August 6, 2017

350 years ago
1667

Born on this date
Johann Bernoulli. Swiss mathematician. Dr. Bernoulli was known for his contributions to infinitesimal calculus. He died on January 1, 1748 at the age of 80.

240 years ago
1777

War
Sir John Johnson, with John Butler, Joseph Brant and a force of Loyalists and Indians, ambushed American General Nicholas Herkimer carrying reinforcements in the Battle of Oriskany, New York.

150 years ago
1867

Died on this date
David R. Porter, 78. U.S. politician. Mr. Porter, a Democrat, was Governor of Pennsylvania from 1839-1845, and was the first Governor under the state's constitution, which was adopted in 1838.

Politics and government
The British House of Lords passed the Reform bill.

125 years ago
1892

Born on this date
Hoot Gibson. U.S. actor. A real cowboy who ended up in movies, Mr. Gibson was one of the most popular western stars of the 1920s and early '30s. His breakthrough role was in Action (1921), directed by John Ford. Mr. Gibson died on August 23, 1962, 17 days after his 70th birthday.

Baseball
Jack Stivetts pitched a no-hitter as the Boston Beaneaters blanked the Brooklyn Bridegrooms 11-0 at South End Grounds in Baltimore.

100 years ago
1917

Born on this date
John McGillen. U.S. baseball pitcher. Mr. McGillen appeared in 2 games with the Philadelphia Athletics in 1944, posting a 0-0 record with an 18.00 earned run average in 1 inning. He appeared in 30 games with the Lancaster Red Roses of the Class B Interstate League that year, and was 10-11 with a 5.20 ERA; in 1945 he was 1-1 with a 3.66 ERA in 12 games with the Milwaukee Brewers of the AA American Association. Mr. McGillen died on August 11, 1987, five days after his 70th birthday.

Robert Mitchum. U.S. actor. Mr. Mitchum was a major star of film noir in movies such as Out of the Past (1947) and Crossfire (1947). His other films included The Night of the Hunter (1955); Heaven Knows, Mr. Allison (1957); Thunder Road (1958); and Cape Fear (1962). Mr. Mitchum was a heavy smoker and died of lung cancer and emphysema on July 1, 1997, about five weeks before his 80th birthday.

War
The Battle of Mărășești began on the Romanian front, with Germany and Austria-Hungary against Romania and Russia.

90 years ago
1927

Torontonia
The Prince of Wales (later King Edward VIII) cut the ribbon and officially opened Union Station.

75 years ago
1942

War
The Royal Canadian Navy destroyer HMCS Assiniboine pursued and rammed the German submarine U-210 in the North Atlantic fog, finally sinking her with a 4.7-inch shell. German troops captured Tikhoretsk, at the junction of the Krasnodar-Stalingrad and Rostov-Baku railroads. The British War Office announced that a Palestine volunteer regiment consisting of separate Arab and Jewish battalions would be created immediately for the British Army in the Middle East.

Defense
The RCN ship HMCS Kenora was commissioned at Esquimalt, British Columbia. The U.S. Army formed two new airborne units: the 82nd, commanded by Brigadier General Matthew Ridgway; and the 101st, commanded by Brigadier General William C. Lee.

Politics and government
Queen Wilhelmina of the Netherlands became the first reigning queen to address a joint session of the United States Congress; she said that despite German cruelties in Holland, the motto of her people remained: "No Surrender."

Crime
U.S. Federal Judge Arthur Tuttle sentenced Max Stephan to be hanged for treason for aiding an escaped German prisoner.

Economics and finance
U.S. President Franklin D. Roosevelt vetoed a bill to create a separate rubber agency and then appointed a three-man panel--Bernard Baruch, James Conant, and Karl Compton--to investigate the rubber situation. Reese Taylor of the U.S. War Production Board told the Senate committee, headed by Sen. Harry Truman (Democrat--Missouri) investigating waste, that only 5,690,000 tons of steel had been delivered in June, although there had been orders for 11,074,725 tons.

