The New York Herald Newspaper, February 14, 1871, Page 5

OUR LIFE SINKING SERVICE. Hemarkable Efficiency of Its Sys- tem and Appliances. How Marine Disasters Along the Co st are Rendered Certain. 4 Herald Commissioner Visits the Jersey Beach and Makes an Inspection, WHAT HE SAW AND HEARD. Patrolling a Fiftoon Mile Stretch of Long Beach at Night and During a Nor’Laster—All the Keepers and Crews of the Station Houses Absent—Sad Negligence—What Should be Done to Make a serviceable Life ‘‘Sav- ing” Apparatus and Whet Guide Should be Followed — Interest. ing Details and Incidents. ‘The sad fate of those who lost tacir Mves on the oasi of New Jersey, January 23 and 26, of this year, When the winds of the Atlantic piled up its msata- ble waters against the bark Kate Smith and schooner Aifred Hall, dashing tiem into pieces and enguuing fourteen persons in death, is yet remembered with Vividness, a8 ocean calamities of a terrible nature. For a time the incidents connected with the former catastrophe seemed quite to overpower maoy of the daily and bloody records of an eventful period, and are now being recalled by wife, brother and father of those that sufered an eternity of agony while awalting succor in that dark i end. storm, which hour after hour raged with unabated fury and finally ouly ceased when tt had engulfed she terror-stricken people in one awful watery grave. THESE DISTRESSING REFLECTIONS are accompanied with dramatic episodes, in which IMdividual courage shone with pecultar brightness among the few survivors; but could the water and Me masses of sand which have entombed forever, Probably, the bodies of these victims, give them up, nd they be made to speak, there would be asad story to tcl’ of how, im the battle for life, when the blinding storm of hail, rain and snow mingled to- gether with the waves for triumph, these poor souls expected aid from on shore, but a biscuit toss dis- tant, from boats in life stations placed there by the government for that especial purpose; yet it came not, and the vessel parted amidships, and the ‘ast scene soon followed. And then all was hushed, Save the wild wind and the remorseless dash Of billows; but at intervals thero gushed, Accompanied with a convuisive splash, A so.itary sbriek—the buobling cry OF some’ strong swimmer in his agony. ‘The horrors of this shipwreck on a LINE OF COAST which many of the sturdy martuers that enter the port of New York had been led to believe was eMm- @ently provided with bouts suitable to save life, ana all the additional appliances which experience has suggested with the same end in view, have opened the eyes of not only thes> in maritime circles, but | aused the public to inquire into the avowed effed- taveness of the LIFE SAVING SERVICR Of the United States as now being carricd on. ‘The demand thus made by an intelligent pablic, @ community just recovering from horror heaped upon calamity, will be complied with by the HeRALp, and mayhap the widespread publictiy of its report er’s investigations in this matter wiil be of such ex- ceeding interest, in the recital of facts and ineldents, that a more systematic remedy will be entered upon by the government to check the terrible fatality of ur dangerous coast, and the present service so overhauled as to cause some little reliance to be placed upon it in the future, ‘There 1s no more DANGEROUS AND INHOSPITALLE stretch of coast than that portion of the Atlantic line of the United States, from Cape May to Sandy Heok, gnown as the Jersey Coast. There are but few Points along this fatal locality where the skeletons of once noble vesse's may not be seen half embedded in the sand, and the surrounding graves, with their rude sculptured boards, present mournful attesta- Mons of the dangers and death that have beset the atorm-driven mariuer, For a very long time no means whatever were employed for saving or attempting to save life and property thus constantly sacrittved, and it bas only og at a comparatively recent period tiat aa yching THE RUDEST CONTRIVANCES Were employed for this purpose. Many sturdy and heroic men living along tis shore—men who have Draved the terrors of the sea for years—have time and again fearlessly perfied thelr lives in rescuing Beeerugere and crews of stipwrecked vessels, and eir noble humane exertions were often crowned with success, But the greatest valor, the most daring bravery, unaided by the appliances of scientific in- vention, were inadequate to the tremendous task, and at last the national government was driven to the eifort to at least check these constantiy recurring fatalities. Lence, at the first session of the Thir- eth Congress, the Committee on Commerce were Instructed to inquire what means could be adopted for the better preservation of LICH AND PROPERTY from shipwreck along the coasts of Long Island and New Jersey and upon the passage of the Lighthouse bill gor that year, 3d of March, 1847, an amendment Was fered providing that $5,000 be appropriated for furnishing the lighthouses on the Atlantic coast. of New York and New Jersey with means of ren- dering assistance to shipwrecked mariners, to be under the coutrol and direction of the Secretary of | the Treasury. This was vhe first move. ‘The next, im the sauie direction, was made August 14, 148, When $10,000 was appropriated for providing surf- Doats, rockets, cannonades and necessary appara- tus, and March 3, 41849, the further sum of $10,000 was appropriated for like pur- j These early eiforts were of much Wail, and under Congressional sanction various life-saving stations were established, that duty being entrusted at different periods to Captains Douglass Ottinger, John MeGowan and John Faunce, officers of the revenue marine. Zeal, energy and consider- able success characterized their efforts in this humane work. It was not until the 14th of December, 1854, that the authority of Congress was given to the regular organizauon of the life-saving esiabiishment. ‘hese stations, as now anthori: comprise in number twenty-eight on the coast of New Jersey, from Cape May to Sandy Hook, and on Long Jsland coast, from Gonty Island to Montauk Point, twenty-six stations, four in all, ppended herewith aro the names of the stations on a coasts, showing the latizuae and tongitude of each:— COAST OF LONG ISLAND SOUND. Tatitiile. Longitude. Mo. Name. . MS DM. S. 1—Coney Island. rey) 59 49 FeGrareoens Beath. arate tlantic. Ft RSS: 1SeBriritt it mRssssssssssssesssesss: eu! SLETESSRESRSATSSSAS TES 5 COAST OF NEW 3 SS! ac BRBSSSSES8ae : 6) AIS AAVNAPRIAIBsVsadazaseaze ae! Pibbbtds 7 ae Peck’ Bench, No. 4—Cape May Court House. Five Milo House. Leah Mile House. 