Tuesday 31 July 2018

July 31, 2018

520 years ago
1498


Exploration
On his third voyage to the Western Hemisphere, Christopher Columbus became the first European to discover the island of Trinidad.

510 years ago
1508


Died on this date
Na'od
. Emperor of Ethiopia, 1494-1508. Na'od was the second son of Emperor Baeda Maryam I and the younger brother of Eskender, who died in 1494. Eskender was succeeded by his infant son Amda Seyon II, who died at the age of 6 months, enabling Na'od to accede to the throne. Na'od was killed while fighting against Muslim forces during the Abyssinian-Adal War, and was succeeded by his son Dawit II.

150 years ago
1868


Canadiana
The Canadian Parliament passed the Rupert's Land Act, by which the British government underwrotes Canada's £300,000 (plus 1/20th of land in fertile belt plus acreage around each existing fur fort), and let the Crown declare Rupert's Land and the Northwest Territories part of the Dominion of Canada.

130 years ago
1888


Baseball
Gus Weyhing became the second member of the Philadelphia Athletics in six days to pitch a no-hitter as he led the Athletics to a 4-0 win over the Kansas City Blues at Jefferson Street Grounds in Philadelphia. Ed Seward had pitched a no-hitter for the Athletics in a 12-2 win over the Cincinnati Reds on July 26, also at Jefferson Street Grounds.

110 years ago
1908


Disasters
Coal Creek No.2 in British Columbia caved in after a bump, leaving 4 dead, 21 trapped. The mine was subsequently abandoned.

100 years ago
1918


Born on this date
Paul Boyer
. U.S. biochemist. Dr. Boyer was awarded a share of the 1997 Nobel Prize in Chemistry with John E. Walker "for their elucidation of the enzymatic mechanism underlying the synthesis of adenosine triphosphate (ATP)." Dr. Boyer died on June 2, 2018 at the age of 99.

90 years ago
1928


Died on this date
Louisa de Hostos, 38
. U.S. authoress. Miss de Hostos, originally from Puerto Rico, burned herself to death in a bathtub in New York City, saying that a man had persecuted her to death.

Economics and finance
The U.S. Minister to Switzerland signed at Berne the supplementary commercial agreement which 27 other nations had signed on July 11.

Disasters
14 passengers were killed in a collision between a moving passenger train and a standing freight train at Dinkelscherben, Germany.

Olympics
Bobbie Rosenfeld of Canada won the silver medal in the women's 100-metre sprint at the Summer Olympic Games in Amsterdam, the Olympiad where women first competed.

Boxing
Five days after successfully defending his world heavyweight title against Tom Heeney, Gene Tunney announced his retirement.

80 years ago
1938


Defense
Bulgaria signed a non-aggression pact with Greece and other states of the Balkan Antanti (Turkey, Romania, and Yugoslavia).

Archaeology
Engraved gold and silver plates from King Darius the Great were discovered in Persepolis.

75 years ago
1943


Hit parade
#1 single in Australia (Kent Music Report): White Christmas--Bing Crosby (2nd month at #1)

#1 single in the U.S.A. (Billboard): You'll Never Know--Dick Haymes and the Song Spinners (2nd week at #1)

War
Yugoslavian troops led by General Draja Mikhailovich fought their way through Axis lines into the Udine district of northeastern Italy. The Swiss government reported that soldiers were joining workers in peace demonstrations throughout northern Italy and that the Fascists in the Popolo d'Italia building in Milan had surrendered after Vito Mussolini, nephew of recently-deposed Duce Benito Mussolini, was seriously injured.

Defense
The French Committee of National Liberation named General H.H. Giraud as military commander subject to committee decisions, and appointed a National Defense Committee headed by General Charles de Gaulle.

Diplomacy
The U.S. State Department instructed its representatives to call on the governments of Sweden, Turkey, Spain, Portugal, Switzerland, Argentina, and Vatican City not to give asylum to Axis leaders.

Journalism
George S. Viereck, longtime propagandist on behalf of Germany, was sentenced by a U.S. federal court in Washington to 1-5 years in prison for violation of the Foreign Registration Act.

Labour
U.S. Attorney General Francis Biddle ruled that any group could call for a strike vote in a war plant under the Connally-Harness-Smith Act.

70 years ago
1948


Hit parade
#1 single in Australia (Kent Music Report): Near You--Bing Crosby; Dick Haymes and the Andrews Sisters (3rd month at #1)

#1 single in the U.S.A. (Billboard) (Best Seller): Woody Wood-Pecker--Kay Kyser and his Orchestra (5th week at #1)

U.S.A. Top 10 (Cash Box)
1 Woody Wood-Pecker--Kay Kyser and his Orchestra (2nd week at #1)
--The Sportsmen and Mel Blanc
--Danny Kaye and the Andrews Sisters
2 My Happiness--Jon and Sondra Steele
--The Pied Pipers
--Ella Fitzgerald
3 You Can't Be True, Dear--Ken Griffin
--Dick Haymes with the Song Spinners
--The Sportsmen
--The Marlin Sisters with Eddie Fisher
4 William Tell Overture--Spike Jones and his City Slickers
5 Little White Lies--Dick Haymes
6 Love Somebody--Doris Day and Buddy Clark
7 Nature Boy--King Cole
8 Twelfth Street Rag--Pee Wee Hunt and his Orchestra
9 Confess--Doris Day and Buddy Clark
--Patti Page
10 The Maharajah of Magador--Vaughn Monroe and his Orchestra

Singles entering the chart were For Every Man There's a Woman by Tony Martin (#27); Run Joe by Louis Jordan and his Tympany Five (#30); and Mississippi Mud by Tommy Dorsey and his Orchestra (#39).

Theatre
The National Theater in Washington, D.C. ended live performances when the Actors Equity Association demanded an end to the traditional exclusion of Negroes from the audience.

War
A U.S. tribunal in Nuremberg handed down prison sentences to 11 officials of the Krupp munitions firm who were convicted on charges of using slave labour and plundering occupied territories during World War II. Firm owner Alfred Krupp von Bohlen und Halbach received a 12-year sentence.

Defense
The U.S. Navy battleship USS Nevada was sunk by an aerial torpedo after surviving hits from two atomic bombs (as part of post-war tests) and being used for target practice by three other ships.

World events
Mikhail Samarin, a mathematics and arts teacher at a Soviet consular school in New York, went into hiding with his wife following the school's closing in order to avoid being returned to the U.S.S.R.

Politics and government
Confessed Communist spy Elizabeth Bentley testified before the U.S. House of Representatives Committee on Un-American Activities, accusing Lauchlin Currie, an aide to U.S. President Franklin D. Roosevelt during World War II, and former Assistant Treasury Secretary Harry Dexter White of indirectly furnishing her with classified information. Both men denied the charges. Former Commerce Department official William Remington, in testimony before a Senate Expenditures subcommittee, also denied furnishing Miss Bentley with classified information.

States' Rights Party U.S. presidential candidate Strom Thurmond opened his campaign in Cherryville, New York by denouncing opposing presidential candidates Harry Truman, Thomas Dewey, and Henry Wallace for their support of civil rights for Negroes.

Transportation
New York International Airport (later renamed John F. Kennedy International Airport) was dedicated at Idlewild Field in a ceremony that included U.S. President Harry Truman and New York Governor Thomas Dewey.

60 years ago
1958


Politics and government
The Lebanese Parliament elected General Fuad Chehab, Army chief of staff and a Maronite Christian, to a six-year term as President.

Haitian President Jean-Claude Duvalier was granted absolute power to govern by decree for six months.

Labour
The United Auto Workers of America and International Harvester Company agreed to an indefinite extension of a contract covering 36,500 workers in 15 plants.

Football
CFL
Pre-season
Winnipeg (0-2) 15 @ Toronto (1-0) 22

Dave Mann, Corky Tharp, and C.R. Roberts scored touchdowns for the Argonauts as they beat the Blue Bombers before 12,584 fans at Varsity Stadium. Dick Shatto played most of the game at quarterback for Toronto. Gerry James and Charlie Shepard scored the Winnipeg touchdowns.

50 years ago
1968


Hit parade
#1 single in the U.K. (Record Retailer): Mony Mony--Tommy James and the Shondells

Australia's Top 10 (Go-Set)
1 Jumpin' Jack Flash--The Rolling Stones
2 This Guy's in Love with You--Herb Alpert
3 Angel of the Morning--Merrilee Rush
4 Lady Willpower--Gary Puckett and the Union Gap
5 The Orange and the Green/(The Puppet Song) Whiskey on a Sunday--The Irish Rovers
6 Yummy Yummy Yummy--Ohio Express
7 Lazy Sunday--Small Faces
8 Indian Lake--The Cowsills
9 MacArthur Park--Richard Harris
10 The Unicorn--The Irish Rovers

Singles entering the chart were Alice Long (You’re Still My Favorite Girlfriend) by Tommy Boyce & Bobby Hart (#31) and Dreams of the Everyday Housewife by Wayne Newton (#40).

At the movies
The Heart is a Lonely Hunter, directed by Robert Ellis Miller, and starring Alan Arkin and Sondra Locke, opened in theatres.

5 Card Stud, directed by Henry Hathaway and starring Dean Martin, Robert Mitchum, Inger Stevens, and Roddy McDowall, opened in theatres.

Died on this date
Jack Pizzey, 57
. Australian politician. Mr. Pizzey, a member of the Country Party, represented Isis in the Queensland Legislative Assembly from 1950-1968, and held various cabinet posts before taking office as Premier of Queensland on January 17, 1968. He died of a heart attack after just 6½ months as Premier, and was succeeded by Deputy Premier Gordon Chalk for a week until Joh Bjelke-Petersen was chosen as the Country Party's new leader.

Music
The Beatles began recording the song Hey Jude at Trident Studios in London.

Television
The French government approved television commercials, to begin on the government-controlled system on October 1.

Business
The day after major steel firms had agreed with the United Steel Workers on a package providing for a 6% wage increase, Bethlehem Steel announced a 5% across-the-board price increase. Republic Steel announced a 4 1/2% increase, and other firms followed suit. U.S. President Lyndon Johnson resisted the price hike as an "inflationary threat."

