Saturday 7 April 2018

April 7, 2018

230 years ago
1788


Americana
Pioneers to the Northwest Territory arrived at the confluence of the Ohio and Muskingum rivers, establishing Marietta, Ohio as the first permanent American settlement of the new United States in the Northwest Territory, and opening the westward expansion of the new country.

150 years ago
1868


Died on this date
Thomas D'Arcy McGee, 42
. Irish-born Canadian politician. Mr. McGee, a Roman Catholic, was an activist against British rule in Ireland, and fled to the United States in 1848 to escape arrest. He became disenchanted with American republicanism and moved to Canada in 1857, urging Irish Catholics to work with British Protestants to form a confederation in alliance with Britain. Mr. McGee became a Father of Confederation and opposed the Fenians (Irish Catholics who fought against the British). In the first federal election under Confederation, he was elected as a Liberal-Conservative to represent Montreal West in the House of Commons in 1867. After participating in a parliamentary debate that continued after midnight, Mr. McGee was opening the door to Trotter's Boarding House on Sparks Street, his residence in Ottawa, when he was shot in the neck by someone later identified as Patrick Whelan, a Fenian. Prime Minister John A. Macdonald was summoned immediately, and personally helped lift Mr. McGee's body onto a bed. Mr. McGee died six days before his 43rd birthday, and was the only victim of a political assassination in Canada until Quebec Labour Minister Pierre Laporte was murdered by separatist FLQ terrorists on October 17, 1970.

125 years ago
1893


Born on this date
Allen Dulles
. U.S. diplomat and spymaster. Mr. Dulles, the younger brother of U.S. Secretary of State John Foster Dulles, held various diplomatic posts before joining the office of Strategic Services at the beginning of World War II. The OSS eventually became the Central Intelligence Agency, and Mr. Dulles served as Deputy Director of Central Intelligence (1951-1953) and Director of Central Intelligence (1953-1961). He and other CIA officials were forced to resign on November 29, 1961, amid increasing criticism of the agency's performance. Mr. Dulles served on the Warren Commission (1963-1964) that investigated the November 22, 1963 assassination of President Kennedy, and died of influenza and pneumonia on January 29, 1969 at the age of 75.

110 years ago
1908


Politics and government
H. H. Asquith of the Liberal Party took office as Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, succeeding Sir Henry Campbell-Bannerman.

100 years ago
1918


Born on this date
Ronald Howard
. U.K. actor. Mr. Howard, the son of actor Leslie Howard, was best known for starring as the title character in the television series Sherlock Holmes (1954-1955). His films included The Browning Version (1951) and The Curse of the Mummy's Tomb (1964). Mr. Howard died on December 19, 1996 at the age of 78.

Bobby Doerr. U.S. baseball player. Mr. Doerr was a second baseman with the Boston Red Sox (1937-1944, 1946-1951), batting .288 with 223 home runs and 1,247 runs batted in in 1,865 games. He was a nine-time All-Star, and the Red Sox retired his jersey #1 in 1988. Mr Doerr coached with the Red Sox from 1967-1969 and with the Toronto Blue Jays from 1977-1981. He was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1986, and died on November 13, 2017 at the age of 99, being the last living man to have played in the major leagues in the 1930s.

90 years ago
1928


At the movies
Speedy, starring Harold Lloyd, Ann Christy, and Bert Woodruff, opened in theatres.

World events
In Caracas, a revolt of a battalion of Venezuelan federal troops was defeated, with many casualties on both sides.

Crime
Detectives with machine guns entered a cottage at Colby’s Point, Illinois, and rescued Chicago automobile dealer Thomas Gaynor, one of the owners of the new McCormick Hotel, who had been kidnapped seven days earlier, and held for ransom in sums from $100,000 down to $10,000.

