February 19, 2021

Born on this date
Happy Birthday, Lee Morrow and Jackie Strip!

210 years ago
1811

War
Outnumbered French forces under Édouard Mortier routed and nearly destroyed Spanish troops at the Battle of the Gebora near Badajoz, Spain.

180 years ago
1841

Born on this date
Elfrida Andrée. Swedish musician and composer. Miss Andrée became the organist at Gothenburg Cathedral in 1867, and was appointed cantor in 1908, holding the positions until her death on January 11, 1929 at the age of 87. She wrote orchestral, chamber, and vocal works, and many works for organ and piano.

175 years ago
1846

Politics and government
The newly-formed Texas state government was officially installed in Austin. The Republic of Texas government officially transferred power to the State of Texas government following the annexation of Texas by the United States.

140 years ago
1881

Society
Kansas became the first U.S. state to prohibit all alcoholic beverages.

125 years ago
1896

Born on this date
Wayne Munn. U.S. football player and wrestler. Mr. Munn was a lineman with the University of Nebraska Cornhuskers before becoming a professional wrestler in 1924. He was boosted by Ed "Strangler" Lewis as the next big star in wrestling, and won the National Wrestling Alliance world heavyweight title from Mr. Lewis in 1925, becoming the first pure performer (i.e., someone without legitimate wrestling skills or background) to win a professional world championship. Just three months after winning the title, Mr. Munn was defeated by Stanislaus Zbyszko despite a previous agreement for Mr. Munn to win the match. Mr. Munn retired from wrestling in 1926, and died from kidney problems on January 9, 1931 at the age of 34.

André Breton. French poet and author. Mr. Breton was the co-founder, leader, principal theorist and chief apologist of surrealism. His works included the first Manifeste du surréalisme (Surrealist Manifesto) (1924) and the novel Nadja (1928). Mr. Breton became an anarchist before the end of World War II, and died of repiratory failure on September 28, 1966 at the age of 70.

110 years ago
1911

Born on this date
Bill Bowerman. U.S. running coach and businessman. Mr. Bowerman, a son of Oregon Governor Jay Bowerman, was track coach at the University of Oregon from 1948-1973, and trained numerous distance runners who won national championships and competed in the Olympic Games. He manufactured his first pair of running shoes in 1960, and four years later, co-founded the running shoe company that became known as Nike. Mr. Bowerman wrote the book Jogging (1966), which helped to inspire running as a national craze. He died on December 24, 1999 at the age of 88.

80 years ago
1941

War
The British government of Prime Minister Winston Churchill revealed that it had received on February 17 a formal Japanese offer to mediate the European war, and that the offer was now being studied.

Abominations
A report from Berlin stated that 10,000 Jews had been rounded up in Vienna the previous week for transportation to eastern Poland.

Politics and government
The Missouri Supreme Court ordered the Democratic-controlled state legislature to seat Forrest Donnell (Republican) as Governor.

Crime
The U.S. Justice Department reported that serious crimes had risen 2.2% in 1940, to a total of 1,517,026.

Economics and finance
U.S. President Franklin D. Roosevelt signed the bill raising the federal debt limit from $49 billion to $65 billion.

Business
A U.S. federal grand jury in Philadelphia indicted the American Surgical Trade Association on charges of violating the Sherman Antitrust Act by controlling the sale of 95% of all surgical supplies.

The American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers (ASCAP) accepted a consent decree, ending the U.S. government's antitrust suits and providing that users of ASCAP-controlled music would pay only for the songs that they actually used.

Disasters
The Danube River overflowed in the northern Bachka and Benat districts of Yugoslavia, flooding 50,000 acres and leaving 1,000 people homeless.

75 years ago
1946

War
At the hearings of the United States Senate committee on the December 7, 1941 Japanese attack on the U.S. naval base at Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, Colonel Walter Phillips, chief of staff to General Walter Short--U.S. Army commander at Pearl Harbor in 1941--testified that the Army-Navy Joint Planning Commission never met between November 27-December 7, 1941 despite the war warning from Washington.

Defense
U.S. Secretary of State James Byrnes said that there had been no leaks of U.S. atomic information, and that the United States had exclusive knowledge of the methods of manufacturing the atomic bomb.

Diplomacy
The Anglo-American Committee of Inquiry on Jewish problems announced in Vienna that it had been refused permission to enter Hungary and Romania.

The government of Brazil refused to accept newly-appointed Spanish Ambassador Eduardo Aunos, accusing him of having ties to the Nazis.

World events
Hungarian Roman Catholic Primate Josef Cardinal Mindszenty, who had denounced both German and Soviet occupation of his country, arrived in Rome from Budapest.

Politics and government
Kim Il Sung was named chairman of the North Korean People's Government in Pyongyang, while the Democratic People's Front claimed sole authority to form an interim government in Seoul.

The army, navy, and air force took over the task of preserving order in Argentina until after the presidential elections.

British Prime Minister Clement Attlee appointed a commission of three cabinet ministers to negotiate with Indian leaders on creation of a constituent assembly and executive council as a step toward self-government for India.

U.S. President Harry Truman named Max Gardner to succeed Daniel Bell as Undersecretary of the Treasury.

Education
The American Council on Education revealed in Washington that one million military veterans had applied for educational and vocational courses under the GI Bill of Rights.

Health
Dr. I.M. Rabinowitch reported that a 15-year test of a high-carbohydrate diet on 5,000 diabetics showed that diabetics may eat an ordinary amount of sweets and starches, but must avoid fats.

Economics and finance
In what analysts said was a reaction to U.S. Office of Price Administration Director Chester Bowles' support for the extension of price controls, prices on the New York Stock Exchange dropped 2-7 points, the sharpest decline since 1940.

70 years ago
1951

On television tonight
Lights Out, on NBC
Tonight's episode: Strange Legacy, starring Robert Stack, Margaret Hayes, Henry Hart, and Joseph Sweeney



Died on this date
André Gide, 81. French author. Mr. Gide was a self-described pederast who wrote more than 50 books of fiction and non-fiction. He was awarded the 1947 Nobel Prize in Literature "for his comprehensive and artistically significant writings, in which human problems and conditions have been presented with a fearless love of truth and keen psychological insight."

Defense
The U.S. Joint Chiefs of Staff told a Senate Foreign Affairs-House of Representatives Armed Services Committee hearing that they opposed a congressional ceiling or ratio system for the use of American troops in Europe.

Politics and government
The Indian Parliament extended by a year the Preventive Detention Act, under which Communists and other suspected subversives may be held without trial.

Crime
Gregorio Hernandez Rivera, sole survivor of the five terrorists who had attempted to assassinate Puerto Rico Governor Luis Muñoz Marín in his mansion on October 30, 1950, pled guilty in San Juan and was sentenced from 14-30 years in prison for attempted murder.

Economics and finance
Canada agreed to provide $25 million for the first year of the six-year Colombo plan foreign aid scheme.

U.S. President Harry Truman, in a policy reversal, submitted a reorganization plan to Congress which abolished the Reconstruction Finance Corporation's present five-man board and replaced it with a single administrator.

60 years ago
1961

Television
The French-language Télé-Métropole station CFTM began broadcasting in Montréal.

World events
Laotian King Savang Vathana said that he had designated the regime of Premier Boun Oum as Laos’ only legal government. The king proclaimed Laos’ neutrality and called on neighbouring Cambodia, Burma, and Malaya to form a commission to help supervise the restoration of peace in Laos, and to end all foreign intervention there. U.S. President John F. Kennedy actively supported the king’s proposal.

Protest
Mounted police in London broke up a demonstration outside the Belgian embassy involving protests against the recent murder of deposed Congolese Premier Patrice Lumumba.

50 years ago
1971

Hit parade
#1 single in New Zealand (RIANZ): My Sweet Lord--George Harrison (4th week at #1)

#1 single in West Germany (Media Control): My Sweet Lord--George Harrison (4th week at #1)

South Africa's Top 10 (Springbok Radio)
1 Knock Three Times--Dawn (2nd week at #1)
2 I Hear You Knocking--Dave Edmunds
3 No Matter What--Badfinger
4 Look Out Here Comes Tomorrow--The Dealians
5 Rose Garden--Lynn Anderson
6 Gypsy Woman--Brian Hyland
7 See Me, Feel Me--The Who
8 Looky Looky--Giorgio
9 Mango Mango--Tidal Wave
10 I Think I Love You--The Partridge Family

Singles entering the chart were Apeman by the Kinks (#17); Do It by Neil Diamond (#18); Give Me More by Mick Jade (#19); and Home by Dave Mills (#20).

Vancouver's Top 10 (CKLG)
1 Rose Garden--Lynn Anderson
2 One Bad Apple--The Osmonds
3 Amos Moses--Jerry Reed
4 Sweet Mary--Wadsworth Mansion
5 Have You Ever Seen the Rain/Hey Tonight--Creedence Clearwater Revival
6 Watching Scotty Grow--Bobby Goldsboro
7 Stay Awhile--The Bells
8 Amazing Grace--Judy Collins
9 If You Could Read My Mind--Gordon Lightfoot
10 She's a Lady--Tom Jones

Singles entering the chart were Woodstock by Matthews' Southern Comfort (#26); Chairman of the Board by the Chairmen of the Board (#28); Just My Imagination (Running Away with Me) by the Temptations (#29); and Help Me Make it Through the Night by Sammi Smith (#30).

Vancouver's Top 10 (CKVN)
1 If You Could Read My Mind--Gordon Lightfoot (2nd week at #1)
2 Have You Ever Seen the Rain/Hey Tonight--Creedence Clearwater Revival
3 If I were Your Woman--Gladys Knight & the Pips
4 Amazing Grace--Judy Collins
5 One Bad Apple--The Osmonds
6 Born to Wander--Rare Earth
7 Remember Me--Diana Ross
8 Watching Scotty Grow--Bobby Goldsboro
9 Hang on to Your Life--The Guess Who
10 Band Bandit--Tundra

Singles entering the chart were Chairman of the Board by the Chairmen of the Board (#27); For All We Know by the Carpenters (#28); Don't Let the Green Grass Fool You by Wilson Pickett (#29); and Country Road by James Taylor (#30).

Edmonton's Top 10 (CJCA)
1 Rose Garden--Lynn Anderson (3rd week at #1)
2 Amazing Grace--Judy Collins
3 I Hear You Knocking--Dave Edmunds
4 Bridget the Midget (The Queen of the Blues)--Ray Stevens
5 Your Song--Elton John
6 Hello Melinda Goodbye--Five Man Electrical Band
7 Watching Scotty Grow--Bobby Goldsboro
8 Stay Awhile--The Bells
9 Put Your Hand in the Hand--Ocean
10 For All We Know--Carpenters

On television tonight
The Interns, on CBS
Tonight's episode: Casualty

40 years ago
1981

Personal
This blogger attended his first class of the Dale Carnegie course in Edmonton. I don't agree with Mr. Carnegie's advice on getting others to do what you want--it smacks to me of manipulation--but that wasn't emphasized in the classes. If you want to develop the skill of public speaking--which is what the classes are about--I highly recommend the Dale Carnegie course.

War
The U.S. State Department provided embassies of friendly governments in Washington with a memorandum stating that the Marxist insurrection in El Salvador was a textbook case of indirect armed aggression by the Soviets. The guerrilla leaders in El Salvador declared that the United States had sent 100 military advisers to help the ruling junta in the war. The U.S., however, admitted to only 18.

Former Swedish Prime Minister Olaf Palme, acting as a United Nations envoy, met with Iranian President Abolhassan Bani-Sadr in an attempt to negotiate an end to the war between Iran and Iraq. There was some hope that the two countries would agree to allow 70 foreign vessels to leave the disputed Shatt al Arab waterway, where they had been trapped since September 1980, but the Iranians seemed united in backing the refusal to enter peace talks before the Iraqis withdrew from Iran.

