May 13, 2020

240 years ago
1780

Politics and government
The Cumberland Compact was signed by leaders of the settlers in the Cumberland River area of what would become the U.S. state of Tennessee, providing for democratic government and a formal system of justice.

190 years ago
1830

Born on this date
Zebulon Vance. U.S. politician. Mr. Vance was a member of the Whig Party until the mid-1850s and was with the American Party when he represented North Carolina's 8th District in the U.S. House of Representatives (1858-1861). When North Carolina seceded from the Union and joined the Confederacy, he became a colonel in the C.S. Army, and a a member of the Conservative Party of North Carolina, served as Governor of North Carolina (1862-1865). Mr. Vance joined the Democratic Party in 1872, serving another term as Governor (1877-1879) and representing the state in the U.S. Senate from 1879 until his death on April 14, 1894 at the age of 63.

South Americana
Ecuador gained its independence from Gran Colombia; General Juan José Flores was named the new country's supreme chief.

140 years ago
1880

Technology
In Menlo Park, New Jersey, Thomas Edison performed the first test of his electric railway.

90 years ago
1930

Died on this date
Fridtjof Nansen, 68. Norwegian scientist, explorer, and diplomat. Mr. Nansen led the team that made the first crossing--on cross-country skis--of the Greenland interior in 1888, and won international fame after reaching a record northern latitude of 86°14′ during his Fram expedition of 1893–1896. He was a zoologist and oceanographer after his polar expeditions, and advocated Norway's independence from Sweden. Mr. Nansen served as his country's representative in London (1906-1908), helping to negotiate the Integrity Treaty to guarantee Norway's independent status. He worked with the League of Nations in his later years, and was named its High Commissioner for Refugees in 1921, resulting in him being awarded the 1922 Nobel Peace Prize "[For] his work in aiding the millions in Russia struggling against famine" and "his work for the refugees in Asia Minor and Thrace." Mr. Nansen died of a heart attack.

80 years ago
1940

War
Queen Wilhelmina of the Netherlands fled to London along with Princess Juliana and her two children after the German invasion of the Netherlands. The royal family lodged in Buckingham Palace; Princess Juliana subsequently took her children to Canada for their safety. German Panzer divisions led by Field Marshal Erwin Rommel and General Heinz Guderian crossed the Meuse River in force near Dinant and Sedan. Allied forces successfully landed near Narvik, Norway. China claimed, but Japan denied, a major victory on the Hupeh-Honan frontier.

Politics and government
Winston Churchill gave his first speech as British Prime Minister, which included the words: "I have nothing to offer but blood, toil, tears and sweat."



The United Kingdom and the Netherlands assured Japan that they had no intention of altering the status of the Netherlands East Indies.

Diplomacy
Uruguay proposed that all American republics join in a strong protest against German aggression in Europe.

In an address to the American Society of International Law in Washington, U.S. Secretary of State Cordell Hull said that U.S. isolation was futile.

Economics and finance
Brazil subscribed to the Inter-American Bank.

The Bank of International Settlements relocated from Basel, Switzerland to the interior Swiss town of Chateau d'Oex.

U.S. Representative Alfred Bulwinkle (Democrat--North Carolina) introduced a proposal to provide U.S. loans to the Allies.

Baseball
In making up a game from April 23 that had been called on account of darkness, the Cincinnati Reds and St. Louis Cardinals played to an 8-8 tie before 6,606 fans at Crosley Field in Cincinnati. The teams neglected to inform the National League office of the game, so no umpires were assigned. Reds’ coach Jimmy Wilson and Cardinals’ pitcher Lon Warneke served as umpires until regular umpire Larry Goetz, home in Cincinnati on a day off, arrived to officiate. Johnny Mize hit 3 home runs for the Cardinals--the third time in his career he’d accomplished the feat--while Billy Werber of the Reds had 5 hits, including 4 consecutive doubles.

75 years ago
1945

Died on this date
Tubby Hall, 49. U.S. musician. Alfred Hall was a jazz drummer who played with numerous bands from New Orleans, including those of King Oliver, Louis Armstrong, and Johnny Dodds.

War
U.S. forces in the Philippines took the Maramag airfield in central Mindanao, as other units reached to within 1 mile of the Del Monte airfields.

Politics and government
Sun Pei-fong became Governor of the Japanese puppet government in Manchukuo as Japan shook up the government because of reputed Communist threats.

World events
Queen Wilhelmina arrived home in the Netherlands after five years of exile in England during World War II.

Crown Prince Olaf of Norway returned to Oslo and said that the Norwegian high court would demand the death sentence for all traitors.

