November 12, 2018

225 years ago
1793

Died on this date
Jean Sylvain Bailly, 57. French astronomer and politician. Mr. Bailly constructed an observatory at the Louvre, published several scientific writings, and calculated, in 1959, an orbit for the next appearance of Halley's Comet. During the French Revolution, he was Deputy of the Estates-General and President of the National Constituent Assembly in 1789, and then served as the first Mayor of Paris from 1789-1791. Mr. Bailly opposed republican demands for the abdication of King Louis XVI, and resigned as Mayor. He refused to cave into pressure to testify against Queen Marie Antoinette in October 1793, and was executed by guillotine two days after being tried by a French Revolutionary Tribunal.

180 years ago
1838

War
Republican Colonel Nils von Schoultz led 200 Canadian exiles and U.S. sympathizers in an attack against Prescott, Upper Canada, beginning the four-day Battle of the Windmill against British regulars and the local Upper Canadian militia.

170 years ago
1848

Born on this date
Eduard Müller. Swiss politician. Mr. Müller, a member of the Free Democratic Party, was Mayor of Bern (1888-1895) and President of the Swiss National Council (1890-1891) before serving on the Swiss Federal Council (1895-1919), holding various posts until his death on November 9, 1919, three days before his 71st birthday.

125 years ago
1893

Diplomacy
Emir of Afghanistan Abdur Rahman Khan accepted the Durand Line as the border between Afghanistan and the British Raj.

120 years ago
1898

Politics and government
The Earl of Minto took office as Governor General of Canada, as Lord and Lady Aberdeen prepared to leave Canada to return to Great Britain.

Football
ORFU
Osgoode Hall (2-4) 1 @ Ottawa (6-0) 53
Hamilton (4-2) 14 @ Toronto (0-6) 0

110 years ago
1908

Born on this date
Harry Blackmun. Associate Justice of the Supreme Court of the United States, 1970-1994. Justice Blackmun was a lawyer in Minneapolis before serving on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit from 1959-1970. He was appointed to the U.S. Supreme Court by Richard Nixon and was expected to be a conservative voice on the Court, but ended up as the Supreme Court's most liberal voice. Justice Blackmun is best remembered as the author of the majority opinion in Roe v. Wade (1973), which struck down restrictions on abortion throughout the United States. He championed the murder of unborn babies for the rest of his life, which ended on March 4, 1999 at the age of 90, just over a year after falling and breaking his hip.

100 years ago
1918

Europeana
Austria became a republic; after the proclamation, a coup attempt by the communist Red Guard was defeated by the social-democratic Volkswehr.

90 years ago
1928

Labour
United Fruit Company workers in Colombia went on strike in protest against what they regarded as inhumane working conditions. The strike ended on December 6 when military troops, ordered to the town of Ciénaga by President Miguel Abadía Méndez, massacred as many as 3,000 strikers.

Disasters
The U.K. steamship SS Vestris, en route from New York to Barbados and South America, sank 240 miles off the Virginia Capes, with the loss of 67 passengers and 43 crew members, including captain William Carey, who reportedly refused a life belt. 60 passengers and 110 crew members were rescued by several ships, including the U.S. battleship Wyoming. It was stated that the Vestris had been leaking and listing since running into a hurricane late on November 10. Other fatalities included Japanese Consul in Argentina Major Y. Inouye, and auto racing drivers N.K. Batten and E.F. De Vore.

Football
ORFU
Semi-Finals
Toronto Balmy Beach 0 @ University of Toronto II 1

IRFU-Canadian university
Exhibition
Montreal 35 @ McGill 6

Beano Wright scored 3 field goals and a convert to help the Winged Wheelers defeat McGill before 8,000 fans at Molson Stadium.

WCRFU-Canadian junior
Exhibition
Winnipeg St. John's 8 @ Regina Pats 40

St. John's, a senior team, left many of their regular players at home, using many irregulars in their loss to the junior Pats.