Religion
Pope John Paul II visited Cebu in the Philippines.

Weather
It was announced that the drought and heat waves in the United States in the summer of 1980 had killed more than 1,300 people.

30 years ago
1991

War
U.S. General Norman Schwarzkopf said that the Iraqi forces were "on the verge of collapse." Lt. Gen. Thomas Kelly, chief of operations for the Joint Chiefs of Staff, said "we are ready now" to attack on the ground.

Politics and government
Russian Federation President Boris Yeltsin called for the resignation of Soviet President Mikhail Gorbachev. He criticized Mr. Gorbachev for wanting to hold on to the old system; for not wanting to grant independence to republics wanting it; and for leading the country to dictatorship under the name of "presidential rule."

25 years ago
1996

Hit parade
#1 single in Spain (PROMUSICAE): Children--Robert Miles

#1 single in Norway (VG-lista): Spaceman--Babylon Zoo (5th week at #1)

#1 single in Germany (Media Control): Spaceman--Babylon Zoo

Canada's Top 10 (RPM)
1 Missing--Everything But the Girl
2 Time--Hootie & the Blowfish
3 One Sweet Day--Mariah Carey and Boyz II Men
4 One of Us--Joan Osborne
5 I Want to Come Over--Melissa Etheridge
6 Wildest Dreams--Tom Cochrane
7 Name--Goo Goo Dolls
8 The World I Know--Collective Soul
9 You'll See--Madonna
10 Waiting for Tonight--Tom Petty

Singles entering the chart were Let Your Soul Be Your Pilot by Sting (#79); Please by Elton John (#86); Nobody Knows by the Tony Rich Project (#87); Blow Wind Blow by Alannah Myles (#90); Be My Lover by La Bouche (#91); and High and Dry by Radiohead (#92).

Died on this date
Ernest Manning, 87. Canadian politician. Mr. Manning, a member of the Social Credit Party, was a member of the Legislative Assembly of Alberta from 1935-1968. He served as Provincial Secretary and Minister of Trade and Industry before succeeding William Aberhart as Premier of Alberta upon Mr. Aberhart's death in 1943. Mr. Manning served as Premier for 25 years, and became the best Premier Alberta has ever had, doing more than anyone else to modernize the province. He was named to the Canadian Senate in 1970, and served as the only Social Credit Senator in Canadian history until reaching the mandatory retirement age in 1983. Mr. Manning's son Preston led the Reform Party of Canada from 1987-2000.

Charlie Finley, 77. U.S. baseball executive. Mr. Finley was an insurance executive who bought the Kansas City Athletics from Arnold Johnson in 1961. He moved the team to Oakland after the 1967 season and sold them in 1980. Mr. Finley's teams won five straight American League West Division championships from 1971-1975 and three straight World Series from 1972-1974. Mr. Finley promoted innovations such as night games in the World Series and orange baseballs for night games, but was also known as being a difficult and often unpleasant man to work with and for. When free agency became part of major league baseball after the 1976 season, Mr. Finley lacked the money to be competitive, and the Athletics became the worst organization in baseball.

Economics and finance
The Royal Canadian Mint put the new $2 coin into circulation; the bimetallic polar bear, quickly dubbed the "toonie," replaced the $2 bill.

Protest
One million people took to the streets in Madrid in a silent protest against Basque separatist terrorism, after two political killings and a kidnapping.

A mutiny of Congolese soldiers in protest against nonpayment of wages ended after five days.

Health
The World Health Organization confirmed that 13 people in Gabon had died of the Ebola virus.

Hockey
NHL
Edmonton 5 @ Colorado 7

Patrick Roy became the second-youngest goaltender and 12th in National Hockey League history to reach 300 career victories as the Avalanche beat the Oilers at McNichols Sports Arena in Denver.

20 years ago
2001

Died on this date
Charles Trenet, 87. French singer and songwriter. Mr. Trenet was popular from the 1930s to the 1950s. Probably his most famous song was La Mer (1946), which later, with English lyrics, became known as Beyond the Sea.

Stanley Kramer, 87. U.S. movie producer and director. Mr. Kramer began producing movies in the 1940s. He directed 20 of his films--many with a strong social message--including Not as a Stranger (1955); The Defiant Ones (1958); On the Beach (1959); Inherit the Wind (1960); Judgment at Nuremberg (1961); It's a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World (1963); Ship of Fools (1965); and Guess Who's Coming to Dinner (1967). Mr. Kramer was nominated for nine Academy Awards as producer and/or director, but won none.

Health
A five-mile exclusion zone was placed around an abattoir in Essex, England after a suspected case of foot-and-mouth disease was detected.

10 years ago
2011

Died on this date
Ollie Matson, 80. U.S. runner and football player. Mr. Matson won a bronze medal in the men's 400-metre run and a silver medal as a member of the U.S. 4 x 400-metre relay team at the 1952 Summer Olympic Games in Helsinki. He played halfback at the University of San Francisco (1949-1951), leading the nation in rushing yardage in his senior year. Mr. Matson played in the National Football League with the Chicago Cardinals (1952, 1954-1958); Los Angeles Rams (1959-1962); Detroit Lions (1963); and Philadelphia Eagles (1964-1966), rushing 1,170 times for 5,173 yards (4.4 average per carry) and 40 touchdowns; catching 222 passes for 3,285 yards (14.8 average) and 23 touchdowns; completed 5 of 15 passes for 119 yards and 1 interception; returned 143 kickoffs for 3,746 yards (26.2 average) and 6 TDs; and returned 65 punts for 595 yards (9.2 average) and 3 TDs. At the time of his retirement, his 12,799 all-purpose yards was the second-highest career total in NFL history, surpassed only by Jim Brown. Mr. Matson was valued so highly that the Cardinals traded him to the Rams for nine players; unfortunately, he spent most of his career with losing teams. He was a First Team All-Pro seven times, and was selected to play in the Pro Bowl six times. Mr. Matson was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1972 and the College Football Hall of Fame in 1976. He suffered from dementia in his later years, linked to chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE), resulting from his football career. Mr. Matson died of dementia-related respiratory failure.

Archaeology
Items from the Belitung shipwreck, the largest single collection of Tang-dynasty artefacts found in one location, were first exhibited in Singapore.

July 10, 2020

1,375 years ago
645

Died on this date
Soga no Iruka. Japanese assassination victim. Soga no Iruka, a son of Minister of State Soga no Emishi, was assassinated by Prince Naka-no-Ōe and Fujiwara no Kamatari during a coup d'état at the imperial palace in front of Empress Kōgyoku. Soga no Emishi committed suicide the next day.

730 years ago
1290

Died on this date
Ladislaus IV, 27. King of Hungary and Croatia, 1272-1290. Ladislaus IV, the son of King Stephen V, was kidnappd and imprisoned by rebellious lord Joachim Gutkeled in 1272, and was still a prisoner when King Stephen died. King Ladislaus was declared in 1277 to be of age, but was unable to restore royal power in Hungary. His mother Elizabeth was a Cuman, and King Ladislaus's support for the pagan Cumans helped to make him very unpopular. 26 days before his 28th birthday, King Ladislaus IV was assassinated by three Cuman assassins, and was succeeded on the throne by Andrew III.

560 years ago
1460

War
House of York forces commanded by Richard Neville, Earl of Warwick, defeated King Henry VI's Lancastrian forces in the Battle of Northampton and took King Henry prisoner.

510 years ago
1510

Died on this date
Catherine Cornaro, 55. Queen of Cyprus, 1474-1489. Queen Catherine was from a Venetian noble family, and married King James II of Cyprus by proxy in 1468, marrying him in person in Cyprus in 1472. When King James died on July 10, 1473, Queen Catherine became regent, and became queen in her own right when their son James died before his first birthday. Cyprus was controlled by Venetian merchants during her reign, and having no heir, she was forced to abdicate in 1489 in favour of the Doge of Venice. Catherine was allowed to retain her title of Queen, and was made Lady of Asolo of the Republic of Venice.

375 years ago
1645

War
Parliamentarian forces commanded by Sir Thomas Fairfax defeated Royalist forces of George, Lord Goring in the Battle of Langport in the First English Civil War.

220 years ago
1800

Academia
Governor-General of India Lord Wellesley founded Fort William College in Fort William, India.

130 years ago
1890

Americana
Wyoming entered the Union as the 44th state.

125 years ago
1895

Born on this date
Carl Orff. German composer and teacher. Mr. Orff was best known for his cantata Carmina Burana (1937). He used an approach called Schulwerk, combining music, movement, drama, and speech to teach music to children. Mr. Orff died of cancer on March 29, 1982 at the age of 86.

120 years ago
1900

Born on this date
Mitchell Parish. Lithuanian-born U.S. songwriter. Mr. Parish, born Michael Pashelinsky, emigrated to the United States with his family as an infant. He wrote lyrics to such songs as Stardust; Stars Fell on Alabama; Deep Purple; Sweet Lorraine; and Volare. Mr. Parish died on March 31, 1993 at the age of 92.

100 years ago
1920

Born on this date
Edward Lowe. U.S. businessman. Mr. Lowe invented cat litter, and founded Edward Lowe Industries, selling the company for $200 million in 1990. He died on October 4, 1995 at the age of 75.

David Brinkley. U.S. journalist. Mr. Brinkley was a reporter with the National Broadcasting Company from 1943-1981; from 1956-1970 he co-hosted NBC's nightly newscast with Chet Huntley, which was known as the Huntley-Brinkley Report. Mr. Brinkley moved to the American Broadcasting Company in 1981 and hosted the Sunday panel show This Week with David Brinkley from 1981-1996. He died on June 11, 2003, 29 days before his 83rd birthday.

Owen Chamberlain. U.S. physicist. Dr. Chamberlain and Emilio Gino Segrè were awarded the 1959 Nobel Prize in Physics "for their discovery of the antiproton," a subatomic particle. Dr. Chamberlain died of Parkinson's disease on February 28, 2006 at the age of 85.

Died on this date
John Fisher, 1st Baron Fisher, 79. Ceylonese-born U.K. military officer and politician. Admiral of the Fleet "Jacky" Fisher held numerous commands during a 60-year career in the Royal Navy, and was known as a champion of naval reform. He served as First Sea Lord (1904-1910, 1914-1915), overseeing the construction of the battleship HMS Dreadnought and advocating the development of submarines. Baron Fisher retired as First Sea Lord on his 69th birthday, but came out of retirement at the start of World War I. He had frequent disputes with First Lord of the Admiralty Winston Churchill, and resigned again following the failure of the Gallipoli campaign in 1915. Baron Fisher died of cancer.

Politics and government
Acting on the advice of his doctors, Sir Robert Borden resigned after almost nine years as Prime Minister of Canada. Governor General the Duke of Devonshire offered the office to former Finance Minister William T. White, but Mr. White declined, and Mr. Borden was succeeded as head of the Unionist government by Minister of Mines, Minister of the Interior, and Superintendent-General of Indian Affairs Arthur Meighen, who represented the Manitoba riding of Portage la Prairie in the House of Commons.

80 years ago
1940

Died on this date
Donald Tovey, 64. U.K. musicologist and composer. Sir Donald was best known for his six-volume Essays in Musical Analysis (1935-1939). He was a pianist whose relatively few compositions included a symphony, chamber music, and works for piano. Sir Donald died a week before his 65th birthday.

War
The Battle of Britain began when Luftwaffe fighters attacked shipping convoys off the southeast coast of England.

Politics and government
The Vichy government was established in France, as the parliament passed a resolution giving total power to Marshal Philippe Petain.

