November 15, 2017

Born on this date
Happy Birthday, Ken Powless and Deyanira Martin Mendez!

240 years ago
1777

Politics and government
The U.S. Second Continental Congress adopted the Articles of Confederation.

125 years ago
1892

Died on this date
Thomas Neill Cream, 42. U.K. criminal. Dr. Cream was born in England but grew up in Quebec, and received his medical training at McGill University. He lived in England, Canada, and the United States, performing illegal abortions on prostitutes and murdering people by poison. Dr. Cream was imprisoned in Joliet Prison in Illinois from 1881-1891, and returned to England. He continued his criminal ways, and was eventually arrested and convicted of the murders of four prostitutes, the attempted murder of a fifth, and extortion. Dr. Cream was hanged at Newgate Prison.

120 years ago
1897

Born on this date
Aneurin Bevan. U.K. politician. Mr. Bevan, a native of Wales, was a member of the Labour Party, and represented Ebbw Vale in the House of Commons (1929-1960). He was Minister of Health in the government of Prime Minister Clement Attlee (1945-1951), and introduced the National Health Service. Mr. Bevan served as Minister of Labour from January-April 1951, but resigned in a policy dispute. He unsuccessfully contested the Labour Party leadership in 1955, but served as Deputy Leader of the party from May 1959 until his death from stomach cancer on July 6, 1960 at the age of 62.

100 years ago
1917

Died on this date
Émile Durkheim, 59. French sociologist. Dr. Durkheim was one of the founders of sociology, and formally established it as an academic discipline. His books included The Division of Labour in Society (1893); The Rules of Sociological Method (1895); and Suicide (1897). Dr. Durkheim never recovered from his son's death in combat during World War I in 1915, and died of a stroke.

Oswald Chambers, 43. U.K. evangelist and educator. Mr. Chambers, a Baptist and later a Pentecostal evangelist, founded and was the principal of Bible Training College in Clapham Common, London, from 1911-1915. In October 1915, he arrived at Zeitoun Camp in Egypt as a Young Men's Christian Association chaplain to British soldiers during World War I. Mr. Chambers died a month after being stricken with appendicitis; he refused an operation, believing that wounded soldiers were more in need of treatment. Material from his lectures at Bible Training College and the Zeitoun Huts were collected and published in the popular daily devotional My Utmost for his Highest (1927).

75 years ago
1942

War
The Naval Battle of Guadalcanal ended in a victory for U.S. forces over Japanese forces. British forces, reinforced by American armoured columns, drove into Tunisia from Algeria for a battle with an estimated 10,000 German and Italian troops believed to have been rushed from Italy. French armed forces chief Admiral Jean-Francois Darlan appointed General H.H. Giraud as "military chief" of French Africa. Regent of Iceland Sveinn Bjornsson announced that British forces had left Iceland, giving place to "the American Army which is here at our request." Australian troops in northeastern New Guinea took Llimow and Wairopi, and advanced toward the Japanese base of Buna, 40 miles away, while American troops closed in from the south.

Disasters
The Royal Canadian Navy destroyer HMCS Saguenay was rammed by the Panamanian freighter Azra off Cape Race, Newfoundland; the impact set off Saguenay's depth charges, which blew off her stern. Saguenay made port at Saint John, New Brunswick, where her stern was plated over, and in October 1943 she was towed to Cornwallis.

Weather
In one of the worst days in Edmonton's history, the city was hit by 19.5 inches of snow as the temperature dropped to -13 F.

70 years ago
1947

Hit parade
#1 single in the U.S.A. (Billboard): Near You--Francis Craig and his Orchestra (9th week at #1)

U.S.A. Top 10 (Cash Box)
1 Near You--Francis Craig and his Orchestra (6th week at #1)
--Larry Green and his Orchestra
--The Andrews Sisters
--Alvino Rey and his Orchestra
--Elliot Lawrence and his Orchestra
2 I Wish I Didn't Love You So--Vaughn Monroe and his Orchestra
--Dinah Shore
--Dick Haymes
--Betty Hutton
3 Feudin' and Fightin'--Dorothy Shay
--Jo Stafford
--Bing Crosby and the Jesters
4 You Do--Vaughn Monroe and his Orchestra
--Margaret Whiting
--Bing Crosby and Carmen Cavallaro
--Dinah Shore
--Vic Damone
5 When You were Sweet Sixteen--Perry Como and the Satisfiers
6 I Have But One Heart (O Marinariello)--Vic Damone
7 So Far--Frank Sinatra
--Perry Como
--Margaret Whiting
8 Smoke! Smoke! Smoke! (That Cigarette)--Tex Williams and his Western Caravan
--Phil Harris and his Orchestra
9 --And Mimi--Art Lund
--Dick Haymes
10 Kate (Have I Come Too Early, Too Late)--Eddy Howard and his Orchestra

