Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1911-04-30
FIFTY YEARS ago
IN THE STAR

The greatest anxiety prevailed in
washington. not only on the part OF
the citizens but
washington among officials of the
Safety. s ;S" safatv ST the
capital. Yet every effort was made by
the authorities to allay apprehension,
even while the most urgent orders were
being issued to troops to make their
way with the utmost speed to the
Potomac. In The Star Of April %. 1851,
in second edition, is printed the fol-
lowing:
We have to assure The Stars read
ers that the government here entertain
no fears for the safety Of this city ere
more relieving forces can reach 1t. They
are pushing forward by two or three
different routes. doubtless in sufficient
numbers to hold 1t against an invading
force of quite 10000 men. 1t is. never
theless. the duty of every man here still
true to the Union capable of taking
part in the city's defense to enroll HIM
self promptly to that end.
Now that her chief city is virtually
in the hands Of the disunionists, if
Baltimore could command those parties
to observe the peace, We doubt not that
she would no longer be Mortified with
the marching Of soldiery under the
Stars and Stripes through Maryland. at
the call Of the government OF the
United States. Unless she can do SO. II
Is clear to us that she may expect them
to be soon multiplied within her limits,
until they number not tens but hundreds
Of thousands, IL the presence Of the lat
ter numbers there be necessary to shield
Washington from being violently wrest-
ed from the government of the United
States.
while we cordially join the Intelli-
gencer in the earnest hope that the diff
fculties Of the times may be speedily
and peacefully settled by Congress and
a national convention. we should con-
Slder the government as being entirely
lost to a proper sense Of it's duty were
1t to fail to strain, as It is straining,
every nerve to insure the safety of the
lives and property in this capital
against the threatened invasion. We
may add that the proper quarter for
such missions as Baltimore has been
sending here for some days past is
Richmond-not Washfngton-as thence,
and from further south, come the
which threaten the peace
Of Maryland. Baltimore should prompt
ly ask the authorities in Richmond to
cease preparations to attack tine federal
metropolis. Let her ask them to pro-
pose an armistice forthwith"
The grim aspect Of war was realized
by the capital perhaps most fully when
the government took con-
Railroad troll of the transportation
ST.. lines. In The Star of
0eAAeo' April %, 1851, is the fol-
lowing paragraph:
1.-The government this morning as
sumed the control Of the railroad para
phernalia. including trains. locomotives,
etc, at the depot in this city. This ac-
ton is, of course, to facilitate the neces-
sary military transportation between
Washington city and Annapolis.
"P. S.-Just before we went to press
today we found Col Stone. inspector
general of the militia of this District,
in charge Of the depot, which is guarded
by Capt. Gerhardts company. There
we're two large trains, Il passenger and
freight train, and two large locomotives
in the building. detained, for the time
being, to subserve the governments
plans for the defense Of Washington
ut is known that a number Of families
have been removed from this city" says
The Star Of April "a, 1851,
Families their domestic protectors
being apprehensive of
Ae"sAA6' danger to their persons.
But we have not yet been able to ap-
preciate the propriety Of such course,
and feel a sense of safety in the ar
rangements already made and now pro-
crossing for the defense of the capital,
should an effort be made to assail it. In
time of war, or impending hostillties,
or in the movements of troops. history
shows that much evil results from I'M
founded rumors. the emanations OF fear.
Hence, we would earnestly counsel the
readers of The Star to first endeavor
to ascertain the truth of current street
rumors before they are credited. 1t
becomes every one, as far as possible, to
preserve a calm spirit-to assist IN pro-
ducine such general state of mind
and to discountenance whatever may
tend to encourage excitement.
The files of The Star at this point
fifty wears ago present remarkable ap-
pearance, each daily issue
Two.pape consisting of only two pages,
without the great head"
0Ca which distinguishes the first
page The reason for this is thus ex-
plained in the issue of Thursday, April
%. 1861:
1.-The present uncertainty as to when
business communications will be SO open
ed between Washington and the country
north and south as that the channels OF
trade will be comparatively unobstructed
has Obliged us TO secure all the paper
now in this city, on which we may con-
tinue the publication of The Star in some
form. Thus at a very heavy increased
cost for paper, We have effected such an
insurance against a temporary abandon
ment of it's issue. It's patrons are there
fore informed that 1t will continue to ap-
pear daily, even though the business COM
munication with paper mills continues
closed for some months to come. To
guard against any such contingency, we
are. however, obliged to print at present
but a half sheet. on which will be found
all the news Of the day"
This form Of The Star was continued
until the 9Th Of May. when the regular
four-page form was resumed for two is
sues for the purpose of printing some
extraordinarily heavy government adver-
tisements. after which the two-page form
was resumed until the oath Of May, when
the great head" reappeared.