October 23, 2018

130 years ago
1888

Born on this date
Onésime Gagnon. Canadian politician. Professor Gagnon, a native of Saint-Léon-de-Standon, Quebec, was a law professor at Université Laval (1942-1958). A Conservative, he represented Dorchester in the Canadian House of Commons (1930-1935) serving briefly as Minister Without Portfolio (1935). He unsuccessfully campaigned for the leadsership of the Quebec Conservative Party in 1933, but was elected to the Quebec Legislative Assembly in 1936 as a Union Nationale candidate, representing Matane (1936-1958), serving in the cabinet of Premier Maurice Duplessis as Minister of Fisheries (1936-1939) and Treasurer (1944-1958). Prof. Gagnon left his academic post and provincial politics to serve as Lieutenant Governor of Quebec, serving from February 14, 1958 until his death in office, 23 days before his 73rd birthday. He was succeeded by Paul Comtois.

125 years ago
1893

Born on this date
Gummo Marx. U.S. actor and talent agent. Milton Marx was the fourth of the five Marx Brothers, and was part of their vaudeville act until the time of World War I, when he entered the United States Army, and was replaced in the act by his younger brother Zeppo. After the war, Gummo became a successful businessman, and served as an agent representing various people in show business, including his brother Groucho. He died on April 21, 1977 at the age of 83.

Died on this date
Alexander of Battenberg, 36. Prince of Bulgaria, 1879-1886. Alexander Joseph was the second son of Prince Alexander of Hesse and by Rhine by the latter's morganatic marriage with Countess Julia von Hauke, and a nephew of Czar Aleksandr II of Russia. The Bulgarian Grand National Assembly, on Czar Aleksandr's recommendation, elected Alexander Joseph as prince of the newly-autonomous principality. He proved to be a capable soldier and sound diplomat, but a union with Eastern Rumelia led to a military plot that forced his abdication, and he retired to private life.

100 years ago
1918

Born on this date
James Daly. U.S. actor. Mr. Daly appeared in plays and films, but was best known for his work in television, especially as the star of the series Foreign Intrigue (1953-1955) and in the co-starring role of Dr. Paul Lochner in Medical Center (1969-1976). He won an Emmy in 1966 for his supporting performance in the Hallmark Hall of Fame episode Eagle in a Cage. Mr. Daly died of heart failure on July 3, 1978 at the age of 59.

Augusta Dabney. U.S. actress. Miss Dabney appeared in numerous television programs, especially soap operas, from 1949-2001. She died on February 4, 2008 at the age of 89.

Health
The influenza epidemic peaked in Canada as 55,000 people died.

90 years ago
1928

World events
A government order closing four universities, a parliamentary debate ending in a challenge to a duel, 140 arrests, and numerous minor casualties were the products of renewed anti-Semitic riots in Budapest.

Disasters
The first crash in Canada of an airmail plane occurred, shortly after takeoff near Calgary.

80 years ago
1938

Radio
Canadian singers and orchestras produced A Musical Portrait of Canada, the first major Canadian broadcast heard around the world.

75 years ago
1943

Hit parade
#1 single in the U.S.A. (Billboard): Sunday, Monday, or Always--Bing Crosby and the Ken Darby Singers (7th week at #1)

Married on this date
Former U.K. Prime Minister David Lloyd George, 80, married Frances Stevenson, 55, his secretary since 1911.

War
The British cruiser HMS Charybdis and destroyer HMS Limbourne were lost to enemy action in the English Channel off the French coast. After 11 days of street fighting, Soviet troops took the key city of Melitopol in southern Ukraine. U.K. troops in Italy forced German troops to retreat at the Trigno River, taking three towns along a 50-mile front. 230 Allied planes dropped 130 tons of bombs on Bougainville Island, temporarily putting the airports at Kahili and Kara out of commission.

World events
Charters of Jewish and Masonic societies were withdrawn in the Argentine province of Entre, while the student organization Federacion Universitaria Argentina was outlawed in Buenos Aires as "communistic."

Economics and finance
U.S. War Production Board acting Chairman Charles Wilson reported that September war production was "disappointing" except for a 6% increase in four-motored bombers.

