The New York Herald Newspaper, January 29, 1871, Page 4

she commenced e “FEARFUL SHIPWRECK. THRILLING TALE OF STORM AND DEATH, The British Bark Kate Smith Beaten to Pieces on the New Jersey Coast. The Captain, Five Seamen, Steward and His Wife and a New York Pilot Lost— Four Survivors Reach This City. “Gone to pieces; every plank torn one from the other; the masts twisted off, and "— “And the crew, mate ??? “All lost but four! The captain, a Sandy Hook Pilot, flve seamen, the steward and his wife—nine in all—were drowned under the most distressing and terrible circumstances.” “How far from New York, did you say?” “Only about seventy miles, It was on Long Beach, five miles above Little Egg harbor, on the New Jersey coast—it's a fearful place.’” These were the opening remarks of second mate Thomas Newcomb, late of the staunch bark Kate Smith, of Yarmouth, Nova Scotia, when questioned yesterday in relation to the terrible calamity which on Thursday morning last befell that ill-fated vessel ‘and her crew as she was nearing the end of her voyage from Les Passages, Spain, to this port, It is Another melancholy addition to the many ocean calamities we have been compelled to chroniole, but ig the first of the winter which 1s @ sad realization of numerous incidents of the vast deep, which, brimful ef fearfal scenes and death, afford food for the fancy of the curious, } The terrors of this latest horror of the sea which 8 yet has reached our ears as having occurred in the storm just passed, tell not only of the blinding snow, the mountaineus and maddening billow, the crash of timber, but to those are added hunger, per- ishing cola and death—a fate that strikes the steadi- est heart with the most appalling force. No more terrible shipwreck than this has occurred ‘within years, and none more disastrous, When the intelligence of the wreck and the awful loss of life reached this city yesterday it was simultaneously with the particulars of the arrival of, the four rescued crew, all that were saved from the thirteen on board, Nine of these courageous souls—one a wo- man, the steward’s wife—have found their graves onthe beach of yersey, where no marble shaft will mark their tombs. Second Mate Thomas Newcomb, a native of Union Springs, Cayuga county, N. Y., being found by a HERALD reporter, gave the following details of this, one of the most terrible casualties that has ever come to our knowledge: — THE LOST BARK KATE SMITH, was a thoroughly built craft, of 404 tons register, and thought to be able to witnstand the roughest Weather. She was launched in 1864 at Yarmouth, N. S., and owned there by Messrs. Hilton & Rogers ‘and others. She was laden with about five hundred tons of pig lead, consigned to a house in New York. Her captain was Wilson Hamilton, a native of the port from witch the vessel sailed. All went plea- santly from the time of leaving Les Passages until the night ef Wednesday, January 25, preceding the late storm. At noon on Sunday, 224, lat. 38, lon. ‘78 44, they fell in with the pilot boat James W. Kl- well, No. 7, of the Sandy Hook pilots, and took therefrom Mr. Joseph Hussey, one of the company of that boat. From that time until ten o'clock at night nothing of moment happened; but then it sua- denly commencea BLOWING AND SNOWING So fearfully that half an heur tater it was deemed advisable not to run further before the storm, but tack ship and stand in for the shore. This was done. At two o'clock the wind increased to such an extent that the fore topgallant sail was taken in. With every seoond the maddening wind blew more fu- riously, and the snow was 80 thick that the moment began to be a critical one. At four o’clock tne first mate and pilut Hussey came on deck, and relieving the second mate he went below ana sat by tue fire until five e’clock, as the night was piercing cold. When getting warm he went to his berth and there rewained half an hour. At the expiration of this time he was called on deck to help tack ship agaia, as there were BREAKERS AHEAD, and the vessel wasrunning on shore. Obeying the summons instantly, without waiting time to dress, Newcomb reached the deck just as a perceptible tremor passed through the vessel, and all knew in that terrible storm, worse than many of the sturdiest mariners had eyer seen, they were aground on au inhospitable beach. The men’s efforts to wear ship were hurculesn, but useless, The matn- ‘ard Was squared, but the wheel. by the force of he vessei’s striking, had been torn from the heims- men’s hands and was fying around with such rapidity that none at that second could stay it. It was @ period of intense agony. Se soon as the officers found that the bark Weuld not move from {ts perilous position they ordered BURNING TORCHES to be used, which was done, but their feeble lights seemed a mockery against the seething masses of Waves as they struck the vessel and rolled back to the land, Then the mainsail was hauled up and orders were given ina calin voice by the pilot to prepare the port boat for launching, as he knew bow it was a matter of q LIFE AND DEATH. ‘This was attempted, but unfortunately tn getting it overboard it Was capsized and filled with water. Edorts were made to right it and were successful, and the mates by bailing treed it of water until the cold had almost benumbed them. Orders were now given for ine boat to be manned and proceed to the shore to obtain me assistance of tae lifeboat on the station. The outlook to reach tlie shore in sasety seemed such that only the uirst mate, McDonald, and two seamen were will- ing w obey the command, the others feeling tbat it were better to take their chances with the govern- ment litevoat, assured by pilot Hussey to be not far away. The sea was now breaking over the vessel with such fury that neither of the other posts could be got out. The MATE HAD LANDED SAFELY, although threatened with being overturned several times. At last the bark went over on her broadside and the sea was mere terrible than ever. The cap- tain and pilot now ascended to the maintop aud awaited the arrival of the lifeboat, which they had hopes wouid soon be sent off. Part of the crew pre- terred remaining on the top of the cabin, which they did; but 1 required the utmost exertion to keep from freezing, and frequent words of encouragement were extended tg the crew, Ail this while the srewAkb‘s Wirk Was almnost bereft of reason, and finally one wave caugut ber and she was being Washed ito the sea, When second wate Newcomb caught her and lashed her in the main TgEin more dead than alive, as the cold was fearful. Tue minutes slipped by, but expected deliveraice trom shore did not come, and about eight o'clock the horribly angry ocean had battered in the huilof the once noble vessel, and BREAKING UP AFT, followed quickly by otner partions being crushed. The crew were now despairing of any heip, and they were told by second mate Newcomb—wio seemed to one of the coolest avd most herowe on bourd—that he was going into the main