The New York Herald Newspaper, March 18, 1870, Page 4

BROADWAY AND ANN STREET. JAMES GORDON BENNETT, PROPRIETOR. Volume XXXV.........+s0s005 AMUSEMENTS THIS EVENING. BOOTHS THEATRE, id at, between Sth and 6th avs.— Evwin Booru as Hamer. grunt - WALLACK'S THEA’ a 1 poy Pe TRE, Broadway and 13th street. GRAND OPERA HOUSE, vorner o! Eighth avenue and 28d ot —Tek TWELVE TEMPTATIONS. OLYMPIC onaway.— Pycnat4 THEATRE, Brosaway.—New Vansion oF FIFTH AVENUE THEATRE, Twenty. ey se ATRE, Twenty-fourth st.—FRow WOOD'S MUSEUM AND MENAGERIE, Broadway, cor- ner Thirtieth at,—Matinee dally. Porformauce every evening, NIBLO'S GARDE} Broad 7— Rumney Rive Ny way.—Tam DraMa oy TuE FRENCH THEATRE, Ith at. id 6th ay.— Ovega—La PERICHOLE, veal ouekt acaba: BOWERY THEATRE, wwery.— onl SouLY BEN BOWLtaE Pi sisdasi ‘Bulan Boromme. ACADEMY OF —! = Pee rg MUSIC, Mth street.—ENGLISH OPERA, NEW YORK STADT THEATRE, — Orga Burro—Barce Birvr, i easy MRA F. B. CONWAY'S PARK THEATRE, Bi a Laby or Lroxs—Tne Goop rox Norte. © TONY PASTOR'S OPERA HOUSE, 201 Bowery.— Vocatism, NkGRO MINSTRELBY, £0. re THEATRE COMIQUE, xem, NEGRO Acts, &c. BRYANT'S OPERA HOUSE, ot—Bayani's Minerseie. - Broadway.—Couro Vooai- Tammany Building, 14th SAN FRANCISCO MINSTRELS, 586 Broa tway.—Eruto - FIAN MINSTRELSY, NeGRO AoTs, &0,—13 TEMPTATIONS. KELLY & LEON’S MINSTRELS, 720 Broadway.—ETHI0- O. Pian MINSTLELSEY, Nrano Acts, & NEW YORK CIRCUS, Fourteenth street. -EQuasTRIAN AND GYMNASTIO PERFORMANCES, 40, HOOLEY'S OPERA HOUSE, Brooklyn.—Hoouxr's Mineraeis—Tur BLack Sraruk, &c. APOLLO HALL, corner 26th Tux Naw Huskuntoon. NEW YORK M!’SEUM OF ANATOMY, 618 Broadway.— SCIENCE AND ART, street and Broadway.— New York, Friday, March $ OF Td-DAY Paax, 1—Adverttsements. 2—Advertisements. 3—Advertisements. 4—Editorials: Leading Article on The Rumpus in the Democratic Family; Much Ado About Nothing—Horrible Catastrophe: A Nitro-Glyce- mine Factory Biown to Atoms; Four Men In- stantly Killed—The Missing Steamers—New « Jersey Legisiature—The Purim Masquerade Ball—Death of W. W. Cornell—Fatgl Stabbing Affray in Second Avenue—Leave of Absence From Sing Sing Prison—The Avondale Fand— Amusement Announcements. S—Teiegraphic News from all Parts of the World: The Cuba Cession Controversy in Spain; British Revolutionism in North america and Ireland; The Revolution in Mexico on the Wane—St. Patrick’s Day: How It was Celebrateda—The State Capital: The New York City and County Tax Levies Introduced in the Assembly— Particulars of the Loss of the Schooner James H. Hoyt—The Great Snow Storm—Spanisn Butcheries in Cuba—Robert B. Roosevelt's Lecture on Fish Culture —Business Notices. G—The Rat lroad Titans: Five Millions tn the Air— Proceedings in the New York City Courts— Personal Intelligence—Mr, Prang’s Collection of Patntings—High Church Pocket Picking— Financia) and Commercial Reports—Marriages and Deaths. 7—Obituaries—A New Steamboat Whee!—Freedom of Porta to Pleasure Yachts—Suicide of a Wealthy Old Lady—Advertisements. S—Washingion: Virginia Threatened with Another Reconstruction; The Trade in Cadetships; The President's Views of the St. Domingo Treaty— Lively Times in Virginia: The Old Mayor of Richmond Declines Surrenaering His Office to the New Mayor—Shipping Iatelligence—Aadver- usements, AFFAIRS IN TENNESSEE are reported getting worse. Threats are said to have been made that if another reconstruction of the State is attempted Union men will be slaughtered. The Secretary to Governor Senter has arrived at Washington with an official requisition for troops, and will probably have an interview with the President to-day. Tur Case or Representative BUTLER, oF TENNESSEE, charged with selling a cadetship, was disposed of by the House yesterday. A resolution to expel him received a decided majority, but failed for want of a two-thirds vote. The House then passed a resolution of censure. We presume that this action setiles the subject, was growing somewhat monotonous. which Spzakrr Hrrouman yesterday presented to the Assembly the New York City and County Tax Levy bills for the ensuing year. The esti- mates for the city aggregate $4,890,745, and those for. the county $2,004 ‘These figures, of course, do not include appropriations for the support of the several metropolitan com- missions, Yesrerpay Morsine four mea and a boy lost their lives by an accidental explosion of nitro-glycerine near Hackensack, N. J. The cause of the accident has not been clearly ascertained, but we suppose it resulted from careless handling of the material. This has been the third or fourth time that death has reaped a harvest from the explosion of nitro- glycerine in New Jersoy. A Party iN THs Fourra Warp.