What Happened on July 18

Olympic Desk

1976 — Comaneci, 14, Records First Perfect 10

Romanian gymnast Nadia Comaneci scores the first perfect 10 in Olympic gymnastics history at Montreal, but the scoreboard shows 1.00.

MONTREAL, July 18 — When Nadia Comaneci finished her uneven bars routine in the team compulsories tonight, the scoreboard blinked a strange number: 1.00.

The 14-year-old Romanian had just received the first perfect 10 in modern Olympic gymnastics history. Omega SA, the Swiss timing company that built the scoreboard, had never programmed it to display a 10, so her flawless mark appeared as a decimal.

Comaneci, a tiny figure with dark braids, went on to earn seven perfect 10s at these Games — four on bars, three on beam — and became the youngest all-around champion ever, a record that cannot be broken under current age rules. Her golds included the all-around, beam and bars, plus a bronze on floor and a silver in the team event.

Soviet gymnast Nellie Kim later matched the feat with a 10 on vault.

• Nadia Comaneci was awarded the first perfect 10 in Olympic gymnastics on July 18, 1976, during the team compulsory uneven bars routine.
• Omega SA had not programmed the scoreboard to display a 10, so Comaneci's perfect score appeared as '1.00'.
• Comaneci earned six additional perfect 10s at the Montreal Games, totaling seven, with four on uneven bars and three on balance beam.
• At age 14, Comaneci became the youngest ever Olympic gymnastics all-around champion, a record that cannot be broken under current age rules.
• Comaneci won gold medals in the individual all-around, balance beam, and uneven bars, plus a bronze on floor and a silver in the team all-around.

War Desk

1936 — Army Revolt Splits Spain, Civil War Begins

Generals' coup attempt fails to seize power, leaving Spain divided as the Nationalists gain backing from Italy and Germany.

The attempted coup by Nationalist generals against the Popular Front government has plunged Spain into civil war. The revolt, which began in July, failed to gain control in almost all important cities, leaving the nation militarily and politically split.

General Francisco Franco, appointed supreme leader of the Nationalists on 1 October, commands rebel forces that now receive munitions, soldiers and air support from Fascist Italy and Nazi Germany. The Republican government, meanwhile, has drawn support from the Soviet Union and Mexico.

• The war began after the partial failure of a coup d'état in July 1936 against the Popular Front government by a group of generals.
• Rebelling units in almost all important cities did not gain control, leaving Spain militarily and politically divided.
• The Nationalist forces received munitions, soldiers, and air support from Fascist Italy and Nazi Germany.
• The Republican government received support from the Soviet Union and Mexico.
• Tens of thousands of citizens from non-interventionist countries directly participated, mostly in the pro-Republican International Brigades.

Music Desk

1995 — Selena's 'Dreaming of You' Debuts at No. 1

Posthumous album sells 175,000 copies in its first day and becomes the first predominantly Spanish-language release to top the Billboard 200.

It has been three months since Selena Quintanilla-Pérez was killed, and yet her voice still tops the charts. Dreaming of You, the Tejano singer's first English-language crossover album, released posthumously, debuted at number one on the Billboard 200 this week — the first predominantly Spanish-language release to do so.

Selena, who was 23, sold 175,000 copies of the album on its first day, a then-record for a female artist. First-week sales reached 331,155 units, the second-highest total for a female vocalist at the time.

• Dreaming of You sold 175,000 copies on its first day, a then-record for a female artist.
• The album debuted at number one on the Billboard 200, the first predominantly Spanish-language release to do so.
• It sold 331,155 units in its first week, the second-highest total for a female vocalist at the time.
• Selena became the first Tejano artist to top the Billboard 200 chart.
• Dreaming of You holds Guinness World Records for first Latin solo artist to debut at number one and first solo posthumous number-one debut.

Malta Desk

1806 — Gunpowder Blast Kills 200 in Birgu

Bombardier Anderson's metal chisel sparks explosion of 40,000 lb of gunpowder, destroying fortifications and killing civilians and soldiers.

BOMBARDIER ANDERSON, a British artilleryman, caused the terrible explosion that destroyed a gunpowder magazine in Birgu on 18 July, killing an estimated 200 people, according to reports from Malta.

Anderson, contrary to instructions, used a metal chisel to remove fuses from live shells, igniting the magazine's contents. Approximately 40,000 lb (18,000 kg) of gunpowder detonated at 06:15, leveling parts of Birgu's fortifications, naval stores, and many houses.

The blast, which killed both British and Maltese military personnel and civilians, occurred when the magazine was at full capacity with 370 barrels of gunpowder and 1,600 shells and grenades.

