July 17, 2018

225 years ago
1793

Died on this date
Charlotte Corday, 24. 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 10 days before her 25th birthday.

175 years ago
1843

Politics and government
Miramichi, New Brunswick's "fighting election" occurred as clashes between the Joseph Cunard and Alexander Rankin factions broke out around polling stations. Troops were sent to maintain order after one person died and others claimed that their lives had been threatened.

130 years ago
1888

Born on this date
S.Y. Agnon. Austro-Hungarian-born Israeli author. Shmuel Yosef "Shai" Agnon, born Shmuel Yosef Halevi Czaczkes in Polish Galicia, moved to Ottoman Palestine in 1908 and to Germany in 1913 before moving to Jerusalem permanently in 1924. He was a major figure in modern Hebrew literature, writing novels and short stories. Mr. Agnon was awarded a share of he 1966 Nobel Prize in Literature "for his profoundly characteristic narrative art with motifs from the life of the Jewish people." He died on February 17, 1970 at the age of 81.

100 years ago
1918

Born on this date
Carlos Arana Osorio. President of Guatemala, 1970-1974. Colonel Arana was the first of the string of Institutional Democratic Party military rulers who dominated Guatemalan politics in the 1970s and 1980s. He imposed a state of siege from November 1970 until the end of 1972, which included the use of death squads; it as estimated that more than 20,000 people were killed or "disappeared" under Col. Arana's rule. Col. Arana died on December 6, 2003 at the age of 85.

Died on this date
Nikolai II, 50. Czar of Russia, 1894-1917. Nikolai II acceded to the throne upon the death of his father, Aleksandr III. Czar Nikolai II opposed democratic reforms, but Russia's loss to Japan in the Russo-Japanese War in 1904 and her disastrous performance on the Allied side in World War I led to revolution. Czar Nikolai abdicated after the "February Revolution" in 1917; the Bolsheviks seized power eight months later, and on July 17, 1918, Czar Nikolai II, Empress Alexandra, 46, their five children, and others who chose to stay with them were executed by Communist soldiers in Yekaterinburg (see also here), ending the Romanov dynasty.

War
RMS Carpathia, which had rescued the survivors of the RMS Titanic sinking in 1912, was itself sunk off Ireland by the German SM U-55, with the loss of five crewmen.

90 years ago
1928

Died on this date
Giovanni Giolitti, 85. Prime Minister of Italy, 1892-1893, 1903-1905, 1906-1909, 1911-1914, 1920-1921. Mr. Giolitti was a member of the Historical Left (1882-1913); Liberal Union (1913-1922); and Italian Liberal Party (1922-1928). He held various cabinet posts in addition to his five terms as Prime Minister, and was regarded as a master of producing a flexible, centrist government. He served longer as Italy's Prime Minister than anyone except Benito Mussolini, and remains the subject of much debate.

Álvaro Obregón Salido, 48. President of Mexico, 1920-1924; President-elect of Mexico, 1928. General Obregón was a leader in the Mexican Revolution in 1910, and lost his right arm in battle against the forces of Pancho Villa in 1915. Gen. Obregón participated in a revolution that ousted President Adolfo de la Huerta in 1920, and took office as President after the assassination of Venustiano Carranza, who had led the revolt against Mr. de la Huerta. Gen. Obregón oversaw economic and educational reforms, and was successful, with U.S. help, in crushing a revolt led by Mr. de la Huerta in 1923-1924. Gen. Obregón left office after one term, and his handpicked successor, Plutarco Elías Calles, was elected President. Gen. Obregón had been moderately opposed to the Roman Catholic Church during his presidency, but Mr. Calles was more anti-clerical in his policies, earning him the enmity of Roman Catholics. Gen. Obregón came out of retirement and was elected on July 1 to a six-year term as President and was due to take office on December 1. He was attending a lunch in his honour presented by President Calles at a restaurant in San Angel, 12 miles south of Mexico City, when he was assassinated by Jose de Leon Toral, a cartoonist who concealed a pistol under his hat and claimed that he was motivated by his hatred of the anti-Catholic policies of President Calles and Gen. Obregón. President Calles blamed Roman Catholic machinations for the assassination.

Diplomacy
A new agreement for international control of the Tangiers Zone was initialled in Paris by representatives of Spain, France, the United Kingdom, and Italy. The accord related chiefly to the reorganization of administrative details in the zone.

Politics and government
The New York Socialist State Executive Committee sent to Governor Al Smith 11 charges against the administration of Mayor Jimmy Walker, and asked for an investigation.