-—‘‘Bucky McCabe” is the latest hero of city sensation, andis the freest shooter of all. He had his drink at the bar and his friends drank with him, and then the mercenary landlord de- manded pay. Bucky was o fellow of too much spirit to take an insult, and so went at the landlord, sud in the course of the little difficulty shot three men. Then he ran away, Tho Rumpas tm tho Demooratlc Family— Much Ado About Nothing. There seems to be a very general Interest felt outside the State in the result of the rumpus in the demooratic family here and in Albany, The broil is sup- posed, by people removed =f eee I {oon ag saps. somollon eeaceel a rupture in the harmonious rela- tions among the leaders of the ruling party in this State. Republicans are not indisposed to accept this impression, aud to hope that the breach which it is believed exists will widen still more before the season of logisla- tion is over. The fierce young democracy, led on by Hotspur Harry of Harlem and Sheriff O’Brien Boru, are supposed to be determined on the daring step of cutting the old demo- cratic ship loose from her ancient moorifigs, and undertaking the pilotage of the venerable vessel through unknown archipelagoes in the wide sea of politics, It is a gallant and a glorious enterprise, and one which the Heratp has more than twenty times recommended ; for if the stately old democratic craft, with its heavy encrustations of barna- cles, its damaged cargo of ideas, its fossilized crew and unreconstructed sailing chart, is left much longer to its present management there will be an awful shipwreck reported to the political underwriters one of these days. The silk stocking gentry belonging to the Manhattan Club, in discussing the crisis over their mock turtle soup, grow nervous at the prospect of the leather breeches democracy taking the ship all to themselves, But never fear, good people in the rural and radical districts, that the careering young democracy, with its youthful knights errant and erratic, the crowing Creamer, the lusty Norton, the genial Genet and the rest of the lithe and active spirits of the latest revo- lutionary movement, will perform the whole programme for which you give them credit. The bowld O’Brien is the standard bearer of the new party, which starts forth as the pioneer of political purity and reform. The rank and file are supposed to be somewhere between the Twelfth and Nine- teenth wards, and the force and intellect of the organization are believed to be crystal- lized in the Andrew Jackson Club of this city. The silk stocking and velvet coat gentlemen, who wear hothouse camelias, and have certain curious regulations in regard to how their visitors take soup, profess to- have a deep interest in the subject of deodorizing the offen- sive corners in our municipal government. The new Charter, of course, is the great motive stimulus for all the profound protesta- tions in the name of reform which the political cliques have been recently making. Tho first Charter, which the genius of the Big Six boys, inspired, and the sparkling beverages of the NEW YORK HERALD, FRIDAY, MARCH 18, 1870. Lively Times in Richmond, It will be seen by the despatches published elséwhere that the people of Richmond are id authorizing the Governor to appoint new officers. Governor Walker ac- cordingly appointed a new City Council for Richmond, which elected a Mayor and Chief of Police, who made application to the old offi- cials for the books, papera and other property of the Corporation. The demand was refused, whereupon both parties prepared for war. The old Mayor, Mr. Cahoon, swore in one hundred and fifty special constables and fortified himself in one of the station houses. Mayor Ellison, the newly elected, promptly summoned two hun- dred officers and proceeded to besiege the sta- tion house, the force in which, at last accounts, had dwindled to thirty men, With a view to forcing a speedy surrender, the besieging force had cut off the supply of gas and water and refused to allow provisions to go into the ene- my’s lines. An attempt was made by a crowd of negroes to furnish Cahoon’s cohorts with rations. They bought out the contents of a bake shop and began throwing bread to the garrison, but the besiegers speedily put an end to the relief by driving the sympathizing dar- kies from the spot. No further operations were reported last night, but the situation was decidedly interesting. Your true officcholder never resigns and always dies hard. Purim and St. Patrick. Yesterday, the 17th of March, A. D. 1870, was a famous day in the annals of the city of New York to one of the oldest nationalities of the world and to the most powerful nationality in the metropolis. It was the great feast of Purim for the sons of Israel and St. Patrick’s Day for the sons of Erin. On the one hand the glorious anniversary was celebrated with alldue pomp and comeliness in the synagogues and in the family circles, while on the other hand our streets were lined with peaceful citi- zens clothed in holiday attire parading their tributes to the memory of their patron saint. Good humor and friendly greeting prevailed throughout the city, and thousands sat down to the festive boards towards the close of the day in order to commemorate green Erin's choicest anniversary in a more effective man- ner. The sentiments of veneration for events of the past that doubtless prevailed among those who participated in these festivities gave way before the indulgences to which all man- kind are prone. Father Mathew and the principles of his doctrine were powerfully represented by the members of the Hibernian societies, and it was a pleasing sight to witness the effective manner in which temperance is still advocated in this city. The incidents of yesterday tended strongly: to illustrate one of Blossom Club illuminated, was too much for the young, fierce, restless and ambitious democracy. If, in the elegant language of tho gladiato- rial philosopher, Hon. Jack Morrissey, ‘‘things fg fixed” now, the old hands into which the spoils