February 4, 2019

850 years ago
1169

Disasters
A strong earthquake struck the Ionian coast of Sicily, causing tens of thousands of injuries and deaths, especially in Catania.

230 years ago
1789

Politics and government
George Washington and John Adams were elected President and Vice President, respectively, of the United States of America. Mr. Washington was unopposed for the presidential nomination and received a unanimous vote from the 69 electors.

225 years ago
1794

Society
The French legislature abolished slavery throughout all territories of the French Republic.

160 years ago
1859

Literature
The Codex Sinaiticus, one of the four great ancient handwritten copies of the Greek Bible, was shown to German scholar Constantin von Tischendorf on a visit to Saint Catherine's Monastery in the Sinai Peninsula.

140 years ago
1879

Politics and government
The Conservative Party, led by Premier William Sullivan, won a third consecutive majority in the Prince Edward Island provincial election, taking 24 of 30 seats in the House of Assembly, with the remaining 6 seats going to the Liberals, led by L.H. Davies. In the most recent election, in 1876, the Conservatives had won 15 seats, with the Liberals taking 7.

125 years ago
1894

Born on this date
Vern Spencer. U.S. baseball player. Mr. Spencer was an outfielder with the New York Giants (1920), batting .200 with no home runs and 19 runs batted in in 45 games. He played at least 1,154 games in at least 13 seasons in the minor leagues (1913-1927), hitting at least 25 home runs. Mr. Spencer died on June 3, 1971 at the age of 77.

Canadiana
The first Quebec Winter Carnaval held, as a pre-lenten celebration. The carnival was originally proposed by Frank Carrell, owner of the Quebec Daily Telegraph; the building of an ice palace was the major event of the first year.

120 years ago
1899

War
The Philippine–American War began with the Battle of Manila.

Hockey
CAHL
Quebec (0-5) 4 @ Montreal Shamrocks (3-1) 13
Montreal Victorias (3-1) 7 @ Ottawa (2-2) 5

Harry Trihey scored 10 goals for the Shamrocks as they routed Quebec.

100 years ago
1919

Born on this date
Janet Waldo. U.S. actress. Miss Waldo appeared in bit parts in several movies, but was primarily a radio and voice actress. She played the title character in the radio comedy series Meet Corliss Archer for eight years, and provided the voice of Judy Jetson in the animated television series The Jetsons (1962-1963, 1985-1987). Miss Waldo died on June 12, 2016 at the age of 97.

80 years ago
1939

Transportation
Toronto Island Airport opened.

75 years ago
1944

War
Soviet troops reported tightening their grip on the 10 trapped German divisions in Ukraine, and destroying 70 Junkers transport planes attempting to supply German forces. German troops in Italy opened a fierce counteroffensive north of the Anzio beachhead 20 miles south of Rome, but were thrown back by British forces. American troops landed on and took control of half of Ebaye Island north of Kwajalein. In the first foray of its kind against the Japanese homeland, U.S. naval surface units shelled installations on the south and east coasts of Paramushiro Island at the north end of the Kuriles.

Politics and government
The U.S.S.R. announced that it was granting diplomatic and military autonomy to its 16 constituent republics; included on the list were the Baltic republics of Latvia, Estonia, and Lithuania, which the Soviets had invaded and occupied since 1940.

U.S. Senator Henry Cabot Lodge, Jr. (Republican--Massachusetts) resigned his seat in order to enter the armed services.

The U.S. Senate rejected the "states rights" soldier vote bill as a substitute for the Green-Lucas measure.

U.S. Democrats from 14 states who were opposed to President Franklin D. Roosevelt's New Deal economic policies organized the American Democratic Committee, with Harry Woodring as chairman; they proposed Secretary of State Cordell Hull as their 1944 U.S. presidential candidate.

Diplomacy
Argentina severed relations with Bulgaria, Vichy France, Romania, and Hungary. U.S. Secretary of State Hull advised a "wait and see" attitude toward the Soviet granting of diplomatic and military autonomy to its 16 constituent republics. Latvian Minister to the United States Dr. Alfred Bilmanis said that the inclusion of Latvia in the U.S.S.R.'s list of 16 autonomous republics was "a violation of free people."

Crime
New York Governor Thomas Dewey granted a fifth stay of execution to Louis "Lepke" Buchalter, Louis Capone, and Emanuel Weiss.

70 years ago
1949

On television tonight
Your Show Time, hosted and narrated by Arthur Shields, on NBC
Tonight's episode: Mademoiselle Fifi, starring Jay Adler, Roman Bohnen, Tanis Chandler, and Hurd Hatfield

War
Greek Communist radio announced the replacement of General Markos Vafiades as guerrilla leader by Party General Secretary Nicholas Zachariades.

World events
Iranian Shah Mohammed Reza Pahlevi was shot and wounded by reporter Fakhr Raiee, who was beaten to death by the crowd and the Shah's guards.

Testifying at his treason trial in Budapest, Josef Cardinal Mindszenty denied that his confession had been forced by torture or drugs, and retracted a pre-trial statement repudiating any confession he might make. The U.K. and U.S.A. protested the exclusion of their observers from the trial, claiming that this violated the Hungarian peace treaty.

