The New York Herald Newspaper, December 11, 1853, Page 4

NEW YORK HERALD. yames o> wos SEYNEDT, PROPRITTOR AND EDITOR, oHe OP FULPOW AND WASSAU ESTE. aren ew. Edition © per an * to amy part of the y me! for Sabsori; tons. oF vith sisemen!a t rhe poutzge wiil be de iucted fr the money rewrsistod VOLUNT. te ny tenzor tant rere ou * ismscd will be Moor’! r. ARE PACTIOULAT LY ERQUEATED TO MRAZ ALL Lavtanes Packae 3. ‘a Kew of anonymous communications We od with neviness eheapness, and NG. ow Corpse OLE WREY THEATKE, Bowery. Bee Mir avisy GONDOLA 2 B’Hovs. ae BROADWAY THEATHY Broadway-Tntew GuaRpiay— Marry 2sx | LAvY AND GENTLEMAN IN & PecULIARLY Papriex.so PREDICAMENT. NIBLE adway—Pur Proruer. BURTON'S THEATRE, Chambers etrecs—Pox Bunr— Garvan Ancrr NATIONAL THEATRE, Chatham etre Lirrie Kary. svening—Uncie fows al -Afvernoem ~ Lire — WALLACK’S THEATKS, Broadway - Game or Fortune's Fuorse SERICAN MUSBUM—Atserneon-Hor Corn -E Blac Cncug Pow’s Canin. BNAGERIZ.—tiasesz Twrvs avn Wii OADW AY x 37 Bowery.--Lauestnran KICAN OPERA HOUSE, 472 B ond ELODIES BY CHRIGTY'Y MINSTRELS. § Minstrel Ball, 444 Broad eYS OPERA HOUSE, £29 Broadway.- Book nortan CrERA TROUPR. BANVARD'S GEORAMA, 596 Troadway.—Panonama er rue Hoty Lanp. RMBNISH GALLERY, 563 Brondwey.—Day and Svening. WSNOR SLITZ.—Sruvvesant Lworirurs, 669 Broadway ACADRAY HALL, 663 Brosdway.—Peruam’s Girt Bx- WTION OF THE SkVEN MiLE MIRROR. POWRPLL’S CART NATIONAL PAINTING ror ene Govern ur OPEN AT THE NATIONAL ScsDEMY ev Drsian. SOPK OM APEL, 718 Brosdway.—Jonzs’ Paxroscors. )RLD IN MINIATURE—Broadway, corner of “Wew Yor, Sunday, December 11, 1853. The News. Onur city was egain the scene of gnother most ter- wifi: confiagration yesterday afternoon. Shortly after ne o'clock, asthe employes in the large printing esiablisiment of the Brothers Harper, running ‘Mhrongh from Clif te Pearl streets, were about re- woming their labors a‘ter dinner, smoke was discov ered issuing from the premises, and in a short time the whole building .was enveloped in flames. The operatives, it is believed, afl made their escape, “Brough several of them came very near losing their lives. Ina comparatively short space of time, six- teen buildings, with their contents, were in ashes. ‘The loss is estimated at three-fourths of a million of dollars. A very full report of this calamity is given +elsevhere. ‘The mails of the Humboldt and Niagara were de Bivered in this city last evening. Our telegraphic advices from Halifax, published immediately after the wreck of the former, and the arrival of the last memed vesse], contained the chief points of the po” Titica! news, bus the details, though principally con” @rmatory of the summary thus obisined, will be found highly interesting. From France we have assurence that the long agitated fusion of the two braneles of the Bourbon family, bas been fully completed, after a series of mutual sisits between the Duke of Nemours and the ‘Duke de Bouriesux at Frohsdorfs. It was consider. ed that this event may be important in its future effects upon the government of France. There was no appearance of any Miguelite move- ment at Lisbon. M. Kossuth has written another letter upon the Eastern qnestion, addressed to the secretaries of a “'Torkish Sympathy” mee'ing in Glasgow, which we dosert in full. The letters from our London and Paris correspon- dents, as well as the varions extracts given from the Eofopean journals, are Giled with eniertaining and impertant information, and are well worth a careful perusal. s Believing ape thousands of Scottish emigrants in the United States ard the Canadas will rejoice to hear.of the movement now being made by so macy ~ ot their influential countrymen to secur® their inali- ensbdig cights from the British government, and that mothing will give them greater pleasure than having an opportanity of reading the report of the great demonstration Iately held at Ediaburg for this pur- pose, we publieh the proceedings of that meeting in ovr columns of this morning. The steamehip Star of the West, and George Law, are now due at this port, with the details of Califor- Dia news to the 16th ult. Some additional informa: tion received from San Francisco via New Orleans, is given nnéer the telegraphic head. There is nothing of particular interest fron Wash- ington today. Col. Forney has published a state- ment concerning his letter to Mr. Roberts with re- gard to the Forrest divorce case, upon which we May take the trouble to comment hereafter. The Cabinet organ denies that the President, his private secretary, or any member of the administration, fuwished the message, in order to enable certain presses to publish it in advance of their cotempo- raries, and declares that the document was procured through either stealth, bribery, or other indirect meant. We are grieved to learn that the revenno catter Hamilton, which left Charleston for a cruise on the 7th inst., was wrecked off Tally Breakers during a burricane on the night of the 8th. All but one of the Hificen persons ou beard are believed to have perished. Finding the cutter going down the officers aud crew tock to the life boats, one of which has not since been heard from, but the cther, containing Capt. Ravoiph, five men and two boys, was soon capsized, and the only person who succeeded in saving himsel was a sailor, who, being lashed to the boat, was picked up by a steamer. The Canal Board met at Albany yesterday and appointed Henry Ramsay, of Schenectajy, State Engineer. The feud Setween the railroad company and the mob is still raging at Erie, Pa. On Friday the com- pany laid down a track to within a mile of their @epot, and repaired the bridges to the city limits: During the night the rioters again tore up the rails, ploughed up the track, and destroyed the culvert bridge. This being a mail route,the Postmaster General has been written to on the subject, and the prokable result will be that the rioters will be called upon to answer for their misconduct to both the United States and State authorities. The detailed particulars to be found in another eolumn of the brutal