Health
200 lunchers in Somerville, Massachusetts were poisoned by chocolate cream pie.

80 years ago
1938

Aviation
Douglas Corrigan took off from Brooklyn to fly the "wrong way" to Ireland and became known as "Wrong Way" Corrigan.

75 years ago
1943

Hit parade
#1 single in the U.S.A. (Billboard): Comin' in on a Wing and a Prayer--The Song Spinners (3rd week at #1)

Died on this date
Thomas W. Wallace, 43. U.S. politician. Mr. Wallace, a Republican, was elected Lieutenant Governor of New York in 1942, running on a ticket with Governor Thomas Dewey. Mr. Wallace took office on January 1, 1943, but died after contracting chicken pox from his children and developing pneumonia. His death raised the question, answered in the affirmative by the New York Court of Appeals, as to whether the state constitution required an election to fill the vacancy caused by his death.

War
U.K. forces in Italy advanced toward the key port of Catania despite increased opposition from German elite divisions. The Soviet Red Army advanced up to six miles on the Orel front, occupying several towns, killing 3,000 German soldiers and destroying 78 tanks and 137 planes. U.S. bombers conducted a nine-hour assault on the Kahili airfield in the Buin-Faisi area of Bougainville Island.

Politics and government
Allied European Commander General Dwight D. Eisenhower ordered the Allied Military Government of Occupied Territories (AMGOT) to abolish the Fascist Party; disband Fascist militia and youth organizations; set up military courts to try civilians accused of crimes; annul racial laws; and supervise rationing and relief.

A Puerto Rican committee asked the United States Congress for independence after an eight-year commonwealth period and a U.S. guarantee to import one million tons of sugar annually.

Economics and finance
Mexico and the United States continued their agreement whereby Mexico would continue to produce strategic war materials and would receive U.S. aid into the postwar period for agriculture, transportation, power, and general industrial development.

70 years ago
1948

Hit parade
#1 single in the U.S.A. (Billboard) (Best Seller): Woody Wood-Pecker--Kay Kyser and his Orchestra (3rd week at #1)

U.S.A. Top 10 (Cash Box)
1 You Can't Be True, Dear--Ken Griffin (2nd week at #1)
--Dick Haymes with the Song Spinners
--The Sportsmen
--Vera Lynn
--The Marlin Sisters with Eddie Fisher
--Dick James
2 Woody Wood-Pecker--Kay Kyser and his Orchestra
--The Sportsmen and Mel Blanc
--Danny Kaye and the Andrews Sisters
3 Nature Boy--King Cole
4 Little White Lies--Dick Haymes
5 My Happiness--Jon and Sondra Steele
--The Pied Pipers
--Ella Fitzgerald
6 William Tell Overture--Spike Jones and his City Slickers
7 Toolie Oolie Doolie (The Yodel Polka)--The Andrews Sisters
--The Sportsmen
8 The Dickey-Bird Song--Freddy Martin and his Orchestra
9 St. Louis Blues March--Tex Beneke and his Orchestra
10 Because--Perry Como

Singles entering the chart were the versions of Woody Wood-Pecker by the Sportsmen and Mel Blanc; and Danny Kaye and the Andrews Sisters; Meadowlands (Russian Patrol) by Tex Beneke and his Orchestra (#32); Walk it Off by Tommy Dorsey and his Orchestra (#36); and How High the Moon by Stan Kenton and his Orchestra (#37).

Died on this date
Ildebrando Zacchini, 79. Maltese-born U.S. entertainer. Mr. Zacchini devised a human cannonball act, using compressed air. He originally intended it for defense purposes, but when that was rejected, he used it for entertainment in the Ringling Brothers Circus.

World events
The Czechoslovakian government announced the arrest of 84 Western spies in an alleged plot to assassinate Defense Minister Ludovic Svoboda.

Defense
The U.S. Air Force began transferring 60 B-29s to the United Kingdom for a month of "long-range flight training" in Europe.

Politics and government
Southern American Democrats from 13 states met in Birmingham, Alabama in a move to defeat the party's national ticket and platform. South Carolina Governor Strom Thurmond was elected as the Southern Democratic U.S. presidential candidate, with Mississippi Governor Fielding Wright as his vice presidential running mate. The convention's platform stressed states' rights and racial segregation.

60 years ago
1958

War
Indonesian government troops captured the rebel stronghold of Tondano in the northern Celebes after a 10-day battle.

Defense
2,000 men of the British 16th Parachute Brigade and supporting units were flown to a camp near Amman from their base on Cyprus, escorted en route by 50 U.S. Navy fighters.

