The New York Herald Newspaper, October 2, 1858, Page 1

WHOLE NO. 8064. Amateur Astronomers on the Qul Vive Street Corners Improvised Observatories— Opera Glasses Turned into Telescopes—The Comet of 1843—Letter from Professor Mitch~ ell, &e., &e. This strange visiter in our heavens is increasing in bril- ancy every day, and is attracting more and more atten- tion from the curious star-gazers on all the street. corners. The telescope man at the corner of Broadway and Park place has raised his tariff from sixpence to a shilling a peep in consequence of the large increase of custom, and the gazers have to take their turn in aline, likefolke at the Post Office. Tuesday night the nucleus of the Donati comet im the northwest was brighter and the tail longer than 0 ‘any previous occasion. There is now no difficulty in dis- ‘tinguishing it with the naked eye. The comet, accordin to a French astronomer, will reach ite perihelion on the 22d of October; will cross the constellation of Hercules fm January next; will disappear in March, but be again v - sible in tho southern hemisphere. It will temporarily dis- appear towards the end of this month, but will soon mak its appearance a little before sunrise in the constellation 0 the Little Lion. The brilliancy of the comet on Thureday night was of short duration. A light haze sprung up from the northwestern horizon at about quarter-past’ seven e’clock P. M., and from that time the comet was partially obscured, presenting but a feeble light. Throughout the night the winds blew in all directions, thunder rolled aud lightning flashed, until it became a perfect tempest. This storm commenced at Buffalo, at 2 o’clock P. M., and tray- elled eastward as far as Hudson, the telegraph lines at the same time being compelled to suspend operations. Some persons impute this tempest to the influence of the comet; ‘but of course that is absurd, Our brilliant visiter is not answerable for the sudden disturbance of the elements. ‘The longitude of the perihelion of this comet is about thirty degrees, and of the ascending node about one’ hun- dred and sixty-six degrees. The inclination is about six- ty-eight degrees. ‘The perihelion distance is about 40,- 000,000 miles, or a little greater than the mean distance of Mercury from the Sun. Its motion is retrograde, so that is apparent motion is from right to left, as seen at this time. ‘The velocity of the comet, when at its perihelion, ‘will be about 150,000 miles per hour. Its tail is at least $000,000 miles in longth, though there is some difference of opinion ad to itg dimensions. Professor Hind, writing to the London Times, sayé that the apparent diamotor of the nucleus is about five seconds of arc, and, as the comet 48 still upwards of 120,000,000 miles from the earth, the real diameter will be rather over 3,000 miles. Taking the apparent length of the tail at flye degrees, its true length would appear to be about 15,000,000 miles, Describing the appearance of the tail, Professor Hind says:— The tail, which might be traced in the “‘comet-seeker,”” about five degrees from the head, consisted of a singl¢ ray, very well defined on the side preceding with rete rence to the direction of motion, but fading away indis- tinctly on the opposite side. A very faint ray of light emanated from the nucleus towards the sun, as previously remarked in several of these objects, and I thought at mo- ments that a short “horn” or “section” issued therefrom at right angles to the axis of the tail. The increase in the brightness of this comet is 0 nearly in conformity with theory that there is a high probability Of it being visible with telescopes in full sunshine about the epact of maximum briiliancy in October. In Mr. Hind’s opinion this comet will not visit these parte of space again for a few hundred years, It would appear that the tail of the comet now visibie is not as long ‘as that of previous ones, ‘The tail of the comet of 1843 was 90,000,000 miles long, and that of 1811, 132,000,000 miles. All fears of a collision with the planetary bodies have been dissipated by the accurate observations of astro- nomers. It has been ascertained that comets are transpa- Tent bodies of luminous vapor, Which take their bright- ees from the sun; and so far from affecting the planets when they come into their neighborhood, it was shown nearly a century ago that a comet entering within the or. bit of the moons of Jupiter was held in suspension for four months, and its course arrested. Tho speed of comets varies; but their velocity increases considerably as they approach the sun, and their motion grows slower as they recede into space, One comet has been known to travel round the sun at the rate of 212 miles in a second. The distance which they recede from the sua is sometimes enormous, having reached in one instance seventy thou- sand four hundred millions of miles, requiring a period of nearly nine hundred thousand years to travel that distance and Yuck again to thé fat. Profesédf Bout, of Ma { Narvard University, an excellent authority, writing on the 25th o. September, says:— Donati’s comet will, ina few days, appear to increase rapidly in size and brilliancy. It will be nearest the earth on the 9th of October, at which time its brilliancy will bo Uhree times as great as on the 23d of September, and its distance from us about fifty two mithous of miles. According to Mr. Hall's computation, the tail of this eomet, on the 28d instant, extended to the length of fifteca miilions of miles. The wm 8 Will be near the bright star Arcturus, Oct. 6, and nearest the earth's obit on the 20th, dome jusion seems to prevail in regard w there being similar in appearance, now visible to the , but such is not the case, Douati’s which is northwest after sunset, is the same whi bas im the northeast before sunrise in the moruing, the considerable northern declination of aright ascension differing but litte from this because T have bad seve- parts of the couutry, making the hether there are two comets now Ww be seen by ie. coset te barely visible to the naked eye. Tut 1858, can now be seea only with the poy hela 3 Considering these fucts, the present visiter is a just ob- Ject of interest and attraction THE GREAT cComET oF 1843, ‘We must not overlook the claims of this distinguished ‘Visiter to public recollection. He was a perfect beauty, and, coming unheralded, as he did come, in the midst of the Millerite excitement resulting from the Miller pro- pheoy of the destruction of the world, the second advent of Christ, and the general rising to judgment of saints aud sinners, dead and alive, on the 23d of April, the convic Won in the minds of the Millerite believers waa wrought ‘mto a perfoct phrenay concerning the truth of these pre- @ictions. The writer of this notico speaks from personal @bservation, when he says that the visitation of thie comet, woheralded by the almanacs, was accepted by the Millerites as the undoubted avant courier of the Day of Judgment. Night aftor night, for the many weeks during which this strange intruder in the sky was visible, ho was Jooked upon by the Millerites as the herald of Gabriel, warning the nations (o prepare for his awful proclamation on the day appuinted, that time should be no more. ‘Tho tail of the presont comet in ostimatod at five do- grees in length, or about fifteen millions of miles; the tail of the comet of 1843 was thirty degrees in length, or ninety millions of miles, and ita nucleus was visible at midday ‘We extract from the American Almanac of 1844 the fol Jowing details, by Professor Pierce, of Harvard Univer. nity — On the 27th of February this comet was seen nearly at 8. A. Captain Peieg Ray, a man 'y accurate observer and correct that city, and on that day, at 11 A 2 i almost precisely east, wi ing. Ite distance from the sun was only five one-sixth of the sun's apparent diameter.