Evening star., 1922-06-18
Fifty Years Ago
i'm The Star

Occasionally, half a century ago
the Potomac river steamers and re.
sorts were the scenet
A Riot at of lively fights in the
n,-4 course of excursions
when rough characters
managed to get passage. The happen
ings Of few days ago on the steamet
Manchester give particular point to
news item in The Star of June II. 1872.
telling OF one of these disturbances Oh
the steamer wawasset, which had
been chartered by the Washington
Light Infantry Battalion for its an
nuaI excursion to Glymont. About
thirty notorious roughs. calling them
selves the "Hayscales," tried to get
passage on the morning boat. but
were excluded. They did. however,
contrive to get on board the steamer
in the afternoon, but until they
neared Glymont there Was no dis
order. Just before the dock was
reached a row started between one o'
the "Hayscales" and another passen-
ger. but the settlement was pos'-
poned until land was reached. when
the antagonists went to the hotel anl
finished their fight This set things
going and some of the Hay scale
interrupted a dance in the pavilion.
A melee resulted, pistol was dra"
and fired and a man was wounded,
whereupon the crowd surged around
in search of the shooter. who took 10
the woods and was finally caught
and badly beaten. Capt. Waugh OF
the light infantry ordered the assem-
bly, sounded. and military order was
formed by the militiamen. who dis
persed the belligerents, took the ring
leaders on board the boat and locked
them up in staterooms. The star, in
its news account noted that the YEAR
previous an excursion at Marshall
Hall had been broken up by riot,
and urged that something should he
done to protect peaceable excursion
lists against the interference OF
rowdies."
I'VE have always maintained" says
The Star Of June Is. 1873. that when
Congr ess
Appropriations for saw is;s
Permanent Capital. m aktng
some effort to help itself in the way
of improvements, that body would
not fail to give cooperative assis--
ance This has been the result, ds
is shown by the exceptionally liberal
appropriations made by Congress for
the District this session, following
upon the development Of the eA-
tensive system of improvements en-
tered upon by the board of pnhIf
works. The tedious congressional
investigation into District AFFAIRS ~
cited by our fossil obstructionis's
only serves to show the narrow
minded or selfish motives of the Ia.
ter and to bring out in strong rell'r
the merits of the proposed lmproN'-
ments, and directly upon the heels "t
that investigation and OF the wlnHN
partisan speech of Representative
Roosevelt these heavy approprlatl"lI5
were voted by Congress in aid OF tie
good work of beautifying W ashlne-
ton. The grand end accomplished.
however by the determination o.
the District to help itself is the eN-
plosion of the project for the removal
Of the Capital. and with it the diss"-
luton of the last shadow that hu'S
over the prospects of Washingt"'l
This is recognized already by the
press of the country. and in this con-
nection the New York Express SAYS
washington city as a permanent
CAPITAL we presume. is hNed faft
With nearly two million dollars Tor
public buildings and improvements
for the Federal Capital appropriated
by Congress for the next fiscal year.
we take it there is no prospect OF a
change"