slaughter of Captain Gunnison and his party by the Utah Indians will be read with melancholy interest. It is hoped that government ‘will throw a strong armed force into that part of the country, and adopt such other measures as will render the perpetration of any similar outrage im poerible in future. ‘The total number of death in this city, duriag tue pas! week, amounte! to three hundred and seventy: five, being an increase of fifteen on the mortality 0’ the previous seven days. Among the deceased, were two bendred and forty-nine Americans, sixty-eight Trishmen, ten Englishmen, and thirty-five Germans. The chief causes of death were as follows: Cholera, 9; consuwptign, 46; convulsions, congestions, 18; fevers, 25; inflammations, 48; dropsies, 21; pre taken up their abode in the First ward, but who were probably inoculated with the fatal disease before they tastance, however, citizens gene pesary precaution, for, g among us it mighs polation rapidly thaa did the people of New Orleans daring trcummer. The streets of this city were never pn more wretched condition—few of them having been swept for weeks and months together. The dirt has been allowed to milate watil the dast arising therefrom, even in Bread vay, almost odscures the noon@ay sun, and renders the inhalation of pure air utterly impossible. Hitherto, at this season of the year the excuse given for not carting the dirt from the streets was. that it was frozen fast te the paverments—what apology have the contractors to offer now? A card has been published by the Mayor of New Oneans, in which he declares that strangers may visit that place with perfect safety, as the health of the city was never better, xv By an arrival at Boston newa bas been received from the Cape ef Good Hope to the 26th of October, at which time the country was quiet, and the authori- ties were busily occupied in parcelling out the land declared forfeited by the Kafirs to English and Dotch settlers. Late advices frem the island of Mauritius annennced that the sugar crop had been gathered, and found to reach the unprecedented amount of ninety thousand tons—nearly one ton for every inhabitant. A new copper mine has been dis- covered at the Cape, but nothing is said concerning should not deter our auth ral'y, fro pting every nm were the p na foot decima far the yel the | its value or extent. We cisewhere publish an sddress, recently issued by Brigham Young, Governor of Utah Territory, which is a regular curiosity in ite way. His remarks coucerning the depredations end murders committed by the Todians, and ako his advice to the Sainis, supercede anything we have had fu his line of busi- ness for along time. Sinners.as well as saints will, no doubt, be highly edified with the Governor's pronunciamentos. The report of the Secretary of the Navy, given in anvther page, will command attention from the fact that it not only exhibits the condition and strength ef our armed maritime force, but also contains many recommendations for important changes ané altera- tions in the service. Irew York Journalism—Its Religious and Political Tendencies. The position occupied by the newspaper press and the personnel of its members are, perbaps. one of the most striking indications that can be found of the spirit of the present age. Among all the numerous daily journals published inthis city. no two are conducted by men of the same religious belief; and, still stranger, it is improbable that all the writers and conductors of any one paper profess the same creed. The former fact, two centuries ago, would have led to fierce controversies, probably to bloody encounters; the latter wovld have been simply“impossible. Now, both are manifest to every eye; and neither the religious differences subsisting between rival papers, nor the latitude of opinion enjoyed by the associate editors of any one sheet, interfere in the slightest degree with professional har- miony or the publie repose. Irritable as editors are usually, and, perhaps, correctly considered, a controversy on points of theclogical doc- trine in a New York journal is the rarest thing inthe world. The public may judge of the 7 scope efforded for such a combat, from the following table of the religious belie? of the principal editors of this city:— HERALD. Mr. Bennett—Catholic Church. A very zealoar paying member, and in favor of the Trustees of every Amenoan Cetholic chapel or church having the cos- trol of their property, instead of the clergy thereef. COURIBR AND ENQUIRER. Gen. J, Watson Webb—-Episcopaiian, of the Low Church school, bat devotedly attached to Bishep Waiuwright, who is High Church. . JOURNAL OF COMMEECE. Mr. Hallock—A professor of the Congregational Chureb; spending bis Sabbaths in New Maver, the headquaiters of Orthodox Calvinistic faith. George B. Butler—Religious views believed to be similar to those of Thomas Suffern and James Beor- man of the Presbyterian church. . BU. Beach Brothers Members of the COngregational or Presbyterian church, but friends of Rev. Heary Ward beecher. TRIBUNE. Horace Greeley— Universalist, Socislist and “Come ovter;”’ not permanently fixed in his place ef wor- shis; bat sometimes, in his old white coat, prays and exhorts in meetings. Mr. McEirath—Methodiat ; but inclimed to the Epiecopa! Church. Mr. Dana—Being opp to Satan and all bis works, but sadly unsettled in bis religious views. Mr. Soow—Wail street church ; wnder the charge ot Rey. Mr. Bull. Bayard Taylor—Travelling preacher. TIMES. Mr. Harper—Methodist Church, of which his father ang uncles, the book and magazine publishers, are exemplary members and class-leaders. Very piozs— almost too much. Mr. Reymond —Professor in Rey. Dr. Potts’ chureh, of the Old School Presbyterians, but not very pious. NATIONAL DEMOCRAT. Rev Chauncey ©. Burr—Not at present attached to any regular ehurch, but considered perfectly ortho- dox in his religious views, and opposed spiri:ual rappings and the Cabinet. TRUE NATIONAL DEMOCRAT. Mr. Childs~-Said to be inclined to Methodism, but more £0 to the Custom House. COMMERCIAL ADV&RTISER. Francis Hall end Sons—Zealous