February 6, 2018

425 years ago
1593

Died on this date
Ōgimachi, 75. Emperor of Japan, 1557-1586. Ōgimachi, born Michihito, acceded to the throne upon the death of his father Go-Nara. Ōgimachi abdicated in favour of his grandson Imperial Prince Katahito, who reigned as Emperor Go-Yōzei.

270 years ago
1748

Born on this date
Adam Weishaupt. German philosopher. Dr. Weishaupt was a Jesuit-educated law professor and rationalist philosopher who founded the secret society known as the Illuminati in 1776 and joined the Masonic lodge in 1777. The Jesuit order was suppressed by Pope Clement IV in 1773, and the Illuminati, along with Freemasonry and other secret societies, were outlawed by Elector of Bavaria Charles Theodore from 1784-1790. The Illuminati's alleged continuing existence and influence remain the subject of debate. Dr. Weishaupt died on November 18, 1830 at the age of 82.

240 years ago
1778

Diplomacy
France and the United States of America signed the Treaty of Amity and Commerce and the Treaty of Alliance in Paris, signifying France's recognition of the new American republic.

230 years ago
1788

Americana
Massachusetts entered the Union as the 6th state to ratify the Constitution.

200 years ago
1818

Born on this date
William M. Evarts. U.S. politician. Mr. Evarts, a Whig and then a Republican, was U.S. Attorney General in the administration of President Andrew Johnson (1868-1869); Secretary of State in the
administration of President Rutherford B. Hayes (1877-1881); and represented New York in the U.S. Senate from 1885-1891. He served as counsel to President Johnson during Mr. Johnson's impeachment trial in 1868, and was chief counsel for Mr. Hayes before the Electoral Commission ruling on the results of the 1876 presidential election. Mr. Evarts died on February 28, 1901, 22 days after his 83rd birthday.

175 years ago
1843

Born on this date
Frederic W.H. Myers. U.K. poet and philologist. Mr. Myers was best known as a co-founder, in 1883, of the Society for Psychical Research. Mr. Myers had lost his belief in Christianity as a result of Charles Darwin's theory of evolution, and was looking for proof elsewhere of life after death. His researches led to the publication of his two-volume work Human Personality and Its Survival of Bodily Death (1903). Mr. Myers died on January 17, 1901, 20 days before his 58th birthday.

Popular culture
The Virginia Minstrels, the first minstrel show in the United States, opened at the Bowery Amphitheatre in New York City.

140 years ago
1878

Politics and government
The Canadian cabinet approved and accepted Treaty No.7.

125 years ago
1893

Born on this date
Muhammad Zafarullah Khan. Pakistani politician and jurist. Chaudhry Sir Muhammad, a member of the Muslim League, was Pakistan's first Minister of Foreign Affairs (1947-1954), and President of the International Court of Justice (1970-1973). He died on September 1, 1985 at the age of 92.

Economics and finance
Canada signed a reciprocity treaty with France, to come into effect October 14, 1895. French wines were given low rates of duty.

100 years ago
1918

Died on this date
Gustav Klimt, 55. Austro-Hungarian artist. Mr. Klimt's paintings included The Kiss (1907-1908)and Portrait of Adele Bloch-Bauer I (1907).

Abominations
British women over the age of 30 were given the right to vote.

90 years ago
1928

Aviation
French aviators Dieudonne Costes and Joseph Lebrix, nearing the end of their transatlantic flight, flew from New Orleans, Louisiana to Montgomery, Alabama.