Crime
The third week of the trial of 11 accused Communists in a U.S. federal court in New York ended without a jury being chosen, as Judge Harold Medina charged defense lawyers with "stalling" and attempting to wear him down.

Aviation
The U.S. Civil Aeronautics Administration authorized commercial planes to use ground-controlled approach radar as a "primary aid" for landings in bad weather.

60 years ago
1959

Died on this date
Una O'Connor, 78. U.K.-born U.S. actress. Miss O'Connor, born Agnes Teresa McGlade in Belfast, began her career on stage in Ireland before moving to England before moving to the United States in the 1930s. She was a character actress best known for her comic portrayals of servants in plays, television programs, and movies such as The Invisible Man (1933); Bride of Frankenstein (1935); and Witness for the Prosecution (1957). Miss O'Connor died after suffering from a congenital heart condition.

War
General E.L.M. Burns of Canada resigned as United Nations Emergency Force commander and was replaced by General Prem Singh Gyani of India. The force had been in place in the Middle East since the Suez Crisis of 1956.

World events
The Iraqi Military Supreme Court sentenced three leading officials of the overthrown regime of King Faisal to death for murder, torture, and election fraud.

Politics and government
Spanish dictator Generalissimo Francisco Franco indicated that he would not permit restoration of the Spanish monarchy during his lifetime.

Protest
The Federation of Havana University Students, led by Major Jose Puente Blanco, seized Havana University and announced that all professors who had collaborated with the overthrown regime of President Fulgencio Batista would be fired.

Business
The U.S. Justice Department served a subpoena on General Motors officials in New York, disclosing that it had ordered a far-reaching grand jury investigation of the firm on possible charges of anti-trust violations.

50 years ago
1969

Hit parade
#1 single in Switzerland (Swiss Hitparade): Ob-La-Di, Ob-La-Da--The Beatles (2nd week at #1)

Terrorism
Yasser Arafat took over as chairman of the Palestine Liberation Organization.

Defense
U.S. Representative L. Mendel Rivers (Democrat--South Carolina) told Defense Secretary Melvin Laird that Congress would not authorize the Sentinel anti-ballistic missile system without a "definitive statement" of approval by the administration of President Richard Nixon.

Academia
The faculty of Harvard University voted to drop academic standing for Reserve Officers Training Corps, to strip its instructors of the title of professor, and to relegate ROTC to an extra-curricular activity.

Economics and finance
French President Charles de Gaulle and U.K. Ambassador to France Christopher Soames held a secret meeting to discuss possible British membership in the European Economic Community.

Disasters
At least 28 travelling atop a train were killed when swept off Coleron River bridge girders in Tamil Nadu, India.

Baseball
Three months after firing former U.S. Air Force General William Eckert as Commissioner, major league owners settled on Bowie Kuhn, their chief legal counsel, to replace him.

40 years ago
1979

Hit parade
#1 single in New Zealand (RIANZ): Le Freak--Chic (2nd week at #1)

#1 single in Switzerland: Y.M.C.A.--Village People (3rd week at #1)

Hockey
NHL
Minnesota 6 Toronto 4

30 years ago
1989

Hit parade
#1 single in Italy (FIMI): C'è da spostare una macchina--Francesco Salvi (8th week at #1)

#1 single in Flanders (Ultratop 50): Can't Stay Away from You--Gloria Estefan and Miami Sound Machine

#1 single in France (SNEP): High--David Hallyday (5th week at #1)

#1 single in the U.K. (BMRB): Something's Gotten Hold of My Heart--Marc Almond featuring Gene Pitney (2nd week at #1)

Netherlands Top 10 (De Nederlandse Top 40)
1 Tonight - Live--Tina Turner (Duet with David Bowie) (2nd week at #1)
2 Can't Stay Away from You--Gloria Estefan and Miami Sound Machine
3 Bring Me Edelweiss--Edelweiss
4 Buffalo Stance--Neneh Cherry
5 Something's Gotten Hold of My Heart--Marc Almond
6 You Got It--Roy Orbison
7 Especially for You--Kylie and Jason
8 Good Life--Inner City
9 Baby Don't Forget My Number--Milli Vanilli
10 Say a Little Prayer--Bomb the Bass featuring Maureen

Singles entering the chart were We Cheer You Up (Join the Pin-Up Club) by Barbarella (#19); Four Letter Word by Kim Wilde (#25); The Lover in Me by Sheena Easton (#26); I'm Into Folk by Bart Peeters & De Radio's (#30); Ain't No Sunshine (The Eclipse Mix) by Bill Withers (#33); and Wat Ruist er Door Het Struikgewas by Franky Boy (#35).