“ He says William Mitchell, of Nantocket, in a letter describing this observation, ‘measure the angie, his instraments a board of the ship, some distance below the city ; Dut he took great pains to estimate the apparcat distance, and, being so near the sun, thinks be has done it very Seatly. [have tested the day and hour in a mow satis: factory manner. Oo 28th of February the comet was seen by day in various parts of New England, the bast and West Indies, ‘and the south of Kurope. The only exact observation wy on its place was made by Mr. F. G. Clarke, Portiand Maine. and this is much the most valuable single observa tion which was made upon the comet al more #0, pro bably, than any observation which has ever been made ‘any comet. The time of observation was 4h. 2m mean solar time, and tae observed distance, which Mr. Clarke thinks may be depended upon to 10 fec., was 4 dog. 6 min, 16 sec. from the et limb of the bun to the nearest limb of the com Wearing, a nearly as it could be ascertained by the , was E by 8. 34 8. of the comet from the sun. Mr. Cinrke says «the of this comet was remarkable; I fully be- lieve that it have been seen on the sun's disc, Te resembled a white cloud of great density.” He thought tail was fully equal to the nucleus in brilliancy, vet ‘ved no difference shout,’ ibed the head as being definitely distinct from jy and pT A of the tail, most remote from ly wel i dated and distinctly rounded insisted upon quite positive. . Clarke, although 1s socme to'be a variance with }, Whore accounts agree much more with that of Amici of Florence, Amici saw tho ‘and stated ‘the mass, examined by an epera glass, to be like a flame, badly defined, three times i was wide, very luminons san, anda intle smok at the east, ; An obeerver at ‘Woo! stock, Vt, says “on viewing the comet ‘ough a comoven three feet telescope of moderate power, it pre sented a distinct and most beautiful apfarance, exhibit- a very white and bright nucicus, and a tail dividing near the nucleus into two separate branches, with the @uter sides of each branch convex,and of nearly equal i fort c We Jer ) apparently 8 deg. or 10 deg., and a space seer covtmiion ees ‘or 6 dog.” This account pears irreconcilable with the same observer’ the length of the comet’s tail, which was only 3 deg., and which if the saine with that of the observers at New Bed- ford and Waterbury. During the first week of March :he splendor of the comet in the Southern hemisphere is described as alto- gether surpassing anything which it afterwards exhibited to Northern observers. On the Ist March it was seen at Pernambuco, and on the 4th it is described by H. A. Cooper Faq., the British Consul in that city, ‘as particularly small, without any nebulosity, but of extreme brightness, of a golden hue, and a line of the same bright color may be distinctly traced running directly from it into the for 4 deg, or 6 deg.; the tail is perbape 30 deg. in length, and is of a brilliant silver color, perfectly opaque, but be- coming less and less dense until it is lost in space. Conimander Close, of the chip Ellenborough, estimated the nucleus “ to be of equal brightness with a star of the second or third magnitude, and said that the tail had a darkish line from its nucleus through the centre to the end; it was occasi iy brilliant enough to throw a strong light on the sea. tail Was observed to have consider- able curvature.’’ This dark line was also noticed on the 4th by Captain Hopkins, on a voyage to India from the Cape of Good Hope, and by Mr. David Sears, Jr., and Mr. Appleton, of Boston, who were in latitude 1044 deg. 8., and exerted themselves to obtain observations comet, At the Cape of Good Hope the nucleus was seen on the 3d of March, and is described by Piazzi Smyth, Esq., of the Royal Observatory, as consisting of a ‘* plane- tary ise, from which rays emerged in the direction of the tail. To the naked eye there appeared a double tail about 26 deg. in length, the two streamers making with each other an angle of about 15 inin., and proceeding from the head in perfectly straight lines. From the end of the forked tail, and on tho north side of it, a streamer di- verged at an angle of 6 deg. or 7 deg. towards the north, and reached a distarce of upwards of 65 deg. from the comet’s head; a similar though much fainter streamer was thought to turn off south of the line of direction of the tail. On the 6th the appearance of the comet was considerably changed; the angle of the north streamer with the direction of the tail had been diminishing, and it had also diminished in brightness. The about 36 deg. All the rays proceeding from the head were now of uniform brightuess, excepting one bright streak, Which could be traced along the tail. On the 6th the nucleus is the breacest part of that end of the comet; all the rays come from tho posterior side, and are pretty equal in brightness, with the exception of a narrow bright streak in the middie, which runs for 3 deg. or 4 deg. along the middle of the tail, and then verges to the nerth side. The tail this evening was about 27 deg. long. On the %th the angle of the two sides of the tail at the head appeared to have undergone a gradual diminution, and the middle part was becoming more and more equal in brightuees to the vides. ‘The only observers who seem to have noticed any color in the comet are Mr. Cooper, of Nice, who notices the change in the color from a redish tint upon the first day of its appearance to a pure white, and John Belan, Exq., master of the British sloop-of-war Albatross, who observ- ed it on the 7th of March, and gays that “the part of it from which the tail is produced is of a redash appear- ane ‘The diameter of the head of the nucleus was measured by Mr. Caldecott, of the Royal Observatory, at 'Trevan- drum, and found to be about 11 see., or five thousand miles, and that of the nebulosity surrounding it about 45 sec., or twenty thousand miles, LETTER FROM PROFESSOR MITCHELL. This remarkable object now ge a most striking appearance among the celestial host. In misty grandeur it even holds high rank among that class of heavenly bo- dies to which it belongs. It was discovered by Professor Donate, of Florence, Italy, nearly four months since, and for @ large part of the time since it was detected has been steadily approaching the carth, and ina direction so nearly coincident with the visual ray that, but for the reliable computations of astronomers, might’ well excite anticipa- tions of rome fearful collision with our planet. Indeed, throughout the present mouth it seems to have been plang. ing downward £0 exactly toward the earth that it scarcely changed its apparent piace among the fixed stars by a quantity larger than two or Uhree times the apparent dia- miter of the moon. Tt will reach its nearestapproach to the sun ina few days. Its brilliancy will increase rapidly up to the close of the first week in October, when it will put on its most splendid appearance, and will then rival in grandeur the famous comet of Halley, at its last return in 1836. Itis by far the most imposing object of the kind which has visited our system since erection of the Cmcinnati Observatory. Owing to the fact that the direction of its motion is, or has been, so nearly in a line toward the earth, the elements of its orbit have not been very accu- rately determined. The plane in which it moves is in- clined to that of our earth's orbit, under an angie of about sixty-five degrees. Its observed positions are for the present better repre- sented by an orbit in the form of a parabola than by any one of an elliptic figure. The comet will soon com- menee to change Cirection; at first slowly, afterward more rapidly, as seen from ‘the earth, when, sweeping swiftly round the sun, it will regain those distant regions of space wherein a vast proportion of its orbit lies far be- yond the reach of begs ‘vision. On the evening of the 25th of September, the appear ance of the comet, in the great refractor of the Cincinuat Obeervatory, was especially interesting. The centra rion, or nucleus; was examined with powers varylng yom one hundred to five hundred without presenting an} evidence of a weil defined planetary disc. It was a bril- Laut clow of light, darting and flashing forward in the direction of the motion towards the sun, and leqying the region behind in comparative obscurity. But