rigging, as it was the safest Diace. s#ut they refused to follow him, and he soon found himseil in company with the captain and pilot, who had been in this elevateu position for some time. Then it was advised by one of these to get down and reach part of the wreck aud take the chances of BEING FLOATED ASHORE, This was not acted upon, but soon those in the maintop came down; but they had narily reached the quarter deck wien wits @ fearful crash tne mainmast went over the side, followed quickly by the mizzenmast, and we poor, half-frighieved wue of the steward, who had remained woere lashed by the second mate, became involved in the wreck. “FOR GOD'S SAKE, HELP ME)” Jt was the despairing appeal of the lost woman. No one to reach her and free her from the wreck. ‘Tune waves beat over her with @ roar, as if they exulted in the work of dealing death. How she tried to throw off the débris of wreck ! How she clung to lite and catied for her husband: but there was no helping hand, and another wave washed her far out into the and her husband, in his despair, jumped on the pilothouse as she disap- peared to look out into the depths of the angry if veyond, when still another wave washed lim Krom tt, and, carrying him in the breakers, 3 soul went to join that of lis heipmate in life, THE FORLORN HOrE. The dismemberment of the vessel was now be- coming complete. 1t was destruction indeed. ‘The storm continued unabatedly and the cold more in- tense than ever, The cabin deck now broke loose and the captain, pilot aud remainder of the crew, Dt in number, were carried toward the shore, ‘Shere the surging, angry breakers were running mountain high, and they thought for the moment this accident would be their deliverance at last, but some part of the wreck suddeuly stopped it and that Tustant the sea dashed over the wretched beings and stified the new hope that had veen boru within them. “was ea of i drowned. Help. oooupants were wasbed off aud dri = ins taemaaives wag DOW Blun0st Linbossilie. a3 their NEW YORK HERALD, SUNDAY, JANUARY 29, 1871.—TRIPLE SHEET. ; perishing condition told artely againat them. “oh, how cold we were," said Newcomb, “at this time.” A boy, George Ford, right-eyed youth, was caught while being washed of when the deck first went ito the sea, and afterwards put on a iece of timber and urged to try and reach the shore; ut jhe was unsuccessful, as the terrible undertow caught him and ne was carried out to a inepions 4 Re Now there remained upon this vessel bul Japtain Hamilton, pilot Huasey and second mate Newcomb. The pilot's hands were envy frozen, as also Was the captain's, and their strengt! fast leaving them. Then came the fatal moment, and another wave striking and washing over the deck, the Captain and pliot Hussey were swept oif and drowned, but by providential aid the second mate was washed to the beach, where Solomon and George Marshall, brothers, ce on the beach, ren- de him such assistance as his benumbed and exhausted condition required, Thus but four of a | crew of thirteen persons were saved. THE LAST SCENE was frightful to behold. As each man, one after the other was sent to eternity, their cries of despair were terrible: and this, with the bark fast going te pieces and the beach strewn with masts, yards and planks of the hull, it was a sight the surviving crew will never forget. WHERE WAS THR LIFR BOAT? Second Mate Newcomb adds that aiter getting on shore and resting a white he was assisted to Lite Saving station No. 16, one mile south of the wreck, where he found Mr. McDenaid, the first mate, who had left in the port boat soon after the vessel siruck. The statiou ts in charge of a Mr. Bond, and New- comb says ‘“‘the life boat was found on 4 wagon in the bout house, and no efforts had been made to launch it.” CARED FOR. Dry clothes and food were procumea and given the four saved irom the wreck; kindly hands bound w their wounds and ministered as well to their condl- ton as practicable, when means were obtained to send udings to New York of the terrible disaster. LOST AND SAVED. The following 14 @ correct list of the lost and saved, with their last places of residence:— Losr. Wilson Hamiiton, captain, of Yarmouth, N. S., where he leaves a wife and three children, Joseph Hussey, pilot of boat James W. Elwell, No. 7, Sandy Hook, pilot. Hancel McUonnell, seaman, aged 18 years. This person was a son-in-law uf the lost captain. William Gordon, seaman, of Medford, Mass. George Creamer, seaman, of Bremen or Hamburg. Charles —, seaman, of Lisbon, Portugal. George Ford, seaman, of Portsmouth, England. ‘This youth on the voyage said he nad an aunt of the same name living on Staten Islanc, N, Y. frederick Durham, steward, of Holland, and his fe. 7 wirgeret Durham, native of North Shields, Eug- and. SAVED. Caleb McDonald, first mate, of Pictou, Nova Scotia. Thomas Newcomb, second mate, of Unton Springs, Cayuga county, N. Y. Peter Sanders, seaman, of Liverpool, England. Bernard Hammason, seaman, of Bremen. THE LOST PILOT. Subsequent to gathering the above information tho reporter proceeded to the office of the New Jer- sey Sundy Heok pilots, cormer ef Beekman and South streets, where he sought particulars of tne lost pilot, Joseph Hussey. He found the flag of the pilots at half-mast outside the building, and inside gathered together many of the heroic sons of the sea. There were expressions of sorrow upon every countenance and their conversations were carried on in hushed Whispers. Some of the drowned man’s shipmates were there, and almost tearfully they told of nis worth and services. “No better man Lacy this ite, and fond s., ore od 8 for ais ability and character,” said che bronzed-facea veteran. Mr. Hussey was made eal in the year 1856. and Was thirty-eight years ef age. He leaves at No. 367 Gates avenue, Brook- lyn, a wife and four children, who are plunged in the deepest grief at the sudden taking eff of their protector. The pilotboat James W. Elwell left New York on a regular cruise Wednesday, 18th inst., and Mr, Hus- sey was the third pilot out, Ut on board the Kate Smith Sunday, 22d inst. is death is greatly regretted, and all his companions proclaim:— None knew him but to lov None knew him but to pr: OTHER JERSEY COAST DISASTERS. Particulars of the Loss of the Schooners Mary C. Elliott and Alfred Hall on Little Neck Bar—Crew of the Latter Refuse Ar- sistance and Perish—The Lifs- boat on That Station. Charies F. Johnson, mate ef the schooner Mary C. Elliott, lost on Litule Egg Harbor bar, coast of New Jersey, on Monday morning last, called at the HERALD office yesterday, and narrated the particu- lars of her wreck and also that of the schooner Alfred Hall—same time and place—the latter with allon board. Mr, Johnson advises that the Elliott was of seventy tons burden, hailed from Clinton, Conn., and was from Virginia, beund to New York, with a full cargo of oysters. They left York river on Wednesday, January 18, having as crew George R. Buell, of Clinton, captain; Charles F. Johnson, of