September 4, 2020

760 years ago
1260

War
The Sienese Ghibellines, supported by the forces of Manfred, King of Sicily, defeated the Florentine Guelphs in the Battle of Montaperti.

220 years ago
1800

War
Facing starvation and a death rate of 100 soldiers a day, the French garrison in Valletta surrendered to British troops, ending a two-year siege. The islands of Malta and Gozo became the Malta Protectorate.

150 years ago
1870

Franciana
Emperor Napoleon III of France was deposed, and the Third Republic was declared.

130 years ago
1890

Born on this date
Gunnar Sommerfeldt. Danish actor, director, and screenwriter. Mr. Sommerfeldt acted in more than 30 movies, writing and directing several more. He produced, directed, wrote, and acted in Borgslægtens historie (Sons of the Soil) (1921), the first movie to be filmed in Iceland. He was best known for writing, directing, and starring in his last film, Markens grøde (Growth of the Soil) (1921). Mr. Sommerfeldt died on August 30, 1947, five days before his 57th birthday.

100 years ago
1920

Born on this date
Craig Claiborne. U.S. journalist. Mr. Claiborne was the restaurant critic for The New York Times from 1957 until the early 1970s, and the paper's food editor in later years. He pioneered the rating of restaurants on a scale from one to three stars, and was credited with popularizing various ethnic cuisines. Mr. Claiborne died on January 22, 2000 at the age of 79, after years of declining health.

Horse racing
Man o'War won the 32nd running of the Lawrence Realization Stakes at Belmont Park, New York in 2:40 4/5, a record for the distance of 1⅝-miles. The only other horse, Hoodwink, was 100 lengths behind.



80 years ago
1940

Died on this date
Hans Zinsser, 61. U.S. physician. Dr. Zinsser was a bacteriologist who was the world's leading authority on typhus. His best-known book was Rats, Lice and History (1935). Dr. Zinsser died of leukemia.

War
German Fuehrer Adolf Hitler threatened to raze British cities unless the Royal Air Force halted its attacks upon Germany. British planes bombed concentrations of German war materials concealed in the Black Forest, Oberharz Mountains, and the forests of Thuringia. Tahiti, capital of the French Society Islands, declared support for General Charles de Gaulle. French authorities in Indochina officially rejected the Japanese request for passage of troops en route to China.

Politics and government
General Auguste Nogues announced the reorganization of the Moroccan government in an effort to control dissidents.

Education
The U.S. Office of Education announced that approximately one-quarter of the American population--32,580,000 children--would attend school this year.

Economics and finance
The U.S. National Defense Advisory Commission told Congress that it should not extend government control over private industry beyond the defense emergency period.

Football
NFL
Pre-season
Eastern College All-Stars upset the defending Eastern Division champion New York Giants at Yankee Stadium.

75 years ago
1945

War
The Allied occupation zone in Japan spread to over 720 square miles, as the U.S. 8th Army crossed the Tama River outside Tokyo. Supreme Commander for the Allied Powers (SCAP) in Japan General Douglas MacArthur issued directions for the complete occupation of Japan, indicating that Tokyo would be occupied on September 8. He ordered all Japanese prisoner of war camps turned over to the highest-ranking Allied officer among the prisoners. The U.S. War Department announced further liberalization of service rules that would keep 665,000 from going overseas.

Diplomacy
The Polish government denounced its concordat with the Holy See, charging that the Roman Catholic Church had turned over administration of Polish dioceses to German bishops in 1940.

Politics and government
Emperor Hirohito opened the first post-World War II session of the Japanese Diet in Tokyo with a speech urging "reconstruction in every field" and a rehabilitation policy designed to "win the confidence of the world, establish...a peaceful state and contribute to the progress of mankind."

A new Tangier agreement was announced providing for a control commission composed of the U.S.S.R., U.S.A., U.K., Spain, and France, but most of the administrative burdens would fall to the Netherlands, Belgium, Portugal, and Sweden.

Argentine Ambassador to the U.S.A. Oscar Ibarra Garcia was recalled to take over duties in the foreign ministry.

Labour
1,800 Roman Catholic schoolteachers in Montreal threatened to go on strike.