Football
CFL
Edmonton (1-0) 27 @ Montreal (0-1) 10

Art Perkins scored 2 touchdowns and Jim Thomas added another as Messrs. Perkins, Thomas, and Don Lisbon provided an effective rushing attack to lead the Eskimos over the Alouettes in the first Canadian Football League regular season game ever played at Autostade.

40 years ago
1978


Hit parade
#1 single in Australia (Kent Music Report): Rivers of Babylon--Boney M. (4th week at #1)

#1 single in Japan (Oricon Singles Chart): Monster--Pink Lady (4th week at #1)

#1 single in Spain (PROMUSICAE): Anna--Miguel Bosé

War
Rhodesian troops concluded two days of raids on Patriotic Front guerrilla bases in Mozambique in what was described as a pre-emptive strike to prevent the overthrow of the Rhodiesian government of Prime Minister Ian Smith. A guerrilla spokesman reported that 12 people had been killed and 110 wounded in the raids.

Politics and government
Midge Costanza resigned as an aide to U.S. President Jimmy Carter after her responsibilities were sharply reduced and her office moved from the main floor of the White House to a basement cubicle.

Baseball
The Cincinnati Reds scored 2 runs in the top of the 9th inning to break a 1-1 tie and held on to beat the Atlanta Braves 3-2 before 45,007 fans, many of whom were at Atlanta-Fulton County Stadium to see if Cincinnati third baseman Pete Rose would get a hit. He singled to lead off the 6th inning to extend his hitting streak to 44 games, tying the National League record set by Willie Keeler of the Baltimore Orioles in 1897. The Braves had runners on second and third bases with 2 out in the bottom of the 9th, but Bob Horner popped out to shortstop to end the game.

Chris Speier singled home Larry Parrish with 1 out in the bottom of the 9th inning to tie the score and pinch hitter Ed Herrmann followed with a single to score Warren Cromartie with the winning run as the Montreal Expos edged the Pittsburgh Pirates 3-2 before 22,152 fans at Olympic Stadium in Montreal.

Otto Velez hit a solo home run with 1 out in the bottom of the 14th inning to give the Toronto Blue Jays an 8-7 win over the Detroit Tigers before 18,032 fans at Exhibition Stadium in Toronto.

Pinch hitter Jim Norris singled home Johnny Grubb with the winning run as the Cleveland Indians scored 2 runs in the bottom of the 9th inning to defeat the Kansas City Royals 4-3 before 8,149 fans at Cleveland Stadium. The Royals had scored 2 in the top of the 9th to take a 3-2 lead, with pinch hitter Pete LaCock singling in the go-ahead run.

Matt Keough allowed 5 hits in 7 scoreless innings to win the pitchers' duel over Frank Tanana as the Oakland Athletics shut out the California Angels 2-0 before 29,044 fans at Anaheim Stadium.

30 years ago
1988


Hit parade
#1 single in New Zealand (RIANZ): Sweet Lovers--Holidaymakers (3rd week at #1)

#1 single in Switzerland: Im Nin'Alu--Ofra Haza (6th week at #1)

Diplomacy
In a televised address, King Hussein of Jordan said that he was renouncing all claims to the Israeli-occupied West Bank, which Jordan had ruled from 1948-1967 until losing it after the Six-Day War. After 1967, Jordan had continued to provide services to the West Bank, regulating business, subsidizing hospitals and schools, and administering laws in the land lying west of the Jordan River, home to 850,000 Palestinians. Jordan also paid salaries to 21,000 public employees. King Hussein said, "We repsect the wish of the Palestine Liberation Organization, the sole legitimate representative of the Palestinian people, to secede from us in an independent Palestinian state."

Disasters
32 people were killed and 1,674 injured when a bridge at the Sultan Abdul Halim ferry terminal collapsed in Butterworth, Penang, Malaysia.

25 years ago
1993


Hit parade
#1 single in Australia (ARIA): (I Can't Help) Falling in Love With You--UB40 (4th week at #1)

#1 single in Italy: Gli Spari Sopra--Vasco Rossi

#1 single in Spain (PROMUSICAE): Five Live (EP)--George Michael & Queen (2nd week at #1)

#1 single in Flanders (VRT): (I Can't Help) Falling in Love With You--UB40 (2nd week at #1)

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

#1 single in the Netherlands (De Nederlandse Top 40): Mr. Vain--Culture Beat

#1 single in the U.K. (Chart Information Network): Pray--Take That (3rd week at #1)

#1 single in the U.S.A. (Billboard): (I Can't Help) Falling in Love With You--UB40 (2nd week at #1)

U.S.A. Top 10 (Cash Box)
1 (I Can't Help) Falling in Love with You--UB40
2 Weak--SWV
3 Whoomp! (There it Is)--Tag Team
4 I'm Gonna be (500 Miles)--The Proclaimers
5 That's the Way Love Goes--Janet Jackson
6 Slam--Onyx
7 I'll Never Get Over You (Getting Over Me)--Exposé
8 Show Me Love--Robin S
9 Lately--Jodeci
10 I Don't Wanna Fight--Tina Turner

Singles entering the chart were Keep Ya Head Up by 2 Pac (#57, charting as the B-side of I Get Around); Teddy Bear by G-Wiz (#80); Hey Jealousy by Gin Blossoms (#82); and The Ways of the Wind by PM Dawn (#84).

Canada's Top 10 (RPM)
1 I Don't Wanna Fight--Tina Turner (2nd week at #1)
2 Fields of Gold--Sting
3 (I Can't Help) Falling in Love with You--UB40
4 Have I Told You Lately--Rod Stewart
5 Break it Down--Tears for Fears
6 That's the Way Love Goes--Janet Jackson
7 Regret--New Order
8 Come Undone--Duran Duran
9 Runaway Train--Soul Asylum
10 Can't Get Enough of Your Love--Taylor Dayne

Singles entering the chart were Oochigeas (Indian Song) by Roch Voisine (#75); Who Let in the Rain by Cyndi Lauper (#85); Can You Forgive Her by Pet Shop Boys (#86); What if I Came Knocking by John Mellencamp (#87); I'll Sleep When I'm Dead by Bon Jovi (#88); Stuck in the 90's by Moxy Fruvous (#94); and The River by the Tea Party (#96).

Died on this date
Sam Langford, 93
. U.S. baseball player. Mr. Langford was an outfielder with the Boston Red Sox (1926) and Cleveland Indians (1927-1928), batting .275 with 5 home runs and 57 runs batted in in 131 games. He played at least 1,502 games in 12 seasons in the minor leagues from 1921-1933, hitting at least 95 homers.

Baudouin, 62. King of the Belgians, 1951-1993. Baudoin, the eldest son of King Leopold III, acceded to the throne upon his father's abdication. He was a devout Roman Catholic who, in 1990, refused to grant royal assent to a bill legalizing abortion. He requested that the government declare him temporarily unable to govern, and his request was granted. King Baudoin died of heart failure; he had no children, and was succeeded by his younger brother Albert II.

War
Israel and pro-Iranian guerrillas agreed to a U.S. proposal--with Syria the main power broker--to cease fighting in southern Lebanon after seven days of shelling and air attacks.

Football
CFL
Toronto (0-5) 17 @ Saskatchewan (2-3) 36
Edmonton (3-1) 43 @ Sacramento (1-4) 11

Kent Austin rushed for 2 touchdowns and passed to Jeff Fairholm for another as the Roughriders beat the Argonauts before 18,212 fans on a windy night at Taylor Field in Regina.



Sean Fleming kicked 5 field goals--including a career-longest kick of 58 yards--and the Eskimos scored 23 points in the 2nd quarter as they beat the Gold Miners before 17,827 fans at Hornet Field. Blake Marshall scored 2 touchdowns in the 2nd quarter--one on a short rush and the other on a 6-yard reception from Glenn Harper's pass on a fake field goal attempt. The touchdowns were the 64th and 65th--and last--of Mr. Marshall's 7-year CFL career. Edmonton defensive end Bennie Goods recovered a Sacramento fumble in the Gold Miners' end zone for a touchdown in the 3rd quarter, and Damon Allen completed a 59-yard pass to Eddie Brown for the final Eskimo TD in the 4th quarter.

Baseball
The Toronto Blue Jays acquired left fielder Rickey Henderson from the Oakland Athletics; he was batting .327 with 17 home runs, 47 runs batted in, and 31 stolen bases in 90 games with Oakland in 1993.

20 years ago
1998


Defense
The British Government announced a total ban on landmines, in order for the United Kingdom to endorse the international Ottawa Treaty.

Agriculture
Manitoba Pool Elevators and the Alberta Wheat Pool merged to form Agricore.

Economics and finance
The Canadian dollar hit an historic low of 66.10 cents to the U.S. dollar.

Football
CFL
Montreal (3-2) 10 @ Edmonton (4-1) 22

Henry "Gizmo" Williams returned a punt 86 yards for a touchdown to open the scoring as the Eskimos defeated the Alouettes before 30,813 fans at Commonwealth Stadium in a game that was preceded by a brief thunderstorm that produced enough rain to flood the "rathole" on 105 St. It was the 26th and last punt return touchdown in Mr. Williams' 14-year Hall of Fame career. Jimmy Kemp played the entire game at quarterback for the Eskimos, and completed a 16-yard touchdown pass to Marc Tobert.

10 years ago
2008


Space
Scientists reported that the Phoenix spacecraft had confirmed the presence of frozen water in Martian soil.

Business
Imperial Tobacco and Rothmans Benson & Hedges agreed to pay as much as $1.15 billion in fines and civil payments in connection with aiding cigarette smuggling and contraband tobacco sales during the late 1980s and early 1990s.

Football
CFL
Hamilton (1-5) 33 @ Montreal (3-3) 40
British Columbia (3-3) 24 @ Edmonton (4-2) 35

Ricky Ray completed 23 of 30 passes for 392 yards and touchdowns to Fred Stamps and Andrew Nowacki, and sneaked for a pair of 1-yard toruchdowns of his own, to lead the Eskimos over the Lions before 35,008 fans at Commonwealth Stadium.