Football
WCASRFL
Winnipeg RCAF (5-0) 34 @ Regina (2-4) 24

Johnny Lake, Al Olsen, Cliff McFayden, Jim Berry, Don Durno, and Sammy Lavitt scored touchdowns for the Bombers as they beat the All-Services Roughriders at Parc de Young. Mr. Lake added 3 converts and Mr. Gellers 1 convert. Ken Charlton scored 3 touchdowns for the Roughriders, while Joe Turner added a touchdown and single. George Cullen converted 3 of the Regina touchdowns.

70 years ago
1948

Hit parade
#1 single in the U.S.A. (Billboard) (Best Seller): Twelfth Street Rag--Pee Wee Hunt and his Orchestra (7th week at #1)

U.S.A. Top 10 (Cash Box)
1 It's Magic--Doris Day
--Dick Haymes and Gordon Jenkins and his Orchestra
--Tony Martin
--Gordon MacRae
2 A Tree in the Meadow--Margaret Whiting
3 Twelfth Street Rag--Pee Wee Hunt and his Orchestra
4 Maybe You'll Be There--Gordon Jenkins and his Orchestra
5 My Happiness--The Pied Pipers
--Ella Fitzgerald
--Jon and Sondra Steele
6 You Call Everybody Darlin'--Al Trace and the Revelers
--The Andrews Sisters
--Jack Smith and the Clark Sisters
--Anne Vincent
7 Hair of Gold, Eyes of Blue--Gordon MacRae and the Starlighters
--Jerry Murad's Harmonicats
8 Underneath the Arches--Primo Scala's Banjo and Accordion Orchestra with the Keynotes
--The Andrews Sisters
9 Rambling Rose--Perry Como and the Satisfiers
10 Buttons and Bows--Dinah Shore and the Happy Valley Boys

Singles entering the chart were Serutan Yob (A Song for Backward Boys and Girls Under 40) by the Unnatural Seven (#32); The Matador, with versions by Carmen Miranda and the Andrews Sisters; and Dinah Shore with the Brazilians (#33); and It's Too Soon to Know by the Orioles (#34). The version of The Matador by Carmen Miranda and the Andrews Sisters was the other side of Cuanto la Gusta, charting at #23.

War
Chinese Communists claimed the capture of the Honan rail junction of Chengchow and the western terminus of the Peking-Suiyuan rail line at Paotow.

South Korean officials claimed the suppression of the Communist rising in Yosu and Sunchon, with 1,500 arrests.

World events
French troops seized seven of the nation's largest coal mines after a week of riots between Communist-led striking workers and non-strikers.

Religion
Pope Pius XII issued his encyclical In Mulltiplicibus Curis, calling for the internationalization of Jerusalem and appealing for the preservation of all Christian shrines in Palestine.

Cycling
Emile Bruneau and Louis Saen of Belgium won the 68th international six-day race in New York.

Football
CRU
IRFU
Ottawa (8-1) 17 @ Hamilton (1-8-1) 8
Montreal (5-4) 22 @ Toronto (4-5-1) 17

WIFU
Saskatchewan (2-9) 0 @ Calgary (12-0) 19

Paul Rowe scored 2 touchdowns for the Stampeders as they shut out the Roughrieders at Mewata Stadium to complete their perfect regular season. Fred Wilmot added a convert and 2 field goals, Bill Wusyk, kicked a convert, and Keith Spaith punted for a single.

60 years ago
1958

Literature
Boris Pasternak, author of the novel Doctor Zhivago, was named the winner of the 1958 Nobel Prize in Literature.

World events
Cuban guerrillas released kidnapped employees of the Texas Oil Company refinery near Santiago de Cuba.

Diplomacy
Following three days of talks in Taiwan, U.S. Secretary of State John Foster Dulles and Nationalist Chinese President Chiang Kai-shek issued a joint statement declaring that the Nationalist government would not use force in an effort to return to the mainland.

Defense
French Prime Minister Charles de Gaulle reaffirmed his intention of continuing unilateral development of a nuclear weapons arsenal.

Popular culture
The cartoon characters known as the Smurfs made their first appearance in the story La flute à six schtroumpfs, a Johan and Peewit adventure by Peyo, which was serialized in the weekly magazine Spirou.

