Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1910-07-24
FIFTY YEARS AGO
In. THE STAR
Bridge
Jumpers.


Bridge there was. nevertheless.
r no lack of that sort of
daring enterprise A par
agraph in The Star of July II. 1860. tells
thus of a pair of precocious bridge
jumpers whose names have never been
linked with that of Steve Brodie:
''On Saturday, we learn. two little boys
named Walker and Coleman. ages, re-
spectively, about twelve and fourteen.
leaped from the railing of the Aqueduct
into the river at Georgetown. a distance
OF at least fortyfive feet. 1t was wit
messed by quite a number of persons and
was fearful to look upon Had they lost
their equilibrium in the least it would
certainly have resulted in instant death.
1t would be well for the authorities of
Georgetown to look into ill.,, matter and
at once put stop to it before some
thoughtless boy loses his life in initiating
this daring example,
Anxiety regarding the state. of the
Washington Aqueduct work. which pre-
vailed fifty years ago, was
Aqueduct set at rest by the issuance
worLe of an order July II. 1860. by
John B. Floyd, Secretary of
War. According to this order, which was
reproduced In The Star of July Is, 1860,
Capt. II. w. Benham of the Engineer
corps was detailed for duty as chief en-
g1neer OF the Washington Aqueduct, to
nave direction of all the operations for
the completion and preservation of the
works. Capt. NJ c. Meigs, as disbursins
officer of the works, was ordered to
furnish the chief engineer with all the
plans and estimates for the operations
and also ordered to examine the works
from time to time and keep such gem
eral supervision of the works as to as
sure himself that they are being con-
structed according to his plans and esti-
mates, and if at any time finding varia-
tons therefrom he will. promptly report
the same to the chief engineer for cor
rection, and, If necessary, to the Secre-
tary of War"
4
A total eclipse of the sun was an
nounced by the astronomers for the 18th
of July, 1860, and great
Solar interest was aroused ir
Eol;rsa the event, for which the
scientists made elaborate
preparations. In The Star of July 10
1860, is the following regarding it:
The eclipse came off yesterday morn
ing according to program, and was an
other proof of the reliability of astro-
nomical science. Smoked glass and al
other Opaque substances were at a high
figure in the market, and for several
hours scientific observations through the
different mediums improvised for the Oc-
casion were made from all sorts OF
standpoints. Smutty fingers and black
eyes abounded on all hands; so much sc
that the good citizens of this village
might have been mistaken, at first glance
for a community of 'bruisers.' Our ven
cradle neighbor. Mr.. John Sessford, used
an admirable instrument for taking a
squint' at the interesting celestial phe-
nomenon, in shape of fine jet taken
from a quadrant. Our John came into
the editorial sanctum about o'clock am
with piece of leather which he had Dor
rowed from one of his bootlegs. and
through circular aperture in which he
had been studying the aspects full OF
an important discovery which he claimed
the entire honor of having made. At this
locality the face of the sun at the com
mencement of the eclipse was thinly shaded
with f1eecy clouds. which did nothing
however. to detract from facility of OBJ
servation. but rather to enhance it. The
diminution of light was perceptible
though very much short of what would
be necessary to make the rhomboid
formed by the two inferior planets. Mer
curry and Venus. and the two superior
ones, Jupiter and Saturn, visible to the
naked eye. The next recurrence of this
eclipse will be on the 10Th of July, 1878
when the line of total darkness will ap
%
occasion of yesterday"
The following paragraph in The Star OF
June 81, 1860. is calculated to solace the
who feel that they are not
Island sufficiently rested during the
c, summer vacation:
0CAVo1' 1.-The third and fourth dis
trict schools broke up yesterday for the
vacation. Just before the pupils of the
male department Of the fourth district
school were dismissed one of their mum.
Der stepped forward and presented their
teacher, Mr.. J. E. Thompson, with a
beautifully illustrated copy of the works
of Robert Burns. In accepting the gift
Mr. Thompson returned thanks happily
and reminded the pupils of the great
change which has taken place in the last
ten years in the island district in the
means which have during that time been
placed within their reach for acquiring a
sound and practical education. When he
first took charge Of this school there were
but thirty pupils in it, and those thirty
were all of the pupils then connected
with the public schools of that district.
Now the number of pupils of the island
district amounts to upwards of 600
WRITING FROM The SEASHORE.