Monday 30 July 2018

July 30, 2018

300 years ago
1718


Died on this date
William Penn, 73
. English colonizer. Mr. Penn, the son of admiral and politician Sir William Penn, converted to Quakerism as a young man and founded the Province of Pennsylvania, which received its royal charter in 1681, as a Quaker colony. He devised a legal and political framework for Pennsylvania that emphasized individual liberties and limited government, which helped to inspire the United States Constitution a century later. Mr. Penn also planned and developed the city of Philadelphia. He returned to England in 1684 and spent the rest of his life there, except for a return to Pennsylvania from 1699-1701. Mr. Penn suffered severe financial problems in his later years, and died penniless.

200 years ago
1818


Born on this date
Emily Brontë
. U.K. authoress. Miss Brontë was the younger sister of Charlotte and the older sister of Anne, who also became famous writers. Emily was best known for her novel Wuthering Heights (1847). She caught a cold that developed into tuberculosis, and died on December 19, 1848 at the age of 30, three months after the death of her beloved brother Branwell.

Jan Heemskerk, 79. Prime Minister of the Netherlands, 1874-1877, 1883-1888. Mr. Heemskerk, a liberal and then a conservative, held various cabinet posts from 1866-1888. His son Theo was Prime Minister from 1908-1913. Jan Heemskerk died on October 9, 1897 at the age of 79.

180 years ago
1838


Died on this date
James Morreau
. Canadian rebel. Mr. Morreau was hanged at Niagara, Upper Canada for his part in the Short Hills Raid by Hunter's Lodge Patriots on the Niagara Peninsula from June 21-23, 1838.

120 years ago
1898


Died on this date
Otto von Bismarck, 83
. 1st Chancellor of the German Empire, 1871-1890. Mr. Bismarck, a native of Prussia, was Chancellor of the North German Confederation from 1867-1871, and was largely responsible for uniting the German states into a German Empire. When Kaiser Wilhelm II succeeded his father Friedrich III on the throne in 1888, he expressed a desire for a more aggressive foreign policy than that preferred by Mr. Bismarck. Mr. Bismarck resigned under pressure from the Kaiser on March 18, 1890.

110 years ago
1908


Died on this date
James Budd, 57
. U.S. politician. Mr. Budd, a Democrat, represented California's 2nd District in the U.S. House of Representatives (1883-1885) and was Governor of California (1895-1899), winning the 1894 gubernatorial election by just 1,200 votes (0.4%) over Republican Party opponent Morris Estee. Mr. Budd created the state's Bureau of Highways and opposed railroad monopolies, but came up against a hostile Republican majority in the state legislature. He declined to run for re-election in 1898 because of failing health.

100 years ago
1918


Died on this date
Joyce Kilmer, 31
. U.S. writer. Mr. Kilmer was a journalist, but was better known as a poet, with his most famous work being the poem Trees (1913). He was a sergeant with the U.S. Army's 69th Infantry Regiment in France in World War I, and was killed in the Second Battle of the Marne.

90 years ago
1928


Olympics
Percy Williams of Canada won the gold medal in the men's 100-metre sprint in the Summer Olympics in Amsterdam, against the fastest field ever assembled.

75 years ago
1943


On the radio
The New Adventures of Sherlock Holmes, starring Basil Rathbone and Nigel Bruce, on MBS
Tonight's episode: Murder in the Waxworks

Died on this date
Benjamin Dale, 58
. U.K. composer. Mr. Dale was a professor at the Royal Academy of Music for many years. He was best known for his Sonata in D minor for piano (1905) and The Flowing Tide (1943). He collapsed and died during one of the final rehearsals for the première of the latter work, 13 days after his 58th birthday.

War
British forces drove into German defenses south of Catania in Sicily, while Canadians and Americans also made advances. U.K. Royal Air Force bombers dropped 2,300 tons of bombs on Hamburg, with the loss of 28 bombers. U.S. trooops on New Georgia Island repulsed a Japanese counterattack in the northern sector of the Munda front.

Protest
Thousands of Italian workers stormed the Cellari jail in Milan and released 200 political prisoners as Italian troops disobeyed orders to fire on the demonstrators.

Religion
Pope Pius XII directed that $40,000 of Holy See funds be used to restore Roman Catholic churches in the United Kingdom damaged in Nazi bombing raids.

Health
The U.S. Public Health Service reported that polio was spreading in Texas, California, Washington, Kansas, and New York.

The British government reported that because of the work of the Rockefeller Foundation control program, there had not been a case of yellow fever among Allied personnel in East Africa since 1939.

Business
Radio Corporation of America announced an agreement to sell the NBC Blue radio network for $8 million to Edward Noble, owner of New York radio station WMCA.

70 years ago
1948


Diplomacy
The 10-nation Danube River Conference opened in Belgrade to discuss navigation rights on the international waterway.

Politics and government
Hungarian President Zoltan Tildy resigned, following the arrest of his son on charges of espionage and treason.

The British House of Commons passed the British Citizenship Act, conferring the status of British subjects on all Commonwealth citizens.

Confessed Communist spy Elizabeth Bentley testified before a U.S. Senate Expenditures subcommittee to receiving classified information during World War II from 40-50 government officials. Among those she named was William Remington, an important member of the Commerce Department's Office of International Trade.

Economics and finance
The U.S.S.R. established a Greater Berlin Trading Corporation to handle the city's trade with the rest of Germany and foreign countries.

Trade union representatives from the U.S.A. and western Europe ended a two-day conference in Paris on the Marshall Plan by voting to establish a liaison office with the Organization for European Economic Cooperation and defend the Marshall Plan from Communist attack.

60 years ago
1958


War
Turkish and Syrian border forces clashed near Bab Elhawa.

Defense
The Swedish Parliament rejected a resolution barring Swedish acquisition or development of nuclear weapons.

Politics and government
Malaya's federal executive council approved the extension of emergency regulations for the suppression of Communist guerrillas.

Economics and finance
The North Atlantic Treaty Organization's Coordinating Committee eased restrictions on trade with Communist countries, permitting the sale of 100 major items previously barred.

50 years ago
1968


Hit parade
#1 single in Switzerland (Swiss Hitparade): Heavenly Club--Les Sauterelles

Labour
The United Steelworkers of America and 11 major steel producers reached agreement on a three-year contract providing a package wage increase of about 6%. The package covered about 400,000 workers and was valued at about 90c per hour per worker.

Football
CFL
British Columbia (1-0) 18 @ Winnipeg (0-1) 16
Saskatchewan (1-0) 25 @ Calgary (0-1) 24

Winnipeg's Dave Raimey returned a kickoff 93 yards for a touchdown, but his Blue Bombers still lost to the Lions at Winnipeg Stadium.

40 years ago
1978


Hit parade
#1 single in New Zealand (RIANZ): Rivers of Babylon--Boney M. (4th week at #1)

Died on this date
Carleton Hobbs, 80
. U.K. actor. Mr. Hobbs was best known for his performances on radio, especially for playing Sherlock Holmes in 80 BBC broadcasts from 1952-1969. This blogger regards Mr. Hobbs' performances as the best of all those who played Sherlock Holmes on radio.

War
Rhodesian troops began two days of raids on 10 Patriotic Front guerrilla bases in Mozambique in what was described as a pre-emptive strike to prevent the overthrow of the Rhodesian government of Prime Minister Ian Smith.

Golf
Rod Funseth won the Hartford Open with a total score of 264. First prize money was $42,000.

Baseball
Andre Dawson hit 2 home runs in the 3rd inning and Larry Parrish homered in the 3rd, 4th, and 5th innings as the Montreal Expos tied a team record for runs in a game and recorded the most lopsided win in their history, routing the Atlanta Braves 19-0 before 10,834 fans at Atlanta-Fulton County Stadium. Dave Cash, Tony Perez, and Chris Speier also homered. Messrs. Dawson, Parrish, and Gary Carter each had 4 hits as everyone in the starting lineup and 13 of the 14 men who played for the Expos had at least 1 hit, as the team amassed 28 hits. Woodie Fryman pitched a 7-hit shutout and hit a single and double, scoring a run and driving in a run.



The Houston Astros scored 2 runs in the bottom of the 9th inning to defeat the New York Mets 3-2 before 17,502 fans at the Astrodome.

Jim Barr and Vida Blue were the respective winning pitchers as the San Francisco Giants swept a doubleheader from the Chicago Cubs 4-2 and 1-0 before 37,770 fans at Candlestick Park in San Francisco. Mr. Blue pitched a 6-hit shutout to win the pitchers' duel over Dave Roberts, improving his 1978 record to 15-4. Heity Cruz singled home Jack Clark with 1 out in the bottom of the 4th inning for the game's only run.

Pinch hitter Jim Spencer doubled home Graig Nettles with 2 out in the bottom of the 8th inning to break a 3-3 tie as the New York Yankees edged the Minnesota Twins 4-3 in the first game of a doubleheader before 41,491 fans at Yankee Stadium. The Twins scored 2 runs in the top of the 9th inning to win the second game 2-0, with Dave Goltz allowing 5 hits in 8+ innings to win the pitchers' duel over Jim Beattie.

Paul Splittorff allowed 5 hits and 1 earned run in 7 2/3 innings to win the pitchers' duel over Bill Lee as the Kansas City Royals edged the Boston Red Sox 2-1 before 34,626 fans at Fenway Park in Boston. The Red Sox had runners on second and third bases with 2 out in the 9th, but Al Hraboksy struck out George Scott to end the game.

The Oakland Athletics scored 2 runs with 2 out in the top of the 9th inning to defeat the Cleveland Indians 5-4 before 10,272 fans at Cleveland Stadium.

Lamar Johnson singled home 2 runs and another scored on error on the same play with 2 out in the bottom of the 8th inning as the Chicago White Sox rallied to defeat the Texas Rangers 5-4 in the first game of a doubleheader before 25,704 fans at Comiskey Park in Chicago. The Rangers had runners on first and third bases with 1 out in the top of the 9th, but John Lowenstein was caught stealing and put out in a rundown between third base and home plate for the second out, and Juan Beniquez grounded out to second base to end the game. Ralph Garr hit a single, double, and triple to help the White Sox win the second game 4-2 to complete the sweep. Henry Cruz played the 9th inning of the first game in left field, without a fielding chance, in the 171st and last game of his 4-year major league career.