Labour
Congress of Industrial Organizations President William Murray urged an immediate wage increase of 17c per hour for steel and other industrial workers.

70 years ago
1950

Hit parade
#1 single in Australia (Kent Music Report): You're Breaking My Heart--Buddy Clark; Vic Damone (2nd week at #1)

#1 single in the U.S.A. (Billboard): "The Third Man" Theme--Anton Karas (Best Seller--3rd week at #1); If I Knew You Were Comin' I'd've Baked a Cake--Eileen Barton with the New Yorkers (Disc Jockey--8th week at #1); "The Third Man" Theme--Guy Lombardo and his Royal Canadians (Jukebox--2nd week at #1)

U.S.A. Top 10 (Cash Box)
1 "The Third Man" Theme--Anton Karas (4th week at #1)
--Guy Lombardo and his Royal Canadians
2 If I Knew You Were Comin’ (I’d’ve Baked a Cake)--Eileen Barton with the New Yorkers
--Georgia Gibbs
3 It Isn’t Fair--Sammy Kaye and his "Swing and Sway" Orchestra
4 Dearie--Ray Bolger and Ethel Merman
--Jo Stafford and Gordon MacRae
--Guy Lombardo and his Royal Canadians
5 My Foolish Heart--Gordon Jenkins and his Orchestra
--Billy Eckstine
--Mindy Carson
6 Music! Music! Music!--Teresa Brewer with the Dixieland All Stars
7 Daddy’s Little Girl--The Mills Brothers
--Dick Todd
8 Bewitched--Bill Snyder and his Orchestra
--Gordon Jenkins and his Orchestra
--Doris Day
--Larry Green and his Orchestra
--Jan August & Jerry Murad’s Harmonicats
9 The Old Piano Roll Blues--Lawrence "Piano Roll" Cook
--Hoagy Carmichael and Cass Daley
10 Sentimental Me--The Ames Brothers
--Russ Morgan and his Orchestra
--Ray Anthony and his Orchestra

Singles entering the chart were the versions of Bewitched by Doris Day; Larry Green and his Orchestra; and Jan August & Jerry Murad’s Harmonicats; Ask Me No Questions, with versions by Bing Crosby and the Andrews Sisters; and Dinah Shore and Dusty Walker (#33); Valencia by Tony Martin (#34); and I Wanna Be Loved by the Andrews Sisters (#40).

Born on this date
Happy Birthday, Stevie Wonder!

Died on this date
Pauline de Ahna, 87. German singer. Miss de Ahna was an operatic soprano who met composer Richard Strauss in 1887 and performed with him before and after their marriage in 1894. She died eight months after her husband.

Harry Wilson Fraser, 65. U.S. labour leader. Mr. Fraser was president of the Order of Railway Conductors and chairman of the Railway Labor Executives Association. He died in Chicago.

Divorced on this date
U.S. comedian Groucho Marx was divorced by the former Kay Dittig Gorcey in Los Angeles on grounds of mental cruelty.

Diplomacy
The United Nations Staff Association asked UN Secretary-General Trygve Lie to give women more high-level jobs in the UN secretariat.

The U.S.A. ordered the C.S.S.R. to close its Cleveland and Pittsburgh consulates and to withdraw 22 of its 33 diplomatic employees in the United States.

Iraq announced that 50,000 Iraqi Jews would soon begin a mass migration by air to Israel.

Defense
Foreign ministers of the Atlantic pact nations, meeting in London, agreed to support Southeast Asian governments threatened by Communist guerrilla movements.

The Hong Kong Supreme Court awarded 71 Chinese planes claimed by U.S. Army General Claire Chennault's Civil Air Transportation Company to the government of the People's Republic of China.

Abominations
Reports from Frankfurt-on-the-Main said that desecration of Jewish cemeteries and other anti-Semitic acts remained widespread in Germany despite statements from Allied and West German officials deploring them.

Crime
Costa Rican President Otilio Blanco Ulate declared a state of national mourning after bandits raided the Basilica of Cartago and stole the nation's most prized relic, a $15,000 carved stone statue of Our Lady of the Angels, the nation's patron saint.

Economics and finance
U.S. President Harry Truman urged Senate approval of U.S. membership in the International Trade Organization, warning that a rebirth of economic isolationism could lead to war and world Communist domination.

Labour
Congress of Industrial Organizations President Philip Murray announced that the CIO would take legal action to force the American Automobile Association to end the ban on Negro membership.

Disasters
The Red River Flood of 1950 reached its crest, covering 1,800 square kilometres of land; damages were estimated at $27 million.