ARU
Calgary (1-4) 6 @ Edmonton (4-1) 27

Don Stuart, Mr. McKeever, and F. Faulder scored touchdowns for the Eskimos as they beat the Tigers at Renfrew Park. Mr. Jones added a convert, 3 field goals, and a single, while Hal Richard completed the Edmonton scoring with a rouge. Mr. Thompson scored late in the game for the Tigers, with Mr. Williams converting, to break up the Eskimos' bid for a shutout.
http://peel.library.ualberta.ca/newspapers/GAT/1928/11/12/4/Ar00405.html

WCIRU
Alberta (4-0) 15 @ Manitoba (1-3) 8

Freddie Hess returned a punt 115 yards for a touchdown with 5 minutes remaining the game to clinch U of A's win over U of M in Winnipeg (see also here and here). Mr. Hess also kicked 3 singles and converted Mickey Timothy's 5-yard touchdown rush in the 2nd quarter, and Mr. O'Brien added a single. The Manitoba touchdown was scored in the first few minutes of the game, as Mr. MacDonald recovered his opening kickoff at the Alberta 20-yard line. On third down, Mr. Downey recovered an onside kick in the end zone for a touchdown to make the score 5-0. Mr. MacDonald punted for 3 singles in the 2nd quarter as the game was tied 8-8 at halftime. The game ended with U of M in possession of the ball on the U of A 5-yard line.

80 years ago
1938

Transportation
The Lions Gate Bridge opened for traffic from Vancouver, British Columbia to North Vancouver, after 1 1/2 years of construction at a cost of $5.8 million. A toll of 25c was charged for each car; the first to cross was R.F. Hearns of West Vancouver.

Football
IRFU
Ottawa (5-1) 18 @ Montreal (0-6) 3
Toronto (5-1) 24 @ Hamilton (2-4) 8

WIFU
Finals
Calgary 2 @ Winnipeg 13 (Winnipeg won 2-game total points series 25-9)

ORFU
Toronto (3-3) 14 @ Montreal (3-1-2) 13

The Blue Bombers led the Bronks 3-2 after 3 quarters at Osborne Stadium, with Greg Kabat's field goal offsetting a pair of Calgary singles, but Mr. Kabat kicked another field goal in the 4th quarter and Art Stevenson scored a touchdown, converted by Fritz Hanson. The Bronks lost 2 fumbles and threw 2 interceptions, which greatly hurt their cause.

Canadian university
McGill (5-1) 6 @ Western Ontario (4-2) 16
Queen's (0-6) 10 @ Toronto (3-3) 13

75 years ago
1943

War
U.S.S.R. forces established a bridgehead across the Sangro and recaptured Zhitomir. German forces began an invasion of the Dodecanese island of Lero, gaining "footing" in some places. Allied forces in Italy drove a two-mile salient into the German lines between Montaquilo and Venafro, seizing Pozzilli and Filignano. U.S. Army and Marine forces secured the six-mile-long beachhead on Empress Augusta Bay, Bougainville, New Guinea.

Politics and government
The French Committee of National Liberation announced that General Georges Catroux would go to Lebanon to settle dispute growing out of the demand for immediate independence.

Medicine
The Royal Canadian Navy announced that it had developed a pill which was a preventative and cure for seasickness and airsickness in 75% of the cases treated.

70 years ago
1948

Died on this date
Umberto Giordano, 81. Italian composer. Mr. Giordano was known for composing operas, particularly Andrea Chénier (1896) and Fedora (1898).

War
In Tokyo, the International Military Tribunal for the Far East sentenced seven Japanese military and government officials, including General Hideki Tojo, to death for war crimes in World War II. 16 other defendants were sentenced to life in prison. The tribunal exonerated Emperor Hirohito, ruling that he had opposed militarist policies and had been deceived by cabinet ministers. General Douglas MacArthur gave all defendants one week to appeal their sentences.

Israeli Prime Minister David Ben-Gurion reported that Israel had begun talks with two Arab governments on a Palestine peace settlement.

Health
Colonel James Cooney, head of the U.S. Army Surgeon General's special projects division, claimed at the American Public Health Association convention in Boston that the atomic bomb left little radiation and killed primarily with its blast.

Business
A U.S. grand jury in Cleveland indicted General Electric, Westinghouse, and four other street lighting equipment manufacturers on charges of monopolizing the $10-million-per-year industry.

Labour
Eight million German workers in the U.S. and U.K. zones staged a 24-hour general strike to protest high food prices.

International Longshoremen's Association President Joseph Ryan authorized the wildcat walkout of New York dockworkers, and ordered all East Coast ILA members to strike in a wage dispute with employers.

60 years ago
1958

Died on this date
James Michael Curley, 83. U.S. politician. Mr. Curley, a Democrat, had a lengthy, colourful, and scandal-plagued career in office spanning almost 50 years. He was best known for his four terms as Mayor of Boston at various times from 1914-1950, and a term as Governor of Massachusetts (1935-1937). Mr. Curley, appealed to Roman Catholics of Irish ancestry, and was elected and kept in office largely as a result of tribal voting. He was successful in implementing public works while taking graft, which resulted in two prison terms, the second of which occurred during his last term as Mayor. Mr. Curley died eight days before his 84th birthday.