38-Cape May... ‘These stations, government officials declare, aro = RVALS OF FIVE MILES, Jn.» menense Je GorTVO ABE Aboud , SSSSLSREGBSSOKSSRESERESE| SES! : é i | Hitlist = an the following articles, constl- Iueaving appara ‘air chambers and four oars. metal life car, with rings and chains for each One Manila hawser, 43¢ inch, 190 fathoms, One hauling line, 23¢ fen, slo fathoms, Two rocket lines, 9-16 of an ounce per yard, 300 yards cach. One coiling frame for rocket line and box. One crotch and trame for throwing rockets. One sand anchor, strap and bull's eye. One tackle, with 20 fathoms fall, 24¢ inch Manita, One heavier ana strap. nd mortar of tron and 10 shot fitted with spiral wire. One copper powner canister and 4 pounds of pow- ger for same. ‘Twelve biue Mghts and box, containing 50 quick rockets, Five rockets and rocket box of tin, Aaa ninoes of miaich rope and 12 pleces of port re. ‘two janterns and oll can and oll for the same, One lamp feeder and wick. One steve aud pipe, One cord of wood. Two shovels, One primiag wire, In au enactment of Congress making appropria- tions for sundry civil expenses of the governinent or iP year ending June 30, 1871, 10 was provided that SIX EXPERIGNOED SUGFMRN Should be appointed to man each of the boats at alvernate lile-saving stations on the New Jersey coast, commencing at tue irst station, from Sundy | flo k to Cape May, from December 16 to Mareh 153 the keepers of these to name the crew, each ot which to receive $49 per month for his services, ‘This is the GOVERNMENT ORGANIZATION, arranged, so far as the New Jersey coast 18 con- cerned, for the purpose of preventing the loss of lives aud the gales of winter, it looks very hu- mane, and seems the bright side of a very durk pid- ture, this efort of bnitding houses, their belog | furnished with appilances suitable for We work, employment of crews tor the boats, having keepers and superintendents; but practically, as carried on, the whole system 13 A FARCE and a stigma of reproach against such a country as the United States, which pretends to represent an advanced guard of Chrisian civilization, as well by it national polity as its institutions for the advance- ment and wellare of the gr ‘This can be ae the lamentable loss of hfe when the bark Kate Smith went to pleces on Long Beach, ove mile above, life-saving station No. 16, and the cry that there was vegiect, sad and criminal, in not attempting the rescue of the lost, a8 siouid have been done, and what undoubtedly would have been accomplished tf the government had adopted an efilcient course of action, has led a HERALD reporter ona the scene of the late disaster ind look ito WORKINGS OF THE SYSTEM. The time proved opportune. He arrived at the village of Mannahawkin, Ocean. county, N. J., last Tuesday morning, and spent roost of tho day among its oystermen and sand hills, its odd houses and Ir regular streets, trying to entice some of its aristo- cratic cliizens to act a8 pilot to the beach peyond, across Barnegat Bay, which was frezen over. it Lee tiers that Swe of the old seamen dia not like the prospect. The ice had been “giving,” and they. felt particularly averse to the trial; wad, aluhough they did pot positively refuse the job, squirmed like thelr native eels ont of it, and weni up Log creek, Cedar creek and Turtle cove, on some ostensible business, to get rid of the inquisitive stranger. At last this village of biils and sweils, sparse grass and litite women, furnished A HRROIC SIX-FOOTER, Mr. Augustus Bennett, who pleasantly volunteered hs services to cross the bay on the treecherous Ice to the beach beyond, five miles away, merely re- marking, as he shouldered au ice pick and axe, “We havn't &@ ‘sneakboat’ to save us if we break through, and it wil require a tough boy to endure a ducking at this season.” ‘lhe jourmey—a perilous one, In- deed—wasa safely and successiully made. A landing was eifected oa Long Beach near nightfall; ane the laintive murmurs ef the waves as tiey died on the each seemed a mockery to that wild battle-cry of the billows which Old Neptune had raised but a few days ago, When his crested warriors stormea one of the barriers agaiust which he wages an undying wariare. Through a swamp’ partly frozen and filled with crooked and stunted dead twigs, an old, tumbie down, antique house, known all over the beach and matniand by the pretentious titte of the “Mausion of | Health,” was reached, the ocenpant AN ANOLENT “WRACKER,”? was sought and found. Like house, likeman. The former had been ee old bulidmg, proud of its goiden legends of the’ past, when its capacious rooms were wont to hold ihe fashionables of Putla- deipina, but now there is an “ancient and fishlike’” odor about it; but it nevertheless is & spot around which many pleasant associations cluster. Of the man, he had been a “beacher” ail his life: thirty or more years had been spent in that teri1b.e old gigan- Uc hovel, and he had seen seven “wracks” at one tue irom the stoop of the mansion. From thts but as a starting point PILOT AND REPORTER mado an examination of the Iie-saving stations within fifteen mules that Tuesday night aud the fol- lowing morning, patrolung every foot of the beach and submitting ordinary tests to the supposed crews Unat have Charge of alternate ones, with Lae view of satisfying the latier person if they did the work they are sworn and paid te do by the government. A nortieast storin was brewing the sky was overcast, tie young moon hid its face, and there Were fSorebodings that soon again tue surf would He mountain high and the billows foam and i ip THEIR MAD RAGE, threatening, as they iad often done before, destruc. tion te the vessels, with their precious freight of human life, that danced even then way out beyond. No petter opportunity could be had to make the ex- aminations desired. It was found that there is the interval of five miles between stations Nos, 13, 14 and 15, but between that of the latter and No. 16 there 1s the fearlul stretch of nine mules. AT STATION No. 14, the keeper of which 1s Warner Kensey, the house Was locked and not a soul witiin five or six mi ‘The wateniul keeper drawing his pay from the gor érument was found to be up the country somewhere along the Delaware river witht tus wife, there enjoy- lng his otivin cum. dig., While the station hense and the beach and the exposed vessels took care of theniseives. AT NO. 15, five miles beyond, there was like work noted. This station bas a crew, but th within @ mile of the house were sound asleep in the cabin of an old schooner lying in Barnegat Bay. William Crane ts the