May 23, 2018

Born on this date
Happy Birthday, Chrisie Bell!

Married on this date
Happy Anniversary, Polly and Maurice Pratt!

520 years ago
1498

Died on this date
Girolamo Savonarola, 45. Italian cleric and politician. Mr. Savonarola, the ruler of Florence from 1494-1498, was known for his criticism of the immorality and corruption of the Roman Catholic clergy (including Pope Alexander VI), although he was a devout Catholic himself. He was also famous for burning books, and destruction of what he regarded as immoral art. The most notorious of these public events, in 1497, became known as the Bonfire of the Vanities. Mr. Savonarola was publicly hanged, just over a year after being excommunicated by Pope Alexander VI.

450 years ago
1568

War
Dutch rebels led by Louis of Nassau defeated Jean de Ligne, Duke of Arenberg, and his loyalist troops in the Battle of Heiligerlee, opening the Eighty Years' War.

400 years ago
1618

World events
The Second Defenestration of Prague occurred, precipitating the Thirty Years' War.

230 years ago
1788

Americana
South Carolina ratified the Constitution and entered the Union as the 8th state.

225 years ago
1793

War
An allied Austrian, Hanoverian, and British army under Prince Josias of Saxe-Coburg-Saalfeld defeated the French Army of the North led by General François Joseph Drouet Lamarche in the Battle of Famars during the Flanders campaign of the War of the First Coalition, an effort of European monarchies to contain revolutionary France.

170 years ago
1848

Born on this date
Otto Lilienthal. German aviator. Mr. Lilienthal was the first person to make documented repeated glider flights. He died on August 10, 1896 at the age of 48, the day after breaking his neck when his glider stalled and he fell 50 feet.

150 years ago
1868

Died on this date
Kit Carson, 58. U.S. frontiersman and military officer. Christopher Carson was one of the most famous people in the history of the American West. He was a mountain man in the 1830s, a guide for John C. Frémont in the 1840s, and a U.S. Army officer during the American Civil War in the 1860s, rising to the rank of brevet brigadier general. Mr. Carson was the subject of numerous dime novels and newspaper accounts, often fictitious. He died of an aortic aneurysm, shortly after the death of his third wife.

Baseball
In a battle of the top two Cincinnati teams‚ the Red Stockings cut down the Buckeyes 28-10. Asa Brainard‚ from the Excelsior Club‚ made his first appearance with the Red Stockings, as a number of players had changed teams that year. Those who did so while having a valid contract with their original team were called "revolvers."

130 years ago
1888

Born on this date
Zack Wheat. U.S. baseball player. Mr. Wheat played left field for the Brooklyn Superbas, Robins, and Dodgers from 1909-1926 and the Philadelphia Athletics in 1927, batting .317 with 132 home runs and 1,248 runs batted in in 2,410 games. He led the National League in 1918 with a .335 batting average and led the NL in slugging average (.461) and total bases (262) in 1916. One of the most popular players in Brooklyn history, Mr. Wheat was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1959. He died on May 11, 1972 at the age of 83.

Politics and government
Charles Tupper resigned from the Canadian House of Commons to return to the Canadian High Commission in London. He served as High Commissioner until January 14, 1896.

125 years ago
1893

Died on this date
Anton von Schmerling, 87. Austrian politician. Mr. Schmerling held numerous offices, including Minister President (Chancellor) of Germany (September-December 1848) and Interior Minister of the Austrian Empire (1860-1865).

120 years ago
1898

Baseball
The Eastern League‚ struggling to stay alive‚ cut all rosters to 15 players.

100 years ago
1918

Born on this date
Walter Jackson Bate. U.S. author. Professor Bate was a literary critic and biographer who won Pulitzer Prizes for his biographies John Keats (1963) and Samuel Johnson (1977). He died on July 26, 1999 at the age of 81.

Baseball
The New York Giants defeated the Cardinals 6-4 in 14 innings at Robison Field in St. Louis‚ no thanks to outfielder Benny Kauff, who batted 0 for 7 and tied a major league record by striking out 5 times.

Guy Morton pitched a 1-hitter and hit a double of his own to win the pitchers' duel over Sad Sam Jones as the Cleveland Indians edged the Boston Red Sox 1-0 at Fenway Park in Boston. Braggo Roth doubled home Ray Chapman in the 4th inning for the only run. Mr. Jones allowed 7 hits and 1 earned run in 8 innings.

The St. Louis Browns scored 2 runs in the top of the 9th inning to defeat the Washington Nationals 3-2 at Griffith Stadium in Washington, with Tom Rogers winning the pitchers' duel over Doc Ayers.

