Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1912-03-03
FIFTY YEARS AGO
In THE STAR

Probably few residents Of Washington
OF fifty years ago now living remember
q tremendous storm which
Destructive swept over the capital the
Co.,. 9th Of February. 1S62, 80
much more important were
the events supplying news to the rapers
at that time. Nevertheless, the visitation
was worth half q column of the space Of
The Star Of that day. In part as follows:
The lowering clouds and dense fogs
prevailing were dispoaced this morning in
hurry by a violent northwest wind.
which speedily increased to q tornado
like gale. which, commencing with flags,
signs. chimney stacks and street furni-
ture. soon went on to demolish dwelling
houses and church ediffces as II they had
been made out of pasteboard. The sky
lights of the Congressional Library were
demolished, owing to the inadequacy OF
the roof. which permits the wind to get
between T. and the skylights. forcing out
lie beautifully ornamented glass and rem
dering the library unsafe for visitors.
Several houses were blown down south
of the capitol and number Of roofs torn
OF In various parts Of the city TIE roof
Of the Washington gymnasium was ripped
up and the roof Of the house Of Mr..
Adams. on AZ street above the Avenue,
demolished. An alarm of fire was raised
at the latter place. and upon the arrival
of the engines 1t became necessary for
the police to interfere to prevent a de- ge
of water being poured IN upon the fuint-
ture. rin!ty Church. IN I'd and stree 8.
was damaged to some extent in the up
setting oil one or two wooden p nnacles on
the towers. The water in the Potomac
was lashed into a perfect foam, e waves
flashing furiouSiy over the Long bridge
ana he wharves. AT the wharf of the
iunatic asylum, against which the Wind
had long sweep, the water frequently
dashed to the height Of thirty feet. Con-
siderable damage was dCne the Vesseis
lying at the wharves. The steamers were
train coming up from Alexandria could
with difficulty make its way against the
gale. About noon it was noticed that the
lofty steepIe upon the Thirteen,h Street
Baptist Church was swaying fearful-y
1t was finally blown down. and it's weight
and the massive bell entirely crushed the
roof and side walls, leaving the front
and east wall standing. The steeple was
l61 feet from the roof. TIE DANA es here
are estimated at not less than $4,000.
1.-The Treasury note BILL" says The Star
of February q. 1862, WAS yesterday
signed by the President and
Treasury is now law. The bill. as
rtA agreed upon by the conferees.
1VSoo' au, horizes the issue of AJO.
100000 of Treasury notes., uniform in
simil tude and a legal tender in the pay
ment of all debts, public and private. It
withdraws the fifty millions Of the July
issue as soon as 1t conveniently can be
done: makes the new notes fundab.e. al
any time in 6 per cent twenty-year bonds.
redeemable at the pleasure Of the United
States after five years; makes the in
terest on the notes and bonds payable In
coin, and "a new feature) makes the
duties on imports also payable in coin
and devotes them to the payment of the
interest on the notes and ponds ana Inc
creation of a sinking fund by setting
apart l per cent Of the amount. The pro-
vision insisted ON by the Senate authoriz-
ing the Secre. AIRY of the treasury to sell
& per cent bonds for what they will fetch,
in order to raise coin for interest, Is re-
tanned in the bill. All the funded debt
is exempted from taxation. Authority is
given to temporarily deposit demand notes
10 the extent Of twenty-five miilions On
an interest Of per cent after thirty
days. The final amendment to the bill
to be used for the payment Of customs
duties, the nifty millions authorized in
July and the temporary relief ten millions
authorized this month"
After the battle of Bull Run there was
little fighting in this neighborhood for
some months, Gen. Nc
Military Clellan putting in the
time during the winter
MoseAent. reorganlzing the Army
of the Potomac and preparing for the
campaign of the spring. In The Star OF
March /, 1885,, is the following with refer
ence to the situation in the immediate
vicinity Of Washington:
Gen. Mcclellan, accompanied by the
members of his personal staff, left this
city Wednesday last for the line of the
upper Potomac, and returned this morn
ing at am. His visit to that quarter
was doubtless to superlntend In person
an important military movement that'
commencing MONDAY morning last, was
ere ne lett the ground, W.,
the transfer OF large BODY OF troops:
etc, under Gen. Banks for Maryland
across the Potomac rapids at Harpers
cuples the country around harpers Ferry,
Charles Town and Mart.nsDurg No traces
of the enemy In any force TO SPEAK ol
have been discovered in his vicinity Dy
MS scouts. Nevertheless, we feel certain
that the divisions Of dens. Jackson and
>irpy Smith are in position extending
from Winchester for some few miles oacK
N the direction of StrasDurg, the nortn-
ern terminus of the Manassas Gap RAN
road. Yesterday morning. however, the
rebels attempted to throw few smells a.
trans on the Baltimore ana Ono rail-
way passing Berlin. They cannot be in
force there. as they made no effort to dls-
pute with us the possession OF the lmpor-
lant Loudoun heights that overlook f1ar-
pers Ferry. While with that portion OF
mis- army, Gen. Mcclellan IS SAID to nave
been constantly in the saddle. passing
from point to point and cheered most
by his men whenever he
made his appearance.
+ 4
Another large review Of troops on the
commons east Of what Is now Lincoln
Park took place the LIST
Artillerv of March, 1862, and is
thus described IN Inc
Renewed. Star of that date:
There was a review OF the artillery
reserve on the plain east OF the Capitoi
this morning at IL o'clock by Gen. Barry,
chief of artillery. The line was nearly
a mile in length and comprised portions
of the I'd. Sd and 9TH regulars and sew
l raj batteries Of New YORK state artillery.
There were about eighty pieces In AL, IN
GLIDING howi,zers and PARROT and other
rlfled field pieces. The general
staff was saluted on Their arrival by mr.
ing from one OF the patteries IN the
center of the line. Men, horses and. equip
ments were in fine condition. One OF the
broke down as soon as the column
moved. There were but few spectators