September 15, 2015

Born on this date
Happy Birthday, Don Percy!

575 years ago
1440

Crime
Gilles de Rais, one of the earliest known serial killers, was taken into custody upon an accusation brought against him by Jean de Malestroit, Bishop of Nantes.

220 years ago
1795

War
British forces seized the Dutch Cape Colony in southern Africa to prevent its use by the Batavian Republic.

180 years ago
1835

Exploration
Charles Darwin and the HMS Beagle reached the Galapagos Islands.

130 years ago
1885

Died on this date
Jumbo, 24. African elephant. Jumbo, the largest elephant in captivity, was born in East Africa and was captured by Arab hunters, eventually living in the London Zoo for 16 years before being sold to U.S. circus owner P.T. Barnum in 1882. He was killed when struck by an unscheduled freight train at the rail yards in St. Thomas, Ontario.

125 years ago
1890

Born on this date
Agatha Christie. U.K. authoress. Dame Agatha, born Agatha Miller, is one of the best-selling writers in history, mainly known for her 66 detective novels and story colections, mostly involving the characters Hercule Poirot and Jane Marple. She died on January 12, 1976 at the age of 85.

Baseball
Ledell "Cannonball" Titcomb pitched a no-hitter for the Rochester Hop Bitters as they blanked the Syracuse Stars 7-0 in an American Association game in Rochester.

100 years ago
1915

Born on this date
Al Casey. U.S. musician. Mr. Casey was a jazz guitarist who played with the bands of Fats Waller and others, and also recorded under his own name in a career that spanned more than 50 years. He died on September 11, 2005, four days before his 90th birthday.

80 years ago
1935

Abominations
The Nuremberg laws went into effect in Germany, depriving Jews of their citizenship and making the swastika the official emblem of the Nazi state.

Baseball
Carl Hubbell outduelled Dizzy Dean as the New York Giants beat the St. Louis Cardinals 7-3 before 41,284 fans at Sportsman’s Park in St. Louis to move within 1½ games of the Cardinals for second place in the National League. Sam Narron made his major league debut with an unsuccessful at bat as a pinch hitter with the Cardinals.

Bill Lee pitched a 6-hit complete game victory, and singled and drove in a run as the Chicago Cubs defeated the Brooklyn Dodgers 6-3 at Wrigley Field in Chicago to maintain a 2-game lead over the St. Louis Cardinals in the National League pennant race. Len Koenecke came to bat as a pinch hitter for Brooklyn in the 9th inning and grounded out in his 265th and last major league game.

75 years ago
1940

Died on this date
William B. Bankhead, 66. U.S. politician. Mr. Bankhead, a Democrat, represented Alabama's 10th (1917-1933) and 7th (1933-1940) Districts in the U.S. House of Representatives. He was chairman of the House Rules Committee (1934-1935); House Majority Leader (1935-1936); and Speaker of the House from 1936 until his death from a stomach hemorrhage. Mr. Bankhead was the father of actress Tallulah Bankhead.

War
All single men in Canada aged 21-24 were called for military service. The U.S.S.R. announced the conscription of 19-20-year-olds for military service. Royal Air Force Fighter Command claimed victory in the Battle of Britain after a day of heavy bombing raids ended in big losses for the Germans. East End residents in London seized the ballroom of the Savoy Hotel as a shelter.

Defense
British authorities announced the recruitment of Arabs and Jews in Palestine to serve as guardsmen there.

Politics and government
Romanian Conducător and Prime Minister Marshal Ion Antonescu resolved a conflict between his cabinet and the Iron Gurad by swearing in a new cabinet; simultaneously, a royal decree declared Romania to be a "legionary state."

Disasters
A hurricane lashed Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, and Prince Edward Island, cutting off Halifax from outside contact.

Football
NFL
New York (0-0-1) 10 @ Pittsburgh (0-0-2) 10
Brooklyn (0-1) 17 @ Washington (1-0) 24
Philadelphia (0-1) 0 @ Green Bay (1-0) 27
Detroit (0-0-1) 0 Chicago Cardinals (0-0-1) 0 @ Buffalo

The Cardinals were officially the home team in their game against the Lions at Civic Stadium. A huge electrical rainstorm just before the game kept the attendance down to 18,000, and the resulting muddy field helped to make it possibly the worst National Football League game ever played.

AFL
Columbus (0-1) 2 @ Milwaukee (1-0) 17

The Chiefs beat the Bullies at State Fair Park in West Allis, Wisconsin in the first game of the new American Football League.

