sri Lankan politician. Mr. Thangathurai, a Tamil and a member of the Tamil United Liberation Front, represented Mutur in the Ceylonese Parliament from 1970-1977 and the Trincomalee District in the Sri Lankan Parliament from 1994 until he and six others were killed when a grenade was thrown at them while they were attending a function at Sri Shanmuga Hindu Ladies College in Trincomalee, an area controlled by the Sri Lankan military.

Music
Sarah McLachlan opened Lilith Fair, her all-female pop festival tour, at the George Amphitheatre in George, Washington; other acts included Suzanne Vega, Paula Cole and Jewel.

Tennis
Martina Hingis, 16, became the youngest Wimbledom singles champion since Lottie Dod in 1887, defeating Jana Novotná in the women's singles final.

10 years ago
2007

Law
William Elliott, a senior bureaucrat in the Public Safety Department, was the appointed new Royal Canadian Mounted Police commissioner, replacing former commissioner Giuliano Zaccardelli. Mr. Elliott became the first outsider to lead the RCMP since the force was created in 1873.

Football
CFL
Montreal (0-2) 23 @ Winnipeg (1-0-1) 32