30 years ago
1988


Hit parade
#1 single in Italy (FIMI): Tell Me--Nick Kamen (5th week at #1)

#1 single in Flanders (Ultratop 50): Fast Car--Tracy Chapman (2nd week at #1)

#1 single in the Netherlands (De Nederlandse Top 40): Push It--Salt-n-Pepa (2nd week at #1)

#1 single in France (SNEP): Nuit de folie--Début de Soirée (3rd week at #1)

#1 single in Ireland (IRMA): Nothing's Gonna Change My Love for You--Glenn Medeiros (3rd week at #1)

#1 single in the U.K. (BMRB): Nothing's Gonna Change My Love for You--Glenn Medeiros (4th week at #1)

#1 single in the U.S.A. (Billboard): Roll With It--Steve Winwood

U.S.A. Top 10 (Cash Box)
1 Pour Some Sugar on Me--Def Leppard (2nd week at #1)
2 Roll With It--Steve Winwood
3 Hold on to the Nights--Richard Marx
4 The Flame--Cheap Trick
5 Hands to Heaven--Breathe
6 Sign Your Name--Terence Trent D'Arby
7 Make Me Lose Control--Eric Carmen
8 New Sensation--INXS
9 1-2-3--Gloria Estefan and Miami Sound Machine
10 Rush Hour--Jane Wiedlin

Singles entering the chart were Don't Worry Be Happy by Bobby McFerrin (#79); Fallen Angel by Poison (#80); Always There for You by Stryper (#84); I Feel Free by Belinda Carlisle (#85); Don't Be Cruel by Cheap Trick (#87); Skin Deep by Cher (#88); The Dead Heart by Midnight Oil (#89); and Nice 'n' Slow by Freddie Jackson (#90).

Canada's Top 10 (RPM)
1 The Flame--Cheap Trick
2 Roll With It--Steve Winwood
3 New Sensation--INXS
4 In Your Soul--Corey Hart
5 Foolish Beat--Debbie Gibson
6 Make it Real--The Jets
7 Lost in You--Rod Stewart
8 Make Me Lose Control--Eric Carmen
9 I Don't Wanna Go on with You Like That--Elton John
10 One More Try--George Michael

Singles entering the chart were Missed Opportunity by Daryl Hall John Oates (#72); Here with Me by REO Speedwagon (#75); A Woman Loves a Man by Joe Cocker (#81); The Dead Heart by Midnight Oil (#86); If You Go This Time by Platinum Blonde (#88); Walk, Don't Run by Malcolm Buie (#91); When it's Love by Van Halen (#94); The Twist (Yo, Twist!) by the Fat Boys with Stupid Def Vocals by Chubby Checker (#96); and Sweet Child o' Mine by Guns 'N' Roses (#98).

Cycling
Ronald Dossenbach left Vancouver to start a cross-Canada ride to Halifax; he completed it in a record 13 days, 15 hours, 4 minutes.

Football
CFL
Hamilton (2-1) 45 @ Calgary (0-3) 20

Rick Worman played the entire game at quarterback for the Stampeders at McMahon Stadium, while Rick Johnson spent the entire game on the sidelines, and was cut from the team before their next game.

25 years ago
1993


Died on this date
Edward Bernard Raczyński, 101
. 4th President-in-exile of Poland, 1979-1986. Count Raczyński was a career diplomat who fled to the United Kingdom early in World War II, and held various positions in the government-in-exile before assuming the presidency at the age of 87. He resigned seven years later, and died in London.

Jay Scott, 43. U.S.-born Canadian journalist. Mr. Scott, born Jeffrey Scott Beaven, was a native of Lincoln, Nebraska who moved to Canada in 1969 as a draft dodger, wrote under the name Scott Beaven with the Calgary Albertan in the 1970s before going to Toronto in 1977 and becoming the film critic with The Globe and Mail. He won three National Newspaper Awards. Mr. Scott was a sodomite who died of AIDS.

Protest
Over 100 southwestern Nova Scotia fishermen ended an 8-day marine blockade at Yarmouth after the Canadian department of Fisheries and Oceans ordered foreign trawlers fishing 75 miles off the south coast to leave.

Economics and finance
Speculators attacked the franc, threatening the European monetary system. Parity with the mark was near collapse as currency traders mounted a drive against both French and German central banks.

Football
CFL
Ottawa (1-3) 24 @ British Columbia (3-2) 28

Cory Philpot caught a 10-yard touchdown pass from Danny Barrett in the 2nd quarter and returned a kickoff 91 yards for a touchdown in the 3rd quarter for the winning score as the Lions defeated the Rough Riders before 22,667 fans at B.C. Place Stadium in Vancouver.

20 years ago
1998


Died on this date
Buffalo Bob Smith, 80
. U.S. television host. Mr. Smith, born Robert Schmidt, was a popular radio personality in his native Buffalo, New York before joining the National Broadcasting Company, where he hosted the children's show Howdy Doody from 1947-1960; he hosted a syndicated revival of the program from 1976-1977. Mr. Smith died of cancer.

Football
CFL
Saskatchewan (2-3) 8 @ Hamilton (4-1) 26
Toronto (2-3) 15 @ Calgary (3-2) 14



Winnipeg (0-5) 13 @ British Columbia (2-3) 20

10 years ago
2008


Died on this date
Anne Armstrong, 80
. U.S. political adviser and diplomat. Mrs. Armstrong, a Republican, was Counselor to the President in the administrations of Presidents Richard Nixon and Gerald Ford from 1973-1974; U.S. Ambassador to the United Kingdom from 1976-1977; and Chair of the President's Intelligence Advisory Board under Presidents Ronald Reagan and George Bush from 1981-1990. Mrs. Armstrong died of cancer.

World events
Bosnian Serb ex-leader Radovan Karadzic was extradited to The Hague to face genocide charges after nearly 13 years on the run.

Saturday 28 July 2018

July 29, 2018

1,780 years ago
238


Died on this date
Balbinus, 73 (?)
; Pupienus, 60 (?).Roman Emperors, April 22-July 29, 238. Marcus Clodius Pupienus Maximus and Decimus Caelius Calvinus Balbinus were co-Emperors of Rome, elected by the Senate on April 22, 238 after the failure of Gordian I and Gordian II to defeat the usurper Maximinus Thrax. They were reportedly in the middle of an argument when the Praetorian Guard stormed the palace and captured them. They were dragged through the streets of Rome and executed. On the same day, Gordian III, age 13, was proclaimed emperor.

1,000 years ago
1018


War
Count Dirk III of Holland defeated an army sent by Holy Roman Emperor Henry II in the Battle of Vlaardingen.

910 years ago
1108


Died on this date
Philip I, 56
. King of the Franks, 1059-1108. Philip I co-reigned with his father Henry I from 1059-1060, and reigned alone until his death. He was succeeded on the throne by his son Louis VI.

870 years ago
1148


War
The Siege of Damascus ended in a decisive crusader defeat, leading to the disintegration of the Second Crusade.

430 years ago
1588


War
English naval forces under the command of Lord Charles Howard and Sir Francis Drake defeated the Spanish Armada off the coast of Gravelines, France.

325 years ago
1693


War
France won a Pyrrhic victory over Allied forces in the Netherlands in the Battle of Landen.

225 years ago
1793


Canadiana
John Graves Simcoe decided to build a fort and settlement at Toronto, having sailed into the bay there.

200 years ago
1818


Science
French physicist Augustin Fresnel submitted his Memoir on the Diffraction of Light, providing strong support for the wave theory of light.

160 years ago
1858


Economics and finance
United States and Japan signed the Treaty of Amity and Commerce, better known as the Harris Treaty, on the deck of USS Powhatan in Edo (now Tokyo) Bay. Its provisions included the opening of five Japanese ports to trade and granting extraterritoriality to foreigners.

130 years ago
1888


Born on this date
Vladimir K. Zworykin
. Russian-born U.S. scientist. Dr. Zworykin, a native of St. Petersburg who moved to the United States in 1918, was one of the pioneers in the development of television, beginning with the invention of a transmitting and receiving system using cathode ray tubes. He died on his 94th birthday on July 29, 1982.

100 years ago
1918


Born on this date
Edwin O’Connor
. U.S. writer. Mr. O’Connor was a television critic for Boston newspapers, but is best remembered for his 1956 novel The Last Hurrah, whose title became part of the American vernacular. The novel, about an aging machine politician (reminiscent of former Boston mayor James Curley) was made into a successful movie in 1958. Mr. O’Connor’s next novel, The Edge of Sadness (1961), was about a middle-aged priest, and earned Mr. O’Connor the Pulitzer Prize for fiction in 1962. Other novels included The Oracle (1951); I Was Dancing (1964); and All in the Family (1966). Mr. O’Connor died from a cerebral hemmorhage on March 23, 1968 at the age of 49.

90 years ago
1928


Americana
U.S. President Calvin Coolidge spoke in Cannon Falls, Minnesota, where his wife Grace unveiled a statue of Colonel William Colvill, who had served in the Union Army during the American Civil War and led the 1st Minnesota Volunteer Infantry in the Battle of Gettysburg in 1863.

Disasters
An explosion at a chemical factory in Lodz, Poland killed 40 people, injured 120, and drove 50,000 from their homes.

80 years ago
1938


Died on this date
Nikolai Krylenko, 53
. U.S.S.R. politician. Mr. Krylenko was a Bolshevik who served as Prosecutor General of the Russian Soviet Federated Socialist Republic from 1929-1931 and People's Commissar for Justice from 1936-1938. He participated in show trials and supported punishment based on political considerations rather than evidence, but ran afoul of higher authorities, confessed under duress to anti-Soviet agitation, and was summarily executed after being convicted in a trial that lasted 20 minutes.

75 years ago
1943


War
As Canadian troops occupied Algira, American troops in Italy captured Nicosia, an advance German position in the centre of the Etna line. Soviet troops advanced 3-6 miles on the Orel front, taking 40 villages and occupying a Nazi base containing 16 ammunition dumps. The U.S. Navy revealed the sinking of 10 Japanese ships--two transports, six cargo, and two tanker--by submarines in the Pacific Ocean.