Gloucester, Mass., mate; Frederick Shephard, Daniel Wright and Charles Munroe, seamen, the latter three also from Clinton. Sunday night they arrived off Barnegat, and running in under it made anchor,.remaining there until Monday morning at six o'clock, when, the first heavy snow storm of the season coming up, they endeavored to make Little Egg Harbor, and, trying to cross the bar, went ashore. Captain Buell, before the sails were lowered, took two of the men and went ashore for assistance. All this time the heavy northeast gale was increasing, and the position of the schooner became very perilous, During the interval of Captain Buell’s absence ihe : SCHOONER ALFRED HA also from Virginia, with oysters, and bound to New York, struck the bar within a biscuit-toss of them. They ceuld talk from one boat to another when the storm lulled a little, but the hailing place of the Alfred Hall was not ascertained, nor the names of the crew, which consisted of five persons, In the afternoon, between two and three o'clock, Captain Buell, of the Mary ©. Elliott, returned with the lifeboat of the stauon, whose crew, with a promptitude and courage worthy of the highest raise, went to the assistance of those left on the Kili tt and rescued them. On snore they were at once provided with food and dry ciothes. ‘The ilfepoat, after caring for these wearied sea- men, again went out to the bar and proffered their AID TO THE CREW of the Hall, but the captain of this vessel, thinking he could succeed in saving ner at the next high ude refused assistance, thanking the lifeboat’s crew tor their great kindness. Jt were better that they had Jeft their vessel, as Mr. Johnson says the gale in- creased every moment, seemingly, and at night the Alfred Hall went down with alion board. There is no chance of their safety, as the closest search alon; the beach fatled fo obtain the least intelligence ot them. The schooner Mary C. Eillott was consigned to John Earle, West Tenth street, this city. The rescued crew were brougut to this port by the schooner Tuomas RK. Williams, of Newark, N. J, THE PROMPT ACTION of the life-boat keeper and his crew at Little Egg Harbor, as reported by Mr. Johnson tn their case, contrasts very eens with the report of second mate Newcomb, of the bark Kate Smith, as given above. & dangerous coast should be well guarded, and then, perhaps, some of the suffering and death which the winds and waves there cause to castaway seamen may be abated. | THE ONSIDA R'LEF FUAD. wn 31 Busi Lang, CANNON STREET, Lonvos, E. ©., Jan. i8, 1871. To THE Eprtok OF THE HERALD:— I venture to solicit the favor of your supplying an omission, for which lam responsible, in ihe List of subscribers to this fund. Sir J. Lubbock, Bart., M. P., 18 a subscriber and treasurer to the fund. The Worsypful Company of Apothecaries has also con- | tribul 5 1 aiff desired to take this opportunity of cordially reciprocating the expressions of good will contained 1 your friendly notice and echoed in the columns of your contemporaries. The noble Saxon heartiness which inspired the exclamation of the American captain as ke gave his aid to the British ships in China, “Blood 18 thicker than water,” has stirred the feelings of many of us. The goed-humored banter of our American cousins about annexing England finds this response here— | that whether we are annexed to you, or you to us, it would be well ror both of us that we came together somehow. ‘The aspiration of tne late Earl of Vlaren- don is the earnest wish of the great body of this nation, that the whole race everywhere speaking | the English congue should be uuited in the bonds of | one great confederation. SIDNEY SMITH, Secretary. STEAMER BURNED, PROVIDENCE, R. J., Jan. 28, 1871. The steamer Utility, Captain H. Nickerson, of the Keystone line, between Philadelphia and this city, took fire this morning while lying at the wharf at India Point. The fire broke out at haif-past seven o’clock, tn the hold, and after the interior was nearly destroyed the boat was scuttied and sunk at te wharf. The freight, with the exception of the coal and tron, had been discharged, The steamer be- longs to 4. M. Huntington & Co., of Norwich, Conn., and was valued at $50,000. The joss is estimated at between $26,000 sud $39,000, Tuers is nu idsurance ou the vreperty. CONGRESS. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, WASHINGTON, Jan, 28, 1871. The House mot for general debate, Mr. Churchill, (rep.) of N, Y., in the chatr, as Speaker pro tem. Mr. Cox, (dem,) of N. Y., in addressing the Howe on labor reform, sald the best use to be made of to- day in the House is (o advise the people that ther representatives here have not the opportunity to work in their bebalf during the working days of the week, Ever since this session I have seught to have the chance to reduce the taxes on coal, salt, cloth. ing, shelter, &c. There 1s no such chance. Selfish- ness and class legislation absolutely rule here. VYhe payment of the publio debt so fast does not develop our indusiries. My resolution for cheap coal, &c., would help the people and not a class, put there is no help vo be had here this ses- sion, Land grabs, air line railroads and the proper appropriations take up our time. [ desire quoting the North American Review to call our honored Sec- retary of the Treasury to an account for hts no-policy policy. He would pay off the debt at the sacrilice of all interests, Why not take the tax off trom in- comes, salt, coal, lumber, leather, 4c. ? The tax on coal 1s peculiarly harsh, It is not only a tax on all manufactures made by caloric and steam, but it is & tax on the poor at this inclement season when new “strikes” are soaking coal cost o much. I shall be one of those here who will never let revenue reform rest till it 1s successful, never, Speeches were made by Mr. Mayhew, In condem- bation of federal interference at elections; by Mr. Calkin, on the Alabama claims; by Measrs. Bird, Hoar, Lawrence and Maynard, on the bill to pro- mote national education; by Mr. Axtell, in defence of the land grant policy, and by Mr. Armstrong, on civil service reform. The latter stated that he was authorized by fhe committee on that subject to re- none resolu for all pending propositions, as tollows: Resolved, That the President of the United States be he hereby 1s authorized to prescribe snob rule: tions for the admission of persons into the civi the United States as will beat promote the efficiency and ascertain the fitness of each candidate in respect to age, health, character, knowledge and ability for the branch o| the service he seeks to enter; and for this purpose the Presi- 01 Woy suitable persona to ccndu les, to prescribe their duties and to establish re; lations Tor the conduct of — ‘bo oceive appoint. ‘ments in the olvil service; the anthorized to prescribe fees to be paid by persons lying tor pointments, which fees shall be applied to the payment of the expenses of making such inquiries, Mr. McCorMICK, (rep.) of