the most wonderful physical feature presented was a potion of a nearly circular, nebulous ring, with its vertex directed towards the sun, the bright nucleus being in the centre, while the imperfect ring swept more than half way round the luminous centre. This nebulous ring resembled these which a steompipe, but did ance which Ought to be pi spherical envelope of nebulous matter evident concentration of light in the central portions of the ring, while, m the case of a hollow envelope, the portion should be at the outer edge, By micro. oot sometimes escape from the appear- exhibit nine thoveand miles. This would give a diameter ‘= teen thousand miles in case the ring Was entire. messurcments, made on the evening of the 26th of Sep- tember, indicated a decided increase in ring, which was now not lees than twelve in length, On the same evening | noticed the fact that the luminous — did not blend itself into the head - tion of the tail, but appeared somewhat to penetrate this nebulous mass, especially on the upper part, preseut- ing the appearance of about 200 degrees of a spiral. The ta:l on the 26th was decidedly brighter and better defined ‘on the upper than on the lower portion, while on the even- ing of the 26th there was a much nearer approach to equality in brightness, expecially near the head of the comet. Through the telescope, and near the head, the tail presented the appearance of a hollow nebulous envelope, form of a daloid of revolution, the edges beiug — bri and weil defined, while there was a manifest Lene Rees 3 of light toward the central region. Through vast ‘of nebulous matter comporing this wonderful ap- iage the faintest telescopic stars shone with diminished brightness. ‘No one can gaze on this gigantic object, in all its misty splendor, without a deep von that the eye is rest. ing on a mars of nebulous matter precisely such as the nebulor theory of La Place supposes to have been the Primordial condition of our sun and all its attendant planets, and from which chaotic condition this beautfal bre of revolving worlds has been evoked by the action Tue only comet which has ted y comet whic! Presented an appearance re sembling the one now visible, is the one known as Halley's Comet, as seen by Sir William Herschel and others, in its return in 1836. re ig a marked ditforonce betweon the twogghat while the envelope of Halley's Comet is described ana ispherical hollow envelope, thie shows more the shape of a nebulous ring; there is a faint, misty light, of irregular outline, but not to be mistaken by even a casual observer. Il, which, for moro than three years, haw ‘The equatorial been fixed on the merid.an, has been recently replaced in tbody. 0. M. its primitive condition amination of this wondert CINCINNATI OBSERVATORY, Sept. 27, 1868. The Tehuantepee Route. STOCKING THE ROAD—PREPARATIONS FOR RUNNING IT—SATANG OF THE BARK FLASH AND STEAMER svCHIL. On the 80th ult. the bark Flash sailed from this port for Minatitlan, carrying fifteen Concord stages to run on the Tehuantepec route, also twenty-eight men—agents and drivers for the company, and part of the force for landing passengers on the Pacific side, The Fiash also carried a limited supply of provisions, hay and coal for the road One hundred very fine American horses and mules have been sent from New Orleans to Minatitlan, while largo numbers of Mexican mules have been purchased, and are now being stationed along the route. J. K. Stimson, Exq., is the agent of the company for stocking the road, taking caro of the stages, buildings and the like. Ho is at his post, and is rapidly perfecting the arrangements necessary to Put the road into practical operation. The house of Hargous Brothers, of this city, as agents of the Louisiana and Tehuantepes Company, despatch to-day the iron river steamer Suchil to Minatitlan. She takes out no cargo; she is intended to be retained on the Coatzacoaicos river as a paseonger boat, to connect the ocean steamers of one end with the stage road at the other, the distance between being about eighty miles. ‘The company have fifteen more Concord stages nearly ready for shipment, which will be despatched at the earliest opportunity, There are ocean steamers ready to connect with this isthmus crossing. On the 27th of October, at eight o'clock in the morning, the Quaker City will leave New Orleans for San Francisco; she is the firet steamer that sails by this route. The com- pany expect to have every thing end to end of the Toute complete and in perfect running order by that time, Tt is claimed for the Tel route that it is 1400 miles shorter from New York to Francisco than any other isthmus route, and 1,900 miles shorter from New San Francisco than any other isthmus route. esvone ——___—___—_— Before Jud, Sutherland. Oct. 1.—Carl Struver et al. vs. The Ocean Insurance Co.— Tn this case the Judge rendered an opinion yesterday, granting the motion, with $10 costs. MORNING EDITION—SATURDAY, OCTOBER 2, 1858. PRICE TWO CENTS. QUARANTINE AFFAIRS. Investigation before Judge Metcalfe at Sta- pleton, TESTIMONY OF DR. ELISHA HARRIS—HISTORY OF THR QUARANTINE AND INTERESTING MEDIGAL EVI- DENCE—DR. THOMPSON, HEALTH OFFICER, TESTI- FIRS THAT THE SICK SUFFRRED NO iNJURY FROM THE BURNING OF QUARANTINE. The investigation was resumed yesterday morning at 10 o'clock. Mr. Ray Tompkins and Mr, Thompson, with their counsel, ex-Judge Dean and Mr. Anthon, were pre- Sent, together with Mr, Peckham, who represented the prosecution. Dr, Elisha Harris was the first witness examined. He deposed as follows:—I am a practising physician in the city of New York; I have been in practice since 1849 in that city; I held the position of Physician of the Marine Tospital at Quarantine, in 1855-6; I am able to speak as to matters in connection with that hospital—they have en- gaged my attention for some time; the Marine Hospita was established in 1799, as a branch of a Quarantine es tablishment which had been existing for some years; pre- to that date for several years the lazzaretios o Quarantine had been located on Bedloe’s and Governor's Islands; they were almost exclusively devoted to small- pe the pestilence of yellow fever during 1796 and 1798. wl ercated grcat anxiety with regard to the prevalence of that fever in New York in an epidemic form in city; the yellow fever had prevailed terrifically in Phila- deiphia in 1798 and 1798; the discase was believed at that period by most of the physicians and health officers to be strictly of domestic or endemical origin, while not a few physicians, who bad carefully observed the disease, be- lieved it fo be also a strictly contagious malady; their opinions warranting not only the conclusion that yel- low fever might originate in'the summer time anywhere from vessels arriving in the port, but that it was liable algo from vessels arriving in the port, aud that it was liable to spread by personal contagion; great interest was taken in the choice of a proper location of the hospitals, and for the temporary detention of vessels that were supposed to jeopardise the heaith of the city; during the early period of the epidemic in 1798, Dr. Treat, Health Officer in the Bourd, died of yellow fever, contracted, as he believed, ag was generally supposed, ‘from his genoral exposure to the sick and those dying of that disease. Dr. Richard Bailey, who suceeeded him as Health Officer, entertained the very rational opinion respecting Dr. Treat’s case, a3 weil as respecting the origin of yellow fever generally in the city, that it was of endemial origin, both ou shipboard and in the lower parts of the city. I mention these facts to indicate some of the important considerations which weighed on those who had direction of the laws establish- ing the present Quarantine system; the present location of the Quarantine establishment was selected mainly through the influence of Dr. Richard Bailey; and in the winter of 1799 the statutes regulating the position and affairs of the new Quarantine were passed by the Legislature; the spe- cial advantages of the location at that time, as claimed by those interested in the selection