Defense
The U.S. Army announced that officers who had passed age limits of 64 for ranks above brigadier general, 62 for brigadier generals, and 60 for lower ranks would be retired on September 1, 1943, with some exceptions.

Diplomacy
Mexican Foreign Minister Ezequiel Padilla made public his protest to Texas Governor Coke Stevenson (Democrat) concerning discrimination against Mexican farm labourers.

Politics and government
U.S. President Franklin D. Roosevelt nominated Amos Taylor as director of the Bureau of Foreign and Domestic Commerce.

70 years ago
1948


At the movies
The Amazing Mr. X, directed by Bernard Vorhaus, and starring Turhan Bey, Lynn Bari, and Cathy O'Donnell, opened in theatres.



Died on this date
James E. Watson, 83
. U.S. politician. Mr. Watson, a Republican, represented Indiana in the U.S. House of Representatives from 1895-1897 and 1899-1909 and in the Senate from 1916-1933. He was Senate Majority Leader from 1929-1933, and chairman of five different committees. Sen. Watson was popular with both Republicans and Democrats as a speaker and poker player, and was credited with originating the saying, "If you can't lick 'em, jine 'em."

War
A U.S. tribunal in Nuremberg acquitted 23 officials of the German chemical firm I.G. Farben of committing crimes against peace and conspiring to wage aggressive war, but convicted four defendants of using slave labour from the Auschwitz concentration camp and nine others of plundering property in occupied territories.

Politics and government
Finnish Social Democratic Party leader Karl Fagerholm formed an all-socialist cabinet, excluding Communists.

Yugoslavian Communists ended their party congress in Belgrade after re-electing President Marshal Josip Broz Tito as head of the party and rejecting Cominform charges against the government.

Communist delegates walked out of the Berlin City Assembly as it prepared to pass a resolution condemning the Soviet blockade of the city.

U.S. Senator John Stennis (Democrat--Mississippi) and other southern Senators began a filibuster to prevent passage of anti-poll tax legislation sponsored by the administration of U.S. President Harry Truman.

Olympics
The Summer Olympic Games, the first since 1936, were opened in London by King George VI.

60 years ago
1958


Space
U.S. President Dwight D. Eisenhower signed the National Aeronautics and Space Act into law, creating the National Aeronautics and Space Administration.

World events
Haitian President Francois Duvalier personally led a counterattack on the Dessaline barracks, killing seven rebels who sought his overthrow.

Politics and government
French Prime Minister Charles de Gaulle presented a draft constitution designed to create a new French federation under a Fifth Republic with a strong presidency.

Arkansas Governor Orval Faubus won the Democratic Party gubernatorial primary, virtually assuring him of election to a record third term.

Protest
All-India Congress Party members and Praja Socialists staged a general strike in the Indian state of Kerala to protest policies of the state's Communist administration.

Football
CFL
Pre-season
Winnipeg (0-1) 7 @ Montreal (1-0) 40

21,347 fans at Molson Stadium saw the Alouettes rout the Blue Bombers.

50 years ago
1968


Hit parade
#1 single in Japan (Oricon Singles Chart): C C C--The Tigers (2nd week at #1)

#1 single in Spain (PROMUSICAE): Delilah--Tom Jones (8th week at #1)

Died on this date
Bill Hart, 55
. U.S. baseball player. Mr. Hart was a third baseman and shortstop with the Brooklyn Dodgers (1943-1945), batting .207 with 3 home runs and 35 runs batted in in 95 games. He played 17 seasons in the minor leagues from 1935-1952, batting .284 with 214 homers in 1,956 games.

Religion
Pope Paul VI publicized his encyclical--promulgated four days earlier--Humanae Vitae (Of Human Life), upholding Pope Pius XI's declaration in 1930 that "each and every marriage act (of sexual intercourse) must remain open to the transmission of life," i.e., upholding the Roman Catholic Church's ban on the use of contraceptives.

Baseball
George Culver pitched a no-hitter for the Cincinnati Reds as they beat the Philadelphia Phillies 6-1 to complete a doubleheader sweep before 14,083 fans at Connie Mack Stadium in Philadelphia. The Phillies scored an unearned run in the 2nd inning on 2 errors, a ground out, and a sacrifice fly. In the first game, Pete Rose tripled to lead off the 9th and scored on a sacrifice fly by Vada Pinson to break a 6-6 tie as the Reds won 7-6.

Mike Cuellar pitched a 4-hitter and drove in the winning run when he grounded into a force play in the 2nd inning as the Houston Astros shut out the Los Angeles Dodgers 2-0 before 16,757 fans at the Astrodome. Losing pitcher Mike Kekich allowed 5 hits and 1 earned run in 7 innings. Los Angeles third baseman Bob Bailey doubled with 2 out in the 9th, but Ron Fairly grounded out to first base to end the game.

Jose Tartabull doubled with 1 out in the bottom of the 10th inning and Mike Andrews followed with a double to drive him home with the winning run as the Boston Red Sox edged the Baltimore Orioles 3-2 before 20,539 fans at Fenway Park in Boston.

The Chicago White Sox erupted for 5 runs in the top of the 13th inning to break a 2-2 tie and defeat the Oakland Athletics 7-2 before 5,413 fans at Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum. Winning pitcher Wilbur Wood pitched 2 scoreless innings of relief and singled in the last 2 runs. Blue Moon Odom allowed 13 hits and 4 runs--all earned--with 13 strikeouts and only 1 base on balls in 12 1/3 innings to take the loss.

40 years ago
1978


Hit parade
#1 single in Italy (Hit Parade Italia): Tu--Umberto Tozzi (5th week at #1)

#1 single in Switzerland: Tu--Umberto Tozzi (2nd week at #1)

#1 single in Ireland: You're the One that I Want--John Travolta and Olivia Newton-John (6th week at #1)

#1 single in the U.K. (BMRB): You're the One that I Want--John Travolta and Olivia Newton-John (7th week at #1)

Rhodesia's Top 10 (Lyons Maid)
1 Rivers of Babylon--Boney M. (5th week at #1)
2 Take a Chance on Me--ABBA
3 I Can't Stand the Rain--Eruption
4 Make Love to Me--Kelly Marie
5 If You Can't Give Me Love--Suzie
6 Stayin' Alive--Bee Gees
7 Don't it Make My Brown Eyes Blue--Crystal Gayle
8 You're the One that I Want--John Travolta and Olivia Newton-John
9 Figaro--The Brotherhood of Man
10 Sweet, Sweet Smile--Carpenters

The only single entering the chart was For a Few Dollars More by Richard Dean (#20).

Netherlands Top 10 (De Nederlandse Top 40)
1 You're the One that I Want--John Travolta and Olivia Newton-John (5th week at #1)
2 Windsurfin'--The Surfers
3 Miss You--The Rolling Stones
4 Too Much, Too Little, Too Late--Johnny Mathis and Deniece Williams
5 Let's All Chant--Michael Zager Band
6 Copacabana (At the Copa)--Barry Manilow
7 Oh Darling--Theo Diepenbrock
8 Whole Lotta Rosie--AC/DC
9 Last Dance--Donna Summer
10 I've Had Enough/Deliver Your Children--Wings

Singles entering the chart were Wet Day in September by Pussycat (#17); You're the Greatest Lover by Luv' (#25); Lay Love on You by Luisa Fernandez (#27); Use Ta Be My Girl by the O'Jays (#32); and Summerwine by Barry & Eileen (#33).

#1 single in the U.S.A. (Billboard): Shadow Dancing--Andy Gibb (7th week at #1)

U.S.A. Top 10 (Cash Box)
1 Miss You--The Rolling Stones
2 Grease--Frankie Valli
3 Shadow Dancing--Andy Gibb
4 Baker Street--Gerry Rafferty
5 Last Dance--Donna Summer
6 Three Times a Lady--Commodores
7 Use Ta Be My Girl--The O'Jays
8 Still the Same--Bob Seger & the Silver Bullet Band
9 Love Will Find a Way--Pablo Cruise
10 Bluer than Blue--Michael Johnson

Singles entering the chart were Love Theme from "Eyes of Laura Mars" (Prisoner) by Barbra Streisand (#80); Whenever I Call You "Friend" by Kenny Loggins (#83); Steppin' in a Slide Zone by the Moody Blues (#85); I Will Still Love You by Stonebolt (#87); You Never Done it Like That by Captain & Tennille (#88); Get Off by Foxy (#89); She Loves to Be in Love by Charlie (#90); He's So Fine by Kristy and Jimmy McNichol (#96); and Shake and Dance with Me by Con Funk Shun (#97). Love Theme from "Eyes of Laura Mars" (Prisoner) was, as the title implies, from the movie.

Canada's Top 10 (RPM)
1 Baker Street--Gerry Rafferty (3rd week at #1)
2 Miss You--The Rolling Stones
3 Shadow Dancing--Andy Gibb
4 Still the Same--Bob Seger & the Silver Bullet Band
5 You Belong to Me--Carly Simon
6 Bluer than Blue--Michael Johnson
7 Last Dance--Donna Summer
8 You're the Love--Seals and Crofts
9 Take a Chance on Me--ABBA
10 Grease--Frankie Valli

Singles entering the chart were An Everlasting Love by Andy Gibb (#84); Hopelessly Devoted to You by Olivia Newton-John (#90); Music Box Dancer by Frank Mills (#92); Rock & Roll Cowboys by the Cooper Brothers (#94); You're All I Need to Get By by Johnny Mathis and Deniece Williams (#95); You and I by Rick James (#96); Boogie Oogie Oogie by A Taste of Honey (#97); Fiddler's Green by Malcolm Tomlinson (#98); Shaker Song by Spyro Gyra (#99); and It's Really You by the Tarney/Spencer Band (#100). Hopelessly Devoted to You was from the movie Grease (1978).

Adventure
An attempt by British balloonists Don Cameron and Christopher Davey to cross the Atlantic Ocean ended in failure when a storm ripped a gash in their balloon, and they abandoned it 110 miles from Brest, three days after leaving St. John's, Newfoundland. The men were rescued by a trawler.