Disasters
An underground rock surge ("bump") and coal gas explosion in the Number Two Cumberland Mine at Springhill, Nova Scotia collapsed a tunnel at 8:06 P.M., trapping 174 miners.



50 years ago
1968

Hit parade
#1 single in the U.K. (Record Retailer): Those were the Days--Mary Hopkin (5th week at #1)

Australia's Top 10 (Go-Set)
1 Hey Jude/Revolution--The Beatles (3rd week at #1)
2 Harper Valley P.T.A.--Jeannie C. Riley
3 Those were the Days--Mary Hopkin
4 Help Yourself--Tom Jones
5 I've Gotta Get a Message to You/Kitty Can--The Bee Gees
6 Little Arrows--Leapy Lee
7 Over You--Gary Puckett and the Union Gap
8 Do it Again--The Beach Boys
9 Mary, Mary/What am I Doing Hangin' 'Round--The Monkees
10 Dream a Little Dream of Me--Mama Cass

Singles entering the chart were (The Lament of the Cherokee) Indian Reservation by Don Fardon (#28); Hold Me Tight by Johnny Nash (#29); and A Little Bit for Sandy by Paul Peterson (#39).

At the movies
Ice Station Zebra, directed by John Sturges, and starring Rock Hudson, Ernest Borgnine, Patrick McGoohan, and Jim Brown, opened in theatres.



Live a Little, Love a Little, directed by Norman Taurog, and starring Elvis Presley and Michele Carey, opened in theatres.



Politics and government
Stephen Juba was re-elected Mayor of Winnipeg, taking 75.18% of the vote to 24.82% for Eric Wells, his only challenger in the municipal election.

Olympics
Elaine Tanner of Canada won a silver medal in the women's 100-metre backstroke at the Summer Olympics in Mexico City, becoming the first Canadian ever to win an Olympic swimming medal.

Football
CFL
Saskatchewan (10-3-1) 24 @ Winnipeg (2-12) 7

George Reed rushed for 69 yards and 3 touchdowns, reaching the 1,000-yard mark for the fifth straight season, to help the Roughriders defeat the Blue Bombers before 10,000 fans at Winnipeg Stadium.

40 years ago
1978

Hit parade
#1 single in Australia (Kent Music Report): Black is Black--La Belle Epoque

#1 single in Japan (Oricon Singles Chart): Tomei Ningen--Pink Lady (3rd week at #1)

#1 single in Spain (PROMUSICAE): You're the One that I Want--John Travolta and Olivia Newton-John (3rd week at #1)

Died on this date
Maybelle Carter, 69. U.S. musician. "Mother Maybelle" was the matriarch of the Carter Family, a pioneering country music group founded in 1927. She sang and played several instruments, and was known for her distinctive style of guitar-picking. Mrs. Carter died after years of failing health.

30 years ago
1988

Hit parade
#1 single in New Zealand (RIANZ): Desire--U2 (2nd week at #1)

#1 single in Switzerland: Hand in Hand--Koreana (6th week at #1)

Disasters
At least 111 people, 50 in Nicaragua, were reported dead after a hurricane had swept through the Caribbean area over the previous five days.

Football
CFL
Winnipeg (9-7) 13 @ Toronto (12-4) 36
British Columbia (8-8) 35 @ Edmonton (10-6) 15

The Blue Bombers turned over the ball 6 times in the 2nd half of their loss to the Argonauts before 23,324 fans at Exhibition Stadium.



The Eskimos turned over the ball 7 times in their loss to the Lions before 30,030 fans at Commonwealth Stadium. The Lions were cruising with a 21-1 lead in the 2nd half before the Eskimos struck back with 2 quick touchdowns (including one from Henry "Gizmo" Williams on a 75-yard punt return) to cut the deficit to 21-15. However, former Eskimo quarterback Matt Dunigan produced 2 more touchdowns to put the Eskimos away. The Eskimos added Tommy-Joe Coffey and John LaGrone to the Wall of Honour at halftime; this blogger got to meet the honourees that day, and it was a privilege to meet both men. For CJCA's Bryan Hall, it was his 500th game as a play-by-play broadcaster. Another notable feature of the game was that the Lions brought their cheerleaders to the game with them, making for some enjoyable viewing.