Labour
The U.S.A. and Mexico signed an agreement whereby Mexican farm workers would be brought into the United States to work where domestic labour was not available.

70 years ago
1947

Died on this date
William Callahan, 83. U.S. judge. Mr. Callahan was the presiding judge in the retrial (1933-1937) of the Scottsboro Boys, nine Negro youths accused of raping two white women in Alabama in 1931.

Adventure
The Lloyd George Mountains Exploration Expedition announced that its members had scaled the 9,800-foot peaks of the Lloyd George group, the last unclimbed group in the Canadian Rockies.

Politics and government
U.S. President Harry Truman vetoed a bill for a 24-member National Science Foundation, claiming that it set up a cumbersome organization and deprived the President of necessary administrative power.

Protest
Tunisian labour leaders ended a three-day general strike in protest against French refusal to grant the colony self-government.

Economics and finance
U.K. Prime Minister Clement Attlee presented the House of Commons with an austerity program calling for a 40% reduction in food imports; demobilization of skilled workers in the armed forces; and a drive to increase British imports to 150% of the 1939 level by 1948.

U.S. and U.K. representatives of the Allied Coordinating Committee in Berlin declared that they would list no more plants as available for reparations until the level of the German industry was raised and the U.S.S.R. cooperated in the country's economic unification.

U.S. Undersecretary of State William Clayton concluded a three-day conference in Paris on European economic problems with the U.S. Ambassadors to Britain and France, who emphasized that American aid was urgently needed.

Scandal
Aircraft manufacturer Howard Hughes made his first appearance before the U.S. Senate War Investigating Committee, and charged that committee chairman Owen Brewster (Republican--Maine) had offered to call off the investigation if Mr. Hughes agreed to merge his Trans World Airlines with Pan American Airways, in which Sen. Brewster had a partial interest. Mr. Hughes also stated, regarding his flying boat H-4 Hercules:

The Hercules was a monumental undertaking. It is the largest aircraft ever built. It is over five stories tall with a wingspan longer than a football field. That's more than a city block. Now, I put the sweat of my life into this thing. I have my reputation all rolled up in it and I have stated several times that if it's a failure, I'll probably leave this country and never come back. And I mean it.

60 years ago
1957

Economics and finance
Western European governments rejected the latest West German offer of indemnification to their nationals who had been persecuted by the Nazis.

Following two weeks of negotiations in Moscow, Soviet and Syrian officials signed a joint communique pledging extensive Soviet aid for industrial, road communications, and irrigation projects.

Labour
U.S. Senate Internal Security subcommittee counsel Robert Morris charged that 16 officials of the International Union of Electrical, Radio and Machine Workers had been identified as Communists or former Communists.

Football
IRFU-WIFU
Pre-season
Saskatchewan (1-1) 20 @ Montreal (3-0) 32

Pat Abbruzzi scored 2 touchdowns for the Alouettes as they defeated the Roughriders before 20,317 fans at Molson Stadium.

50 years ago
1967

Music
The Monkees performed at Veterans Memorial Auditorium in Des Moines, Iowa.

Baseball
Dean Chance pitched 5 perfect innings and struck out for the game's final out as the Minnesota Twins blanked the Boston Red Sox 2-0 before 26,003 fans at Metropolitan Stadium in Bloomington in a game that was called because of rain with 1 out in the bottom of the 5th inning. Mr. Chance improved his record for the season to 14-8, while losing pitcher Jim Lonborg allowed 4 hits and 2 earned runs in 4 1/3 innings to drop to 15-5.

Wally Bunker and Tom Phoebus were the respective winning pitchers as the Baltimore Orioles swept the American League-leading Chicago White Sox 5-2 and 4-0 in a doubleheader before 18,339 fans at Memorial Stadium in Baltimore.

Horace Clarke, Jake Gibbs, and Charley Smith each had 3 hits for the New York Yankees as they beat the Kansas City Athletics 9-6 before 16, 408 fans at Municipal Stadium in Kansas City. Jack Sanford, the second of five Kansas City pitchers, entered the game to begin the 7th inning with the Athletics leading 6-3, and allowed 3 hits and 2 runs--both earned--in 1/3 inning in the 393rd and last game of his 12-year major league career.