30 years ago
1988


Hit parade
#1 single in West Germany (Media Control): Im Nin'Alu--Ofra Haza (7th week at #1)

At the movies
Cocktail, directed by Roger Donaldson and starring Tom Cruise, Bryan Brown, and Elizabeth Shue, opened in theatres.



Diplomacy
Canadian External Affairs Minister Joe Clark announced that Canada would deny visas to all South African athletes, amateur and professional, wishing to compete in events in Canada. The action was consistent with the 1977 Gleneagles agreement which encouraged Commonwealth countries to combat the South African policy of apartheid in this way.

Football
CFL
Winnipeg (1-2) 18 @ Saskatchewan (3-0) 46



25 years ago
1993


Hit parade
#1 single in Finland (Musiikkituottajat – IFPI Finland): Mr. Vain--Culture Beat (2nd week at #1)

Crime
The Supreme Court of Israel acquitted retired auto worker John Demjanjuk of all charges that he had been "Ivan the Terrible," a guard at the Treblinka death camp operated by the Nazis during World War II.

Charges against two youths were dropped in connection with the April 1993 murder of Negro teenager Stephen Lawrence in London.

Politics and government
A coalition of opposition parties chose conservative populist Morihiro Hosokawa to become Japan's next prime minister. He pledged to reduce the government's role.

Football
CFL
Winnipeg (3-1) 40 @ Hamilton (3-1) 11

Matt Dunigan completed 23 of 37 passes for 257 yards and a touchdown, and ran for a touchdown of his own as the Blue Bombers routed the Tiger-Cats before 16,198 fans on a rainy night at Ivor Wynne Stadium. Michael Richardson caught a 26-yard TD pass from Mr. Dunigan and rushed 4 yards for another touchdown.

20 years ago
1998


Died on this date
Jerome Robbins, 79
. American director, producer, and choreographer. Mr. Robbins, born Jerome Rabinowitz, worked in theatre, film, and television. He won five Tony Awards and two Academy Awards, both for West Side Story (1961), for co-direction of the film with Robert Wise, and for his choreography. Mr. Robbins died shortly after suffering a stroke.

Labour
A Canadian federal human rights tribunal ruled that Canadian public servants in female-dominated job categories deserved compensation for unequal pay; payment was to be retroactive to March 1985 and would range from $10,000-$20,000.

10 years ago
2008


Died on this date
Bruce Ivins, 62
. U.S. microbiologist and biodefense researcher. Dr. Ivins was the senior biodefense researcher at the United States Army Medical Research Institute of Infectious Diseases (USAMRIID) in Fort Detrick, Maryland for 18 years. He died of an overdose of Tylenol with codeine in an apparent suicide after learning that criminal charges were likely to be filed against him by the Federal Bureau of Investigation for an alleged criminal connection to the mailing of envelopes to politicians and media outlets in the fall of 2001. Dr. Ivins was said to be suffering from mental problems, but no charges were filed against him, and no direct evidence linking him to the crime has been uncovered; conspiracy theories abound.

Scandal
U.S. Senator Ted Stevens (Republican--Alaska) was indicted on seven felony counts of concealing more than $250,000 in house renovations and gifts he had received from a powerful oil contractor. A judge later dismissed the case, saying prosecutors had withheld evidence.

July 28, 2018

240 years ago
1778


Politics and government
The constitution of the Spanish province of Cantabria was ratified at the Assembly Hall in Bárcena la Puente, Reocín.

210 years ago
1808


Died on this date
Selim III, 46
. Sultan of the Ottoman Empire, 1789-1807. Selim III was the son of Sultan Mustafa III and was designated as his successor, but Selim's uncle Abdul Hamid I took the throne after Mustafa III's death, and Selim had to wait 15 years. Sultan Selim III was a poet and composer, and some of his compositions still exist. He instituted military reforms, but the elite soldiers known as Janissaries eventually deposed Selim III in favour of his cousin Mustafa IV. There was a movement to restore Selim III to the throne, but he was assassinated before this could take place.

160 years ago
1858


Politics and government
Canadian Premier John A. Macdonald and Deputy Premier George-Étienne Cartier announced their resignations after the defeat of George Brown's motion that Ottawa should not be the capital of Canada. Mr. Macdonald declared that the motion was an insult to Queen Victoria (since Ottawa was supposedly her choice). Mr. Brown and Antoine Dorion took office on August 2 in what became known as the "Short Ministry."

150 years ago
1868


Law
U.S. Secretary of State William Seward issued a proclamation certifying without reservation that the Fourteenth Amendment was a part of the United States Constitution. It reads:

Section 1. All persons born or naturalized in the United States, and subject to the jurisdiction thereof, are citizens of the United States and of the State wherein they reside. No State shall make or enforce any law which shall abridge the privileges or immunities of citizens of the United States; nor shall any State deprive any person of life, liberty, or property, without due process of law; nor deny to any person within its jurisdiction the equal protection of the laws.

Section 2. Representatives shall be apportioned among the several States according to their respective numbers, counting the whole number of persons in each State, excluding Indians not taxed. But when the right to vote at any election for the choice of electors for President and Vice President of the United States, Representatives in Congress, the Executive and Judicial officers of a State, or the members of the Legislature thereof, is denied to any of the male inhabitants of such State, being twenty-one years of age, and citizens of the United States, or in any way abridged, except for participation in rebellion, or other crime, the basis of representation therein shall be reduced in the proportion which the number of such male citizens shall bear to the whole number of male citizens twenty-one years of age in such State.

Section 3. No person shall be a Senator or Representative in Congress, or elector of President and Vice President, or hold any office, civil or military, under the United States, or under any State, who, having previously taken an oath, as a member of Congress, or as an officer of the United States, or as a member of any State legislature, or as an executive or judicial officer of any State, to support the Constitution of the United States, shall have engaged in insurrection or rebellion against the same, or given aid or comfort to the enemies thereof. But Congress may, by a vote of two-thirds of each House, remove such disability.

Section 4. The validity of the public debt of the United States, authorized by law, including debts incurred for payment of pensions and bounties for services in suppressing insurrection or rebellion, shall not be questioned. But neither the United States nor any State shall assume or pay any debt or obligation incurred in aid of insurrection or rebellion against the United States, or any claim for the loss or emancipation of any slave; but all such debts, obligations and claims shall be held illegal and void.

Section 5. The Congress shall have power to enforce, by appropriate legislation, the provisions of this article.


140 years ago
1878


Died on this date
George Law Curry, 58
. U.S. politician. Mr. Curry was a newspaper publisher in Missouri before moving to Oregon Territory, continuing in that career before entering politics. A Democrat, he held various territorial offices, including Secretary (1853-1855); acting Governor (May-December 1853); and Governor (1854-1859), with the latter position being abolished upon Oregon receiving statehood. Mr. Curry campaigned for the U.S. Senate in 1860, but lost by one vote in the state legislature. He died 26 days after his 58th birthday.

90 years ago
1928


World events
The Austrian government exiled former Hungarian dictator Bela Kun to the German frontier.

Politics and government
The Soviet Communist Party readmitted Gregory Zinoviev to membership and put him on the managing board of the all-Russian Cooperative Society.

Disasters
Six convicts burned to death in a locked showroom at the Prison Farm near Houston, Texas when a carelessly tossed match caused a movie film to explode.

Olympics
The Summer Olympic Games opened in Amsterdam.

80 years ago
1938


Disasters
The Pan American Airways Martin M-130 flying boat Hawaii Clipper, en route from Guam to Manila with 6 passengers and 9 crew members, disappeared. It was the first loss of an airliner in the trans-Pacific China Clipper service, which had been inaugurated as an airmail service in 1935 and had begun carrying passengers in 1936.

75 years ago
1943


War
Canadian troops captured the town of Agira, Italy after five days of hard and costly fighting against heavily dug-in German troops. The U.S. 7th Army drove toward the northern flank of the German line in Sicily, capturing Pollina, Castelbuono, and Gangi. The U.K. Royal Air Force bombed Hamburg, causing a firestorm that killed 42,000 German civilians.

Diplomacy
Uruguay renewed relations with the U.S.S.R.

Politics and government
The Italian cabinet ordered the dissolution of the National Fascist Party and abolished the Fascist Grand Council and the special tribunals for national defense.

Protest
Dispatches from Berne told of rioting and demonstrations in several Italian cities, with the rioters demanding peace, and socialists in Milan demanding a general strike.

Economics and finance
U.S. President Franklin D. Roosevelt announced the end of coffee rationing and promised early increases in sugar allowances.

Disasters
A hurricane struck the Texas Gulf Coast, killing 13 people and causing an estimated $10 million in damage.

70 years ago
1948


Politics and government
Premier Maurice Duplessis led his Union Nationale to its third consecutive victory in the Quebec provincial election. The UN won 82 of 92 seats in the Legislative Assembly, an increase of 34 from their total in the most recent election in 1944. The Liberals, led by former Premier Adélard Godbout, dropped from 37 seats to 8.

The Peruvian Congress failed to convene when 19 conservative senators refused to attend in protest against the program of the ruling Socialist People's Party.

Labour
A U.S. federal district court in New Haven, Connecticut upheld the consitutionality of the Taft-Hartley Act's ban on union political expenditures.

Disasters
Explosions and fire wrecked an I.G. Farben chemical complex in Ludwigshafen, Germany, causing 184 deaths, 2,500 injuries, and about $15 million in damage.

60 years ago
1958


Hit parade
#1 singles in the U.S.A. (Billboard): Hard Headed Woman/Don't Ask Me Why--Elvis Presley (Best Seller--2nd week at #1); Patricia--Perez Prado and his Orchestra (Disc Jockey--1st week at #1; Top 100--1st week at #1)

Billboard discontinued its Disc Jockey chart after this week, and replaced the Top 100 with the Hot 100.

World events
Three former Haitian Army officers and four Americans landed at Deluge and captured the Dessaline barracks in Port-au-Prince in an attempt to seize control of the Haitian government.