keeper, aud, instead of beulg within such con- ventent distance as to look after the eMicienc, hus crew, lives tive miles further down the ve where he spends most of ms nights and days. Marshall, James Kudders, Samuel Fairrer, Jesse Sprague, Chartes Crane and Wilitam Crane are the sworn crew, the latter two scions of the energetic and conscientious Keeper. Taree or tour of these men could be found asleep In the old luik; but the young Cranes, boys unit for sucii work, were at | home, and one of them has not been at the siacion house dnt once during tie winter, Nine imiles yet farther away was found STATION NO. 16, kept by Mr. Thomas Bond, Along the beach, in the dim light and dank atmosphere, which pilot aud re- porter had passed without meeting a human being, the “bones” of the Kate Smith were fouild scacteres for m. eve lay & mast, there a plank, and again @ deck beam crushed as Would be an egg shell be- tween brawny bands. Further on lay part of the cabin furniture, and down the beach still further Was the lost captain’s hat, dashed about by the now almost angered Waves, On a little sandhill just be- low the station was the boat in which te first imate and two scamen, early alter dayiight, reached the shore, with its blauk and Knees broken, and still yet | @ step beyond were the old satis and rigging, which had been got together to be disposed of for the bene- fit of the Underwruers, ‘This station, like all the others, was closed, but the residence of the keeper is not far away, and AFTER AWAKENING HIM and his household from an early aleep, adinittance Was obtuined to hls hospitable board, and there, long alter midnight, the HERALD reporter conversed with Mr. Bond upon the requirements of the coast in the establishment of life-saving stauons, From hita there was much Information obtained. He nag @ remarkable memory for dates, events and persons, and is referred to by ail his acquaintances as one of fron will, which has carried him through a consiaut Succession of perils and hardships, The condensation of such and other information from itke sources 1s of interest and of value to those Who are at tne head of the life-saving service. It 13 the expression of those w&o use good. hard, sensible, paces arguments to batter against the present system. LOOATION OF LIPE STATIONS. An interval of tive uities and nine miles between. the stations on tue . Coast 1s simply preposier- ous, Wrecks occur midway between the stations, as did the park Kate Sinith, and during a blindin; snow or rain storm the distunce 13 1aconvenien' and the first cause of much destruction of life. With @ well drilied crew, which does not exist on the Jersey coast, aud horses kept fer te purpose, the transportation of cambrous apparatus of surf- beats, shot line and life-car from the station to the point where it can ve Made Berviceabie could not be accomplished once in twenty times during the ox- citement of the storm and surroundings. There should at once be a change in this particalar if ef fectiveness in ile work is sought to be aceom- plished. The attention of Congress 1s called to the propriety of establishing additional stations, so that the distance between them shail be two and a half miles instead of five. CREWS AND THEIR PAY, There should be a crew at every station. Some few of the crews now on the Jersey coast are skilled surfmen and understand the important duties en- trusted to them. But many are careless and neglect the plainest precautions which a comiug storm inr- nishes. Others are too old or too young to act with sufficient promptitude and zeal in Case of real dan- ger. This 18 easily acceunted for, as the pay allowed by the governinent for the hazardous work is totally insuaicient. surfmen, and those courageous and conscienctous, cannot be had fer forty dollars a month. It is inadequate te support themselves and families, and many for economy's sake are ceni- pelied to live very poorly. One or two excellent crews, such as at Station No. 17, Little Egg Harbor, have been obtained, but it is exceptional, as the cha- racter of the winter has been such as to make them accept employment. To obtain Keep the ay TE ON ‘ur “ ena ci St would be nothing mere oro might provid a fixea "i sation every boatman bus lew there » ‘reasons nene of the selirighting boats applied for | under other and scanty subsistence at their lives frequently in the noble work of rescuing their fellow beings from sudden and awful death. 13 it not too much to ro quire thas they snould continue in such service with Jabor unreguited? Is it possible ever to prosecute the great ends of philanthropic purpose under Maberal policy? REMOVE ALL THE BARNACLES, On the Jersey coast, particularly at Long Beach, the worthiess crews should be removed and better Muaterial substituted, thea pay them weil, and much toward the efficiency of ‘the Iifebuat service has been done, There should aiso be rewards ex- tended for any especial act of dangerous and suc- cessiu! daty tu saving iife and property. The gov- ernments of the Old World, with their imperiect vercepuons of Lhe rights of men and tue claims of abor, are not backward m recognizing and amply rewarding acts of Humanity in saving Ife from tire aud mood, and with suca example the United States, With ail its blessings, privueges and preroganvea, should heartily recognize, by just rewards, the ser Vices of its citizens, fur acts such as those, now and then, are readered by boatmen of the liue-saving stations of New Je.sey and Long Island. LIFEBOATS. ‘The boats now in use at the life-saving stations are unfit and inadequate lor the purpose, They are teu or more years oid, and many are leaky. Acvord- ing to the Amer.can idea in the construction of Mneboats, lightucas is regarded as a cardinad princi pie, all Unvecessury Weltht beimg avoided, mside | at the Wiiat being dispensea with, no 1von oaary or desirable, tue Lout depending for “righting qualities claeily upon its high aud buoyant cuds aud the peculiar aisape of its bott It canuok rest in any other than ap upright posit vis alleged in American experience to lave been Tound that live and surt boats, well built of light put strong aud elastic materials, are much more safely and eusily transported on shore and are managed With tore facility in water. Phey will bear ‘THe ROUGHEST USAGE erainarily encounter whether on the Grands an heavy ructed upon the old pian of unyleiding wood and tron, dugerent Unies taere have been three sorts of S furnished to the New Jersey and Long island uns. The iirst was a metalite boat with a wooden el prece; found tobe unsafe and removed, ‘ihe second Wasa