of other days were wont to fall will have to make more room for the numerous applicants for the delights of office and emolu- ments. The copperhead organ, pleased with the vista which opens before its famished vision, sings the praises of the new régime, and goes into raptures over the good time coming. The finale of all the fuss will taro out to be that the democratic ship, in place of being put upon a new course, will be put upon the stocks to give a profitable job to a fresh gang of workmen inserting oakum in her fundamental seams. It is the old, old story— a question as to what hands the spoils of office should be committed. But, thoughtfully con- sidered, it is a weak and shortsighted policy. With the great State of New York in their possession, the democracy should have gone on united, hopeful, vigorous, conquering and to conquer. What are the paltry revenues of one State and city compared to the magnifi- cent prospect of running the government of the entire nation? But Sammy Tilden and the silk stocking democracy of the Manhattan Club, not satisfied with the prospsct in store for themselves, made a desperate effort to use the rough and ready element of the party to break down the Tammany ring and capture the spoils for the benefft of Belmont, Tilden, Marble and Company. The young democracy can hardly get along without the old. Their experience is crude, brief and local, A national convention for the nomination of a Presidential candidate, and the drawing up of a sound and successful party platform, would be apt to suffer in the hands of Jupiter Norton and Hon. Jack Morrissey. Their sledge-hammer style and thundering energy are highly commendable in the exact place, and even when employed in the intona- tion of a threat to pull dowa the present tem- ple of democracy and slay all the high breveted brethren of the order, the effect in the way of novelty and sensation ia worth having. But the Big and Little Sixes know their own business too well to come to any such reckless collision, The outside public may have its apprehensions aroused that something dreadful is about to happen. The actora, however, feel easy on the score of dis- aster, and know exactly what the upshot will be and where it will leave every maa Jack of the young and old fry of political pensioners. In after years, when the party which now con- trols this State shall have made another chapter in history, it will be highly interesting to compare the fate of the Charter and its cham- pions, the working of the reformed municipality and the career of those who made it, with and itis said that ho rap well. He onght to rua for Assembly. Ir Burr Kyows How.—tThere is reason and truth in what is said by the representative of the English holders of Erie stock—that the law giving the present management of the road an indefinite lease of life is oppr and unjust to the large majority of (he stockholders, No doubt if the legitimate bolders could have ve present prospects and present professions. But hurry up, gentlemen of the democratic persuasion! Look abroad, and see that while you are quarrelling and consuming time the great work of preparing yourselves to take the nation’s trust of ils general goverament and give life to Cuba and medicine to Mexico ‘lan- guishes, What say Sammy Tiiden and Hon, Javk Morrissey? . ris Evipence or Fisk, Jk, ean be a fair election to-day Fisk and Gould wonld be onsied at once, Cortaialy the law that keeps these men io place in defiance of the owners of the property they control is an outrageous wrong. But can ithe repealed? Yes; if Burt, tho English manager, knows how to approach Albany legislators. The game means by ich the law was passed will procure its repeal, It was not passed on account of a memorial to the honorable Senate and aAgsembly. va ed, the Wall street magnates hold spicy ions of each other, Vanderbilt, we are told, thinks Drew nos ‘‘botter than a batter pudding,” and Fisk agrees with the Coinmo- xt we have certain speculators likened unto an animal full of vile odors. As regards the suit itself, one is so bewildered by the nonchalance with which millions of dollars are referred to as if they wre so many brass buitoris that it is @ifficult to arrive at any con- tcluston as to its morits, the most beautiful features of the institution of the United States—namely, that of perfect freedom of thought and liberty of action in reference to creed and nationality, Any stranger casually visiting the synagogues could have imagined himself carried back to those days when the kingdom of Israel was in iis glory, and on issuing forth into the streets he wandered amid scenes and strains of music that would almost make him fancy himself transported, as if by enchantment, to the streets of ‘Ould Dublin” itself in the palmiest Vote by Ballot in England. After many years of apparently ineffectual effort there seems to be a chance for the ballot in Great Britain. On Wednesday evening, afier a debate of considerablé keenness, it was agreed that the Vote by Ballot bill should be read a second time, and that on the 3d of May the House should go into committee on the third reading. Attempts were made to have the debate adjourned, but a motion to this effect was defeated by a majority of one hundred and ten. A majority so sweeping gives us good hope that the bill will have little difficulty in getting through the Com- mons. Itis thus that America projects her- self in Europe. The United States school system has grown immensely in favor both in France and England. The ballot is peculiarly American. We cannot say that the ballot box has secured to us purity of election, It is something, however, to know that for the notorious corruption which prevails at elec- tions in Great Britain—corraptions which were hever so great as now—no better cure can be devised than the ballot box. It is a tribute to American institutions which we cannot allow to pass una oticed, Tug Latest News or tat New Caarrer Fiaut.