March 21, 2018

230 years ago
1788

Disasters
The Great New Orleans Fire, that began at the home of Army Treasurer Don Vincente Jose Nunez at 1:30 P.M. on Good Friday, destroyed 856 of the city's 1,100 structures within five hours.

175 years ago
1843

Died on this date
Guadalupe Victoria, 56. 1st President of Mexico, 1824-1829. Born José Miguel Ramón Adaucto Fernández y Félix, Mr. Victoria was a military officer who fought in the Mexican War of Independence from the Spanish Empire. When Mexico became a federal republic in 1824, he served as interim President from October 10, 1824-March 31, 1825. His constitutional term as President began on April 1, 1825 and ran through March 31, 1829. Mr. Victoria was the only President in the first 30 years of the Mexican republic to serve a full term. He died of epilepsy.

100 years ago
1918

Born on this date
Patrick Lucey. U.S. politician. Mr. Lucey, a Democrat, was Lieutenant Governor of Wisconsin (1965-1967); Governor of Wisconsin (1971-1977); and U.S. Ambassador to Mexico (1977-1979). He was John Anderson's vice-presidential running mate in Mr. Anderson's campaign as an independent candidate for President of the United States in 1980. Mr. Lucey died on May 10, 2014 at the age of 96.

Charles Thompson. U.S. musician. "Sir Charles" was a jazz pianist and organist who played with small groups, and with the Coleman Hawkins/Howard McGhee band in 1944–1945. Mr. Thompson recorded with musicians such as Charlie Parker, Dexter Gordon, and Miles Davis, an composed the jazz standard Robbins' Nest. Mr. Thompson moved to Japan in 2002, and died near Tokyo on June 16, 2016 at the age of 98.

War
The first phase of the German Spring Offensive, Operation Michael, began, as German forces hoped to break through the Allied lines and to seize ports on the English Channel before American reinforcements could arrive.

90 years ago
1928

Died on this date
Edward Walter Maunder, 76. U.K. astronomer. Mr. Maunder worked at the Royal Observatory, where he was known for his study of sunspots and the solar magnetic cycle that led to his identification of the period from 1645-1715 that is now known as the Maunder Minimum. Mr. Maunder was one of the founders of the British Astronomical Association in 1890; he was the first editor of its journal, and was succeeded in that position by his wife and colleague Annie. Mr. Maunder died 22 days before his 77th birthday.

"Diamond Joe" Esposito, 55. Italian-born U.S. politician and gangster. Mr. Esposito was a Republican Party boss of the 19th Ward in Chicago, and a political rival of Al Capone. He was gunned down at home in front of his wife and daughter in a murder contract arranged by his fellow former gang member Paul "The Waiter" Ricca.

Diplomacy
Afghan King Amanullah Khan flew over London, becoming the first royal personage to view the English capital from the air. The king described the event as the "greatest thrill the West has yet given me."

Americana
In Washington, President Calvin Coolidge presented Colonel Charles Lindbergh with the Congressional Medal of Honor. Col. Lindbergh took more Congressmen for airplane rides, and then spoke before the Military Committee of the Senate and House in support of pending bills that proposed higher pay for men and officers who would undergo the hazards of service in the Army Air Corps.

Politics and government
U.S. President Calvin Coolidge, through his secretary Everett Sanders, notified the Republican State Central Committee of Wyoming that he must decline their request of March 10 to "waive his personal preferences and continue for an additional four years that leadership which has brought honor and prosperity to this country."

In a straight party vote, the Republican-controlled New York State Senate defeated Democratic Governor Al Smith’s motion to extend the gubernatorial term to four years by a vote of 26-24.

Nicaraguan President Adolfo Diaz issued an executive decree investing the United States with full authority to supervise the Nicaraguan national elections scheduled for the following October.

Disasters
13 tourists died in an Alpine avalanche near Salzburg, Austria.

75 years ago
1943

Died on this date
Cornelia Fort, 24. U.S. military pilot. Miss Fort was a civilian instructor pilot at Pearl Harbor, and witnessed the Japanese attack on December 7, 1941. She returned to the mainland U.S. and joined the Women's Auxiliary Ferrying Squadron (WAFS). Miss Fort was killed when another plane being ferried by a male pilot struck the left wing of the B-13 that she was ferrying 10 miles south of Merkel, Texas. Miss Fort was the first U.S. female military pilot to die in active duty.

War
The U.S.S.R. announced that the Red Army had abandoned Belgorod, north of Kharkov, and lost another town southeast of Kharkov. Allied forces commenced a pincer drive to trap German Field Marshal Erwin Rommel's Afrika Korps in southeastern Tunisia. Japanese troops in China took Hwajung and Kiangpotu in heavy fighting south of the Yangtze River and destroyed dikes, flooding the rice paddies which sustained the population.

Economics and finance
The U.S. Office of Price Administration announced the suspension of sales of butter, margarine, lard, shortening, and cooking and salad oils effective 12:01 A.M. March 22 in order to conserve supplies.

Disasters
Flood waters spread over a wide area in Georgia, Mississippi, Alabama, and Louisiana.

Hockey
NHL
Stanley Cup
Semi-Finals
Montreal 4 @ Boston 5 (OT) (Boston led best-of-seven series 1-0)

Don Gallinger scored 12:30 into overtime to give the Bruins the win over the Canadiens at Boston Garden.

70 years ago
1948

On the radio
The New Adventures of Sherlock Holmes, starring John Stanley and Alfred Shirley, on MBS
Tonight's episode: Death is a Golden Arrow

Defense
The Royal Canadian Navy’s aircraft carrier HMCS Magnificent was commissioned in Halifax to replace HMCS Warrior.