• Approximately 40,000 lb (18,000 kg) of gunpowder detonated in a magazine in Birgu, Malta on 18 July 1806.
• The explosion killed an estimated 200 people, including British and Maltese military personnel and civilians.
• Bombardier Anderson caused the explosion by using a metal chisel to remove fuses from live shells, contrary to instructions.
• The blast occurred at 06:15, destroying parts of Birgu's fortifications, naval stores, and many houses.
• The magazine contained 370 barrels of gunpowder and 1,600 shells and grenades at full capacity.

Newsboys' War

1899 — Newsboys Overturn Journal Wagon; Strike Begins

Long Island City lads start a two-week revolt against the big dailies.

Nearly two-thirds of the World's press run vanished within days. The strike began when newsboys from Long Island City overturned a distribution wagon of the New York Journal. Many New York newsboys refuse to deliver the major papers, and they ask the public to boycott them.

Joseph Pulitzer's World has seen its circulation fall nearly two-thirds during the two weeks. After two hectic weeks, the papers capitulated, agreeing to buy back all unsold papers.

The newsboys' union has since disbanded.

• Many New York newsboys refused to deliver major newspapers and asked the public to boycott them during the strike.
• Joseph Pulitzer's World saw its press run fall by nearly two-thirds during the two-week strike.
• After two hectic weeks, the papers capitulated and agreed to buy back all unsold papers.
• The newsboys' union disbanded after the strike ended.

War Department

1863 — 54th Massachusetts Charges Fort Wagner; Shaw Falls

The 54th Massachusetts attacked Fort Wagner on July 18, 1863, with 20 killed, 125 wounded, and 102 missing; Shaw died, and Carney saved the flag.

At 7:45 p.m. on July 18, 1863, Colonel Robert Gould Shaw led the 54th Massachusetts Infantry Regiment, one of the first African-American units in the Union Army, in a spearheading assault on Fort Wagner, South Carolina. The regiment suffered 20 killed, 125 wounded, and 102 missing.

Colonel Shaw was killed on the parapet. Sergeant William Carney recovered the unit's U.S. flag.

• The 54th Massachusetts suffered 20 killed, 125 wounded, and 102 missing in the assault.
• Colonel Robert Gould Shaw was killed on the parapet of Fort Wagner during the charge.
• Sergeant William Carney of the 54th Massachusetts recovered the unit's U.S. flag and later received the Medal of Honor.
• The assault began at 7:45 p.m. on July 18, 1863, after an eight-hour Union bombardment.
• Confederate forces buried Colonel Shaw in an unmarked mass grave with his African-American soldiers.

Central America Desk

1949 — Guatemalan Army Chief Slain in Shootout

Arana dies after ultimatum; revolt quelled, 150 dead.

Gunfire crackled along the road where Francisco Javier Arana's convoy was intercepted. The chief of the Guatemalan armed forces was killed in a shootout with supporters of President Juan José Arévalo, led by Jacobo Árbenz. Three men died, including Arana.

Arana had delivered an ultimatum to President Arévalo on 16 July, demanding expulsion of Árbenz's supporters or a coup. His military backers rose in revolt, but leaderless, they were quelled by the next day. Approximately 150 died and 200 were wounded.

• Francisco Javier Arana delivered an ultimatum to President Arévalo on 16 July 1949, demanding expulsion of Árbenz's supporters or face a coup.
• On 18 July 1949, Arana's convoy was intercepted by a force led by Jacobo Árbenz, sparking a shootout.
• Three men were killed in the shootout, including Arana, the Guatemalan army chief.
• Arana's supporters in the military rose in revolt but were leaderless, quelled by the next day.
• The coup attempt left approximately 150 dead and 200 wounded, according to the source.

City Desk

1966 — Cleveland's Hough Erupts in Six-Day Riot

Negro residents, angered by racism and poverty, begin uprising in two-square-mile area.

The powder keg has blown. Cleveland's Hough neighborhood, a two-square-mile area bounded by Superior and Euclid Avenue between East 55th and East 105th streets, erupted in violence as Negro residents, angered by racism and poverty, began rioting.

Months before, the Cleveland Press had called Hough a 'powder keg,' citing tensions akin to the Watts Uprising. The violence is expected to last six days.

Reverend Deforest Brown's Hough Area Development Corporation was organized in the wake of the disturbance.

• The Hough neighborhood is roughly two square miles, bounded by Superior and Euclid Avenue between East 55th and East 105th streets.
• The riot lasted six days, from July 18 to July 23, 1966.
• Just months before the riots, the Cleveland Press described Hough as a 'powder keg,' citing racial tensions akin to the Watts Uprising.
• The Hough Area Development Corporation was founded by Reverend Deforest Brown in the wake of the 1966 uprising.
• The riot was sparked by anger over racism and poverty among African American residents.