90 years ago
1928

Aviation
The Italian dirigible Italia, commanded by General Umberto Nobile, left Kings Bay, Spitzbergen, Norway, at 4:35 A.M., bound for the North Pole.

Law
U.S. President Calvin Coolidge signed the Jones-White Merchant Marine bill that provided for a $250,000 ship construction loan fund to encourage private shipping, and also for liberal long-term mail contracts.

President Coolidge vetoed the McNary-Haugen Farm Relief bill, calling it unworkable, with vicious provisions, and written to deceive the farmers for political purposes. Attorney General John Sargent had pronounced it unconstitutional.

Crime
Robbers in Lamar, Colorado killed A.N. Parrish, president of a bank, and stole $20,000. They kidnapped teller E.A. Kessinger and Dr. W.W. Wineinger of Dighton. The robbers killed mr. Kessinger near Oakley, Kansas.

Terrorism
A bomb was exploded at the Italian consulate at Buenos Aires, killing 6 and injuring 34.

A bomb blew up a cloakroom in the Chamber of Deputies in Mexico City, with no casualties.

Baseball
Jack Slattery quit as manager of the Boston Braves, who were in last place in the National League with a record of 11-20. Owner William Fuchs announced that "after much persuasion," second baseman Rogers Hornsby had consented to take over as manager.

Cleveland Indians’ left fielder Charlie Jamieson started a triple play against the Chicago White Sox in a 4-3 10-inning loss at Comiskey Park in Chicago. In the top of the 9th inning, Bud Clancy was out on a short fly to Mr. Jamieson‚ who then threw out Johnny Mann‚ the runner on third base who tried to score. The relay from catcher Luke Sewell to his brother Joe at second caught Ray Schalk off base‚ and he was tagged at third base. Mr. Jamieson started another triple play against the New York Yankees on June 9. Mr. Mann had singled as a pinch hitter in his sixth and last major league game. The White Sox won the game when Willie Kamm singled home Bill Hunnefield with none out and the bases loaded in the bottom of the 10th.

Hugh Critz singled home Chuck Dressen with 2 out and the bases loaded in the bottom of the 10th inning to give the Cincinnati Reds a 4-3 win over the Pittsburgh Pirates before 5,857 fans at Redland Field. The Reds had tied the game with a run with 2 out in the 9th.

80 years ago
1938

Died on this date
Philip Kleintjes, 70. Dutch politician. Mr. Kleintjes, a republican, was known as the "people’s rights" leader in the Netherlands.

Frederick Ruple, 66. Swiss-born U.S. artist. Mr. Ruple, born Frederick Rupli, moved to the United States in 1891, and lived in Ohio, Arkansas, and Oklahoma, with the latter two states providing the inspiration for his portraits and murals. His most famous work was The Spirit of '89, a depiction of the beginning of the Oklahoma land rush.

75 years ago
1943

Died on this date
William Aberhart, 64. Canadian politician. "Bible Bill" Aberhart, an evangelist and educator who had founded the Calgary Prophetic Bible Institute in 1927, led the Social Credit party to victory in the Alberta provincial election in 1935, and served as Premier and Minister of Education from 1935 (and as Attorney General from 1937) until his death, which occurred during a visit to Vancouver. Mr. Aberhart was the first politician to lead any Social Credit party to victory. He attempted to legislate Social Credit economic policies only after pressure from backbench legislators, and many of the laws passed by his government were struck down by the Supreme Court of Canada as ultra vires (beyond the powers of his government). Mr. Aberhart was succeeded as Premier of Alberta by Ernest Manning, a former student of his at Prophetic Bible Institute.

War
The Turkish government reported that guerrilla warfare was spreading in Greece, Albania, Yugoslavia, Bulgaria, and Crete, with the attacks being directed by Allied Middle Eastern headquarters.

Politics and government
The Egyptian Chamber of Deputies voted confidence in Prime Minister Mustafa Nahas Pasha after a five-day debate over charges that had had used his official position to gain personal benefits.

Berlin radio said that the Anti-Comintern Pact would remain in effect despite the U.S.S.R.'s dissolution of the Comintern.

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 Accommodating Valise

Died on this date
Thomas Wasson, 52. U.S. diplomat. Mr. Wasson was a member of the United Nations Truce Commission in Palestine, and was U.S. Consul-General in Israel. He died the day after being shot while returning to the U.S. Consulate from a meeting of the UN Truce Commission at the French Consulate in Jerusalem. The shooter was never identified.

