March 25, 2018

425 years ago
1593

Born on this date
Jean de Brébeuf. French-born Canadian missionary. Rev. Brébeuf was a Jesuit missionary who travelled to New France in 1625, and spent most of his remaining years working among the Huron people. He and another missionary, along with Hurons, were captured in an Iroquois raid; Rev. Brébeuf was nine days short of his 56th birthday when he and those captured with him were ritually killed on March 16, 1649. Rev. Brébeuf was canonized in 1930.

170 years ago
1848

Politics and government
Conservative Gerrit Schimmelpenninck took office as Prime Minister of the Netherlands.

110 years ago
1908

Died on this date
Durham Stevens, 57. U.S.-born diplomat. Mr. Stevens worked with the U.S. State Department in Japan from 1873-1883, and then joined the Japanese Ministry of Foreign Affairs. While visiting relatives in San Francisco, he gave an interview with a newspaper in which he justified the increasing Japanese presence in Korea. Four Korean nationalists attacked Mr. Stevens at his hotel on March 22, and beat him until help arrived. The next day, Korean immigrants Jang In-hwan and Jeon Myeong-un shot Mr. Stevens as he prepared to board a ferry to Oakland; he died two days later, after undergoing surgery.

100 years ago
1918

Born on this date
Howard Cosell. U.S. journalist. Mr. Cosell, born Howard Cohen, a lawyer whose "nasal drone" was arguably the "most famous voice in America" in the 1970s, was a longtime radio and television sportscaster with the American Broadcasting Company. He covered boxing for ABC for many years, but was best known for being part of the announcing team during the first 14 seasons of Monday Night Football (1970-1983). He was also part of the team of Monday Night Baseball (1977-1985). Mr. Cosell died on April 23, 1995 at the age of 77.

Died on this date
Claude Debussy, 55. French composer. Mr. Debussy, one of this blogger's favourite composers, was, with countryman Maurice Ravel, the most prominent figure associated with Impressionist music. His works included Claire de Lune (1890); Prélude à l'après-midi d'un faune (1894); La Mer (1903-1905); and the opera Pelléas et Mélisande (1902). Mr. Debussy died of rectal cancer.

Europeana
The Belarusian People's Republic was established.

90 years ago
1928

Died on this date
C.L. Lankford, 17. U.S. youth. Clumsiness was responsible for the death of Mr. Lankford when the Atlanta youth stumbled over the brink of the north precipice of Georgia’s Stone Mountain and plunged 800 feet to his death near the carved figure of General Robert E. Lee.

Politics and government
General Óscar Carmona, acting President and Prime Minister, was elected President of the Republic of Portugal by popular vote.

Disasters
A flock of 1,000 wild swans that had landed in the night were swept over Niagara Horse Shoe Falls, and many were killed when they struck the ice floes in the gorge below.

80 years ago
1938

Music
The Ink Spots recorded the song That Cat is High.

75 years ago
1943

War
U.S. planes dropped 2,000-pound bombs for two hours on Rapaul, New Britain, causing large fires and heavy explosions.

Diplomacy
U.S.S.R. Foreign Affairs Vice Commissar S.A. Lozovsky and Japanese Ambassador to the U.S.S.R. Naotake Sato signed in Kubyshev a one-year extension of the Japanese-Soviet fisheries agreement.

Asiatica
Japanaese Prime Minister General Hideki Tojo announced in Tokyo the creation of "the new independent state of Burma," which included all of Burma except the Shan States that bordered China and Thailand.

Politics and government
U.S. President Franklin D. Roosevelt appointed Chester Davis, president of the Federal Reserve Bank of the St. Louis District, as food administrator to serve in the Agriculture Department under Secretary Claude Wickard.

Tennis
At the U.S. indoor championships in Chestnut Hill, Massachusetts, Pauline Betz won the women's singles title; won the women's doubles title with Mrs. George Wightman; and won the mixed doubles title with Al Stitt.