The United States Senate approved Frank Knox as Secretary of the Navy.

Diplomacy
Romania announced its withdrawal from the League of Nations.

Defense
Asking Congress for $4.8 billion in additional defense funds, U.S. President Franklin D. Roosevelt promised, "We will not send our men to take part in European wars." The Senate passed and sent to conference a "$75-billion two-ocean navy bill.

75 years ago
1945

War
Acting U.S. Secretary of State Joseph Grew denied rumours that the U.S. had received peace feelers from Japan. In the greatest combined air assault on Japan to date, 600 U.S. Superfortresses, 1,000 carrier-based craft, and 300 planes from Okinawa attacked several cities on the Japanese island of Honshu. Australian and Dutch troops in Borneo occupied Teloktebang and Kariango peninsulas along Balik Papan Bay near the mouth of the Sumber River. Counterattacking Japanese troops forced the British from Nyaungkasho, an outpost on the lower Sittang River bend 70 miles northeast of the Burmese capital of Rangoon.

Diplomacy
El Salvador's Constitutional Assembly ratified the United Nations Charter.

The United States Senate Foreign Relations Committee debated whether the U.S. representative to the United Nations Security Council shall have the right to vote on the use of U.S. forces against an aggressor.

The United States Army relinquished operation of the Irnian state railway to the Iranian government.

Crime
Five German soldiers were hanged at Fort Leavenworth, Kansas for the November 4, 1943 slaying of fellow prisoner Johannes Kunze in Tonkawa, Oklahoma. Mr. Kunze had been beaten to death after being accused of writing a "traitorous" note. The five executed men had been sentenced to death on January 25, 1944 by a court martial and U.S. President Franklin D. Roosevelt had approved the death sentences on October 5, 1944.

Labour
The 16,000 striking employees of the Firestone Tire and Rubber Company in Akron, Ohio refused a National War Labor Board request to return to work.

Baseball
Bert Shepard, who had lost the lower part of his right leg while fighting in World War II in 1944 but had been hired by the Washington Nationals as a coach in 1945, was the starting pitcher for the Nationals in an exhibition game against the Brooklyn Dodgers before more than 23,000 fans at Griffith Stadium in Washington. Mr. Shepard walked the first 2 batters to face him before settling down, allowing just 1 hit and no runs for the first 3 innings. He allowed 4 straight singles and 2 runs in the 4th inning, but left the game after that inning with the Nationals leading 3-2, and was declared the winning pitcher.

70 years ago
1950

On television tonight
Lights Out, on NBC
Tonight's episode: I Dreamt I Died

This was a restaging of a story originally broadcast on November 28, 1949.

War
U.S. troops, backed by air and artillery concentrations, halted a North Korean tank-led drive after it advanced more than half the distance from captured Chonan to the emergency South Korean capital at Taejon. The U.S. Army called for 20,000 draftees, but the Air Force and Navy said that they were getting enough volunteers to meet their initial manpower needs.

Diplomacy
The Czechoslovakian government charged that American military planes had been dropping the Colorado beetle (the potato bug) in flights over the C.S.S.R. and East Germany, and warned that there may be "consequences" if the flights continued.

Politics and government
The U.S. House of Representatives voted 249-71 to kill President Harry Truman's proposal to give the Federal Security Agency departmental status.

60 years ago
1960

Died on this date
Sæbjørn Buttedahl, 83. Norwegian-born actor and sculptor. Mr. Buttedahl began his acting career on stage in 1896, and worked at Centralteatret in Oslo (then known as Kristiana) from 1907-1924. He also achieved prominence as a sculptor of busts of theatrical personalities. Mr. Buttedahl appeared in three silent films from 1926-1927. He emigrated to the United States in 1926, and eventually settled in San Diego.

50 years ago
1970

Hit parade
#1 single in New Zealand (RIANZ): Gimme Dat Ding--The Pipkins (2nd week at #1)

#1 single in Ireland (IRMA): Goodbye Sam, Hello Samantha--Cliff Richard

South Africa's Top 10 (Springbok Radio)
1 Come Softly to Me--Percy Sledge (2nd week at #1)
2 Yellow River--Christie
3 Working on a Good Thing--Outlet
4 I Don't Believe in If Anymore--Roger Whittaker
5 Daughter of Darkness--Tom Jones
6 Up Around the Bend--Creedence Clearwater Revival
7 Which Way You Goin' Billy?--The Poppy Family
8 In the Summertime--Mungo Jerry
9 Cottonfields--The Beach Boys
10 Little Green Bag--George Baker Selection

Singles entering the chart were The Wonder of You by Elvis Presley (#15); Groovin' with Mr. Bloe by Mr. Bloe (#19); and The Wedding by Jody Wayne (#20).

Vancouver's Top 10 (CKLG)
1 Hitchin' a Ride--Vanity Fare
2 Mama Told Me (Not to Come)--Three Dog Night
3 I'm Gonna Capture You--Terry Jacks
4 Are You Ready?--Pacific Gas & Electric
5 Ride Captain Ride--Blues Image
6 Teach Your Children--Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young
7 (They Long to Be) Close to You--Carpenters
8 Gimme Dat Ding--The Pipkins
9 Baby Hold On--The Grass Roots
10 Band of Gold--Freda Payne

Singles entering the chart were Signed, Sealed, Delivered I'm Yours by Stevie Wonder (#25); Cinnamon Girl by Neil Young with Crazy Horse (#27); Freedom Blues by Little Richard (#29); and O-o-h Child by the Five Stairsteps (#30).

Vancouver's Top 10 (CKVN)
1 Are You Ready?--Pacific Gas & Electric (2nd week at #1)
2 Question--The Moody Blues
3 Spill the Wine--Eric Burdon and War
4 Get Ready--Rare Earth
5 Your Own Back Yard--Dion
6 Gimme Shelter--Merry Clayton
7 Ride Captain Ride--Blues Image
8 Teach Your Children--Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young
Ohio--Crosby, Stills, Nash and Young
9 Mama Told Me (Not to Come)--Three Dog Night
10 Crazy Jane--Tom Northcott

Singles entering the chart were O-o-h Child by the Five Stairsteps (#28); Tighter, Tighter by Alive and Kicking (#29); and In the Summertime by Mungo Jerry (#30).

Edmonton's Top 10 (CJCA)
1 Gimme Dat Ding--The Pipkins (2nd week at #1)
2 A Song of Joy (Himno a la Alegria)--Miguel Rios
3 Mississippi--John Phillips
4 The Long and Winding Road--The Beatles
5 Crazy Jane--Tom Northcott
6 Mama Told Me (Not to Come)--Three Dog Night
7 Canned Ham--Norman Greenbaum
8 Ride Captain Ride--Blues Image
9 Nothing Can Touch Me (Don't Worry Baby, It's Alright)--The Original Caste
10 Teach Your Children--Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young

Died on this date
Bjarni Benediktsson, 62. Prime Minister of Iceland, 1963-1970. Mr. Benediktsson, a member of the Independence Party, was Mayor of Reykjavik (1940-1947) and then served as Iceland's Foreign Minister, leading Iceland into the North Atlantic Treaty Organization in 1949. Mr. Benediktsson became Minister of Justice and Speaker of the Althing in 1959, and became leader of the Independence Party in 1961, serving as acting Prime Minister from September-December 1961. He succeeded Ólafur Thors as Prime Minister and served in that office until his death in a fire at a government summer house. His wife and grandson also died in the fire.

Personal
This blogger went fishing with his parents and others at Lac La Martre, Northwest Territories and caught three lake trout. On the flight home to Yellowknife, I sat in the co-pilot’s seat of the Beechcraft, and Bob Engle let me take the wheel for a few minutes--while the plane was in the air.

World events
The People’s Republic of China released U.S. Roman Catholic Bishop James Walsh, 79, after 12 years of solitary confinement in prison. He was released to Hong Kong officials. The Maryknoll missionary, from Cumberland, Maryland, had been arrested in Shanghai on October 18, 1958 and sentenced to 20 years in prison for espionage. At the time of his release the Chinese announced that Hugh Redmond, 50, a businessman from Yonkers, New York who had been imprisoned since 1954 for alleged espionage, had committed suicide on April 13.

Defense
U.S. sources in Cambodia reported that Thailand had assured the Cambodians that she would provide help for their defense if needed.

Education
U.S. Attorney General John Mitchell disclosed that the Justice Department had sued six more Florida school districts that day to complete action in that state against districts refusing to segregate. These, in addition to 46 districts sued the previous day, would, he said, mean that virtually all school districts in Arkansas, Florida, Mississippi, and South Carolina would have complied voluntarily or would be involved in litigation by the time the fall term began. Also the U.S. Internal Revenue Service warned that the tax-exempt status of private schools continuing to practice racial discrimination in their admissions policies would be revoked under a new policy.

Football
CFL
Pre-season
British Columbia (0-2) @ Saskatchewan (1-0) 27

Baseball
Ron Santo doubled home Jim Hickman and scored on a 1-out single by Johnny Callison in the 2nd inning as the Chicago Cubs shut out the Philadelphia Phillies 2-0 before 22,399 fans at Wrigley Field in Chicago. Ferguson Jenkins (10-10) pitched a 5-hitter, while losing pitcher Grant Jackson (1-8) allowed 4 hits and 2 earned runs in 6.1 innings.

The Cincinnati Reds and Atlanta Braves split a doubleheader before 44,804 fans at Atlanta Stadium, with the Braves winning the first game 11-9 and the Reds winning the second game 3-1. In the first game, Atlanta first baseman Orlando Cepeda hit 2 home runs, while losing pitcher Jim Merritt (14-7) hit his first homer of the season and Cincinnati shortstop Woody Woodward, playing in his 684th career major league game, hit his only major league home run, off Ron Reed. In the second game, all the scoring took place in the 9th inning. With 2 out and nobody on base, Dave Concepcion reached first base on an error by Atlanta shortstop Sonny Jackson, and catcher Pat Corrales hit a long drive that glanced off Hank Aaron's glove and went over the fence for a 2-run homer. It was Mr. Corrales' only home run of the season, and the fourth and last of his major league career. Mr. Woodward, batting for pitcher Tony Cloninger, drew a base on balls, and eventually scored on a single by Bobby Tolan. Pinch hitter Jimmie Hall homered to lead off the bottom of the 9th for Atlanta and Hank Aaron singled with 2 out, but Mr. Cepeda struck out to end the game. Cincinnati leadoff hitter Pete Rose of the Reds had 5 singles in as many at bats in the second game. Mr. Cloninger (2-2) allowed 4 hits in 8 innings and was credited with the win over George Stone (7-5), who allowed 12 hits and no earned runs in 8.2 innings.

Coco Laboy batted 3 for 5 with 2 doubles, a run, and 4 runs batted in to help the Montreal Expos defeat the New York Mets 9-7 before 29,394 fans at Shea Stadium in New York. Carl Morton (10-6) allowed 10 hits and 6 earned run in 7.1 innings to get the win over Jerry Koosman (5-5).

After Al Oliver led off the 9th inning with a home run to break a 2-2 tie, relief pitcher Dave Giusti tripled home John Jeter and Bill Mazeroski with 2 out and scored on a bunt single by Matty Alou as the Pittsburgh Pirates scored 4 runs and beat the St. Louis Cardinals 6-2 before 23,920 fans at Busch Memorial Stadium in St. Louis. Mr. Giusti (6-0) pitched 1.2 scoreless innings in relief of Jim Nelson to get the win, while Bob Gibson (12-4) allowed 12 hits and 6 earned runs in a complete game loss.

