Evening star., 1941-10-26
Fifty Years Ago
In The Stor

INe Clllean reDelS lldQ SuCCceOeQ III
taking over the government and driv-
ing out Balmaceda, there was a riot
involving Chilean and
Chilean American sailors in which
Incident several American sailors
were killed and wounded.
as related before in this column. The
Star of October rs of that year had this
to say about it: Secretary Blaine made
his appearance at the State Department
this morning. - Not long after he was
joined by Secretary Tracy 'of the Navy
and the two cabinet oficers went to the
White House to keep an appointment
with the President. The Chilean
outrage vas the chief topic
AS result Of the conference today it Is
likely that the issue between this Gov
eminent and Chile for the next few
weeks will be confined to correspond
ence. In other words, the situation is
not so threatening as it appeared last
week"
As previously mentioned, apologies
and indemnities later were offered and
accepted. closing the incident as far as
possible.
OF interest was the annual report on
the Military Academy for the fiscal year
ending August. 1891. On October 81 Of
that year The Star reported: Col.
John M. Wilson su-
Report on perintendent of the
West POINT United States Military
Academy ex-
presses himself as favorable to a mod
crate increase in the CORDS of cadets.
He says that during the past year the
condition Of the corps of cadets as re-
CARDS drill. discipline and instruction
has been excellent" The colonel goes
on to give certain recommendations,
but his final one is most enlightening.
The superintendent again calls atten-
ton to the absolute necessity for replac-
ing the obsolete and dangerous artillery
with modern ordnance"
Earlier in the year 1891 (in March,
Congress had authorized a subsidized
ocean mail service to foreign countries.
having realized that with the high wage
standard of American
Shin Subsidy seamen competi t | o n
Far Mail with other nations was
not possible by private
firms without the aid Of a subsidy to
make up the difference. The Star Of
October rs, 1891. noted: "At 3 o'clock
this afternoon Postmaster General Wan
amaker. in the presence Of number
Of the bidders. officials Of the department
and newspapermen. opened bids for sup
plying the proposed subsidized ocean
mail service, as provided for by the act
of Congress that vessels en-
ployed in this service shall be Ameri-
can-built steamships. owned and ON
cered by American citizens"
Here followed some technical details
and an arrangement whereby the per-
sonnel should, as time went on. become
more and more American. until at
length at least half of the crew be
American citizens. The routes were to be
from New York, Boston. Baltimore, New
port News. Norfolk, Philadelphia, Port
Tampa, New Orleans, Galveston. San
Francisco, Seattle and Tacoma to all
the principal ports in the world.
The sporting world was interested in
the opening Of the fall races at Ben
ming. The Star of October 2e, 1891 in .
special dispatch from the track, ex-
planned: This was the
beonino opening day Of the fall races
Races at Benning. and the WASH
ington Jockey Club, under
whose auspices the meeting is held,
should indeed feel proud Of the attend
ance and the excellent program pre-
sented. The track is In prime condition.
and fast time is expected in all the
events"
This track continued In operation for
nearly II years longer. The last raes
there vas run April II, 1908.