Hockey
NHL
Stanley Cup
Finals
New York Rangers 2 @ Montreal Maroons 1 (OT) (Best-of-five series tied 1-1)

In one of the most memorable games in Stanley Cup history, Rangers’ coach and general manager Lester Patrick came out of retirement to play goal against the Maroons at the Montreal Forum. Early in the second period, New York goalie Lorne Chabot suffered an eye injury and was unable to continue. National Hockey League teams didn’t dress backup goaltenders in those days, but they were free to activate anyone they could find in an emergency, if the other team gave its permission. Alex Connell of the Ottawa Senators was in the stands, as was minor league goalie Hughie McCormick. Montreal coach Eddie Gerard refused to allow the Rangers to allow either of them, so Mr. Patrick decided to play goal himself. He was 44, and hadn’t played since 1922. More amazing, he’d been a defenseman, not a goaltender. The presence of Mr. Patrick in goal seemed to inspire the Rangers. Nels Stewart scored for the Maroons with 1:09 remaining in regulation time, but that was the only shot to beat him, as he made 18 saves. Bill Cook scored 30 seconds into the 3rd period to open the scoring, and Frank Boucher scored at 7:05 of overtime to give the Rangers their win. Joe Miller, recently placed on waivers by the New York Americans, replaced Mr. Patrick in goal for the rest of the series.

80 years ago
1938


Hockey
NHL
Stanley Cup
Finals
Chicago 2 @ Toronto 5 (Best-of-five series tied 1-1)

The Black Hawks, whose regular goaltender, Mike Karakas, was injured and unable to play, had planned on using substitute Paul Goodman in game 1, but when he couldn't be found, a minor leaguer named Alfie Moore was located. He was sensational in a 3-1 win, but was ruled ineligible just two hours before the start of game 2 at Maple Leaf Gardens. Mr. Goodman, thinking that Mr. Moore was going to play, had disappeared, and was finally found in a movie theatre. He didn't have as much success as Mr. Moore.

75 years ago
1943


Died on this date
Alexandre Millerand, 84
. Prime Minister of France, 1920; President of France, 1920-1924. Mr. Millerand, a Socialist, sat in the Chamber of Deputies from 1885-1920, serving as Prime Minister from January-September 1920 before succeeding Paul Deschanel as President.

Married on this date
U.S. actress Dorothy Lamour and Captain William R. Howard were married in Beverly Hills, California.

War
U.S. President Franklin D. Roosevelt requested a record $24,551,070,000 Navy appropriation from Congress for fiscal 1944. Bolivia, which had declared war on the Axis the previous day, ordered the mobilization of troops for use in mining, oil, and agricultural areas. After five days of attacks, German forces ceased their effort to destroy the Soviet bridgehead south of Izyum on the Donets River. British forces in northern Tunisia opened an attack between Beja and Medjez-el-Bab, while advance patrols of the U.K. and U.S. armies met on the Gafsa-Gabes road just south of Djebel Chemsi, Tunisia. U.S. planes intercepted a Japanese strike force of 50 bombers and 48 Zeros attempting to attack U.S. shipping in the Guadalcanal area,reportedly shooting down 39 while losing only 6.

Abominations
In Terebovlia, Ukraine, Germans ordered 1,100 Jews to undress to their underwear and march through the city of Terebovlia to the nearby village of Plebanivka where they were shot dead and buried in ditches.

Diplomacy
U.S.S.R. Ambassador to the U.S.A. Maxim Litvinov arrived in Havana to present his credentials to President Fulgencio Batista as the first Soviet minister to Cuba.

Politics and government
Ioannis Rallis succeeded Konstantinos Logothetopoulos as collaborationist Prime Minister of Greece during the Axis Occupation.

Economics and finance
The British government published a white paper by John Maynard Keynes announcing its postwar currency stabilization plan, designed to provide an international banking system.

Hockey
NHL
Stanley Cup
Finals
Detroit 4 @ Boston 0 (Detroit led best-of-seven series 3-0)

Football
NFL
The National Football League made the wearing of helmets by players mandatory for the 1943 season.

