Evening star., 1922-01-15
Fifty Years Ago
in The Star

The Star OF January 8, 1872. has a
long account OF the shooting In New
York on the after
The Murder of noon of Saturday.
r.. r.1- the 9Th. OF James
SAsN' Fisk, jr.. one of
the leading financiers Of his period,
by Edward S. Stokes. Fisk and Stokes
had quarreled over a woman. a well
known actress. with whom Fisk had
been infatuated. and whom he had
discarded. Stokes, who succeeded in
her affections. had been wrought to
an extreme state of jealousy, and
during the afternoon of Saturday the
9Th he lay in wait for Fisk at the
Grand Central Hotel. Fisk. calling on
a lady there. went up stairs and just
before he reached the head OF the
stairs Stokes hred at him severeal
times, wounding him twice. One
wound, In the abdomen, proved fatal.
FISK dying Sunday morning. Stokes
was Immediately arrested and on be-
ing taken before Fisk was identified
as his assailant. Later after Fisk's
death, he was held for murder by a
coroners jury.
x y
Until the present highway and rail-
road bridges were built across the
Potomac river at
Bridge Danger Washington there
n-: a. was incessant con-
cern as to the
safety Of the means Of crossing the
river. The old Long bridge was con-
stantly the subject Of protest on the
score OF its insecurity. In The Star
n 10 INN f.I
lowing expression Of this apprehen-
sion:
I'VE feel compelled as a public duty
to call attention to the rotten and un-
safe condition of the Washington and
Alexandria railroad bridge across the
careened and an inspection shows suf-
ncient evidences Of rickety and de-
cayed nature of the structure to indi-
cate the danger to human life by the
passage Of railway trains. Those ia
miliar with its condition seem to
think 1t marvel that no serious ac-
cident has thus far occurred there.
We are aware that II is public con-
venienca to have trains run over it. at
least until the bridge of the Balti-
more and Potomac road is completed.
but the risk is altogether too great
to allow the structure to be used in
its present condition.
THE legislature, 1t will be remem-
bered, passed a resolution calling
upon the board of public works to
send an engineer to examine the
bridge and report upon its condition.
If We are not mistaken the report OF
the engineer sent on that duty was
that the bridge was unsafe. Probably
the board Of public works may not
have the power to compel the bridge
company to take action in the matter,
but the legislature undoubtedly has"
X
"It was noticed by a somewhat close
observer at the executive mansion
yesterday" says The
Simnle Dress Star of January 10.
1872, that of all the
called to pay their respects to Mrs.
Grant, about the only one not dressed
in silk, satin or velvet. or all three
combined, was Mrs. Thornton. wife of
Sir Edward Thornton, the British
minister. who wore dress OF DARK.
soft, warm-looking material. suitable
for winter wear. The deviation from
creditable as it was striking. and the
question at once suggested itself
whether IL the representative of one
of the richest and greatest nations
on earth, and herself lady of ample
means and of unquestioned refine
ment, could set such a lesson III
economy and good taste, the mothers
wives and daughters of America
might not profit by the excellent eH-
ample and modify somewhat their
foolish and almost wicked extrava-
gance in dress The inquiry. which is
a pertinent one. and of more weight
than might at first appear. we COM
mend to the thoughtful attention of
our lady readers. We assure them
also that in any reform in that direc-
tion they will have the hearty ap-
proval of the sensible portion Of the
sterner SEX"