Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1910-04-17
FIFTY YEARS AGO
In THE STAR

In InE Olhh
Transportation facilities between Wash
ington and Great Falls were not such.
fifty years ago, that the
Aqueduct trip was often undertake
Excursion. en- Indeed, an expedition
to the Falls was regarded
as quite journey. and the following par
agraph in The Star Of April IL, 1850, re-
printed from the Intelligencer. indicates
that it was an event Of unusual interest
therein described:
AN excursion having been determined
on. In which the corporation Of Washing
ton shall convey the members of the COM
mittees Of the District of Columbia of
both the Senate and House all along the
Great Falls OF the Potomac, so that they
may see and examine the same. we learn
that Saturday next has been appointed for
the purpose. The party will proceed part
ly in omnibuses and partly by the steam
canal boat Flying Cloud, visiting the dis
tributing and receiving reservoirs, the
tunnels. Cabin John Bridge and other
prominent objects along the line to the
commencement at Crommelins. after when
they will partake Of collation. to be
spread in the building at the Falls be-
longing to the government and then re-
turn direct to the District. Should not
the weather be fair, some other day will
be designated for the trip. The Flying
Cloud has given g. trial to her new pro-
peller attachment and, without any SVEN
in the least degree injurious to the banks
of the canal, makes a rate Of just eight
miles an hour. She will be at her wharf
on the Washington canal at the foot OF
18th street Friday afternoon to make a
further trial of her speed"
In the House of Representatives on the
18th Of April, 1890 Representative Pryor
T. OF Virginia and Delegate
Potter-Pryor Potter Of Kansas engaged
in an alteration of Bit
controversy ter personal character re-
garding certain remarks uttered in the
debate on the bill for the admission
of Kansas as state under the Wyan-
dotte constitution. Rumors of duel be-
tween these two legislators circulated
widely that night. and In The Star of
April IL, $780, is the following para
graph:
THE personal affair occurring in the
House seems likely to end actually in
duel. According to the common under
standing on the Avenue Mr.. Pryor sent
by the hands of Mr. Hindman a note 10
Mr.. Potter which caused the two Messrs
p, each accompanied by two If not three
friends. to leave the city ere the police
nabbed them. Mr.. Hindman left Wash
ington for Arkansas, necessarily, after
delivering the note. and it is further I'M
derstood that Mr. Miles of South Caro-
lima took his place. and that Mr.. Cheese
man of Virginia is also acting in the af-
fair on the part of Mr.. Pryor. And fur
Their, that Col Lander of Massachusetts,
late the chief of one of the government
wagon-road expeditions. Is the second of
Mr. Potter, who is said to be also &C
the House. The Washington police were
at noon today under the impression that
Mr.. Pryor and his friends spent the night
at the residence Of Mr.. John c. Rives.
near this city. and that Mr.. Potter and
his party were at that of Mr.. F. p. Blair
of Silver Springs. From the best infor-
nation in our reach, however, we believe
that both parties were in Alexandra at
$50 o'clock last night. And further that
Mr.. Potter had selected bowie knives as
determination to take muskets loaded
with bslckshot, II the knives were objected
to by the other side
There was no duel between Messrs.
Potter ana fryOr.
4 -
Political excitement ran High at this
time fifty years ago. as the time for the
holding of the national
Convention conventions approached
n.,..4.. The following paragraph
Ae6"SsS' in The Star of April IA,
$780, indicates that Washington was feel
ing the tension:
"A large number of delegates to the
Charleston convention are now here and.
also, a much larger delegation of the out
side crowd proposing to attend the sit
ting OF the convention. Like the dele
gates. the latter come from almost every
state in the Union. This throng of strang-
ers will probably increase upon us for
some days longer. An immense amount
of electioneering with reference to the
nominations is. of course. in progress
here. The Douglas headquarters during
the hours when Congress is in session is
evidently the clerks office OF the House of
Representatives. There the Illinois SEN
ator's adrniring partisans from a distance
congregate. That Mr. Forney sticks as
will thus he seen, to the fortunes Of Mr.
Douglas. must be rather calling to the
republicans of the House. who, in electing
ever that he would fail to abandon Mr. D.
long before the time for making the nom
nations. Nor is it likely that Mr.. F.'s
position as Mr.. Douglas managing man
is relished much more by his southern
supporters who are around the Capitol
The local authorities had trouble half a
century ago keeping the saloons in order
through the opforca,,o
Excise of the excise regulations,
A~..4. especially with regard to
the sale of liquor Sum
days. The Star Of April IA, 1860. says,
concerning the prosecution Of these cases
''In some recent cases 1t appeared that
the information had been laid by persons
whose main object was to profit by the
conviction in dollars and cents, the city
law awarding to the informer one,third
of the penalty. few days ago the keep
er of restaurant In the fifth district was
fined $25.5s, the defendant having sub
mitted the case and waived his right of
defense. Since that conviction officers Of
the second district have served warrants
on parties charged with the same offense.
OF these. two are already ruled for trial