of the locality, were, first, that, in accordance with the views then entertained by the best informed physicians, the location was presumed to be at a sufficient distance from the cit) to insure the population in the eity and vicinity from yet- low fever, whatever its origin; Dr. R. Bailey being an in- timate friend of Rev. Dr. Moore, of St. Andrews parish, on the island, frequently exe! ed viewe with him upon the question of the nature, the origin and the facts re- lating to the diffusion of the disease, and they concluded in the views, as did all men in their day, that there was no danger of the ditiusion of yellow from the location which was about being selected, and which was selected for the Quarautine establishment on Staten Island; another consideration of great importance with these gentlemen and the physicians was the well known salubrity of the locality, and the very excellent anchorage immediately in front of the ground selected; Iam not aware what opposi- tion may have been made to the selection by the inhabi- tants of the island, as that is nota matter of medical record, but there was much delay in seouring a title to the land, supposed to originate from some opposition; the cur- rent medical doctrines of the day hardly admitted of aques tion reepeeting the pepulation of the ipsa the toaktone of the personal contagion of the fever that the desease was jocal origin, on shipboard or in cities, became the opinion of the ‘mages of the people probably on >taten Island as well as in New York, and as the Health Officer of that day stated, it would be preposterous for yellow fever to prevail on the Island; these doctrines continued to pre- vail during Dr. Richard Bailey’s life; a strong belief in the doctrine of personal contagion of yellow fever pre vailed, both in and out of the medeal’ profession, up to 1822; and such was the fixed opinion of Dr. Joseph Bailey when the last great epidemic visited the city ;from the year 1605 to 1821 ig bw cases of yellow fever were ad- majtted to the ‘ine Hospital, and these were admitted in eleven different years; the fact proving that there was but little exposure from imported infection, at least, and in no snl degree accounting for the general satisfaction with which Quarantmo was then regarded; we find in 1821 and 1822 the Health Officer, Dr. Bailey firmly ex- pressing bis inion that no case of yellow fever that he ever wither while connected with the Quarantine os- tab! shment, had been caused by infection at a greater dis tance than 260 feet from the persou attacked , and only one is on record in connection with the history of Quarantine up to 1824 tp which thorg is any positive gyidence of the communication of the infection 1 A greater distance than 260 fect directly through the atmosphere; that is an apology for those genticmen who located Quarantine in its present spot. In 1841 there was a single case upon Staten Island iu which fata! yellow fever attacked the brother of a Vighter Mr. Danict Van Deusen, whore residence was more then haifa mile distant from the Quarantine estab. lishment, and in this case it was known that he had not been exposed to the infected shipping; that case was at- tributed to the personai communication of the disease from an elder brother who was known to have contracted eon board ship in 1821; the first alarming epi- ow fever occurred On Staten Island in 1821; denate of on the 3d of September twenty-nine cases of yellow fever took place, which originated directly and solely from a large number of infected vessels, then ander quarantipe, which re Sven, eae in sa SS then Ss duced te cages of cont ate lanl Journal: an” procecded ta AREA the. Zity of New York was visited by an epidemic of yellow Pd L.) there was no ; on Baten aithongh there were reveral cases, and. the Health 4 Officer had no doubt but that the in- the means Rector street; that conclusion was most juestionably: correct. 1821 and 1848 cases of bi vomit oc- curred along the shore of the Island of the anchor. ‘Quarantines were instituted to stay the alarming pro- ress of the Oriental plaQue, and subsequently to prevent the spread of smallpox. The history of quarantine rey lations against yellow fever in those places where that fever is not indigenous or endemic, must be looked to for definite and decisive results; yet even in tropical climates, as on the islands of Cuba or St. Tuomas, the experience of the last hundred years has shown that epidemics of the malady have followed very frequently upon the arrival of infected versol# at certain points upon those islands, which are not believed to be continually infected with the dis case. It is well known that yellow fever docs not spread ific centres of diffusion, namely cold climates, or in climates of the average temperature of New York in eummer, as, gor example, in any of the ports of Great Britain and Ireland. the experience of any parties in those paris is of no consequence to us; the port of New York, and ail other Atlantic ports from Portland to Savannah, need to ascertain their own necessities and the requisite means for their individual protect:on. the very nature of the case, a Quarantine establishment for yellow fever, with ite anchorage, hospitals, &e., unlese it be perfectly isolated, or removed from the vicinity of populous neighborhoods, cannot ensure protection against the ; Vessels which have arrived in the summer time frem ports infected with yellow fever, are, par ezret- lence the sources of danger; the air contained in the com Partmente of tho veese! and in the packages of goods must Also be considered as supplying the edhe by which the infection of yellow fever been conveyed to the city and vieinity of New York; Tsay the solid structures as well as the contained air, as it has been demonstated at Quarantine, that even scuttiing an infected vessel does not disinfect her, and there are reasons to believe a full application of water to the fomites of yellow fever will not necessarily remove the infection; the air contained in wa infected vessel may be wafted to a considerable distance, as in the care of Vai Deuser in 1821; that distance was more than haifa m in 1866 the radius of infection was #0 it that it swept both the Long Island and the Staten Isiand shores from the Quarantine entrance; the sources of infection on and in the vicinity of Quarantine growndg were unquestions pe pe several infected vessels discharging within one mile of those grounde; second, bales of rags landed on the government dock at Quarantine from the ship Gliddon third, infected packages of clothing and baggage from va rious’ vessels. ‘The Doctor then alluded to the visitation of yellow fever at Bay Ridge and Long Ieland shore in 1855, fand testified as to tts cause; he considered that small pox should be isolated under all circumstances, but as th dius of its infection was very short it need not be a sow of any danger to the community when once the isola is perfectly and faithfully effected, the direct public ferry communications with the Quarautine establishment have ‘been repeatedly used by patients sick with the smallpox and other infectious diseases, and cases of smallpox volan- \arily made their way on the ferry boate, on tho Inst boat from New York to the Marine Hospital, and were admt ted as patients; these cases were in afall stag of eruption he kame with black vomit, &e. (The witne™ alluded to care of one of the clerks of the New York Bank, who re urned to Staten Island every evening and who was at acked with sinalipox.) There was also another pentle- man, a clerk, whore residence was in the city, he became fected with the discare, and subsequentiy came under his (witness's) care in the hospital; typhus fever was lia bie to spread from veesels and trom apartments; it would not be safe to allow unrestricted intercourse with the Qua- antine grounds, much lees fr ereourse with the hos: pital; perfect combustion will, unquestionably, destroy any infection, but as to the of the eseape of the virus of the yellow fever from substances in process of combustion in the ‘iron scow,” it would depend upon the heat to