Evening star., 1946-10-13
Fifty Years Ago
The society column of The Star


September rs, 1895, reported the con-
clusion of the boating
Close of the year at the Columbia
Seoson Porty Athletic Club the pre-
vious evening. About 80
COUPLES" it said, danced to the inspiring
strains of a string orchestra located IN
the balcony of the ballroom. The bright
moonlight sparkling on the Potomac
made the scene from the boathouse one
of romantic beauty, and the affair was
altogether one of the most delightful
ever given by the club" Among those
attending were the Misses Virgie Collins.
Matte King, Annie Brennan, Ida and
Edna Mitchell, May johnson and Bessie
Somerville and Messrs. Bert Deyo, Adam
johnson, Charles McGuiggan, H. c. G.
Stiles, j. A. Magee, J. B. Cox and Dan
Walsh. Does anybody remember?
Travel was dangerous long before the
invention of the automobile and the air.
plane. For example,
In Peril a dispatch from San
IN The Road Francisco, published
in The Star for Oc-
tober 1, 1896, gave notice that: Gen.
Nelson A. Miles had a narrow escape
from death yesterday afternoon while
driving on the hill leading from the Cliff
House to the ocean beach. He owes his
life to the GOODNESS and agility displayed
bv Col. Amos S. KimbaH. chief quarter
master of the Department OF California.
and w. H. McKittrick of Bakersfield.
After inspecting the water works plant
at the Preside, Gen. Miles and a
party Of friends started for town in
order to catch the train for the South.
While going down a steep grade. the
pole of the carriage in which the general
was riding snapped short OF near the
axle and frightened the team. The
vehicle was dashed against the bluff and
the driver thrown from his seat be-
tween the plunging and kicking an
imals, but Col. Kimball and Mr.. McKlt-
trick jumped out and rushed to the
horses heads just in time to prevent
their bolting down the hill to almost
certain destruction
y Il ~
On October 2, 1896, The Star recorded
the last chapter of thriller which
had many of the
End ofo qualities OF the
Mystery ToIe modern "whodunits. ="
The central char
acter was Lillian Zenobia DAILY, col
ored girl who was taken to the Pacific
Coast when she was 5 years old. was
missing for 13 years and then had been
located at 18. A woman whose name was
Emma Swami had abducted the child.
When the pair disappeared. Lilllans
mother devoted herself to search which
she continued fruitlessly for more than
a decade. Finally, however, word OF
the girls whereabouts was received IN
Washington. Her mother was too i'll to
60 to California to bring her back. The
chief of police in San Francisco then
paid her fare home. She was met at the
old B. g. o. station by Lawyer r. s.
Smith and conducted to the residence OF
her grandmother. Mrs. Rachael Moore,
where 'she was treated even more kind
ly than the average prodigal son."
The Star Of October 5, 1896, announced
the death of Annie Lewis, "one OF
Washi ngt on IS
Bright Little most popular rep
Souhrette' resentatives on the
stage in this coun-
try She had been famous as
reader when only a child, had made ner
professional debut in THE Little
TRUMP" supported Estelle Clayton and
Roland Reed, been member OF the
company of Hallen & Hart and nnaiiy
starred with Jacob Lift in play writ
ten especially for her by William Ha-
worth. Subsequently, she played at the
Boston Museum for year. Her songs
were whistled and sung by everyone
wherever she appeared" A cold brought
on consumption and, after a year OF
suffering, she died, displaying 10 the
last .'the same sweetness OF disposl1ion
for which she was celebrated tnrough-
out her active career.
\ ~
Neusnapermen in grandfather's time
were as willing to risk life or limb IN
pursuit of q story
4 Night With as any oi tneir
The Lions. Etc. modern TWAS; Inc
contained long account OF night at
the Geological Park. written by re-
porter who, strangely enough, did not
seem TO rate byline. Head Keeper
Blackburn, "an old Barnum man who