Evening star., 1941-05-11
Fifty Years Ago
In The Stur

Though the world was at peace so
years ago, except for a South American
revolution, even then it was
Notionoi possible 70 find evidences of
Guord American preparedness. More
stress was laid then than
now on the importance of small arms
craftsmanship. Says The Star of May
9, 1891: The inspectors of rife practice
of the District National Guard will not
be to blame if the brigade is not re-
presented at Creedmoor and Sea Girt
by a first class team-better, probably,
than the one which did such excellent
work las year. Battalion inspectors
will Immediately proceed to select
candidates for the primary competi-
tions, averaging about eight men from
each battslion. These candidates will
be choser from among those individuals
who have made not less than 30 per cent
in this seasons gallery practice"
1t is Of interest TO note that in this
same issue The Star ran short story,
specially written for the paper, by the
famous and popular novelist, Octave
Thanet-in reality, Alice French.
Baseball fans who feel depressed at the
present showing of the Senators might
take comfort from re-
Bosebol port of game on May 9,
DeboeIe 1891 4 between Washington
and St. Louis, in which the
score was 20 to 4 in favor of st. Louis,
because o. no less than 13 errors made
by Washington. Under the heading
"Ohl 1t Was Pitiful!" The Star said:
Standing at the head of this tale OF
a melancholy event is a sketch of the
only mar who participated in it who
played ball, His name is MCGUIRE. and
he Vas noticeable for his conspicuous
ability in the midst of lot of miserable
failures. =" A large number OF per-
sons left the grounds before the game
was half over, thoroughly disguised.
They had good reason to be, for the way
in which the Senators played ball. or,
rather, ir which they did not play
ball, was very disheartening. 1t
seemed as If all the men on the team
were demoralized. Give man a chance
and he made an error. 1t was
show of generalization that is seldom
seen in first-class organization such as
the Washington ball club is supposed
to be-"
OF international interest was the
case of the Chilean gun-running vessel
Itata. As background,
Revolt IN revolution was on in Chile
Chile at the time, and the rebels
were attempting to import
arms from the United States to further
their cause. The Star of May 8, 1891,
reports events subsequent to the escape
of the Itata from California, as follows:
There is the greatest amount of
mystery around the Navy Department
as to what is to be done in regard to
the Chilean steamer Itata, which is now
supposed to be scudding down the coast
toward the land of the rebellion. None
of the authorities will talk on the sub
ject, particularly the Secretary, who told
Star reporter this morning that he
had nothing to say about Chile or her
vessels. 1t is rumored that the
Charleston is to be sent in chase, but
no one will admit this. Then it is as
serted that the San Francisco and the
Baltimore, both of which are probably
now in Chilean waters, will be brought
northward to intercept her. This is also
received with raised eyebrows by naval
officers. A third theory is that the
Omaha, which is somewhere between
Panama and San Francisco, will be
sent after the Itata. Out of all these
flying theories not a single grain of
actual fact can be cleaned"