Baseball
Nippon Series
Seibu Lions 3 @ Chunichi Dragons 7 (Best-of-seven series tied 1-1)

25 years ago
1993

Hit parade
#1 single in Australia (ARIA): I'd Do Anything for Love (But I Won't Do That)--Meat Loaf (8th week at #1)

#1 single in Italy: Living on My Own--Freddie Mercury (4th week at #1)

#1 single in Spain (PROMUSICAE): Living on My Own--Freddie Mercury (2nd week at #1)

#1 single in Flanders (VRT): What's Up?--4 Non Blondes (5th week at #1)

#1 single in France (SNEP): Mets de l'huile--Regg'Lyss (2nd week at #1)

#1 single in the Netherlands (De Nederlandse Top 40): It Keeps Rainin' (Tears from My Eyes)--Bitty McLean (2nd week at #1)

#1 single in the U.K. (Chart Information Network): I'd Do Anything for Love (But I Won't Do That)--Meat Loaf

#1 single in the U.S.A. (Billboard): Dreamlover--Mariah Carey (7th week at #1)

U.S.A. Top 10 (Cash Box)
1 The River of Dreams--Billy Joel
2 Just Kickin' It--Xscape
3 Dreamlover--Mariah Carey
4 I'd Do Anything for Love (But I Won't Do That)--Meat Loaf
5 All that She Wants--Ace of Base
6 Another Sad Love Song--Toni Braxton
7 Right Here/Human Nature--SWV
8 Hey Mr. D.J.--Zhane
9 Anniversary--Tony Toni Tone
10 Reason to Believe--Rod Stewart

Singles entering the chart were Runaway Love by En Vogue featuring FMob (#43); Breathe Again by Toni Braxton (#46); Shoop by Salt-N-Pepa (#48); Can We Talk by Tevin Campbell (#51); Wild World by Mr. Big (#59); As Long as I Can Dream by Expose (#73); Shifftee by Onyx (#84); Foreplay by RAab (#88); and Written on Ya Kitten by Naughty by Nature (#90).

Canada's Top 10 (RPM)
1 Dreamlover--Mariah Carey (6th week at #1)
2 The River of Dreams--Billy Joel
3 Reason to Believe--Rod Stewart
4 I'd Do Anything for Love (But I Won't Do That)--Meat Loaf
5 No Rain--Blind Melon
6 Two Steps Behind--Def Leppard
7 Human Wheels--John Mellencamp
8 Hopelessly--Rick Astley
9 When There's Time (For Love)--Lawrence Gowan
10 Nothing 'Bout Me--Sting

Singles entering the chart were Mmm Mmm Mmm Mmm by Crash Test Dummies (#57); Again by Janet Jackson (#67); Don't Fall Apart on Me by Aaron Neville (#68); I'll Always Be There by Roch Voisine (#73); Please Forgive Me by Bryan Adams (#79); Out of My Head by Junkhouse (#86); and Heart Shaped Box by Nirvana (#90).

Terrorism
A Provisional Irish Republican Army bomb prematurely detonated in the Shankill area of Belfast, killing bomber Thomas Begley, 22, and nine Protestant civilians, and wounding 50 others.

Football
CFL
Calgary (14-2) 45 @ Saskatchewan (10-7) 48
Toronto (3-13) 24 @ Sacramento (5-11) 38

The Roughriders opened up a 35-7 lead in the 2nd quarter but needed a 34-yard field goal by Dave Ridgway with 1 second remaining in regulation time to defeat the Stampeders before 26,137 fans at Taylor Field in Regina. Saskatchewan quarterback Kent Austin rushed for 3 touchdowns and completed touchdown passes to Jeff Fairholm, Bruce Boyko, and Ray Elgaard. Calgary quarterback Doug Flutie rushed for 2 TDs and threw 3 touchdown passes to Brian Wiggins and another to Dave Sapunjis, while completing a pass to Derrick Crawford for a 2-point convert. Mr. Elgaard caught 10 passes for 154 yards and set the CFL career record for yards receiving, breaking the record formerly held by Brian Kelly.

David Archer threw 2 touchdown passes to Joe Howard Johnson and 1 each to James Pruitt and Rod Harris, while rushing for a TD of his own to lead the Gold Miners over the Argonauts before 11,574 fans at Hornet Field. Toronto quarterback Tracy Ham rushed 21 yards for a touchdown and completed touchdown passes to Mike Clemons and Manny Hazard, while Mr. Clemons added a 2-point convert.