—The last story is that the terms of peace are agreed upon. The statement of the terms of peace is a statement of the price of the men who make war on Tammany in the name of virtue and good government. Their price is the police. Give them the appointment of the police and take all the rest. These are their terms. With a view to a settlement of difi- culties in this way they have taken the pro- visions in regard to the police out of the new Charter, 80 that this great subject may be acted upon separately. They insist upon having the police turned over to them, bound hand and foot, before they will be good boys and do as they ought generally. This, of course, is the programme of the boys. It is the instinct of a natural hostility that suggests this price, and this settlement leaves Sammy Tilden and tho silk stockings generally out in the cold. They would have demanded quite another price. Brrtisn PouiticaL AND CoLontaL Dirricur- 1es.—The British government declines to give Parliament precise information conceraing the late rebellion in the Red River Territory just at present. Mr, Gladstone tells the House of Commons that two of the Fenian political con- victs have ‘gone mad.” One of them is “slowly recovering” in an asylum, Both were released when lunatic—a proceeding which tends to contradict the supposition that Fenianism is madness per se. The men were mad a3 government prisoners, Per- haps they have been released, by way of executive satire, as very sane Fenians. ‘The Under Secretary for Ireland has outlined the new bill of paina and ponalties for disloyalty and crime in thet island. He drew a very sad picture of the condition of the country, a gloomy sketch for St. Patrick’s Day in the evening. There is evidentiy a good deal wrong and somebody to blame, either in Lon- don or Dublin, or way here about Canada— all the way from Northwestern America to .the Giants’ Causeway. Tho Late Heavy Storute=The Danger of Spring Freshete—A Thnely Warning. Since Saturday last, the 12tb instant, very enjoying a rare scene of excitement. Some | heavy storms have prevailed over nearly the time ago the Virginia, Legislat ected o | law vacating all the offices t jhe “Siuitary | PPelatees M95 f the United States, from the sea- Hoard to the Rocky Mountains, and beyond the farthest points in the British Possessions from which we haveany information, The elements have been making ample atonement in the freezing winds and deep snows and rains of March for the winter's deficiences of Decem- ber, January and February. From New Eng- land and the interior of New York and Pennsylvania westward into the great plains beyond the Mississippi March has brought down from his wintry skies almost an average winter's tribute of snow. The heaviest fall of the season, from the Hudson and the Delaware to the west side of the Alleghany Mountains, was that from the storm which passed over this city, with its copious discharges of rain, through the night of Tuesday last and till about noon on Wednesday. From all points in the interior of this State and of Pennsylvania, and the far West this vernal equinoctial, with its snow fall of nearly two feet, resulted in a general blockade of the railroads and in numerous accidents from the crashing in or blowing off of the roofs of rickety buildings. Up the Hudson and thence westward this stgym was still in full blast yesterday morning, and here it came on again in the evening. Should we have next, as we may have, some far-extending equinoctial rains and a general thaw upon this snow deposit of two feet, the sum of the damages from inundations to river lowlands, mills, factories, railways, canals, bridges, &c., will probably be without a parallel in the breaking up of any winter in the great North- ern States for twenty years past. This general calamity may not come; but all parties con- cerned throughout the country, who are likely to suffer should it come, will act wisely in pre- paring for it as {gras practicable. Thus vast amounts of property may be saved which other- wise might be lost. The precautions suggested, if judiciously heeded, may even be the means of saving many lives which, through neglect of a timely warning, might be sacrificed. After three or four wecks of prevailing frosts and snows we may at this equinoctial season reason- ably look fora change to a spell of warm winds and dissolving rains, which, from the melting snows on the hills and mountains and the ice in the rivers, will wind up the winter in the general misfortune of freshets and inundatfons. The miners in the Rocky Mountains are rejoicing over their recent heavy snow storms, because those miners mainly depend upon the winter’s snows to supply the streams in summer in which they wash their