The Los Angeles Dodgers held on to beat the San Diego Padres 9-7 before 18,888 fans at San Diego Stadium despite giving up 4 home runs and 5 runs in the 9th inning. Wes Parker led the Dodgers with 2 doubles and a triple. The Padres trailed 9-2 when Ivan Murrell, Ed Spiezio, and Dave Campbell all hit solo home runs off Los Angeles starting pitcher Bill Singer. Jose Pena then entered the game in relief of Mr. Singer and gave up a 2-run homer to Cito Gaston. Al Ferrara was then hit by a pitch, but Nate Colbert struck out to end the game.

Ed Brinkman bunted for a single with 1 out in the bottom of the 3rd inning and Frank Howard followed with a home run to provide the deciding runs as the Washington Senators edged the New York Yankees 2-1 before 16,225 fans at Robert F. Kennedy Stadium in Washington. Dick Bosman (9-7) pitched a 4-hitter to outduel Steve Kline (0-1), who allowed 8 hits and 2 earned runs in a complete game, walking 1 batter and striking out 3, making 1 putout and 1 assist, and batting 0 for 2 in his first major league game.

Les Cain (9-2) allowed 4 hits and 2 earned runs in 6.2 innings and singled home 2 runs to lead the Detroit Tigers to a 4-2 win over the Baltimore Orioles before 44,568 fans at Tiger Stadium. Jim Palmer (12-6) allowed 9 hits and 3 earned runs in 6 innings to take the loss.

Ed Kirkpatrick hit a home run in each game for the Kansas City Royals as they swept a doubleheader from the Chicago White Sox 8-6 and 2-0 before 12,463 fans at Municipal Stadium in Kansas City.

Jim Fregosi's 2-run home run in the bottom of the 1st inning offset a run in the top of the 1st as the California Angels edged the Minnesota Twins 2-1 before 22,106 fans at Anaheim Stadium. Andy Messersmith (8-8) pitched a 6-hitter to outduel Jim Kaat (7-7), who allowed 7 hits and 2 earned runs in 6 innings.

40 years ago
1980

Died on this date
Joseph Krumgold, 72. U.S. author and screenwriter. Mr. Krumgold won Newbery Medals for his children's novels ...And Now Miguel (1953) and Onion John (1959), becoming the first two-time winner of the award. He wrote screenplays and stories for about 20 movies from 1935-1960, and died of a stroke.

Religion
Pope John Paul II continued his tour of Brazil, beginning the day in Fortaleza before moving on to Brazil.

30 years ago
1990

Hit parade
#1 single in Finland (Musiikkituottajat – IFPI Finland): Whose Law (Is it Anyway?)--Guru Josh

Politics and government
At the 28th Congress of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union in Moscow, U.S.S.R. President Mikhail Gorbachev was re-elected as the party’s general secretary by a 3-1 margin.

Baseball
Major League All-Star Game @ Wrigley Field, Chicago
American League 2 National League 0

6 pitchers combined to hold the NL to 2 hits in a rain-delayed game before 39,071 fans. Julio Franco of the Texas Rangers drove in both runs in the 7th inning and was named the game's most valuable player.



25 years ago
1995

Hit parade
#1 single in Italy: The Colour Inside--Ti.Pi.Cal. (3rd week at #1)

#1 single in Spain (PROMUSICAE): Scatman's World--Scatman John (3rd week at #1)

#1 single in Norway (VG-lista): '74–'75--The Connells (7th week at #1)

#1 single in Germany (Media Control): Wish You were Here--Rednex (2nd week at #1)

Canada's Top 10 (RPM)
1 Leave Virginia Alone--Rod Stewart (2nd week at #1)
2 This Ain't a Love Song--Bon Jovi
3 Misery--Soul Asylum
4 Have You Ever Really Loved a Woman?--Bryan Adams
5 December--Collective Soul
6 Water Runs Dry--Boyz II Men
7 I'll Be There for You--The Rembrandts
8 Hold Me, Thrill Me, Kiss Me, Kill Me--U2
9 Genuine--Mae Moore
10 I Believe--Blessid Union of Souls

Singles entering the chart were Where Do I Go from Here? by Jon Secada (#71); Colors of the Wind by Vanessa Williams (#72); This is a Call by Foo Fighters (#77); Beneath My Hand by 13 Engines (#79); Down from Above by Moxy Fruvous (#82); Waterfalls by TLC (#89); Human Nature by Madonna (#90); and Kiss from a Rose by Seal (#91).

Died on this date
Mehmet Ali Aybar, 86. Turkish politician. Mr. Aybar was a Marxist who was president of the Workers Party of Turkey (TİP) (1962-1969), and sat in the Turkish Parliament (1965-1969). He didn't support the 1968 Soviet invasion of Czechoslovakia in 1968, and resigned from the TİP over the issue in 1971. Mr. Aybar founded the Socialist Party (later called the Socialist Revolution Party) in 1975, leading it until it was shut down by the military in 1980. He also served on the International War Crimes tribunal. Mr. Aybar died of heart failure.

World events
Pro-democracy activist Saw Aung San Suu Kyi, winner of the 1991 Nobel Peace Prize, was freed from house arrest by the government of Myanmar. In 1988 she had helped to found the National League for Democracy, which had won the national election in 1990, only to have the results nullified by the ruling junta. Ms. Aung San Suu Kyi had been placed under house arrest in 1989 for "endangering the state."

20 years ago
2000

Politics and government
A national referendum confirmed Bashar al-Assad, son of the late President Hafez al-Assad, as the new President of Syria.

Ezer Weizman, who in May had announced his intention to resign, formally stepped down as President of Israel. Israel’s attorney general had found that Mr. Weizman had acted improperly in not revealing more than $300,000 in donations from a French businessman.

Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Barak survived a non-confidence vote in the Knesset. Three parties had withdrawn from his ruling coalition, fearing that Mr. Barak would give up too much in his forthcoming summit with Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat at Camp David, Maryland.

Business
European Aeronautic Defence and Space Company NV (EADS), the world's second-largest aerospace group, was formed by the merger of Aérospatiale-Matra, Daimler-Chrysler Aerospace (DASA), and Construcciones Aeronáuticas SA (CASA).

10 years ago
2010

Football
CFL
Calgary (2-0) 23 @ Hamilton (0-2) 22
Saskatchewan (2-0) 37 @ British Columbia (1-1) 18

September 4, 2019

1,090 years ago
929

War
In the Battle of Lenzen, Slavic forces (the Redarii and the Obotrites) were defeated by a Saxon army near the fortified stronghold of Lenzen in Brandenburg.

540 years ago
1479

War
The Treaty of Alcáçovas, ending the War of the Castilian Succession, was signed by the Roman Catholic Monarchs of Castile and Aragon on one side and Afonso V and his son, Prince John of Portugal.

270 years ago
1749

Diplomacy
The Chebuctou (Halifax, Nova Scotia) renewal of the Boston Treaty of Peace and Friendship was ratified by Maliseet Chiefs and Captains on the Wolastoq (River St. John), re-affirming Maliseet hunting and fishing rights.

225 years ago
1794

Died on this date
Edward Augustus Inglefield, 74. U.K. military officer and explorer. Sir Edward served in the Royal Navy from 1832-1885, rising to the rank of admiral. He led three voyages to the British North American Arctic (1852-1854) in attempts to find the remains of Sir John Franklin's expedition, which had disappeared in 1847. Sir Edward's efforts were unsuccessful, but he was successful in charted previously unexplored areas along the northern coastline, including Baffin Bay, Smith Sound and Lancaster Sound. Sir Edward served in the Crimean War (1854-1856) and held several other posts, including Commander-in-Chief, North America and West Indies Station (1878-1879). Sir Edward invented the marine hydraulic steering gear and the anchor design that bears his name, and painted scenes of Arctic landscapes.

210 years ago
1809

Born on this date
Manuel Montt. 5th President of Chile, 1851-1861. Mr. Montt, a member of the Conservative Party until 1857 and the National Party thereafter, held various offices, including Minister of the Interior and Foreign Affairs (1840-1841, 1845-1846) and President of the Supreme Court (1850-1851) before winning two consecutive presidential elections. He was Chile's first civilian President, and instituted some reforms while still representing the country's conservative oligarchy. After serving two five-year terms as President, Mr. Montt resumed the presidency of the Supreme Court, serving until his death on September 21, 1880, 17 days after his 71st birthday. His son Pedro and nephew Jorge later served as President.

180 years ago
1839

War
In the first armed conflict of the First Opium War, British vessels opened fire on Chinese war junks off the Kowloon Peninsula that were enforcing a food sales embargo on the British community in China.

120 years ago
1899

Baseball
In the New England League, Mansfield (Massachusetts) swept 6 games at home against Portland (Maine), playing 2 games before lunch and 4 afterwards. Portland walked off the field and forfeited after 2 innings in the 6th game to protest an umpire's decision‚ but the first 5 games lasted 9 innings each‚ for a total of 47 innings. This appears to have been the only professional sextupleheader in history.

110 years ago
1909

Born on this date
Eduard Wirths. German physician. Dr. Wirths joined the Nazi Party in 1933 and the SS in 1934, rising to the level of SS-Sturmbannführer (major). He was chief camp physician at the Nazi concentration camps of Auschwitz (1942-1945) and Mittelbau-Dora (1945), and was formally responsible for the activities of the doctors under him, although he was known to have improved conditions in the camps. Dr. Wirths was captured by Allied forces at the end of World War II and held in British custody. Knowing he would be facing war crimes charges, he committed suicide by hanging himself on September 20, 1945, 16 days after his 36th birthday.

Died on this date
Clyde Fitch, 44. U.S. playwright. Mr. Fitch was the most popular writer for the Broadway stage from 1890-1910, with works such as Beau Brummell (1890); The Girl with the Green Eyes (1902); and Girls (1910). He died in France of blood poisoning, shortly after suffering a heart attack.

Labour
22 arrests resulted when fishermen from Quebec's Gaspé region began a revolt against agents of the companies that had drastically reduced the prices paid for their catches.

100 years ago
1919

Born on this date
Howard Morris. U.S. actor. Mr. Morris was a comic actor who was part of the cast of the television program Your Show of Shows (1950-1954). He played character roles in various other television programs, and provided the voices of several cartoon characters. Mr. Morris died on May 21, 2005 at the age of 85.

Politics and government
Mustafa Kemal Atatürk, who founded the Republic of Turkey, gathered a congress in Sivas to make decisions as to the future of Anatolia and Thrace.

80 years ago
1939

War
A Bristol Blenheim became the first British aircraft to cross the German coast following the U.K.'s declaration of war, and German ships were bombed.



Disasters
The British ocean liner SS Athenia was struck by a German torpedo--apparently in a case of mistaken identity--while on its way to Montreal, resulting in the loss of 118 lives, 54 Canadian.

Football
CRU
WIFU
Winnipeg (3-0) 17 @ Regina (1-2) 1
Calgary (0-2) 12 @ Edmonton (1-1) 16

Andy Bieber and Jeff Nicklin scored touchdowns for the Blue Bombers as they beat the Roughriders before a capacity crowd of 5,000 at Osborne Stadium.

Bob Fritz and Bill Matheny scored touchdowns for the Eskimos as they defeated the Bronks before 3,000 fans at Clarke Stadium for their first win since October 10, 1932, when they had played in the Alberta Rugby Union, and the first win since Mr. Fritz had become the team's head coach when the franchise had been revived in 1938 after a five-year absence. Mr. Matheny scored the winning touchdown on an 18-yard rush with 4 minutes remaining in the game.

75 years ago
1944

On the radio
The New Adventures of Sherlock Holmes, starring Basil Rathbone and Nigel Bruce, on MBS
Tonight's episode: Demetrius the Divine

Died on this date
Margery Williams, 63. U.K.-born U.S. authoress. Miss Williams moved with her family to the United States in 1890. She was a popular writer of children's books, with her best known book being The Velveteen Rabbit (1922). Miss Williams died after a brief illness.