Academia
U.S. President Harry Truman's Committee on Higher Education issued its final report, urging a federal aid program aimed at increasing the number of college students to 4.6 million by 1960.

Labour
Teachers in Minneapolis ended a 27-day strike by accepting a monthly wage increase of $40.

Golf
Lloyd Mangrum won the Greensboro Open in North Carolina.

60 years ago
1958

Hit parade
#1 single in the U.K. (New Musical Express): Magic Moments--Perry Como (4th week at #1)

On television tonight
Harbor Command, starring Wendell Corey
Tonight's episode: Rendezvous at Sea

Died on this date
Cyril M. Kornbluth, 34. U.S. author. Mr. Kornbluth, who wrote under his own name and various pseudonyms, was a prolific author of science fiction short stories, and a member of a group of science fiction writers and fans known as the Futurians. He died of a heart attack after rushing to catch a commuter train.

Politics and government
The European Parliamentary Assembly voted unanimously to divide representation at future sessions among groupings of Christian Democratic, Socialist, and Liberal political tendencies.

Disasters
14,000 drought-stricken Arab Bedouins began moving their herds from the northern Negev desert to the Lahish area of Israel after losing 95% of their winter wheat crop.

56 deaths and heavy damage were reported after a three-day snowfall throughout the northeastern United States.

50 years ago
1968

On television tonight
Dragnet 1968, starring Jack Webb and Harry Morgan, on NBC
Tonight's episode: The Big Gambler



At the movies
The One and Only, Genuine, Original Family Band, a musical starring Walter Brennan, Buddy Ebsen, Lesley Ann Warren, and John Davidson, received its premiere screening at Radio City Music Hall in New York City.

Born on this date
Happy Birthday, Nadia Marchuk!

Died on this date
Gerhart Eisler, 71. German-born politician and propagandist. Mr. Eisler was active in the German Communist party during the Weimar Republic before emigrating to the United States. He acted as a liaison between Communist parties of the United States and China. In 1948 he was described by Newsweek as the Number One Red Agent in the U.S. Despite being accused of espionage, Mr. Eisler was charged only with misrepresenting his Communist party affiliation on his emigration application. He fled the country by stowing away on a Polish freighter bound for London, was discovered by the crew while at sea, and was arrested at Southampton. The British authorities allowed Mr. Eisler to go to the German Democratic Republic, where he became head of East German radio and a leading propagandist on behalf of the Communist government.

War
An Israeli force of 15,000 men crossed into Jordan and wiped out guerrilla bases used in staging raids against Israel.

Politics and government
A committee of the National Assembly of Czechoslovakia unanimously recommended that President Antonin Novotny resign his post.

40 years ago
1978

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

War
Israeli Defense Miniser Ezer Weizman issued a unilateral ceasefire edict after Israeli forces had completed the takeover of most of southern Lebanon up to the Litani River, except for the port of Tyre.

Politics and government
Bishop Abel Muzorewa, Rev. Ndabaningi Sithole, and Senator Jeremiah Chirau were sworn in as co-leaders of the provisional government of Rhodesia along with Prime Minister Ian Smith, 18 days after the four had signed an agreement to transfer power to the country’s black majority by the end of the year.

30 years ago
1988

Hit parade
#1 single in Australia (Australian Music Report): I Should Be So Lucky--Kylie Minogue (2nd week at #1)

Died on this date
Edd Roush, 94. U.S. baseball player. Mr. Roush played 18 years in the major leagues from 1913-1931, most of them (1916-1926, 1931) with the Cincinnati Reds. He led the National League in batting in 1917 (.341) and 1919 (.321), in doubles in 1923 (41) and triples in 1924 (21). Mr. Roush retired with a lifetime batting average of .323. After breaking into the major leagues with a brief stint with the Chicago White Sox in 1913, he spent two years in the Federal League with the Indianapolis Hoosiers (1914) and Newark Peppers (1915). Mr. Roush joined the New York Giants in 1916, joining the Reds later that season. He rejoined the Giants for three seasons from 1927-1929. Mr. Roush played all 8 games for the Reds in the 1919 World Series vs. the White Sox, batting just .214 as the Reds won 5 games to 3. Former teammate Heinie Groh described Mr. Roush as "far and away the best center fielder I ever saw." On June 8, 1920, Mr. Roush was ejected from a game for falling asleep in the outfield. Cincinnati manager Pat Moran got into an argument with the umpire, and the argument dragged on so long that Mr. Roush decided to have a nap. He was so difficult to wake up that he was ejected for delaying the game. Mr. Roush was elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1962.

Protest
A general strike began in Panama, but it failed to bring down the presidency of General Manuel Noriega.

25 years ago
1993

Hit parade
#1 single in New Zealand: I Will Always Love You--Whitney Houston (14th week at #1)

#1 single in Austria (Ö3): No Limit--2 Unlimited (3rd week at #1)

#1 single in Switzerland: No Limit--2 Unlimited

#1 single in Ireland (IRMA): No Limit--2 Unlimited (4th week at #1)

Politics and government
In the first round of parliamentary elections in France, the Socialists share of the vote declined from 34.7% to 17.6%; the shift was expected to translate into a solid majority for a conservative alliance in the National Assembly. The second round of elections was scheduled for March 28.

Hockey
NHL
Mario Lemieux of the Pittsburgh Penguins scored his 50th goal of the season in a game against the Edmonton Oilers.

CIAU
Men's Championship
Final
Acadia 12 Toronto 1