April 11, 2018

1,400 years ago
618

Died on this date
Yang of Sui, 48 or 49. Emperor of China, 604-618. Yang Guang, born Yang Ying, was the second son of Emperor Wen, and acceded to the throne upon his father's death, which has been widely suspected of being a murder ordered by Yang Guang, although that has been disputed. Emperor Yang was regarded as a tyrant, and he was strangled with his scarf as part of a coup that ended the Sui Dynasty and led to the establishment of the Tang Dynasty.

250 years ago
1768

Disasters
Fire destroyed one-third of the town of Montréal; 88 houses between rue Saint-Jean-Baptiste and Hotel Vaudreuil were burned, including the Congregation Notre-Dame convent.

170 years ago
1848

Politics and government
Sir Edmund Walker Head was appointed Lieutenant-Governor of New Brunswick, having previously been Poor Law Commissioner in London, England.

150 years ago
1868

World events
Former shōgun Tokugawa Yoshinobu surrendered Edo Castle to Imperial forces, marking the end of the Tokugawa shogunate.

125 years ago
1893

Born on this date
Dean Acheson. U.S. diplomat and politician. Mr. Acheson, a Democrat, was Assistant U.S. Secretary of State for Congressional Relations and International Conferences (1944-1945); Undersecretary of State (1945-1947); and Secretary of State (1949-1953). He played key roles in the design and implementation of the Marshall Plan and Truman Doctrine, and persuaded President Harry Truman to intervene in the Korean War in 1950. Mr. Acheson was an anti-Communist, but his pursuit of the policy of "containment" of Communism led to accusations that he was "soft" on Communism, particularly after the fall of China to Communist forces in 1949. Mr. Acheson served as an unofficial adviser to Presidents John F. Kennedy and Lyndon Johnson during the 1960s, and died of a stroke on October 12, 1971 at the age of 78.

120 years ago
1898

War
U.S. President William McKinley asked Congress for a declaration of war against Spain.

110 years ago
1908

Diplomacy
Representatives of the United Kingdom (on behalf of Canada) and the United States signed the Treaty of 1908, defining the Canada-U.S. border in its present form.

Defense
SMS Blücher, the last armoured cruiser to be built by the Imperial German Navy, was launched.

90 years ago
1928

Diplomacy
Princess Mary, travelling with her husband, Viscount Lascelles, became the first member of the royal family to visit the Holy Land since the British occupation in 1917. The couple were greeted with pomp and ceremony on their arrival in Jerusalem.

World events
Amanullah Khan, King of Afghanistan, had his tonsils removed by a German surgeon in Berlin.

Politics and government
At Ankara, the Turkish National Assembly unanimously passed a bill amending the Constitution by omitting all references to religion in the original articles stating that Islam was the religion of the Turkish republic, and providing the oath to be administered to deputies. Instead of swearing before God, the deputies were hereafter to swear upon their honour.

75 years ago
1943

Died on this date
Daniel C. Roper, 76. U.S. bureaucrat, politician, and diplomat. Mr. Roper, a Democrat, was U.S. Tariff Commissioner (1917); Commissioner of Internal Revenue and first Prohibition enforcement chief (1917-1920); Secretary of Commerce (1933-1938); and U.S. Ambassador to Canada (May-August 1939). When he presented his ambassadorial credentials to King George VI in Quebec City in 1939, it was the monarch's first official duty on Canadian soil. Mr. Roper died of leukemia 10 days after his 76th birthday.

War
British forces in Tunisia took LaHencha, and with French and American troops, drove to within 10 miles of the city of Kairouan.

Politics and government
U.S. Republican National Committee Chairman Harrison Spangler said that the Republicans would accept a short campaign and late conventions in 1944 if they were given assurances that Franklin D. Roosevelt would not run for a fourth term as President of the United States.

Economics and finance
U.S. President Roosevelt permitted the bill raising the national debt to $210 million and repealing his order on salary limitations to become law without his signature.

