Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-06-10
FIFTY YEARS AGO
IN THE STAR


Washington has always been a mecca
half a century ago 1t had Its
Eccentric full share of that class Of
Visitors. people. The Star Of June 2.
1856. in a news article de-
scriptive of visitors Of this class then IN
Washington city during session of Con-
gress has long been noted for Its assem-
blage of odd visitors from different parts Of
the Union. who make their way here doubt
less with most magnificent expectations in
their crazed brains of something or other to
be attained through Congress or govern
ment Thus we have had among other eccen-
tricities The Lion Of the West Robertson.
Editor of the Truth George Washington
Daggert, Heir to Louis PHILIPPE and
Grandson to George Washington and
more recently Charles Anton Sacksie, who
claims to be Bishop of the General Church.
Magician and Senator. The latest arrival
Is an individual. name unknown VINO mas
the most melancholy forebodtngs OF ap-
preaching dissolution and goes about oress-
ed in 1amingfred vest. inviting the puphc
to be present at his funeral
1.-THE Editor of the Truth was round 10
be rather an intolerable nuisance, ana was
accordingly placed under the charge OIL ".
Eastern branch Poor George, who was
harmless enough. but sadly In need OF care,
and especially of protection from our
vicious city boys. is also receiving the
friendly shelter of this retreat for the UNI
fortunate Sacksie, The Bishop, Magician
and Senator is now confined as dan
gerous maniac and Is awaiting the action
of the grand jury
A municipal election was held in Wash
ington the I'd of June, resulting in a VIC
tory for the anti-knownotn-
Election ing party, whose ticket was
Ruction. headed by DIR. Magruder for
mayor The election was ex-
citing. and in some parts Of the city was
attended by disorder. In The Star OF June
g. 1855 is the following description OF one
Of these rows:
"At all polls of the city other than that
of the northern precinct Of the fourth ward
general good order prevailed. with rev
slight and unimportant exceptions. In the
precinct named, at about noon in the day.
a disturbance took place the commence
ment of which Is yariously stated-one YER
sion, that citizen having had his place
in the line of voters temporarily filled. on
resuming 1t was dragged from the line by
a German named Schaefer, which led to
an attack on the German and then on the
Irish who were present and In rhe nelgh-
borhood: another, that the German ana a
native citizen were playing little roughly
with each other, when an lrishman was
also struck, when the general melee com
menced. There is pretty general agree
ment however, that after the beginning OF
the row the Irish were pursued and beaten
and pelted with stones and brickbats with
very little resistance on their part In some
Uses 1t being represented that irish Wo-
men were struck down while trying TO
draw off their children or interposing TO
fhair h,IS rdS or hrnthpTS-
duct of the police Is variously character
ized according to the bias and partiaHty
and impartiality of the various persons
who witnessed or were engaged In the
fracas 1t Is represented that some shots
were fired by the officers, though not sup
posed with any very bad effects as we
understand that no one was killed or Sc
riousy wounded. We have been INFORMED
that after the disturbance took place II
was with great difficulty that foreign-bo
voters could be got or induced to return TO
the polls; and 1T is believed that number
OF anti-knownothing votes were lost In the
fourth ward this account
Thunderstorns were frequent about this
time half century ago, as they are now.
Jupiter Pluvius not hav-
Destruction ing changed his habits
By Storm. during the interval. In
The Star of June 9. 1885.
Is the following account Of results of
a storm which visited the city the day pre-
vious:
Yesterday during the heavy storm OF
wind that visited this city the new Pres
byterian Church In the first ward on l, be-
tween 21St and 22d streets was struck by
lightning and seriously injured. The square
tower, which was in progress Of erection
and which had reached about thirty feet
above the roof. was nearly all thrown down,
~ Arfa Col Ift1rr rlflf hf.1Q
through section of 1t and penetrating to
the basement. The loss will probably
amount to 1000 or 1920. We are inform
ed that just previous to this occurrence
the workmen had descended to the roof In
the tower and were there at the time; but
fortunately none of them were hurt. We
also learn that another house in the first
ward was slightly damaged by the light
ming. The Metropolitan House, near the
steamboat wharf. was also struck and some
bricks torn from the walls. number of
persons sitting In and about the house were
stunned
Another parag graph describes a result OF
the storm which The Star characterized as
"a public calamity:
During the storm yesterday the noble
and venerable oak which for many years
had shaded the spring at Arlington was
Frustrated by the wind. This will cause
many q sigh among the young and gay who
were accustomed to enjoy the summer days
protected from the scorching rays of the
sun by this monarch of the forest and
seated beneath its wide-spreadng branches
have listened with delight to tales of by
gone days from the lips Of the venerable
and beloved proprietor of Arlington. He
viii receive the warm sympathy of the
community in its loss, which indeed may
well be considered a public calamity
--+-ses--s-
THE HORRORS OF PACKIEGTOWH.
From the Milwaukee Evening Wisconsin