70 years ago
1950

On television tonight
Lights Out, on NBC
Tonight's episode: Benuili Chant, starring Ed Begley, Wyrley Birch, and Tom Drake

War
Kurdish tribesmen near the Iraqi border battled with Iranian troops after spurning an ultimatum to surrender arms and ammunition under the government's policy of disarming all tribes.

Politics and government
The Partit Nazzjonalista (Nationalist Party), led by Enrico Mizzi, led with 12 of 40 seats in Parliament as the Maltese general election concluded. The Malta Labour Party and Malta Workers Party, which had split before the election, each won 11 seats. A hung parliament resulted in a coalition government of the Partit Nazzjonalista and Malta Workers Party, with Mr. Mizzi as Prime Minister.

New York Governor Thomas Dewey (Republican) reversed his two-month-old decision not to seek a third term, announcing that he would run for re-election because of the national emergency.

Radio
In a nationwide broadcast, General Dwight D. Eisenhower called on all Americans to aid in the establishment of a new radio network to "carry truth behind the Iron Curtain."

Medicine
Researchers at a meeting of the American Chemical Society reported that abnormal amounts of fructose in the blood appeared to be a "common denominator" linking cancer, tuberculosis, rheumatic fever, and rheumatoid arthritis.

Auto racing
Johnny Mantz won the first 500-mile NASCAR race, the inaugural Southern 500 at Darlington Raceway in Darlington, South Carolina.



Football
CRU
IRFU
Toronto (1-1) 6 @ Hamilton (2-0) 13

WIFU
Winnipeg (2-1) 2 @ Saskatchewan (2-1) 17
Calgary (0-4) 8 @ Edmonton (3-1) 18

A capacity crowd of 13,000 saw the Tiger-Cats win the traditional Labour Day match at Civic Stadium.

9,000 fans jammed into Taylor Field in Regina to see the Roughriders win the traditional Labour Day game. The Blue Bombers lost quarterback Jack Jacobs with a shoulder separation, but the injury proved to be not as serious as first feared.

10,000 were in attendance for a Monday night game at Clarke Stadium. Bob Paffrath and Frank Hickey scored touchdowns for the Eskimos. Annis Stukus converted both and added 2 field goals.

ORFU
Toronto (0-1) 0 @ Sarnia (1-0) 39

6,000 witnessed the game at Norm Perry Park.

Baseball
The New York Giants swept a doubleheader from the Philadelphia Phillies 2-0 and 9-0 before 33,988 fans at Shibe Park in Philadelphia, with Jim Hearn (8-2) and Sal Maglie (14-3) pitching the respective shutouts. Steve Ridzik, the fourth of five Philadelphia pitchers in the second game, allowed 3 hits and 2 runs--1 earned--in 3 innings, walking 1 batter and striking out 2 in his first major league game.

Dizzy Sutherland pitched a no-hitter for the Charlotte Hornets, but they lost 1-0 to the Rock Hill Chiefs in a Class B Tri-State League game in Charlotte.

Don Bessent of the LaGrange Troupers of the Class D Georgia-Alabama League pitched a no-hitter in a playoff game against the Carrollton Hornets, winning 14-0.

Bill Ecklund, Bob Norrenbern, and Bob Randant combined to pitch a no-hitter for the Centralia Sterlings of the Class D Mississippi-Ohio Valley League as they beat the Mount Vernon Kings 6-3 in Mount Vernon.

Tom Jones pitched a no-hitter for the Clinton-Sampson Blues of the Class D Tobacco State League as they shut out the Wilmington Pirates 3-0.

60 years ago
1960

At the movies
Tunes of Glory, directed by Ronald Neame, and starring Alec Guinness, John Mills, and Susannah York, received its premiere screening at the Venice Film Festival.



Baseball
Chuck Estrada (16-8) pitched no-hit ball for 6.2 innings for the Baltimore Orioles as they beat the New York Yankees 6-2 before 34,587 fans at Memorial Stadium in Baltimore to take a 2-game lead over the Yankees for first place in the American League. Hoyt Wilhelm picked up the save in relief of Mr. Estrada, who allowed 4 hits and 2 earned runs in 7.2 innings.