Hockey
NHL
Stanley Cup
Semi-Finals
Boston 3 @ Montreal 2 (OT)

Busher Jackson scored 3:20 into overtime to give the Bruins their win over the Canadiens at the Montreal Forum.

70 years ago
1948

War
Communist Chinese forces captured the mining centre of Tatung in northern Shansi Province.

World events
Nicaraguan troops were flown out of Costa Rica after Panama publicly demanded that Nicaragua stop aiding Costa Rican President Teodor Picado against rightist rebels.

Politics and government
U.S. President Harry Truman issued a statement urging United Nations trusteeship for Palestine as an "emergency action" aimed at preserving peace, rather than a definitive solution. The Arab Office in Washington rejected trusteeship, calling Mr. Truman's plea a delaying tactic intended to give the Jews time to increase their military strength.

Science
The American Academy of Arts and Sciences awarded Rumford Medals to Edwin Land for his work in polarized light and photography and to E. Newton Harvey for bioluminescence research.

Business
A U.S. federal court in Cleveland ordered A.B. Dick company and four other firms to end their domination of the U.S. mimeographing industry, fining the defendants $99,000.

Disasters
The first successful tornado forecast predicted that a tornado would strike Tinker Air Force Base, Oklahoma. The tornado caused $6 million in damage,but no injuries, thanks to the accurate forecast.

Basketball
BAA
West Division Tiebreaker
Baltimore 75 @ Chicago 72

The Baltimore Bullets, Chicago Stags, and Washington Capitols had finished in a three-way tie for second place in the Western Division, all with records of 28-20.

Semi-Finals
Philadelphia 65 @ St. Louis 64 (Best-of-seven series tied 1-1)

60 years ago
1958

Died on this date
Tom Brown, 69. U.S. musician. Mr. Brown was a Dixieland jazz trombonist who led his own band and performed with other bands in New Orleans and Chicago in the 1910s and '20s.

War
North Vietnamese forces occupied positions in Samneua Province, Laos, along the Laotian-Vietnamese border.

Defense
Defense Ministers Duncan Sandys of the United Kingdom and Franz Josef Strauss of West Germany reached agreement in London on British cooperation with the recently-formed West German-French-Italian arms development group.

The delta-winged interceptor aircraft Avro CF-105 Arrow, with chief development pilot Jan Zurakowski at the controls, made its first flight before 14,000 workers at the A.V. Roe headquarters at Malton, Ontario, taking off and landing without a hitch. The plane was intended to serve as the Royal Canadian Air Force’s interceptor for the 1960s and beyond.

Labour
The U.S. Senate Select Committe on Improper Labor-Management Activities released a second section of its report, attacking abour union abuses and charging that Teamsters President James Hoffa "runs a hoodlum empire."

Boxing
Sugar Ray Robinson (142-6-2) won a 15-round split decision over Carmen Basilio (52-13-7) at Chicago Stadium to become world middleweight champion for a record fifth time. Mr. Basilio had won the title from Mr. Robinson six months earlier in a split decision.





Hockey
NHL
Stanley Cup
Semi-Finals
Detroit 1 @ Montreal 8 (Montreal led best-of-seven series 1-0)
Boston 3 @ New York 5 (New York led best-of-seven series 1-0)

Phil Goyette scored 3 goals and Rocket Richard 2 as the Canadiens routed the Red Wings at the Montreal Forum.

Basketball
NBA
Western Division Finals
St. Louis 145 @ Detroit 101 (St. Louis led best-of-seven series 3-1)

50 years ago
1968

Hit parade
#1 single in Japan (Oricon Singles Chart): Yūbe no Himitsu--Tomoko Ogawa

#1 single in Spain (PROMUSICAE): I'm Coming Home--Tom Jones

On television tonight
The Monkees, on NBC
Tonight's episode: The Frodis Caper

This was the 58th and final episode of the series.



Africana
The Organization of Senegal River States was formed by the French-speaking West African states of Guinea, Mali, Mauritania, and Senegal.

Golf
George Archer won the Pensacola Open with a score of 268. First prize money was $14,000.

