Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1912-04-28
FIFTY YEARS AGO
In THE STAR


In THE STAR
prisoner at the Old Capitol prison on
lst street east, opposite the Capitol
grounds, was killed by one of
prisoner the guards April 81, 1862,
F. u:u. and considerable feeling was
caused in consequence. The
Star of the day following thus describes
the tragedy:
About IL o'clock yesterday morning
one of the political prisoners named Jesse
B. Wharton, who was arrested some
months since near Hagerstown and con-
fined in the Old Capitol prison. went to
window on the south side overlooking the
guards yard, and he and the guard on
post No. 3 soon entered into an angry
conversation with each other. During the
dispute the guard. Ambrose Baker of
Company c. 91st Pennsylvania Regiment
aimed his piece and fired. the ball taking
effect in Wharton's head. The wounded
man fingered until nearly o'clock, when
he died; previously, however. accusing
the officer in charge. Lieut.. Milligan, of
being the cause of his death, as he had
given orders to the guard to shoot any Of
the prisoners who put their heads out of
the windows Baker and others say that
the corporal of the guard from the door
Immediately below the window where
Wharton was standing ordered him to
shoot Wharton only few minutes before
he did it. Baker was at once placed under
arrest"
The military governor of the District.
Gen. Wadsworth. and the provost mar
shall. Maj. Doster, investigated the shoot
ing.
All sorts of inventions were brought be-
fore the attention of the government dur
ing the civil war with the
Self Shooting idea of making the con-
n.:A:y fiict more deadly, and
J~SS~' therefore, from the point
Of view of their users, more successful.
In The Star of April %. 1862, is an ac-
count of the trial of a new form of pro-
jectile (which occurred few days pre-
vious. as follows:
THE subject of self-propelling pro-
jectiles or projectiles which carry
their own propelling power, like
rockets, has occupied the inven-
tive genius of all countries for
many years. but thus far without sue
cess. Many plans have been submitted
and many different inventions tested
during the war, but none as yet has
given any hope Of success. There have
been many supposed improvements on
the Congreve rocket. but imperfect and
inefficient as that missile is nothing in
that line has been made to excel or even
approach it. A trial last Monday on
Capitol Hill Of a new rocket for which
great perfection and destructiveness has
been claimed is no exception to the rule,
as 1t only demonstrated entire failure,
the furthest point which could be
reached being only three-fourths of
mile, with great inaccuracy and without
force enough to bury the projectile in
the earth. The principle seems to be es-
within itself its own means of pro-
pulsion cannot be relied upon for any
degree of accuracy, as great eccentricity
OF movement always accompanies its
country overcome the difficulty? II
projectile can be made which will do
half the execution which is claimed for
some OF the candidates for public Cor
shall attain that of the rif1ed gum a rev.
olution in land service would follow it's
introduction like that which has fol-
lowed the Introduction Of iron rams and
batteries in the sea service
The base ball season was about to re-
open in Washington about this time fifty
years ago, as the following
Base paragraph in The Star of April
Dali %, 1852. indicates:
Since leaden ball has been
assuming an entire monopoly in
the affairs Of men, the noble and
invigorating game of base ball, in
common with almost every other sport,
has been almost entirely ignored Many
OF the high priests and elders who advo-
Gated the institution here In it's palmy
days (but just year ago. have uncere-
now playing at ball in Jeff's kingdom to
the tune of Dixie. The boys of the Ma
tional are making preparations to pitch
In again. The committees have reorgan-
lied, mines being got ready and their
ground, that of the old Potomac (who,
by the way, in return for similar compli-
ments. whipped the National once or
twice.. to be fixed in proper trim pre-
old friend George Hibbs is on hand as
ready and willing as ever; so is German
and Dooley and French, and the Doctor,
none having forgotten how to handle the
"A
week and will be happy to see their
friends on any occasion"
Certain public improvements which were
under way half a century ago gave con-
siderable qualification to
improvements citizens of Washington,
NIL some of them being
Notou' noted in the following In
The Star of April Is, 1862:
Great difficulty has always been ex-
perienced by strangers in Washington in
finding their way at night. the lettering
of the fingerboards not being perceptible.
AS a remedy for this defect it has been
decided to paint the names of streets,
avenues. public buildings, churches, etc.
upon the glass of the street lamps The
improvement has already been finished in
the first, second and third wards and
the advantage of the plan made apparent
to every observer.
"For several years there has been an
outcry for an efficient fire department, and
in the doubt in which the several plans
involved the city authorities the necessity
of keeping the best they had in order was
lost sight of and for months several eff
ficient companies were thrown entirely
out of service. Contracts for hose have
been pushed to completion by the mayor
and several companies are again in active
service.
'sThe government generously appropri-
ated the railing which inclosed the Capitol