Evening star., 1941-10-19
Fifty Years Ago
In The Star

Fifty years ago the United States be-
came embroiled in an international Incl
dent. an aftermath of
ootte OF the Chilean revolution.
Volporoiso The Star of October II,
1891, gave some of the
details: Three perhaps four, American
man-of-war's men were killed and sew
eral others were more or less severely
wounded in a desperate street fight lin
Valparaiso with a crowd of Chilean
sailors. The American bluejackets
who were engaged in the battle were from
the United States cruiser Baltimore, and
the Chileans were from the various war
ships now in the harbor ." It is alleged
that party OF men from the Baltimore,
ashore on liberty. met wit hthe Chilean
man-of-warS men. The hatred of the
Yankees led to some insulting remark
and this brought on the general
fight"
The real cause of the bad feeling was
the opinion of many Chilenos that the
United States had been favoring the re-
Gently defeated and deposed Balmaceda.
az Al SL tiic LtIcS III SIllle pdlO no
attention TO American demands for apol-
ogy and restitution, but later after two
more American warships were sent to
Chilean waters, an official apology was
forthcoming. together with cash compen-
Sation for the victims or their families
The threat of trouble in Europe also
was in the air. The Star Of October II,
1891, reprinted a dis
trouble patch from Vienna:
keor Pruth Excitement is on the
increase in Rumania
owing to the massing of Russian troops
near the Pruth. The Rumanians,
though alarmed, are not afraid 1t is
said that they consider themselves amply
capable of resisting a Russian advance
long enough for other powers to come to
the rescue The threat, however proved
false alarm. No hostilities developed
One of Washington's familiar land
marks is the Post Office Building right
across Pennsylvania ave-
New City nue. from The Star Office
p O The Star of October II,
1891, announced plans in
connection with its construction: The
first actual step toward the preparation
of the square opposite The Star office
for the site of the new City Post Office
was taken today by the supervising archi-
tect, and consisted in the preparation of
and advertising calling for bids for the
removal and purchase of the buildings
now on the square. The bids will be
opened in about three weeks. and In the
meantime the supervising architect says
the occupants of the property will be
expected to vacate. Otherwise they will
be elected. Thus the site will be cleared
in short order and the materials carted
away quickly by private firms"
The actual date now shown on the
building, In large Roman numerals, is
finished for full use until two years later.
The letters "R. F. D." are so familiar to
all that it seems difficult to think of a
time when there was
RuroI Delivery no rural free delivery.
Proposed There was none half a
century ago, but there
was much talk about establishing it.
Said The Star of october 10, 1891, in
dispatch from New York: can organized
effort is under way from farmers to Sc
cure from Congress free mail delivery in
country towns. Letters are being
written to Congressman in favor of the
project and petitions to Congress for free
delivery are being circulated in every part
of the country. Farmers assert that
daily mail delivery at their door will add
perceptibly to the money value of their
farms ''' and keep them in touch with
the outside world
Rural free delivery was started under
Mckinley in 1897.
Unmerited Space