Evening star., 1941-04-27
Fifty Years Ago
In The Star

Fifty years ago The Star announced
The Coming Airship' II years before
it actually came at Kitty
The Airship Hawk, N. c., and predict
Arrives ed that man would con-
quer the air and success
fully initiate the feathered navigators
of heayen's azure vault" Says The
Star of April 25, 1891 The practical
world was surprised to read an
account OF the incorporation of COM
pany to build ship to navigate the air.
- To navigate the air was the dream
of man long before marine navigation
by steam and almost the bare thought
of its accomplishment makes the heart
even Of the skeptic beat faster upon
contemplation OF the teeming possibili-
ties of the subject. Who would
neglect the opportunity to enter on the
ground floor a corporation that first
made practical aerial navigation by
building and equipping line of air
monsters to ply between New York and
Liverpool, San Francisco and other
cities with such safety and speed as to
run down the eagle in his flight"
Descriptions follow of patents grant,
ed, including individual wings attached
to the shoulder blades and other fan
tastic devices, including a balloon char
lot powered by captive birds in harness.
OF local interest was the announce
ment OF plans for a regatta. In The
Stars words, "All the
Pluns for preliminary arrangements
Reoottu for the great regatta of
the National Association
of Amateur Oarsmen, to be held on the
Potomac August 18 and 10 next, have
been placed in the hands of a local
committee"
OF national interest was the breaking
of the ground for Grants Tomb in New
York The Star of April
otoft on 27, 1891, said: Thousands
Sronts of people assembled in Riv-
lomo erside Park today to witness
the ceremonies attending the breaking
of ground for the erection of monu-
ment to the late Gen. Grant. To-
day is the 69th anniversary of the birth
of Gen. Grant and was, therefore, Sc
lected by the Grant Monument Asso-
citation as the most appropriate occa-
sion for the ceremonies. Elaborate
preparations had been completed for
fitting observation of the occasion.
Charles p Freeman, department COM
mander of the Grand Army of the Re-
public for the State of New York, pre-
sided and oficiated as master of the
ceremonies, He with his own hands
grasped spade at the appropriate mo-
ment and dug the first earth from the
mound upon which the memorial to the
hero of Appomattox is to be reared"
**
On Apri! 26 of the same year Germany
mourned the loss of her great warrior.
Field Marshal Won Moltke,
''e'o 'the greatest German soldier
Morsnoi since Frederick the Great"
Dies According to dispatch
from Berlin. published in The Star,
Field Marshal Count Von Moltke died
in his official residence on the Konigs-
platz. He appeared to be in his usual
health early yesterday evening. He
supped' as usual and his appetite was
good. He walked home yesterday eve
ming from the Reichstag. He ate a
hearty supper and afterward drank
some tea - But, little later, he was
stricken while playing whist, carried to
his room. placed upon bed, where he
died. THE funeral, If the Counts re-
quests are followed, is to be strictly pri-
vate, but it is thought possible that the
Emperor will override the dead soldiers
wishes in this respect and that his
funeral will be made the occasion for
a grand military display"