U.S.A. Top 10 (Billboard)
1 When I'm with You--Sheriff
2 Straight Up--Paula Abdul
3 When the Children Cry--White Lion
4 Born to Be My Baby--Bon Jovi
5 Wild Thing--Tone Loc
6 Armageddon It--Def Leppard
7 The Way You Love Me--Karyn White
8 Don't Rush Me--Taylor Dayne
9 All This Time--Tiffany
10 Two Hearts--Phil Collins

Singles entering the chart were Eternal Flame by the Bangles (#56); Thinking of You by SaFire (#80); Tell Her by Kenny Loggins (#85); 24/7 by Dino (#86); Fading Away by Will to Power (#90); We've Saved the Best for Last by Kenny G (vocal by Smokey Robinson) (#92); Sincerely Yours by Sweet Sensation (with Romeo J.D.) (#93); and Got it Made by Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young (#96).

U.S.A. top 10 (Cash Box)
1 When I'm with You--Sheriff
2 Straight Up--Paula Abdul
3 Armageddon It--Def Leppard
4 Born to Be My Baby--Bon Jovi
5 The Way You Love Me--Karyn White
6 When the Children Cry--White Lion
7 Wild Thing--Tone Loc
8 All This Time--Tiffany
9 Holding On--Steve Winwood
10 Don't Rush Me--Taylor Dayne

Singles entering the chart were Feels So Good by Van Halen (#60); Eternal Flame by the Bangles (#63); She Won't Talk to Me by Luther Vandross (#66); Superwoman by Karyn White (#71); Bring Down the Moon by Boy Meets Girl (#75); End of the Line by the Traveling Wilburys (#78); We've Saved the Best for Last by Kenny G (vocal by Smokey Robinson) (#80); Sing by Mickey Thomas (#85); Into You by Giant Steps (#88); and Second Chance by Thirty Eight Special (#92). Sing was the title song from the movie, which didn't open in theatres until March 31.

Died on this date
Kenneth "Jethro" Burns, 68. U.S. comedian and musician. Mr. Burns, a country and jazz mandolinist, performed with Henry "Homer" Haynes as the country music comedy duo Homer and Jethro from 1936 until Mr. Haynes' death from a heart attack on August 8, 1971, 11 days after his 51st birthday. The duo recorded more than 50 albums, and won a Grammy Award in 1959 for Best Comedy Performance – Musical for The Battle of Kookamonga, a spoof of Johnny Horton's hit The Battle of New Orleans. They were inducted as a duo into the Country Music Hall of Fame in 2001. Mr. Burns performed with guitarist Ken Eidson as Homer for some time after Mr. Haynes' death, and also toured and performed with folk musician Steve Goodman. Mr. Burns died of prostate cancer.

Health
Canadian Transport Minister Benoît Bouchard announced a smoking ban on commercial flights between Canadian cities as part of the Non-Smokers' Health Act; the ban was expanded to include international flights in 1990.

Hockey
NHL
New York Rangers 5 @ Montreal 7

Guy Lafleur, who had starred with the Canadiens from 1971-1984 before retiring, played his first game at the Montreal Forum since coming out of retirement to join the Rangers for the 1988-89 season. He scored 2 goals and received more than one standing ovation from the Montreal fans, but the Canadiens came back from a 5-2 deficit to win in Hockey Night in Canada's national telecast.





25 years ago
1994

Hit parade
#1 single in Ireland (IRMA): All for Love--Bryan Adams, Rod Stewart and Sting (3rd week at #1)

Economics and finance
The United States Labor Department reported that the unemployment rate had increased 0.3% in January to 6.7%. The increase was attributed to a refinement in the survey.

The Dow Jones industrial average dropped 96.24 points, a decline of 2.43%.

The U.S. Federal Reserve Board increased the federal funds rate, the interest rate banks charged each other on overnight loans, by 0.25% to 3.25%, the first increase in five years. The objective was to suppress any inflationary tendencies, but investors feared that higher interest rates could kill the economic recovery.

10 years ago
1999

Died on this date
Amadou Diallo, 22. African-born crime victim. Mr. Diallo, an unarmed African immigrant with no criminal record, was killed when he was struck by 19 of 41 shots fired by four New York City police officers. The police had been looking for a rape suspect when they encountered Mr. Diallo in the vestibule of his Bronx apartment building. Lawyers for the officers said that they had fired at Mr. Diallo because they thought he was reaching for a gun.

Scandal
In the impeachment trial of President Bill Clinton, the United States Senate voted 70-30 to reject a proposal by House of Representatives impeachment managers to have former White House intern Monica Lewinsky testify in person before the Senate itself. The managers did not seek to have White House advisors Vernon Jordan or Sidney Blumenthal called to testify directly, but the Senate voted 62-38 to let the managers show the videotaped depositions of Mr. Jordan and Mr. Blumenthal to the Senate.

Economics and finance
Canadian Prime Minister Jean Chretien and all Canada's 10 provinces except Québec sign a Social Accord, committing them to partner among themselves and with the federal government to implement social programs. The provinces were promised $5 billion more in federal health-care funds.

10 years ago
2009

Crime
Atlanta Thrashers' hockey star Dany Heatley pled guilty in Atlanta to four of six charges in the death of teammate Dan Snyder in a car crash. Mr. Heatley was sentenced to three years' probation and ordered to give 150 speeches about the dangers of speeding. First-degree vehicular homicide and reckless driving charges were dropped.

Figure skating
The Four Continents Figure Skating Championships opened in Vancouver, British Columbia.