September 20, 2017

225 years ago
1792

War
French troops stopped an allied invasion of France in the Battle of Valmy, during the War of the First Coalition.

160 years ago
1857

War
The Indian Rebellion of 1857 ended with the recapture of Delhi by troops loyal to the British East India Company.

150 years ago
1867

War
The U.S. government declared peace with the Brule, Ogalalla, and Sioux Indian tribes at North Platte, Nebraska.

Politics and government
Voting concluded in the first Canadian federal election. The Conservatives (with 71) and Liberal-Conservatives (with 29), led by Prime Minister Sir John A. Macdonald, led with 100 seats in the 180-seat House of Commons; the Liberals, with no official leader, won 62 seats for form the official opposition, and the Anti-Confederation Party, led by Joseph Howe, won 18 of Nova Scotia's 19 seats.

110 years ago
1907

Baseball
Nick Maddox pitched a no-hitter for the Pittsburg Pirates as they edged the Brooklyn Dodgers 2-1 at Exposition Park in Pittsburg.

The Chicago White Sox swept a doubleheader from the Washington Nationals 2-1 and 13-6 at American League Park in Washington.

100 years ago
1917

Born on this date
Fernando Rey. Spanish actor. Mr. Rey appeared in more than 150 movies, including The Immortal Story (1968); The French Connection (1971); The Discreet Charm of the Bourgeoisie (1972); French Connection II (1975); and That Obscure Object of Desire (1977). He died on March 9, 1994 at the age of 76.

Red Auerbach. U.S. basketball coach and executive. Arnold Jacob Auerbach coached the Washington Capitols (1946-49); Tri-Cities Blackhawks (1949-50); and Boston Celtics (1950-66), compiling a regular season record of 938-479 and a playoff record 99-69. He pioneered the use of the fast break and Negro players, and emphasized the importance of team play as he led the Celtics to nine National Basketball Association championships in his last 10 seasons as coach, including the last eight straight years. Mr. Auerbach served as the team's general manager from 1966-1984 and president from 1984-1997 and vice chairman from 1997 until his death, accumulating seven more championship rings. The NBA's Coach of the Year trophy, which he had won in 1965, was named after him in 1967, and Mr. Auerbach was inducted into the Basketball Hall of Fame in 1969. He died on October 28, 2006 at the age of 89.

Clarice Taylor. U.S. actress. Miss Taylor was mainly a stage actress, but also acted in film and television, and was nominated for an Emmy Award in 1986 for her recurring supporting role as Anna Huxtable in the comedy series The Cosby Show. She died on May 30, 2011 at the age of 93.

Politics and government
The Canadian Parliament passed the Military Voters Act and Wartime Elections Act, giving the vote to soldiers and sailors under 21, and serving women; wives, widows, mothers, and sisters of servicemen also got the vote; the first women ever to be able to vote in Canadian federal elections. The act also disenfranchised "enemy-alien" citizens naturalized after March 31, 1902, unless they had relatives serving in the armed forces, and took away the vote from Canadians who had emigrated from enemy countries--especially German-Canadians and Ukrainian-Canadians--and also from conscientious objectors.

90 years ago
1927

Died on this date
George Nichols, 62. U.S. actor and director. Mr. Nichols acted in 221 movies from 1908-1928 and directed 103 movies from 1911-1916. As an actor, he often played Mabel Normand's father, and he directed several comedies starring Fatty Arbuckle.

80 years ago
1937

Died on this date
Henry Denhardt, 61. U.S. politician. Mr. Denhardt, a Democrat, was Lieutenant Governor of Kentucky from 1923-1927. He was adjutant general of the Kentucky National Guard when his girlfriend, Verna Garr Taylor, died on November 6, 1936. Mr. Denhardt claimed that Mrs. Taylor, a widow, had shot herself immediately after returning his engagement ring. He was charged with murder, but the trial ended in a hung jury. Mr. Denhardt was shot to death at the Armstrong Hotel in Shelbyville in what was apparently a Kentucky version of an "honour killing." For further reading, see A Black Night for the Bluegrass Belle by Ian Punnett (2015).

75 years ago
1942

On the radio
Stage, on CBC
Tonight's episode: Nazi Eyes on Canada: Premiere Show, with guest star Helen Hayes

Died on this date
Walther von Lüttwitz, 83. German military officer. General Lüttwitz served in World War I, but was best known for his leadership role in the Kapp-Lüttwitz Putsch, which attempted to replace the government of the Weimar Republic with a military dictatorship in March 1920, but collapsed after several days. General Lüttwitz went into exile in Hungary, but returned to Germany in 1924 after an amnesty. He was not active in politics in later years.