Track and field
The U.S.S.R. edged the U.S.A. 172-170 in a dual meet in Moscow.

50 years ago
1968


Died on this date
Otto Hahn, 89
. German chemist. Dr. Hahn was known as the "father of nuclear chemistry," and was a pioneer in the fields of radioactivity and radiochemistry. He was awarded the 1944 Nobel Prize in Chemistry "for his discovery of the fission of heavy atomic nuclei." When element number 105 was first synthesized in 1970, it was originally called hahnium, but the name was never official, and the element was eventually named dubnium.

Disasters
A typhoon cut across southern Japan, killing 22 people, most of them drowned in flood waters.

Golf
Dan Sikes won the Minnesota Golf Classic with a total score of 272. First prize money was $20,000.

40 years ago
1978


Hit parade
#1 single in Sweden (Topplistan): Rivers of Babylon--Boney M. (3rd week at #1)

#1 single in West Germany (Media Control): Rivers of Babylon--Boney M. (15th week at #1)

#1 single in France (IFOP): En chantant--Michel Sardou (2nd week at #1)

At the movies
National Lampoon's Animal House, directed by John Landis and starring John Belushi, Tim Matheson, John Vernon, Donald Sutherland, and others, opened in theatres.

War
The Ethiopian government announced that its forces had broken the siege of Asmara, the capital of the province of Eritrea. Diplomatic sources believed that Eritrean secessionists still controlled the area to the north of Asmara and that government forces had merely opened up the highway linking Asmara to the national capital of Addis Ababa in the south.

Economics and finance
The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported that consumer prices had risen 0.9% in June, sending the annual inflation rate to 11.4% for the second quarter of 1978. Food prices increased 1.4% in June, led by a 5.6% increase in the price of beef. The price of gold soared above $200 per ounce, reflecting the weakness of the U.S. dollar and the apparent difficulty in holding down inflation.

30 years ago
1988


Hit parade
#1 single in Spain (PROMUSICAE): Gimme Hope Jo'anna--Eddy Grant (8th week at #1)

#1 single in Finland (Musiikkituottajat – IFPI Finland): Yé ké yé ké--Mory Kanté (2nd week at #1)

Law
In a free vote, the Canadian House of Commons rejected a government resolution and five amendments in an abortion bill.

Politics and government
Paddy Ashdown, MP for Yeuvil, was elected leader of Britain's new Social and Liberal Democrat Party.

Disasters
Both houses of the United States Congress approved bills to provide relief to drought-stricken areas of the country, including a grant of up to $100,000 to farmers who had lost at least 35% of their crops. The similar bills would be reconciled in a conference committee. Rain in July had eased the drought somewhat.

Football
CFL
British Columbia (2-1) 21 @ Toronto (2-1) 26

25 years ago
1993


Diplomacy
Andorra joined the United Nations.

Football
CFL
Toronto (0-4) 36 @ Calgary (4-0) 39

Doug Flutie completed a 21-yard touchdown pass to Keyvan Jenkins with less than a minute remaining in regulation time, and Mark McLoughlin converted and then kicked a 38-yard field goal to win the game as the Stampeders edged the Argonauts before 25,210 fans at McMahon Stadium. Mr. Flutie completed 34 of 52 passes for 477 yards and 4 touchdowns.

Baseball
Ken Griffey, Jr. of the Seattle Mariners led off the bottom of the 7th inning with a home run off Willie Banks of the Minnesota Twins before 30,413 fans at the Kingdome in Seattle to tie a major league record by homering in his eighth straight game. The record was set by Dale Long of the Pittsburgh Pirates in 1956 and tied by Don Mattingly of the New York Yankees in 1987. Mr. Griffey's record-tying homer was his team's only run as the Twins won 5-1, with Mr. Banks allowing 3 hits in 7 innings to get the win.

Coincidentally, Mr. Mattingly hit a home run and 2 singles to help the Yankees defeat the Detroit Tigers 12-7 before 37,508 fans at Tiger Stadium. Detroit third baseman Travis Fryman hit for the cycle, batting 5 for 5 with 2 doubles, 2 runs, and 4 runs batted in.

Errors by Mike Devereaux and Cal Ripken, Jr. allowed Paul Molitor to score the winning run with 1 out in the bottom of the 10th inning as the Toronto Blue Jays edged the Baltimore Orioles 5-4 before 50,523 fans at SkyDome in Toronto.

The Florida Marlins scored a run in the top of the 9th inning to break a 3-3 tie, but the New York Mets scored 2 in the bottom of the 9th to win 5-4 before 24,377 fans at Shea Stadium in New York.

Darren Daulton drove in 6 runs with a grand slam and a triple to help the Philadelphia Phillies overcome an early 4-0 deficit and defeat the St. Louis Cardinals 14-6 before 46,346 fans at Veterans Stadium in Philadelphia.

Don Slaught doubled to lead off the bottom of the 9th inning and beat first baseman Derrick White's throw to home plate on a ground ball by Al Martin to give the Pittsburgh Pirates a 3-2 win over the Montreal Expos before 13,470 fans at Three Rivers Stadium in Pittsburgh. Joe Siddall made his major league debut with the Expos, entering the game in the 9th inning as the catcher.

Tom Candiotti allowed 5 hits and 1 run in 8 1/3 innings to win the pitchers' duel over Bud Black as the Los Angeles Dodgers edged the San Francisco Giants 2-1 before 46,025 fans at Candlestick Park in San Francisco. San Francisco catcher Jim McNamara batted 0 for 3 and made 3 putouts in the 34th and last game of his 2-year major league career.

20 years ago
1998


Business
Bell Atlantic and GTE announced a $52 billion merger that created Verizon.

Friday 27 July 2018

July 27, 2018

1,340 years ago
678


War
Sclaveni attackers were forced to give up their siege of the Byzantine city of Thessalonica, being unable to penetrate the city's defenses.

250 years ago
1768


Born on this date
Charlotte Corday
. French assassin. Miss Corday sympathized with the Girondins, who were more moderate French revolutionaries than the Jacobins, whose leaders included Jean-Paul Marat. She stabbed Mr. Marat to death in his bathtub on July 13, 1793, and was executed by guillotine on July 17, 10 days before her 25th birthday.

240 years ago
1778


War
British and French fleets fought to a standoff in the First Battle of Ushant at the mouth of the English Channel.

125 years ago
1893


Politics and government
Lawrence Vankoughnet resigned, under pressure from Minister of the Interior Mayne Daly, as Canadian Deputy Superintendent-General of Indian Affairs. He was succeeded by Hayter Reed.

110 years ago
1908


Born on this date
Joseph Mitchell
. U.S. journalist. Mr. Mitchell had a career spanning more than 60 years, and was known for his character studies of people and events in New York City that appeared in The New Yorker. He died on May 24, 1996 at the age of 87.

100 years ago
1918


Died on this date
Albert "Ginger" Goodwin, 31
. U.K.-born Canadian labour activist. Mr. Goodwin was a coal miner who moved to Canada in 1910. He became a labour organizer and draft dodger who was shot by Dominion Police Special Constable Dan Campbell outside Cumberland, British Columbia. On August 2, the day of Mr. Goodwin's funeral, union members in Vancouver started a 24-hour strike and battled returning servicemen.

90 years ago
1928


Disasters
Flames were reported to be ravaging 450 square miles of growing wheat near Walla Walla, Washington; grain fires destroyed 13 homes near Winona.

An explosion on an oil barge on the Buffalo River in New York killed one man, drowned another, and caused $1 million damage to shipping.

75 years ago
1943


Died on this date
Ernest Lynn Waldorf, 67
. U.S. clergyman. Mr. Waldorf, elected a Bishop of the Methodist Episcopal Church in 1920, became head of the church in the Chicago area in 1932, and was a leader of the movement to unite all Methodists. He delivered invocations at the Republican National Conventions in 1928 and 1936.

War
Preliminary peace negotiations were reported to be under way in Vatican City between U.S. and U.K. representatives and delegates of the Italian government of Marshal Pietro Badoglio. Allied troops advanced toward the northern sector of the Etna line and captured Collesano, Polizzi, Petralia, and Alimena in northeastern Sicily. Allied planes bombed Japanese positions in the Salamaua sector of New Guinea.

Business
The Argentine government assumed supervision of eight foreign firms accused of violating price laws, including Ford Motor Company; General Motors; Goodyear, Firestone, and Michelin tire companies; and International Harvester Company.

70 years ago
1948


Died on this date
Joe Tinker, 68
. U.S. baseball player and manager. Mr. Tinker was a shortstop with the Chicago Cubs (1902-1912, 1916); Cincinnati Reds (1913); and Chicago Whales (1914-1915), batting .262 with 31 home runs and 782 runs batted in in 1,806 games. He was mainly known for his defensive ability as part of the famous double play combination "Tinker to Evers to Chance" with second baseman Johnny Evers and first baseman Frank Chance, helping the Cubs to four National League pennants from 1906-1910 and World Series championships in 1907 and 1908. Mr. Tinker managed the Reds (1913), Whales (1914-1915), and Cubs (1916), leading the Whales to the Federal League pennant in the last season of the FL's existence. He was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame, with Messrs. Evers and Chance, in 1946, and died on his 68th birthday of complications from diabetes.

Susan Giaspell, 66. U.S. playwright. Miss Giaspell won the Pulitzer Prize for Drama in 1931 for Alison's House.

Space
The University of California's Lick Observatory announced the discovery of the sixth asteroid to be found within Earth's orbit.

Politics and government
French Prime Minister Andre Marie named his new cabinet, with Robert Schuman as Foreign Minister, Paul Reynaud as Finance Minister, Leon Blum as Vice Premier, and Paul Ramadier as minister without portfolio.

The Communist majority of the Italian General Confederation of Labour expelled Christian Democratic members from the organization's executive committee.

Labour
The International Association of Machinists ended a six-month strike of National Airlines Office workers after the company agreed to rehire all strikers and negotiate a new contract.

60 years ago
1958


Died on this date
Claire Chennault, 67
. U.S. military officer. General Chennault commanded the 1st American Volunteer Group of the Chinese Air Force--better known as the "Flying Tigers"--during World War II in 1941-1942, and the U.S. Army Air Forces units that replaced it.