The Peruvian government ordered the expropriation of all Axis-owned or Axis-controlled businesses effective May 1, 1943.

70 years ago
1948

On the radio
The New Adventures of Sherlock Holmes, starring John Stanley and Alfred Shirley, on MBS
Tonight's episode: The Empty House

Died on this date
Jock Sutherland, 59. U.K.-born U.S. football coach. Mr. Sutherland, a native of Scotland, was an All-American end with the University of Pittsburgh Panthers who had a brief professional career with the Massillon Tigers of the Ohio League in 1919 before beginning his coaching career at Lafayette College (1919-1923), where he compiled a record of 33-8-2. Mr. Sutherland was best known as coach at the University of Pittsburgh from 1924-1938, compiling a record of 111-20-12 and leading the Panthers to five national championships. He coached in the National Football League with the Brooklyn Dodgers (1940-1941) and Pittsburgh Steelers (1946-1947), compiling a record of 28-16-1. Mr. Sutherland was on a scouting trip for the Steelers early in April 1948 when he was found in a confused state in his car in Kentucky. He was sent back to Pittsburgh, where he died of complications following surgery to remove what turned out to be a malignant brain tumour. Mr. Sutherland was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in 1951.

Diplomacy
The U.S.S.R. ended an agreement permitting U.S. and U.K. forces to maintain service stations along highways connecting Berlin to western Germany.

Protest
The Colombian government reported the suppression of domestic unrest, and imposed martial law to prevent fresh outbreaks.

Politics and government
The Midwest Democratic Conference in Des Moines endorsed U.S. President Harry Truman's candidacy for election in 1948. The Communist Party USA announced a drive for 15,000 new members, focusing on labour groups, Negroes, military veterans, and supporters of the U.S. presidential candidacy of former U.S. Vice President Henry Wallace.

Golf
Claude Harmon won the Masters at Augusta National Golf Club in Augusta, Georgia with a then-record 9-under par score of 279, finishing 5 strokes ahead of Cary Middlecoff. First prize money was $2,500.

Hockey
NHL
Stanley Cup
Finals
Toronto 2 @ Detroit 0 (Toronto led best-of-seven series 3-0)

Harry Watson's goal with 18 seconds remaining in the 2nd period opened the scoring, and Vic Lynn's goal with 4:44 remaining in the 3rd period clinched the victory as the Maple Leafs defeated the Red Wings 2-0 at Olympia Stadium, with Turk Broda winning the goaltending duel over Harry Lumley. The teams had played in Toronto the night before.

60 years ago
1958

Hit parade
#1 single in the U.K. (New Musical Express): Magic Moments--Perry Como (7th week at #1)

On television tonight
Harbor Command, starring Wendell Corey
Tonight's episode: Sunken Gold

Music
In the final round of the first International Tchaikovsky Piano Competition in Moscow, American entrant Van Cliburn of Kilgore, Texas performed the Tchaikovsky Piano Concerto No. 1 and the Rachmaninoff Piano Concerto No. 3. The audience included Queen Elisabeth of Belgium and her daughter, Marie José, the last Queen of Italy, seated in the Imperial Box.

Diplomacy
Pakistan protested to the United Nations Security Council that India had imposed a "reign of terror" in occupied Kashmir, charging that Kashmiris were fleeing to Pakistan in "the thousands" to avoid arrest.

Politics and government
John Hutton-Mills, national chairman of Ghana's opposition United Party, announced his resignation from politics.

Crime
A coroner's jury in Los Angeles ruled that the fatal April 4 stabbing of gangster Johnny Stompanato, 32, by Cheryl Crane, 14-year-old daughter of Mr. Stompanato's girlfriend, actress Lana Turner, was "justifiable homicide."

Economics and finance
The government of Portugal announced a $1.15-billion six-year plan to increase industrial and agricultural production.

50 years ago
1968

Theatre
A preview performance of Hair: The American Tribal Love Rock Musical took place at the Biltmore Theatre on Broadway in New York City. The show had opened off-Broadway in October 1967.