70 years ago
1945

Hit parade
#1 single in the U.S.A. (Billboard): Till the End of Time--Perry Como with Russ Case and his Orchestra (Best Seller--1st week at #1; Airplay--1st week at #1); On the Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe--Johnny Mercer and the Pied Pipers with Paul Weston and His Orchestra (Juke Box--7th week at #1; Honor Roll of Hits--6th week at #1)

Died on this date
André Tardieu, 68. Prime Minister of France, 1929-1930; 1930; 1932. Mr. Tardieu was a member of the Democratic Alliance and later the Republican Centre parties. He was a conservative who held several cabinet positions before and after his stints as Prime Minister. Mr. Tardieu died a week before his 69th birthday.

Linnie Marsh Wolfe, 64. U.S. librarian. Mrs. Wolfe worked in public and school libraries in Los Angeles, and took an interest in the work of naturalist John Muir. Her book Son of the Wilderness: The Life of John Muir (1945) was published four months before her death, and went on to win the 1946 Pulitzer Prize for Biography or Autobiography.

Anton Webern, 61. Austrian composer and conductor. Mr. Webern was a leading figure among atonal composers. He was shot and killed by U.S. Army cook Private Raymond Bell during the American military occupation of Austria after stepping outside his house to avoid disturbing his grandchildren as he puffed on a cigar given to him by his son-in-law, who had just been arrested for black-market activities.

Harry Daghlian, 24. U.S. physicist. Mr. Daghlian was working with the Manhattan Project at Los Alamos Laboratory in New Mexico when he was irradiated as a result of a criticality accident on August 21, 1945, when he dropped a tungsten carbide brick onto a plutonium–gallium alloy bomb core. He had already been in a coma for some time when he died, becoming the first person known to have died in a criticality accident.

Diplomacy
The United States submitted to the Council of Foreign Ministers a plan to strip Italy of its colonies.

Politics and government
In response to American pressure for sterner action against guerrilla groups, the Philippine government announced the postponement of the election scheduled for early 1946.

Journalism
Allied Supreme Commander General Douglas MacArthur, dissatisfied with the way his September 10 directive was being enforced, placed 100% censorship on Japanese press and radio.

Labour
The Congress of Industrial Organizations United Auto Workers of America set aside a $4-million strike fund and decided to go all out to obtain a 30% wage increase and full employment in the auto industry.

Disasters
A hurricane in southern Florida and the Bahamas reached 143 miles per hour, destroying 366 planes and 25 blimps at NAS Richmond and causing an estimated $50 million damage.

50 years ago
1965

On television tonight
Lost in Space, on CBS
Tonight's episode: The Reluctant Stowaway

This was the first episode of the series.

I Spy, on NBC
Tonight's episode: So Long, Patrick Henry

This was the first episode of the series.

Green Acres, on CBS
Tonight's episode: Oliver Buys a Farm

This was the first episode of the series.

Gidget, on ABC
Tonight's episode: Dear Diary-et al

This was the first episode of the comedy series starring Sally Field and Don Porter.

40 years ago
1975

Hit parade
#1 single in Australia (Kent Music Report): Love Will Keep Us Together--The Captain and Tennille

#1 single in Japan (Oricon Singles Chart): Romance--Hiromi Iwasaki (3rd week at #1)

#1 single in Spain (PROMUSICAE): Melina--Camilo Sesto (4th week at #1)

Economics and finance
Formal ties were established between China and the European Economic Community.

Franciana
The French department of "Corse" (the entire island of Corsica) was divided into two: Haute-Corse (Upper Corsica) and Corse-du-Sud (Southern Corsica).

Hockey
NHL
Yvan Cournoyer was named captain of the Montreal Canadiens, succeeding the recently-retired Henri Richard.

Baseball
The Kansas City Royals traded minor league outfielder Mark Williams to the Oakland Athletics for minor league third baseman Richard Ingalls. Mr. Williams had batted .225 with 2 home runs and 28 runs batted in in 103 games with the Omaha Royals of the AAA American Association in 1975, while Mr. Ingalls had hit .249 with 2 homers and 23 RBIs in 87 games with Birmingham of the AA Southern League in 1975.

Glenn Borgmann doubled home Steve Braun with 1 out in the bottom of the 12th inning to give the Minnesota Twins a 7-6 win over the California Angels before 3,023 fans at Metropolitan Stadium in Bloomington. Bill Campbell pitched 2 perfect innings to get the win in relief of Bert Blyleven, who allowed 12 hits and 5 earned runs in 10 innings. Joe Pactwa, who had been a pitcher and outfielder with the Tampico Dockworkers of the Mexican League for most of the season, started on the mound for California in his major league debut, allowing 8 hits and 3 runs--all earned--in 7 innings. Chuck Hockenberry, the fifth California pitcher of the game, allowed 2 hits and 3 bases on balls in 1 2/3 innings to take the loss and drop to 0-5 in his 16th and last major league game.