Erich Fellgiebel, 57. German military officer. General Fellgiebel was executed for his participation in the July 20, 1944 assassination plot against German Fuehrer Adolf Hitler.

War
The cease-fire between Finland and the U.S.S.R. became effective at 7:59 A.M. along a 500-mile front from Viborg to Salla. The British 11th Armoured Division liberated the Belgian city of Antwerp. British units entered the Netherlands and captured Breda, 25 miles southeast of Rotterdam. Allied planes sank or damaged nearly 40 Japanese barges and cargo ships in attacks against the Philippines, Halmahera, and Netherlands East Indies targets.

Economics and finance
American Federation of Labor President William Green and Congress of Industrial Organizations President Philip Murray called for government-controlled reconversion of industry to peacetime production.

Tennis
Frank Parker defeated Bill Talbert to win the U.S. men's singles championships at Forest Hills, New York.

70 years ago
1949

Died on this date
Ralph Parker, 61. U.S. physician. Dr. Parker discovered the vaccine for Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever.

Aviation
The world's largest civilian aircraft, the British eight-engine Brabazon I, made its first flight, in Bristol.

Protest
1,000 anti-Communist demonstrators picketed an open-air concert by singer Paul Robeson in Peekskill, New York. Violence after the concert resulted in injuries to 145 people.







Baseball
With 2 out and nobody on base in the bottom of the 9th inning, Bill Nicholson doubled and Willie "Puddin' Head" Jones followed with a home run to give the Philadelphia Phillies a 9-8 win over the Boston Braves in the first game of a doubleheader before 18,727 fans at Shibe Park in Philadelphia. Bob Elliott's 3-run homer gave the Braves a 4-run lead in the top of the 1st inning of the second game, but the Phillies came back to win 8-7 to complete the sweep and move 1 game ahead of the Braves into third place in the National League. Max Lanier pitched a 13-hit complete game victory to improve his 1949 record to 2-3, while losing pitcher Ken Raffensberger pitched a 10-hit complete game, falling to 14-15.

Rex Barney (8-8) pitched a 6-hitter, Pee Wee Reese led off the game with a home run, and Carl Furillo hit a 3-run homer in the 8th inning to help the Brooklyn Dodgers defeat the New York Giants 6-2 before 39,953 fans at the Polo Grounds in New York.

Marty Marion batted 3 for 4 with a home run, 2 runs, and 4 runs batted in to help the St. Louis Cardinals defeat the Cincinnati Reds 6-4 in the first game of a doubleheader before 29,133 fans at Sportsman's Park in St. Louis. The Reds scored 3 runs in the 9th and had a runner on first base with 2 out, but Johnny Pramesa struck out to end the game. Tommy Glaviano’s grand slam highlighted an 8-run 3rd inning for the Cardinals as they won 11-2 to complete the sweep, moving 2½ games in front of the Brooklyn Dodgers in the National League pennant race. Freddie Martin (5-0) pitched a 7-hit complete game victory in the second game.

Wayne Terwilliger hit a 2-run home run and Andy Pafko added a grand slam as the Chicago Cubs scored 8 runs in the 4th inning as they overcame a 3-2 deficit and defeated the Pittsburgh Pirates 11-7 before 18,082 fans at Wrigley Field in Chicago in a game that was called because of rain after 6½ innings.

60 years ago
1959

Hit parade
#1 single in the U.K. (New Musical Express): Living Doll--Cliff Richard and the Drifters (6th week at #1)

War
The Laotian government formally appealed to the United Nations for "dispatch of an emergency force" to halt aggression by Pathet Lao guerrillas supported by North Vietnam. Crown Prince Savang Vathana was invested with emergency powers to act as regent for his father King Sisavong Vong.

Diplomacy
King Saud of Saudi Arabia and U.A.R. President Gamal Nasser ended four days of talks in Cairo, agreeing to maintain the Suez Canal blockade against Israel and to resume diplomatic relations with the United Kingdom, broken since 1956.

U.S.S.R. Premier Nikita Khrushshev announced plans to visit the People's Republic of China following his return from the United States.

Politics and government
Argentine President Arturo Frondizi dismissed War Minister Elbio Anaya after Mr. Anaya ordered the arrest of 14 top anti-Peronist officers for siding with ousted Army chief of staff Toranzo Montero.

Economics and finance
U.S. President Dwight D. Eisenhower again vetoed omnibus housing legislation, and the Senate sustained his veto.

50 years ago
1969

Terrorism
C. Burke Elbrick, United States Ambassador to Brazil, was kidnapped by four armed men from a limousine while en route to the American embassy in Rio de Janeiro. In a manifesto left in the limousine, the kidnappers demanded the publication and broadcast of their manifesto throughout Brazil and the release of 15 political prisoners in return for Mr. Elbrick’s release. The document, signed by the National Liberating Action and the Revolutionary Movement of October, two of more than 10 guerrilla and terrorist groups said by the government to be operating in Brazil, stated that if no action were taken within 48 hours, Mr. Elbrick would be killed.

Defense
The United States Justice Department announced that Carl Turner, a retired major general who had been chief of U.S. marshals for the past five months, was resigning for "personal reasons," following reports of laxity in the supervision of enlisted men’s clubs while he was provost marshal of the army.

Politics and government
University of Toronto economist and New Democratic Party activist Mel Watkins unveiled his manifesto For an Independent and Socialist Canada. Dr. Watkins and a group of left-wing NDP activists planned to influence their party's national convention in Winnipeg in October, 1969.

Economics and finance
In a step to control inflation, U.S. President Richard Nixon ordered a 75% reduction in new contracts for federal government construction, and urged local and state governments to cut back projects funded jointly with federal funds.

A tax bill containing fewer and more limited reforms than the one passed by the U.S. House of Representatives the previous month was presented by the Nixon administration to the Senate Finance Committee. The administration bill reduced the overall amount of tax relief, giving more relief to upper-income individuals and corporations.

Baseball
Down 4-1 in the 9th inning against the Detroit Tigers before 13,799 fans at Tiger Stadium‚ the Baltimore Orioles got consecutive home runs from Frank Robinson‚ Boog Powell‚ and Brooks Robinson off Earl Wilson to tie the score. Tom Timmerman then relieved Mr. Wilson and allowed a double by Dave Johnson, who advanced to third base on an outfield fly by Elrod Hendricks and scored on a Baltimore chop ground out by Mark Belanger as the Orioles won 5-4. Terry Crowley made his major league debut with the Orioles, popping out as a pinch hitter in the 8th inning.

Cesar Tovar's grand slam was the big blow of a 5-run 10th inning for the Minnesota Twins as they broke a 5-5 tie and defeated the Oakland Athletics 10-5 before 11,476 fans at Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum. The Athletics led 4-1 before the Twins scored 4 in the 8th to take a 5-4 lead. The Athletics scored an unearned run in the bottom of the 9th to tie the score and had the bases loaded with 1 out, but Gene Tenace struck out and Bert Campaneris lined out to center field.

Sandy Alomar drew a base on balls to lead off the bottom of the 1st inning, advanced to third base on a single by Jay Johnstone, and scored the only run of the game when Jim Fregosi grounded into a force play as the California Angels edged the Chicago White Sox 1-0 before 5,646 fans at Anaheim Stadium. Rudy May allowed 5 hits in 7 1/3 innings to get the win and improve his 1969 record to 7-11, while Ken Tatum, who relieved Mr. May after the White Sox placed runners on first and third with 1 out in the 8th, retired all 5 batters he faced to get the save. Tommy John allowed 2 hits and 1 earned run in 7 innings to fall to 6-11). Jose Ortiz made his major league debut as a pinch hitter with the White Sox in the 8th; he grounded into a force play, and was stranded at third base.

40 years ago
1979

Died on this date
Turkey Stearnes, 78. U.S. baseball player. Norman Thomas Stearnes was an outfielder with seven different Negro League teams (1920-1940), batting .344 with 176 home runs--a Negro League record--in 750 games. He was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 2000.

Personal
This blogger spent the day going through the experience of in-person registration at the University of Alberta. Seeing old friends from Yellowknife and Calgary made the ordeal bearable.

Diplomacy
At the conference of non-aligned nations in Havana, Yugoslavia’s President Tito urged third-world nations to remain independent of the superpowers, implicitly criticizing Fidel Castro’s pro-Soviet stance.

Disasters
Hurricane David hit the U.S. mainland a second time, in Georgia and the Carolinas, battering Savannah and Charleston.

Football
CFL
The Hamilton Tiger-Cats sent tight end Lawrie Skolrood to the Saskatchewan Roughriders to complete the trade for quarterback Tom Clements.

Montreal (5-3) 28 @ Toronto (4-4) 25

45,202 fans at Exhibition Stadium saw the Argonauts lose 2 fumbles and give up 2 interceptions. David Green led the Alouettes’ rushing attack with 16 carries for 79 yards, while John O’Leary added 12 carries for 43 yards and 3 touchdowns. Toronto quarterback Tony Adams completed 27 of 39 passes for 297 passes and 3 touchdowns: 2 to Terry Metcalf, and 1 to Dan Huclack in the last minute.

30 years ago
1989

Hit parade
#1 single in Australia (Australian Music Report): If You Don't Know Me by Now--Simply Red (3rd week at #1)

#1 single in Spain (PROMUSICAE): Lambada--Kaoma (3rd week at #1)

Canada's Top 10 (RPM)
1 Right Here Waiting--Richard Marx (2nd week at #1)
2 Cold Hearted--Paula Abdul
3 The End of the Innocence--Don Henley
4 Don't Wanna Lose You--Gloria Estefan
5 So Alive--Love and Rockets
6 On Our Own--Bobby Brown
7 Hangin' Tough--New Kids on the Block
8 Rock 'N' Roll Duty--Kim Mitchell
9 Toy Soldiers--Martika
10 Hard Sun--Indio

Singles entering the chart were Call it Love by Poco (#69); Sowing the Seeds of Love by Tears for Fears (#71); Shower Me with Your Love by Surface (#74); Revolution by Mike + the Mechanics (#84); Partyman by Prince (#86); Love Song by the Cure (#87); No Souvenirs by Melissa Etheridge (#89); and Oh Boy by Louisa Florio (#95).

Died on this date
Georges Simenon, 86. Belgian-born Swiss author. Mr. Simenon was one of the most prolific authors in history, writing several hundred books under his own name and several pseudonyms. He was best known for creating the ficitional policeman Commissaire Maigret.

Protest
In Leipzig, East Germany, the first of weekly demonstrations for the legalization of opposition groups and democratic reforms took place.

Football
CFL
Toronto (4-5) 18 @ Hamilton (6-3) 23
Edmonton (8-1) 31 @ Calgary (5-4) 14

33,139 (including a stadium record walkup ticket sale of 19,500) fans at McMahon Stadium saw Tracy Ham rush for 1 touchdown and pass to Keith Wright and Reggie Taylor for the other Eskimo majors. Lorenzo Graham rushed 1 yard for the first Stampeder touchdown, and Danny Barrett completed a 12-yard pass to Marshall Toner for the other Calgary touchdown. Mr. Barrett had a miserable day passing, completing just 7 of 24 passes for 110 yards. His backup, Terrence Jones, was no better, going 1 for 5 for 6 yards. The game was the first in the Canadian Football League for two Calgary defensive linemen: Will Johnson, who went on to have a fine CFL career; and Flint Fleming, who didn’t.