70 years ago
1948


Died on this date
Orville Zimmerman, 67
. U.S. politician. Mr. Zimmerman, a Democrat, represented Missouri's 10th District in the U.S. House of Representatives from 1935 until his death.

War
Chinese Communist forces took the rail centre of Loyang in Honan Province and approached Chenghsien, the crossroads of China's north-south and east-west railroads.

United Nations Security Council President Alfonso Lopez of Colombia opened Palestine truce negotiations in New York with the Arab Higher Committee and the Jewish Agency.

Health
The World Health Organization (WHO) was established as a specialized agency of the United Nations, following ratification of its charter by Ukraine, White Russia, and Mexico.

Labour
The U.S. Justice Department charged United Mine Workers of America President John L. Lewis with contempt of court for attempting to void an injunction ordering miners to return to work.

Hockey
NHL
Stanley Cup
Finals
Detroit 3 @ Toronto 5 (Toronto led best-of-seven series 1-0)

Gus Mortson of the Maple Leafs broke his leg in their win over the Red Wings at Maple Leaf Gardens, and was lost for the rest of the series.

Basketball
BAA
Semi-Finals
Baltimore 73 @ Chicago 67 (Baltimore led best-of-three series 1-0)

60 years ago
1958


Hit parade
#1 singles in the U.S.A. (Billboard): Tequila--The Champs (Best Seller--4th week at #1; Disc Jockey--2nd week at #1; Top 100--4th week at #1)

War
The Japanese Foreign Ministry announced the unconditional release of 10 remaining World War II Japanese leaders convicted as Class A war criminals.

Economics and finance
Following meetings in Cairo with U.A.R. President Gamal Nasser, World Bank President Eugene Black said that his organization would aid Egyptian planning for expansion of the Suez Canal.

Agriculture
The U.A.R. and U.S.S.R. concluded a $9.8-million agreement for exchange of Soviet wheat and Egyptian cotton.

Disasters
32 passengers and crew members aboard an Ecuadorean DC-3 en route from Guayaquil to Quito were killed when it crashed in the jungle.

50 years ago
1968


Died on this date
Edwin Baker, 75
. Canadian soldier and educator. Colonel Baker lost the sight in both eyes while serving with the Sixth Field Company, Canadian Engineers during World War I in 1915. He and six others co-founded the Canadian National Institute for the Blind in 1918. Colonel Baker served as the CNIB's vice president from 1918-1920 and managing director and general secretary from 1920-1962.

Jim Clark, 32. U.K. auto racing driver. A resident of Duns, Scotland, Mr. Clark won the Drivers' World Championship in 1963 and 1965. He competed in the Indianapolis 500 for the first time in 1963, finishing second and winning Rookie of the Year. Mr. Clark finished a close second in the world championship competition in 1964, and won for the second time in 1965. He also won the Indianapolis 500 that year, becoming the first British driver to win the event, as well as becoming the first driver to win the Indianapolis 500 and the Formula 1 title in the same year. He also won the British Touring Car Championship in 1964. His contributions to auto racing earned Mr. Clark an OBE in 1964. Mr. Clark started 72 Grand Prix races; his totals of 33 pole positions and 25 victories were records at the time of his death. His last win came in the South African Grand Prix on January 1, 1968. Mr. Clark was driving in a Formula 2 race at the Hockenheimring in West Germany to fulfill a contractual obligation with Firestone tires. On the fifth lap, his Lotus 48 veered off the track and crashed into the trees; he suffered a broken neck and skull fracture, and died before reaching the hospital. The cause of the crash was never definitively identified, but investigators concluded it was most likely due to a deflating rear tire.

Space
The Soviet Union launched the satellite Luna 14, intended to orbit the Moon. The satellite measured the lunar gravitational field and its relationship with Earth.

Americana
The United States observed a national day of mourning, proclaimed by President Lyndon Johnson, for Martin Luther King, Jr., who had been assassinated on April 4.