CIAU
McGill (4-3) 37 @ Queen's (2-5) 24



Baseball
World Series
Philadelphia Phillies 6 @ Toronto Blue Jays 8 (Toronto won best-of-seven series 4-2)

Joe Carter's 3-run home run off Mitch Williams in the bottom of the 9th inning before 52,195 fans at SkyDome gave the Blue Jays their second straight World Series championship. The Blue Jays scored 3 runs in the bottom of the 1st inning off Philadelphia starting pitcher Terry Mulholland and led 5-1 after 6 innings, but the Phillies rallied for 5 runs in the top of the 7th--3 on a home run by Lenny Dykstra--to take a 6-5 lead and knock Toronto starting pitcher Dave Stewart out of the game. Mr. Williams entered the game in the bottom of the 9th and walked leadoff batter Rickey Henderson. Devon White flied out and Paul Molitor singled, with Mr. Henderson stopping at second base. Mr. Carter then hit a 2-2 pitch for the game-winning home run, marking only the second time--after Bill Mazeroski's home run leading off the bottom of the 9th in the seventh game of the 1960 World Series--that a World Series had ended with a home run. Toronto radio broadcaster Tom Cheek's call of "Touch 'em all Joe, you'll never hit a bigger home run in your life!" immediately became legendary. Duane Ward, who had entered the game in the top of the 9th inning and retired all 3 batters, was the winning pitcher. For Mr. Williams, who had already pitched poorly in the series, the loss was his second of the series. Mr. Molitor, who batted .500 (12 for 24) with 2 home runs, 2 doubles, 2 triples, 10 runs, and 8 runs batted in, was named the series' Most Valuable Player.



Nippon Series
Yakult Swallows 8 @ Seibu Lions 5 (Yakult led best-of-seven series 1-0)

20 years ago
1998

Died on this date
Barnett Slepian, 52. U.S. abortionist. Dr. Slepian performed abortions in the Buffalo, New York area. He was shot at his home in Amherst, New York when James Kopp, who was affiliated with the militant Roman Catholic anti-abortion group known as "The Lambs of Christ," fired through Dr. Slepian's kitchen window. Dr. Slepian died two hours later. Mr. Kopp, with help from several sympathizers, escaped arrest until 2001, when he was arrested in France and subsequently extradited to the United States. Dr. Slepian was having regular conversations with a husband and wife who were Baptists and were protesting outside his clinic, but wanted to share the gospel of Jesus Christ with Dr. Slepian. Dr. Slepian was was reportedly open to the gospel, but Mr. Kopp decided to take the law into his own hands and interfere with what God may have been doing in Dr. Slepian's heart.

Diplomacy
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat signed a land-for-peace agreement at the White House, following nine days of talks at Wye River, Maryland.

Technology
Swatch Internet Time was introduced by the Swatch corporation as part of their marketing campaign for their line of "Beat" watches.

Football
CFL
Hamilton (12-4-1) 45 @ Toronto (9-8) 8

Ronald Williams rushed for 3 touchdowns and Gerald Vaughn returned an interception 60 yards for a touchdown to help the Tiger-Cats rout the Argonauts before 32,717 fans at SkyDome.

Baseball
Nippon Series
Yokohama BayStars 2 @ Seibu Lions 4 (Best-of-seven series tied 2-2)

10 years ago
2008

Died on this date
Kevin Finnegan, 60. U.K. boxer. Mr. Finnegan, the younger brother of British and European light heavyweight champion Chris Finnegan, compiled a record of 35-11-1 in a professional career spanning 1970-1980, holding the British middleweight title three times and the European middleweight title twice. He died of heart disease.

Politics and government
Two elected members of Action democratique du Quebec defected to the province's governing Liberals.

Baseball
World Series
Philadelphia Phillies 2 @ Tampa Bay Rays 4 (Best-of-seven series tied 1-1)

The Rays scored 2 runs in the bottom of the 1st inning and another in the 2nd as they beat the Red Sox before 40,843 fans at Tropicana Field in St. Petersburg. James Shields pitched 5 2/3 scoreless innings to get the win over Brett Myers.