Derrick McAdoo rushed 19 times for 97 yards and 2 touchdowns to lead the Tiger-Cats to their win before 25,968 fans at Ivor Wynne Stadium. The other Hamilton touchdown came on a pass from Mike Kerrigan to Tony Champion. The Argos’ only touchdown came on a 1-yard rush by quarterback Gilbert Renfroe just 5:38 into the game. Gill Fenerty was Toronto’s top offensive player with 17 carries for 143 yards.

Baseball
Fred Lynn hit his 300th career major league home run to help the Detroit Tigers to a 5-1 win over the Kansas City Royals before 17,412 fans at Tiger Stadium.

25 years ago
1994

Hit parade
#1 single in New Zealand: Love is All Around--Wet Wet Wet (3rd week at #1)

#1 single in Austria (Ö3): I Swear--All-4-One (3rd week at #1)

#1 single in Switzerland: I Swear--All-4-One (6th week at #1)

#1 single in the U.K. (Chart Information Network): Love is All Around--Wet Wet Wet (15th week at #1)

Football
CFL
Winnipeg (6-3) 31 @ Saskatchewan (5-4) 42

The Roughriders led the Blue Bombers 29-4 late in the 2nd quarter, but it took a 58-yard interception return for a touchdown by linebacker Dan Rashovich late in the game to clinch victory for Saskatchewan before 28,738 fans at Taylor Field in Regina. Saskatchewan quarterback Warren Jones completed 2 touchdown passes to Don Narcisse and another to Mike Saunders, and Mr. Saunders also rushed for a touchdown. Linebacker Greg Clark scored the first Winnipeg touchdown on the recovery of a blocked punt in the Saskatchewan end zone just before halftime, and quarterback Keithen McCant threw touchdown passes to Gerald Wilcox and Gerald Alphin in the 3rd quarter.



20 years ago
1999

World events
The United Nations reported that East Timor had voted by a large majority--78.5%--for independence from Indonesia, rather than for the option of remaining within Indonesia with greater autonomy. Indonesian President B.J. Habibie had said he would free East Timor if the autonomy option was defeated. Voter turnout was put at 98.6%. In reaction to the vote, pro-Indonesia militias began going on a rampage, destroying property and killing people in the East Timor capital of Dili.

Terrorism
A car bomb near an apartment complex in Dagestan killed over 60 and injured more than 100.

Football
CIS
Manitoba (1-0) 37 @ Regina (0-1) 28
British Columbia (0-1) 20 @ Saskatchewan (1-0) 28
Alberta (0-1) 21 @ Calgary (1-0) 36

The Golden Bears amassed 444 yards net offense, but turned the ball over 6 times before 2,134 fans at McMahon Stadium. Lincoln Blumell, in his first start at quarterback, threw 2 touchdown passes and ran for a major in leading the Dinos’ attack. Jordan Valgardson caught the touchdown passes from Mr. Blumell, while Alan Giacalone rushed for 2 more Dino touchdowns. Dean Fisher led the Calgary rushing game with 13 carries for 85 yards. Mike Munoz led Alberta with 14 carries for 120 yards and a touchdown. Jamie Stoddard caught 7 passes for 121 yards and a touchdown to lead the Golden Bear receivers, while Alberta quarterback Blair Zahara completed 17 of 30 passes for 271 yards.

Baseball
Down 2-0 after the first inning‚ the Cincinnati Reds scored 9 runs in the 5th inning on the way to a 22-3 blowout over the Philadelphia Phillies before 16,357 fans at Veterans Stadium in Philadelphia. The Reds set a National League record by hitting 9 home runs in the contest: 2 by Eddie Taubensee, and 1 apiece by Aaron Boone; Dmitri Young; Jeffrey Hammonds; Greg Vaughn; Pokey Reese; Brian Johnson; and Mark Lewis.



Derek Bell's 2-run home run climaxed a 3-run rally that began after the first 2 batters were retired in the top of the 10th inning as the Houston Astros broke a 2-2 tie and defeated the Montreal Expos 5-2 before 8,471 fans at Olympic Stadium in Montreal.

Pedro Martinez allowed 2 hits in 8 innings and struck out 15 batters to improve his 1999 record to 20-4 as the Boston Red Sox shut out the Seattle Mariners 4-0 before 44,597 fans at Safeco Field in Seattle.

The New York Yankees scored 3 runs in the top of the 9th inning to break a 6-6 tie and defeat the Anaheim Angels 9-6 before 30,589 fans at Edison International Field of Anaheim.

10 years ago
2009

Died on this date
Buddy Blattner, 89. U.S. table tennis and baseball player and broadcaster. Robert Garnett Blattner won the gold medal in men's doubles competition at the World Table Tennis Championships in 1936 and 1937 before playing professional baseball. He was an infielder with the St. Louis Cardinals (1942); New York Giants (1946-1948); and Philadelphia Phillies (1949), batting .247 with 16 home runs and 84 runs batted in in 272 games. Mr. Blattner began broadcasting baseball in 1950, announcing games of the St. Louis Browns, and then the televised Game of the Week with partner Dizzy Dean on ABC (1953-1954) and CBS (1955-1959). Mr. Blattner was the radio voice of the St. Louis Cardinals (1960-1961); Los Angeles/California Angels (1962-1968); and Kansas City Royals (1969-1975), and broadcast the games of the St. Louis Hawks of the National Basketball Association in the 1950s. He died of lung cancer.

Football
CFL
Montreal (7-2) 12 @ British Columbia (4-5) 19







CIS
Manitoba (0-1) 10 @ Regina (1-0) 28
Calgary (0-1) 33 @ Saskatchewan (1-0) 34 (OT)
British Columbia (1-1) 25 @ Alberta (0-1) 24

Dave Boyd rushed for 221 yards--177 in the 2nd half--and scored the tying touchdown, converted by Billy Pavlopoulos, to culminate a 105-yard drive in the final few minutes of regulation time as the Thunderbirds came back from a 24-6 halftime deficit to edge the Golden Bears at Foote Field in Edmonton. Alberta kicker Hugh O'Neill missed a 48-yard field goal attempt in the final seconds.

September 2, 2019

Born on this date
Happy Birthday, Lyudmila Dudukina!

370 years ago
1649

War
The Italian city of Castro was completely destroyed by the forces of Pope Innocent X, ending the Wars of Castro.

230 years ago
1789

Economics and finance
The United States Treasury Department was established.

180 years ago
1839

Born on this date
Henry George. U.S. economist. Mr. George was known for his advocacy of the land value tax, also known as the "single tax." He believed that everyone should own what they create, but that everything found in nature, especially the value of land, belonged equally to all humanity. His best-known book was Progress and Poverty (1879). Mr. George died of a stroke on October 29, 1897 at the age of 58, four days before the New York mayoral election, in which he was a candidate.

170 years ago
1849

Born on this date
A.G. Spalding. U.S. baseball pitcher and executive. Albert Goodwill Spalding played with the Rockford Forest Citys (1866-1870) of the National Association of Base Ball Players; the Boston Red Stockings (1871-1875) of the National Association; and the Chicago White Stockings (1876-1878), compiling a record of 204-65 with an earned run average of 2.21 in 282 games in the NA, batting .323 with 2 home runs and 259 runs batted in in 287 games. He was 48-12 with a 1.78 ERA in 65 games in the NL, batting .287 with no homers and 79 RBIs in 127 games. Mr. Spalding led the NA in wins in all five seasons, and led the NL in wins in 1876. He helped the Red Stockings win four straight pennants (1872-1875), and helped the White Stockings win the NL's first pennant in 1876, his first of two seasons managing the team. Mr. Spalding was one of the founders of the National League, and was president and part-owner of the White Stockings. He led a group of major league players on the first international tour (1888-1889); published the first official rules guide for baseball; led a commission investigating baseball's origins; and wrote America's National Game (1911), the first scholarly history of baseball. Mr. Spalding is probabluy best known today for the sporting goods company that he founded with his brother Walter in 1874. Mr. Spalding died of a stroke on September 9, 1915, a week after his 66th birthday. He was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1939.

140 years ago
1879

Died on this date
Robert Brown, 68; Addie Brown, 12. Canadian crime victims. Mr. Brown, a farmer, and his daughter Addie were murdered by Mr. Brown's 21-year-old son Clark at the family home in Cornwall, Ontario.

125 years ago
1894

Born on this date
Joseph Roth. Austro-Hungarian born writer. Mr. Roth, a Jewish native of Galicia in the Austro-Hungarian Empire, was a journalist before becoming better known for his novels Job (1930) and Radetzky's March (1932). He worked in Berlin and Paris after World War I, and his writing expressed a nostalgia for life in Europe before World War I. Mr. Roth fled Germany when the Nazis came to power in 1933 and settled in Paris; he continued to write despite heavy drinking, which led to his death on May 27, 1939 at the age of 44.

120 years ago
1899

Baseball
The Louisville Colonels hit 6 home runs, all by different players, as they whipped the Washington Senators 25-4 at Eclipse Park in Louisville. The Colonels’ home runs came from Dummy Hoy; Mike Kelley; Tommy Leach; Fred Clarke; Claude Ritchey; and Billy Clingman. The home runs by Messrs. Kelley and Leach were inside-the-park. The Senators hit 2 home runs of their own. Because of poor attendance‚ Louisville President Barney Dreyfuss decided to transfer the Colonels’ last 14 home games to the opponents' grounds.

100 years ago
1919

Born on this date
Happy Birthday, Marge Champion! Mrs. Champion, born Marjorie Belcher, was a dancer, choregrapher, and actress best known for her partnership with fellow dancer Gower Champion. The two were married from 1947-1973, and performed on stage and in musical films such as Show Boat (1951) and Everything I Have is Yours (1952). Mrs. Champion also appeared on her own in films such as The Party (1968) and The Swimmer (1968).

Aviation
Legendary pilot Captain Wilfred "Wop" May and Detective James Campbell, both armed, left Edmonton, Alberta in a biplane bound for Gainford and then Edson, in pursuit of J.G. Larsen, the only suspect in the shooting of Edmonton policeman William Nixon, who had died two days earlier. It was the first time in Canadian history that an airplane was used in pursuing a criminal suspect. Edmonton police chief George Hill had to get police commission approval to hire Capt. May for the flight, hence the two days’ delay.

Baseball
The National Commission recommended that the World Series be changed from a best-of-seven series to a best-of-nine.

90 years ago
1929

Died on this date
Bert Blue, 51. U.S. baseball player. Mr. Blue was a catcher with the St. Louis Browns (1908) and Philadelphia Athletics (1908), batting .286 with no home runs and 2 runs batted in in 17 games. He played at least 8 seasons in the minor leagues from 1901-1911.

Baseball
Hack Wilson hit a home run and drove in 5 runs to help the Chicago Cubs defeat the St.Louis Cardinals 11-7 before 48,000 fans in a Labor Day morning game at Wrigley Field in Chicago. Pat Malone pitched a 14-hit complete game victory, allowing 6 earned runs, to improve his 1929 record to 19-9. Rogers Hornsby batted 3 for 5 with a home run, 2 runs, and 4 RBIs to help the Cubs overcome an early 4-0 deficit to win an afternoon game 12-10 before 44,000 fans. Hal Carlson (10-4) allowed 14 hits and 9 runs--8 earned in 6+ innings, but got the win, and batted 3 for 3 with a double, 3 runs, and 3 RBIs.

The New York Giants scored 7 runs in the 4th inning as they beat the Philadelphia Phillies 11-4 in the first game of a doubleheader before 30,000 fans at the Polo Grounds in New York. Bill Walker (8-7) pitched a 15-hit complete game victory and batted 1 for 3 with a sacrifice and an RBI. The Phillies won the second game 4-3 in 12 innings, thanks in part to a fan in the right field bleachers who interfered with a ball hit by Edd Roush of the Giants that appeared headed for a home run. Phil Collins (5-7) pitched 5 perfect innings in relief of Ray Benge, while Carl Hubbell (14-9) allowed 10 hits and 2 earned runs in a complete game loss. New York right fielder Mel Ott hit a home run in each game.