Hockey
CPHL
Adams Cup
Quarter-Finals
Memphis 0 @ Kansas City 4 (Kansas City won best-of-five series 3-0)

40 years ago
1978


Hit parade
#1 single in Sweden (Topplistan): It's a Heartache--Bonnie Tyler (5th week at #1)

#1 single in West Germany (Media Control): Das Lied der Schlümpfe--Vader Abraham & Die Schlümpfe (3rd week at #1)

#1 single in France: Magnolias Forever--Claude François

Defense
U.S. President Jimmy Carter announced that he had "decided to defer production" of the neutron bomb, but said that the decision could be reversed if the Soviet Union failed to show restraint in future arms deployments. The "bomb," in reality an antitank device intended for use on the battlefield, used enhanced radiation to kill enemy soldiers while doing relatively less damage to property. The Soviet news agency TASS responded that the Soviet Union was willing to consider mutual renunciation of the neutron bomb, but not the kind of trade-off suggested by Mr. Carter.

Politics and government
In the Philippines, the Kilusang Bagong Lipunan (New Society Movement) of President Ferdinand Marcos won 150 of 165 seats in the Interim Batasang Pambansa in the country's first parliamentary election. The Pusyon Bisaya, led by Hilario Davide, Jr., won 13 seats; the Mindanao Alliance, led by Reuben Canoy, won 1 seat, and independent Ernesto Roldan won the other seat. The opposition Lakas ng Bayan (LABAN), led by imprisoned former Senator Benigno Aquino, won no seats. Opponents of Mr. Marcos's regime made allegations of electoral fraud.

30 years ago
1988


Hit parade
#1 single in Spain (PROMUSICAE): Always on My Mind--Pet Shop Boys (8th week at #1)

#1 single in Finland (Musiikkituottajat – IFPI Finland): On kesäyö/Viimeinen laulu--Topi Sorsakoski & J. Karjalainen

Defense
The arrival of U.S. Marines in Panama concluded; a total of 1,300 assumed security duties at U.S. bases.

Terrorism
About half of the hostages aboard a Kuwait Airways jet that been hijacked to Mashhad, Iran two days earlier, were released. Kuwait rejected the hijackers' demands that 17 Shiite terrorists be freed. The plane took off, and after being refused the right to land in Beirut, landed in Larnaca, Cyprus.

Politics and government
U.S. Senator Paul Simon announced the suspension of his campaign for the 1988 Democratic Party U.S. presidential nomination, two days after he received just 5% of the vote in the Wisconsin primary.

Protest
Students in Tegucigalpa, Honduras rioted in protest against the seizure by U.S. authorities of fugitive and suspected drug dealer Juan Ramon Matta two days earlier. Extradition was prohibited by the Honduran constitution. 2,000 people attacked and burned the U.S. embassy annex. Four students were shot to death, and a girl died in the fire. It wasn’t clear who fired the shots.

Hockey
NHL
Stanley Cup
Prince of Wales Conference
Division Semi-Finals
Hartford 3 @ Montreal 7 (Montreal led best-of-seven series 2-0)
Buffalo 1 @ Boston 4 (Boston led best-of-seven series 2-0)
New Jersey 3 @ New York Islanders 2 (Best-of-seven series tied 1-1)
Philadelphia 4 @ Washington 5 (Best-of-seven series tied 1-1)

Clarence S. Campbell Conference
Division Semi-Finals
Toronto 2 @ Detroit 6 (Best-of-seven series tied 1-1)
Chicago 2 @ St. Louis 3 (St. Louis led best-of-seven series 2-0)
Los Angeles 4 @ Calgary 6 (Calgary led best-of-seven series 2-0)
Winnipeg 2 @ Edmonton 3 (Edmonton led best-of-seven series 2-0)

25 years ago
1993


Hit parade
#1 single in Sweden (Topplistan): No Limit--2 Unlimited (7th week at #1)

Hockey
NHL
Vancouver 5 Edmonton 4 (OT)

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