Dusty Baker batted 4 for 5 with 2 doubles, a triple, 2 runs, and 5 runs batted in as the Atlanta Braves routed the San Francisco Giants 12-0 before just 851 fans at Candlestick Park in San Francisco. Jamie Easterly and Preston Hanna combined for an 8-hit shutout, while San Francisco starting pitcher Pete Falcone allowed 9 hits and 7 runs--6 earned--in 4 1/3 innings to take the loss. Tom Bradley, the fourth San Francisco pitcher of the game, allowed 5 hits and 2 earned runs in 2 innings in his 189th and last major league game.

Junior World Series
Tidewater Tides (IL) 1 @ Evansville Triplets (AA) 2 (Evansville led best-of-seven series 3-1)

Frank MacCormack allowed 4 hits in 8 2/3 innings as the Triplets edged the Tigers before 1,968 fans at Bosse Field in Evansville, Indiana. Marv Lane hit a home run in the bottom of the 2nd inning to give Evansville a 1-0 lead, and Bob Molinaro singled home Jerry Manuel in the 6th inning to break a 1-1 tie. Gary Manderbach started on the mound for Tidewater and allowed just 7 hits in pitching a complete game and taking the loss.

30 years ago
1985

#1 single in New Zealand (RIANZ): Into the Groove--Madonna (6th week at #1)

#1 single in France (SNEP): Tarzan Boy--Baltimora (2nd week at #1)

#1 single in Switzerland: (I'll Never Be) Maria Magdalena-- Sandra

Died on this date
Cootie Williams, 74. U.S. musician. Charles Melvin Williams was a jazz, blues, and rhythm and blues trumpeter who played with the bands of Duke Ellington and Benny Goodman before starting his own band.

Golf
Tony Jacklin's European team beat the United States in the Ryder Cup for the first time in 28 years, after dominating the final day of the competition.

25 years ago
1990

Hit parade
#1 single in Australia (Australian Music Report): Blaze of Glory--Jon Bon Jovi

#1 single in Italy (FIMI): Sotto Questo Sole--Francesco Baccini; Ladri di Biciclette (3rd week at #1)

#1 single in Spain (PROMUSICAE): I Can't Stand It--Twenty 4 Seven

#1 single in Flanders (Ultratop 50): U Can't Touch This--MC Hammer (5th week at #1)

#1 single in France (SNEP): Soca Dance--Charles D. Lewis (6th week at #1)

#1 single in the U.K. (Chart Information Network): The Joker--The Steve Miller Band

The Joker had originally been a hit in North America in late 1973-early 1974, reaching #1 on the Billboard Hot 100 on January 12, 1974.

Netherlands Top 10 (De Nederlandse Top 40)
1 I've Been Thinking About You--Londonbeat (2nd week at #1)
2 Tom's Diner--DNA featuring Suzanne Vega
3 U Can't Touch This--MC Hammer
4 Mooi Was Die Tijd--Corry Konings
5 Summer of '69--Bryan Adams
6 It Must Have Been Love--Roxette
7 It's on You--M.C. Sar & the Real McCoy
8 Ritmo de la Noche--Chocolate
9 Maldòn--Zouk Machine
10 Praying for Time--George Michael

Singles entering the chart were Livin' in the Light by Caron Wheeler (#31); Cinema by Ice MC (#32); Soca Dance by Charles D. Lewis (#33); Banned in the USA by Luke featuring the 2 Live Crew (#34); Poison by Bell Biv Devoe (#36); and Dat Bruine Café by Pierre Van Dam (#37).

U.S.A. Top 10 (Billboard)
1 Release Me--Wilson Phillips
2 Blaze of Glory--Jon Bon Jovi
3 Do Me!--Bell Biv DeVoe
4 Have You Seen Her--M.C. Hammer
5 Unskinny Bop--Poison
6 (Can’t Live Without Your) Love and Affection--Nelson
7 Thieves in the Temple--Prince
8 If Wishes Came True--Sweet Sensation
9 Tonight--New Kids on the Block
10 Close to You--Maxi Priest

Singles entering the chart were Black Cat by Janet Jackson (#37); Love Takes Time by Mariah Carey (#73); Groove is in the Heart by Deee-Lite (#96); and The Way You Do the Things You Do by UB40 (#100).

U.S.A. Top 10 (Cash Box)
1 Blaze of Glory--Jon Bon Jovi (2nd week at #1)
2 Release Me--Wilson Phillips
3 Thieves in the Temple--Prince
4 Have You Seen Her--M.C. Hammer
5 Do Me!--Bell Biv DeVoe
6 (Can’t Live Without Your) Love and Affection--Nelson
7 Can't Stop Fallin' Into Love--Cheap Trick
8 Something Happened on the Way to Heaven--Phil Collins
9 Tonight--New Kids on the Block
10 If Wishes Came True--Sweet Sensation

Singles entering the chart were More than Words Can Say by Alias (#65); Love Takes Time by Mariah Carey (#71); Pray by M.C. Hammer (#78); Soul Inspiration by Anita Baker (#83); and Ooops Up by Snap! (#90).