Basketball
NBA
Eastern Division Semi-Finals
Boston 116 @ Detroit 126 (Best-of-seven series tied 1-1)

Western Division Semi-Finals
Chicago 106 @ Los Angeles 111 (Los Angeles led best-of-seven series 2-0)

ABA
Eastern Division Semi-Finals
Indiana 127 @ Pittsburgh 146 (Pittsburgh led best-of-five series 1-0)

Western Division Semi-Finals
Houston 97 @ Dallas 115 (Dallas led best-of-five series 2-0)

40 years ago
1978

Hit parade
#1 single in Italy (Hit Parade Italia): Gianna--Rino Gaetano (3rd week at #1)

#1 single in Switzerland: Mull of Kintyre--Wings (9th week at #1)

#1 single in Ireland: Wuthering Heights--Kate Bush (2nd week at #1)

#1 single in the U.K. (BMRB): Wuthering Heights--Kate Bush (3rd week at #1)

#1 single in the U.S.A. (Billboard): Night Fever--Bee Gees (2nd week at #1)

Netherlands Top 10 (De Nederlandse Top 40)
1 Denis--Blondie (2nd week at #1)
2 Big City--Tol Hansse
3 Stayin' Alive--Bee Gees
4 Only a Fool--The Mighty Sparrow with Byron Lee and the Dragonaires
5 Wuthering Heights--Kate Bush
6 She's Not There--Santana
7 Red Hot--Robert Gordon with Link Wray
8 If I Had Words--Scott Fitzgerald and Yvonne Keeley with the St. Thomas More School Choir
9 Fantasy--Earth, Wind & Fire
10 U.O. Me (You Owe Me)--Luv'

Singles entering the chart were Rosita by George Baker (#20); Psycho Killer by the Talking Heads (#27); I Love the Sound of Breaking Glass by Nick Lowe (#33); Ballade pour Adeline by Richard Clayderman (#35); and Dance, Dance, Dance (Yowsah, Yowsah, Yowsah) by Chic (#39).

U.S.A. Top 10 (Cash Box)
1 Night Fever--Bee Gees (2nd week at #1)
2 Emotion--Samantha Sang
3 Stayin' Alive--Bee Gees
4 Lay Down Sally--Eric Clapton
5 Can't Smile Without You--Barry Manilow
6 Sometimes When We Touch--Dan Hill
7 I Go Crazy--Paul Davis
8 Thunder Island--Jay Ferguson
9 (Love Is) Thicker than Water--Andy Gibb
10 Jack and Jill--Raydio

Singles entering the chart were With a Little Luck by Wings (#64); Werewolves of London by Warren Zevon (#75); It's a Heartache by Bonnie Tyler (#76); Bombs Away by Bob Weir (#80); Two Out of Three Ain't Bad by Meat Loaf (#85); Do You Believe in Magic by Shaun Cassidy (#86); (I Will Be Your) Shadow in the Street by Allan Clarke (#89); Every Kinda People by Robert Palmer (#90); Walk Right Back by Anne Murray (#95); and Music, Harmony and Rhythm by Brooklyn Dreams (#97).

Canada's top 10 (RPM)
1 Emotion--Samantha Sang
2 (Love Is) Thicker than Water--Andy Gibb
3 Night Fever--Bee Gees
4 Sometimes When We Touch--Dan Hill
5 Stayin' Alive--Bee Gees
6 What's Your Name--Styx
7 Peg--Steely Dan
8 I Go Crazy--Paul Davis
9 Lay Down Sally--Eric Clapton
10 Just the Way You Are--Billy Joel

Singles entering the chart were With a Little Luck by Wings (#86); Ready for the Times to Get Better by Crystal Gayle (#89); Watching the Detectives by Elvis Costello (#91); I Love My Music by Wild Cherry (#92); Two Out of Three Ain't Bad by Meat Loaf (#93); More than a Woman by Tavares (#94); This Time I'm in it for Love by Player (#95); Imaginary Lover by Atlanta Rhythm Section (#96); Bootzilla by Bootsy's Rubber Band (#97); Rumour Has It by Donna Summer (#98); Fantasy by Earth, Wind & Fire (#99); and Flash Light by Parliament (#100).