The Cincinnati Reds scored 7 runs in the bottom of the 8th inning to erase a 5-2 deficit and defeat the Milwaukee Braves 9-5 before 9,589 fans at Crosley Field in Cincinnati. Terry Fox, the fourth and last Milwaukee pitcher, allowed 1 hit and no runs in 2/3 inning, walking 1 batter and striking out none in his major league debut.

50 years ago
1970

Hit parade
#1 single in New Zealand (RIANZ): Pinocchio--Maria Dallas (2nd week at #1)

#1 single in Ireland (IRMA): 21 Years--Dermot Hegarty

South Africa's Top 10 (Springbok Radio)
1 In the Summertime--Mungo Jerry (5th week at #1)
2 The Wedding--Jody Wayne
3 A Song of Joy (Himno a la Alegria)--Miguel Rios
4 Sally--Gerry Munroe
5 Lola--The Kinks
6 Down the Dustpipe--Status Quo
7 Neanderthal Man--Hotlegs
8 Goodbye Sam, Hello Samantha--Cliff Richard
9 Keep On Smiling--James Lloyd
10 Let it Be Me--Percy Sledge

Singles entering the chart were Love of the Common People by Nicky Thomas (#17); Brown Eyes by Chris Andrews (#19); and Both Sides Now by Steve Lonsdale (#20).

Vancouver's Top 10 (CKLG)
1 Indiana Wants Me--R. Dean Taylor
2 Lookin' Out My Back Door/Long as I Can See the Light--Creedence Clearwater Revival
3 As the Years Go By--Mashmakhan
4 Patches--Clarence Carter
5 Yellow River--Christie
6 Julie, Do Ya Love Me?--Bobby Sherman
7 Hand Me Down World--The Guess Who
8 Me and Bobby McGee--Gordon Lightfoot
9 Overture from Tommy (A Rock Opera)--The Assembled Multitude
10 Candida--Dawn

Singles entering the chart were Sunday Morning Coming Down by Johnny Cash (#25); Look What They've Done to My Song Ma by the New Seekers (#26); Green-Eyed Lady by Sugarloaf (#27); Rainbow by the Marmalade (#28); Out in the Country by Three Dog Night (#29); and Peace Will Come (According to Plan) by Melanie (#30).

Vancouver's Top 10 (CKVN)
1 Indiana Wants Me--R. Dean Taylor
2 Lookin' Out My Back Door/Long as I Can See the Light--Creedence Clearwater Revival
3 Hand Me Down World--The Guess Who
4 As the Years Go By--Mashmakhan
5 Yellow River--Christie
6 Patches--Clarence Carter
7 War--Edwin Starr
8 Overture from Tommy (A Rock Opera)--The Assembled Multitude
9 In the Summertime--Mungo Jerry
10 Riki Tiki Tavi--Donovan

Singles entering the chart were Groovy Situation by Gene Chandler (#27); (If You Let Me Make Love to You Then) Why Can't I Touch You? by Ronnie Dyson (#28); Out in the Country by Three Dog Night (#29); and Screaming Night Hog by Steppenwolf (#30).

Edmonton's Top 10 (CJCA)
1 Indiana Wants Me--R. Dean Taylor
2 In the Summertime--Mungo Jerry
3 Snowbird--Anne Murray
4 Lookin' Out My Back Door--Creedence Clearwater Revival
5 As the Years Go By--Mashmakhan
6 Me and Bobby McGee--Gordon Lightfoot
7 (They Long to Be) Close to You--Carpenters
8 Border Song--Elton John
9 Lay a Little Lovin' on Me--Robin McNamara
10 Overture from Tommy (A Rock Opera)--The Assembled Multitude

Politics and government
Salvador Allende Gossens, a Marxist Senator backed by six leftist parties, won a three-way race in the Chilean presidential election. Sen. Allende captured 36.61% of the popular vote, to 35.27% for independent candidate Jorge Alessandri Rodriguez and 28.11% for Christian Democratic Party candidate Radomiro Tomic Romero. Because no candidate won a majority of the popular vote, the election then went to Congress, where Mr. Allende received 153 votes and Mr. Alessandri 35.

Education
Nine white parents were told by a U.S. federal judge in Birmingham, Alabama that they would be held in contempt of court and fined $100 per day each if they continued to block a court-ordered school integration plan in rural Talladega County.

