Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-07-07
FIFTY YEARS AGO
IN THE STAR

Three years ago the excursion boat Slo-
cum burned In the East river and caused
the death of several hundred
steamer people. Fifty years ago the
prrnad steamer Montreal burned in
the st. Lawrence river and
at least 200 lives were lost. In The Star
of July 1, 1857, is an account of this dis
aster. which occurred the Friday before:
1T appears that the steamer ran
rock. which prevented her from reaching
the shore, to which she was headed. and
that thus the great loss Of life was inevi-
table. She had on board when she left
Quebec for Montreal 30 cabin passengers
and some $50 or 500 immigrants. She had
proceeded about twelve miles when fire
broke out from the midship Every effort
was made to suppress the flames. but In
vain. The mate then got out the jolly boat,
into which he placed four ladies, cabin pas
sengers. their maid and the cabin girl 1t
was his intention to get the women first out.
but when the male immigrants saw that
they made a rush for the boat which was
instantly swamped. The mate cut the
hawser so as to save those in the boat, but
the rush was so great 1t was impossible.
The Napoleon was seen at a considerable
distance and kept aloof from the burning
boat. She sent out however, large bat
teau. Before 1t reached the Montreal
the boat was in flames all over. and they
were only able to pick up those in the
water or hanging to the wreck. Fourteen
Of the crew were drowned. The captain.
purser and all the officers were saved. The
boat was burned to the waters edge, and
upward of 200 must have persisted on board
or have been drowned"
Crop prospects were distinctly gloomy
half a century ago. The rains had been
abnormally heavy, and farm
Heavy were bitterly complaining.
Rains In The Star Of July 1, 1857,
Is the following paragraph
about the situation:
I'VE fear that the wet weather that has
been upon US for some days past may
greatly injure the little wheat the farmers
in this vicinity had fair hopes of harvesting.
On Monday last many would have COM
menced that labor. doubtless, but for the
rain. If much longer delayed the evil
effects Of last winters unequal covering of
snow. the joint and army worms and the
cinch bug will surely be seriously aggra-
waited by the rust During our late extern
sive tour We came to the conclusion,
after close observation. that average
wheat crop of ten bushels to the acre could
hardly be harvested this season along the
route we travelled if all things continued
propitious until the first of August and we
now believe that if this protracted rain has
been general it will be considerably de-
creased, provided the usual warm weather
sets in at its close.
+
Mechanical street sweepers were novelties
half century ago. In The Star of July 2.
1857, is the following
Street count of the test of such a
suoanar machine in this city. which
caused considerable commO-
ton in the local world:
The street-sweeping experiment. an
nounced in yesterdays Star to take place
at o'clock yesterday evening came of
at that hour under the superintendent Of
the patentees. Messrs. King & Hyneman
of Philadelphia. The locality of the ex-
pertinent was Ith street between f and
+ streets north. The sidewalks speedily
filed with spectators as the novel-look-
ing machine made its appearance on the
ground, and in a matter-of-iact way
commenced moving up and down the
streets. performing in it's travels the
work of some dozens Of ordinary brooms.
The machine did it's work faithfully and
rapidly at the point where it was tested,
but we suppose would not answer on
macadamiZed streets. We presume that
such a machine might find ample en-
ployment on the avenue, 18th and d streets.
which are paved. This mode of putting
down the dust would, however, necessitate
a coming down of the dust on the part of
the corporation to pay the contractors
Ever since governments were so organ
lied as to undertake the carriage of the
mails there have been COM
Postal plants on the part of letter
writer's about delays and
mistakes In 1887. however
this trouble appears to have been I'M
usually serious. judging from the following
paragraph in The Star Of July. 81
From the establishment of the Post
Office Department to this hour, perhaps the
most prolific source of complaint to it has
been the propensity of postmasters at small
offices to leave the discharge of their duties
in irresponsible and Tin postal analrs) un-
tutored hands Most of the arrangements
of the mails, missending. or neglecting to
send letters and papers, etc, arise from the
negligence mistakes of persons thus inn
properly pressed into service by postmas-
tiers. With all the care the department
lavishes on the work of guarding against
this practice it still continues Postmaster
General Brown. we understand. regards It
as good cause for removal when proved on
either friend or foe (politicaD his habit
in the management of a post ONCE in
trusted to him-not to Tom, Dick or Harry,
whom the department may not know.
Having no issue on the Fourth of July,
The Star was compelled in the early days
to print it's remarks apropos
Before the of the occasion on the day
rx4h previous. In The Star of
HouA -" July 3, 1857, is the fol-
lowing editorial:
Before another number of The Star Is
issued the eighty first anniversary of the
national jubilee will have passed. We
don't propose at this time to enlarge upon
the history of the events which led to lie
achievement of our national independence,
as in so doing we should inevitably fore
stall the orators of the day. who are
doubtless prepared to wade into the sub
ject tomorrow to their entire depth. To
their utterances we commend our readers,
taking occasion to say for ourselves that
Uncle Samuel in his eighty second year Is
as fine as silk. and continues to stride in
the van of nations, as does The Star (whose
anniversary is also on tomorrow in that
of newspapers. Feeling in the best of
spirits ourselves, and in good temper
toward all mankind, We trust that every
body may so spend the morrow as to re-
turn to their avocatiOns on Monday feeling
the happier and better and with their ap-
probation of the glorious privileges of civil
and religious liberty, earned for us by our
81 tt,nv,