members of the Methodist Church; the senior partner being a class leader. Very respectable modern saints. EVENING PORT. Mr. Bryant—Bittery believing Unitarian. Mr. Bigelow—Unknown, but said to be attached to th me church with John Van Buren; neither perticulady holy, or cousidered saints. EVESING MIRROR. Mr. Fuiler—Religion unknown. EXURESS. James Brooks— Attends the Episcopal Church; hating similar views with regard to the questions dividing this charci: #8 those entertained by General James Watson Webb. Erasius Brooks, the Senstor elect--Formetly Uni- terian, but now of the silver grays, with the leaders of which he coincides in all iraportant matters, whe- ther in poetry, politics, or religion. So little do these differences of religions opinion among the editors influence the tone of their respective papers, that the most careful reader could never discover them from a pe- rusal of the articles they contain. On matters disconnected with politics a general uniformity pervades the views expressed by the Catholic, the Presbyterian, the Episcopalian, the Me- thodist, and the Freethinker; at all events. those views are seldom, very seldom, biassed by the religious tenets held by the writer. Religion has come at last to be so entirely disconnected with the topics of public and general policy which newspapers are called upon to discuss, that no editor thtnks of allow- ing his church to interfere with his freedom of thought; and the public, in like manner, trou- bles itself no more about the creed of jougnal- ists than about the cut of their coats or the color of their breeches, Were it not for the jealousies engendered by rivairy, and the more violent arimosity which political strife awakens, editors professing all possible shades of religious belief might live together in perfect good will and peace, , The same fact—it would have been called aremarkable phenomenon some time ago—is apparent in the country press of the United States. It would hardly be otherwise, as the tone of the country papers is always taken take. The prees in every large city works | like the lawa of nature, unseen but not unfelt, | producing in due time its visible, tangible ef fects. like the seed sown in the earth, which silently germinates and brings forth fruit in | abundance. We can always tell what are the | political operations in Engtand and France from the tere of the journals of Paris and | [London.} The press in France, under the Na+ poleon dynasty, is not free to discuss do- mestic questions; but it can treat of foreign polities, and ss to these it is entirely united in denouncing the policy of the Emperor of Russia and sustaining the cause of the Sultan of Tur- key. The London press takes the same course. This sentiment, consequently, prevails among the intelligent reading classes all over Europe. [The same rule applies with equal force to this country. In politics as well as in religion, ;the country press is merely the echo of that f New York The truth of this statement is so abundantly proved by the political history of the last few years that it is worth nothing. Previous io the year 1835, and even up to 1840, the press of the United States was very touch under the control of the party leaders of the day. Very few journals were independent of their tremmels, and the influence of the press was, therefore, comparatively small, Ia hy the popping ofa champagne cork, ard the savory smell of an oyster Fry. The other question, regarding black mail and black mail journals, is also satisfactorily set- tled by this invaluable trial. It seems that the term “ black mail’ has heretofore been one of very vague and mysterious meaning. Some- times black mail was to pay for abusing some- thing or somebody; sometimes it was for not abusing them. Then, again, it was for puffing some egregious humbug to the skies; and some- times for keeping silent, and not exposing the imposition. Now, however, we have at last the real, true, genuine, artistic definition of this terrible term, black mail. Its real mean- ing seems to be, a manager hiring critics and newspapers to abuse his own principal artists ! The unkindest thing in this whole black mail business, however, is that Mr. Bennett and the terrible Hratp—who have been regularly, hourly, daily, and weekly accused of “black mail,” any time these fifteen years, without » shawdow of proof—are entirely out of the ques- tion in this real, palpable black mail affair. Nay, while the poor artistes of Fry’s opera coop were scattered in dismay, like-affrighted chickens, by the managerial tritical Reynards that Fry had let loose upon them, and were running to the big watch-dog of the Henatp for 1840 a-change took place. In that year nearly the whole press of the city—per- haps four-fifths—were in favor of the elec- tion of Gen. Harrison and opposed to Mar- tin Van Buren. The result throughout the country was the sanction of the public opin- ion that radiated in all directions from the metropolis. Harrison was elected by a large majority. In 1844, there was a more equal division of the New York metropoli- tan press for and against Clay and Polk. The result was a close contest, and the elec- tion of Polk by a small majority. A simi- lar state of things, in a modified form, took place in 1848, and a similar result ensued throughout the country. The course pursued by the New York city press, and the re- sults that followed ir 1852, are well known. Four-fifths of the press in this city, either’ secretly or openly, were in favor of Pierce. His majority was consequently overwhelming. At this moment we may observe en pas- sant the singular fact is developed that nearly the whole of the city press of New York and a large portion of the country at large, is against the administration of Gen. Pierce. This is only the beginning of the great game of 1856. Out of 130,000 sheets issued every morning ia this city, not 15,000 are positively and decidedly in favor of the Cabinet. The result at the next Presidential election may, therefore, be calculated from the present position of the New York metropolitan press in relation to the President, his administration, | and the present stool-pigeon democratic party in Congress. So .of religion. If the New York press is | tolerant, the country papers will likewise be | tolerant; if we grow bigotry, bigotry will soon develope itself in the country. Such is the result of our experience, and we have not yet been mistaken in prognosticating results from permanent and wyudoubted causes. No matter what politicians at Washington, and such papers as the Union, may say of public opinion emanating from New York— no matter what little country papers may print in their shects, or bow much they may sneer ot New York journals, the tone of the aggregate press of this city, when it is allowed time to develope itself, will ever turn out to be the tone of the people of the United States. t Important Qvesrions SerTtep.