metallic Miebeat of corrugated iron, This boat not self-righting, aud had imany ob- Jjections, It also removed. In consequence of these Jallures Cougress Was memorialized by nader- Writers and ethers, petitionny that the several sia- tous should be furuished with wooden BLV-MIGQHVING LIFEBOATS, whien had recently been invented and brought into Not.ce both in Hurope and in this conntry, Accord. fugly, On the ivta of June, 1053, Congress made an propriation tor ike puretiase ef the “best Relf- rightiag lifevoats, to be placed on the coast of New Jersey, d the best lifeboats for use on tbe coast of Long Island.” On the sti of October, 1858, tue Secretary of the ‘lreasury appointed three conimis- stoners (0 recommend the liieoout best adapted, in all its conditions, for the saving of buuan life from sbipwre on the coast of the United states, Those commissioners did their work and reported; yes very ilitie that was essential grew out of it ‘the boat now 1 use was furnished Ute stauions, but 1015 not What 1s required, Hor some unexplained btaining a the vest They among the breakers or alongskte of a wreck, Will geueraily periorm better service than boais con and or recommended HAVE BEEN SUPPLIED to the station houses. ‘ae beat im use has but four oars. ‘this 18 1ot enough, Not less than six are required ue Jersey coast. Phi mment should furnish addidona! Lien nd Improved boats to tue stations; but, 1 the present are retatned, they should be re- paired, furnished with 1X Oars, & Cork lender all } and voc! around the upper edge of the boat provided, and the air-tigut chambers removed, a% they ure of little service now. in the Construction of British Mfeboats the points 24 ap, eur to be:— —EXUra buoyancy. Second—bseii-relier, Tiard—bBailasung. Fourth—Seit-righung, Fiih—Swavility. Sixth—Speea, Seventh—Svorage. Highih—Sirengin of materiais. It seems to be agreed inatuf suffictent buoyancy can be obtained by cork, lt 19 lar preferaole to vir cu asnot bemgLable to accident 16 is pro- tected by a light wooden casing or by gutta perciia, to Keep tie waiter out, so that if bilged avainsta rock or vessel sull the raft could float. Will tats be remembered ? LIPEBELTS. Station houses should be supplied with tho life-belt Mentioned by Captain Ward, Koyal Navy. Tiis in- Venlion was made in consequeuce uf the upsetting of one of the sa‘est boats of the Koyail National lnsuiu- fon for the Pres 100 of Life, &e., i seas UnUSUe ally tempestuous. ‘fais belt does not tuter- fere with the moyements of the wearer; it protects the body from blows, and is @ warm covering in coid weather. It has eifective buoyant power. Eight hundred of these belts have been supplied to the Ws Ol the royal mstitutions, and the coxswains of the boats are deld responsible for every man Who goes upon wreck service Without his iffe belt on, Thus it should be ou the coasts of New Jersey and Long Island. There should be an abundance of tuese life beits, mot ouly for the voat- men, but also for the use of the shipwrecked un- foriunates, They migiit be Seas ou board py vari- ous means. SIGNALS, The “beaches” or islands upon the Jersey and Long Islaud coasts, which form the barriers against the ocean, are not all imhavited, and iew of laem cowd supply much assistance to a wreck. Notice to the maiuiand, theretore, becomes ¢, principal nec sity, the way goverumeut rans the service LOW. the coast population nearly all are surf boatmen, skilful, daring and accustomed to the breakers, If a shipwreck Siivuld ocour, aud the alarm on shore be given, men wil not be The means for Umely notice shoud everywhere be provided, To this end every station house requires a large mounted deld piece that could be loaded, run to the top of a sand hill and fired. Any noise less than the explosion of a large fleld piece dung a storm is of theavail. The mortars, for this service, are Of uo betier use ti 3 popgun, THROWING LINES TO VESSELS. The mortars, shot and limes as used upon our Coast are insuMetent for the work intended. Many anteresUng experiments have been made in England and, France jn tuis particular, but the United states have done but Lttic towards perfecting any plan. ‘The mortars im Use on the Jersey coast are the small 53g kind, weighing, with their bedplate, perhaps 150 pounds. ‘The metatile life car, which has saved many bun- dreds of shipwrecked persons, owes its avatiability to & communication with a stranded vessel by means of a line and hawser. It would afford a fela of mleresting and valuable experiments for some of our apie artilery officers to ascertain the best de- seripion of GUN AND PROJECTILE for this purpose. !t is believed that the guns should be of brass, and that they should be mounted for seTvice on carriages rather than, like mortars, be Jaid on the ground, perhaps in wet piaces, and used Some of the iuterested aleo think u resembling a mountain howitzer, With a heavy shot or volt, with an atiac Mevt like thai of a gun harpoon, might ve im: ayallabie. ub this question, together with the i Sort of lines and the proper arrangement for fing al great distauces, {3 a legitimate matier for refer: ence to engineer omflcers of the army and tue national liverality. vis of snc importance as to require in- stant and earnest reception, DRULLING THB CREWS. The keepers and crews of each station should bo drilled to understand their duties, It tas never been done on our coast, and is a sad commentary on the ineitcieney of those in charge of the matter. PATROLLING THE COAS¢. There should be no neglect «2 the crews patrolling the coust in daugerous weather. Any uegiect of this great Cuty, 4s found in the crew of siauon house No. 15, Long Beach, on ‘tuesday night last, should subject the delinquents to dismissal, KREVBRS OF STATION HOUSES. All keepers should live ator near their station houses. ‘he farce of their residing, ke Warner Keusey, of No, 14, Log Beach, and William Crane, of No. 15, the one @ hundred or more miles away and the other six oy scven, shoukl at once be stupped. They might as well be in Washington or San Francisco, 80 lar as aid toa shipwrecked vessel 1s concerned, SUPERINTENDENTS. Itis sad that the life-saving services cannot be carricd on by considerations for ihe public good alone, Politicians have been at its governmental head, aud its efficieucy has been leas in conse- quence. The present Superintendents, Henry W. Sawyer, of New Jersey, and Henry &, Hunting, of s Long Isiand, however, are spoken of as failafol and efficient officers, alive to the importance of vigilant attcauon tw the important duties committed to them. But these gentlemen only visit the station