which all the vapors and gases arising from the materials in question were sul ; the temperature of flame is about 1,041 degrees Fahrenheit, but the temper tore of vapors and gasecs arising from materials not fully \qnited, may vary from the ordinary temperatare of the atmosphere through all the ranges up to the temperature of flame; this is all I am competent to state, having mate no personal observation of the “‘seow"’ and le on 5 After a recess of an hour, Dr. Harris was fui mn ined by Mr. Peckham :—He had known of cases of yellow fever Pry} om the Island by persons who had passed through or had been on the grounds; that was in 1866; there was a gate placed at the barricade toaliow me and my em ployes outride the gate to pars when we desired; so far as my personal experience and know! extends, yellow fever ig not con’ ug jo this Jatitude, but such a question is very hard to decide; I think that a quarantine should be sufficiently isolated, and if that could be accomplished here I think the piace would have agreatadvantage; with- out a hon-sanitary police on land and water a quarantine must remain a relative phrase; one of the most distin- guished advocates of the contagiourness of yellow fever wrote to me from Norfolk, in 1856, that he did find it con- tagious in New Orleans; if the Quarantine could not be perfectly isolated in its present locality [shoukt be in favor of its removal, ‘The witness was then examined by Mr, Anthon, but nothing material was elicited. Judge Dean.—Doctor, we people don’t know what is “contagion” and “non-contagion.”” Will you tell us in common terms if yellow fever is “ catching?” (Laughter. ) Witness—I comprehend your question—(ianghte my opinion it ig not catching from person to person; 80 unl nel Judge Dean—Is it catehing in any way? A. It is catch- meee much as you would cateh influenza, Mr. Peckham.—it yellow tever prevailed extensive- ly as an epidemic, the question among the medical men would not. be unsettled as to contagion or non-contagion of yellow fever. Dr. Thompson, Health Odicer, was then placed on tho stand, when his evidence was read over and he stated that the sick did not suffer any injury from the burning of the Quarantine Le The invertigation was adjourned to ten o’clock this (Saturday) morning. Affairs at Quarantine Yes.crday. ‘Yesterday the militia station at Quarantine had quite a wet time of it during the shower, The Sibley tents, how- ever, proved more serviceable that the others. The men amuse themselves as usual—a portion of them boing allowed to come to the city every day. Yesterday Gen. Sandford issued the following order for tho Seyenty-tiret regiment encampment :— SPECIAL ORDER NO. 9. Meapquantens, First Division, N.Y. 8. M. New York, Oct. 1, 1858. Brigadier General Spicer, of the First brigade, will détail A detachment from the Seventy-lirst regiment, under Colonel Vosburgh, to relieve the Sixth regiment, now on duty at Camp Washington, near the Quarantine ground, Staten Island, ‘The detachment will not exceed 20 men, including non-com missioned ofticers, musictans and privates, and including also way thirty men to be detailed as artillerists and to be equip with two mountain howiters to be furnlabed by the Com y jeneral. ‘The detachment will parade on Wedneaday, the 6th instant, in time to proceed to nisiand by the boat which leaves the South ferry atone o'clock P. M., $0 a8 to relieve Colonel Pinckney at two o'clock P. M. Colonel Vosburgh will take command of the camp for the purpose and subject to the orders iasued to Colonel Lyons by special Division Grders No, 6, and by special orders from the Commander tn-Chiet Nos. 166 and 179, and will report daily as re directed. Colonel Vosburgh will be relieved on (nm A the 18th of Cotober, by a detachment from the Fourth Urigade, CHARLES W. SANDFORD, Major General. 110; H Sampronn, Division Quartermaster, AcUng Division us. ‘We understand Colonel Voeburgh will order his regi- ment out in overcoats, and the knapsack which was adopt- ed some time since. A magnilicent silk American ensizn will, it is said, be presented to the regiment in front of the City Hall at eleven o'clock on the day of their depar- ture. It is to be given by a number of ladies and gentle- men of the city. Staten Island United on Quarantine Remo- val—Action of the Executive Committce, ‘The committee appointed by the Executive Committee at Staten Island on Quarantine matters, to call upon the Commissioners for Quarantine removal and to examine their plans for the construction of floating hospitals, hay- ing reported the particulars of their interview, and that they have examined the plang, and approve of the same, and that the spot selected for the structure Is at least two miles from the shore of Staten Island—therefore, Resolved, That this Committee cordially approve of the action ‘of the Commissioners for removal, and of their plans, and will heartily co-operate with them in ‘cwrrying out the plaus re- ported upon, af for we lies in their power. Resolved, That in the opinion of this Committee, if the plans of the Comuaissioners for Removal are approved by the State authortties, such action will give gencral satisfaction to the citizens ot Staten Island, and will allay all prejudices against the Quarantine institution. ‘Copy of resolnitions et. 1, 1888. — HOM aa PLAN DARRET Chairman, Ww. H. Va vexsixt, Secretary. Mecting of the Castleton Board of Health. REVORT OF DR. MUNDAY, HEALTH OFFICER—VINDI- CATION OF THE ACTS OF THE BOARD—DR. MUNDAY OFFERS TO PROVIDE FOR THE SICK OF THE HO08- PITALS APTER THE CONFLAGRATION—HIS OFFERS REJECTED BY THR QUARANTINE AUTHORITIES — DR. WALSER’S COMMUNICATION TO THE MAYOR ORITICISED, BTC. The Board of Heaith of Castleton, Staten Island, met at Burns’ Hotel, Tompkineviile,at 10 o'clock Tuesday morn- ing. Present, Messrs, Wolfe, Frean, Christopher and the Health Officer. Dr. Mcspay presented the following report, which, on motion of Mr. Frean was ordered to be filed and pub- lished :— REPORT. ‘To THe Hoxonanue tne Boano or Hrautn oF Casturrow — GueTuewex-—With the advance of aulumn we may naturally soon expect ihe complete annihilation of that insktious poison ‘hich Tas been lurking in a particular locality of this town alnce about the first of July last, thereby; using the existence of a disease entirely fore! to this soll and climate, the aviterica sero of which, Lbelieve, is always originally imported from where it is indigenous. to congratulate bey Ppa the prospect of a speed: jaa thew pour bau sews earls to preserve the health of your constitnents, which, notwithstanding the asperstons which fave been cast frigate, Bust ” ae umatances, Sees ontr m3 seleny ox even at 80 a F hed an 9 that she might be the harbinger of what hus occurred, Viz.,an unusual importation of the materica mordt of yellow fever, abd that the unfortunate county of Kienmond, and particularly portion of it comprising the town of Ueton, might agaln, ‘as in former years, be scourged with ne his apprehension was gradually augmented as the ant enrly'part of the summer advancet, by. the eootin rival in our harbor of vessels from Southern dineane Ia endemia-ephiemnle ant intensified ‘obvionsly Impending calamity isnt hand, we have xpect increaaed vigilance on the part of those ‘0 proteet ue from. the mischief that approaches, and which for so i eon ae ntly the people of this unfortunate town, kong 8 te hang funder the weight of a lagaar house, ri w a ‘wlmmost caution ow pert tee lane feattlence supon which the lazaretto officials, to prevent the p pon. beyond the bounds of } they thrived from, extending beyond ‘of thet parth Guaresiee ea: domain. But tw thia they were sadi the ory teblisbment during the past summer I think fully war. rants assertion, dint notwithstandl threatenings with which we were mei from the very early period to which I have alluded, greater recklessness in itiempting to prevent the epread of infections disensen beyond the hoapital walla could hardly have been exercised, even if it had been the J business and studied eGort of thove in aw thority (here to apread broadcast the seeds of disease aloug