—We ail re- member the intense excitement cccasioned by the questions as to who struck Mr. William Patterson, and whether saltpetre would ex- plode. But the interest excited by these great historical and scientific problems has been gra- dually dying away since the rise of those still more absorbing questions, ‘‘who are the oyster- house critics?’ and “what is black mail ?” The recent great operatic libel case, Fry vs. Ben- nett, has furnished a complete solution of these tough and puzzling problems ; so that, even should no other advantage to the purse or cha- racter of the aggrieved parties result from thie case, the time of the jury, the patience of the judge, and the genius of the counsel, will have been well expended. As to the question regarding the ‘ oyster house critics,” it appears that the existence of this amphibious and mysterious race of literary troglodytes has at last been definitely estab- lished, and its origin traced. From the evidence in this case, it seems that Mr. Fry, the Napoleon of operatic managers, was in the habit of taking “the literary part of the army,” as Mr. Foster called it in bis evidence, down into a certain fashionable oyster cellar, after the opera was over, kept by the ever immortal Johnny Keefe, 600 Broadway, where these hired and paid critics, in conjunction with the manager and his steffi—inclnding the physician of the com- pany, in case any of them were taken suddenly ill—used to discuss champagne and criticism in the same breath, and serve up an article for next day’s papers, along with each dozen fried, devoured by the hungry critics. These immaculate geniuses,who thus obtained the name of “oyster house critics,” seem to have been “ the big, long, musical critic ¢f the Courier and Enquirer,’ Foster, of the Tri- bunc, ‘Mr. Jim Otis, of the Express,” and others. Mr. Foster received $150 for his sev- vices, besides the “occasional refreshments” furnished by the manager to his literary staff— but it does not appear that the others got any- thing over gnd above the oysters and cham- pagne—they being the “Cheap Jimmy” and « Nimble Dick” of the concern. It was these who furnished the critiques upon the opera, the abuse of Truffi, Pico and Benedetti, and the landations of Fry, with which the small jour- nals of New York at that time were filled. And the queer but uniform hostility of Fry to- wards the principal artists of his company accounts for the otherwise unaccountable fact that, his own paid critics should have been engaged to abuse the very persons upon whose talents and popularity he ought to have depended for the success of his enterprise. This one fact alone, even without the unani- mous testimony of all the artists and persons experienced in the management who have tes- tified on this trial, would prove conclusively that Fry was wholly incapable of managing an opera, and unfit for the position he bad assumed, , wo have at last an answer to the ques tion as to who are the oyster house critics, and where did they come from? They are the musical critics of the Tribune, the Courier and mature and «ti-born births, 47; bronchitis, 11, ana | from the metropolitan press. The former ave | Enquirer, the Express, the Sundsy nnd otber ‘ igtas 1yor a4 protection, the small fry of the press were get- ting fat on black mail oyster suppers, while poor Bennett was only pelted with the shells. Whatever may be the verdict in the present trial, we shall consider ourselves fortunate in having been the means of setting at rest the perplexing questions of who are the oyster house critics and what are the black mail newspapers of New York.. This is glory enough for one day. A Spurr AMONG THE ABOLITIONISTS.—Tle newspaper of Fred Douglass, black man, and one of the leaders of abolitioniem in this State and all over the North, eomes to us with ten mortal columns of an attack upon Garrison. his amiable white brother, who is also a leader of the abolitionists. It seems that Garrison and the anti-slavery white niggers have been assailing Fred Douglas, and charging his paper with be- ing almost as bad as the New York Huratp and the New York Observer. Under such a charge poor Fred winces most terribly. and there is some cauee for it; for to be charged with being as bad as the New York Hxratp amounts toa violation of the ten commandments, in the esti- mation of Garrison and Co. Douglass groans heavily under the charge, but let him take courage and keep up his heart. There is yet some comfort for him. If the white abolition. ists, headed by Garrison, want to get rid of him, why should he not abandon Rochester and the abolitionists, and come to New York to set up an oyster saloon—a business suitable to his name, race and color. If he does we will war- rant him a large custom from men who are hostile to abolitionism in every shape and form, ‘but particularly favorable to oysters in the shell, or out of the shell. Generat Woor.