Economics and finance
The United States Labor Department reported that the unemployment rate in August was 5.1%.

Labour
A dispute that disrupted mail service in Canada for more than three months ended with an agreement on a two-year pact granting postal workers a wage increase of 55c per hour.

Disasters
At least 15 people were killed when dynamite exploded on a bus in Brazil bound from Monteiro to Campina.

30 years ago
1990

Hit parade
#1 single in Finland (Musiikkituottajat – IFPI Finland): Jos haluu saada--MC Nikke T (4th week at #1)

Died on this date
Irene Dunne, 91. U.S. actress. Miss Dunne was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Actress for Cimarron (1931); Theodora Goes Wild (1936); The Awful Truth (1937); Love Affair (1939); and I Remember Mama (1948).

Politics and government
The Quebec National Assembly passed Bill 90, a bill initiated by the Liberal government of Premier Robert Bourassa, constituting the Commission on the political and constitutional future of Quebec. This would bring together representatives of the government, the Official Opposition, and various organizations (unions, employers' associations, municipal unions, etc.).

25 years ago
1995

Hit parade
#1 single in Spain (PROMUSICAE): Play this Song--2 Fabiola (2nd week at #1)

#1 single in Norway (VG-lista): A Kind of Christmas Card--Morten Harket (4th week at #1)

#1 single in Germany (Media Control): Boom Boom Boom--The Outhere Brothers

Canada's Top 10 (RPM)
1 I Wish You Well--Tom Cochrane
2 Only Wanna Be with You--Hootie & the Blowfish
3 Kiss from a Rose--Seal
4 I'll Be There for You--The Rembrandts
5 A Higher Place--Tom Petty
6 I Can Love You Like That--All-4-One
7 Can't Cry Anymore--Sheryl Crow
8 Misery--Soul Asylum
9 This Ain't a Love Song--Bon Jovi
10 Roll to Me--Del Amitri

Singles entering the chart were I Wish You Well; You Feel the Same Way Too by the Rankin Family (#85); Wait 'Til My Heart Finds Out by Carol Medina with Billy Newton-Davis (#89); Tomorrow by Silverchair (#90); Smashing Young Man by Collective Soul (#91); and Forever Tonight by Peter Cetera (#92).

Died on this date
William Kunstler, 76. U.S. lawyer. Mr. Kunstler was known for defending politically unpopular clients, and was best known for defending the "Chicago Seven" protesters who had been charged with inciting a riot during the 1968 Democratic National Convention in Chicago.

Music
This blogger, with enjoyable female company, attended the last of the Edmonton Symphony Orchestra's annual series of Labour Day weekend concerts at Hawrelak Park. The orchestra ended the concert with its customary performance of Tchaikovsky's 1812 Overture; however, because of budgetary difficulties, the usual cannons were unavailable, and paper bags were passed out to the audience, to be popped in unison when directed to do so. Unfortunately, audience members began popping the bags on their own, and the result sounded like a popcorn popper. The fiasco was reported the following day on Paul Harvey News on ABC radio.

Football
CFL
San Antonio (6-5) 48 @ Toronto (2-8) 27
Edmonton (7-4) 26 @ Calgary (9-1) 51

Mike Saunders caught 2 touchdown passes from David Archer and rushed for another TD as the Texans beat the Argonauts before 14,593 fans at SkyDome. Troy Mills rushed for 2 San Antonio TDs, and Mr. Archer completed a 45-yard touchdown pass to Mark Stock. Marvin Graves passed 43 yards to Paul Masotti for a Toronto touchdown and rushed 1 yard for a TD of his own, while Duane Forde rushed 1 yard for the other Toronto touchdown.



Jeff Garcia passed for 546 yards and 6 touchdowns to lead the Stampeders over the Eskimos before a sellout crowd of 37,317 at McMahon Stadium. Allen Pitts caught 3 of Mr. Garcia's TD passes, PeeWee Smith caught 2, and linebacker Marvin Pope caught the other. Calgary led 29-5 before Kerwin Bell, relieving starting quarterback Chris Vargas, rallied the Eskimos with touchdown passes of 98 yards to Eric Blount, 48 yards to C.J. Davis, and 4 yards to Nick Mazzoli. The Edmonton defense then fell apart after the ejection of two defensive backs for arguing with the officials, leaving the Eskimos to put running back Lucius Floyd in the defensive backfield.