Pinch hitter Ty Cline singled home Hal Lanier with 1 out in the top of the 10th inning and scored on a single by Jesus Alou to break a 7-7 tie as the San Francisco Giants beat the New York Mets 9-7 in the first game of a doubleheader before 46,615 fans at Shea Stadium in New York. The Giants completed the sweep with a 4-1 win in the second game, with Willie McCovey's 3-run home run breaking a 1-1 tie in the 8th inning. Billy Wynne made his major league debut on the mound for New York in the second game, relieving starting and losing pitcher Danny Frisella for the 9th inning and retiring all 3 batters he faced.

The Philadelphia Phillies scored 3 runs in the bottom of the 6th inning and 5 in the 8th as they overcame a 4-0 deficit to defeat the Houston Astros 8-4 before 25,845 fans at Connie Mack Stadium in Philadelphia. Dave Giusti started on the mound for Houston and hit a 2-run home run to give the Astros a 3-0 lead in the 4th, but was pulled in favour of eventual losing pitcher Don Wilson with 2 out in the 6th.

40 years ago
1977

Hit parade
#1 single in Italy (Hit Parade Italia): Ti Amo'--Umberto Tozzi (3rd week at #1)

#1 single in Switzerland: Yes Sir, I Can Boogie--Baccara (5th week at #1)

#1 single in the Netherlands (Veronica Top 40): Yes Sir, I Can Boogie--Baccara (3rd week at #1)

#1 single in Ireland: When Benji Wrapped his Tractor Round the Old Oak Tree--Brendan Grace

#1 single in the U.K (BMRB): I Feel Love--Donna Summer (3rd week at #1)

#1 single in the U.S.A. (Billboard): I Just Want to Be Your Everything--Andy Gibb (2nd week at #1)

U.S.A. Top 10 (Cash Box)
1 I Just Want to Be Your Everything--Andy Gibb (2nd week at #1)
2 Undercover Angel--Alan O'Day
3 Best of My Love--Emotions
4 Whatcha Gonna Do?--Pablo Cruise
5 My Heart Belongs to Me--Barbra Streisand
6 (Your Love Has Lifted Me) Higher and Higher--Rita Coolidge
7 I'm in You--Peter Frampton
8 Easy--Commodores
9 You Made Me Believe in Magic--Bay City Rollers
10 Da Doo Ron Ron--Shaun Cassidy

Singles entering the chart were Jungle Love by the Steve Miller Band (#73); I Feel Love by Donna Summer (#84); See You When I Git There by Lou Rawls (#90); Nothing But a Breeze by Jesse Winchester (#91); Daytime Friends by Kenny Rogers (#92); Don't it Make My Brown Eyes Blue by Crystal Gayle (#93); For a While by Mary MacGregor (#98); and (I’ve Been Lookin’ For) A New Way to Say I Love You by Driver (#99).

Canada's top 10 (RPM)
1 I Just Want to Be Your Everything--Andy Gibb
2 Da Doo Ron Ron--Shaun Cassidy
3 I'm in You--Peter Frampton
4 My Heart Belongs to Me--Barbra Streisand
5 Knowing Me, Knowing You--ABBA
6 Undercover Angel--Alan O'Day
7 Jet Airliner--Steve Miller Band
8 Whatcha Gonna Do?--Pablo Cruise
9 It's Sad to Belong--England Dan & John Ford Coley
10 You and Me--Alice Cooper

Singles entering the chart were Little Darling (I Need You) by the Doobie Brothers (#90); Nobody Does it Better by Carly Simon (#91); That's Rock 'n' Roll by Shaun Cassidy (#92); The Greatest Love of All by George Benson (#93); Cat Scratch Fever by Ted Nugent (#94); Help is on the Way by Little River Band (#95); I'm Dreaming by Jennifer Warnes (#96); It's Uncanny by Daryl Hall and John Oates (#97); Down the Hall by the Four Seasons (#98); In the Middle by Tim Moore (#99); and Platinum Heroes by Bruce Foster (#100).