—This distinguished -officer in the American army has been in this city for the last few days, superintending the embarka- tion. of troops for California. He left yestar- day. Gen. Wool has had his headquarters at Troy,and is in command of the northern di- vision of the army. He has recently received anorder from the Secretary of War removing him to Baltimore. Before he leaves, we learn it is the intention of the citizens of Troy, and other friends and edmirere, to give him a public dinner, 08 a testimonial fer his services. In that event we shall take care to report the pro- ceedings. To General Wool ie due, in no small degree, the suecess of the Mexican campaign. He led the American troops through an immense desert, under great difficulties, and he planned and fought the decisive battle of Buena Vista before Gen. Taylor came up. Whatever glory springs from the victory, belongs more to Gen. Wool than to General Taylor, though the latter has always received the lion’s share of it. General Wool is both a practical and a well informed soldier, and he is well deserving of the contemplated honor. Monz Deans in 4x, Exncrant So.—The packet ship Connectiont arrive: yesterday, from Havre, Nov. 7, lost twenty of her passergers (supp2.e¢ from cholera) bet ween the 15th November and the 6th December. The bark Hanse, forty deys from Bremen, lost twenty-five out of two hundred and twenty three passengere, City Intelligence. HERR DRIESBACH AND HI8 PST TIGER—A LOVING EMBRACE. At the Broadway menagerie, last evening, a scene oc: curred which was not announced in the programme of ‘perfermancer, and, therefore, it semewhat took the audi ence by surprise. At 8 o’c!ock, as usual Mr. Drieabach entered the den, in which were a lion, three leopards, a Honess and a Brazilien tizar, for the purpose of exhibi- tior. Seareely, however, had he commensed the per- formance, when, from eome unforeseen cause, the tiger sprang at Mr. Driesbach. The unexpected attack throw him from his feet, and the boast instantiy fastened hia teeth on the breast of Mr. Driesbach and his claws on other parts of bis body. The lioness, observing the as. ravlt, took the part of her master, and pitched into the tiger; but in so doing she ualuckily missed the tiger and struck Mr. Driesbach a powerfal blow with her paw, which only tended to increase the difficulty already pending. Mr. Moffatt, the privcipal attendant during the exhibiticn, kept the o:h+r animals back from enter ing into the melée, se they seemingly felt inclined todo; atthe rame instint he opened the door, acd by m force dragged Mr. Dviesbach from the den, the igey etill maintaining her attachment to her master, ut when opporite her own cage, she loosed her hold Fprang into her own apartment, licking ber chops, and rouched down in one ooraer, evidently enjoying the ocd taste of her fond master. Mr. Driesbach was son- ‘ate room, and & pRysicisa srt for to dress hich, on examination, proved only to be flesh wounds, The eudience et fire thought the atteck of the tiger only fun, and considered the rough and tumble actions cf the to remarkably ratural; in « few seconds, thoagh they found the thing was no joke, and an alira pre- verled least the srssult ehoull prove fatal. — lt is @ Curious fac: that this tiger is considered by Mc. Driesbach ove of his pet avimals for mikcness and do- cility:; bot net raving been exhibited for two or three months post and last eveving, introduced suddenly be fore a crowded audience, and the dazzling gas light, the leart no doubt became confused and excited, which led to theatteck. Such av affair may not ccenr again for ears. ; Mr. Deiesbach will be able ia a fey daye to renew his virite ‘+ in the liom’ dep.” Fine —Seturday morning, about five o'clock, a fies broke out in the ebsir factory, No 28 and 30 Attorney rtreet, occupied by Smith aad Ryerson. The damage was about $2.(U0, which was covered by {naurance, This was sup pored io be the work of an incandiary Avoinen Fine —Friday night, about half part nine, a fire ocourred io the dry goods store of Mark O'Brien, No 216 Bowery, csused by some calico and other gnods hang ing in the window, too fitar the gaa light. It was dis. covered by the clerk of the store, and with come avsistance at hand the fire was extinguished without causing any alerm. Alanme —Petween twelve and (ne o'clock this morning, there were alarms of fl « in the Third and Six h districts, but cn proceecing to those localities our reporter could find neither fiames or emoke. Row Over ww Brosnway Ann Buros, while crossing ondway cn Fricay at the corner of Ninth strest, with hildren, ehe was Tua over by & man on horseback, ving at n furious rate, aod received a bad eat on the Lead, and was otherwire severely injured. She was taren on the corner of Ninth street an! Broadway soertained who tha man was, a8 he did not stop to wee what dainage he had d ter i) wae on the blanket op the horse. Political Intelligence ON IN BAVANNAN —Tae f he charter election Mosterran Fi vote or Mayor on the bth inet owing is the in Savannah ANOTHER AWFUL CONFLAGRATION. HARPER'S ESTAGLISHMENT IN RUINS, THE OLD WALTON HOUSE DESTROYED. Loss of Three Quarters of a Million | of Dollars. BUILDINGS CONSUMED, &e., 0, de. Franklin square yesterday afternoom was the scone of ‘one of the most disastrous conflagrations which we have been called upon to record for s long time. Several buildings were, within a few hours, transformed from gigantic warehouses into rmouldering ruins, and huo- dreds of artisans and workmen engagsd in comfortable occupations were, within the same time, robbed of em- ployment, and thrown destitute upon the world, The fire commenced @ little after one o’clock in the after- noon in the extensive publication establishment of Har- pers Brothers, just as the employés of the plece were resuming their labors after the dinner hour, There were, yesterday, numberless rumors 86 to the cause of the conflagration. The most common, and, perhaps, the most reliable, however, is that ® boy dropped lamp int> the camphene in the engine room, when it was being used for washing the rollers of the printing presses, This accounts for the sudden spread of the flames, in an instant almost wrapping the entire esta- bliehment in oe sheet of flame. The building being filled with paper and matter of a light and combustible nature, the ignition from roof to basement waa almost ike the flashing of powder. To use