Evening star., 1942-08-09
Fifty Years Ago
in The Star
Fifty years ago, as now, there was talk
of naval expansion. The Star of August


9. 1892, said: The Navy
More Department is now begin
Cruisers ming to consider what it
shall ask of the next Con-
gress in the way of additions to the
Navy. A Star reporter who made in
quiries was told that the probable policy
of the department will be to ask for sew
eral 2,000-ton sheathed cruisers some
what on the order of the Detroit and
Montgomery now building, but with
sheathed bottoms The new vessels
would be required to possess moderate
speed and great coal-carrying capacity.
Probably half dozen of these ships
may be asked for next session.
Their coal-carrying capacity would make
them eligible for long cruises in the Pa
cific. Their sheathed bottoms prevent
ing the collection of barnacles, they
would be enabled to maintain their
speed ard be very handy for quick dis
position in case of hostilities.'
Trouble on the Mexican border was
periodic so years ago. Declared The
Star of August 8, 1892: "The
oofoer Mexican refugees on this
Trouble side of the border are again
on the warpath and are en-
deavoring to stir up another revolu-
tionary movement against Mexico.
1t looks as though the Mexican revolu-
tionists along the Rio Grande border
have entered upon their second winter
fer, Init tod tato
Marshal Paul Frick and his posse are
still securing for Catarina Cara north
vest of here (Rio Grande City, Tex"
An appalling sea disaster occurred in
Europe, though it would hardly make
the first page today in a
Ship world at war. In a dis
Disaster patch from London The
Star Of August 10, 1892, re-
ported Fuller details of the collision,
attended, by great loss of life. between
steamers near the coast Of Finland show
that two coasting steamers, the Ajax and
the Runeberg, collided off the port of
Helsingfors (now HelsinkD. capital OF
Finland on Monday last august 81.
The Ajax was loaded with people from
Helsingfors, who were out for Sunday
sail The Runeberg was in the coasting
business. The Ajax had started out on
Sunday and been delayed on the return
by heavy fog. The Runeberg struck
the Ajax near the center, shattering
that steamer so that the water flowed
in in torrent. = B" = There was no time
oh
instantly carrying down nearly 100 per-
sons. Eighty-six are missing and 80
bodies have been recovered"
Piracy, thought long dead, was re-
vived on the Barbary coast. The Star of
August 6, 1892, chronicled:
Pirocy Eel Pillar, Spanish war
Revived vessel cruising on the coast
of Morocco, was last week
fired on by the Berbers. The captain,
thinking there might be mistake some
where, hoisted the Spanish flag, but the
rebels kept up the hostilities even in the
face of this warning. Whereupon, the
Pillar opened at once the fire of her guns
and routed them. This is evidently the
beginning of an action in which the Eu-
ropean powers are taking every day
more interest. 1t is a fact now we'll
established that the Moorish rebels and
pirates run the country Of the Sultan
and that his regular troops do not seem
to be strong enough to keep the country
at peace"
X
The Star of August 6, 1892, reprinted
from the Pail Mall Gazette description
of the Queen of
Queen WiIhelmino Holland, now
As Child refugee from her
invaded country,
but then child, though Queen: The
little Queen is said to be a charming
child. with pretty manners and a sweet
disposition. She is very popular in The
Hague, where hardly house is without
her portrait. She loves riding,
skating and rowing. She Is much in the