Terrorism
At least 11 people were killed and 76 wounded in the bombing of a variety store in Salisbury, Rhodesia.

Economics and finance
The United States, five other industrial nations, and five oil-exporting nations agreed to provide $10 billion in loans to a special International Monetary Fund account to help poor countries hurt by the world economic slowdown and oil price increases. The U.S., if approved by Congress, would contribute $1.7 billion.

U.S. President Jimmy Carter disclosed his administration's proposals for overhauling the nation's welfare system, which incorporated a work requirement for many recipients, and increased payments and tax benefits for lower- and middle-income workers.

Baseball
Tye Waller had a double and single, scored 2 runs, and drove in another to help the Calgary Cardinals defeat the Great Falls Giants 6-3 in a Pioneer League game before 520 fans at Foothills Park in Calgary. Jim Gott allowed 7 hits and 3 runs--2 earned--in 6 1/3 innings, walking 3 batters and striking out 9, to get the win and improve his record for the season to 2-1. Jeff Stember started on the mound for Great Falls, but was relieved after 2 innings despite not allowing a run, although he walked 4 batters and hit another. Keith Bailey pitched the last 6 innings for the Giants, allowing 10 hits and 6 earned runs to take the loss, dropping to 2-2. The game was broadcast in Calgary on CFAC radio.

30 years ago
1987

Politics and government
David Owen resigned as leader of Britain's Social Democratic Party after members of his party voted to merge with the Liberals.

25 years ago
1992

Hit parade
#1 single in Ireland (IRMA): Ain't No Doubt--Jimmy Nail (3rd week at #1)

Football
CFL
Winnipeg (3-2) 6 @ Toronto (2-3) 32
Ottawa (2-3) 14 @ Edmonton (4-1) 29
Hamilton (3-2) 27 @ British Columbia (0-5) 25

The Argonauts made 4 interceptions against former Toronto quarterback Matt Dunigan as they routed the Blue Bombers before a SkyDome crowd of 32,201. Don Wilson returned one of the interceptions 94 yards for a touchdown with 56 seconds left in the game. The other Toronto touchdowns were scored by Raghib “Rocket” Ismail on a 1-yard rush in the 2nd quarter and quarterback Rickey Foggie on a 1-yard rush in the 4th quarter.

Blake Marshall rushed 50 yards for a touchdown on a third-down short-yardage gamble in the 1st quarter and 1 yard for another TD in the 2nd quarter as the Eskimos defeated the Rough Riders before 25,113 fans at Commonwealth Stadium for their second win over Ottawa in as many weeks. Edmonton quarterback Tracy Ham completed a 31-yard touchdown pass to Jim Sandusky in the 4th quarter. The Rough Riders scored the first touchdown 3:29 into the game on a 22-yard pass from Tom Burgess to David Conrad, and the last TD on an 18-yard pass from Mr. Burgess to Mr. Conrad with 56 seconds remaining in the game.

Damon Allen completed 2 touchdown passes to Orville Lee and rushed 9 yards for the winning touchdown with 5:24 remaining in the game as the Tiger-Cats edged the Lions before 24,606 fans at B.C. Place Stadium in Vancouver. B.C. quarterback Tony Kimbrough threw touchdown passes of 43 and 12 yards to Kasey Dunn and another of 17 yards to Mike Trevathan. The Lions had a chance to tie the game, but kicker Lui Passaglia’s 52-yard field goal attempt was wide and went for a single point with 1 second remaining in regulation time. Mr. Kimbrough completed 30 of 56 passes for 456 yards, while Mr. Allen was 20 for 38 for 303 yards, and rushed 7 times for 59 yards.

10 years ago
2007

Disasters
The Crandall Canyon Mine in central Utah collapsed, trapping six coal miners. All six miners died, along with three rescuers, who were killed 10 days later.