the language of one of the police officers on the ground atthe time :—‘When the report of fire was,first given, I went to work carrying out books, &¢., bent on saving as mush as possible, While I wag taking the first armfal across ihe afreet I could see no smoke, or nothing elce that looked like fire, and I thought » bucket of water bad ended the ‘affair, In leas than » minute I looked towards the building again, and flames were pouring out of every winiow, from the roof to the lower flonr.’” At about two o'clock the sight was awfully grand. By this time nothing was standing ot Harpers’ immense werehouse but the outside walls, and within these the angry flames weie sporting like infant demons. It looked like one huge cup of liquid flames, foaming aad swelling, and tossing to and fro, im reality a lake of fire. At this hour the apprehension of the specta‘ors was truly horrible. There ws no reason to doubt the destrus- tion ef many blocks in this vicinity. The wind was very high, and huge ecals of fire were carrie} off to the distance of Beekman street, and even there {ell thick and fast upon the roofs of buildings and the heals of spectators. From Harpers’ buildings the flames ignited with the opposite side of Pearl street, although very wide at this place, and for a time there was every appearance that this block would be licked up by the 1a0reasing fire. It was not many minutes after the first report of the fire, before an immense concourse of our citizens assem- bled at the scene of the ditaster, filling up for a long dis- tance every street and avenue leading to Franklin «quare. With the apeed of electricity the report was echoed from tongue to tongue throughout the city, that Harpers’ es SIXTEEN moment to spare immediately directed his footsteps to- volumes of amcke which roMed up in the sir were im streets to.» burdensome degree. Harlem. ‘Harpers’ are burning down,” said our first in- formant, at about half-past one o’clock; ‘Harpers’ are in ruins,” said the second, in less than belf an hour after- ward. During the alternoon there were various reports as to the number of socidenta and loss of life. the rumor was thet at least half a dczen females were buried beneath the ruins, Many were to be found, ‘who ead and dying carried this way and that. There was no one to be found who bad seen such sights themselves. Upon strict inquiry we were happy to learn that all there reports were groundless. There were many miraculous and hairbreadth escapes, hut no lives are known to be lost. The only reported in- jary which we eould place any faith in was that young lady, through her fright, had jwmped out of the fifth story window and broken both her lege. At a Jate hour in the evening this was denied. We be- liove the truth is, a young lacy did jamp out of one of the windows, but esceped without any serious injury, Another young lacy had her dress take fire, and anvod herself only by stripping it off, when she was taken up by Officer Mastersdn, of the Chief’s office, and conveyed to a house on the opporite side of the street. This, we are happy to egy, ie, co far as heard from, the extent of the record of accidents and injuries usually attendant upon such diraeters as that of yesterday, As soon as the fire had extended across Pearl atreet,tho efforts of the firemen were diviced. The first building which ignited on this side ef the street, wax the Walton House, of Revolutionary memory. This was No. 326 Pearl, and every effort of the gallant firemen to preserve itom account of its historical associations were of no avail. Tn a few moments it was spread over with flame nothing remained of it except the front wall and the Jower story. This building, being one of the few metro- politan remsins cf other time-, ves an obituary at present. THE WALTON HOUSE. The Walton House was « large three story edifice, built in the English baronial style of the last century, It was erected by an aristocratic gentleman, from whom it took its name, near # century ago, Until very lately, when its front was altered for an emigrant boarding houre, the portal was in five beeping with the style of architecture which, in the day it was built, distinguished the English patricians from the plebelans, The armorial bearing of the Walton family, supported by two fluted columns in front, were, un'il a few yerrs ago, preserved; but at last the inaignia of royalty fell before the advance of repub- licsni:m, and the royal emblem of the aristocratic Wal tons gave place to the eign of an emigrant boarding house keeper. When the Walion House was first erected there was but ane building on that side of the street, hetwoen Peck slipand the commencement of Cherry street. At this time there were not haif » dozen buildings in Pearl strect, north of Franklin’square, and for many years afterwards, this now populous and densely settled vicinity, comp: ised down tewards Roorevelt, James and Oliver streets, an ire paseible bog, called ‘Swamp meadow.’?* ‘That section of the gity still called the “Swamp,” from Beehman to Frankfort streets, waa then nothing but a wet, boggy waste, covered with trees end bushes, a great resort for eportemen ia searvh of allkinds of game. When the Walton House wa" built in 1754, it wae a matter of rurprise to many of the honest citizens of that time that its proprietor should choose a rite £0 far out of town, it being then almost in the eastern extremity of the city. This edificewas the pride and admiration of sur citizens im former Cays, and there are many alive now who well remember when, for good conduct at school, they have enjoyed what they once oonpidered @ delightful Sabbath walk out of town, to leok at Boss Walton’s fine mansion, In latter years, the fine dwelling of Boss Walton, as he was called in old Dutch parlsnce, has been used for hotel purpores, and as strange as it may seem, bas hard its day im that line, as it first had aaa private residence, In Goodrich’s picture of New York, published in 1821 we read the following notice, under the head of “ cipal Ho‘els” in the city :-- “Walton House, No, 596 Pearl street, botweea Peck slip and Dover street, in Franklin square, kept by 8 Backus, Prices, $1 per day, $5 per woek, $260 per yesr.”