gold. There, too, from the lofty elevation of the mountains the winter’s snows are gradually dissolved; but at this season, east of the Mississippi to the Atlantic, a winter's accumulations may be swept off in a single day. Altering Certified Checks. a Wall street is prolific of frauds of all kinds, but the most serious of all is the alteration of certified checks by substituting figures express- ing larger sums for the originals—a little game which has been recently discovered. One check for thirty dollars was altered to six thousand, and another for fifty dollars to fifteen thousand. In some instances the forgers were entirely successful. Now, this is a very serious matter, and one that will cause alarm among the busi- ness community. There is only one way to provide against it, and that is thi Let every business man have his checks printed in different colors. For instance, for sums over one hundred dollars and under one thou- sand the check might be printed with blue ink; over one thousand and under two thou- sand, green; over two thousand and under three, pink, and so on. By this means it would be impossible for a forger to misrepre- sent the original amount of the check, except to an inconsiderable extent. If this plan is adopted a bank teller could ascertain at once whether the figures had been increased in amount to a sum which the color of the check was not intended to cover. It is the only sure means of protection against fraud, for it will always be easy for an experienced sharper to change figures, no matter how com- plicated they may be in construction, We give this hint to the business community as a safeguard which will completely checkmate the most adroit forgers. Mr. Witson’s Expianation-——The state- ment of the London agent of the Associated Press shows that he received the telegram announcing the arrival of the steamer City of Boston at Queenstown from a good source, and at lvast definitely fixes from whence it came into bis hands. Is it not possible to follow up tie cruel hoax and to find how the agent of the Stock Exchange telegraph came in possession of it and where it originated? It is not easy to see how any market could be affected by the fate of the City of Boston, and, therefore, it seems safe enough on such a point to trust Stock Exchange news, which is certainly very untrustworthy on any poiat of Pact that has a bearing upon speculation, It is worthy of note, however, that as this London hoax came to the Asso- ciated Press from the Stock Exchange tele- graph there; so the hoax current here a week ago was traced to Wall street, RoBEsoN’s Reasons.—Secretary Robeson, who was up before the House Commitiee on Foreign Affairs yesterday, gives as a reason why so few vessels are in Cuban waters that many of the ships were looking after affairs in St. Domingo and at other points. The ex- planation is by no means satisfactory. Our naval vessels ought to be where their services are most needed, and recent events show that they are required in Cuban harbors, where the lives and rights of American citizens are im- perilled, Perhaps Mr. Robeson trusts to the good nature of French and English naval com- manders for that protection for American citi- zens which he is either unable or unwilling to render, Tue Paeivinecup Criasses IN Great Brrrain—Tur Game Laws.—How bold has become the democracy in Great Britain! We all know how fond of shooting is every mem- ber of the Brilish Parliament that can handle a gun. [i wasa bold thing to propose the abolition of the Game laws at all, We are not surprised that the opposition was so bitter and go genoral that the hall had to be witodrawn. But 4s the Game laws throughout the three kingdoms, as they now stand, are @ crying disgrace and a grievous wrong, their hour of doom must come, sooner or later. Vote by ballot was long unpopular, but vote by ballot is now on tge winning side. Wo shall not have to wait long for a similar change of feel- ing in the matter of the Game laws. It is the people against the privileged classes, and the people must win, A Mrvorapie Da¥—The 17th of March, 1870, as St. Patrick’s day, and as the day of the Jewish feast of Purim; but the memora- ble day to which we now refer is the 16th of March, 1870, made memorable as the day on which the first negro Senator in Congress made his first speech, as the re- presentative and advocate of his race among the conscript fathers in the forum. Whatever may be the final solution of this experiment of negro political equality, the day: when the African Senator from Mississippi, in the place of Jeff Davis, made his first speech as a Sena- tor in behalf of the rights of his race, will be an important landmark to the future historian. We think, however, that if Revels had only made it, and in good faith, on the 17th of March it would have been a recognition of the good St. Patrick highly advantageous to Sambo as the first step toward political har- mony with our patriotic Irish-Americans by our fellow citizens of African descent. But asitis Revels has made the 16th of March a memorable day in our political calendar as the Senatorial successor of Jeff Davis. Tur St. Dominco Treary.