houses once in three months, and in that time woat nt aot occur? ‘They shonid adopt some measure te pecome acquainted with the manner in which the various crews discharge their duties, If €olonel Sawyer would eniy putrol Long Beach, as did we HsuaLp reporter during a northeast storm, he would be ina better position to judge of matters than he ts by remaiuing at Cape May all winter, When THE INTERVIEW with Mr. Bond had ended he wished it understood that he thought, in a word, with proper aid fvom the government and the selection of such crews from ‘the large-hearted and solf-sacrificing men who can be found in that section to protec its taterests and miuister te tts good, the iife-saving service of the United States would be a monument of pnilanthro- py. Itisshown by Mr. Bond's statement, neve- with annexed, that ne did what was in ais power to save those on board the ill-fated Kate Smith. Jt is no more than fair that he should be heard;— ‘The bark Kate Smith came on shore about one mile nortu of Long Beach House on the 26m of January, 1871. The tirst mate and one man came to the Nouse at balf-pust sexon o'clock, and I sent an express on horseback to the government station No. 16, and went to station house No. 16 and lired signals to crew ef stauon NO. 17. Before help could ossibly arrive she went to pleces at nine o’ciock A, he having come on shore between five and six A, M. There were drowned the captain, pilot, steward and wife and five seamen. The wind was northeast and it was snowing hard, The weather was very severe and the snow provented our seeing hall mile. EARNEST ACTION DEMANDED, Tt is time that the United States should adopt some effective means to improve the life-saving service of the country. [tis time that our legislators were awake to the importance of additional provision for such atds to the ty cis of thia work of an thropy as{t justly clatmsattho hands of the na- ton it cise nat incompetent ofticers were re- moved; that sleepy ana slouc! crews were dis- ) ROVSTMADS 7 of what is due to an enlarged pubtic spirit, by giving NS countenance aud support to the ase of such means and appliances as are beat calculated to in- sure the atialument of the object Bought to be ac- complished in the establishment of the life-saving stations, THE ROYAL NATIONAL INSTITUTION for the Preservation of Life from Shipwreek might act asa guide lo them, ‘This society Was established by distinguished philanthropisis March 4, 1824, and since has been nobly supported by the British pubd- lic, Among its private suuscriptions may be nou One Of £10,000 sterling. In a late appeal the Cor £40,351 ( establishments on the ¢ and treia 0,000) On Various Lieboat | asts Of England, Scotland | tition te having contribu saving oF 1, %: ous frown VATIONS SLApWT thelr coasts. ‘The fleet of lifevoats tion Dow numbers 2 ach of white organized er anual pay, Shave UCL 6 fags in the day and by lights and guns be given. ‘(he pumber of hives saved, Mts of he or by special exertion, for dd rewards, since its formation, 18 as a regular by for which services nin Meduls aod £38,941 In wards, That 18 @ success worth working for, aud which the United Staves should emulate, Continuous and successini evorts must be made to tmprove our life. | Savlug serv) fue Work must not be allowed on | any consid: on t '. indreds if not Sands of persons storm In Je is, 818 silver | n paid i re- | { of their liv our wince the & 4 agaiast that dang, must not oe x. ‘the effect of the stormy elements and the not lufrequent earelessness and ignorance Of man can only bo par- | tually overcome by CALCULATIONS AND FORESIGHT corresponding to those which baye so strikingly dia. | Unguished wwe conquerors in the past Kuropean Condiot, “for peace has her victories no less re+ nowned than war,” ‘Lhe proper support aud direction of our life-saving service by Congress is demanded. No association has stronger claims for aud tian that which 13 m+ tended to pave life, With it on a proper footing and governed en of abuity, there will be but few Kate Sruith disasters in tke years to come; and hun- dreds Will be 1escucd to call It blessed, who, in the absence of its nobie, lic-saving Heet, would in all human provaoility perish— Without a grave, unkneli’d, wacoifin’d and unknown, VOICE OF “HE PsOPLE. Quick Transit. TOR OF THR HERALD:— standing at any of the ferries for two or, three Lours In the morniag and evening would be astonished at the 1mmense loads of human freight, counted by the thousand, on each boat—cabin, in- side and deck atl fall, hardly standing room. Some day the community will be appalled by an accident, terrible in its resuits, to one or more of these boats, in which hundreds of lives will be lost, Why 1s this so? The reason is that business men havegone to live in the cittes, towns and vil- ages adjacent to New York city, even twenty miles away, as they can get to their oiices or places of business much more expeditiously than if they lived ‘up town only 80 iar as fiftieth street. The remedy— give them quick transit to the distant parts of the isiand and Westchester county, and the result would be that the upper partof the city from Forty-second Street would increase 1 value ten times the cost of an elevated road that would give them the laciiities for a speedy transit from their homes to business, A road of tnis kind would benefit ali classes. The mechante could have e home of his own, and yet get to his work In season. Buildings would spring up as if by magic, It would give Iie to all kinds of trades, industry would thrive, aud the halt of our city waich is now vacant lots would goon be teeming with kfe, our population would be tin- creased to an Iminense extent by those who live now im the suburbs, and atter the road had been built one year tie wonder would be where aii the peuple came from that would ride on the elevated and sur- face roads. Tlie surface roads need not fear reduc. ton im receipts, as there would be suticieut trance Jor all. A gentleman of acknowledged ability as an engineer and inventor has tuvented an elevated raiiway to be run over the centre of the strect It is light and graceful, strong and durable, does not interfere with the ligt, takes away the uomgney telegraph poles, awuing posts, street lamps, &¢., has fast trains and slow, can carry seventy-live thousend passengers in twenty-lcas hours with as mucil safety as a surface Toad, cannot get Oi the track, speed twenty miles per hour or higher tf necessary, Would cost less to Tun it than the expenditure in horses on seme sur- face roads, cars ior fast freight, express packages, letters, &c., independent