Auto racing
The first race in the first Formula One World Championship was held at Silverstone, England. Giuseppe Farina of Italy won the British Grand Prix, with fellow Italian Luigi Fagioli second and Reg Parnell of the United Kingdom third.



Baseball
The Boston Red Sox released Piper Davis, the first Negro player signed by the organization. He had hoped to be assigned to the Red Sox’ AAA team in Louisville to start the season, but was sent to AA Scranton instead, where he was leading the team in hitting (.333), home runs (3), and runs batted in in 15 games. The previous year he had been the playing manager of the Birmingham Black Barons of the Negro American League, and had hit .378. The Red Sox, one of the wealthiest organizations in baseball, said that the release of Mr. Davis was for economic reasons. Mr. Davis, 33, went on to play a season in the Mexican League and 5 years with the Oakland Oaks of the Pacific Coast League. No Negro played for the Red Sox until Pumpsie Green in 1959.

With 2 out and nobody on base in the bottom of the 11th inning, Johnny Lipon and advanced to second base on a single by Jerry Priddy; George Kell drew a base on balls to load the bases; and Vic Wertz singled to score Mr. Lipon and give the Detroit Tigers a 1-0 win over the St. Louis Browns before 16,002 fans at Briggs Stadium in Detroit. Virgil Trucks (3-1) pitched a 5-hitter to win the pitchers' duel over Ned Garver (1-3), who also allowed 5 hits in pitching a complete game.

Walker Cooper drove in 5 runs with a home run, double, and outfield fly to help the Boston Braves beat the Brooklyn Dodgers 12-2 before 19,488 fans at Ebbets Field in Brooklyn. Sid Gordon and Sam Jethroe also homered for the Braves. Vern Bickford (1-3) pitched a 3-hit complete game victory, while Joe Hatten (1-2) took the loss.



60 years ago
1960

Hit parade
#1 single in the U.K. (New Musical Express): Cathy's Clown--The Everly Brothers (3rd week at #1)

On television tonight
The Twilight Zone, on CBS
Tonight's episode: The Chaser, starring George Grizzard, John McIntire, and Patricia Barry

Protest
Hundreds of University of California at Berkeley students congregated for the first day of protests against a visit by the House Committee on Un-American Activities.

Baseball
The Philadelphia Phillies traded first baseman Ed Bouchee and pitcher Don Cardwell to the Chicago Cubs for infielder Tony Taylor and catcher Cal Neeman. Mr. Bouchee was batting .262 with no home runs and 8 runs batted in with Philadelphia in 1960, while Mr. Cardwell was 1-2 with a 4.45 earned run average in 5 games, batting .250 with 2 homers and 3 RBIs with the Phillies. Mr. Taylor was hitting .263 with 1 homer and 9 RBIs in 19 games with Chicago in 1960, while Mr. Neeman was batting .154 with no home runs or runs batted in in 9 games with the Cubs in 1960.

Billy Martin led off the bottom of the 5th inning with a single and scored on a 2-out triple by Vada Pinson as the Cincinnati Reds edged the Philadelphia Phillies 1-0 before 6,787 fans at Crosley Field in Cincinnati. Jim O'Toole (3-2) pitched a 7-hit shutout; Philadelphia starting pitcher John Buzhardt left the game after retiring the Reds in order in the 1st inning, and was replaced by Ruben Gomez (0-2), who allowed 9 hits and 1 earned run in 7 innings to take the loss.

Shortstop Dick Groat batted 6 for 6 with 3 doubles and 2 runs to help the Pittsburgh Pirates beat the Milwaukee Braves 8-2 before 15,823 fans at County Stadium in Milwaukee. Bob Friend (4-1) pitched a 5-hit complete game victory, with Carlton Willey (2-2) taking the loss.

Mike McCormick (5-0) pitched a 6-hitter to outduel Don Drysdale (3-4) as the San Francisco Giants shut out the Los Angeles Dodgers 3-0 before 41,867 fans at Candlestick Park in San Francisco.

With 1 out and the bases loaded in the bottom of the 14th inning, Ed Yost grounded to shortstop Ken Hamlin, who threw to home plate for a force play, but catcher Harry Chiti dropped Mr. Hamlin's throw, allowing Norm Cash to score and give the Detroit Tigers a 4-3 win over the Kansas City Athletics before 19,870 fans at Briggs Stadium in Detroit. Hank Aguirre (1-1) pitched 5.2 innings of hitless and scoreless relief to win over Don Larsen (0-3), who allowed 4 hits and 1 unearned run in 5.1 innings of relief.