Defense
The U.S.S.R. agreed to begin negotiation of a nuclear test control system on condition that the Western powers give "tentative" approval to the test-ban agreement.

U.S. Ambassador to the Philippines Charles Bohlen reopened negotiations with Philippine Foreign Minister Felixberto Serrano on revision of the 1946 U.S.-Philippine military base pact.

Politics and government
The Guinean Constituent Assembly adopted the nation's first constitution.

The Lebanese Parliament voted to grant Prime Minister Rashid Karami's cabinet power to rule by decree for six months.

Oil
The Communist Chinese government reported new strikes in the Turfan basin of Sinkiang Province and the Kiuchuan basin of Kansu Province.

Adventure
A team of rock climbers led by Warren Harding completed the first ascent of The Nose on El Capitan in Yosemite Valley, California.

Economics and finance
U.S.S.R. Premier Nikita Khrushchev presented to the Communist Party Central Committee in Moscow a new seven-year plan designed to increase Soviet industrial production by 80%.

Labour
Citing U.S. State Department "national interest" directives, the New York State Commission Against Discrimination reaffirmed the Arabian American Oil Company's exemption from complying with the state's statutory ban on employment bias.

U.S. federal arbitrator Emanuel Stein ordered CBS to reinstate television producer Joseph Papp, founder of the New York City Shakespeare Festival, who had been fired after invoking the Fifth Amendment to the U.S. Constitution while appearing before the U.S. House of Representatives Committee on Un-American Activities.

Football
CFL
IRFU
Semi-Final
Ottawa 26 @ Montreal 12

Rookie quarterback Russ Jackson rushed for 2 touchdowns and handed off to Don Pinhey for another as he led the Rough Riders over the Alouettes at Molson Stadium. Pat Abbruzzi and Joel Wells rushed for Montreal touchdowns. It was the final game for Mr. Abbruzzi in a Montreal uniform.

50 years ago
1968

Hit parade
#1 single in Switzerland (Swiss Hitparade): Those were the Days--Mary Hopkin (4th week at #1)

Diplomacy
Equatorial Guinea was admitted to the United Nations as its 126th member nation.

Disasters
22 people were killed in a crash between a bus and a tanker truck in Accra, Ghana.

Boxing
Billy Walker (21-7-2) scored a technical knockout of Thad Spencer (32-8) at 2:04 of the 6th round of a heavyweight bout at Empire Pool, Wembley, London.

George Chuvalo (53-14-2) scored a technical knockout of Dante Cane (23-4-3) in the 7th round of a heavyweight bout at Maple Leaf Gardens in Toronto.

Former world heavyweight champion Sonny Liston (44-3) knocked out Roger Rischer (29-12-2) at 2:23 of the 3rd round at Civic Arena in Pittsburgh in the main event of a benefit card for Ben Anolik, Pennsylvania's first heart transplant patient.

40 years ago
1978

Hit parade
#1 single in New Zealand (RIANZ): Substitute--Clout

Politics and government
Jean Drapeau was elected Mayor of Montréal for the seventh consecutive time.

Football
CFL
Western Semi-Final
Winnipeg 4 @ Calgary 38

Tom Forzani and Willie Burden each scored 2 touchdowns, and James Sykes rushed 67 yards for the game's first TD, as the Stampeders routed the Blue Bombers before 26,888 fans on a cold Sunday afternoon at McMahon Stadium. The Blue Bombers never threatened and were beaten before they ever took the field; starting quarterback Dieter Brock had suffered a season-ending knee injury a week earlier, and backup Terry Luck had a large and painful bruise on his chaest that prevented him fromdoing more than holding for placekicks. Harry Knight, who had been on the injured list since August with a torn rotator cuff on his throwing arm, was forced into action and played the entire game, completing 13 of 31 passes for just 96 yards. John Hufnagel played well at quarterback for the Stampeders and was relieved in the 4th quarter by rookie Craig Juntunen, who threw his first CFL touchdown pass, Mr. Forzani's second TD of the game. One of the few highlights for Winnipeg was a 52-yard field goal by Bernie Ruoff. For most of the Stampeders, it was their first playoff game, since the Stampeders were playing their first playof game in seven years.



CIAU
Atlantic Bowl @ Huskies Stadium, Halifax
Queen's 32 St. Francis Xavier 10

Jim Rutka completed 14 of 24 passes for 284 yards, including a 19-yard touchdown to Bob O'Doherty, to lead the Golden Gaels over the X-Men. Dave Marinucci led the Queen's rushing attack with 99 yards and a touchdown. Queen's amassed 449 yards in total offense to just 200 for St. Francis Xavier.

