Evening star., 1909-07-18
FIFTY YEARS AGO
In THE STAR

The streets of Washington were freely
freQuented by domestic fowls and ami
mails half century ago,
CAPTURED although there was a law
against estrays. Judg.
1oIkeIS. ing from the following
paragraph In The Star of July II, 1889,
the local authorities had undertaken a
crusade 10 rid the thoroughfares of this
nuisance:
1.-THE officers of the fifth ward have
been executing the law in relation to
hogs going at large. and up TO Friday
they succeeded in capturing twenty eight
fine animals, which they sent TO the
workhouse to be penned and sold. The
assistant who went with them on this
expedition was SO unfortunate as to find
that the last animal belonged to him
self, and objected to capturing that one,
but the officers insisted, and, he behav-
Ing rather improperly. the officers cap
tured him as well as the hog, and. taking
him before a magistrate, compelled him
to pay fine and costs, which deducted
considerable amount from his wages
They who have the lazy to execute upon
others should never object to its en-
forcement upon themselves. We remem-
Der some years ago an old commissioner
of improvements was directed to remove
streets. Looking over the list in the
mayors office, he remarked: That fence
must come down first and that next
The mayor asked him why he made a
distinction. He replied that the first
was his own fence and the second was
the property of his security; and If he
took them down first he could go to work
with clear conscience to remove those
Of his neighbors.''
II
Temperance alley is the name of the
byway between 18th and 18th and and
U streets, while Tenn
Temperance peranee Hall alley is that
mid-square pas Sa 6 e
which lies in the block
bounded by 9th, 10th. D and E streets.
In 1859. however. the latter was known
as Temperance alley, and, as the follow
ing paragraph in The Star of July IL OF
that year suggests. it was not then en-
tirely true to the suggestion Of it's name:
ION Friday and Saturday last this re-
markably quiet and decent locality Crem-
perance alley) was again the scene of
disorder and disturbance, arising from
the too liberal use OF rum, brandy, gin
or whisky by certain persons who ap-
peared before Justice Thompson at the
fifth district police office, lately removed
from 9th street to 45O 8th street. as COM
plainants and defendants. It would be
cruel to name all the fair ladies who ap-
peared on this occasion with black eyes,
scratched faces and tattered garments,
the sad consequences of a desperate rem
contre. 1t must suffice to say that three
of the fiercest belligerents, to wit, Mi
chael Sullivan, Joanna, his wife, and
Margaret Bresnehan, were convicted OF
disorderly conduct and each fined S3 and
costs. which being properly secured, the
defendants were thereupon discharged
from the custody of J. f. King the police
officer who made the arrest. Four more
complaints have been made and war
rants thereon issued to Officer Ross
against disorderlies in Temperance alley"
An accident which occurred at the
navy yard the 18th Of July. 1859. revives
recollections OF tine disas-
Explosion ter on board the steamer
Princeton on the Potomac
A1aseoy' river February 2S, 1874
when the President of the United States
was endangered and several statesmen
were killed by the explosion of Admiral
Stockton's great gun ''Peacemaker." The
Star thus describes the navy yard acci-
dent:
This forenoon between 10 and II
o'clock, while the gunner's crew at the
Washington navy yard were engaged In
pounder-an army gun-which had been
fired only once there. though it had evil
IDENTIFY been fired often before, burst. kill
ing James Wilson and William Nokes
The former was a seafaring man, married
with one child. The latter was a married
man and was preparing to become a
gunner in the service. He leaves no
children. The accident also wounded ten
men, eight severely and two slightly. Mr..
Wilson was killed instantly and Mr.
the accident. The force of the accident
threw Mr.. Wilson's body a distance OF
thirty feet and Mr.. Nokes' ten or twelve
feet. All who were injured were on the
gun platform. which is elevated ten feet
from the ground. Some of the fragments
Of the gun were cast more than 300 yards
to the great danger Of the workmen
around. Hopes OF the recovery Of all the
wounded are entertained by the medical
| officers Of the yard in attendance"
X X
Continuing the policy Of ridding the
streets of Washington of estrays, the
authorities turned their
Goose attention from hogs to
geese during the summer
Froplem. of 1859 On the morning
or Ino l4Cn or July lAeIe was d goose
drive with the result of the impounding
Of 40 birds. 1t appears that as this
flock proceeded down the streets small
focks from neighboring poultry yards
were attracted and the owners had con-
siderable trouble restraining their birds
from Joining the procession. The next
morning the mayors Office was besieged
by many goose owners for the return OF
their property. The Star of July 16
1859, commented thus upon the situation
which ensued:
1.-THE application OF owners of geese to
the mayor met with a favorable consider
alton, and most of them will be restored
How the owners are going to identify
their property Is more than we can
imagine. 1t Is suggested tnat the best
plan Is to turn the whole drove out and
let each goose find it's way home. Appli-
cations for the return of swine taken by
the officers are also being made. The
officers have done their duty and have
nothing more to do with the hogs and
geese. After they are taken to the
asylum the law appropriates them for the
use of the poor at the inflrmary.
"P. S.-We understand that the goose
question has assumed another aspect The