the of this andthe a town. of ld, “an, exe he eh a * indeed, T may Furigatore, stevedores, lightermen, shipkeepers, nurses: and doctors, fresh from the hicing places of peatif. rout missme and recking with rmitted almost uninterrupted Intercourse with every the town, and it would seem, from recent develope were even required to attend republiean primary meet ‘and county conventions, Thoae sane partion were allow pass woand from the chy of New York at pleaaure, in bite boats, and of infected vessels ont Fackereed oh Oe Quarantine hen the mah ry rr iS ulated neighborhood, while fumes front the iron scow were belng were part to our very doore, Under atminiatration of Quarantine affvirs, the apprehensions of the ie were Conver into actual al 4 ” rea "e for to believe that, no Akt coult be ottained from the health anthorttie an waa made to the Super: Maur of the town vo orwanise the’ board of Health, which was promptly to. Therenpon a series of atincks, assnil- fig ihe motives of Ita members and rhticulte Ita objects, were un by the health authorities of the port, who, oof aid ing your honorable in enforcing ite omdigances, ae waa theit duty, and respecting it authority, seemed t throw every obstacle inthe way calewiated to thwart ite laudable purposes; noel thie, too, Indirect violation of assurances made to myself, when, being deputized by your Hoard, I waited upon them’ and asked their cooperation. ‘Your ordinances wore ignored, and your, authority fo consequence of wi very #0 much feared would result, fell typon us. y yellow fever male iis appearance in the now somewhat Ragpickers’ row, the first ease being, aa before re ed, that of Kremer, the a scowman, Wi name hae teen rendered somewhat familiar to the public throngh the in sirumentality of Dr. Walaer, Deputy Physteian of the Marine Hospital, who, faithful servant, is apparently ever ready to do bis muster hat may be. ad here Je Board to a commit rt from Dr. Walser to and Comm ners of Health of high appeared in the | Rvening Bepress The palpable misstatements of facta quent extension of on the one side and Clifton on the other—I may there palpable mis- atotements made by an individual who T have good reason ty beileve knew at the time they were erroneous, evince a dispo: tible with a sineere desire to “furnish a truth that pertains to Quarantine affairs, ’’as it ta un smitten people of Tompkineiife and the Cas Tn the commmnieation referred to, fui rniahes vig: ramer did re i or ele bow could the alleged auction male of tn- * ve taken pince?—for it is not pretended that veinof any other perton than of Kramer were thus dia the: The undoubted object of this effort on the part of Dr. Walser Hed only by the obwequious ytekd Teputy out of ie preseive mater, an waa to draw the attention of the public from the burning fu Of the Iron_seow, aa the fons *origo of the malaly at Now Brighton. a challen, to roofaot the allegations contained tg the repopt alluded to la gylauon jo Ube Wstributa, of the seeds of yellow fever throughout the county at the hands of a “Canteton auctioneer, and by permission of your morable bow ul ity en it; y~ hovorable board and its heaith oftieer, I leave the deputy phy The next case of fe hich occurred was that of Mrs. Knell; Mr, Halliday elekened and died, to report to your hovorable Board that, in my opinion, the disease was epidemic in that locality, Subsequent events proved too conclusively that position I then assumed was correct. Cases continued to occur, and, in a short tine after, the letter of Dr, Anderson (oan ab: sent patient, and the report of the Medical Committee, set the miter at rent, Prompt measures were immediately taken to elreumseribe the epidemic, directed the streets adjarent two the infected district to be thoroughly cleansed; the gutters freely supplied with chloride of lime; the sinks, 'privies and yards to he sitnl- larly treated, and all excavatious to be filled up. T also directed the Iminedkate burial of the bodies of persoun dead, from beds and clothes of prohibited all tntercouras nd appointed persona to carry tions Into effect; but, notwithstanding ail these pré he disease coutinued, and up to the eventful night of t September no less thin twenty one cases and seven deaths had occurred within the juristiction of your honorable Hoard. ‘The efforts made to correct the abuses of the Quaran Une establishment, as all know, proved entirely fruitless; and your honorable Board, becoming convinced that further on your part was useloss, ax a dernier resort, passed the me. morable resolutions of the Ist of September, and the people of the county promptly responded t the call thus made upon them and abated the nuisance without unnecessary delay. As X would ‘be stepping berond the legitimate bounda of my duty as Health Officer of the town, and foreii {0 thie reper to say anything in relation to the burning of the hospitals, even a8 a sanitary measure, T pias thet act, and eali your attention to the course T took in relation to the sick of the who, it has been falsely charged, were inbumanely treated and neg! by the town authori- ev on well as the people. On the morning of the 34 of Septem- Der, t wae infuicmed by & member of your Board that the Quarantine physicians had abandoned the sick, and requested to repair immediately to the place and lake charge of and pro- vide for them. On my arrival there I found the sick still lying in the open field. 1 was informed that abarn was still standin, on the premises, near where Dr. Thompson's residence was. requested Dra. ‘iinse!l and Waiser to remove the patients to that building, ‘when I was met with the reply, ‘that no such butlding extited, and if 1 would only show, them one they would have the sick immediately removed thereto.” I. then xaid, (believing that my informant was mistaken 1n bis belief that'the barn spoken ‘of was still standing) that if they (the doctors) would consent I would provide a building for them outside the enclosure. This they refused, and stated as an the people would burn it down; I assui auld not be the cave, and again appealed to the se of humanity to permit me to provide a place for them where they would be protected from what was momentarily expected, a severe shower of rain; but wax Inet with. the wame. opty aa before; L then informed Mr. DeForrest what had been communicated to me by Dr. Walser, when he replied that the Doctor was mistaken, and asked me to walk over to the place and see the barn; T did 0; Treturned and told the physiclne the building was there, and urged them to remove the sick finmediately; they then ob- Jected, on the ground that they had an insuiticient force to re- move them; I told them I would supply them with all the. wid they needed, and persistently continued in my efforts to induce the iiawase, and the destruction of the suc deceased persons, houses of the sam a £ lace where weather; they as persistently continued to object, but finally said a committee from the Commissioners of Emigration were mentarily expected, and that they would probably make ¢ provision for them, which, if they did not do, they would ndon the sick to my care, and I might do with them as T saw proper. It is therefore obvious that every effort was made by your honorable Board, under whose m acted in the matter, to ameliorate the condition of the sick as far as posst ble, and all overtures on your part were declined by the Qua- rantine officlals, the motives for which Tan unable even to con jecture. Since the first of September seven es and three deaths have occurred in the Infected district. re are at present however, only two cases—those of Mrs. Samuel Randolph ani daughter-in-law—both convalescing, under the treatment of Dr. Harcourt, and J think, from present appearances and the near approach of frost, that we may soon expect an entire subst dence of the mic, All of whieh is respectfully #ubmitted, B.C. Y, Health Ofticer of town of Castiewn, CastieTon, Sept. 29, 1h, Several bills were presented, which were laid over till the next meeting. Op motion, the Board adjourned. R. CHRISTOPHER, Chairman. A. W. Boyce, Clerk. Yellow Fever—Prolific