Singles entering the chart were Zu-Bi (Everyone’s Love Song) by Sammy Kaye and his "Swing and Sway" Orchestra (#28); The Little Old Mill (Went ’Round and ’Round) by Buddy Clark (#30); My Heart is a Hobo by Bing Crosby (#32); Ya Sure, You Betcha by Dennis Day (#34); Made for Each Other (Tu Felicidad) by Desi Arnaz and his Orchestra (#38); Papa, Won't You Dance with Me? by Doris Day (#39); and Harmony by Johnny Mercer and the King Cole Trio (#40). Harmony was the other side of Save the Bones for Henry Jones (’Cause Henry Don’t Eat No Meat), charting at #37.

Politics and government
The Polish Parliament convicted exiled Peasant Party leader Stefan Mikolajczyk of treason and deprived him of his parliamentary seat.

Cincinnati's City Council elected Albert Cash as Mayor, making him the first Democrat to hold the post since 1913.

Protest
Week-long civil unrest directed against the Italian government of Prime Minister Alcide de Gasperi spread to Apulia an Cerignola in southern Italy.

Transportation
U.S. President Harry Truman released the report of his Merchant Marine Advisory Committee, which recommended a $600-million program to build 46 passenger ships within four years.

Economics and finance
Former U.S. War Secretaries Henry Stimson and Robert Patterson formed a Committee for the Marshall Plan to Aid European Recovery, with 200 members drawn from business, labour, education, and religious groups.

Football
CRU
IRFU
Finals
Ottawa 0 @ Toronto 21 (Toronto won 2-game total points series 24-0)

WIFU
Finals
Calgary 3 @ Winnipeg 10 (Deciding game after 2-game total points series was tied 19-19)

ORFU
Final
Ottawa 15 @ Hamilton 3

Joe Krol scored 2 touchdowns, 2 converts, a field goal, and a single to lead the Argonauts over the Rough Riders on a snow-covered field before 19,000 fans at Varsity Stadium. It was the last game for Sammy Fox as coach of the Rough Riders after just one season.

The Stampeders led the Blue Bombers 3-1 going into the 4th quarter at Osborne Stadium and Calgary's Paul Rowe returned an interception to midfield, but Calgary was called for roughing the passer on the play, and Winnipeg retained possession of the ball. Don Hiney drop-kicked a field goal to give the Blue Bombers a 4-3 lead. The Blue Bombers then put the game away with a 90-yard drive; Don Smith rushed 40 yards, and Bob Sandberg rushed 5 yards for a touchdown, converted by Mr. Hiney, to clinch the Blue Bombers' third straight Western championship, and the tenth straight Western championship for a Winnipeg team. It was the last game for Dean Griffing after three seasons as head coach of the Stampeders.

Doug Smylie returned an interception 55 yards for a touchdown 5 minutes into the game, and took a lateral from quarterback Wally Masters and went 19 yards for another TD just 4 minutes later as the Trojans defeated the Wildcats in a snowstorm at Scott Park to win their only Ontario Rugby Football Union championship, and the first ORFU title for an Ottawa team in 45 years.

Canadian university
McGill (1-4-1) 11 @ Queen's (0-5-1) 6
Toronto (4-1-1) 12 @ Western Ontario (5-0-1) 12

Doug Heron kicked a field goal, 2 singles and converted the game's only touchdown to help the Redmen defeat the Gaels at Richardson Stadium in Kingston. Queen's was in punt formation near their own goal line in the 2nd quarter when they fumbled, and McGill middle wing John Porter recovered for a touchdown. Al Lenard kicked 2 field goals for the Gaels.

The Varsity Blues scored touchdowns in the 1st and 4th quarters as they battled the Mustangs to a tie on a snow-covered field before 11,000 fans at J.W. Little Memorial Stadium in London, ending Western's 21-game winning streak. Toronto opened the scoring on a 55-yard touchdown pass from Bruce Cummings to Ted Toogood, converted by Mr. Cummings. The lead held until halftime, but the Mustangs rallied for touchdowns in the 3rd quarter on a 22-yard pass from Paul Walden to Fabien Curry, and a 10-yard rush by George Arnott, both converted by Bob McFarlane. Jack McReynolds rushed 5 yards for a Toronto touchdown in the 4th quarter, but Mr. Cummings missed the convert. He kicked a single to tie the game in the closing minutes, but the tie clinched the intercollegiate championship for UWO, since under the rules then in force, the second-place team must heave beaten the first-place team at least once during the season in order to force a playoff.