75 years ago
1943

Hit parade
#1 single in the U.S.A. (Billboard): There are Such Things--Tommy Dorsey and his Orchestra with Frank Sinatra and the Pied Pipers (4th week at #1)

Died on this date
Hendrik Seyffardt, 70. Dutch S.S. officer. General Seyffardt, Netherlands chief of staff, acted as figurehead leader of the Vrijwilligers Legioen Nederland (Dutch Legion), an SS organization. On February 4, 1943, Dutch Nazi leader Anton Mussert appointed him "Deputy for special services," to raise an army for the Russian front. Communist resistance leader Dr. Gerrit Kastein decided to assassinate Gen. Seyffardt; on February 5, Gen. Seyffardt answered a knock at his front door in The Hague, and was shot by Jan Veleun, a student who was accompanying Dr. Kastein. Gen. Seyffardt died the following day, and on February 7 the resistance assassinated Legion member H. Reydon and his wife. Dr. Kastein was arrested on February 19, and committed suicide two days later.

War
Italian aircraft attack and sank the Royal Canadian Navy Flower Class corvette HMCS Louisbourg east of Oran while she was escorting a convoy from Gibraltar to Bone, Algeria; 2 officers, 35 crewmen, and 5 Royal Navy seamen were lost. Soviet forces recaptured Bataisk, five miles south of Rostov, and Yeisk on the Azov Sea, blocking Axis forces in the Krasnodar area of the Caucasus from escape to the north. U.S. forces continued their advance on Guadalcanal, reaching points 1 1/2 miles beyond Tassafaronga. In repeated Japanese attempts to attack the Allied aerodrome at Wau, New Guinea, American fighter planes shot down 41 Japanese planes.

Diplomacy
Brazil became the 31st nation to announce its adherence to the United Nations charter.

Politics and government
Italian dictator Benito Mussolini named a new cabinet and removed his son-in-law Count Galeazzo Ciano as Italy's Foreign Minister, assuming the position himself, and also assuming full responsibility for military affairs.

U.S. President Franklin D. Roosevelt ordered the establishment of a five-man committee within the Justice Department to handle cases based on subversive activities of government agency employees.

Crime
U.S. Federal Judge Ben Hicks denied the appeal of German-born Detroit restaurateur Max Stephan from his death sentence for treason for harbouring an escaped German prisoner.

Actor Errol Flynn, 33, was acquitted by a jury in Los Angeles Superior Court of three counts of statutory rape.

Labour
The U.S. Congress of Industrial Organizations Executive Board demanded wage increases to conform with the rise in living costs; an end to substandard wages; elimination of unequal pay for women; and a 40-hour work week.

Hockey
NHL
Ray Getliffe of the Montréal Canadiens scored 5 goals in a game against the Boston Bruins.

70 years ago
1948

Space
The U.S. Army announced the first successful use of an electronic guidance system to determine the course of a V-2 rocket fired from White Sands, New Mexico.

War
Indian troops reported killing 1,900 Muslims near Naoshera in the heaviest battle of the Kashmir conflict.

Defense
The Paris newspaper Figaro reported that a Soviet factory in the Urals had built an atomic bomb that had failed to explode in August 1947.

Aviation
U.K. Royal Air Force Squadron Leader W.A. Waterton set a world speed record of 542.9 miles per hour in a two-engine Gloster Meteor over Moreton Valence Aerodrome in England.

Economics and finance
U.S. and U.K. military authorities in Germany authorized the creation of a German "Bizonal Economic Administration," headed by an executive committee responsible to the bizonal parliament. Allied military governors retained a veto right over all decisions by German officials.

Olympics
Barbara Ann Scott of Canada won the gold medal in the women's figure skating competition in St. Moritz, Switzerland.

60 years ago
1958

Born on this date
Happy Birthday, Bob Powless!

Space
The U.S. Senate voted to create a special committee on space activities, to be chaired by Senate Majority Leader Lyndon Johnson (Democrat--Texas).

Labour
International Union of Operating Engineers President William Maloney resigned amidst charges that he had won his position as a result of gang violence and had used union money for private luxuries.