Abominations
In the course of two days, a German einsatzgruppen murdered at least 3,000 Jews in Letychiv.

World events
The Mexico City newspaper Novedades said that troops were being sent to Veracruz following the September 15 assassination of Federal Deputy Salvador Gonzales.

Journalism
The U.S. Post Office barred National Police Gazette from the mails for publishing lewd and lascivious material.

Track and field
Gunder Haegg set a world record in the men's 5,000-metre run of 13:58.2 in Goteborg, Sweden.

Football
NFL
Pre-season
Chicago Bears 14 U.S. Army Eastern All-Stars 7 @ Boston

70 years ago
1947

Hit parade
#1 single in the U.S.A. (Billboard): Near You--Francis Craig and his Orchestra

Died on this date
Fiorello H. La Guardia, 64. U.S. politician. Mr. La Guardia, nicknamed "The Little Flower," was a Republican who represented New York's 14th District in the U.S. House of Representatives from 1917-1919 and the state's 20th District from 1923-1933, but was best known as Mayor of New York City from 1934-1945. He was a reform politician who defeated the Tammany Hall machine and cleaned up corruption, and was ranked as the best mayor in American history in a 1993 poll of historians and social scientists. Mr. La Guardia died of pancreatic cancer.

Diplomacy
The British cabinet of Prime Minister Clement Attlee accepted the majority recommendations of the United Nations Palestine Inquiry Commission, but urged the United Nations to share responsibility for putting them into effect.

Indian Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru and Pakistani Prime Minister Nawabzada Liaqat Ali Kahn of Pakistan issued a joint statement renouncing war between their countries as "repugnant" to both.

Politics and government
A cabinet shuffle in Bavaria resulted in a government composed entirely of Christian Social Union ministers.

The U.S. House of Representatives Committee on Un-American Activities subpoenaed 43 prominent entertainment industry figures, including Walt Disney and Charlie Chaplin, for hearings on Communism in Hollywood.

Former U.S. Vice President Henry Wallace, speaking in Trenton, New Jersey, declared that he was willing to cooperate with Communists or "any [other] group that wants to promote understanding with Russia."

Economics and finance
Hungary concluded a trade agreement with the U.K. and U.S. zones in Germany.

Disasters
A hurricane began to disintegrate in Arkansas after cutting through the Gulf of Mexico states in the past three days, causing over $26 million in damage and 90 reported deaths.

Football
CRU
WIFU
Calgary (1-1) @ Saskatchewan (0-2) (postponed)

ORFU
Ottawa (0-2-1) 5 @ Hamilton (3-0) 16
Sarnia (0-3) 2 @ Windsor (1-3) 6

The Stampeders' games against the Roughriders in Regina on September 20 and against the Blue Bombers in Winnipeg on September 22 were postponed for a week because of heavy rain in Regina and Winnipeg. The Roughriders' scheduled visit to Calgary on September 27 was postponed to October 6.

60 years ago
1957

Hit parade
#1 single in France (IFOP): Bambino--Dalida (25th week at #1)

#1 single in the U.K. (New Musical Express): Diana--Paul Anka (4th week at #1)

Died on this date
Jean Sibelius, 91. Finnish composer. Mr. Sibelius was active in the late Romantic and early modern eras, and is regarded as the greatest composer in Finnish history. He wrote seven symphonies, and works such as Finlandia; Karelia Suite; and Valse triste.

War
Sources in Havana reported that 12 Cuban Air Force pilots who had refused to bomb guerrilla positions had been sentenced to prison terms of 8-10 years.

Defense
The U.S. Air Force successfully test-fired its Thor intermediate-range ballistic missile from Cape Canaveral, Florida. Air Force Chief of Staff General Thomas White disclosed development of a new "line of sight" radar system capable of detecting missiles at a distance of 3,000 miles.

Diplomatic sources in Paris reported that the U.S.S.R. had agreed to triple Syria's jet force of 40 MiG-17s and to provide 50 II-28 jet bombers.

Politics and government
Deputy Prime Minister Keith Holoake succeeded Sidney Holland, who resigned because of ill health, as Prime Minister of New Zealand.