50 years ago
1970

Hit parade
#1 single in the U.K. (New Musical Express): Back Home--England World Cup Squad '70 (2nd week at #1)

At the movies
Getting Straight, directed by Richard Rush, and starring Elliott Gould and Candice Bergen, opened in theatres.

War
Israeli forces concluded a 32-hour sweep against Arab guerrilla positions in Lebanon.

Crime
Dr. Irvine Phinizy, chief medical examiner for Richmond County, Georgia, who had examined the bodies of the six Negroes killed in the rioting in Atlanta the night before, said that they were all shot in the back.

Politics and government
The Illinois Constitutional Convention barred former U.S. Secretary of Health, Education, and Welfare John W. Gardner from delivering a speech in which he planned to denounce the war in Vietnam and Cambodia. Convention leaders said that permission was refused because the war was not an issue before the assembly.

40 years ago
1980

Politics and government
In the U.S. presidential campaign, President Jimmy Carter won the Democratic Party preference votes in Maryland and Nebraska, while former California Governor Ronald Reagan won the Republican votes in both states. The results gave Mr. Reagan 94% of the delegates he needed to win the nomination, while Mr. Carter had 92% of the delegates that he required.

Disasters
An F3 tornado hit Kalamazoo County, Michigan; President Carter declared it a federal disaster area.

Hockey
NHL
Stanley Cup
Finals
New York Islanders 4 @ Philadelphia 3 (OT) (New York led best-of-seven series 1-0)

Denis Potvin scored the winning goal at 4:07 of the 1st overtime period to give the Islanders their win over the Flyers at the Spectrum. It was Mr. Potvin's second career NHL overtime goal.



Baseball
Ray Knight became the first member of the Cincinnati Reds to hit 2 home runs in the same inning as he accomplished the feat in an 8-run 5th inning, leading the Reds to a 15-4 rout of the New York Mets before 18,732 fans at Riverfront Stadium in Cincinnati.

Vida Blue (4-2) pitched a 4-hitter and struck out 9 batters to outduel Bert Blyleven (0-3)--who allowed 6 hits and 3 earned runs in a complete game--as the San Francisco Giants shut out the Pittsburgh Pirates 5-0 before 13,798 fans at Candlestick Park in San Francisco.

Pinch hitter Jerry Turner singled home Von Joshua with the tying run and scored the winning run on a single by Gene Richards as the San Diego Padres scored 2 runs in the bottom of the 9th inning to defeat the St. Louis Cardinals 3-2 before 9,958 fans at San Diego Stadium.

Fred Lynn hit for the cycle to help the Boston Red Sox beat the Minnesota Twins 10-5 before 19,032 fans at Fenway Park in Boston.

The Kansas City Royals scored all their runs in the 3rd inning and held on to defeat the New York Yankees 4-1 before 20,107 fans at Yankee Stadium. Renie Martin (3-1) allowed 1 hit and 1 earned run in 6+ innings to win over Mike Griffin (0-2), whose error on a sacrifice bunt by Frank White resulted in all the runs against him being unearned.

Pinch hitter Thad Bosley singled home pinch runner Bob Molinaro with 2 out in the top of the 10th inning to break a 5-5 tie as the Chicago White Sox edged the Milwaukee Brewers 6-5 before 8,653 fans at County Stadium in Milwaukee. Mr. Molinaro was running for Wayne Nordhagen, who had singled to begin the rally after the first two batters were retired. The teams combined to hit 7 home runs, 6 with the bases empty.

30 years ago
1990

Hit parade
#1 single in New Zealand (RIANZ): Walk on the Wild Side--Jamie Morgan

#1 single in Switzerland: The Power--Snap! (2nd week at #1)

Austria's Top 10 (Ö3)
1 Ding Dong--Erste Allgemeine Verunsicherung (3rd week at #1)
2 Black Velvet--Alannah Myles
3 Nothing Compares 2 U--Sinéad O'Connor
4 The Power--Snap!
5 Das erste Mal tat's noch weh--Stefan Waggershausen & Viktor Lazlo
6 Hier kommt Kurt--Frank Zander
7 Vogue--Madonna
8 Dub Be Good to Me--Beats International
9 Infinity (1990's...Time for the Guru)--Guru Josh
10 Pump ab das Bier--Werner

Singles entering the chart were Keine Mauern mehr by Simone (#23); Se bastasse una canzone by Eros Ramazzotti (#25); and I Promised Myself by Nick Kamen (#26).

World events
Two U.S. airmen were shot to death near Clark Air Force Base in the Philippines, the day before negotiations between the United States and the Philippines on the future of U.S. bases on the islands were to begin in Manila. Many Filipinos wanted the U.S. to close the bases.