Terrorism
The kidnappers of Aldo Moro announced that they had begun a "people's trial" of the former Italian Prime Minister, accusing him of being the leading representative of a repressive regime for 30 years.

Labour
The United Mine Workers of America ratified a settlement, ending the longest strike in the industry’s history after 110 days.

Disasters
All 48 people aboard a Burmese twin-engine turboprop plane were killed when it crashed shortly after takeoff from Rangoon.

Hockey
NHL
New York Rangers 5 @ Toronto 2

Toronto defenceman Mike Pelyk scored the first Toronto goal--his first National Hockey League goal in 4 years--but it wasn't enough to keep the Maple Leafs from losing to the Rangers at Maple Leaf Gardens in the national Hockey Night in Canada telecast.

CHL
Kansas City 3 @ Salt Lake City 5

30 years ago
1988

Hit parade
#1 single in West Germany (Media Control): Tell it to My Heart--Taylor Dayne (4th week at #1)

Died on this date
Robert Joffrey, 57. U.S. dancer, choreographer, and director. Mr. Joffrey, born Anver Bey Abdullah Jaffa Khan, founded in 1954 the company that eventually became the Joffrey Ballet. He was a sodomite who died of AIDS.

Crime
A sensational murder trial ended in New York City when the defendant, Robert Chambers, Jr., admitted that he had caused the death of his victim, Jennifer Levin. Miss Levin, 18, had been found strangled in Central Park in 1986 and Mr. Chambers, then 19, had been charged with second-degree murder. The two had left a bar at 4:30 A.M. and gone to the park. Mr. Chambers told police that he had killed Miss Levin unintentionally during a session of "rough sex" in which she had tied his hands with her panties and hurt him. He said that he had responded in a frenzy and had strangled her accidentally. During the ninth day of jury deliberations, Mr. Chambers pled guilty to first-degree manslaughter, admitting that he had intended to injure Miss Levin. Under the plea bargain, Mr. Chambers would have to serve at least five years in prison.

Protest
The Candle demonstration in Bratislava was the first mass demonstration of the 1980s against the Communist regime in Czechoslovakia.

Hockey
NHL
Vancouver 3 Chicago 2

25 years ago
1993

Hit parade
#1 single in Finland (Musiikkituottajat – IFPI Finland): What is Love--Haddaway (2nd week at #1)

Politics and government
The leader of Bosnian Muslims agreed to a map dividing Bosnia and Herzegovina into 10 autonomous provinces.

20 years ago
1998

Died on this date
Steven Schiff, 51. U.S. politician. Mr. Schiff, a Republican, represented New Mexico's 1st District in the U.S. House of Representatives from 1989 until his death from skin cancer.

10 years ago
2008

Died on this date
Ben Carnevale, 92. U.S. basketball player and coach. Mr. Carnevale played at New York University in the 1930s; he was a member of the national championship team in 1935, and played in the first National Invitation Tournament in 1938. Mr. Carnevale coached at the University of North Carolina from 1944-1946 and the United States Naval Academy from 1946-1966, compiling a record of 309-171. He was inducted into the Basketball Hall of Fame in 1970 and the College Basketball Hall of Fame in 2006.

Herb Peterson, 89. U.S. businessman. Mr. Peterson owned several McDonald's restaurants, and devised the Egg McMuffin in 1972, which became the company's signature breakfast item.

Abby Mann, 80. U.S. screenwriter. Mr. Mann, born Abraham Goodman, won an Academy Award for his adapted screenplay for Judgment at Nuremberg (1961). He created the television series Kojak (1973-1978).

Thierry Gilardi, 49. French sportscaster. Mr. Gilardi was one of France's most prominent broadcasters of televised sports from the 1980s until his death. He was especially known for announcing soccer and rugby games, and died of a heart attack the day before he was to call a soccer game.