20 years ago
2000

Oil
The price of oil was at an all-time high, and high fuel taxes in Europe--76.2% in Great Britain--and the decline in the value of the euro added to the cost of gasoline.

Protest
A blockade by French truckers protesting the high cost of gasoline disrupted commerce and spurred similar confrontations in the U.K.; Belgium; Germany; Greece; the Netherlands; Spain; and Sweden.

Football
CFL
Toronto (1-7-1) 12 @ Hamilton (6-3-0-1) 42
Edmonton (6-3) 30 @ Calgary (6-2-1) 18

Danny McManus threw touchdown passes to Archie Amerson and Corey Grant, while Ronald Williams rushed for 2 touchdowns to lead the Tiger-Cats before an Ivor Wynne Stadium crowd of 28,830. Chris Shelling returned an interception 48 yards for another Hamilton major score. Wayne Shaw scored the only Toronto touchdown on a 44-yard interception return in the 2nd quarter. The result spoiled the debut of Mike "Pinball" Clemons, who caught 1 pass for 5 yards and returned 2 punts for 13, as head coach of the Argonauts. Jimmy Kemp played the entire game at quarterback for the Argonauts despite his ineffectiveness. Kerwin Bell, acquired after being released by the Winnipeg Blue Bombers several days earlier, dressed as the backup.



Troy Kopp was pressed into action as the Stampeders’ starting quarterback because of an injury to Dave Dickenson, and the Eskimos took advantage, making 5 interceptions and returning a fumble by Mr. Kopp for a touchdown. Singor Mobley returned 1 of the interceptions 44 yards for a touchdown early in the 2nd quarter, while Grant Carter scored his first CFL touchdown when he returned Mr. Kopp’s fumble 22 yards later in the quarter. Ralph Staten made 2 interceptions for the Eskimos, with the others coming from Perry Carter and Chris Hardy. Perry Carter’s interception was an outstanding over-the-shoulder catch, but he caught his cleats in the artificial turf on the play, and suffered a gruesome fracture and dislocation of an ankle. In the ambulance on the way to the hospital, he had to hold his foot in such a way as to prevent circulation from being cut off. Edmonton’s only offensive touchdown came in the 4th quarter on a 10-yard pass from Nealon Greene to Kez McCorvey. Mark Nohra had an outstanding game for the Eskimos, rushing 17 times for 143 yards. The Stampeders scored their only touchdown early in the 3rd quarter on a 3-yard pass from Mr. Kopp to Marc Boerigter. 35,967 attended the game at McMahon Stadium.



Baseball
Pedro Martinez (16-4) struck out 11 batters in 8 innings as the Boston Red Sox defeated the Seattle Mariners 5-1 before 32,619 fans at Fenway Park in Boston. Boston center fielder Carl Everett became the sixth major league player to have seasons of 100 or more runs batted in in both major leagues, having driven in 108 runs with the Houston Astros in 1999.

Mike Stanley batted 5 for 5 with a home run, double, and 5 runs batted in, and Terrence Long was 4 for 6 with 3 runs and 2 RBIs for the Oakland Athletics as they shut out the Toronto Blue Jays 10-0 before 21,824 fans at SkyDome in Toronto. Barry Zito (3-3) allowed 2 hits in 6.2 innings, and three relief pitchers allowed no hits. Losing pitcher David Wells (19-6) allowed 9 hits and 7 runs--all earned--in just 1.1 innings.

Juan Pierre had 5 singles, a run, and a run batted in, and Todd Walker hit a single, double, and triple, with a run and 3 RBIs to lead the Colorado Rockies to a 6-2 win over the Chicago Cubs before 40,277 fans at Coors Field in Denver.

10 years ago
2010

Disasters
A 7.1 magnitude earthquake struck the South Island of New Zealand, causing widespread damage and several power outages.

Football
CIS
Saskatchewan (1-0) 34 @ Calgary (0-1) 13
Alberta (1-0) 36 @ British Columbia (0-1) 28

The Golden Bears scored 3 straight converted touchdowns as they defeated the Thunderbirds before 940 fans at Thunderbird Stadium in Vancouver.