Politics and government
Italian Prime Minister Alcide de Gasperi announced his sixth cabinet since 1945, consisting mainly of Christian Democrats and Right Socialists.

Boxing
Cyrille Delannoit of Belgium (48-7-3) won a 15-round decision over Marcel Cerdan of France (106-3) at Heizel Stadium in Brussels to win the European Boxing Union European middleweight title.

Baseball
Joe DiMaggio hit 3 consecutive home runs off Bob Feller and drove in 6 runs to power the New York Yankees to a 6-5 win over the Cleveland Indians in the first game of a doubleheader before 78,431 fans at Municipal Stadium in Cleveland. Mr. DiMaggio was held hitless in the second game, which the Indians won 5-1.

Pinch hitter Early Wynn drew a base on balls with 2 out and the bases loaded in the top of the 9th inning to force home Gil Coan with the game's only run as the Washington Nationals edged the Detroit Tigers 1-0 before 36,533 fans at Briggs Stadium in Detroit. Walt Masterson pitched a 6-hitter to win the pitchers' duel over Virgil Trucks.

Bob Kennedy singled home Joe Haynes with 1 out in the bottom of the 9th inning to give the Chicago White Sox a 4-3 win over the Boston Red Sox in the first game of a doubleheader before 27,859 fans at Comiskey Park in Chicago. Pinch runner Don Kolloway scored on a wild pitch by Joe Dobson with 1 out in the bottom of the 10th inning to give the White Sox a 4-3 win in the second game to complete the sweep.

Ferris Fain drove in 3 runs in each game to help the Philadelphia Athletics sweep a doubleheader from the St. Louis Browns 7-3 and 8-1 before 14,210 fans at Sportsman's Park in St. Louis, with Dick Fowler and Lou Brissie the respective winning pitchers.

Jeff Heath drove in 4 runs in the first game and Phil Masi had 4 RBIs in the second game to help the Boston Braves sweep a doubleheader from the Chicago Cubs 8-5 and 12-4 before 31,693 fans at Braves Field. Chicago catcher Rube Walker was beaned by Boston pitcher Vern Bickford in the 1st inning of the second game and was taken off on a stretcher and then to hospital, where he spent the night and the next day.

Nippy Jones batted 3 for 5 with a home run, double, 2 bases on balls, 2 runs, and 6 runs batted in to help the St. Louis Cardinals rout the Philadelphia Phillies 18-3 in the first game of a doubleheader before 35,152 fans at Shibe Park in Philadelphia. Jim Hearn pitched a 5-hitter and had a single of his own to lead the Cardinals to a 4-1 win in the second game to complete the sweep.

60 years ago
1958

Hit parade
#1 single in the U.K. (New Musical Express): Who's Sorry Now--Connie Francis (2nd week at #1)

On television tonight
Harbor Command, starring Wendell Corey
Tonight's episode: Bum's Rush

Defense
The nuclear-powered U.S. Navy submarines USS Skate and USS Seawolf surfaced off Long Island Sound after setting records for continuous underwater operation.

Politics and government
The Committee for Public Safety for Algeria and the Sahara, formed to direct the local Public Safety groups set up throughout Algeria, was proclaimed in Algeria and immediately recognized by General Salan, French Army commander in Algeria.

Venezuela's ruling junta proclaimed a new voting statute under which a president was to be elected by the fall of 1958.

Basketball
Wilt Chamberlain, the All-America center from the University of Kansas, announced that he was giving up his senior year of eligibility to turn professional as a member of the Harlem Globetrotters.

40 years ago
1968

Protest
New clashes began between police and students in France.

Politics and government
A bipartisan ad hoc committee of U.S. Congressmen was formed to help people associated with the "poor people’s march" in Washington to present their demands. U.S. Agriculture Secretary Orville Freeman promised Rev. Ralph Abernathy, leader of the march, that he would enlarge his department’s food distribution program.

Boxing
Former world heavyweight champion Sonny Liston (41-3) knocked out Billy Joiner (9-4-3) in 7 rounds at Olympic Auditorium in Los Angeles.

40 years ago
1978

Law
The Supreme Court of the United States ruled 8-1 that judges and juries should not consider the possible reactions of children when deciding whether material was obscene in terms of "contemporary community standards."

A city ordinance prohibiting discrimination in housing, employment, and public accommodation on the basis of sexual or affectional preference was repealed in a referendum in Eugene, Oregon.

Diplomacy
A special five-week United Nations General Assembly session on disarmament opened.

The annual Franco-African summit in Paris concluded with the endorsement by African leaders, including Zaire’s Mobutu Sese Seko, of the rescue of Europeans from the Zairian town of Kolwezi by French and Belgian troops several days earlier.