60 years ago
1957

Hit parade
#1 single in France (IFOP): Only You (And You Alone)--The Platters

#1 single in the U.K. (New Musical Express): That'll Be the Day--The Crickets (3rd week at #1)

On television tonight
Harbor Command, starring Wendell Corey
Tonight's episode: Frightened Witness

Died on this date
John Burnham, 40. U.S. engineer. Mr. Burnham designed the U.S. atomic submarines USS Nautilus, USS Seawolf, and USS Skate.

Diplomacy
France condemned the U.S. and U.K. arms deliveries to Tunisia as an "unfriendly act," claiming that the weapons would be transferred to Algerian nationalist guerrillas.

Defense
U.S.S.R. Communist Party First Secretary Nikita Khrushchev challenged the United States to a "peaceful rocket contest" in the development of long-range missiles to prove Soviet superiority in the field.

Crime
A U.S. Federal District Court in New York sentenced convicted Soviet spy Rudolf Abel to 30 years in prison and a $3,000 fine.

Energy
United Nations Secretary-General Dag Hammarskjold named retired U.S. General Raymond Wheeler to head a UN study for a hydroelectric power project in Southeast Asia's Lower Mekong River Basin.

Labour
American Federation of Labor-Congress of Industrial Organizations President George Meany suspended the Bakery and Confectionery Workers International Union for "failure and refusal" to "eliminate corrupt influences from the union."

Disasters
A British Aquila Airways flying boat crashed on the Isle of Wight en route to Madeira and the Canary Islands, killing 43 of 58 passengers.

50 years ago
1967

Hit parade
#1 single in the U.K. (Record Retailer): Baby, Now that I've Found You--The Foundations (2nd week at #1)

Australia's Top 10 (Go-Set)
1 The Last Waltz--Engelbert Humperdinck (4th week at #1)
2 (The Lights Went Out In) Massachusetts--The Bee Gees
3 Itchycoo Park--Small Faces
4 The Letter--The Box Tops
5 Lightning's Girl--Nancy Sinatra
6 Homburg--Procol Harum
7 It Must Be Him--Vikki Carr
8 Hole in My Shoe--Traffic
9 Living in a Child's Dream--Masters Apprentices
10 Dream Girl--Davy Jones

Singles entering the chart were How Can I Be Sure by the Young Rascals (#33); She by Roy Orbison (#36); and (You Make Me Feel Like) A Natural Woman by Aretha Franklin (#38).

Died on this date
Mike Adams, 37. U.S. military aviator. Major Adams was a United States Air Force test pilot. He was selected as an astronaut with the Manned Orbiting Laboratory program in 1965, and began flying the X-15 rocket plane in 1966. Major Adams was making his seventh X-15 flight when it started deviating from the proper course, and aerodynamic pressure caused the plane to go into a spin; the plane broke up over the Mojave Desert in California, killing Major Adams, who became the only fatality of the X-15 program.

War
24 Turkish Cypriots and 2 Greek Cypriots were killed when fighting erupted in the Cypriot villages of Ayios Theodoros and Kophinou.

Canadiana
Canadian Secretary of State Judy LaMarsh opened the Museum of Science and Technology in Ottawa, part of the National Museums of Canada.

40 years ago
1977

On television tonight
Family, on ABC
Tonight's episode: Childhood's End

30 years ago
1987

Hit parade
#1 single in New Zealand (RIANZ): Where the Streets Have No Name--U2 (2nd week at #1)

#1 single in Switzerland: You Win Again--Bee Gees (5th week at #1)

#1 single in France: La Bamba--Los Lobos (5th week at #1)

Protest
Workers in Brașov, Romania rebelled against the Communist regime of Nicolae Ceaușescu.

