Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-11-18
FIFTY YEARS ago
In THE STAR

Freak election bets were not uncommon
In this country half . century ago. Politi-
cal enthusiasts offered then.
Freak as now, to humiliate them
Bet. selves in public II the votes
ran against them. In The
Star Of November 10. 1885, 10 the following
account OF performance OF this kind. In
which the chief actor was a man well
known in Washington newspaper circles:
Major Ben. Per1ey Poore, the late Fill
more candidate for Congress in the sixth
district, Massachusetts. arrived In Boston
Friday afternoon with his wheeybarrow and
barrel OF apples. which he had wheeled all
the way from West Newbury. distance of
thirty-two miles. in two and a half days.
The major. wheeling his apples, was es-
corted up State street by the Fillmore clubs
of Boston and Charlestown, military COM
pany and mounted cavalcade Of citizens
The novelty of the performances collected
many thousands of people. and the major
was greeted with tremendous and tumu]t-
uous applause on all sides. He delivered
the apples to Col. Burbank on the steps of
the fremont House, when both gentlemen
delivered congratulatory speeches, mounted
on the barrel. When the procession turned
into State street the scene was strongly sug-
gesttve OF some OF the most marked personal
ovations in the history OF Boston. So
dense was the crowd in and on either side
of the street that the procession advanced
with difficulty; and the rush Of spectators
from either hand almost completely broke
up the order Of ths ranks The major him
self would have been sadly hustled but for
the protection Of the guard Of honor. AL
most every window and balcony, and even
spectators. ell apparently dying with
laughter at the figure cut by the humorous
major. The applause was loud and con-
tinuous. and not few white handkerchiefs
who plodded and trundled steadily on"
-
1t has been many q day since fire-dshters
In this city were hampered by mobs, and
the following extract from
ERE The Star Of November IL.
Riot. 1856. will doubtless disclose
to the present generation a
state Of affairs from which It h well to
have been emancipated:
AT the IRE In the seventh ward last
night an attempt was made by some row.
dies to take possession Of the hose and reel
OF the Franklin company, and they sue
ceeoed temporarily, but the apparatus was
soon retaken by the Franklin. Pistols,
sticks and stones were freely used By the
combatants. and several persons were
struck Waterman Joseph s. Norwood ar
rested young man named Warner, who
appeared to be prominent in the riot, and
q desperate attempt was made to rescue
him The Waterman was knocked down.
beaten with clubs and stones and kicked
by the rioters. Officer Watson went to his
assistance. and found him still ciingfng to
his prisoner, and a desperate fight ensued.
until a few more police officers and guards
arrived. when they succeeded in securing
several OF the parties and conveyed them
to the guard house.
Mr.. r. E Doyle, president Of the Frank
lin company. seeing a person In the act of
drawing pistol. threw the collar of his
COAX over his head to screen himself, and
az the same moment pistol was fired be-
hind him. the ball from which passed
through the collar without doing other
damage Oficer Watson arrested Robert
cross near the guard house, who offered
resistance. but the officer by dint Of ap-
plying moderate degree Of legal suasion
managed to march his charge to the ruard
house, from where he was dismissed on
promise or future non-interference with the
onacers IN the prosecution Of their duty.
tne other prisoners were retained for a
hearing this morning"
Unfortunately the news columns contain
no account Of the fire, so the reader of to-
day is left to wonder what happened while
the riot was In progress ~ -.
Although the democratic party won at the
poiis IN the November elections in 1855, all
was not harmonious In the VIC
aceaon torious ranks. at least in Wash
Feud. ington. In The Star Of Novem-
Der IL. that year. Is this account
OF lively meeting which developed q
schtsm in the local party:
Our reporting spirit has detailed to IN
q full account of the high time the Jack
son Democratic Association had on Monday
night over the question Of the election of n
committee to>3oin committees of other dem
ocratic clubs In Washington in arranging
for a grand metropolitan celebration of
their recent victory. Accusations of per-
sonal disappointment were launched at the
heads of those who objected to the order
OF Things determined on by the association
and lightning from the other side. One
word brought on another until, Immediately
after they adjourned, there was the begin
ming OF pretty genera fight on the plat
FORM. champions of rival interests rushed
at each other with intense emphasis, after
little endearing conversation in rather
loud tone, and coat tails and hats, If not
hair, are supposed to have suffered some.
The more moderate. however. interfered in
time to prevent finale Of blackened eyes
the bloody noses. If the Harmonious of
our city commence In this way to celebrate
their victory we fear that, like the Kilkenny
cats. by the time the period for the contem-
plated celebration coh.es around they will
have devoured each other SO that there will
not be sufficient left of them to make q
very imposing show"
X
For some years past the growth Of the
city has been toward the west and north
west, but half century ago
NorthWard the tendency was directly
Growth. northward, with 7th street
the axis of extension. In
The Star Of November IL. 1885. is a para
graph commenting on this fact:
1.-THE remarkable growth OF the city
northward has been the subject of general
remark, but we imagine that many of our
stay-at-home citizens have really very in
adequate idea Of the manner in which city
improvements are pushing out countryward
on some of the streets reading in this direc-
ton Take 7th street, for instance, from
Pages wharf to the group of gravel-wall
octagonal houses just erected beyond the
tollgate there Is a succession of buildings.
some of them of highly ornamental charac-
ter, covering an extent of ground In d.
rect line hardly rivaled upon any single
street in any other city in the country.
Much Of the credit for this remarkable
~routh Ia due To the enterDrise and ga eac-