Sources of Infection. TO THE EDITOR OF THE UBRALD. We hear a great deal of the danger of yellow fever being spread on Staten Island by the smoke from tho iron scow, and also by wind blowing from the infected vessels to- wards the shore. The writer wishes to point out a greater danger than either of the above mentioned, and an outrage that ought not to be tolerated by any community. This morning, between seven and eight o'clock, from thirty to forty beds, thrown over from one of the vessels at anchor at Quarantine, came floating down with the ebb tide and were deposited all Ce shore from Vanderbilt land- ing to the Narrows. ese beds will all be picked up during the day by the rag pickers and distributed throug! the island, and a considerable portion of them will, no doubt, be carried up on the ferry boats to the city of New York, endangering the lives of thousands. As a resident on the shore of Staten Island and a sufferer in my family from yellow fever in 1856, I protest against a repetition of this abominable outrage. JOTIN H. Al Oct, 1, 1868, Clifton, Staten Island. them to have the unfortunate sick removed to a bre would be protected from the inclemency of mui Y then al THE FIREMEN’S CELEBRATIONS. Finale of the Firemen’s Tournament at Albany. THE CONTEST CLOSED AND VICTORS CROWNED— PRIZES AWARDED TO BROOKLYN, STAMFORD, WHITEHALL, WATERFORD AND NEW YORK, BTC. {From the Evening Journal, Oct. 1.) When we went to press yesterday the engines contesting for the second class prizes were at work. ‘The strife was exceedingly animated, and the excitement ran much higher than during the contest between the first class machines. The thousands who were watching the playing cheered vociferously whenever the streams reached an unusual height, and these manifestations, with the almost frantic_calls and gestures from the com. mandants of engines mounted upon their machines, in- duced such berculean efforts on the part of those at the brakes that our only surprise is that scores did not drop exhausted or do themselves fatal injury. ‘As we intimated yesterday, the figures taken by those lees favorably located than the judges did not correspond precisely with those officially announced, But the final Tesult corresponded, in every instance, with the outside verdict, with the single exception of No. 7, of Troy. It was the general impression that that company, instead of the company from Stamford, Con had secured the second prize. Our own figures, ever, correspond with those finally announced by the judges. FIRST CLASS ENGINES. ‘We republish our table, corrected by the figures of the Judges: — Pret. 4, Brooklyn \—~ ‘Smith maker), threw. 31, Adriatic, New York (Jeffords do.) . 6, Neptune, Detroit (Button do. . 3, Ce ee (eforis 5, Utica ( . 7 Troy (Jeflords . ae 2) Stanford, Conn. (Button do.) &No. 4, Lansingburg (Button do... 9—Water Witch, Lee. ¢. (Robbins do. ). 130 . Franklyn, Brooklyn (Jeffords do. 162 6, Buffalo ton do.) . MT &, Ocean, Little Palle (But ) 120 Jet print ($600) awarded No. %, Brooklyn ‘2d prize (S20) warded No. 2, Stamford, Com S8COND CLASS ENUINES. . 6, Newark (Van Ness & Co. mak: 5, Brooktyn (Jeffords do.) ... 3, Hartford (Waterman do.) 1, West Troy on do) 1, Waterford (Button do.) . 3, Greenbush Rodgers do.) jew York (Jas, Smith « aX wark, N. J. (Jus. Suvith 10, 16—No. 61, New York ( s) iat 16—No. 2, Yonkers (Jas. Smith do.) ‘109 17—=No. 1, Witiamaburg (Jag, Smith do)... iat let prize ($400), awarded No. 1, Whitehall, m7 {S00} en No. 1, Waterford. THIRD CLASS ENGINES. 1—No. 1, Troy, Van Ness & Co., N. York, maker#..... M2 2—No. 6; New Ha ven, Hurmon & Co,, Bustow, ma- Jeffords, maker ‘There being a tie between No. 5, of New Haven, and No. 28, New York, a second trial was lad, when No, 5, New Haven, threw 129 feet, and No. 28, New York, 196 feet. ‘This gave the prize to 28. let prize ($900), awarded No. 18, New York. ld {Sito}; “No. 28, New York. It was nearly dark when the judges, through Hale Kingsley, Eeq., announced the awards. ‘As the bullion was handed over to the foremen of the successful engines by C. D. Rathbone, Feq., the treasurer, they were vocife- cheered. Tt was, perhaps, the most exciting mo- ment of the very exciting affair. Scores of brooms were somehow procured, fastened upon the successful engines and borne by the members—many of whom seemed fran tie at their success, and man their enthusiasm by an uninterrupted succession of cheers for everything and everybody. ‘Thies firemen'’s muster has been a complete success. The project was a hazardous one, and pre} tion for it involved an immense amount of labor, which the Fire- men’s Council performed with a perseverance and taste descrving all manner of praise. The weather, until seven o'clock last evening, was pa geome, Senay be desired. At that time,a high wind, accompanied by lightning, thunder and rain, sprung up, bringing down the topmast of the high fagstaiT which has played so im; (ta part in the trial, As the ground was clear < , no mi f was done, ex. be + neighboring jb, which was demolished. ny of the companics got off last evening, but @ num. ber remained until this morning; and before tweive o'clock the music, with which our streets have been voral for three days, was hushed, and the last ‘red shirt’ dis appeared. "bur own fivemen have behaved handsomely. Their hoepitalitios and attentions have been unbound Every one of them has been untiring in his efforts to make the visiters comfortable. Return of the New York and Brooklyn Fire- men=—The Visiting Firemen—Thetr Recep- tion, &e. ‘The great tournament of the fire companies of New York, Detroit, Utica, Trey, Stamford, Broobiyy aad other cuties, at Albany, is ended; tho premiums have been distributed, and they have all returned to their respective homes. But the end of the tournament and the return of the fire- men was not the close of the affair; for, according to all precedent, it was necessary that there should hes reception or demonstration on their arrival, and this demonstration took place last night. During the after- noon, however, several companies arrived, but tho dis- Play did not take place till the arrival of the eight o'clock train from Albany, which brought the last detachment of firemen to this city. The engine companies which came last night by the eight o’clock train over the Harlem road wera Nos. 31, 18, 16 and 7, and the receiving companies were as follows:— Bighe Co 4 een’ acne Co. 15; Engine Co, 37 receiv gine i; @ Co. 6 received Engine Co. 81; Hose Co. 61 received Fngine Co. 7. “= Punctual to the hour the receiving companies were at the station, with their machines and an abundant supply of torches, rockets and other fireworks, while those who had no torches carried parti-colored and other lamps. They were alko accompanied by bands, and the streeta through which they marched were thronged with spoota- tors, ‘There was iiot, however, amy procession as on last Saturday night, the receiving companies having deter- mined on this occasion each to act independent of the other, and to escort the returned companies to their several houses, where supper was provided for them, At eight o'clock precisely the train arrived with the expected firemen, and in lees than half an hour after they were marshalled in order and on their way to their difforent destinations. ‘The members of Engine Co. No. 18 had each a corn broom in his hand, and some had sprigs of the same stuck in their hate. It was rather anovel affair and excited considerable curiosity, bat 00 one seemed to understand what it was intended for, nor could any person give any other explanation of it than that it was intended to signify that in Albany they had carried the day—tuat they had literally swept everything before them. ~All the compunios, receiving and received, cheered each other with the greatest eashusiasm and wero themselves cheered by the spectators, Altogeus or it of very success{uily, though as a demonstration it could not be compared with that of last Saturday. ‘Thero was, in fact, no procession, for, a8 has been stated, each coum: pany acted upon its own hook and pursued a different