What Happened on June 4

Historical Events

1892 – Oil City and Titusville, Pennsylvania, destroyed by oil tank explosion; 130 die
1928 – French Championship Women’s Tennis: Helen Wills beats England’s Eileen Bennett 6-1, 6-2 for her first of 4 French singles titles
1928 – President of the Republic of China Zhang Zuolin is assassinated by Japanese agents
1940 – 1st night game at Forbes Field (Pirates 14, Braves 2)
1966 – Novelty single “Batman and His Grandmother” by Dickie Goodman hits #70
1988 – 42nd Tony Awards: “M. Butterfly” (play) and “The Phantom of the Opera” (musical) win

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Famous Birthdays

1754 – Franz Xaver, Baron Von Zach, Austrian astronomer, born in Pest, Hungary (d. 1832)
1803 – Gabriel J. Rains, American army officer, Brigadier General (Confederate Army), born in New Bern, North Carolina (d. 1881)
1914 – Willy-August Linnemann, Danish writer and journalist, born in Harrislee, Germany (d. 1985)
1926 – Nan Leslie [Nan Coppage], American actress (Kings Row, The Californians), born in Los Angeles, California (d. 2000)
1958 – Tony Pigott, English cricketer (England pace bowler in a Test v NZ 1984), born in Fulham, London, England
1966 – Cecilia Bartoli, Italian mezzo-soprano, born in Rome, Italy

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Famous Deaths

1135 – Huizong, 8th Emperor of Song Dynasty of China, dies at 53
1983 – Ivan Tors, Hungarian TV producer (Sea Hunt, Flipper), dies at 66
1997 – Ronnie Lane, British rock bassist (Small Faces), dies of multiple sclerosis at 51
2007 – Clete Boyer, American MLB baseball infielder, 1955-71 (New York Yankees, and 2 other teams), dies at 70
2007 – Freddie Scott, American singer and songwriter (“Cry To Me”), dies at 74
2007 – Jim Clark, American sheriff and segregationist (b. 1922)

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