What Happened on August 3

Science Desk

1971 — Fighting Dinosaurs Fossil Unearthed in Gobi Desert

A Velociraptor and Protoceratops locked in mortal combat, preserved for 75 million years — direct evidence of predatory behavior in dinosaurs.

ULAN BATOR, Aug. 3 — A six-member team, including Altangerel Perle, has unearthed a fossil of two dinosaurs locked in combat in the Djadochta Formation of Mongolia, at the Tugriken Shire locality in the Gobi Desert.

The specimen, dubbed the Fighting Dinosaurs, preserves a Protoceratops andrewsi and a Velociraptor mongoliensis in what appears to be a death struggle, frozen in time from 75 to 71 million years ago.

Scientists say the fossil provides direct evidence of predatory or agonistic behavior in non-avian dinosaurs, a rare glimpse into the lives of these ancient creatures. The exact circumstances of their preservation remain unclear, with hypotheses including drowning, burial by dune collapse, or a sudden sandstorm.

The discovery opens a window into the prehistoric past, offering a dramatic tableau of a Velociraptor's claws and a Protoceratops's beak, forever locked in a moment of titanic struggle.

• The Fighting Dinosaurs fossil preserves a Protoceratops andrewsi and a Velociraptor mongoliensis locked in combat from 75 to 71 million years ago.
• A six-member team, including Altangerel Perle, discovered the specimen at the Tugriken Shire locality in the Gobi Desert on August 3, 1971.
• The fossil provides direct evidence of predatory or agonistic behavior in non-avian dinosaurs.
• Hypotheses for the pair's preservation include drowning, burial by dune collapse, or a sandstorm.

Sporting News

1936 — Owens Wins First of Four Golds at Berlin Games

Owens wins first of four golds, setting Olympic records in the 100 meters, 200 meters, long jump, and relay.

BERLIN, Aug. 3 — Jesse Owens, the African-American athlete from Ohio State, won the first of his four gold medals at the Berlin Olympics today, dashing Nazi leaders' hopes of Aryan domination at the games.

Owens triumphed in the 100 meters, and later added victories in the long jump, 200 meters, and the 4 × 100-meter relay, setting individual Olympic records in each event.

Earlier, Adi Dassler, founder of Adidas, visited Owens in the Olympic village and persuaded him to wear Gebrüder Dassler Schuhfabrik shoes. The games, the first to be televised and the first with a torch relay from Olympia, continue through Aug. 15.

• Jesse Owens won the 100 meters, long jump, 200 meters, and 4 × 100-meter relay at the 1936 Berlin Olympics.
• Owens set individual Olympic records in each of his four gold medal events at the 1936 Games.
• Adi Dassler, founder of Adidas, visited Owens in the Olympic village and persuaded him to wear Gebrüder Dassler Schuhfabrik shoes.
• The 1936 Summer Olympics were held from 1 to 16 August 1936 in Berlin, Germany.
• These were the first Olympic Games to be televised and the first to feature a torch relay from Olympia to the host city.

World Report

2005 — Military Coup Overthrows Mauritanian President

Soldiers seize government buildings and state media while President attends Saudi king's funeral.

NOUAKCHOTT, Aug. 3 — While President Maaouya Ould Sid'Ahmed Taya attended the funeral of King Fahd of Saudi Arabia, soldiers seized government buildings and state media, announcing a coup. The council named itself the Military Council for Justice and Democracy, citing a need to end "totalitarian practices."

• President Maaouya Ould Sid'Ahmed Ould Taya was overthrown while attending the funeral of King Fahd of Saudi Arabia in early August 2005.
• Soldiers seized government buildings and state media during his absence, announcing a coup.
• The coup leaders identified themselves as the Military Council for Justice and Democracy (CMJD).
• The CMJD announced the coup on August 3, 2005, via the state news agency, citing the need to end 'totalitarian practices.'
• After the coup, Ould Taya fled to Niger, then Banjul, Gambia, and arrived in Qatar on August 22, 2005.

Aviation

1975 — Boeing 707 Crash Near Agadir Kills 188

Chartered Boeing 707 crashes into mountain, killing all 188 aboard.

RABAT, Aug. 3 — A privately chartered Boeing 707 crashed into a mountain near Agadir, Morocco, today, killing all 188 aboard. The incident is the deadliest in the aircraft's history.

• The deadliest incident involving the 707 was the Agadir air disaster.

Chronicle of War

1347 — Calais Yields to English After Long Siege

Edward III's victory ends the Crecy campaign and secures a vital port.

LONDON, Aug. 3 — In the annals of this long war, few sieges have matched the endurance of Calais, which has now fallen to the English crown after eleven months of blockade and assault. King Edward III, having marched north unopposed after the field of Crecy, laid close siege to the town on the Channel, and its capitulation marks a crowning achievement of his campaign.

The town's surrender delivers into English hands a strategic port that will serve to hold troops in northern France for years to come. Its walls, long battered, have opened to the king's men, and the English banner now flies over the ramparts.

• Edward III of England proceeded north unopposed and besieged the city of Calais on the English Channel.
• Calais was captured by English forces in 1347, becoming a strategic asset for holding troops in northern France.
• Calais remained under English control after the Hundred Years' War until the French recaptured it in 1558.

Religious Affairs

1929 — Krishnamurti Dissolves Order of the Star

Teacher renounces doctrine, declares 'truth is a pathless land.'