Canada's Top 10 (RPM)
1 Vision of Love--Mariah Carey (4th week at #1)
2 Release Me--Wilson Phillips
3 Come Back to Me--Janet Jackson
4 Blaze of Glory--Jon Bon Jovi
5 Unskinny Bop--Poison
6 All the Lovers in the World--Gowan
7 Oh Girl--Paul Young
8 Tonight--New Kids on the Block
9 Something Happened on the Way to Heaven--Phil Collins
10 Can't Stop Fallin' Into Love--Cheap Trick

Singles entering the chart were Crime Against Love by Barney Bentall and the Legendary Hearts (#48); Papa was a Rolling Stone by Was (Not Was) (#65); She's on a Mountain by Five Guys Named Moe (#68); Heart in Pieces by Tim Feehan (#70); Stand by Paul Janz (#76); Black Cat by Janet Jackson (#79); Lift Me Up by Jeff Lynne (#80); My, My, My by Johnny Gill (#88); and How Much Love by Vixen (#91).

World events
Iraq opened the border between Kuwait and Saudi Arabia and allowed thousands of Kuwaitis to flee into exile, but the refugee flow dwindled when Iraq began seizing Kuwaiti men of military age. The refugees reported widespread incidences of torture and execution by Iraqi troops.

War
French President Francois Mitterand ordered 4,000 soldiers, as well as planes, helicopters, and tanks, sent to Saudi Arabia. West Germany announced a $2 billion aid package for the Persian Gulf defense effort.

Football
CFL
Toronto (6-5) 39 @ Hamilton (4-7) 16

Mike "Pinball" Clemons returned a punt 92 yards for a touchdown and scored another major on a 10-yard pass from Matt Dunigan to lead the Argos. Mr. Dunigan also connected on touchdown passes to Mike Campbell and Jeff Boyd and rushed for another Toronto major score. Mr. Campbell, a defensive lineman, was sent in on offense as an eligible receiver, and caught a 41-yard strike. Lance Chomyc added 5 converts, a field goal, and single, moving his career scoring total to 904 points, 5 past the former Toronto record held by Zenon Andrusyshyn. The Tiger-Cats’ only touchdown was scored by third-string quarterback Terry Andrysiak, who sneaked over from 1 yard in the 4th quarter. Paul Osbaldiston converted and added 3 field goals before 14,025 fans at Ivor Wynne Stadium.



CIAU
Saskatchewan 5 @ Manitoba (1-1) 16
British Columbia (1-1) 23 @ Alberta 19

The Bisons rushed for 338 yards as they upset the Huskies at Pan-Am Stadium in Winnipeg, ending a 16-game losing streak extending back two years.

Alberta running back Dave Noonan fumbled at the B.C. 1-yard line in the last minute, and the Thunderbirds recovered to preserve their win over the Golden Bears at Varsity Stadium in Edmonton.

Baseball
Bobby Thigpen of the Chicago White Sox became the first pitcher to chalk up 50 saves in a season in a 7-4 victory over the Boston Red Sox before 41,197 fans at Comiskey Park in Chicago.

20 years ago
1995

Hit parade
#1 single in Sweden (Topplistan): Det vackraste--Cecilia Vennersten (7th week at #1)

#1 single in Ireland (IRMA): Country House--Blur (5th week at #1)

Football
CFL
Baltimore (10-3) 24 @ Shreveport (4-9) 17
Winnipeg (4-8) 10 @ Edmonton (8-5) 64

Mike Pringle rushed for a touchdown and Brian White returned a blocked punt 20 yards for another TD to help the Stallions defeat the Pirates before 12,455 fans at Independence Stadium. Baltimore's Josh Miller punted 8 times for a 56.7-yard average.



Eric Blount set a team record for a single game with 5 touchdowns as the Eskimos routed the Blue Bombers before 27,718 fans at Commonwealth Stadium. Mr. Blount rushed for 3 touchdowns, caught a pass for another, and returned a punt 60 yards for another TD. Marc Tobert, Nick Mazzoli, and Jim Sandusky also caught TD passes for the Eskimos, and defensive back Morris Lolar returned an interception 72 yards for another Edmonton TD. Blaise Bryant rushed 16 yards for the Winnipeg touchdown in the 1st quarter. Edmonton receiver C.J. Davis suffered a season-ending broken jaw.