Economics and government
U.S. Commerce Secretary Sinclair Weeks formed a Special Committee on World Economic Practices to study the Soviet economic offensive and other international economic matters.

50 years ago
1968

Hit parade
#1 single in the U.K. (Record Retailer): Baby, Come Back--The Equals (3rd week at #1)

Australia's Top 10 (Go-Set)
1 This Guy's in Love with You--Herb Alpert
2 Jumpin' Jack Flash--The Rolling Stones
3 Angel of the Morning--Merrilee Rush
4 The Good, the Bad and the Ugly--Hugo Montenegro, his Orchestra and Chorus
5 The Unicorn--The Irish Rovers
6 Lazy Sunday--Small Faces
7 A Man Without Love (Quando M'innamoro)--Engelbert Humperdinck
8 Lady Willpower--Gary Puckett and the Union Gap
9 Honey--Bobby Goldsboro
10 Love Machine--Pastoral Symphony

Singles entering the chart were Hush...Not a Word to Mary by John Rowles (#27); Autumn of My Life by Bobby Goldsboro (#28); My Name is Jack by Manfred Mann (#29); Temptation 'Bout to Get Me by the Virgil Brothers (#33); May I Take a Giant Step (Into Your Heart) by the 1910 Fruitgum Company (#37); and Louisiana Man by Bobbie Gentry (#38).

At the movies
Yellow Submarine, an animated film directed by George Dunning and based on the Beatles' song of the same name, opened in theatres.

For Love of Ivy, directed by Daniel Mann and starring Sidney Poitier and Abbey Lincoln, opened in theatres.

War
Clashes between Israeli soldiers and Arab guerrillas began along the West Bank of the Jordan River.

World events
A group of Iraqi Army officers sympathetic to the right wing of the Ba'ath Socialist Party toppled the government of President Abdel Rahman Arif. The Revolutionary Command Council, led by former Prime Minister and Defense Minister Major General Ahmed Hassan al-Bakr, 56, called the leftist Arif regime "opportunists, thieves, ignorant, illiterate Zioist spies," and urged liberation of Palestine "now, not tomorrow."

Politics and government
The Military Revolutionary Committee in Dahomey selected Emile-Derin Zinsou as the country's new President because of indecisive elections in April.

Defense
Former Canadian Prime Minister Lester Pearson was appointed President of the London-based Institute for Strategic Studies, a defense and disarmament research centre.

Labour
A strike by 2,700 Ontario brewery workers ended after three weeks.

Football
CFL
Pre-season
British Columbia (0-3) 15 @ Ottawa (1-0-1) 22

40 years ago
1978

Hit parade
#1 single in Australia (Kent Music Report): Rivers of Babylon--Boney M. (2nd week at #1)

#1 single in Japan (Oricon Singles Chart): Monster--Pink Lady (2nd week at #1)

#1 single in Spain (PROMUSICAE): Sólo Tú--Matia Bazar

Protest
Nearly 1,000 American Indians and their supporters marched to the steps of the U.S. Capitol in Washington, completing a 2,700-mile "longest walk" that had begun from Alcatraz Island, California on February 11 to publicize Indian fears of a "Red backlash" in legislation pending in Cingress which they felt was anti-Indian.

Law
An agreement between Canada and the United States was signed in Washington whereby Canadians in American jails and Americans in Canadian prisons could now finish their sentences in their home countries.

Economics and finance
Leaders of the world's seven largest industrial democracies concluded a two-day summit in Bonn with an agreement on a package of moves to spur economic growth "without rekindling inflation."

30 years ago
1988

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

#1 single in Switzerland: Im Nin'Alu--Ofra Haza (4th week at #1)

Died on this date
Bruiser Brody, 42. U.S. wrestler. Mr. Brody, whose real name was Frank Goodish, played football at Texas A&M University and worked as a sportswriter before becoming a wrestler and working in various circuits, usually as a heel. He was in the locker room in Bayamón, Puerto Rico, preparing for a match, when he was stabbed to death by fellow wrestler José Huertas González. Mr. Goodish was inducted into the Professional Wrestling Hall of Fame in 2014.