of pa: er road, which would be @ large suurce of re’ yean be bnilt without interfering with the tra‘tc or opstructung the streets through which it may be constructed, and would not cost $29,000,000 to butid two roads— one from the Battery to Larlem on the east, and one from the Battery to Un remity Of the island on the west, each road to have the factiities to carry the Lumber of passengers above mentioned, To Tur Eprror or tre HERAL Having been a resicent of the British metropolis for seyeral years I thoronghly appreciated the conven- lence of Its iternal railways, which comprise @ so- called Inner circle and an outer circle. And knowing | Of the United it Is under consideration to have stearh cars for this Western metropoiis 1 beg a space in your columns to put forwara a project dissimilar to any scheme I have seen proposed, viv.:—A metropolitan railroad making @ circuit within tho city upon an elevated Toad fronting the piers of the North river and of the East river, with a central depot at Castle Garden, @ cross junction in the neigiborhood of Fifty-nintn street, and extensions to desirable points up town, The elevated road to be constructed of brics piers, cornered with stone, and ellipue iron girders, which formation, 1 understand, gives the maximum of strength on é iminium of matertal Toe many ad- vantages of this plan, I imagine, are--Pirst, not many valnable buildings would @ to be removed, nor much bindrance to tratic caused by its con- struction; Secondly, ‘depots could be close to the ferr! to the great advantage of the Jersey or Brooklyn shores; of 3 passenger and freight depot at Castle Garden would be the alteration of an ugly spot to a practical purpose; fourthiy, by tne use of W Sidings freight cars could be toadea or untoaded direct from or on to the plers; fifthly, should the bridging of either or both rivers for ratlroad purposes be a future enter- pri here would be «a line in operation ready to connect. [ would also suggest book- ing offices ia prominent parts of Broadway, With free stages to and froin the nearest depots, whichis @ plan found profitable m London; also the erection of a footpath on nearly the same level, but on the outer side of the raliroad track, So that the Inhabitants of New York clty may have, all through the suminer and fail evenings, a far More picturesque, @ cool and pleasanter promenade than the Parisians have along the banks of their much-loved Seine, or the pent-up denizens of Cock- neydom have had lately along the shores of that world-wide-known stream, lhe ‘thames, STEAM CAR, A Cry from Staten Island. To TH KDITOR OP THE HERALD: — One of the most unprincipled propositions ever appearing in @ civilized community to seize and mortgage and take without constderation the pri- vate property of widows, married women and chil- dren, by a self-constituted conclave, is displayed in the HERALD of the 29th ult., some of whom it is known now fraudulently occupy some of this very property they propose, by wholesale, to ask the Legislature to let them steal. It appears that they met at the respectable banging house of Duncan & Sher- man to hear read a report of their own committee, intended, as they pretend, to ask the Legislature to enact a law they have no power under the constitu- ton wo enact. There has never yet been a legal assessment for taxes made upon Staten Island, and some of the profounds in law doubt if there has been @ legal sale of real estate there of any kind. The neglect to execute the legal warrant of survey of the included patents issued properly to the Surveyor General, and the placing of the same on record within the bounds of the property, was a suill- tent notice to suspend the statute of limitations under the law until the warrant was executed, otherwise it is imperative no survey or sale by interior lines could take place upon the inelusive patent, and !t is doubted wheiher the included patent saies are legal before such segregation and it is ascertained that their bounds are not fraudu- lent. If the warrant of survey had been issued to the Inclusive patentee instead of the Surveyor General, and he should have neglected to execute the warrant, as the Survevor General has done, all the State could do tn that event would be to pass a law toexecute the warrant. The seizing of the properiy oi private ciitzens the State officers by their neglect have prevented them from ally surveying would be as absurdly cked in the State as the execution of tue proposition of the vandalizing cabal at Duncan & Sherman’s bank. of benefiting the tsland they would have taken the opposite course to ciear the title, instead of involv- ing by injunctions, and have gone to the Legisiature legally, a8 the inclusive patent has gone to the Sur- veyor General by @ petition to exccute the warrant. ‘rhey would have petitioned the Legislature to make an appropriation to survey the inciuded patents so that the {nclasive patentess could iegally have sur- veyed their interior lines and prepared themselves to meot the included patentees In any jast or reato able iraprevement for the gomeral good. Tho tmpli- cation thelr course rat: Ogainst themselves is that they do not want the inciuded patents sur- veyed under the warrant, particularly ag it is known some have taken tuore than their patents call for, 1 | Court decided to ensorce the last penalty of the law mittee of Mavagement state that during the year | Thomas has been in constant communication with 15.9 aud tie Lirst ten months of 1870 the mstutution | his spiritual advisers, who have been with bin at all | has expended ‘ito the | COuragement to meet that grim tyrant, death; end, snd tie mortars | Principles, for he se | when he no longer feared to enter upon the unknown | THE GALLOWS CHEATED. Tho Murderer Thomas Not te be Hanged on the 17th—Tho Governor Has Respited Him for Three Weeks—How He Received the Intelligence. The condemned murderer, Thomas, has received @short respite, Ever gince the day the Supreme hours of the day to give him consolation and cn- as 4 outward observer could determine, the has made great progress with his religious | med cool and resigned, and on last he had arrived at that state of mind Sunday journey, but expressed A READINESS TO WALK TO THB GALLOWS and be sent into eternity. Notwithstanding the ap- parent Qrmness of the Supreme Court, his counsel, | J. A. Goodlett, has been untiring in bls efforts to | secure a reprieve from Goveruor Hoffman. An ap- | peal was gent from the American Minister at Hayti, wheuce Thomas halls, and represented, at tho re- | quest of EX-Haytien Minister Rackster, that the | Haytien