Hank DeBerry hit a single, double, and triple in 4 at bats with 2 runs and 2 runs batted in to help the Brooklyn Robins beat the Boston Braves 6-2 in the first game of a doubleheader before 20,000 fans at Ebbets Field in Brooklyn. Watty Clark (13-16) pitched a 2-hitter and Del Bissonette drove in 5 runs to help the Robins win the second game 10-0 to complete the sweep. Bill Dunlap made his major league debut with the Braves in the second game, striking out as a pinch hitter.

The Cincinnati Reds scored 2 runs in the 3rd inning, 3 in the 4th, and 2 in the 6th as they defeated the Pittsburgh Pirates 7-5 in the first game of a doubleheader at Forbes Field in Pittsburgh. Jakie May (9-12) allowed just 1 hit and no runs in 4 1/3 innings of relief to get the win. Cincinnati starting pitcher Dolf Luque batted in 2 runs with a pair of sacrifice bunts, but was relieved by Mr. May with 2 out in the 5th inning after giving up 11 hits and 5 runs--3 earned. Lloyd Waner doubled home Steve Swetonic with 1 out in the bottom of the 13th inning to give the Pirates a 9-8 win in the second game. Mr. Swetonic (7-9) allowed 3 hits and no runs in 5 innings of relief to get the win. Mr. Waner was 4 for 7 with a run and a run batted in, while Cincinnati catcher Clyde Sukeforth batted 4 for 6 with 3 runs and 2 RBIs.

Joe Cronin hit for the cycle and added another double, scoring 3 runs and driving in 4, while Joe Judge hit a 3-run home run to help the Washington Nationals defeat the Boston Red Sox 10-7 in the first game of a doubleheader at Braves Field in Boston. Myles Thomas (7-6) pitched a 15-hit complete game victory and batted 2 for 3 with a sacrifice and a run batted in. Boston right fielder Elliot Bigelow was 3 for 5 with 2 runs and an RBI in the first game, and was 4 for 4 with a double, 2 runs, and 2 RBIs to help the Red Sox win the second game 7-2. Milt Gaston (9-16) pitched a 7-hit complete game victory for Boston in the second game.

The Philadelphia Athletics scored 6 runs in the bottom of the 3rd inning to overcome an early 1-0 deficit and defeat the New York Yankees 10-3 in the first game of a doubleheader at Shibe Park in Philadelphia. Jack Quinn (11-8) pitched an 11-hit complete game victory. Mickey Cochrane singled home Mule Haas with 1 out in the bottom of the 9th to complete a 2-run rally as the Athletics blew a 4-0 lead but came back to win the second game 6-5 to complete the sweep and extend their lead over the second-place Yankees to 13½ games.

Jake Miller (12-10) pitched a 7-hitter without allowing an earned run to win the pitchers' duel over Sam Gray (17-12) as the Cleveland Indians edged the St. Louis Browns 2-1 before 20,000 fans in the first of 2 games at League Park in Cleveland. Earl Averill drove in 3 runs with a home run and a ground out to help the Indians win the second game 9-5 before 20,000 fans to complete the sweep, with Willis Hudlin (14-12) winning over General Crowder (13-13).

Charlie Gehringer batted 4 for 4 with a base on balls, double, 3 runs, 3 runs batted in, and 2 stolen bases to help the Detroit Tigers defeat the Chicago White Sox 10-8 in the first game of a doubleheader at Navin Field in Detroit. Ted Lyons (13-15) pitched a 10-hit complete game and singled home John Kerr with the game's first run in the 5th inning as the White Sox won the second game 8-2.

80 years ago
1939

War
Following the start of the invasion of Poland the previous day, the Free City of Danzig (now Gdańsk, Poland) was annexed by Germany.



Baseball
The New York Giants and Brooklyn Dodgers combined to hit 9 home runs as the Giants defeated the Dodgers 10-6 in the first game of a doubleheader before 40,031 fans at the Polo Grounds in New York. The Dodgers won the second game 7-2.

75 years ago
1944

Hit parade
#1 single in the U.S.A. (Billboard): Swinging on a Star--Bing Crosby with John Scott Trotter and his Orchestra and the Williams Brothers Quartet (Best Seller--5th week at #1; Jukebox--3rd week at #1)

Died on this date
George Norris, 83. U.S. politician. Mr. Norris, who was born exactly 100 years before this blogger, was a member of the Republican Party and represented Nebraska in the United States House of Representatives from 1903-1913 and in the Senate from 1913-1943. He was known for his liberal views, isolationism, and support for the Tennessee Valley Authority. In 1936, Mr. Norris left the Republicans and was re-elected as an independent candidate, but was defeated in his bid for a sixth term in the Senate in 1942.

War
Finnish Prime Minister Antti Hackzell said that Finland would quit the war against the U.S.S.R. and that Germany had agreed to withdraw its troops from Finland by September 15. In four columns, Allied armoured forces in France advanced 34 miles along both sides of the Rhone River to a point 14 miles from Lyon. Shortly before noon, U.S. troops entered Belgium, where they captured Tournai, 43 miles from Brussels. U.S. forces in Italy moved across the Arno River in a new offensive, capturing Pisa. U.S. Navy pilot George H.W. Bush was shot down by Japanese forces as he completed a bombing run over the Bonin Islands.

World events
Philosophy professor Juan Jose Arevalo, exiled by the Guatemalan government, returned to Guatemala from Argentina.

Economics and finance
U.S. Office of War Mobilization Director James Byrnes created a War Plants Utilization Committee to direct reconversion of an estimated $15 billion worth of government-owned war plants.

Health
The U.S. National Foundation for Infantile Paralysis said that more than $1 million had been spent in 1944 fighting the spreading polio epidemics.

70 years ago
1949

At the movies
White Heat, directed by Raoul Walsh, and starring James Cagney, Virginia Mayo, and Edmond O'Brien, opened in theatres.





Died on this date
Walter Kirke, 72. U.K. military officer. General Sir Walter served in Indian from 1901-1902 and in Frnace and Belgium during World War I, but was best known as Commander-in-Chief, Home Forces from 1939 until his retirement in 1940.

Economics and finance
Yugoslavia liquidated joint enterprises with the U.S.S.R. in Danubian shipping and Balkan civil aviation.

Labour
The Canadian Seamen's Union withdrew from the Trades and Labour Congress in a disagreement over its strike against Eastern Canadian shippers.

Disasters
A fire in the Nationalist Chinese capital of Chungking caused 1,700 deaths and damaged 10,000 buildings on the city's waterfront.

60 years ago
1959

Diplomacy
U.S. President Dwight D. Eisenhower was warmly greeted in Paris by French President Charles de Gaulle.

Defense
Argentine War Minister Elbio Anaya dismissed Army Commander-in-Chief General Carlos Severo Toranzo Montero, accusing him of "misunderstanding the extent of his authority."

Politics and government
Pakistani President Mohammed Ayub Khan announced plans for creation of a pyramidal system of local and provincial councils designed to establish the "basic democracies" in Pakistan.

Karl Schirdewan and Fritz Selbmann, East German Communist Party leaders purged in 1958, confessed that they had sought to wrest control of the party from First Secretary Walter Ulbricht.

Crime
A U.S. federal grand jury in Chicago indicted 21 suspects, including three police officers, on charges of operating a coast-to-coast narcotics ring with headquarters in Chicago.

Baseball
Vada Pinson, Frank Robinson, and Willie "Puddin’ Head" Jones hit home runs to help the Cincinnati Reds overcome a 3-0 deficit to defeat the Pittsburgh Pirates 6-3 in the first game of a twi-night doubleheader before 13,014 fans at Crosley Field in Cincinnati. Mr. Jones' 3-run blast in the bottom of the 8th inning broke a 3-3 tie. The Pirates scored their run in the 1st inning when Dick Groat singled, Roberto Clemente tripled him home, and Dick Stuart followed with a home run. Jim O'Toole pitched a 6-hit complete game victory to improve his 1959 record to 5-7, while Vernon Law took the loss, dropping to 15-8. With 2 out in the bottom of the 8th inning of the second game, Johnny Temple tripled and Mr. Pinson doubled him home to break a 1-1 tie as the Reds won 2-1 to complete the sweep. Don Newcombe (13-7) pitched a 9-hitter to win the pitchers' duel over Bob Friend (8-16), who allowed 8 hits, including a single by Mr. Newcombe to score Eddie Kasko in the 5th inning to open the scoring. The doubleheader loss left the fourth-place Pirates 5 games behind the National League-leading San Francisco Giants.

The Philadelphia Phillies scored 3 runs in each of the 3rd and 6th innings and 4 in the 8th as they beat the Milwaukee Braves 11-5 before 18,047 fans at County Stadium in Milwaukee, dropping the third-place Braves 4 games behind the NL-leading Giants. Robin Roberts (12-15) pitched a 10-hit complete game victory to win over Lou Burdette (18-14).

Jackie Brandt’s home run with 1 out in the bottom of the 9th inning gave the San Francisco Giants a 4-3 win over the Chicago Cubs before 16,422 fans at Seals Stadium in San Francisco, and enabled them to remain 1½ games ahead of the Los Angeles Dodgers in the National League pennant race. The Cubs had scored 2 runs in the top of the 9th off Mike McCormick to tie the game.

The Los Angeles Dodgers overcame an early 5-1 deficit to defeat the St. Louis Cardinals 9-6 before 15,671 fans at Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum. Chuck Churn, the last of four Dodger pitchers, allowed 4 hits and 1 run--earned--in 4 2/3 innings to get his first major league win.

The Chicago White Sox extended their American League lead over the second-place Cleveland Indians to 5½ games with a doubleheader sweep of the Detroit Tigers before 43,237 fans at Comiskey Park in Chicago. Sherm Lollar doubled home 2 runs in the 1st inning as the White Sox cruised to a 7-2 win in the first game, with Dick Donovan (9-6) allowing 4 hits and 2 earned runs in 8 innings to win over Frank Lary (17-9). The White Sox trailed 3-0 when they erupted for 11 runs in the 5th inning and coasted to an 11-4 win in the second game. The last 10 Chicago runs were scored after there were 2 out and nobody on base--an American League record. Joe Stanka made his major league debut, relieving starting pitcher Barry Latman with 1 out in the top of the 5th inning of the second game. Mr. Stanka allowed 1 hit and 1 run--earned--in 3 1/3 innings to get the win, while batting 1 for 3, singling home a run in his first plate appearance and scoring in the 5th.

50 years ago
1969

Hit parade
#1 single in Switzerland (Swiss Hitparade): Je t'aime...mon non plus--Jane Birkin avec Serge Gainsbourg

Died on this date
Ho Chi Minh, 79. President of North Vietnam, 1945-1969. A long-time Communist, Ho Chi Minh engineered the defeat of French forces at Dien Bien Phu in 1954, and led his countrymen against American and South Vietnamese forces in the 1960s. He died in Hanoi after what was reported as a "sudden" heart attack.

