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Get into a conversation with a long time Queens resident
and you're likely to discover a subscriber of the Long Island Star- Journal,
a daily paper that informed the community about local and world news until
it folded in 1968. A banner across the Star Journal masthead reminded
readers that the newspaper's name came from the merger of the Long Island
Daily Star (1876) and the North Shore Daily Journal - The Flushing Journal
(1841).
The Star reported that a shock on Sunday afternoon, August 10, created some excitement throughout Long Island City. At first it was thought to have been caused by the explosion of some of the immense oil tanks in the oil yards, but the severity of the shock and the peculiar rumbling sound accompanying it speedily dispelled this view and led to the conclusion that there had been a genuine earthquake. It was a new and rather alarming revelation and the disturbance seemed to have covered the whole extent of territory lying between Maine and Virginia and as far west as the Aleghanies. The quake caused no reported damage.
In speaking of the matter, the "New York Tribune" said: "The shock yesterday was accompanied everywhere by a loud rumbling noise. The motion in the upper part of the city seems to have been sharper than down town. It was less oscillatory than vertical. It is clear that when no damage results from what is thought to be a severe shock, it cannot have lasted many seconds…… The public of the States affected by the shock may console themselves with the reflection that no really severe earthquake has occurred in this part of the world during the historical period, and that shocks as that of yesterday are incapable of doing any damage, however alarming they may seem to nervous persons."
The Board of Health issued numerous abatement orders. Among them was an order for several piggeries in the First, Second and Fifth Wards to abate unspecified nuisances, which most likely included their olfactory contribution to their neighborhoods, within one week. The Board also instructed its counsel to communicate with the Long Island Railroad in regard to refraining from loading manure cars until the first of October.
The economy of Long Island City was booming. Progress and improvements were the order of the day on the Steinway Railroad. A new car shed had just been completed at the north end of the depot, giving abundant room for all the rolling stock. Additional track was laid on Flushing Avenue, and cars were running with regularity between the Astoria Ferry and Steinway village. Twelve more horses were added to the stock, and two new excursion cars were in operation. The Long Island Railroad reported that its revenues for the first nine months of its fiscal year had increased to $1,686,818 from $1,164,787 in 1881.
Baseball playing was in the news. It was evidently illegal to play ball on public property. Two men were arrested for playing ball at the Sunnyside baseball grounds on Sunday August 10. They were placed on trial before Justice Delahanty, and were discharged from custody based on their attorney’s argument that the ball game was played on private property, and therefore did not violate the statutes. On the other hand, John Skink, a lad of 15, went to Hunters Point on a Sunday afternoon with a number of other lads to play ball. They started up a game in the open lots near Jackson Avenue, but had scarcely commenced when they were espied by the watchful eye of Officer Fantry. He went for the ballists, as on spectator remarked, "like a streak of greased lightening," and in a short time had Skink safe under lock and key. The prisoner was fined $2 by Justice Kavanagh.
The Madison Square Theatre at 24th Street, adjoining the Fifth Avenue Hotel, in New York, advertised "MAY BLOSSOM, Or Between Two Lovers," an original Domestic Comedy-Drama by David Belasco, author of "Hearts of Oak" and "La Belle Russe." The ad promised an extraordinary cast and novel mechanical and scenic effects. Seats could be secured by mail, telegraph or telephone.
Schuetzen Park ran an advertisement: "ASTORIA SCHUETZEN PARK. cor. Broadway & Steinway Ave’s. The above Park is the most beautiful in the vicinity of New York and excellently adapted for Picnics, Target Excursions, &c. The building connected with the park is provided with large halls, stage and ante-rooms for Balls, Parties, Theatrical Performances &c. Two lines of cars go direct to the park from James Sup, 7th, 34th and 92d St. Ferries every 10 minutes. Committees of Societies are invited to inspect the park, before making arrangements elsewhere."
Queens residents could purchase some truly remarkable medical products.
"30 DAY TRIAL DR. DYE’S VOLTIAC BELT…..TO MEN YOUNG OR OLD,
Who are suffering from NERVOUS DISABILITY, LOST VITALITY, WASTING WEAKNESSES and all those diseases of a PERSONAL NATURE resulting from ABUSES and OTHER CAUSES. Speedy relief and complete restoration of HEALTH, VIGOR and MANHOOD GUARANTEED. The grandest discovery of the Nineteenth Century. Send at once for Illustrated Pamphlet free. Address: VOLTIAC BELT CO., MARSHALL, MICH."
"CONSTIPATION! There is no medium through which disease so often attacks the system as by Constipation, and there is no other ill flesh is heir to more apt to be neglected, from the fact material inconvenience may not be immediately felt from the irregular action of the bowels. When there is not regular action the retention of decayed and effete matter, with its poisonous gases, soon poisons the whole system by being absorbed into it, causing piles, fistula, headache, impure blood and many other serious affections. BURDOCK BLOOD BITTERS will immediately relieve, and one bottle positively cure or relieve any case of Constipation." There was also a testimonial for this product: "Was troubled for a year with torpid liver and indigestion, and after trying everything imaginable, used BURDOCK BLOOD BITTERS. The first bottle revived me and the second cured me entirely."-J.S. Williamson, Rochester. N.Y.
As always, the pages of the Star contained some lighthearted humor: "Dear me," gasped Mrs. K., "here is a terrible item in the paper. My, how the poor man must have suffered!" What is it?" asked her husband. "Why one of those poor walking match fellows swallowed a sponge." "What? Let me see." After carefully reading the article, Mr. K. threw the paper down and growled: " You women ain’t got a grain of sense. It don’t say he swallowed a sponge." "I know it don’t in those exact words," answered his wife, who then brightly continued: "But how could he throw up the sponge if he didn’t swallow it?"
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