—It is reported from Washington that President Grant called at the Capitol yesterday and held a conference with leading republican Senators, in which he urged the ratification of the St. Domingo treaty. He was unsuccessful in. his efforts to persuade the members of the Committee on Foreign Affairs to reconsider their action, but the impression prevailed that the prospect of the treaty being finally ratified had improved, although the democratic and New England Senators were determined to vote for its re- jection. It isto be hoped that the efforts of President Grant will not be defeated. We do not think the opportunity should be lost of annexing to the United States one of the finest islands in the Antilles, Tuosk Unrortunare Canapians are still quarrelling. Mr. Huntington, evidently a shrewd gentleman, declares in the Dominion Parliament that the salvation of Canada de- pends upon a custom union with this republic. Sir Francis Hinks indignantly denies this, and asserts that Canada is immensely prosperous. Of course the Baronet has every reason to favor a continued alliance with old England, and cannot be blamed for displaying his loy- alty, especially after Mr. Huntington had admitted that with a differential duty against British goods the British empire could not be kept together. But we think that, on the whole, Sir Francis is blind to ‘manifest destiny.” THE MISSING STEAMERS. The City of Baston and Sxmario—The Freight on the City of Boston. Lonpon, March 17, 1870. The London Times prints the City of Boston ca- nard, uncontradicted, this morning. ‘The Underwriters have exacted seven guineas pre- mium on the overdue steamer Samaria, while the , og on the City of Boston has again been re- uced, ‘dhe question put by Sir J, Packington, in the House of Commons, as to the rumored overloading of the steanies City of Boston, has called from tie Board or Irade a report giving extended rules and regulations for the interior loading of ships. &c. The London Post says the false report of the ar- rival of the City of Boston ominated at the Stock Exchange. Toere 13 “universal indignation ex- pressed on account of the crue) hoax.” Naval Scrutiny. Lonpon, March 17, 1870. Sir Edward Belcher, an admiral in the navy, urges the Board of Trade to investigate the iogs of vessels arriving over the supposed track of the city of Boston. The Fecling In Falfox on the Reported Safe Arrival of the City of Boston. HAuirax, March 17, 1870. ‘rnere was great excitement 1n this city yesterday respecting the fate of the steamer City of Boston. Numerous despatches were received announciig her arrival, and were universally believed. Supse- quent despatches, containing contrary reports, had a sad effect. Busingss was almost generaily sus- ended. The City Council failed to get a quorum. The Legisiative Council met and passed resolutions of sympathy for the relatives and friends of the 1il- fated passengers, and then adjourned. The irish Society, as a mark of respect, will omit their annual dinuer to-<a} DEATH OF W. W. CORNELL, ‘This well known and esteemed citizen of New York died at bis residence on Wasuington Heixnts, in this city, at half-past eight o'clock yesterday evening, well advanced in years, Mr. Cornell was the architect of hisown fortune. Beginning life in slender circumstances, h@servea a regular ap- prenticeship of seven years at the business in which he subsequently became distinguished. In 1547, in partnership with his brother, J. B. Cornell, he es- tablished bis iron foundry, employing at first, by reason of the small capital possessed, but one man, The original manufactory was located on Centre street. Here the business of the deceased gradually increased until at the end of ten years it had at- tained to such Jarge proportions that it was neces- sary to remove to another jocality. During this year the firm constructed their great foundry on Twenty-sixth street, between Venth gna Eleventk avenues, and which has since remained the principal one owned by the brothers. Mr. Cor- neil’s pame is conspicuously associated wich the progress of the nse of iron as a building material, many of- the best known edifices in the coun- try having’ been constructed by him. Among them we can name the United States Caistom House at Savannah, Ga., the Sun Atiantic Mutual Tusurance Cowpany, A. T. Stewart’s, H. B. Olafin & Co.'s, W. B. Astor’s, Bank of New York, Bank of Commerce, Union Bank, Ball & Black’s and the New YoRK HERALD buudings. These are but a few of the many fine structures which wil! long remain monuments to the skill of the firm of J.. BR & W, We Corneil. Indeed, owning as the deceased did, the most extensive and com- pleteiy,equipped_ works in the United States for the constrfcuon of fireproof buildings. tt is net sur- prising that he, with his brother, held the foremost position among our iron sounders. In his private life Mr. Cornell was distinguisned for many sterling and amiable traits of character, He possessed a large circle of treads, by whom the news of his Ceatu will be received with the deepest possible regret. At the close of u in the Senate the new charter of Jersey City came up on its feat passage, but the ratiroad influence was very strong. N. D. ‘Taylor, seeing danger ahead, moved tauta committee of conference be appointed to consider uhe proposed amendments, and Senators Kovbin:, N.D. Taylor and Bettie were appointed. A simular committee was appointed in the House, consisting of Gevans, Brinckerhoit and Beasely, who held a joint meeting, takmg the House amendments mto