Realm

1290 — Edward I Banishes Jews From All England

Edict of Expulsion sends the realm's Jews across the Channel, with the Crown seizing their goods and securing a £110,000 subsidy.

In a realm long wearied by discord, the King has now purged England of its Jews, commanding by edict that all depart before the feast of All Saints. The decree, issued in the eighteenth year of Edward's reign, casts them out as a people charged with treachery and criminality, done, as the King avers, 'in honour of the Crucified.'

Already the Jews crowd the ports, crossing to France, though many have perished in the October storms and some fallen to pirates. The Crown, meanwhile, has disposed of their chattels and houses through sales and eighty-five grants to courtiers and family. The expulsion was bought by a lay subsidy of £110,000, the greatest granted in the medieval age.

• The Edict of Expulsion in 1290 formally expelled all Jews from England, marking a permanent removal reversed only in the 1650s.
• As Jews crossed the Channel to France, some became victims to piracy and many died in the October storms.
• The Crown disposed of Jewish property through sales and 85 grants made to courtiers and family.
• The edict was part of a deal to secure a lay subsidy of £110,000 from Parliament, the largest granted in the medieval period.
• Edward claimed the expulsion was done 'in honour of the Crucified' and blamed the Jews for treachery and criminality.

Forecourt

2014 — Berlusconi Cleared of Underage Sex Charge

Appeals court quashes the seven-year sentence and lifetime ban imposed on the former premier a year ago.

Silvio Berlusconi, the former Italian prime minister, was acquitted on Friday by an appeals court in Milan of charges that he paid for sex with an underage prostitute. The ruling overturns the conviction of June 2013, which had sentenced him to seven years in prison and a lifetime ban from public office.

Berlusconi, 77, had denied the charges, and his lawyers argued the evidence was weak.

• On 18 July 2014, an Italian appeals court acquitted Silvio Berlusconi from sex charges involving an underage prostitute.
• Berlusconi had been sentenced to seven years in prison and banned from public office for life in June 2013.
• The conviction was quashed by the appeals court on 18 July 2014, one year after the original verdict.

City Desk

1989 — Actress Schaeffer Slain by Stalker

Police say 19-year-old Tucson man shot the sitcom star at her West Hollywood home after years of pursuit.

A 19-year-old Tucson man shot and killed actress Rebecca Schaeffer at her West Hollywood home Tuesday, police said. Robert John Bardo, an unemployed janitor, had stalked the 21-year-old star of the CBS sitcom "My Sister Sam" for three years, writing her numerous letters, one of which she answered.

• On July 18, 1989, Robert John Bardo, a 19-year-old unemployed janitor from Tucson, Arizona, shot and killed Rebecca Schaeffer at her West Hollywood home.
• Bardo had stalked Schaeffer for three years and wrote numerous letters to her, one of which she answered.
• Bardo paid a detective agency $250 to obtain Schaeffer's home address from California DMV records.
• Bardo acquired a Ruger GP100 .357 revolver with his brother's help.
• Schaeffer's death helped lead to California's passage of legislation aimed at preventing stalking.

Empire

1841 — Pedro II Crowned Emperor of Brazil

The 14-year-old monarch is acclaimed and consecrated at the Old Cathedral of Rio de Janeiro.

Pedro II, the last emperor of Brazil, was crowned and consecrated at the Old Cathedral of Rio de Janeiro on this day, 18 July 1841. The General Assembly had declared the 14-year-old of age on 23 July 1840, ending the regency period marked by disputes and rebellions.

• Pedro II was acclaimed, crowned, and consecrated as Emperor of Brazil on 18 July 1841.
• The General Assembly had declared the 14-year-old Pedro II of age on 23 July 1840.
• The regency period before his coronation was marked by political disputes and rebellions across the nation.

Leipzig Church Music

1723 — Bach Leads New Cantata in Leipzig

The Thomaskantor directs his first performance of Erforsche mich, Gott, und erfahre mein Herz.

In the nave of St. Thomas Church, the new Thomaskantor, Johann Sebastian Bach, raised his baton. He directed the first performance of his cantata, Erforsche mich, Gott, und erfahre mein Herz.

• Bach was hired as Thomaskantor, church music director of Leipzig, in 1723.
• As Thomaskantor, Bach was responsible for music in four Lutheran city churches and the St. Thomas School.
• Bach decided to compose annual cycles of church cantatas after his appointment in Leipzig.