Evening star., 1942-09-06
Christian Heurich Reaches Century Mark
BY John Clagett Proctor.


The approaching centennial ami
versary Of the birth of Christian Heurich,
one of washingtons foremost citizens,
who was born on September IL, 1842,
which was recently celebrated by the
Association of Oldest Inhabitants, Of
which he is vice president, reminds
the writer that Mr.. Heurich is not the
only member of this organization to
reach this venerable age during Its
nearly seventy-seven years of existence,
though he is certainly one of the most
prominent. Indeed, at least three mem
bers have attained or exceeded that
extreme age, namely, Austin Crosby
Winslow, who reached 1o2; DR.. William
M. Starr. 100, and Maj. S. Willard Sax
ton, 103.
Mr.. Heurich, of course, has some time
to go yet, and his many friends are
hoping he may live for many years to
come, and that he may at least break
the record set by Maj. Saxton, which was
nearly 104.
Some one has asked what induced Mr..
Heurich to come to the United States
seventy-six years ago? And the logical
answer would probably be. and no doubt
the true one, to take advantage of
the greater opportunities afforded by this
country for a young man who wanted to
get somewhere in life. And naturally,
because this was republic with a
democratic form of government, governed
by the people themselves through their
AJa {oI rot wv
king or emperor. At any rate, one thing
is certain, that although he has made
many visits back to Europe, yet his love
for the grand U. S. A. has always promp-
ted him to return here in short order.
Mr.. Heurich was born in Hama, near
Roemhild, Saxon Meiningen, Germany,
and the greater part Of his boyhood was
spent In his native town, where his
father was one Of the respected promi-
nent burghers-the host of the local
tavern. Like most Of his calling, Caspar
Heurich, the father, was man Of many
business affairs and of high standing
in the community.
Christian Heurich attended German
schools and when old enough, was ap-
prenticed to worthy brewer, and be-
fore coming to America he had gained
a thorough knowledge of brewing, and
due to his having travelled widely
through Europe he acquired consider
able experience which proved Of in
estimable value to him In later life.
One experience he gained when work.
ing In Vienna brewery proved OF great
value to him while he was on ship
board as an emigrant bound for America.
Vienna had suffered severe epidemic
Of cholera; and the public officials had
decided that the disease-carrier was
beer. and the drinking of beer was for
hidden; hence the breweries ceased to
operate. Faced by starvation, the
brewery employees thought that quick
death by cholera was preferable. So,
says the story, they drank the for
hidden beer-drank nothing else, and
lived, whereas their water drinking
townsmen died by hundreds, cholera
stricken, Young Heurich, remembering
this. as his emigrant ship lay quar-
antined of the port of Liverpool, also
entrusted his life to the beverage of
which he knew so much. He drank
no ships water and lived, though 400
of his fellow emigrants are said to have
died on that ship during the period OF
quarantine.
Began in Baltimore.
Landing in New York City in 1865,
Christian Heurich proceeded to Balti-
more, and there found employment as
q journeyman in a local brewery. But
in Baltimore he was mainly among
German-speaking Americans, and he