government has lately SPARED THE LIVES OF THREE AMERICANS, alleging that this was good ground for Secretary tlemen separated without arriving at’ any decision, Again yesterday they et ip tie private room or the Supreme Court, and, aiter a longtuy dweussion ana | the most earnest appeai to suve (he man’s tite, Gov- | ernor Hofman promised to constier the mavicrr and send the resuit of his reflection to the District Attor- ney by Lelegrap! jn accordance with this arrangement TUE GOVERNOR FORWARDED A DESPATCH, hali-past three o'clock in the afternoon, to the strict Attorney’s office, 18 Which he said he could | neither pardon nor reprieve the mun in the general | sense of the terms, bul that he would grani a space | ol three weeks 10 transpire before the execution showd take place, appoiniing that in the meantime (on the sd of this month) Judge Garvin and the prisoner's counsel should reargue the cage before a | Null beneh of the Supreme Court, wuo are to dete mine ti the error, a8 alleged in the petition, can Sustatped, in order to secure the usual stay of pro- ceedings. HOW HE RECEIVED THE INTELLIGENCE, Aé soon as the intelligence conveyed to Thomas at the Yombs by his counsel and warden | Stacom, be seemed at once to throw olf that spirit of meiaucholy with which he ha: cheerfal and communi to come out of his cell and wart himself by tue fire in the corridor, While there he was in close conversation with his fmend, the ex-iiayuen Minis- | ter, and every now aad then he broke ont into a hearty laugh and commenced taking sume wobacc The iniormation was ps along from cell to cell, and in a few moments the muer corridor of the prison Was in a state of procouud “hua,” for ail uke prisooers came forward, and placing their noses | through the gratings evinced an intense izerest in the weliare of Thomas, “I GUESS HE WON'T SWING NOW,” Said one of these offenders to a HexALD reporter as | he was passiag the cell in wich tne individual was caged, ind others made similar remarks, causing the colored man to be quite a hero for the time bewsg. Thomas, in reply to some questions, said, “— WAS FULLY PREPARED FOR DEATH, but still, you Know, life 1s so swect. [should like to live, but I am uot ‘afeared’ to die. I wish 1 could feel tuis has nov upset my good determinations, | Mr. Stacom, will you allow me to remain down here in Unis ‘ere condemned cell, for here the priest can come in and pray with me right straight along’? The warden assured hun he might remain in that cell if he wished to do ao. ‘The news created quite a stir throughout the pri- Sou, for the generai silliness of the butiding was dis- turbed on all the tiers where that indistinct | hum of a thousand , agg whispering to each oiher could be heard. It 18 not thougut that the counsel can sustain the allegation of error in the first proceedings; but if he should be abie to show that au error was made in the evidence the life of his client will probabiy be proionged for another year at least. MOVEMENTS OF PRESIDEN? GRALT. Be Visits an Orphans?’ Fair in Baltimore with Ex-Secretary Borie. {From the Baltimore American, Feb. 13.] ‘The fair at the Masonic Temple fer the benefit of the Union Orphan Asylum was continued on Sacur+ day and closed in the evening at nine o'clock. The | hall was opened from eleven A. M. to three P, M. for the special accommodation of the children who | all FOOTPATH J. FROST’S THOUSANDS TRAVELLING OVER THE TIDE The East River Again Blocked Over—erry Comy munication Between New York and Brooklyn Temporarily Suspended. * The weather yesterday was pleasent enough te every one except the people who had to cross the t river in the ferryboata during the afternoon, ‘The sky was clear and a bracing wind invigorated pedestrians out of doors, and also heiped to keep the snow on the ground crisp and dry, thus rendering locomotion much more comfortable and easy than is the case when the suns rays are not antagonized, On the North river the ferryboats ran regular trips 1y, though, of course, the speed was much slower than asual, South and Hamilton ferries were unimpeded im their trips. Along the Bast river TRANSPORTATION ACROSS THE RIVER r was nearly all day an annoying dificulty. The Grand street ferry and the ferries higher up the pie | made Ulys with considerable regularity; but after one o'clock in the afternoon the Bridge ge | h to use his lafluence with Governor Hofman to | 1d Roosevelt street ferries ceased running, 7 , Le » Govern. | Fuiton ferry was also compelled to stop trips to fave ‘Thomas? life. Ata meeting of the Governor, | Ss the Distr Atiorney and the prisoner's counsel, | Fulton street, Brooklyn, though the boats ob Saturday last, the Governor listened ba | tne last named lime continued running re tlently to ihe arguments addu in favor | : e of the condemned ima, but sald ue could not | sierly to Wall street from the other soe HOW he could Miterfere in this case, and the gen- The cause of this inconvenience wast the appearance in the river of alarge cake of ice, whic graduaily forced its way up the stream till tv settled at one extreme above James street, remain ing until about four o’clock, when, the high water settling in, the tee moved on and the boats were @ii- | doled to resume their regular trips. Just as the HUGE CAKE began to settle the Idaho was starting from the sitp at South Seventh street, Brooklyn, BE. D.; bat a scarcely got out fifty yards woen she brought to a full stop. About flity passengers on beard the boar, all, of course, exceedingly anxious, to reach New York tn safety, and the novel was soon presented of a terrypoat unloading passengers out im the stream, and @ number Jadics and gentlemen immediately arter ranping bare life across the river, A alioiar oceu took place soon after on the trip of the Arizona, the same ferry. In netther ve did any accl occur, ‘this was shortly after ons o'clock, and frome that time ous the river at this point became all the way across, As soon as this fact Known Hn ERSONS CROSSED to and from New York or Brooklyn on the fee, dite 1g a courage Which will be esteemed pei | es of commendation, according to the nervous systems of H > readers, All the 4 noon crowds of children disported themselves om the ice away across the stream, and several snow- ball patties were lost and won by armies of htie boys and girls, who had a perfect holtday’s enjoy~ ment i the fun of being in such imminent dan of mouentarily meeting with “watery graves’? and in such indisputable possession of the most slippery slides and the best of skating, and fer stage | jojous'n the thought that a call from mamma ‘an {mpos:ibility, While