Arizona, made a speech on the Indian question, after which, at half-past four o'clock, the House adjourned. A BOGUS TAX COLLECTOR. How a Westchester County Lawyer “Raised the Wind”—Alleged Consummate Swindlo— Five Thousand Dollars Scientifically Ex- tracted from a Railroad Corporation. The village of Mount Vernon, Westchester county, which of late has been prolific in furnishing numer- ous instances of refined rascality, again crops up as being the scene of an alleged swindle, which, for consummate effrontery during a series of years, can hardly be surpassed. William 8, McClel- lan, a lawyer, residing in the town of Pelham and doing business in the village named, was arrested there last Friday, on complaint of the New York and New Haven Railroad Company, upon an order of Justice Tappen, of Brooklyn, in which he is charged with having DEFRAUDED THE COMPANY, during the last six years, out of nearly $5,000, The complainants set forth that the accused having represented himself to the Superintendent of the company as the collector of State, county, town and school taxes for the township of Pelham, he presented each year to the company what pur- ported te be correct tax bills against the property of complainants in that town, all of which bills were in excess of the true amount by several hundred dollars, making the gross ameunt of the alleged swindle $5,000, as above stated. As an instance of the manner tn which MCLELLAN PROFITED HANDSOMELY by the alleged protracied swindle, it is asserted by the railroad company that in December, 1869, he collected from them, in the way already indicated, $1,599 as taxes, whereas it appears by the tax roll of the town of Pelham, filed in the office of the Treasurer of Westchester county, that the true amount of the company’s tax was only $335. This latter amount, is stated, the accused paid to the authorized colle: and apppropriated the balance, $1,234. that the accused, in order hts purpose, represented to the collector of the town of Peluam that he was the attorney for the New York and New Haven Ratlroad Company, and by this means obtained blanks, in addition to other necessary information regarding the tax clauns of that town against the company. On one occasion, when McClellan pre- sented his annual tax bill to the complainants, his attention was called to the ENORMOUS ASSESSMENT of their preperty in the town of Pelham, amountin; to $28,000, whereupon it is alleged that he assure the complainants that he would endeavor to have tt lessened, and subsequently presented another bill, which showed a reduction of the assessment to $22,000, whereas it has since transpired that the’ real assessed value of their property in the town named was only $16,000. in addition to the foregoing charges against McClellan it is under- atood that by ree himself to the superin- tendent of the road as being the District Attorney for Westchester county he obtained signal favors from that corporation during a period of two years. The accused gave bonds to answer the various charges when called upon. B'SHOP BAYLEY ON COLLEGE TAXATION, At the last session of the New Jersey Legislature @ bill was passed placing Seton Hall College, the well known Catholic seat of learning at Seuth Orange, N. J., on a footing with other similar instt- tutions in the State in the matter of exempting its property from taxation. Recently it was published in a Newark local sheet that one of the brand new mem- bers from the ‘State of Essex’’ had in pickle a bill to repeai bill number one. The reason given was tiat it gave extraordinary powers to the college, whereby it might own the entire town of South Orange, and yet escape taxation. Yesterday, ina communica- uon to the sheet alluded to, the Kight Rey. Bishop Bayley states that the object and effect ef the law passed “was merely to place the college on the same footing with other similar {institutions in the State, and particularly with the Drew Seminar, at Madison, which has the same privilege emmboate in its act of corporation, All the property owned by the college, outside «f the grounds proper, are, the Bishop states, a small piece of unimproved land which was purehased for a “sand pit,” and cost It appe 3 to carry ont $800. The ‘dands’’ on the Orange Mountains cost $150, and were bought for the stone on them. The reverend prelate adds that he has had no time to make inquiries, but he has no doubt that if any taxes have been assessed on those “‘pendicies or potiies of land,” as Jedediah Cleishbotham wenld have called them, they ghave been readily paid. In conclusion he says:—‘“It would seem to me tobe a very just and gracious compliment to the cause of sound learning, upop which the greatness and preservation of States so munch depend, for the Legislature to exempt these institutions from taxation and assessments; but if, from motives of econowy or the public good— lor 1 would not attribute any less worthy motives to those whe are acting in this matter—it should be thought best to withdraw these favors, the ‘public’ to which your correspondent alludes, should, and no doubt will, ‘unanimously demand the repeal of the exempting statute,’ notonlyin the case of Seton Hall College, but of all other similar institutions In the State.” THAT MYSTERIOUS DISAPPEARANCE. New York, Jap. 28, 1871. To Tag Epiror or THE HERALD: The unaccountable disappearance of Edward Fitz- patrick, late paying teller in our bank, has given oc- casion to 80 Many rumors anfavoranle to his reputa- lion that we deem it an act of justice to his family to place on record the following statement:— On Saturday, the 2lst inst., at five P. M., he left our office with five of our clerks, one of whom was to leave on the Monday following for Virginia, where he was just admitted a partner in a dry goods firm. The otuer clerks, in order to pay a compli- ment to this young gentleman, tendered him @ sup- per ata well known English chop house, where the ay remained till near seven o'clock, at which our they left, and on the sidewalk bade good night to Mr. Fitzpatrick. since-then every effort has been. made Me his friends aod the detectives to obtain some clue to his fate, put up to this date all In vain. Mr. hana was nine years in our employ, seven of which as teller; he was perfectly temperate, never bought or traded in stocks, lived plain, eco- nomical and comfortable with his toteresting family of wife and four children, He was respected and esteemed by all who kuew him; was a man of strict integrity, and had oar entire confidence. He was about forty-three years of age. With the exception of a week in August of each year he never was @ single day absent from lus post. ENE KELLY & CO, at TEMPTED BANK ROBBERY. Woopstock, Vt., Jan, 28, 1871. An unsuccessful attempt was made last night by professional burglars to break open the Wooustock National Bank, The vault has doubie doors and a sate inside. The burgiars hung wet biankets over the windows, aud with blasts of powder started the outer deer and its