Scandal
United Brotherhood of Carpenters President Maurice Hutcheson refused to answer charges that he used union money to fix a land-scandals conspiracy case against himself and other union officials in Lake County, Indiana.

Golf
Art Wall won the Eastern Open in Baltimore.

50 years ago
1968


Hit parade
#1 single in Australia (Kent Music Report): Angel of the Morning--Merrilee Rush (2nd week at #1)

#1 single in France: Rain and Tears--Aphrodite's Child (7th week at #1)

#1 single in Italy (FIMI): Ho scritto t'amo sulla sabbia--Franco IV e Franco I (2nd week at #1)

#1 single in West Germany (Media Control): Jumpin' Jack Flash--The Rolling Stones

#1 single in Ireland (IRMA): Blue Eyes--Don Partridge (3rd week at #1)

#1 single in the U.K. (New Musical Express): Baby, Come Back--The Equals (3rd week at #1)

#1 single in the U.S.A. (Billboard): Grazing in the Grass--Hugh Masakela (2nd week at #1)

#1 single in Canada (RPM): Lady Willpower--Gary Puckett and the Union Gap (3rd week at #1)

Netherlands Top 10 (De Nederlandse Top 40)
1 Ich Bau' Dir Ein Schloss--Heintje (5th week at #1)
2 Camp--Sir Henry and his Butlers
3 Times were When--The Cats
4 Young Girl--The Union Gap
5 You Don't Know What You Mean to Me--Sam & Dave
6 The Muffin Man--World of Oz
7 Honey--Bobby Goldsboro
8 Sunny Girl--The Hep Stars
9 The Hurdy Gurdy Man--Donovan
10 Angel of the Morning--Merrilee Rush

Singles entering the chart were Help Yourself by Tom Jones, and Dans Met Mij by Ben Cramer (charting together at #26); Dong-Dong-Di-Ki-Di-Gi-Dong by Golden Earrings (#30); The Universal by Small Faces (#32); Abergavenny by Marty Wilde (#37); and Do it Again by the Beach Boys (#40). Abergavenny was released in North America in 1969 by Mr. Wilde under the alias Shannon.

U.S.A. Top 10 (Cash Box)
1 Grazing in the Grass--Hugh Masakela
2 Lady Willpower--Gary Puckett and the Union Gap
3 Jumpin' Jack Flash--The Rolling Stones
4 Hurdy Gurdy Man--Donovan
5 Classical Gas--Mason Williams
6 Indian Lake--The Cowsills
7 Hello, I Love You--The Doors
8 This Guy's in Love with You--Herb Alpert
9 Stoned Soul Picnic--The 5th Dimension
10 Turn Around, Look at Me--The Vogues

Singles entering the chart were You're All I Need to Get By by Marvin Gaye & Tammi Terrell (#79); Please Return Your Love to Me by the Temptations (#82); Anyway that You Want Me by the American Breed (#84); Down at Lulu's by Ohio Express (#85); The Snake by Al Wilson (#95); Down in Tennessee by the Kasenetz-Katz Singing Orchestral Circus (#98); Listen Here by Eddie Harris (#99); and Hard to Handle by Otis Redding (#100).

Vancouver's Top 10 (CKLG)
1 Classical Gas--Mason Williams
2 Hello, I Love You--The Doors
3 San Francisco Girls (Return of the Native)--Fever Tree
4 Hurdy Gurdy Man--Donovan
5 She's a Heartbreaker--Gene Pitney
6 Never Going Back--The Lovin' Spoonful
7 Tuesday Afternoon (Forever Afternoon)--The Moody Blues
8 Grazing in the Grass--Hugh Masakela
9 D.W. Washburn--The Monkees
10 Light My Fire--Jose Feliciano

Singles entering the chart were Alice Long (You're Still My Favorite Girlfriend) by Tommy Boyce & Bobby Hart (#22); Dream a Little Dream of Me by Mama Cass (#23); Eyes of a New York Woman by B.J. Thomas (#26); Yesterday's Dream by the Four Tops (#27); Girl from the North Country by Tom Northcott (#28); and Mr. Businessman by Ray Stevens (#29).

Calgary's Top 10 (Glenn's Music)
1 Lady Willpower--Gary Puckett and the Union Gap (3rd week at #1)
2 Hurdy Gurdy Man--Donovan
3 Jumpin' Jack Flash--The Rolling Stones
4 Don't Take it So Hard--Paul Revere and the Raiders
5 Indian Lake--The Cowsills
6 Your Time Hasn't Come Yet, Baby--Elvis Presley
7 The Legend of Xanadu--Dave Dee, Dozy, Beaky, Mick and Tich
8 Bring a Little Lovin'--Los Bravos
9 Sky Pilot--Eric Burdon and the Animals
10 If You Knew--Gainsborough Gallery
Pick hit of the week: You Keep Me Hangin' On--The Vanilla Fudge

Died on this date
Babe Adams, 86
. U.S. baseball pitcher. Charles Benjamin Adams played with the St. Louis Cardinals (1906) and Pittsburgh Pirates (1907, 1909-1916, 1918-1926), compiling a record of 194-140 with an earned run average of 2.76 in 482 games, and batted .212 with 3 home runs and 75 runs batted in. He was best known for his heroics in the 1909 World Series, when he pitched 3 complete game victories, including the decisive seventh game. Mr. Adams was still with the Pirates when they won the World Series in 1925.

Howie Storie, 57. U.S. baseball player. Mr. Storie was a catcher with the Boston Red Sox (1931-1932), batting .200 with no home runs or runs batted in in 12 games. He played five seasons in the minor leagues (1931-1935) before returning to his home town of Pittsfield, Massachusetts, where he died of a heart attack while tending bar.

40 years ago
1978


Died on this date
Bob Heffron, 87
. N.Z.-born Australian politician. Mr. Heffron, a member of the Labour Party, held various offices, and was Premier of New South Wales from 1959-1964.

Politics and government
The six-month-old Portuguese government of Prime Minister Mario Soares fell when the conservative Centre Democrats (CDS) left the coalition led by Mr. Soares' Socialists, accusing Mr. Soares of delaying the return to private owners of farms seized by farm workers after the 1974 revolution.

Baseball
The San Diego Padres scored 2 runs in the 7th inning and another in the 8th to break a 3-3 tie and defeat the Pittsburgh Pirates 6-3 before 14,076 fans, including this blogger and his parents, at San Diego Stadium. Ed Ott and Phil Garner hit Eric Rasmussen's first two pitches of the 3rd inning for home runs, and Bill Robinson led off the 4th with a homer for the other Pittsburgh run.

The New York Yankees scored 2 runs in the 1st inning and 7 in the second as they routed the Cleveland Indians 11-0 in the first game of a doubleheader before 33,412 fans at Yankee Stadium. Ed Figueroa allowed 3 hits in 7 innings to get the win. The Indians scored 9 runs in the 1st inning and took a 15-0 lead after 4 1/2 innings as they coasted to a 17-5 win in the second game. Cleveland second baseman Duane Kuiper drove in 6 runs as he tied the major league record for a single game by hitting a pair of bases-loaded triples. Catfish Hunter started on the mound for New York and had the worst game of his career, facing 6 batters and allowing 3 hits, 3 bases on balls, and 6 earned runs. He was relieved by Bob Kammeyer, who wasn't much better, allowing 10 hits, 3 bases on balls, and 9 runs--8 earned--in 5 innings, while also hitting a batter.

30 years ago
1988


Died on this date
Frank Zamboni, 87
. U.S. inventor. Mr. Zamboni invented the ice resurfacing machine that bears his name in 1949, and founded the Zamboni Company in 1950.

Music
America, Three Dog Night, and the Beach Boys performed two shows at the Agricom in Edmonton. This blogger attended the second concert, which featured a slightly longer set by the Beacch Boys than the first show. It was the first time I ever heard the song Kokomo, which hadn't yet appeared in Edmonton record stores, and was from the movie Cocktail, which was just about to open in theatres.

Economics and finance
The United States Commerce Department reported that the gross national product had grown at a somewhat slow rate of 3.1% in the second quarter of 1988.

Politics and government
The Burmese parliament named retired general U Sein Lwin as the country's new President, succeeding General Ne Win, who had resigned in the wake of student-led riots.

Disasters
It was reported that 157 people had died in a cholera and gastroenteritis epidemic in New Delhi.

Football
CFL
Edmonton (2-1) 35 @ Ottawa (0-3) 28

Edmonton quarterback Tracy Ham rushed for a touchdown in the last minute to give the Eskimos the win over the Rough Riders at Lansdowne Park. The Rough Riders put up a great effort, but it wasn't enough to save the job of head coach Fred Glick, who was fired after this game. He compiled a record of 3-18, losing 17 of his last 18 games. Mr. Glick was replaced by his brother-in-law, Ottawa assistant coach Bob Weber.

25 years ago
1993


Died on this date
Reggie Lewis, 27
. U.S. basketball player. Mr. Lewis played forward with the Boston Celtics from 1987-1993. He collapsed and died of a heart condition while practicing during the off-season at Brandeis University in Waltham, Massachusetts.

Terrorism
A car bomb exploded and killed at least 5 in downtown Milan. Shortly afterward, another car bomb exploded and injured 24 in the heart of Rome and damaged the basilica of St. John Lateran, the pope's See.

Abominations
Seven sodomite and lesbian members of the U.S. armed forces brought a suit in U.S. Federal Court in an attempt to overturn the "don't ask, don't tell" policy on homosexuality in the military, contending that their treatment violated the Constitution.

Business
New IBM chairman Louis Gerstner announced an $8.9 billion program to revive the world's largest computer maker. The program included plans to eliminate 60,000 jobs and reduce the number of factories.

20 years ago
1998


Died on this date
Binnie Barnes, 95
. U.K.-born U.S. actress. Gertrude Maud Barnes appeared in numerous films from 1923-1973, including The Private Life of Henry VIII (1933) and The Trouble with Angels (1966).

10 years ago
2008


Football
CFL
Toronto (2-3) 22 @ Saskatchewan (5-0) 28