OMMEN, Aug. 3 — Jiddu Krishnamurti, long heralded by many Theosophists as the probable vehicle for the messianic 'World Teacher,' has dissolved the Order of the Star, the organization created to support his mission. He said truth is a pathless land, urging followers to abandon all doctrine and authority.

• Krishnamurti dissolved the Order of the Star during the annual Star Camp at Ommen, the Netherlands, on 3 August 1929.
• He stated that he had made his decision after 'careful consideration' during the previous two years.
• He turned against the Theosophical Society's elaborate worldview of spiritual progress guided by 'Masters'.
• Krishnamurti asserted that 'truth is a pathless land' and advised against following any doctrine, teacher, or authority, including himself.

Business Desk

1977 — Tandy Unveils TRS-80 at $399

Tandy's new TRS-80, priced at $399 for the basic model, is among the first mass-produced personal computers.

NEW YORK, Aug. 3 — Tandy Corporation announced the TRS-80 at a press conference here, one of the first mass-produced personal computers. The basic model costs $399, or $599 with monitor and tape recorder, undercutting a $500 stereo, the previous top Radio Shack product. Over 15,000 called to order, and 250,000 paid a $100 deposit to join the waiting list. The machine uses a Zilog Z80 microprocessor with 4 KB of memory, built at a cost of under $150,000. Tandy produced 3,500 units initially, matching its store count.

• Tandy Corporation announced the TRS-80 at a New York City press conference on August 3, 1977.
• The TRS-80 cost US$399, or US$599 with a 12-inch monitor and tape recorder, the most expensive Radio Shack product previously being a US$500 stereo.
• Over 15,000 people called to purchase a TRS-80, and 250,000 joined the waiting list with a $100 deposit.
• The TRS-80 used a Zilog Z80 8-bit microprocessor and had 4 KB DRAM standard memory.
• Development cost less than US$150,000, and Tandy built 3,500 units initially, matching the number of Radio Shack stores.

War Report

1940 — Italians Open Drive on British Somaliland

Forces cross frontier as East African campaign begins.

NAIROBI, Aug. 3 — Italian, Eritrean, and Somali forces have begun a conquest of British Somaliland, crossing the frontier today in the opening move of the East African campaign. The drive is expected to move swiftly inland toward the key town of Hargeisa, with little opposition reported so far.

• Italian forces captured British Somaliland in 16 days.
• The invasion lasted from 3 to 19 August 1940 as part of the East African campaign.
• Italian, Eritrean and Somali forces defeated British, Commonwealth and colonial troops supported by Somali irregulars.
• The British defeat at the Battle of Tug Argan (11–15 August) led to a retreat toward Berbera.
• Major-General Reade Godwin-Austen ordered a retreat after a failed counter-attack toward the Mirgo Pass.

Engineering

1997 — Sky Tower Opens in Auckland, Soaring 328 Metres

New Zealand's Sky Tower, the tallest freestanding structure in the Southern Hemisphere, opens as part of the SkyCity complex.

AUCKLAND, Aug. 3 — At 328 metres, the Sky Tower now dominates the Auckland skyline, the tallest freestanding structure in the Southern Hemisphere. The tower opened today as the centrepiece of the SkyCity casino complex, built for Harrah's Entertainment.

Fletcher Construction raised the tower, with engineering by Beca Group and design by Gordon Moller of Craig Craig Moller Architects. The tower includes New Zealand's only revolving restaurant, 190 metres up, turning full circle every hour.

It draws an average of 1,150 visitors daily, more than 415,000 a year. The SkyJump, a 192-metre guided leap from the observation deck, sends jumpers down at up to 85 km/h.

• The Sky Tower is 328 metres (1,076 ft) tall, making it the second-tallest freestanding structure in the Southern Hemisphere.
• The tower opened on 3 August 1997 as part of the SkyCity Auckland casino complex, built for Harrah's Entertainment.
• Fletcher Construction was the builder, Beca Group provided engineering services, and Gordon Moller of Craig Craig Moller Architects designed it.
• The tower attracts an average of 1,150 visitors per day, over 415,000 per year.
• It features New Zealand's only revolving restaurant, located 190 m (620 ft) from the ground, turning 360 degrees every hour.

India Despatches

1857 — Arrah Siege Raised; Relief Force Breaks Rebel Lines

Eight-day standoff ends as Major Eyre's men reach the fortified house and disperse rebels.

CALCUTTA, Aug. 3 — The eight-day siege of Arrah is over. A relief party has reached the fortified outbuilding where 68 defenders held out against more than 10,000 rebels, dispersing the besiegers and ending the standoff.

The relief came after two earlier attempts failed. On July 29, 400 men from Danapur were ambushed and driven back. Major Vincent Eyre, leading the 5th Fusiliers, marched from Buxar on July 30, disobeying orders. On August 2, his force was ambushed six miles from Arrah, but charged and stormed the rebel positions. Eyre's men reached the siege house today, and the defenders were freed.

• On 29 July 1857, 400 men from Danapur sent to relieve the Arrah siege were ambushed and driven back.
• Major Vincent Eyre, leading the 5th Fusiliers, marched from Buxar to Arrah on 30 July, disobeying direct orders.
• On 2 August, Eyre's force was ambushed 6 miles from Arrah but charged and stormed rebel positions.
• The siege of Arrah ended on 3 August 1857 when Major Eyre's men reached the siege house.