James A. Pike, 56. U.S. clergyman. A publicity-seeking wolf in sheep’s clothing, Rev. Pike was the Episcopal Bishop of California who broke with the Episcopal Church in 1968 after years of publicly questioning and denying Christian doctrine, which culminated in his being tried for heresy in 1966. Rev. Pike became involved with the occult, and appeared on the CTV news program W5 in 1967, attempting to contact the spirit of his dead son through psychic Arthur Ford. Rev. Pike and his 31-year-old wife Diane were visiting the Judean Desert, near the Dead Sea, when their car broke down on the evening of September 1. They walked away, but Rev. Pike was unable to continue for long, and told his wife to go on alone. She did, and wandered into a work camp 13 hours later. Rev. Pike was nowhere near the car when the search party arrived, but it was believed that it was highly unlikely that he could have survived for more than 24 hours in the 100-degree heat. His body was discovered on September 7. He had apparently fallen onto a ledge when he sought to climb out of a deep canyon near the Dead Sea. Rev. Pike’s funeral was attended by three surviving wives. The book The Bishop Pike Affair by William Stringfellow and Anthony Towne (1967) is an account of the heresy trial which is sympathetic to Rev. Pike.

Willy Mairesse, 40. Belgian auto racing driver. Mr. Mairesse participated in 13 Formula One races from 1960-1963 and 1965, with a best finish of third in the 1960 Italian Grand Prix. He won the Angola Grand Prix in 1964 and the 1966 Targa Florio, and finished second (1961) and third (1965, 1967) in the 24 Hours of Le Mans. Mr. Mairesse suffered career-ending injuries in a crash in the 1968 24 Hours of Le Mans, and committed suicide with an overdose of sleeping pills in a hotel room in Ostend, 29 days before his 41st birthday.

Personal
This blogger began grade 3 in Mrs. Fizer’s class at Yellowknife Public School.

War
Xuan Thuy, the chief North Vietnamese delegate at the Paris peace talks, indicated that some progress could be made at the talks if the United States accelerated its troop withdrawals from South Vietnam. Mr. Thuy, who termed the previous month’s withdrawal "insignificant," said that the U.S. must put the principle of withdrawal "into practice."

Two American prisoners of war recently released by North Vietnam told stories of brutality and torture inflicted during their imprisonment. One of the POWs, Lieutenant Robert Frishman of the U.S. Navy, said that fellow officers had been strung up by their wrists and had their fingernails removed.

Politics and government
A 31-member cabinet, the largest in the 14-year history of the Republic of South Vietnam, was presented by President Nguyen Van Thieu and his new premier, General Tran Thien Khiem. Technocrats and soldiers were heavily represented, with military men in the key posts, but the cabinet seemed most notable for the omission of political leaders of the non-Communist opposition party.

The National Governors Conference, meeting in Colorado Springs, accepted a proposal by New York Governor Nelson Rockefeller to urge a U.S. federal government takeover of all welfare costs within five years, and adoption of a national compulsory health insurance program.

Protest
A dusk-to-dawn curfew was imposed on Hartford, Connecticut following widespread Negro ghetto disorders that included fire-bombing and sniping; scores of people were arrested.

Crime
A woman and a policeman were reported killed during sporadic sniper fire on the streets of Camden, New Jersey.

Judge Paul Reardon of the Massachusetts Supreme Court ordered a postponement of the inquest into the death of Mary Jo Kopechne to enable the court to decide if Senator Edward Kennedy’s constitutional rights were being violated. Sen. Kennedy’s lawyer argued that the "gathering crescendo" of publicity could "taint" proceedings against his client.

Technology
The first automatic teller machine to use magnetic-striped cards opened to the public at Chemical Bank in Rockville Centre, New York.

Baseball
Ralph Houk signed a new 3-year contract with the Yankees at $65‚000 a season‚ giving him the highest managerial salary in the major leagues. The Yankees also reinstated first baseman Joe Pepitone, who had quit the team the previous week.

40 years ago
1979

Hit parade
#1 single in New Zealand (RIANZ): Some Girls--Racey (5th week at #1)

#1 single in Switzerland: Tu sei l'unica donna per me--Alan Sorrenti (3rd week at #1)

Died on this date
Otto P. Weyland, 76. U.S. military officer. General Weyland served in the United States Army Air Forces during World War II, but was best known for his postwar service as Commanding General of Tactical Air Command during the Korean War and afterward, and as commander of Far Eastern Air Forces and the United Nations Air Forces from 1951-1954, becoming known as the "father of the new Japanese air force." Gen. Weyland retired from the Air Force on July 31, 1959.

Crime
The body of a young woman, thought to be the twelfth victim of the "Yorkshire Ripper," was discovered in an alleyway near the centre of Bradford, England.

30 years ago
1989

Hit parade
#1 single in Italy (FIMI): Viva la mamma--Edoardo Bennato (8th week at #1)

#1 single in Flanders (Ultratop 50): Lambada--Kaoma (3rd week at #1)

#1 single in France (SNEP): Lambada--Kaoma (6th week at #1)

#1 single in the U.K. (BMRB): Swing the Mood--Jive Bunny and the Mastermixers (5th week at #1)

Netherlands Top 10 (De Nederlandse Top 40)
1 We are Growing--Margaret Singana (4th week at #1)
2 Swing the Mood--Jive Bunny and the Mastermixers
3 Reflections--Diana Ross & the Supremes
4 Blame it on the Rain--Milli Vanilli
5 The Mix--Dance Classics
6 Just Keep Rockin'--Double Trouble & the Rebel MC
7 French Kiss--Lil Louis
8 Hot Hot Hot--Buster Poindexter and his Banshees of Blue
9 Back to Life (However Do You Want Me)--Soul II Soul
10 Do the Right Thing--Redhead Kingpin and the F.B.I.

Singles entering the chart were Lambada by Kaoma (#18); Cherish by Madonna (#24); Sowing the Seeds of Love by Tears for Fears (#26); Stay in My Life by Gerard Joling (#28); Mixed Emotions by the Rolling Stones (#29); and Hey DJ/I Can't Dance To That Music Youre Playing / Ska Train by the Beatmasters featuring Betty Boo (#30).

U.S.A. Top 10 (Billboard)
1 Cold Hearted--Paula Abdul
2 Right Here Waiting--Richard Marx
3 Hangin' Tough--New Kids on the Block
4 Don't Wanna Lose You--Gloria Estefan
5 Angel Eyes--The Jeff Healey Band
6 Heaven--Warrant
7 Secret Rendezvous--Karyn White
8 Shower Me with Your Love--Surface
9 The End of the Innocence--Don Henley
10 Friends--Jody Watley with Eric B. & Rakim

Singles entering the chart were Miss You Much by Janet Jackson (#42); Mixed Emotions by the Rolling Stones (#47); Sowing the Seeds of Love by Tears for Fears (#53); Love in an Elevator by Aerosmith (#56); Dr. Feelgood by Motley Crue (#65); The Best by Tina Turner (#77); Love Shack by the B-52's (#84); Puss n' Boots/These Boots (Are Made for Walkin') by Kon Kan (#93); and I Feel the Earth Move by Martika (#96).

U.S.A. Top 10 (Cash Box)
1 Cold Hearted--Paula Abdul
2 Don't Wanna Lose You--Gloria Estefan
3 Hangin' Tough--New Kids on the Block
4 Right Here Waiting--Richard Marx
5 The End of the Innocence--Don Henley
6 Angel Eyes--The Jeff Healey Band
7 Secret Rendezvous--Karyn White
8 Friends--Jody Watley with Eric B. & Rakim
9 Heaven--Warrant
10 Shower Me with Your Love--Surface

Singles entering the chart were Mixed Emotions by the Rolling Stones (#43); Miss You Much by Janet Jackson (#60); Sowing the Seeds of Love by Tears for Fears (#65); Love in an Elevator by Aerosmith (#72); The Best by Tina Turner (#75); Dr. Feel Good by Motley Crue (#78); Stand Up by Underworld (#87); I Feel the Earth Move by Martika (#90); and On the Line by Tangier (#93).

World events
Poland’s Roman Catholic primate, Cardinal Jozef Glemp, objected to a 1987 agreement to move a Roman Catholic convent from the grounds of Auschwitz, the Nazi death camp in Poland, to a nearby ecumenical centre.

25 years ago
1994

Hit parade
#1 single in Sweden (Topplistan): Cotton Eye Joe--Rednex

#1 single in Ireland (IRMA): Riverdance--Bill Whelan (18th week at #1)

Died on this date
Roy Castle, 62. U.K. entertainer. Mr. Castle was a jazz musician, singer, dancer, actor, and comedian, but was perhaps best known as the presenter of the television program Record Breakers from 1972 until a few months before his death from lung cancer, two days after his 62nd birthday. Although Mr. Castle was a non-smoker, he attributed his illness to playing jazz in smoke-filled nightclubs for years.

Economics and finance
The United States Labor Department reported that the unemployment rate had remained unchanged in August at 6.1%.

Football
CFL
British Columbia (7-1-1) 15 @ Sacramento (3-5-1) 15

Paul McCallum's fourth field goal of the game, from 24 yards with 6:01 remaining in regulation time, enabled the Lions to tie the Gold Miners before 12,633 fans at Hornet Field. Mr. McCallum accounted for all the B.C. points, adding 3 singles. Sacramento scored the only touchdown on a 24-yard pass from David Archer to Rod Harris late in the 2nd quarter, taking a 14-9 lead after Roman Anderson's convert. Mr. Anderson kicked 2 field goals and 2 singles. Overtime was scoreless.



20 years ago
1999

Politics and government
The White House announced that U.S. President Bill Clinton and his wife Hillary had decided to buy a house in Chappaqua, New York, a suburb north of New York City. Mrs. Clinton was expected to announce that she would be a candidate for the United States Senate in New York in 2000, and in order to run, she was required to establish residence there before election day. In typical liberal fashion, the Clintons bought a house in the wealthiest and whitest neighbourhood they could find.

Football
CFL
Montreal (6-3) 23 @ British Columbia (7-2) 44

Damon Allen completed 19 of 25 passes for 365 yards and three touchdowns to lead the Lions to victory before 19,724 at B.C. Place Stadium in Vancouver. Rod Harris caught 2 of Mr. Allen’s scoring strikes, covering 55 and 44 yards. Jimmy Cunningham scored on a 58-yard pass from Mr. Allen, who passed former teammate Matt Dunigan to move into second place on the CFL career passing yardage list.

Baseball
Cal Ripken, Jr. hit his 400th career major league home run, a 3-run shot off Rolando Arroyo in the 3rd inning, as the Baltimore Orioles beat the Tampa Bay Devil Rays 11-6 before 39,172 fans at Oriole Park at Camden Yards.

David Wells pitched a 4-hitter, improving his 1999 record to 13-9, as the Toronto Blue Jays defeated the Minnesota Twins 6-1 before 22,255 fans at SkyDome in Toronto. Toronto rookie outfielder Vernon Wells struck out against Minnesota relief pitcher Bob Wells in the 7th inning.

The Cleveland Indians scored 5 runs in the 6th inning and withstood a 4-run 9rh-inning rally to defeat the Anaheim Angels 6-5 before 43,369 fans at Jacobs Field in Cleveland. Winning pitcher Charles Nagy (15-9) allowed 8 hits and 1 earned run in 7 innings, but three relievers almost blew the lead.

The Detroit Tigers scored 4 runs in the bottom of the 8th inning as they overcame an early 5-0 deficit and defeated the Texas Rangers 8-7 before 22,945 fans at Tiger Stadium. The Rangers had a runner on third base with 1 out in the 9th, but Mark McLemore and Ivan Rodriguez struck out to end the game.

Joe McEwing singled home Craig Paquette with 2 out in the top of the 9th inning to break a 3-3 tie as the St. Louis Cardinals edged the Milwaukee Brewers 4-3 before 23,041 fans at County Stadium in Milwaukee.

10 years ago
2009

Died on this date
Y. S. Rajasekhara Reddy, 60. Indian politician. Dr. Reddy, a member of the Indian National Congress Party, held various offices in Andhra Pradesh beginning in 1978. He was Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh from 2004 until his death in a helicopter crash near Rudrakonda Hill, 40 nautical miles from Kurnool. Four others were killed in the crash.