casing, but got no further. They left behind tools, powder, fuse and various ‘cies, showing that they understood their busines and were fully equipped. Provably they were discurved in théir operations, but nothing Was Known of the maiter until the cashier Went Lo open the bank thus mournig. VOICE OF THE PEOPLE. The Gas Question. To THe Epitor OF THE HEKALD:— In your issue of the 8th inst. is a paragraph a@bout extortionate gas bills in Jersey City. Please permit me through the columns of your paper to make a little statement to petitioners, editors and legislacors. and all others interested in being sup- plied with a good quality of gas at a fair price, First—Not fve per cent of the overcharge in gas bills is chargeable to the meter. Second—Over ninety-five per cent of it ts chargeable to the infe- rior quality’ of the gas; and if it is intended to got relief through legisiation let a law be mado txing a standard for gas—say at seme figure be- tween sixteen and twenty-two candles’ power—and back this law with a severe penalty for its infrac- Won, and then appoint dutiful and efficient inspec- tors to test the gas furnished, and all consumers wiil be pleased and surprised at the excellent light they have and the cheapness of their bills. The gas should aiso be passed through the meter under a full pressure, where small gas bills are desired. You may remember that tt was said of the explosion at Cincinnati ana at Worcester that the cause thereot was unknown, Now, if! were commisstoned to in- vestigate for te cause in those cases, my first search would be directed to the place aud manner of mix- ing air with their gas. T. Ss. H Time for tue War in Franc» to be Stopped. To THR Eprror or Tus HuraLD:— In the name of humanity [ ask, “Is tt not time for the war to be stopped?’ If the Prussians are 50 nearly allied to the tiger oreation that once baving tasted blood noting short of gore and devastation will aatisfy their appetites, why should not nations ‘whose instincts are more human step im and put an end to the strife? When two private individuala—tae “mug-masher” and the ‘slasher’—have a dispute and wish to settle in a “twenty-four feet ring” whicn ts the greater brute of the two, the laws of the country very wisely intertere and endeavor to prevent the disgusting exhibition. Now, if it be considered a great crime for two obscure imen to pound each other nearly to death, surely it must be at least asmail one for two powerful? civilized na- tions, to put on the trappings of war and endeavor to worry one anuther vo the very brink of destruc- tion. In the “ring” nothing is allowed but a ‘fair, stand-up fight’ —no hitting “below the belt,” or any- thing of the Kind—and should ove of the combatants be compelled to measure his length on the sward through a skilfully directed blow his opponent quietly walks to his “corner,” and humanely allows whe unlucky wight to take a few seconds rest to re- gain his wind. No hitting when down, or kicking, and only the two parties most tuterested—the prin. cipais in the quarrei—are permitted to pummel each other. How different the case in @ war be- tween nations |—France and Prussia, for instance. Just because one “vain man,’ called an emperor, “dressed in a litle brief authory,"’ thought proper to make war upon another ‘vain man,” called a king, legions of soidiers are led forth to cut, thrust shovt and destroy, bringing famine, desolation an indescribable sorrow upon millions of innocent people; and an unscrupulous world looks on and applauds the wondrous bravery and skill of the vi tors and the determined heroism of the vanqished and the great and goud King after each victory pub- licly thanks the “God of Battles’’ for smiling on his arms, and alsy plously invokes His assistance before going imto the fight. Now, if there be one thing 1m this world more supremely ridicu- Jous than any other it must %e the apec- tacle of a commande ofan army about to annl- lulate or horribly mutilate tens of thousands of his fellow creatures praying to the Great Creator to lend bum @ helping hand in cutting throats! What Would we think of a eae murderer who should make @ long prayer before venturing to stab ©) ison his victim? Or of a burglar who preface his villanous work with an invocation to Heaven that the “cops” might not “nab'’ him? They would be laughed at and scorned as vile hypoorites, and rightly too, How much worse, then, it is for a commander to perform such a@ farce. it 1a hardly reasonable to suppose that He who ‘made the world large enough for ail,’”’ and gave us the sublime command, “Do unto others as you would they should do unto you,” can possibly assist a few ambitious men in bringing misery on the rest of mankind. “Might,” we know, “gives right; but thosé wh chance to have the might must not infer tt Wa Hiven them for the orem purpose of crushing others. “It 1s excellent to have a Maney strength, but cruel and tyramnous to use it like a giant”? We repeat, then, that the war ought to be stopped. Allowing that France, in the person of the late Emperor, committed a great offence agalost the Prussians by forcing them into @ war, she has grievously suffered for it, and if the French for Shame’s sake do not like to cry “enough,” other nations should interfere and ‘throw up the sponge’’ forher. And should Prussia refuse to halt in her murderous career the simple alternauive would be to asaist France by force of arms, It may be a delicate matter vo interfere in national as well as in family quarrels; but there are two countries that have @ reasonable right to interfere in {ever of the French, First, England, who formany years past has had a faithful ally in ce. Where would Johnny Bull have been tn the Crimean war withenut the Gallic legions? In spite of all his wealth and bravery the Russia Bear would have gobbled him up, and poor Turkey too. And who will he have to assist him jo any feed future emergency? That @ nation like England should stand by and see her friend knocked down, aud Kicked and stabbed after she 1#down, 1s one of the mest extraordinary sights of theage. But ‘‘whom tne God's wish to desiro; they first make mad,’’ and should ‘*Perfidious Al- bion” ever be invaded by a poweriul enemy tne rest ol the werid could not be blamed for looking quietly on while Mr. Bull was being shorn of his greatness and perhaps bis name, now so prominent, obliter- ated from the list of nations. The other great nation that should possess a vital interest in the welfare of France is the United S:ates. Because, in the first, place, the Americans are republicans, and may, therefore, very naturally be supposed to sympathize with a sister republic. Again, itis generally under- stood that the French materially assisted our forefathers in tneir struggles for indepen- dence and other occasions, and therefore it seems something like the worst kind of ingratitude to stand witn arms folded while the irend of our chiidhood and helplessness is be‘ng worried, devastated, shorn of its glory