consideration. Among the bills passed was the charter of the North Hudson aud Fort Lee Railroad Company; to Jncorporate the Hedding Young Mea’s Christian As- sociation; to incorporate the Guitenourg Ferry Com- puny and the McKean Iron and Locomotive Works ‘of Jersey City. ‘A message from the Governor was received and distributed to the members, showing the dellcit which would exist for the year 1870, $242,568, Ju the evening all the political biils were lost through the defection of Messrs. Wartuman and Va- lentine, Who Went over to the republicans, ‘the rouse bemg twenty-seven republicans and thirty-three democrats—Busch and Wrobasco being away sick— toe republicans carried everything before them. Among the political bills was this bill to create the Fourteenth wara in Newark, which was designed to remove the difficulty caused in the democratic camp by tue defection of Alderman Cai, HORRIBLE CATASTROPHE. A Nitro-Glycerine Factory Blown to Atoms at Ridgefield, N. J. Four Men Instantly KilledParticulars ’ of the Disaster. © Another of those shocking occurrences which akg the blood run cold ana send @ thrill through the stoutest heart took place yesterday morning near Ridgefleld station, on the line of the North. ern Railroad of New Jersey. Situated near the let. bank of the Hackensac« river, in the midst of a bleak, marshy tract of land, there stood the large factory wherein the destructive element, mitro-gly- cerine was manufactured. The structure was built on piles, was about 160 feet long by fifty feet wide, one story high pnd owned by Mr. Tai, P. Shaffner, the same gentleman on whosejpremises, in Hudson City, a can of nltro-glyce- rine exploded some two years ago, Causing the sur rounding buildings to vibrate as from the shock of an earthquake and instantiy killing nine men. Save im the number who perished by the disaster, the ex- plosion yesterday was influitely more terrific in ita nature. Up to ten o'clock yesterday forenoon bast- ness had gone on in the factory as usual, conducted by a foreman named Hermann Moyers, attended by three other men, natives of Holland, A large quan- tity of sulphuric acid, provably 4,000 pounds in weight, was stored up in casks on the promises; 8,000 or 10,000 pounds of nitric acid, well se cured in carboys, bound with hay, were piaced ouside on the platform, and beneath ‘he roof of the butlding stood about 7,000 pounds of the manufactured article, nitro-glycerine. Withia the previous twenty-four hours heavy rains had fallen, and ihe tide was far above its usuai level, extending to the piles whereon tne factory stood, and tho water occasionally lashed the summit of the platiorm, causing it to heave #0 Laat in the morning ‘he’ proprietor was rather anxious about the “carboys,” waich were plied ode upon another, and scemed im imminent danger of veing thrown down, Leaving mstruciions Wilt his men to see to the matier, the proprietor quit the neigaborhood, never again to see the laborers alive. Shortly aller ten o’clock afew men stood by o team ot horses a quarter of a mile distant, and they suddeuly heard a report like the sound of a cannoa. , Wulle their eyes were turaed to see whence the sound Iss! and as they were conversing about the cause, a far louder report was heard,awhich made the very ground reverherate beneath them, and pen- ecrated the remote village like a crash of taunder. Tne men were completely stuuned, but betore they could betray the least emotion @ spectacle never to be forgovien was presented to their view. A vast cioud of fame which swept every- thing else trom their signt was hurted vo an im- mense height, illuiwmg the entire region, and this was followed in a few seconds vy the falling of shat tered timbers, broken sbricks and the ruins ol the factory which had been there. Everything, to ase tne proprietor’s expression, had been “swept to the clouds,” and when the huge volumes of smoke had blown aside not a vestige of the establisument re- Inained. ‘The four men who had been within its wals were viown into eteruity, and not even a par- ticle of their bodies or an urticie of thetr clotuing was to be seen. It 18 also said thats youth who lived near Ridgefield was un baad at tie time and met the same cruel fate. Scarcely pad the echoes of the explosion died away wuen the peopie began to rush trom all quar. ters towards the crumbied remnants of the butiding. ‘Yae piles of rubbish were upturned, but iu vaw; everything was in cinders. In iact, tt would secm a8 i the nitric acid, which ts &@ powerful oxidizer, had seized on all ‘the comoustivle elements and burned Chem inunediaiely, The torrents of sul- phuric acid alone would have been suiticteat to char the bodies, and when the pre- sence of tne immense quantity of glycer- tue 18 considered, whose expansive power proves 80 enormous, there can be Litvie doubt that the men have not only wiseraviy perished, but that their Ledies have been torn to atoms, Never before had suco @ Casualty bec witnessed in the vicinity. ‘The wife of Hermann Meyers, the foreman, and the widow oi Courmano were soun on the grounds and frantically seeking those who were lost to tuem Lor- ever. ‘ao relauves of the other persons (whose names Mr. suaitner Was unable to remember) madly turned up the rubbish to catch a gumpse or their lost trends, but all to no purpose, ‘Tbroughout the day numbers of individuals wound