Football
CFL
East Semi-Final
Hamilton 13 @ Toronto 29

West Semi-Final
Calgary 16 @ Edmonton 30

Lance Chomyc kicked 6 field goals and a convert, while Hank Ilesic punted for 4 singles as the Argonauts ended the Tiger-Cats’ reign as Grey Cup champions before 21,339 fans—including this blogger—at Exhibition Stadium. The Argonauts led 11-0 until the Tiger-Cats blocked one of Mr. Ilesic’s punts, and Terry Lehne recovered the ball in the Toronto end zone with 4:13 remaining in the 2nd quarter for the only Hamilton touchdown. Gill Fenerty, who rushed 23 times for 150 yards, ran 1 yard for the only Toronto touchdown with 37 seconds remaining until halftime. The Tiger-Cats quickly moved into position for a 52-yard field goal by Bernie Ruoff with 1 second left to reduce the Argonauts’ halftime lead to 18-10. There were no touchdowns in the 2nd half, with Messrs. Chomyc and Ilesic doing all the Toronto scoring and Mr. Ruoff kicking another field goal. The Argonaut defense limited the Tiger-Cats to 10 first downs and 193 yards of net offense, while recording 3 quarterback sacks. Tom Porras played most of the game at quarterback for Hamilton, completing just 10 of 27 passes for 104 yards and 3 interceptions. Tiger-Cats’ owner Harold Ballard, resplendent in a fur coat, was enjoying himself outside the stadium before the game.



Jerry Kauric kicked 5 field goals, 2 converts, and a single as the Eskimos defeated the Stampeders before 26,809 fans at Commonwealth Stadium. Edmonton quarterback Matt Dunigan completed a 29-yard touchdown pass to Brian Kelly to open the scoring in the 1st quarter. The Eskimos didn’t score another touchdown until the game’s final minute, when the Stampeders turned the ball over on downs, and Blake Marshall rushed 1 yard for the major score with 4 seconds remaining. The Stampeders’ only touchdown came on a 106-yard interception return by safety Greg Peterson at 6:45 of the 3rd quarter. J.T. Hay’s convert tied the game 13-13. Mr. Hay also kicked 3 field goals. Milson Jones of the Eskimos led all rushers with 16 carries for 94 yards, while Mr. Kelly caught 4 passes for 134 yards. Gary Allen, playing his last game in a Calgary uniform, rushed 7 times for 51 yards. Larry Willis led the Stampeder receivers with 96 yards on 7 receptions. Mr. Dunigan completed 15 of 31 passes for 280 yards and 3 interceptions. Calgary quarterback Rick Worman completed 21 of 37 passes for 247 yards and rushed 6 times for 20 yards, but left with a broken ankle in the 4th quarter. Carl Fodor replaced him, and was 0 for 4 in passing.



25 years ago
1992

Hit parade
#1 single in New Zealand (RIANZ): End of the Road--Boyz II Men (5th week at #1)

#1 single in Austria (Ö3): Birthday Song--Power Pack (5th week at #1)

#1 single in Switzerland: Don't You Want Me--Felix

Auto racing
Richard Petty ended his 35-year career in stock car racing with a fiery crash at the Hooters 500 in Atlanta; uninjured, he salvaged his car for a final lap. Mr. Petty won seven NASCAR championships and seven Daytona 500s, both records.

Football
CFL
East Semi-Final
Ottawa 28 @ Hamilton 29

West Semi-Final
Saskatchewan 20 @ Edmonton 22

Paul Osbaldiston’s 46-yard field goal with 11 seconds remaining in regulation time climaxed a stunning late comeback as the Tiger-Cats scored 16 points in the last 5 minutes to defeat the Rough Riders before 21,412 fans at Ivor Wynne Stadium. The Tiger-Cats led 10-3 after the 1st quarter on a 40-yard touchdown pass from Damon Allen to Lee Knight and a convert and field goal by Mr. Osbaldiston, countered by a Terry Baker field goal for Ottawa. Mr. Baker kicked a single and converted a touchdown by defensive lineman John Kropke, who returned a fumble 24 yards in the 2nd quarter. The Rough Riders scored a safety touch before Mr. Osbaldiston kicked a 37-yard field goal with 2:05 remaining to tie the game 13-13 heading into the 2nd half. Mr. Baker added another single and converted Tom Burgess’ 1-yard touchdown run with 6 seconds remaining in the 3rd quarter, putting the Rough Riders ahead 21-13. They made it 28-13 on an 8-yard touchdown pass from Mr. Burgess to Jock Climie, converted by Mr. Baker with just 6:47 remaining in the 4th quarter. Don McPherson, who had relieved Mr. Allen at quarterback, brought the Tiger-Cats back with a 5-yard TD pass to Ken Evraire, converted by Mr. Osbaldiston, with 4:47 remaining. The Tiger-Cats made it 28-26 on a 16-yard touchdown pass from Mr. McPherson to Earl Winfield with 1:31 remaining, but a 2-point convert attempt was unsuccessful. The Rough Riders couldn’t move the ball and the Tiger-Cats forced them to punt, setting the stage for Mr. Osbaldiston’s winning kick. He kicked the winning field goal with the laces on the ball facing him, which usually makes it more difficult for a kick to be successful. Ottawa running back Reggie Barnes led all rushers with 151 yards on 31 carries. The Tiger-Cats fumbled 7 times, losing 2, while the Rough Riders fumbled 3 times and lost them all.