World events
German student protest movement leader Rudi Dutschke, 28, was shot in the head by Josef Bachmann, 23, who accused Mr. Dutschke of being a Communist. Mr. Dutschke survived, but health problems plagued him until his death at the age of 39 in 1979. Mr. Bachmann committed suicide in prison in 1970. The attack on Mr. Dutschke led to widespread violent protests.

War
U.S. Defense Secretary Clark Clifford announced a major call-up of reservists to active duty in Vietnam. It was to affect 24,000 Army, Air Force, and Navy reservists, of whom about 10,000 would go to the war zone in the coming weeks to back up the 11,000 combat troops sent in February after the North Vietnamese Tet offensive.

Law
U.S. President Lyndon Johnson signed the Civil Rights Act of 1968, banning racial discrimination in the sale or rental of 80% of the nation's housing, a day after the House of Representatives passed it 250-171. President Johnson described the House action as a "victory for every American," having come after "a long, tortuous and difficult road." The bill also made it a federal crime to harm civil rights workers, to cross a state line to incite a riot, and to instruct people in the use of firearms or Molotov cocktails in riots. The measure further guaranteed broad rights to American Indians in their dealings with authorities from tribal to state or federal levels.

Disasters
A cyclone hit Faridpur District in East Pakistan, killing 1,000 and injuring 1,000 more.

Hockey
NHL
Stanley Cup
Quarter-Finals
Montreal 3 @ Boston 2 (Montreal won best-of-seven series 4-0)
New York 4 @ Chicago 7 (New York led best-of-seven series 2-1)
Philadelphia 2 @ St. Louis 5 (St. Louis led best-of-seven series 3-1)
Los Angeles 2 @ Minnesota 3 (Best-of-seven series tied 2-2)

Basketball
NBA
Eastern Division Finals
Boston 114 @ Philadelphia 122 (Philadelphia led best-of-seven series 2-1)

Western Division Finals
Los Angeles 128 @ San Francisco 124 (Los Angeles led best-of-seven series 3-0)

ABA
Western Division Finals
New Orleans 119 @ Dallas 103 (New Orleans led best-of-seven series 3-1)

40 years ago
1978

War
Israeli forces began to withdraw from southern Lebanon. A contingent of 150 Norwegian UNIFIL troops occupied six villages in the area near the Syrian border evacuated by Israel.

World events
Philippines President Ferdinand Marcos released 600 marchers who had been arrested two days earlier while protesting the country's election results. The eight organizers of the demonstration, including six People's Front leaders, were still detained.

Economics and finance
U.S. President Jimmy Carter announced new steps to fight inflation, including 5.5% limit on federal employees' salary increases, and a freeze on White House staff pay. President Carter ruled out mandatory wage and price controls but appealed to industry and labour to show restraint. Industrial leaders praised the president's decision not to impose mandatory controls, but the financial community was disappointed with his failure to deal with what they considered to be the chief causes of inflation--the federal budget deficit, and the rapid growth of the U.S. money supply.

Hockey
NHL
Stanley Cup
Preliminary Round
Colorado 2 @ Philadelphia 3 (Philadelphia led best-of-three series 1-0)
New York Rangers 1 @ Buffalo 4 (Buffalo led best-of-three series 1-0)
Los Angeles 3 @ Toronto 7 (Toronto led best-of-three series 1-0)
Detroit 5 @ Atlanta 3 (Detroit led best-of-five series 1-0)

Mel Bridgman scored 23 seconds into the 1st overtime period to give the Flyers their win over the Rockies at the Spectrum in the first playoff game ever for the Colorado franchise, who had been known as the Kansas City Scouts in their first two season in the National Hockey League before moving to Denver in 1976.

George Ferguson scored 3 goals for the Maple Leafs as they beat the Kings at Maple Leaf Gardens. The game offered ample evidence that Los Angeles goalie Rogie Vachon was washed up.