thelr Way over the desvlate muddy road leading to tue spot, and great excitement prevailed. Owing 10 tue 1act that tne great explosion had been preceded by a comparatively slight one, it was believed that the working men Were In the act of running away, and might have been blown into some of the sur- rounding dykes or into the river, But vigorous searches showed the fallacy 01 such conjectures and. no hope remains of their recovery. ‘The unxiety dnd excitement were increased by tne passage of & train when the disaster took place and many of the passengers algiled at the station, eager Lo view tue scene, One young man was passing the station aud io half an hour ne learned that ais own father wus numbered among the dead. What seems strange is that the mea originally mentioned as standing with horses were not injured, while the bulidings two miles distant were visibly shaken, and many win- dows smashed at the time. ‘rhe gloom which the sad occurrence has cast over the inhabitants of this lonely region, 80 unaccus- tomed to such calamities, may not well be imagined. Night at length drove most of the visitors (ron the place, few remaining to grope through tne frag- nents ot the structure but the iriends of the decease, ‘The cost of the materials destroyed was avout $75,000, @ loss which Mr. Shafiner, of course, deems insig- nificant whea compared to that of tue ilves which were sacrificed. in the evening @ jastice of the peace came irom Engiewood to hold aa inquest on the bodies, but the exact and remote cause of their untiueiy end will probably be shrouded jor ever in mystery. THE PUSIM MESQUERAGE BALL The third annual Purim masquerade ball of Henry Cray Lodge, No. 19, LO. F. 8. of L, was given last evening at Apollo Hail, Twenty-eighth street and Broadway. The affair was made very agrecable by the regulations enforced prohibiting weapons, fire- arms, fireworks and vulgar costumes. Every fa- cility was given to parties, who appeared during the evening in companies aS minstreis, in tableaux, opera and plays, and dressing rooms were placed at their disposal, Dancing commenced at half-past ning, and, a3 the costumes were both brtliiant and ' elegant, a very varieguted scene wus presented. Here @ bymph, as the Queen of Night, was whirling in the breathiess galop wit Meplistopbeles, and there was Napoleon wirting with & coquettish grisette, whue Satan lea an angel througo the niysteries of qua- Crile. Soldiers, sailors. fools, fishmongers and tair- ies agreed Like a happy fawily, and Fenians aud Eng. giish squires chatted piewsautly together. Many thanks are due to the coumitiee for their admtravie Wrrangements, as ali Went merry as the olt-quoled marriage bell. Supper was strictly “osher;” but, as it seemed like oer ordinary repasts, perhaps the name was given because no French cooking was allowed, and consequently the 1neats were not ta masquerade. The party broke up early in the morn- ing and retired to their homes in the moonugat, with, as the poet says, “hearts all love and lips all song.’? FATAL STABBING AFFRAY IN S2COND AVENUE. The Twenty-first precinct telegraphs that at ten minutes before three o'clock yesterday an alterca- uon occurred in the hallway of No. 523 Second avenue, between Michael Martin and Patrick Welsa, both of whom reside at that number. The meu grappled in a.deadly embrace and fought desperately Jor some minutes, when Martin, who was receiving tne worst of the battle, drew & huge knife and plunged it into the abdomen of Welsh, who sank down with @ mortal Wound, The criminal attempted to escape, but was captured by oflicer Killen, of the Twenty-first preciact, and locked bn Weish was conveyed to Bellevue Hoamtal in a dying condition, itig believed, aud the Corouer summoned to Lake is anie-mortem depositicn. LEAVE OF ABSENCE FROM SING SING PRISON, The recent protracted trial of Judge Fuilerton bac aflorded an unusually favorable opportunity for granting an extended leave of absence to oue whose daties are supposed to confine nim to the marbie quarries of the State. On the 26gh ultimo Dr. Alvah Blaisdeli was taken {rom Sing Sfig prison, oo a writ of habeas corpus, for the purpose of testitying in tue case alluded to; but up yesterday aiterpeon ue had nos been returned to that mstiituion. Althouxsh Blaisdell nas yet eighteen months to serve, in ordor to complete fis terin of sentence, 4 belicl prevais at the prisoa that bis return bas been postpoued iIndefintiely. Thi Suits te be Tm: AVANDALE RELIEF FUta, Muted Agninst Subscribers. SCRANTON, Pa., March 17, 1870. Ata meeting of the Board of Managers of iho Avondaio Relief Association beid on Monday last ab Plymouth the following resolution was adopted: — Resolved, that the secretary is hereby directed to com mence suits agatnst all delinquent mubacribera to the Avon. dale fund, but in each ano to give twenty days! notice before any steps'be taken to euforce the collection of the saune, ‘The mvestigation in the case of James Creighton, heretoiore referred to as committing self-destruc- tion, has been concluded before Coroner Keenan, at the Morgue. The jury found that Creighton came to his aeath from corrosive potson, taken with suicidal intent, ‘The deceased haa been very intemperate in his habits, was without Iriends or howe, and proba- bly destitution and waut impelled Lim to swallow the fatad draught, Delinqucus