The Dinamo–Red Star riot took place at Maksimir Stadium in Zagreb, Croatia between the Bad Blue Boys (fans of Dinamo Zagreb) and the Delije (fans of Red Star Belgrade).

25 years ago
1995

Hit parade
#1 single in Australia (ARIA): Back for Good--Take That (2nd week at #1)

#1 single in Denmark (Nielsen Music Control & IFPI): Sarajevo's børn - Gi dem et håb--Various artists (7th week at #1)

#1 single in Flanders (VRT): Think Twice--Céline Dion (2nd week at #1)

#1 single in Wallonia (Ultratop 40): Pour que tu m'aimes encore--Céline Dion

#1 single in France (SNEP): Pour que tu m'aimes encore--Céline Dion (2nd week at #1)

#1 single in the Netherlands (De Nederlandse Top 40): Conquest of Paradise--Vangelis (2nd week at #1)

#1 single in the U.K. (BMRB): Dreamer--Livin' Joy

U.S.A. Top 10 (Billboard)
1 This is How We Do It--Montell Jordan (5th week at #1)
2 Freak Like Me--Adina Howard
3 Red Light Special--TLC
4 I Know--Dionne Farris
5 Have You Ever Really Loved a Woman?--Bryan Adams
6 Run Away--Real McCoy
7 Water Runs Dry--Boyz II Men
8 I Believe--Blessid Union of Souls
9 Dear Mama/Old School--2Pac
10 Strong Enough--Sheryl Crow

Singles entering the chart were December by Collective Soul (#58); Baby Baby by Corona (#81); Lifestyles of the Rich and Shameless by Lost Boyz (#97); and When You Say Nothing at All by Alison Krauss + Union Station (#98).

U.S.A. Top 10 (Cash Box)
1 I Know--Dionne Farris (5th week at #1)
2 This is How We Do It--Montell Jordan
3 Freak Like Me--Adina Howard
4 I Believe--Blessid Union of Souls
5 Water Runs Dry--Boyz II Men
6 Red Light Special--TLC
7 Run Away--Real McCoy
8 Candy Rain--Soul for Real
9 Hold On--Jamie Walters
10 Big Poppa/Warning--The Notorious B.I.G.

Singles entering the chart were Baby Baby by Corona (#77) and Sick of Myself by Matthew Sweet (#89).

Adventure
Alison Hargreaves, a 33-year-old British mother of two, became the first woman to reach the summit of Mount Everest without oxygen or the help of Sherpas.

Hockey
NHL
Stanley Cup
Western Conference Quarter-Finals
Chicago 3 @ Toronto 1 (Best-of-seven series tied 2-2)
Calgary 6 @ San Jose 4 (Best-of-seven series tied 2-2)
St. Louis 5 @ Vancouver 2 (Best-of-seven series tied 2-2)

20 years ago
2000

Died on this date
Paul Bartel, 61. U.S. actor, director, and screenwriter. Mr. Bartel appeared in more than 90 movies and television programs, and directed films such as Death Race 2000 (1975) and Eating Raoul (1982). He was a sodomite, and died of a heart attack two weeks after undergoing surgery for liver cancer.

Religion
During a pilgrimage by Pope John Paul II to Fatima, Portugal, the Vatican reported the last of three prophecies, or "secrets," said to have been revealed by the Virgin Mary in apparitions there to three children, beginning on May 13, 1917. The first secret had been interpreted as forecasting the end of World War I and the beginning of World War II; the second secret supposedly forecast the rise and fall of Communism in Russia. According to Vatican Secretary of State Angelo Sodano, the third secret foresaw the killing of a "bishop clothed in white;" this was interpreted as forecasting the assassination attempt on Pope John Paul II, which also occurred on May 13, in 1981. Two of the children died in childhood and were beatified by the pope during his pilgrimage; the third was still living.

Disasters
A fireworks factory in Enschede, Netherlands exploded, resulting in 23 deaths, 540 people injured, 400 homes destroyed, and approximately €450 million in damage.

Driven by 50-mile-per-hour winds, fire rolled from block to block in Los Alamos, New Mexico, burning scores of homes down to their foundations. The U.S. National Parks Service had ordered a brush-clearing fire in an attempt to avoid a major blaze.

Hockey
NHL
Stanley Cup
Western Conference Finals
Colorado 2 @ Dallas 0 (Colorado led best-of-seven series 1-0)

10 years ago
2010

Environment
The government of Canada extended the moratorium on oil and gas exploration on Georges Bank, Nova Scotia for another three years, to December 31, 2015.