Dave Ridgway’s 40-yard field goal attempt on the last play of regulation time was blocked, allowing the Eskimos to advance to the Western Final. Edmonton rookie Sean Fleming had kicked a 44-yard field goal with 21 seconds remaining to give the Eskimos the lead, but Saskatchewan quarterback Kent Austin had quickly moved the Roughriders into position for Mr. Ridgway to attempt a winning field goal. Mr. Ridgway slipped on the grass during the kick, and Edmonton linebacker DeWayne Odom was officially credited with blocking the kick. The Eskimos took a 7-0 lead just 3:33 into the game on a 103-yard punt return touchdown by Henry “Gizmo” Williams, converted by Mr. Fleming. Saskatchewan struck back with a 22-yard touchdown pass from Mr. Austin to Byron Williams. Mr. Ridgway converted and added a 15-yard field goal on the last play of the 1st quarter to give the Roughriders a 10-7 lead. A single on a missed field goal by Mr. Fleming and a 20-yard touchdown pass from Tracy Ham to Craig Ellis, converted by Mr. Fleming, put the Eskimos in front, and Mr. Ridgway kicked a 27-yard field goal on the last play of the 1st half to make the score 15-13 in favour of the Eskimos. It remained that way until another single on a missed field goal attempt by Mr. Fleming early in the 4th quarter. Mr. Fleming finally kicked a 38-yard field goal with 6:38 remaining to give the Eskimos a 19-13 lead, but Mr. Austin connected with Don Narcisse for a 55-yard touchdown just 48 seconds later, converted by Mr. Ridgway, to give the Roughriders a 20-19 lead. Mr. Ham completed 18 of 27 passes for just 163 yards and 3 interceptions, while leading all rushers with 91 yards on 10 carries. Mr. Narcisse led all receivers with 182 yards on 10 receptions, while teammate Jeff Fairholm caught 6 for 103. Mr. Austin completed 31 of 46 passes for 468 yards and an interception. It was the final CFL game for Edmonton running back Robert Hardy, who carried 6 times for just 9 yards. Only 25,565 fans—including this blogger—attended the game on a beautiful Sunday afternoon at Commonwealth Stadium.



20 years ago
1997

Hit parade
#1 single in Italy (Hit Parade Italia): Barbie Girl--Aqua (6th week at #1)

#1 single in Spain (PROMUSICAE): Candle in the Wind 1997--Elton John (8th week at #1)

#1 single in France (SNEP): Savoir aimer--Florent Pagny (3rd week at #1)

#1 single in Flanders (Ultratop 50): Barbie Girl--Aqua (2nd week at #1)

#1 single in Wallonia (Ultratop 40): Barbie Girl--Aqua (3rd week at #1)

#1 single in Ireland (IRMA): Barbie Girl--Aqua (4th week at #1)

#1 single in the U.K. (Chart Information Network): Barbie Girl--Aqua (3rd week at #1)

#1 single in the U.S.A. (Billboard): Candle in the Wind 1997/Something About the Way You Look Tonight--Elton John (6th week at #1)

Died on this date
Saul Chaplin, 85. U.S. composer. Mr. Chaplin, born Saul Kaplan, wrote songs for stage, screen and television, winning Academy Awards for collaborating on the scores and orchestrations of An American in Paris (1951); Seven Brides for Seven Brothers (1954); and West Side Story (1961). He died of injuries from a bad fall.

10 years ago
2007

Died on this date
Joe Nuxhall, 79. U.S. baseball pitcher and sportscaster. Mr. Nuxhall played with the Cincinnati Reds (1944, 1952-1960, 1962-1966); Kansas City Athletics (1961); and Los Angeles Angels (1962), compiling a record of 135-117 with an earned run average of 3.90 in 526 games, and batting .198 with 15 home runs and 78 runs batted in in 555 games. He's best remembered for his first game, six weeks before his 16th birthday, when he pitched 2/3 inning to become the youngest player in major league history. Mr. Nuxhall's best season was probably 1955, when he was 17-12 and led the National League with 5 shutouts. After his playing career, Mr. Nuxhall was an announcer on radio broadcasts of Reds' games from 1967 until his death from cancer.

Scandal
Major league baseball career home run leader Barry Bonds was indicted on charges related to grand jury testimony during which he denied knowingly using performance-enhancing drugs.

Disasters
Cyclone Sidr struck Bangladesh, killing an estimated 5,000 people and destroying parts of the world's largest mangrove forest, the Sundarbans.