25 years ago
1993

Hit parade
#1 single in Australia (ARIA): (I Can't Help) Falling in Love With You--UB40 (2nd week at #1)

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

#1 single in Spain (PROMUSICAE): Encores--Dire Straits (6th week at #1)

#1 single in Flanders (VRT): Cose della vita--Eros Ramazotti (4th week at #1)

#1 single in France (SNEP): What is Love?--Haddaway

#1 single in the Netherlands (De Nederlandse Top 40): (I Can't Help) Falling in Love With You--UB40 (4th week at #1)

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

#1 single in the U.S.A. (Billboard): Weak--SWV (2nd week at #1)

U.S.A. Top 10 (Cash Box)
1 Weak--SWV
2 Whoomp! (There it Is)--Tag Team
3 That's the Way Love Goes--Janet Jackson
4 (I Can't Help) Falling in Love with You--UB40
5 Show Me Love--Robin S
6 Knockin' Da Boots--H-Town
7 I'll Never Get Over You (Getting Over Me)--Exposé
8 Have I Told You Lately--Rod Stewart
9 Come Undone--Duran Duran
10 Lately--Jodeci

Singles entering the chart were Insane in the Brain by Cypress Hill (#42); What's Up Doc? (Can We Rock?) by Fu-Schnickens with Shaquille O'Neal (#58); Ooh Child by Dino (#61); Believe by Lenny Kravitz (#63); Another Sad Love Song by Toni Braxton (#67); Chattahoochee by Alan Jackson (#68); I Like It by Jomanda (#69); Tell Me Why by Wynonna (#72); Big Gun by AC/DC (#74); Very Special by Big Daddy Kane (#78); Pets by Porno for Pyros (#83); Chief Rocka by Lords of the Underground (#88); and Wide River by the Steve Miller Band (#90).

Canada's Top 10 (RPM)
1 Have I Told You Lately--Rod Stewart
2 That's the Way Love Goes--Janet Jackson
3 I Don't Wanna Fight--Tina Turner
4 Fields of Gold--Sting
5 Come Undone--Duran Duran
6 By the Time This Night is Over--Kenny G with Peabo Bryson
7 Regret--New Order
8 (I Can't Help) Falling in Love with You--UB40
9 Love Don't Live Here Anymore--Sven Gali
10 Break it Down Again--Tears for Fears

Singles entering the chart were Did You Give Enough Love by Celine Dion (#72); Man on a Mission by Hemingway Corner (#76); Looking for a Place to Happen by the Tragically Hip (#80); Cryin' by Aerosmith (#88); Will You Be There by Michael Jackson (#90); Take Me for a Little While by Coverdale Page (#93); Rain by Madonna (#95); Pets by Porno for Pyros (#97); Healing Power of Love by Dan Hill (#98); and Weak by SWV (#99).

World events
Two ships full of Chinese refugees docked at Ensenada, Mexico, but within hours, the first 100 had been put on a plane to be sent back to China.

Terrorism
Egypt hanged five Islamic terrorists in a campaign that officials said had caused the worst damage to Islamic fundamentalism in 18 months.

Football
CFL
British Columbia (2-1) 14 @ Winnipeg (1-1) 36
Calgary (2-0) 38 @ Sacramento (0-3) 36

Chris Johnstone, Nathaniel Bolton, and Blaise Bryant scored touchdowns for the Blue Bombers in their win over the Lions before 20,665 fans at Winnipeg Stadium.

Doug Flutie threw touchdown passes to Allen Pitts, Will Moore, and Dave Sapunjis, and ran for another TD himself, as the Stampeders held off the Gold Miners before 20,082 fans at Hornet Field in the first CFL game between a Canadian and an American team on Ameridan soil. Mr. Flutie and Sacramento quarterback David Archer, who threw TD passes to Rod Harris and Willie Bouyer, combined for almost 900 yards passing. Robert Hardy rushed 1 yard for the first Sacramento touchdown at home; it was his only CFL touchdown. Mr. Moore's touchdown was his first in the CFL. Sacramento kicker Jim Crouch missed a 40-yard field goal late in the game that would have tied the score if successful.

20 years ago
1998

Law
A diplomatic conference adopted the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court, establishing a permanent international court to prosecute individuals for genocide, crimes against humanity, war crimes, and the crime of aggression.

Disasters
A tsunami triggered by an undersea earthquake devastated several villages in Papua New Guinea, killing more than 2,100 people, and destroying the homes of thousands more.

Football
CFL
Hamilton (2-1) 29 @ Winnipeg (0-3) 7

10 years ago
2008

Died on this date
Larry Haines, 89. U.S. actor. Mr. Haines, born Larry Hecht, appeared in numerous radio programs from the 1930s through the 1950s, but was best known for playing Stu Bergman in the television soap opera Search for Tomorrow (1951-1986), for which he won Daytime Emmy Awards in 1976 and 1981. He died 17 days before his 90th birthday.

Football
CFL
Hamilton (1-3) 16 @ Calgary (3-1) 43