? For the last few years thin once famoys place has been used ae an emigrant boarding house, and its atately baile, orce ircd by those in whose veins flowed “the blocd of all the Howards,” have resounded with the revelry of neisy foreigners, and been darkened by tho demosratic smoke of huge Dutch tobacco pipes. It was yeste: day made fuel for consuming flamer, and nothing of it now remains but the ruins of what it was. Adjoining the Walton House was the Franklin Square Hotel, which shared the fate of ite neighbor, and ta aow & total wreck, Next to this hotel was the extensive bakery establish ment of ex-Alderman James Kelly, No, $30 Pearl street Tt wae for a long time feared this would go with the rest, but Mr. Kelly, being an old favorite of the fire depart went, an ex member himasif, every nerve of the hervic firemen wan stretched to save hisdwelling. Wet bien kate were thrown out of hie windows, and his roof roa tablishment was burning down. Every one who had a wards tho spot, anxious to know for certain whether this extensive establishment was the seat of the fire. The At one time had seen several others, who had seen any quantity of and | mense and dark. Soon after the fire a heavy clond of smoke hung over the city, filling many of the down town During the afternoon, 1t was the only topic of conversation from the Battery to but for the especial sid of his gallaat brother fremen? A hole was burned through his roof, and he sustained some da by water, Otherwise he was rot injured, but will be sble, without interruption, to continue the dispensation of kis eelebrated bread and cakes to ag extensive patronage. CLIFF STREET, At an early hour in the evening the appearance of thé ruing on CHM street was beautifully terrific, The entira esteblishment of the Messrs. Harpers was one masd of rubbish, comprising fix houses on Cliff street, running through to Pearl, and taking im the same number of houses on that street, Those on Cliff street were num- pered 82, $4, £6, 88, 90 and 02. Om the opposite side of Cliff street, the buildings Nos. 81 and 83, alo occupies by the Messrs, Harpers, were uch seorchei, but nothing more: Qf the twelve buildings of the Harpers betweeg: Clif and Pearl streets, ail that now marked the spot - are few smoking walle, The firemen were atill direct? ing their hore upon the spot, anc heavy dense volumes of smoke rolled up from under the fallen mass. PEARL STREBT. On this street the scone was rather meore horvible thas} in Cliff, for here ruin meets the eye on both sideat Looking toward the old Walton, there stands the distiné guished wall of that venerable stracture, Looking in the other direction, there is one mountain of bricks an morter, with now and then a bare wall standing solitary andalene, ft monuments for the mound beneath. Ad- joining Barpers buildings, next to Ferry strect, was the large publishing house of George F. Coolidge & Brother, which also fell before the fiery blast, The fire was stopped on the side towarts Ferzy street, at No. 319, tho drug store of W. W. Thayer. His store was much damaged,’ especially by water. On the other side, the fire was stopped at a new building which the Harpers were erecting, in additida to three other buildings Thera the fl\mes met nothiog but @ shell of a house of stone, and lind it not been for this the re would probably have exteaded much farther than {t did, ‘There were, in all, eixteen buildings burned Harperd occupied twalse, Coolidge one, W. W. Thayer one, and thé Walton House and Franklin Square Hotel. Beeiles these there were tour or five others more or less injured, THE LOSS AND INSURANCE. Owing to the excitement that prevailed yesterday, it ‘was imporsible to obtains full account of the loss and insurance, The loss is surely nothing less than three quarters of a million of dollars, The loss of the Harperd is fixed at $360,000, They are insured for $25,000, im various Insurance Companies inthe city, In the Wash" ington Company they are insured for upwards of $50,000, Not being eble yesterday to obtain the full particulars ag to the insurance, we shall for to morrow try to estimate the amount. among the different companies as best we ean, from the information within our reach. This is the second time the Harpers have been burned to the ground, THE FIRE DEPARTMENT. It has been a long time since there was a larger turd out of the Fire Department. Almost every engine in the city was on the ground, and even the Harlem engine wag on hand. The bells rung # general alarm—something that lias not taken place for a great period. There were present four of the Brooklyn companies,’ Nos. 1, 4, 5 and 7, and they al! vied with our New York firemen in the contest for saving property, The Brooke lynites formed a line through Peck slip, and took their suction from the dock. They went home about 7 o’olock in the evening, having performed all that was needed of them. The fremen during the entire day worked with wonders fal energy, and not one was seen to lag or give any indi+ cation of yielding in his exertion till the fire was subdued We shall give further particulars to morrow. Police Intelligence. A Dishonest Waiter—On Fricay officer Wark, of the Fighth ward police, arrested a colmed boy named David Ccndell, a waiter in theemploy of Mra, Fanny A."Bennett, residing at No. 272 East Twelfth street, who stole from hig employer a diamcnd finger ring valued at $50, a shawl pis worth $30, and a one hundred doilar bill. The rogae wned th icles of jewelry, and the tickets were found his pocket whonarrested. The hundred dollar bill wad Fpent in gumbling, buying policy slips, and throwing dice, Jewelry was recovered, anc the acoused was taken be- rod Justice Stuart, who committed him to Prison for trial. i An Alleged Fraud— Misplaced Comfidenos.