and strength, an} perhaps ruined for centuries to come. Paria, with its unequalled treasures of art, belonged not alone to France but to the whole civilized world, and no army of modern Goths or Vandals should be ene vo destroy it. A great nation like the Initead fates has only to make a proper protest, with a hint that the American people will not suffer their ancient ally to be torn to pieces, and the Prua- sians would soon be en the march to enjoy their rae or schweitzer Kase and Jager in their Fatherland. It is a fine opportunity tor the Ameri- can eagle to scream and put his elaws down, and we trust he will not negiect it. Yours respectfully, A “JOHNNY BULL ASHAMED OF HIS COUNTRY. Our Supply of Water. To THE EDITOR OF THE HERALD:— A great outcry has been ratsed agdinst Mr. Tweed for selling to the city for $300,000 the lake in Putnam county which, it is said, he purehased for $25,000. ‘Tnis is more than childish; for every seller will dis- pose of his wares ai the highest price he can ob- tain for them. Bat, leaving this out of the question, let us look at the real and intrinsic value of the property in question a3 assessed by parties not in any way, shape or form connected with the purchase, The lake in question is worth to the city at least $1,000,000. In point of fact its value cannot be estimated. Why, during the fearful hot summer last year, while streams, rivu- lets and wells dried up, the lake referred to gave a constant supply of water, and but forthe same sup- Ply a good portion of Yorkville wouid to-day be one mass of ruins. When the fire broke out last sum- mer, in the midst of the “heated ferm,” 1n Ehrets’ brewery, on Ninety-second and Ninety-third merit near Third avenue, there was a continual flow of water on the premises, which eventually saved a large portion of the property. Had the water not been plenty per! the flames would have reached the many wooden buildings in the vicinity; nothing could have saved them, and nobody knows where the disaster would have ended, nor can it be estimated what loss would have been caused the city itself. The usual maxim in trade is that the seller sells at the high- est and the purchaser buys at the low- est. ‘then why should people desire to know what Mr. Tweed or any man ves for property he may dispose of? Further, Mr. ‘Tweed at the time of the purchase had no connection what- ever with the Croton Board, then presided over by Mr. Stephens. T. D., Ninety-second street. THE FIRE COMLMISSIONE! There was a great amount of routine business transacted by the Board of Fire Commissioners at their session yesterday, but little of real importance vo the reading public. A committee to examine the belfry tower of the New York Post Office, in which an alarm bell was hung, reported the condition a3 unsafe in every way. The vell weighs 3,500 pounds and is hung at the height o1 130 feet above curb level. ‘The wall, four feet in thickness at the basg and two feet at the top, 1s cracked in many places. The wood work is decayed. General repairs are recommended and attention 1s called to a large amount of inflam- mable material stered in diferent parts of the tower. Resignations were accepted from William H. rr foreman of Hook and Ladder Company No. 10, and from Joseph J. McAvoy, Ladderman of No. 15. Leave was granted for fliteen days to Morris Brown, engine No. 15. Chief Engineer Per- ley recommended the placing of thaw cocks on eavh engine for the purpese of thawing out hydrants, often found frozen; adopted. A petition from the Hamul- ton Fire Insurance Company tw have a recordli gong placed in thelr office and connected with the tel- egraph lines was denied, A communication from pro- prietor of the Prescott House was received thankt Assistant Foreman Edward W. Wilhelm fer service rendered at the fire on the 10th inst. A communica- tion from Inspector of Police George Dilks reported the loss of fire alarm key No, 978. A communication from '. P. Crane, calling attention to & new hose coupling, was referred to Committee on Apparatus, A communication from Hoyt, Spragues Co. an- nounced the important fact that Hook and Ladder Company No. 8 was the first to arrive at their pre- mises, When nove was needed. NEW YORK CITY. ‘The following record will show the changes in the temperature for the past twenty-four hours in com- Parison with the corresponding day of last year, as indicated by the thermometer at Hudnut’s Phar- macy, BERALD Batiding, corner of Ann sireet:— be 1871. 1870, 1871. AW 23 The police made 1,238 arrests during the past week, There were 341 births, 104 marriages and. 473 deaths tn this city during the past week. Mr. George B. Lincoln, formerly postmaster of Brooklyn, has become managing agent in this sec- tion for the National Life Insurance Company. Fire Marshal McSpedon reports that there were dhirty-three fires in this city during the past week, Involving a loss of $155,969. The insurances upon the property destroyed amount to $1,722,800. Marshal Hart during the past week granted tho following licenses:—To express, 3; carts and cart- men, 14; venders, 26; stages, 4; porter, 1; drivers, 58. Total, 106 Whole amount recetved, $113. The number of police arrests have been smaller since the appointment of Superintendent Kelso {han for many previous years, showing tho efi- one of the force and the absence of crime in the elty. The old census return for the Second wara showed @ population of 1,005, and the new return states the number of inhabitants to be 1,812—an increase of 307; Sixth ward, old return, 21,272; mew, 21,278; in- crease, 6. A concert will be given to-morrew evening at Steinway Hall, tn ald of the Sunday school of St. Ann’s Free Church for deaf mutes, The programme comprises various quariettes and songs by Kreutzer, Beethoven, Mendelssohn, Lucantoni, &c. Mr. G, D,.Cardozo, chief of the Ordinance Bureau, makes the fellowing weekly report:—Whole num- ber of complaints received for violations of corpo- ration ordinances, 203; settled, 77, and the balance Rae hep referred to the various departments for remedy. Rev. Robert Collyer, the eminent Chicago divine, isgto lecture upon “Clear Grit’ before the Mercantile Library Association, at Steinway Hall, on Tuesday evening next. The lecture is new 10 New York, but Mt has been delivered frequently this season at the West and in New England. The Rev. H. 5. Lake, one of the Paulist Fathers, will lecture this evening at St. Paul's Institute, Eighth avenue, near Fifty-fourth street, on “Cur- ran, the Irish Orator and Patriot.” The subject of the address having mavy ardent admirers ia this city, there will doubtless be a large gathering. At eight o'clock yesterday morning an ounce bullet was shot through the front window of tho cigar store of N. P. Barachs, 57 West Broadway. The ball passed through the entire length of the store and lodged tn the wall at the rear. Barasch surmises the shot was fired from a Sixt avenue car which was passing at ihe tune, Mr. James Watson, the County Auditor, still