Disasters
British European Airways Flight 609, a charter flight carrying the Manchester United football club, supporters, and journalists, crashed on its third attempt to take off from a slush-covered runway at the Munich-Reim Airport in Munich, West Germany. Of the 44 passengers and crew on board, 23 died. The team was returning from a European Cup match in Belgrade against the Yugoslavian team Crvena Zvezda (Red Star Belgrade). The game had ended in a 3-3 draw, with Man U winning the aggregate 5-4. Manchester United had been one of the favourites to win the European Cup. Manager Matt Busby had opted for young players, and the team was known as Busby's Babes. Eight United players and three United staff members were among the dead, and two more players were injured so seriously that they were unable to resume their careers. An investigation ultimately blamed the crash on the buildup of slush toward the end of the runway, which caused the plane to decelerate, preventing a safe takeoff speed. Operating limits were imposed for the amount of slush buildup permitted on runways.



Baseball
Left fielder Ted Williams, 39, signed his 1958 contract with the Boston Red Sox for an estimated $135,000, the highest salary ever paid a major league player. Mr. Williams had led the American League in 1957 in batting (.388) and slugging (.731), with 38 home runs, 87 runs batted in, 96 runs, and 119 bases on balls.

50 years ago
1968

Hit parade
#1 single in Switzerland (Swiss Hitparade): Judy in Disguise (With Glasses)--John Fred and his Playboy Band

On television tonight
The Invaders, starring Roy Thinnes, on ABC
Tonight's episode: The Peacemaker

Wojeck, starring John Vernon, on CBC
Tonight's Episode: Chocolate Fudge with Walnuts

Olympics
The Winter Olympic Games opened in Grenoble, France.

Boxing
Former world welterweight champion Luis Rodriguez (85-6) scored a technical knockout of Charley Austin (31-23-4) at 1:07 of the 6th round of a middleweight bout at Miami Beach Auditorium.

40 years ago
1978

Hit parade
#1 single in Australia (Kent Music Report): Mull of Kintyre--Wings (9th week at #1)

#1 single in Japan (Oricon Singles Chart): UFO--Pink Lady (8th week at #1)

#1 single in Spain (PROMUSICAE): Credo--Elsa Baeza (6th week at #1)

On television tonight
The Champions: Part II, on CBC

This was the second of a two-part documentary about Canadian Prime Minister Pierre Trudeau and Quebec Premier Rene Levesque.

Weather
The Blizzard of 1978, one of the worst Nor'easters in New England history, hit the region, with sustained winds of 65 miles per hour and snowfall of four inches an hour.

Hockey
NHL
St. Louis 0 @ Philadelphia 2

A snowstorm held the crowd at the Spectrum to 3,725 as the hometown Flyers beat the Blues. Bernie Parent faced just 11 shots in getting the shutout, while Rick MacLeish and Paul Holmgren scored the goals.

30 years ago
1988

Hit parade
#1 single in Italy: Pump Up the Volume--M/A/R/R/S

#1 single in Flanders (Ultratop 50): (I've Had) The Time of My Life--Bill Medley and Jennifer Warnes

#1 single in the Netherlands (De Nederlandse Top 40): (I've Had) The Time of My Life--Bill Medley and Jennifer Warnes (3rd week at #1)

#1 single in France (SNEP): Boys (Summertime Love)--Sabrina

#1 single in Ireland (IRMA): I Think We're Alone Now--Tiffany (2nd week at #1)

#1 single in the U.K. (New Musical Express): I Think We're Alone Now--Tiffany

#1 single in the U.K. (BMRB): I Think We're Alone Now--Tiffany (2nd week at #1)

#1 single in the U.S.A. (Billboard): Could've Been--Tiffany

U.S.A. top 10 (Cash Box)
1 Could've Been--Tiffany
2 Need You Tonight--INXS
3 Hazy Shade of Winter--Bangles
4 The Way You Make Me Feel--Michael Jackson
5 Seasons Change--Exposé
6 Hungry Eyes--Eric Carmen
7 I Want to Be Your Man--Roger
8 What Have I Done to Deserve This?--Pet Shop Boys (with Dusty Springfield)
9 Got My Mind Set on You--George Harrison
10 I Could Never Take the Place of Your Man--Prince

Singles entering the chart were Man in the Mirror by Michael Jackson (#45); Check it Out by John Cougar Mellencamp (#79); Girlfriend by Pebbles (#80); Rock of Life by Rick Springfield (#81); When We was Fab by George Harrison (#82); Some Kind of Lover by Jody Watley (#86); You Will Know by Stevie Wonder (#89); and Thinking of You by Earth, Wind and Fire (#90).