—On Fri German women named Imma Sehelzer, made (Fed before Justice Bogar', that s German named Josoph Ber- pard, bad defrauded her out of a hundred doliers and up= wercr, under the ‘ollowing curious circumstances: The complainant swears, that she resides at No. 206 William stueet. at which place Bernard renided; that he paid his courtship to her, end proj marrivge: she s+ Gepted the offer, and the day was#ixed for the wedding. However, scme days prior to the diy on which they were to be married, she thought she would make a pur chase of some furniture, and accordingly acoompanied by they visited a store, apd ‘she purchased a pares! sofa, rocking chair, ‘table, and bedsteat, cick ekg paid for with her own money. Thesd articles of arniture were placed in Bernard’s room ja Williaa, street, there to await tho anticipated happy day. Bejnard at various times borrowed sums of rm -nsy from his intended wife, amounting t> $45; soon after the pur- chare of the furniture, the complainant was ia‘ormed that Bernard could not legally yet married, a» be had = wi'e still living in Germany; ibis fact quite alarmed her, and she forthwith charged Bernard with being slvandy © married man, which fact. a'ter rome hesitation, he ace krowlecgec; thie broke off the match, and cre’ day im the absence of the compleinsnt, Bernard removwi all the Bew forniture purchased by complainant from the mines, ssseriing that the articles belonged to hi neelt’ he heving purchased them; on tho other hand, sie declares that sbe purchased end psid for the Property with her own money. Tho mag irate, on the facts ce sworn to by te iscued & warrant for the srrest of Berrard, who waa taken into custody and conveyed befere the court. The . The anove case, magistrate ce'niced tum for sh we understand. will be regarded court a# coming: of Mock Auctioneer lew, passed b; within the nianlog J ¢ last Legislature, for the pur of this description. Pee ee ee Arrest ¢f Burglars —Two Germana named Martin Map and Joseph Hower, were arrested on Tuesday, by officer Wetster, of the Minetoonth ward, ona charge of break- ing into the laughter house belonging to Frederick Gare rier situated at 620 Tenth avenue, 6 tharefrom lot of beef fut The guilty parties ee ae before Jus- tice Stewart, who com:itied them to prison for trial. Ancther Burglar Arrested.—On Taesday night, Officer Wallace, of the Fourteenth ward, arrested @ young man named Mict ael E:gan, charged with forcing sn entrance into the grocery store of John H. Musshubrink, situated 2\.No. 18 Spring rtreet. ‘The rogue was detected by the cfizer, coring from the store, arrested, and taken be- cat Justice Wood, who committed him ‘to prison for jal. Airest of Juvinile Pickpockelt.—On Tuesday afiernoom Officers Kine: © Smith, of Serjeant Hogan's squad of a tiver. ed three boy? named John Havion, Tho- mss Garvey, end Joreph Alien, whom the officers found at the corner of Catherine street and East Broxdway in @ crond of peron, aitempting to pick pockets, The boy Hanlon was osught with his hand in @ lady’s pocket, but before he cculd extract awything, the officer hal him im custody. On ehing the young rogues, tha officers found in Kenlon’s pecket » suuff box containing a $20 gold piece, one $5 geld pleco, end twogold 20 feans pieces, and about two dollare in silver; also on his per- sen was feund ® gold wate! & gold sneke vest cha'n; of watch is 18,778, M. J. Tobiae & Co, Liveypool, maker The acoused parties are well known to the police. The money found on Han- Jon he acknowledged tc baye Ftolen from some lay in the street; ap owner is wanted; and by applying to we. Mars rey, Clerk of the Polies at Jefferson ‘Harker’ Sixth avenua, itcan be seen, The young rogues were conveys before Ivstice Stuart who committes them to prison ter exame ination, The watch end chain is supposed to be stolen, rotwitbetaniirg the bey says he bought it at tha jow- elry store corner of Bowery and Beoome stro:t, ssveral werks ngo, Charge (d.—In the case of Mr. Joseph Gatman, who was arrevied a fow days agoon @ charge of emboz- zling @ check of Nermith & Co. the case came up for a hearing before Justice Ovborne, on Friday afternovn, when the compleint was diemirsod upon evidence heir offered that the chec!: was received in the regular courss of busi- ress, and entered upon the cash book of Mesers. Gutman & Co., the «oy of its delivery. Mr. Gutman was at once discharged. CASE OF ALLEGED FALSE PRETENOES AGAINST STEARNS AND 8TURGSS. TO THK RDITOR OF THE HERALD. They were dism bocauee cur counsel informed us thas the hearing wou'd to at 5 o'clock P. M., December 7ti. ‘The esse came on at 10 A. M., and no one appearing °h y were jemi xy to vrosecute the or to cur order, yalance. Wehave to nna et LE, 962 Broutivay. $2,000, and ¢: jag touchis not been held ix $10,000, or in -_y others maliolous prosecution. |. B. & D. Naval Intelligen The loop of war Albany, Capt. Gerry, heme squadron will leave Brooklyn Navy row, for the West Indies, ‘The bark Brothers, now loading at the Brock!yn Navy Yerd with stores for the Japan rquadron of Coamodore Perr: ,will eal the latter part of next week for Hong Kong, Ching, Those desirous of communteating with tne Jay hed to the d to more ‘or Ringgold expeditions, must send their letter to the Naval Lycoum, Brocklyn Navy Yard, : The following is « list of the officers attache’ to the U. 8 frigate Colombia, the flag ship of the home squad. roo, which ssiled from New York on Sanday, for une Wont Indlon:—John Th masiNewton, Uoramodore; G. J, Pender- prast, Commancer, Lieutenants 1. A. Hunt, A Gray, W. B. Reo: Fiag Lieutenants Riehard L J. M. Mullany; Purser, Edward T. Dann; Fleet Sc Solomon Sharp sed Assistant Surgeon, R. T. Moo Aesistant Surg: James B Whiting; Chapla'n, tv emis; Acting Mester, Pant Shirley; Commodora’s tery. Gordon M. Newton; Passed Madshipmen, M i”. J ly N. T. Wort, Charles P. MeGary; Midshipman, Moxjvmin P. Loyal; Captain's Clerk, Cowles M Collier; Pars ’s Cla John F. Deuton; Doatewain, J. J. Young; Gunner, Harkell; Carpenter, Chaistopher Jordan’ Sail’ Mater, weit Hunter, Marine Oiliowrs--Captain W. E stake, ond Lieutenant G. W. Campbell. ‘The wolves of Maine ave gait to be remarkably oa wer- andunumally bold the p treavon. Ales days # the wiage ard pastongors Rockland, »)\l4 om