re- mains in the same delirious condition that he was in yesterday morning. His condition is pronounced extremely critical, although the pauent bas rallied somewhat since the operation of trepanning, per- formed by Drs. Sayre, Wood avd Van Buren, His recovery 1s scarcely expected by bis friends, - a Sona Oe ESET Superintendent Donahue, of the Free Labor Bureau, Nos, 8 and 10 Clinton place, for the week ending January 28, had 714 applications for em- ployment. Of the number 145 were from males and 569 females. Male help required, 71; female, 553. Situations procured for 69 males and 526 females, Ep number of situations procured for the week, On account of the stormy weather for the past few days the drawing in the grand prize distribution acheme for the benefit of the Home for Soldiers’ and Satiors’ Orphans has been postponed until Wednes- day evening, February 1, The drawing wiil take lace at the store of the treasurer, Bir. J. McB. avidson, No. 581 Broadway, Opposite the SMeiro- politaa Hotel. Mr. Bernard Smyth, Tax Receiver, has coliccted for taxes during the past week the following amounts:— January 21 January 23.. January 24.. Total... $7,587 January 2° : 3,035 January 23, . 19,409 January 27..... JEFFERSON MARKET POLICE COURT, Lights and Shadows at the Ma:rkot—Congress of Inebriates, The Market is @ curious sight on what the conrt officers call “a brisk day.” The several rows of benches are filled with a motley crowd. The solvent merchant and the professional batlsman; the inno- cent domestic, fresh from the Emerald Isle, and the “Madame” of some notorious den; the boy whose “chum” 13 “in quod” for a youthful spree, and the hardened thief whose ‘pal’ 13 in trouble; the wife with too much husband, the wife with too little husband, and women with no husband at ali—there they are, all jambled together without distinction as to caste or color. Imperturbable Judge Shandley takes his sear, the * ox" is opened, and the “great unwashed’ defile before the desk and unfold their PITEOUS TALES OF CRIME AND FOLLY, misery and poverty to the Judge, who so well knows how to temper justice with mercy and discriminate between the professional and the amatenr offender. The great drama of life is enacted. Tragedy and comedy, farce and melodrama—ail have their but too.truthful representatives. Judging from the number of those who, loving the flowing bowl “not wisely, but too well.’ made their appearance at the court yesterday, the consump- tion of BENZINE AND JERSEY LIGHTNING must have been terrific. Verily, it was a congress of inebriates, J ersey City belng represented by two delegates. No.1 was a German, employed ina pig packing establishment; said it was his first time, would be his last and had oniy taken one glass of Bourbon. Judge—And that’s enough to kill you. Go home. No. 2 was an Irisbman. He had been drinking brandy, he said. Judge—No, you weren't; you only thought you were. Prisoner—Well, yer Honor, mebbe 80; but, be- gorra, I came over to see the brave patriots who came over in the Rooshia, and in honor of tre byes and the ould sod an’ for the glory o’ the day | jusht took something. Judge—That was not ice water? Prisoner (smiling)—Begorra, no, yer Honor. Judge.—Weill, Se oa and don’t let your pa- triouo love for Old Land become too ardent ain. ‘on grinned, pulled the front lock of his hair, made a profound bow and retired. A SEVENTH WARDER. Judge.—Well, sir, and what may you have been drinking ? Seventh Warder—Poison, your Honor. Jadge—I believe you. Don’t let me see you again, SNOWBALLING, Two young men, Messrs. Spier and Cook, had been having @ little game of snowballs, First they were fanny, then they were earnest; next they were angry, and Mnally they fought. They were charged with making a disturbance in the street, and the Judge dismissed them with a slight reprimand. CALLED ME SHYLOCK. * Joseph Bernhard and Frank Wevb had a row in the street cars. Bernhard accused Webb of shoving hum against the side of the car, slapping us face and calling him “‘Shylock,”” wnich latter provoca- tion so incensed Bernhard that he caused Webb to arrested, Webb told the Judge that the “boot was on the other leg’’—that Bernhard had openly regretted lis inability (owing to the crowded state of the car) to throw him (Webb) out of the window. Mr. Webb was bound over to appear at S ecial Sessions, pee Mr. Bernhard persist in exacting nis ‘pound of Mes! ONLY OBSTINATE. One of Mr. Bergh’s oficers accused a poor carter of driving a lame ho: nd stated that the poor horse was very lame in both fore iegs. The owner of the animal assured the Judge that it was nosing but sheer obstinacy on the part of the animal, au ie if the Peale ta pat an he could and would walk, trot or gallop beautifully, ‘The proprietor oF this wenderfu quadruped also wished to know whether Mr. Bergh’s employers in- tended selling his horse and keeping the proceeds of the sale for themselves, ‘The irate horse owner was discharged on promis. ing to give the animal a proper rest and medical treatment. Four o'clock and no more prisoners. ‘The Judge retires to his sanctum. There is a general stampede among the shysters, loafers and old bummers who frequent the cou ‘The Dai clos@ the doors, and the congress, of inebriates bas ‘adjourned vo labor—without ° Te fresument, EXPLOSION IN THE BAY. Bursting of the Boiler of the Tus- boat Phenix. FOOT, Seven Men Blown Into the Air— Quo Wan Lost. At about nine o'clock yesterday morning, while the tugboat Phenix was steaming through the Narrows, near Sandy Hook, having tn tow the ship Hudson, from London, the boter of the tugboat burst, with terribie force, The hull was completely shattered, and sank a short time after the ex, Plosion. The fireman, Henry McDermott, having been blown into the air, fell among a large mass of floating ice, which quicaly closed over him, and he must undoubtedly have permhed, as nothing has since been seen of the body, The remainder of the crew miraculously fell upon the deck of the boat, from which FRARFUL SITUATION they were rescued by the small boats frem the ship they were towing into the harbor. ‘The hands on board the tugboat Baxter inferring, from the report made by the exploding boiler, what had occurred, the tug went to the assistance of the unfortunate crew, took them on poard ana brought them up to town, One of the Hudson's boats which was despatched to the steamer Ocean Queen. which happe..ed to be passing the scene of the disaster just after its occurrence, brought back the surgeon, who dressed the wounds of the suifer- ers and accompanted them to the ‘sat He found ie some of the men were seriously, If not tatully, niured, When the weunded men were taken to the Sea- men’s Retreat at Staven island they were refused admittance by the people in charge of that institu- tion, This was an outrage under the circumstances, as all the tug owners in the harbor of New York are taxed a certain amount annually for the support of this hospital. xs ‘The following ts THE CAPTAIN'S