Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-12-29
FIFTY YEARS AGO
In THE STAR

of numerous complaints of
Deaoly the same character which
Canal ran through this paper for
many years regarding one of
I" most serious nuisances to which the
capital was ever subjected. the James
Creek canal. The body of man was
discovered floating in the canal at the
foot of 9th street. 1t proved to be that Of
resident of Wisconsin, who had been In
Washington for some weeks seeking
office. in very straitened circumstances.
The coroner's jury which investigated this
case decided that Notwithstanding certain
circumstances seemingly pointing to sui
eide, the probability was that the man
had come to his death by accident. Com
menting on the case The Star said:
1T is high time something was done
with that Internal man trap, the city
canal. Let it either be filled up "a con-
summation devoutly to be wiShed), arch
ed over, or rallied in, as is the case with
Jones Falls in Baltimore. We wonder
the city fathers are not afraid to cross
the canal after nightfall, lest they should
be confronted by some of the pale spec
tres of the drowned, who, If there be
any truth in ghost stories. must hover
over it's turbid waters in squadrons."
Washington was the scene Of frequent
rioting fifty years ago. the constabulary
being entirely insufficient
Local to patrol the streets and
n;sord.r preserve order. ARRAYS be-
tween individuals were of
common occurrence and riots occurred al
most nightly. Determined efforts were
made by the police to apprehend the Of
tenders. but owing to the darkness of
In f1,r faA IL
gas lamps then in service, it was ,ex-
tremely easy for rioters to make good
their escape. 1t is to be remembered also
that the telephone was not then in eX-
istence and there were no means of quick
ly Summoning the police to scene of dis
order or danger. These circumstances
are to be borne in mind when reading
The Star OF December 81 1851:
Saturday night party of rowdies
created considerable noise in the western
part of the city where for long time
the citizens have been free from serious
disturbances. The rioters began their
demonstrations near Boulangers restau-
rant and went to various localities. ston-
ing houses and behaving in disgraoeful
manner. a young man, barkeeper en-
ployed In a restaurant in that section of
the city. was knocked down with a
slungshot and severely injured. Whether
able with the assault and battery remains
to be seen when the parties are arrested,
as they are likely to be, their movements
having been closely watched by one or
two persons who can identify them"
1t will be noted that in this case. as in
many others that were reported in The
Star at that period, the police were not on
the scene even after the rioting occurred.
The coincidence of the constables and
disorder on the same spot was in 1857
nt,f iii Il
occur.
The Florida Seminole Indian wars are
rarely read about nowadays by students
of American history, and
Seminole probably few people are ia
c.mn.;,,, miliar with the circum-
stances of the incidents re-
corded in the paragraph appearing in The
Star of December %. 1851
THE War Department has advices
from Fort Brooke to the 9Th instant from
Col. Loomis. 9th Infantry, who is in
command in Florida, giving a detailed ac-
count of the recent operations Of the
army against the Seminoles. embracing
a full history of the expedition of Capt.
Cones regiment of mounted volunteers
015 in number. south of Fort Doane.
which he conducted with great tact and
perseverance, surprising one of the secret
hiding places of the Indians in the Big
Cypress, capturing an aged warrior. five
squaws and thirteen children and killing
a warrior and IA boy. He found several
of their secret towns, we'll stored with
provisions. all of which he destroyed.
Indeed, he has at last broken up Billy
Bowlegs' hiding place. The town where
the Indians were surprised was new
one. On his return the Indians tried
to ambuscade his force, but failed.
a detachment from Col Rogers COM
mand on the southwest coast, commanded
by Capt. Parkhill of the mounted volun-
teer regiment. have also destroyed a town.
On his return in an encounter with the
Indians Capt. p. was killed and five of
his men were wounded. The Indians re-
treated after the first fire from me troops;
1t is not known how much they were
damaged. The most active pursuit of the
Indians Is to be kept up and all the lines
OF operation of the troops and the forces
are to be increased where the enemy is
most likely to be found.
Bowegs Is said to be anxious to have
the Indians come in but is overruled in
council. The Micasockies are the hand
which prevent Bowlegs from making
peace"
Criticisms of the new Hall of Repre-
first occupancy for some
Legislative time. Not only was the
Acoust;cs press gallery objected to
strenuously by correspond
ents. but the acoustic properties Of the
hall were. rated as inferior. 1t being as
serted that a speaking member could not
be heard at all from the gallery except
under the most favorable circumstances
while from several points on the floor of
the House itself he could only he heard
family. On the 23d of December, 1851,
The Star printed letter from Capt NJ. c.
Meigs, Engineer Corps. the officer in
charge of the Capitol extension. In refer
ence to this subject Capt. Meigs said
apropos Of the speech Of a certain member
whose case had been cited:
Mr. Leidy spoke in a very low tone, so
Of him found difficulty in hearing him.
| happened to be in the reporters gal
lery and by listening attentively the
sound being distinct though faint, could
understand what he said, except when
conversation among the reporters them
selves prevented my hearing him. AS
the truth In regard to the acoustic quail
tiles of this room is of some scientific
and economic Importance I ask that YOU
viii publish the following extract from
the official report of the committee to
ascertain the conditions of the new hall
and report upon when 1t would be safe
to occupy 1t:
The committee made some trial of the
acoustic qualities of the room. They
found very little reverberation-so little
as not to Interfere with the distinctness
of hearing. and ascertained by trial that
not only could all that was said at the