route, which, we presume, was the shortest by which it could reach its own hotise. RECEPTION HOME TO HOOK AND LADDER COMPANY NUMBER 4, Yesterday morning Hook and Ladder Company No. 4 arrived home from Albany, and were reccived at the foot of Cortlandt street by Eagle Engine Company No. 13. The boat was detained somo time, but the membors of Kaglo Engine Company were on hand, and as goon as the steamer hove in sight they welcomed their brethren home with three hearty good cheers. Headed by a fine band of mu- sic they paraded through several of our piincioal streets, and finally proceeded to Tammany Hall, where was in waiting a sumptuous collation, prepared for the occasion by Mr. Brown, proprietor, Due justice having the good things, the first toast giv: Engineer, Harry Howard.” His name was received with immense applause, and Mr. Howard, being present, re- sponded in his usual happy manner as follows: , members of Engine Company No. 13 and Hook ‘ompany No. ter the Catigue of your journey will mot be 30 vritablevan to intet & wi at thin time. not rexist making regard to the appearance and bearing of the variouscompanies who left this city to take partin the p and tournament which came off at Albany on September 29 and §@, and Tessure you, that as Chief Knsinecr of the New York Fire Departmeni, it led my heart with pride and care with which yourarr ents were made and the strict decorum and good order with which they were carried oat. Suck conduet on your part i# the cause of the stroug hold you have gained on the 4 pic heart or this community, which has, ‘and will for al regent admlra~ ble volunteer w ines ln this cits and county. Withreference to the prizes wou by New York clyy engine Now. 18 and 24, I will oniy say that | aim notat ail sur- prised, and 1 believe’ if the hose could have been had strong gnough to the pressure of oar largest hand eny New York city would have been awarded all the prizos off by the very J iremen and other citizens of Albany. Mr. Howard, on resuming his seat, did so amid tremen- dous applause. Speeches were then made by several of the firemen present, all speaking in the highest terms of their brother firemen of Albany. After the speeches had been concluded, they fell inte line and marched down past the Hearn eflice, No. 4 being escorted finally wo their headquarters. RECEPTION OF ENGINE COMPANY NO. 3 AT BROOKLYN. Franklin Engine Company No. 8, which proved tho victor at the Albany muster, was received by Hose Com- pany No. 1, and delegations from a sumber of engine companies, on their arrival last night. The vietoriows company had a canvass suspended above their machine bearing the express! words, ‘ Brooklyn victorious.’” The procession marched up Fulton street to Henry, past the engine house, where a large concourse was in waiting and cheered them lustily. ‘They then proceeded to Atlan- tic street and Court street, by the City Hail and down to their quarters, where they parteok of a collation propared for the occasion, Many congratulations were passed, and general rejoicing prevailed among tl meu generally. Phenix Engine Con . 6, ow Haven, arrived at Brook! sterday morning, and p entertained by Prgine € No. 12 daring their brief stay. They Started olf FIREM EPTION AT WILLIAMSBURG, Engines companies Nos. 1 and 4 aad Hi No. 4, Fastern District, wore receiy on their return from Albany, by Engine Company No. 9 and delegations from Engine No. 3, Hook and Ladder No. 1, Hose Company No. § and the Pacific Association, After parading through the principal streets they were escorted to their houses and entertained. VISITING COMPANTES. Warhington Engine Company No. 5, of Buffalo, arrived in this city yesterday from Albany on a short visit, and will remain wotll Monday, When they left home they did not intend to proceed further than Albany; but on Thars- day they suddenly concluded to make a short visit to our city before returning home. Their visit being « hone of our city companies were enabled to sien cesrary arrangements to give them a good turn out; yet, netw. thir, the members of Engine Company No. 6 sent a delegation to the boat, who gave them a hearty welcome aud escorted theta to their engine house in Henry street, whore they housed the Buffalo engine, and then escorted them to the Smithsouiam Hotel. Ar- Tangements will be made to give them a glorious time during their stay. They are a tne body of meu, and looked well as they paraded oar atreets. kngine Company No. 6, of Detroit, also arrived in tho city at noon yesterday, and intend to make @ short stay with the New Yorkers, They were recewwed by Hose Company No. 25, who paraded them through our city dur- ing most of the afternoon, and finally cone! with en- tertaiwing them with a dinner at Shelly's, Broadway. In the evening the firemen visited the theatre and other places of amusement. They also made a flac appearance. ‘70 THE EDITOR OF THE HERALD. In the report of the fremen's muster at Albany, in your paper and others of this date, it i# stated that Engine No. 5, of Utica, burst her hore, which is an error. The couplings (a patent arrangement) were biown hoes on coos of the shanks (of the couphinge) being 0 short. The hose used wos the coated hem; ' New York, Oct. 1, 1868. AN WITNESS. Burning of the Austria. NAMES OF THE ST. LOUISANS SUPPOSED TO RE LOST. [From the St, Louis Demoorat, Sept. 29.) ‘Tho list of the passengers om board the steamer Aus- trla, which wae reported in the New York papers, docs not ‘include the names of those of our citizona who aro known to have taken passage on her. Mise Maria Her- ken i# the only name reported in the New Yous Heat, from St. Louis; but upon inquiry we have failed to aacer- tain that any such lady belongs to this city, The follow- is particulars establish the loss of feveral of our resi nts. Mr. Ferdinand Reuss, of this city, who many of our readers know ae Consul of the city of Frankfort-on-the Main, has received a letter from his father at the of Cuxbaven, on the Northern Sea, that his brother » dore took parsage on the Austria ou the Ist of September. Ve is very probebly lost, as his name does not appear among the let of the savet In company with Mr. Theodore Renes was Mrs. Pipers, who is the wife of the business partner of Mr. Ferd, Reuss of thie city. & ith hor three children, one of whom t tho breast, aro all lost er in-law and ‘wate of tis city, o@ Thir t. were also among the lowt passengers, His ME Wiedewan, and the lady lost with him Scbarriann's wite. of the aaved may not be fail nor correct, aud it (s possible some of the above persons may yet be living, but their relatives aud friends ea ertain no hoje CINCINN ATIANS ON BOARD THE AUSTRIA. (From the Ciheinnati Gazette, Sept, 29, Wo hare bern onable to obtain a Full list of the persone on board the slltated steamer Austria, who were bound for Cincinnati The hames of two or three, however, have beon given to ue by relatives. The Mr. Lakeman, mentioned by telegraph yesterday as being saved, is un- tedly Mr. Kuhiman, whose wife and family reside on niece of perished. Mr. Chas. Snicke, an engrager, formerly in the employ of Mr. Evans, on Fourth street, was t return in the Austria, with bis wife, whom he had just married in Old Country. The names of nether appear in the list survivors. Tt is supposed, ateo, that Mrs. Ackerland, a sister of Hiedeitach, resiling ‘on Fifth street, was on board steamer (her husband isof the firm of Hiedelbach & songood, neor the corner of Fourth and Main streets), was lost. Her husband has been in New York for the ten days in anxious expectation of the arrival of his who has undoubtedly met with a horrible death or water Aservant girl accompanying Mr. Kubiman and named Sybilla Flockner, has also met with the reserved for the five bun&ed others who perished bats FY ij 5 the ill fated steamer Mr. Stachel, another Cincinnatian, is also among missing. A «ter of Mr. S., a Mrs. Amberg, whose family reside on Browtway, two doors above Fifth etreet, wae undorbtedly on board the Austria, and as no mention ie made of her pam among the list of saved, she has probe lay dave Leek wembla wole bane wttrere,