Education
U.S. Federal District Court Judge Ronald Davies issued a preliminary injunction against the use of National Guard troops to bar Negro students from entering Central High School in Little Rock.

Boxing
Archie Moore (163-21-8) retained his world light heavyweight title with a knockout of Tony Anthony (31-5-1) at 2:29 of the 7th round at Olympic Auditorium in Los Angeles. Mr. Anthony was knocked down in the 6th and 7th rounds. Mr. Moore had to make six trips to the scale before making the 175-pound weight limit.

50 years ago
1967

Hit parade
#1 single in the U.K. (Record Retailer): The Last Waltz--Engelbert Humperdinck (3rd week at #1)

Australia's Top 10 (Go-Set)
1 Up-Up and Away--The 5th Dimension (2nd week at #1)
2 Don't Sleep in the Subway--Petula Clark
3 All You Need is Love/Baby, You're a Rich Man--The Beatles
4 San Francisco (Be Sure to Wear Flowers in Your Hair)--Scott McKenzie
5 In the Chapel in the Moonlight--Dean Martin
6 To Love Somebody--The Bee Gees
7 Woman You're Breaking Me--The Groop
8 It Must Be Him--Vikki Carr
9 The Monkees Vol. 1 (EP): (Theme from) The Monkees--The Monkees
10 A Whiter Shade of Pale--Procol Harum

Singles entering the chart were Little Ole Wine Drinker, Me by Dean Martin (#23); My Mammy by the Happenings (#30); Reflections of Charles Brown by Rupert's People (#34); Dream Girl by Davy Jones (#35); I Have Loved Me a Man by Morgana King (#36) Death of a Clown by Dave Davies (#37); We Love You/Dandelion by the Rolling Stones (#38); and I was Made to Love Her by Stevie Wonder (#40).

Transportation
The U.K. liner RMS Queen Elizabeth 2 was launched at John Brown & Company, Clydebank, Scotland.

Football
CFL
Calgary (7-2) 13 @ Toronto (3-4) 22

Jim Dillard rushed for 95 yards and 2 touchdowns and passed 50 yards to Joe Williams for another TD as the Argonauts upset the Stampeders before 22,092 fans at CNE Stadium. The Toronto offense, quarterbacked by Wally Gabler and Tom Wilkinson, amassed 269 yards rushing, with Mr. Gabler gaining 67 yards, Mr. Williams 50, and Jim Greth 49. Mr. Gabler completed 7 of 13 passes, and Mr. Wilkinson, playing his first Canadian Football League game, was 2 for 5 while seeing action briefly in the 2nd quarter. Mr. Wilkinson's first pass was intercepted by Dick Dupuis. The Toronto defense kept up the pressure on Calgary quarterback Peter Liske, who completed just 15 of 31 passes and threw 3 interceptions. Frank Andruski scored the first Calgary touchdown when he blocked Dave Mann's punt and returned it 3 yards for the score. Lovell Coleman scored the other Calgary TD, set up by Jerry Keeling's interception of one of Mr. Gabler's passes. Calgary's Terry Evanshen led all receivers with 155 yards on 8 receptions, including a 61-yard gain in the 3rd quarter.

40 years ago
1977

On television tonight
Family, on ABC
Tonight's episode: Act of Love: Part 2

War
Lebanese and Palestinian sources reported that Israeli mobile units had crossed into Lebanon to help Lebanese Christian forces in intensified fighting against Palestinian guerrillas.

Diplomacy
The Socialist Republic of Vietnam was admitted to the United Nations.

World events
The first wave of Southeast Asian "boat people" arrived in San Francisco under a U.S. resettlement program.

Economics and finance
The Canadian government of Prime Minister Pierre Trudeau announced the removal of wage and price controls, effective April 14, 1978. The controls had been introduced in October 1975.

The government of Canada began a three-year program to protect the textile and clothing industry from imports.

Energy
Canada and the United States signed an agreement in Ottawa for construction of a 2,700-mile natural gas pipeline across the Yukon Territory for shipment of Alaska natural gas.

Labour
Sudbury, Ontario-based Inco announced layoffs of 3,500 mining and smelting workers in Canada by mid-1978.