Canada's top 10 (RPM)
1 Could've Been--Tiffany
2 Got My Mind Set on You--George Harrison
3 Need You Tonight--INXS
4 Faith--George Michael
5 Candle in the Wind--Elton John
6 Hazy Shade of Winter--Bangles
7 The Way You Make Me Feel--Michael Jackson
8 Pop Goes the World--Men Without Hats
9 Cherry Bomb--John Cougar Mellencamp
10 When a Man Loves a Woman--Luba

Singles entering the chart were Moonbeam by Men Without Hats (#90); Day After Day by Blue Rodeo (#91); Love Becomes Electric by Strange Advance (#94); and Gonna Stay in Love by Louisa Florio (#96).

Died on this date
Barclay Plager, 46. Canadian-born U.S. hockey player and coach. After a number of years in the minor leagues, Mr. Plager got the opportunity to play in the NHL in the expansion of 1967 when he was acquired by the St. Louis Blues. He played defense for the Blues for 10 years, and was their head coach from 1977-1979. He was an assistant coach with the Blues for most of the 1980s (and, briefly, head coach again in 1983), a position he held at the time of his death. A brain tumour shortened his life and coaching career, and his jersey #8 was retired by the Blues in an on-ice ceremony on March 24, 1981. For a number of years, Barclay's younger brothers Bob and Bill were teammates of his with the Blues. Barclay Plager played in four NHL All-Star games (1970, '71, '73, '74). He also had success in the Central Hockey League before and after his NHL career. He was voted the league's outstanding defenseman with the Omaha Knights in 1963-64, and as playing coach for the Kansas City Blues in 1976-77, won the Tommy Ivan Award as the CHL's Most Valuable Player. He was also a member of the Edmonton Flyers in the Western Hockey League in 1962-63, the Flyers' last season.

25 years ago
1993

Hit parade
#1 single in Australia (ARIA): I Will Always Love You--Whitney Houston (8th week at #1)

#1 single in Italy: Gli Spari Sopra--Vasco Rossi (4th week at #1)

#1 single in Spain (PROMUSICAE): Dur dur d'être bébé!--Jordy (5th week at #1)

#1 single in Flanders (VRT): I Will Always Love You--Whitney Houston (4th week at #1)

#1 single in France (SNEP): I Will Always Love You--Whitney Houston (2nd week at #1)

#1 single in the Netherlands (De Nederlandse Top 40): I Will Always Love You--Whitney Houston (9th week at #1)

#1 single in the U.K. (Chart Information Network): I Will Always Love You--Whitney Houston (10th week at #1)

#1 single in the U.S.A. (Billboard): I Will Always Love You--Whitney Houston (11th week at #1)

U.S.A. top 10 (Cash Box)
1 I Will Always Love You--Whitney Houston (10th week at #1)
2 If I Ever Fall in Love--Shai
3 In the Still of the Nite--Boyz II Men
4 Saving Forever for You--Shanice
5 Rump Shaker--Wreckx-N-Effect
6 Deeper and Deeper--Madonna
7 7--Prince and the New Power Generation
8 Good Enough--Bobby Brown
9 When She Cries--Restless Heart
10 Rhythm is a Dancer--Snap!

Singles entering the chart were Stand by Poison (#60); Angel by Jon Secada (#84); Hip Hip Hooray by Naughty by Nature (#85); Gangsta Bitch by Apache (#89); Nuthin But a "G" Thang by Dr. Dre (#91); Two Princes by Spin Doctors (#94); and Speed by Alpha Team (#96).

