Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-10-06
FIFTY YEARS AGO
IN THE STAR

absorbing subject OF discussion in Wash
ington at this time half
Money century ago. Conditions
crA,; were easier locally than in
other cities but there was
nevertheless. grave apprehension. In The
Star Of September %, 1857. is printed the
following comment on the situation:
Very naturally the all-engrossing topic
Of conversation here as elsewhere since
Friday noon last has been the monetary
condition of the country. Men have been
holding their breath. after uttering. upon
the receipt of news from some distant
point. simply. Where nextr
THE Stars readers who recollect the
tenor of our letters from the west, pub
lished in June last, will credit us for some
foresight in writing that we were by no
means unprepared for the disasters over
taking business Just now in SO many diff
ferent quarters Chicago. as we explained,
and all portions of the west where the
speculation mania had induced the mer-
chants to gamble in lands instead OF hus-
banding their money to pay with 1t their
debts due In the east. had then ceased TO
trade In New York which would not trust
them and were patroniZing the importers
and jobbers of Philadelphia and Baltimore
We believe that the sales of the merchants
OF those two cities to the broken traders OF
the northwest, and that only, made 1t a
question whether the commercial men IN
them should pretty much all fail or their
banks should suspend. and that the latter
alternative was adopted; wisely, 1t strikes
us, under the circumstances, as less actual
distress and loss will be the consequence
among the people at large-far less"
X
Americans were anxiously waiting for
tidings from India. where the Sepoy rebel
lion was in full swing. caus-
Sepoy ing the keenest distress of
M,4; mind throughout the civil
lied world. In The Star Of
September %. 1857, are dispatches from ST.
Johns New Brunswick. giving the news
brought by steamer from Cork. under Lon
don date of September Is. Cawnpore had
been relieved and Lucknow was next in
line of succor. The latest tidings bore
date of August IA. but gave few details
from Cawnpore. A description Of the hor.
rors found in that city by the army OF
relief is given, in appalling terms:
ION the morning of the 10Th OF July
the force marched into Cawnpore- The
soul-harrowing spectacle which there pre-
scented itself to them begears description
A wholesale massacre had been perpetrated
by the f1end Mana Sahib. Eight officers
Regiment, seventy ladies' and 121 children
of Her Majesty's sd Foot. and the whole
European and Christian population OF the
place, including civilians, merchants. pen
sioners and their families to the number
of AGO. were the victims of this Satan. The
courtyard in front Of the assembly rooms.
in which Mana Sahib had fixed his head
quarters, and in which the women had been
imprisoned. was swimming in blood.
Only four women escaped, the wife OF
merchant and three others. Gen. Have
says that Mana Sahib drowned himself, with
his family. He had an intention of going
to Lucknow. but when he got as far as the
river the cavalry and infantry deserted
ing their arms, to their different homes.
The statement that Mana Sahib had
perished was erroneous. The leader OF the
mutiny lived for many years. presumably
that he is still alive. insane and a wan
derer on the frontiers of India
Washington's fire department in 1857 was
wholly voluntary, and was by no means i'm
mune from the prevalent tend
Fighting ency of that period toward in
diligence in militant methods
Il elieH' In The Star of September 30,
1851. is a news article descriptive of a riot
which had occurred the evening previous:
! "A IIOt WHICH CduSeu StHci al III III
that part of the city took place last night
about o'clock near the corner OF Four
and Half street and Pennsylvania avenue
between the States Hose and the Northern
Liberties fire companies The Northern
Liberties company were parading, in prep
aration for their visit to Philadelphia, and
on reaching the point mentioned a shot
was fired, some say by sort of picket
squad consisting of members of the States
Hose, while others claimed 1t came from
the parading company. general riot fol-
lowed, and from fifty to one hundred shots
We're fired by the contending companies, re-
sulting in the wounding of several persons.
The only wonder is that, with pistol and
was killed. We hope this matter will be
sifted and that 1t will be explained why
the States Hose, who were not on parade,
were collected at that cor.-er. and also why
the Northern Liberties company were
marching in that particular direction. Re-
spectacle merchants in that neighborhood
say that symptoms Of row had been
brewing all day, and had been evidently
ment of deadly feud. 1t is not competent
for either party to throw the entire blame
upon the other, and both should be held
up to Reproduction for outraging the laws
and recklessly endangerng the lives of
peaceful citizens.
Local music lovers We're given rare
treat half a century ago, and there are
admirers of the art Of this
Noted generation who will envy
.,. them their opportunity. In
al eAs's' The Star Of September 80,
1851, is Il news paragraph thus describing
q concert:
notwithstanding the tightness Of the
times, enough persons were found willing
to exchange gold for notes last night to fill
Carusrs saloon to its capacity. The per-
Torrance of Thalberg was just what it was
on his previous visit here-a specimen CT
undemonstrative, perfect instrumentato
unblemishel by particle Of musical tri *
cry Vieuxtemps, the great violinist, who
reappears in this country after q lapse Of
twelve years, made his bow last night to a
Washington audience. His style Is not so
sympathetic as Ole Bulls, and he lacks the
fine presence of the tall. broad-shouldered
Norwegian, but by the musical dilettante,
we believe, he Is considered the superior
artist. In the Carnival of Venice (en-
core) and the Witches Dance he showed
himself thorough master of the resources
of the VIOLIN His octaves and his perform
,,@1r 1t h.1