The Red Wings' win over the Flames at the Omni was their first playoff game since 1970, and their first playoff win since 1966.

Basketball
NBA
Playoffs
Western Conference
First Round
Milwaukee 111 @ Phoenix 103 (Milwaukee led best-of-three series 1-0)

30 years ago
1988

Hit parade
#1 single in Australia (Australian Music Report): I Should Be So Lucky--Kylie Minogue (5th week at #1)

Died on this date
Jeff Donnell, 66. U.S. actress. Jean Marie Donnell appeared in supporting roles in movies in the 1940s and '50s, and in television from the 1950s onward. She played Stella Fields in the soap opera General Hospital from 1979 until her death from a heart attack on April 11, 1988 at the age of 66.

Movies
The Academy Awards for 1987 were presented at the Shrine Auditorium in Los Angeles. The winners included: Picture--The Last Emperor; Director--Bernardo Bertolucci (The Last Emperor); Actor--Michael Douglas (Wall Street); Actress--Cher (Moonstruck); Supporting Actor--Sean Connery (The Untouchables); Supporting Actress--Olympia Dukakis (Moonstruck); Original Song--(I've Had) The Time of My Life (Dirty Dancing).

Terrorism
A second hostage aboard a Kuwait Airways jet that had been hijacked on April 5 was killed by the hijackers; the first had been killed on April 9. The hijackers were demanding that Kuwait release 17 Shiite prisoners; Kuwait refused to do so. The plane was now on the ground at Larnaca, Cyprus.

World events
Jose Napoleon Duarte, President of El Salvador, denied amnesty for three leftists charged, but not yet tried, in the 1985 killings of four U.S. Marines and nine civilians. Mr. Duarte's decision overruled an appeals court decision that the accused men should be freed under the nation's new amnesty law. Mr. Duarte argued that the three had violated international law protecting the lives of diplomats.

25 years ago
1993

Hit parade
#1 single in New Zealand: Give in to Me--Michael Jackson

#1 single in Austria (Ö3): All that She Wants--Ace of Base (3rd week at #1)

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

#1 single in Ireland (IRMA): Young at Heart--The Bluebells

Protest
450 prisoners rioted at the Southern Ohio Correctional Facility in Lucasville, Ohio, and continued to do so for ten days, citing grievances related to prison conditions, as well as the forced vaccination of Nation of Islam prisoners (for tuberculosis) against their religious beliefs.

Golf
Bernhard Langer won the Masters at Augusta National Golf Club in Augusta, Georgia for the second time, with an 11-under-par score of 277, 4 strokes ahead of Chip Beck. First prize money was $306,000.

Hockey
NHL
Winnipeg 7 Edmonton 5
Vancouver 6 Calgary 3
Toronto 4 Hartford 2

20 years ago
1998

Curling
Wayne Middaugh's Canadian rink defeated Sweden 6-4 to win the world men's championship.

10 years ago
2008

Law
The Supreme Court of Canada ruled 9-0 in favour of restoring a Federal Court order that the Royal Canadian Mounted Police must serve all of New Brunswick in both English and French and respect unique language protections in Canada's only officially bilingual province.

Hockey
NHL
Stanley Cup
Eastern Conference
Quarter-Finals
Ottawa 3 @ Pittsburgh 5 (Pittsburgh led best-of-seven series 2-0)
Philadelphia 4 @ Washington 5 (Washington led best-of-seven series 1-0)
New York Rangers 2 @ New Jersey 1 (New York led best-of-seven series 2-0)

Western Conference
Quarter-Finals
Colorado 2 @ Minnesota 3 (OT) (Best-of-seven series tied 1-1)

Keith Carney scored at 1:14 of the 1st overtime period to give the Wild their win over the Avalanche at Xcel Energy Center in St. Paul. Mikko Koivu scored with 1:51 remaining in regulation time to give Minnesota a 2-1 lead, but Milan Hejduk scored with 44 seconds remaining to tie the score.