30 years ago
1987

Hit parade
#1 single in New Zealand (RIANZ): La Bamba--Los Lobos (4th week at #1)

#1 single in Switzerland: Boys (Summertime Love)--Sabrina (2nd week at #1)

#1 single in France: Joe le taxi--Vanessa Paradis (8th week at #1)

Religion
Pope John Paul II concluded his visit to the United States and Canada with a mass for 4,000 natives in Fort Simpson, Northwest Territories. The pontiff had been unable to visit the northern community during his previous Canadian visit in 1984.

Football
CFL
Hamilton (6-5) 29 @ Toronto (6-5-1) 39
Winnipeg (8-4) 20 @ British Columbia (8-3) 30

Gill Fenerty rushed 19 times for 76 yards and 3 touchdowns as the Argonauts defeated the Tiger-Cats before 26,619 fans (including this blogger) at Exhibition Stadium. Danny Barrett completed a touchdown pass to Darrell K. Smith for the other Toronto touchdown. The teams combined for 12 turnovers, 8 in the 1st quarter; the Argonauts took advantage of 6 of them to build a 23-1 lead in the 2nd quarter. Mike Kerrigan, who relieved an ineffective Tom Porras in the 2nd quarter, completed touchdown passes of 7 and 65 yards to Tony Champion and 30 yards to Jacques Chapdelaine, and handed off to Dan Huclack for a 1-yard run for the other Hamilton touchdown. Mr. Champion led all receivers with 11 receptions for 202 yards, while Tiger-Cats’ running back Johnnie Jones, who rushed 6 times for just 4 yards, gained 103 yards on 7 receptions. Mr. Kerrigan completed 25 of 41 passes for 408 yards. Pete Catan, who had been a star defensive end with the Winnipeg Blue Bombers from 1981-1983 before jumping to the United States Football League, made his return to the CFL with the Tiger-Cats, but was released after having a poor game, and never played again. It was one of the few CFL games of 1987 that wasn’t televised, which wasn’t a bad thing, the way it turned out.

Larry Crawford returned a punt 82 yards for a touchdown with 4:48 remaining in the 4th quarter to clinch victory for the Lions over the Blue Bombers before 39,859 fans at B.C. Place Stadium in Vancouver. B.C. quarterback Roy Dewalt threw touchdown passes of 14 yards to Jan Carinci in the 2nd quarter and 33 yards to Jim Sandusky in the 4th quarter. Winnipeg quarterback Tom Clements completed a 6-yard touchdown pass to Nick Arakgi just 1:37 into the game, and later connected with James Murphy for 2 touchdowns. Winnipeg’s Willard Reaves led all rushers with 17 carries for 128 yards.

25 years ago
1992

Hit parade
#1 single in New Zealand (RIANZ): Achy Breaky Heart--Billy Ray Cyrus (3rd week at #1)

#1 single in Austria (Ö3): ABBA-esque--Erasure (8th week at #1)

#1 single in Switzerland: Rhythm is a Dancer--Snap! (13th week at #1)

Space
The 50th U.S. space shuttle mission--STS-47--ended when Endeavour and her seven-member crew landed at Cape Canaveral, Florida, eight days after liftoff.

Politics and government
51% of voters in a referendum in France approved the 1991 Maastricht treaty of the European Community on European Union.

Economics and finance
The Royal Bank of Canada reported per capita debt in Saskatchewan as $14,000, the highest in Canada, and 75% higher than Québec; total provincial debt was almost $14 billion.

Football
CFL
Edmonton (7-4) 18 @ Saskatchewan (6-5) 22
Winnipeg (5-6) 29 @ Calgary (8-3) 57

Kent Austin completed touchdown passes to Don Narcisse and Reggie Brown in the 3rd quarter as the Roughriders defeated the Eskimos before 22,256 fans at Taylor Field in Regina. Edmonton quarterback Tracy Ham completed just 7 of 24 passes for 106 yards—including a 6-yard TD pass to Craig Ellis in the 2nd quarter—before being pulled in favour of Tom Muecke in the 4th quarter. Michael Soles rushed 3 yards for the other Edmonton touchdown in the 3rd quarter.

The Stampeders outscored the Blue Bombers 46-9 in the 2nd half before 22,320 fans at McMahon Stadium. Calgary quarterback Doug Flutie completed just 14 of 36 passes, but connected for touchdowns with Derrick Crawford and PeeWee Smith. Andy McVey rushed for 2 Calgary touchdowns, and Eric Mitchel rushed for another. Karl Anthony returned an interception 32 yards for a touchdown, and backup quarterback Steve Taylor threw a TD pass to Allen Pitts. Sammy Garza played the entire game at quarterback for the Blue Bombers, completing just 17 of 40 passes, including touchdowns to Rob Crifo and Larry Thompson. The Calgary defense sacked Mr. Garza 7 times.