Canada's top 10 (RPM)
1 I Will Always Love You--Whitney Houston (8th week at #1)
2 Faithful--Go West
3 Love Can Move Mountains--Celine Dion
4 Deeper and Deeper--Madonna
5 Steam--Peter Gabriel
6 Harvest Moon--Neil Young
7 When She Cries--Restless Heart
8 No Mistakes--Patty Smyth
9 Paper Doll--Fleetwood Mac
10 Little Bird--Annie Lennox

Singles entering the chart were Gypsy Wind by Ray Lyell (#50); Hope of Deliverance by Paul McCartney (#59); Sweet Thing by Mick Jagger (#77); Heaven in Your Heart by Rik Emmett (#86); It's Just the Rain by Alexander Caplin (#90); Cat's in the Cradle by Ugly Kid Joe (#94); Come in Out of the Rain by Wendy Moten (#98); and Hard to Get by Starclub (#99).

Died on this date
Arthur Ashe, 49. U.S. tennis player. Mr. Ashe became the first Negro male to win a major tournament, winning the men's singles events at the U.S. Open (1968), Australian Open (1970), and Wimbledon (1975). He died of pneumonia related to AIDS, which he had contracted from a blood transfusion. Mr. Ashe was one of the last players left from the days when tennis players were regarded as sportsmen.

Hockey
NHL
All-Star Game @ Montreal Forum, Montreal
Prince of Wales Conference 16 Clarence S. Campbell Conference 6

This pathetic Saturday afternoon exhibition before 17,137 fans was an excellent example of how bad hockey could be when body contact was completely removed from the sport.





20 years ago
1998

Died on this date
Carl Wilson, 51. U.S. musician. Mr. Wilson was the lead guitarist with the Beach Boys. His guitar playing helped to establish the Beach Boys' early surf music sound, and his singing contributed to their vocal sound. The youngest of the Wilson brothers (Brian was 4 1/2 years older, Dennis 2 years older), his first lead vocal was on Pom Pom Play Girl, from the 1964 album Shut Down Volume 2. Older brother Brian eventually realized that Carl possessed a great voice, and started to write more songs for him, such as Girl Don't Tell Me. Carl's most notable lead vocals included those on God Only Knows and Good Vibrations, both from 1966, and I Can Hear Music, which he also produced, which was a hit in 1969. Besides the "angelic" singing style that he employed on those songs, he could also sing in a harder-edged style, which was particularly evident on the Wild Honey album, released late in 1967. In the early 1970s, Carl began to develop as a songwriter. Some of his most notable compositions were Long Promised Road and Feel Flows, both of which appeared on the 1971 album Surf's Up, and The Trader, from the 1973 album Holland. Carl was in demand as a background singer on other people's records in the mid-'70s; he can be clearly heard on Don't Let the Sun Go Down on Me by Elton John, and Wishing You Were Here by Chicago, both from 1974. Carl, a heavy smoker since the age of 13, took ill with lung cancer in 1997, and David Marks, who had been the Beach Boys' rhythm guitarist in 1962-1963, rejoined the group as Carl's replacement on tour. Brian's 1998 album Imagination was dedicated to Carl's memory. Carl's voice appeared one more time in a duet with Brian on Brian's 2004 album Gettin' In Over My Head, on the previously-unreleased song(recorded in the mid-'90s) Soul Searchin'.

Falco, 40. Austrian musician. Falco, born Johann Hölzel, was a singer-songwriter who had numerous hit singles and albums in Europe from 1981 until his death. He was best known in North America for the singles Der Kommissar (1981, a hit in North America in 1983); Rock Me Amadeus (1986); and Vienna Calling (1986). Falco was killed in a car accident, 13 days before his 41st birthday, while under the influence of alcohol and cocaine.

Americana
Washington National Airport was renamed Ronald Reagan National Airport.

Business
The Hudson's Bay Company announced that it was acquiring the Canadian division of K-Mart Canada for $240 million; it woul close some stores and convert others to Zellers branches.

Olympics
Emperor Akihito of Japan officially opened the Winter Olympics in Nagano.