30 years ago
1988

Hit parade
#1 single in Italy (FIMI): I Don't Want Your Love--Duran Duran (2nd week at #1)

#1 single in Flanders (Ultratop 50): Teardrops--Womack & Womack

#1 single in the Netherlands (De Nederlandse Top 40): Teardrops--Womack & Womack (4th week at #1)

#1 single in France (SNEP): Amor de mis amores--Paco (3rd week at #1)

#1 single in Ireland (IRMA): Orinoco Flow--Enya (4th week at #1)

#1 single in the U.K. (BMRB): Orinoco Flow--Enya (3rd week at #1)

#1 single in the U.S.A. (Billboard): Wild, Wild West--Escape Club

U.S.A. top 10 (Cash Box)
1 Kokomo--The Beach Boys (2nd week at #1)
2 Wild, Wild West--Escape Club
3 Bad Medicine--Bon Jovi
4 The Loco-Motion--Kylie Minogue
5 Desire--U2
6 One Moment in Time--Whitney Houston
7 A Groovy Kind of Love--Phil Collins
8 Kissing a Fool--George Michael
9 How Can I Fall?--Breathe
10 Baby, I Love Your Way/Freebird Medley (Free Baby)--Will to Power

Singles entering the chart were Smooth Criminal by Michael Jackson (#70); Back on Holiday by Robbie Nevil (#76); Nobody's Perfect by Mike + the Mechanics (#80); American Dream by Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young (#84); Love, Truth and Honesty by Bananarama (#86); If You Feel It by Denise Lopez (#87); I'm Gonna Miss You by Kenny Loggins (#89); and You Make Me Work by Cameo (#91).

Died on this date
Lyman Lemnitzer, 89. U.S. military officer. General Lemnitzer graduated from the United States Military Academy in 1920, and served in World War II and the Korean War. A four-star general, he was Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff from 1960-1962. He approved of Operation Northwoods, a plan to foment "flase flag" terrorist events in the United States that would be blamed on the Cuban regime of dictator Fidel Castro, thus providing justification for a U.S. military invasion of Cuba and the overthrow of the Castro regime. U.S. President John F. Kennedy rejected the operation, and shortly thereafter refused to give Gen. Lemnitzer another term as Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. In November 1962, Gen. Lemnitzer was appointed commander of U.S. forces in Europe. In January 1963, he became Supreme Allied Commander of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization, a position he held until his retirement in July 1969.

Football
CIAU
Atlantic Bowl @ Huskies Stadium, Halifax
Bishop's 10 @ St. Mary's 44



25 years ago
1993

Died on this date
H. R. Haldeman, 67. U.S. political aide. Mr. Haldeman was White House Chief of Staff under U.S. President Richard Nixon from 1969-1973. He and John Ehrlichman served as "gatekeepers" in protecting Mr. Nixon from outsiders. Mr. Haldeman served 18 months in prison from 1977-1978 after a legal battle that resulted in conviction on charges of conspiracy and obstruction of justice in connection with the 1972 break-in at the headquarters of the Democratic National Committee at the Watergate Office Complex in Washington, D.C. and the subsequent cover-up. He was a businessman in later years, and died of abdominal cancer, 16 days after his 67th birthday.

Scandal
The U.S. Justice Department and the New Jersey State Attorney General's office began criminal investigations into the November 9 statement by Ed Rollins, manager of Republican party candidate Christine Todd Whitman's successful gubernatorial election campaign, that he had paid out $500,000 to Negro clergymen and Democratic party workers to suppress Negro voter turnout in the November 2 election, in which Ms. Whitman had defeated incumbent Governor Jim Florio, a Democrat, by just 26,000 votes.

Popular culture
U.S. singer Michael Jackson delivered a taped statement saying that he was cancelling the remainder of a worldwide concert tour to seek treatment for drug addiction.

10 years ago
2008

Died on this date
Catherine Baker Knoll, 78. U.S. politician. Mrs. Knoll, a Democrat, was Treasurer of Pennsylvania from 1989-1997 and Lieutenant Governor of Pennsylvania from 2003 until her death from cancer; she was succeeded as Lieutenant Governor by Pennsylvania State Senate President pro tempore Joe Scarnati.

Mitch Mitchell, 62. U.K. musician. Mr. Mitchell was a rock drummer who played on sessions and in various bands, but was best known as a member of the Jimi Hendrix Experience from 1966-1969. Heavy drinking led to health problems, and he died in his hotel room in Portland, Oregon, five days after the concluding concert of a tour with various musicians celebrating the music of Jimi Hendrix.