Baseball
Philadelphia Phillies' second baseman Mickey Morandini became the ninth player in major league history to turn an unassisted triple play as the Phillies lost 3-2 to the Pittsburgh Pirates in 13 innings before 21,652 fans at Three Rivers Stadium in Pittsburgh. There were runners on first and second bases in the 6th inning when Mr. Morandini caught Jeff King's line drive for the first out, stepped on second base to double off Andy Van Slyke, and tagged Barry Bonds, running from first base, for the third out. The Pirates won the game when Mr. King singled home Cecil Espy from second base with 2 out in the bottom of the 13th.



Sid Fernandez pitched a 5-hitter to win the pitchers' duel over Ken Hill as the New York Mets edged the Montreal Expos 1-0 before 22,257 fans at Shea Stadium in New York. Ryan Thompson singled home Jeff Kent with 2 out in the bottom of the 2nd inning for the game's only run. Mr. Fernandez improved his 1992 record to 13-10, while Mr. Hill,who allowed 6 hits and 1 earned run in 7 innings, fell to 16-9.

The Atlanta Braves scored 8 runs in the first 2 innings on their way to a 16-1 rout of the Houston Astros before 40,493 fans at Atlanta-Fulton County Stadium. Terry Pendleton and David Justice each drove in 4 runs, with Mr. Justice hitting a 3-run home run and a triple.

Rod Brewer batted 5 for 5 with 4 runs and a run batted in, and Stan Royer was 4 for 5 with a home run, 4 runs, and 4 RBIs to help the St. Louis Cardinals rout the Chicago Cubs 16-4 before 28,101 fans at Wrigley Field in Chicago. The Cardinals scored 7 runs in the first 2 innings, and 7 in the last 2 innings.

The San Francisco Giants, aided by 2 errors, scored 2 runs with 2 out in the bottom of the 9th inning to defeat the Los Angeles Dodgers 3-2 before 21,633 fans at Candlestick Park in San Francisco. Willie McGee came home with the winning run on an infield single by Matt Williams.

The Minnesota Twins scored 3 runs in the top of the 9th inning to defeat the California Angels 7-5 before 20,685 fans at Anaheim Stadium.

20 years ago
1997

Hit parade
#1 single in Italy (Hit Parade Italia): Mr. Gorgeous (and Miss Curvaceous)--Smoke City (2nd week at #1)

#1 single in Spain (PROMUSICAE): Salomé--Bunbury

#1 single in France (SNEP): Candle in the Wind 1997--Elton John (2nd week at #1)

#1 single in Flanders (Ultratop 50): Something About the Way You Look Tonight/Candle in the Wind 1997--Elton John

#1 single in Wallonia (Ultratop 40): Something About the Way You Look Tonight/Candle in the Wind 1997--Elton John

#1 single in Ireland (IRMA): Candle in the Wind 1997/Something About the Way You Look Tonight--Elton John

#1 single in the U.K. (Chart Information Network): Candle in the Wind 1997/Something About the Way You Look Tonight--Elton John

#1 single in the U.S.A. (Billboard): Honey--Mariah Carey (2nd week at #1)

Football
CFL
Toronto (11-2) 25 @ Edmonton (8-5) 24

Doug Flutie completed a 71-yard touchdown pass to Derrell "Mookie" Mitchell with 7:34 remaining in regulation time, and Mike Vanderjagt's convert proved to be the winning point as the Argonauts overcame a 17-3 deficit to edge the Eskimos before 38,619 fans at Commonwealth Stadium in an entertaining game on a beautiful night. Edmonton quarterback Danny McManus completed 21 of 35 passes for 259 yards, including an 8-yard touchdown to Robert Gordon. Henry "Gizmo" Williams, aided by a great block from Jed Roberts, scored the other Edmonton touchdown on a 72-yard punt return. Sean Fleming converted both Edmonton touchdowns and added 3 field goals and a single.



10 years ago
2007

Protest
15,000-20,000 protesters marched on Jena, Louisiana in support of six Negro youths who had been convicted of assaulting a white classmate.

Economics and finance
The Canadian dollar reached parity with the U.S. dollar for the first time in nearly 31 years, boosted by high commodity prices and a weakening U.S. dollar.