Soviet President Leonid Brezhnev began a two-day visit to Japan. He briefed Japanese officials on his talks in Peking (Beijing) several days earlier, and told Japanese Prime Minister Takeo Fukuda that China was interested in resuming peace treaty talks, suspended since 1975, with Japan.

Politics and government
U.S. President Jimmy Carter reiterated his complaints about the constraints that Congress had placed on aid to friendly African nations. Speaking to a group of senators, he explained that because of the limits, the United States was not able to assist pro-western guerrillas fighting the 20,000 Cubans stationed in Angola.

Protest
Two days of clashes between police and protesters in 28 cities in Peru concluded with the reported deaths of 20 people.

Business
Major league baseball's American League approved the transfer of the Boston Red Sox to a group headed by Jean Yawkey‚ Buddy LeRoux‚ and Haywood Sullivan. The purchase price was $15 million. Mr. Sullivan had a 7-year catching career for the Red Sox and Royals‚ while Mr. LeRoux was the Boston trainer for 8 years.

Hockey
NHL
Stanley Cup
Finals
Boston 1 @ Montreal 4 (Montreal led best-of-seven series 3-2)

The pathetic refereeing of Dave Newell was a major factor in the Canadiens’ win over the Bruins at the Montreal Forum.





Baseball
With the Oakland Athletics leading the American League West Division (24-15)‚ manager Bobby Winkles resigned, and was replaced by Jack McKeon.

30 years ago
1988

Hit parade
#1 single in Australia (Australian Music Report): Get Outta My Dreams, Get Into My Car--Billy Ocean (5th week at #1)

Law
The U.S. administration of President Ronald Reagan announced that boats would no longer be seized outside United States territorial waters just because small quantities of drugs were found on board.

Basketball
NBA
Western Conference
Finals
Dallas 98 @ Los Angeles Lakers 113 (Los Angeles led best-of-seven series 1-0)

Baseball
Atlanta Braves’ manager Chuck Tanner was fired and replaced by Russ Nixon. The Braves were 12-27 under Mr. Tanner‚ last in the National League West Division.

25 years ago
1993

Hit parade
#1 single in New Zealand: Informer--Snow (3rd week at #1)

#1 single in Austria (Ö3): What is Love?--Haddaway (3rd week at #1)

#1 single in Switzerland: Informer--Snow (3rd week at #1)

#1 single in Ireland (IRMA): In Your Eyes--Niamh Kavanagh

Politics and government
The royalist FUNCINPEC party headed by Prince Norodim Ranariddh won the Cambodian general election, which attracted a voter turnout of 90% despite attempts by Khmer Rouge guerrillas to disrupt the voting. Prince Ranariddh's father, Prince Norodim Sihanouk, announced that he would form a government with the defeated Cambodian People's Party, but Prince Ranariddh vetoed the idea. Members of the People's Party called for a new vote in five provinces, claiming there were irregularities in the election.

Hockey
NHL
Stanley Cup
Clarence S. Campbell Conference
Finals
Toronto 4 @ Los Angeles 2 (Best-of-seven series tied 2-2)

Basketball
NBA
Eastern Conference
Finals
Chicago 90 @ New York 98 (New York led best-of-seven series 1-0)

20 years ago
1998

Died on this date
Telford Taylor, 90. U.S. military officer and lawyer. Brigadier General Taylor prosecuted the first case in the post-World War II Nazi war crimes trials in Nuremberg; opposed U.S. Senator Joseph McCarthy's anti-Communist activities in the 1950s; and opposed U.S. bombing of North Vietnam in the early 1970s.

War
Irish voters overwhelmingly approved a peace accord to end sectarian strife. Those in Northern Ireland voted 71% in favour, indicating the approval of a majority of Protestants; 94% of voters in the Republic of Ireland approved the agreement.

Hockey
NHL
Stanley Cup
Eastern Conference
Finals
Buffalo 2 @ Washington 0 (Buffalo led best-of-seven series 1-0)

Basketball
NBA
Eastern Conference
Finals
Chicago 105 @ Indiana 107 (Chicago led best-of-seven series 2-1)

10 years ago
2008

Asiatica
The International Court of Justice (ICJ) awarded Middle Rocks to Malaysia and Pedra Branca (Pulau Batu Puteh) to Singapore, ending a 29-year territorial dispute between the two countries.

Basketball
NBA
Western Conference
Finals
San Antonio 71 @ Los Angeles Lakers 101 (Los Angeles led best-of-seven series 2-0)