STATEMENT: — My name is Patrick Monks. I live at No. 80 Washington sireet. I am the captain of tow- boat Phoenix, of New York. At the time of the explosion [ was outside of Sandy Hook bar with Ty tug, having the London packet Hudson in tow to New York. This was about guarter-past nine o'clock. I was standing tn the pilot house at tae time. All of a sudden 1 was pitched up into the atr and become unconscious. When | recovered I thought the pilot house had been blown overboard and | under it, so } scrambled to get on the top and found that the pilot house had overturned and f had been lying in the bottom of my boat, Henry Neary was the eugineer. He got badly scalded about tue face and eyes, and he complains of being injured about the ribs. He was in the engine house at the ume, The boiler was a new one, by Neatie é& Leary, of Philadelphia, two years oid. We had a low head of steam on, and had only started the suip about fifteen mmutes, The ship Hudson low- ered a boat and rowed to our assistance. A man who was beside me in the pilot house, named Philip Ryan, scrambled up the side with me and he got his head rt. We had seven men on board when the explosion occurred, Several pilotboats, tugboata and yawis came alongside;,and six were rescued, aa follows:— Captain Monks, leg broken and face pruised, Henry Neary, engineer, scalded about the head and injurea internaily. Puillp Ryan, wheeisman, head badly cut. Aymes Neary, fireman, badly injured; got aboard Hudson. Analy and riba. Benjamin Conagu. cook, two legs broken and jaw smashed, One man is missing, Jimmy McDermid (called Jim- my Ducks), belonging to Staten Island. He was tireman on board, and has a wife and seven children athome. Captain fiennessey, of the schooner, who was sailing by at the time, says he saw a man blo up in the air and rail in the water. This must have » deck hand, badly injured on head 2 clermid, who was in the freroom. ‘ae Bie wid, one ee the vest towboats in the city of Now York. It sunk about itteen minutes after the explosion, There was plenty of water im the boiler, The cook and the deck hand went to Bellevue Hospital. The others went home. Ihave been injured on the mght leg aud cut on the head. 1 owned a quarter of the ves- gel and the engineer owned one-eignth. Mr. Chap- Man owns an eighth; Mrs. Van Houlton, a widow, owns One-half, It nas cost us $17,000, There is no insurance. The surgeou of the Ocean Queea was sent OL board the Hudson, and he came up the vay with us on the tag Edward Baxter, Captain Smith, and dressed our injuries, “AFTER SEVEN YEARS.” The Keppler Hotel Double Murder Mystery in Newark—The Grand Jury and Jouno Engelhorn—the Official Investigation Post- poned, Not Abanconec. The appalling and singularly mysterious double murder which took place seven years ago at Kep- pler’s Hotel, in Newark, an extraordinary phase of which was unearthed by the HERALD a few montha ago, and the main facts of the horror, so far as known, then given to the puplic, continues to be @ theme of genera! discourse among the residents of that city, espectally those whe lived there at the time of the committal of the crime, At the last ses- sion of the Grand Jury of Essex county, the case, including the very remarkable affidavit made by a Mra Freytag, mow residing at Jersey City, occupied the attention of that boy, it is stated, for several days. The aMdavit in ques- tion alleged that one Jolin Engeilorn, now @ well-to-do Newark livery stable keeper, had com- municated to deponent, who 1s his own fuli sister, on the night of the day the girls Rose Wittal and Christina Koegel were found murdered, the know- ledge that it war he who had esparcliaa them, aid by lus wife. The various provable why aad waere- fores which induced Mrs, Freytag to make such a statement under oath have already been given fully in these columus, The Grand Jury adjourned witnout finding an indictment agaist any one. Thereupon Mr. Engeihorn sent his friend, ex-Alderman Aschen- bach, 10 the HERALD representative with a request that it be stated publicly that he (Engelhoan) was fully exonerated in the premises b¥ the Grand Jury. It appears, however, that this 1s not the case exactly. The consideration of the affair has not been abandoned, but postponed until the arrival of an important witness from Milan, Italy, This wu- ness i Miss Freytag, Mr. Bugelhiorn’s ‘niece, who, her mother alieges, Was with her on the night that the latter’s brother made the alleged confession to her on a Jersey City ferryboat, and overheard the same, Miss Freytag has been in Italy for several years past studying music with a view to becoming professional singer, Two of the brothers of Christina Koegel, one of the murdered girls, are now respectable manufac- turing tailors in Mercer street, Newark, quite weil off. They declare themselves determined to leave no possible stone unturned and spare no expense to unveil the mystery which uow hangs over thoir murdered sister, and, if possible, bring the perpe- trator of this ‘murder most foul’? to his just de- serts—the gallows. These are the facts of the case as it now stauds, R COUNTRY. The Manitoba Ministry Complete—Opposition to the hxisting Goveroment—Fearful Ra- vor: f Smallpox. “ ToRONTO, Ontario, Jan. 28, 1871. A special despatch from Winnipeg sta%es that the local Legisiature of Manitoba 1s called to meet on the 2d of February. The Ministry is complete, consisting of Mr. Boyd as Provisional Secretary; Mr. Gerard, Minister of Public Works and Agriculture. Mr. McKay will robably be Commissioner of Indian Affairs and Mr. Bian Attorney General. The Schultz pany as very excited, and in some quarters they threaten to oppose the government with violence, Claiming that nearly all the volunteers will join them. Advices from Saskatchewan state that two thoa- sand Indians and froe men have died of confluent smallpox. The disease is represented as frightful in its ravages, whole families being carried off by it. WEST VIRGIKIA SENATORSHIP. WHEELING, Jan. 28, 1871. A spectal despatch from the State capital to the Intelligencer this Morning says:—“Mr, H. G. Davis, of Marshall county, was nominated for United States. Senator in the democratic caucus on Thursday night. The vote stoou—Davis, 27; D. Lamb, 12; B. H. Smith, 12. The election will take place next ‘Tuesday. ARRAIGNMENT OF FILKINS, ALBANY, Jan. 28, 1871. Filkins waa arraigned in the Court of Oyer and ‘Terminer to-day on a charge of robbery and pleaded not gullty. It was left for the counsel for the pris oner and the District Attorney to ix upon the day for the trial, DEATH OF COMMISSIONER CHARLES W. N:WTON. ‘The death of this estimable gentleman ts am nounced. His funeral will take place from Grace church, on the Heights, Brooklyn, at two o'clock, tomorrow. The Commissioners of the United States jourta in this city, including Messrs, White, Betts, hields, Osborn, Stilwell, Davenport, Owens, Met- calf and Gutman have announced thelr intention ta be present at the funeral of their late colleague.