even the frown of a polices man Was undiscernadie on account of how far away he was, The ferry houses were crowded during tha day, especially during the hours the boats were not running, with would-be passeagers hurrying homes wards or desiring to embark on urgent business; ie beside the fact that very many people would afraid to cross over to or come hither from Brooklym except in a ferryboat, a stop was put within an houg or so to the PEDESTRIANS’ SPECULATORY LOCOMOTION. The steamer Nevada, steering near or “hugging? the Brooklyn shore, steamed up the river and brok the continuity of the ice fleld, much to the indigna- tion of many persons, eapecially several ladies, Who evidently had no fear of death, and who, conse ucntly, spoke roughly of the Nevada. Jn tha éatharihe street and Roosevelt street bes « houses there were throngs of men women, especially the latter, congregated waitin; for the beats’ trips to be resumed; but for the mos part intending passengers who bad paid their money: soon left the disheartening scene and reulred to comfortable quarters, having got tickets forthe Mi trip they wished to go over by later In the evening. The ticket sellers at both of the above named ferry houses must have had tuelr patience exhausted during this to them EXTREMELY TRYING HOUR, Qnestions of the most extraordinary nature wera put to them constantly by in-coming: patrons of the line, While it was easy enongh to send away quickiy the more intelligent persons the persistency wit which others continved to renew their tnquirtes to whether the Ice cake could oot be melted out of sight in some eXtracrdluary manner were really puzzling to be answered und exhausting to thé desired to bring presents for the orphans. About | haif-past one o’clock, when inere were but few per- | passengers from | dent had encountered delegations of persistent off c thirdiy, the erection | seekers beiore, and he was, therefore, not in the | If they were desirous | question vitally at all. He showed, however, that sons in the hall, no less & person than the President | States stepped in unannounced. Ifan apparition had stalked forth from the recesses | of one Of tie booths it scarcely would have created { more surprise, Happily some of the ladies in the hall were personally acquainted with: General Graut, and a3 soon as they realized “the situation” he was | warmly weicomed, Some of the larger children from the Asyium happened to be in ihe hall, As | soon as they understood that the stranger whose , arrival had created such a furry of excitement | ainong the lady mapagers was General Grant, they gathered around him with true juvenile instinct, | that ignoves all distinctions of rank and ¢ closest to that representative of greatness seems to have the most favors to couler. ‘ihe boys had heard that one of their number was to be sent to the Naval Academy, and they rightly surmised H that tne President's visit. had some connection with | this appointment, hence thelr eagerness to get close | to the great man who had it in his powe! confer } Such an honor upon one of thelr number. ‘The P Jeast disconcerted by this display of adiiration and affection on the part of the young aspirants for Naval School honors. He shook hands with some | of the boys, patted some of them on the head and | gave then all a peasant word. i ‘The (resident was accompantea by ecrotary of he Navy Mr. Adolph 5. Borte, Mr. George N. Eaton (whose guest he was while in the city), Mr. Wiliam J. Aibert and Mr. Archibald stirling, Jr. Alier looking at the various aitractiens of the fair | and some pleasant conversation with the ladies in charge, the party retired. A visit to the Peabody | Tnstitate Libr: and a drive to Druid Wilt Park finished the aiternoon, At five o'clock the party dined at Mr. Haton’s. Later in ihe day the Presi- dent paid a visit to Mr. Willlam J, Albert. He te- turned to Washington by the half-past erglit o’clock P.M. train. It seems to have been his design to pay an informal visit to some of his friends in the city and at the same ume to take a look at the boys, irom whom he intended to make the seiecion of a cadet to the Naval School at Annapolis, ANOTHER TEMPERANCE LECTURE. A Womav While Istoxicated Falls on the Edge of a Pail and Dies. On Saturday evening last Dr. Thurman was called to 553 West Twenty-sixth street, to see a Mrs. McGrath, whose husband is a tallor by trade. He found her in a state of insensibility, with a scalp wound on the left side of the head, immediately over the ear; also a lacerated wound of the left arm, both of which wounds were bieeding freely. The doctor stopped the flow of blood and dressed the wounds, Dr. Thurman learned, upon making inquiries as to how his ae had been tnjured, that she had accidentally fallen and either struck her head upon the spindle ofa sewing machine or on the oage of & pall, upon which he saw marks of bloed. Mrs, McGrath evi- dently was under the influence of liquor when the doctor first saw her, and in bis opinion she had concussion of the brain, but imagined ehe might rally ag the effects of the ane passed off. This, however. was not the case, and Mrs. McGrath expired on Sunday. In the doctor’s opinion death resulted from concussion of the brain, consequent upon injuries to the head. Coroner Hermann was notified, and Dr. John Beach will make a post mor- tem examination on the body, after which testimony will be taken. METHODIST PREACHERS. Oficial vs. Unofficial Methodist Papers. Is the Methodist policy of maintaining an omtcial press a wise one? This was the topic brought under discussion yesterday by the Methodist preachers. The Rev. Thomas Lodge opened the discussion by reading a paper, which, however, did not touch the the parsimony of the publishers of the official press was unwise, and the amount of work demanded of one or two editors too (pe to insure good papers. But the wisdom of maintaining an oficial press at all was conceded, though the wisdom of maitain- Ing such pavers exclusively was doubted, ev. L, S. WeRD wanted the question amended by the insertion of the prefix ‘un’ before the word “oiicial,”” as he believed that would express the thought of the meeting better than the question as it now i Dr. CURRY opposed any such amendment. He ex- plained the scope of the question and said that it @ view to avoid any per- was expressly framed wit! aud some have patents they are not entitled to, be- cause they obtained them fraudulently, without a survey, and therefore cannot segregate. T soy east L existed on this seand, ke He). ren- lered siiupler by being understood, an: erates Tature should think proper togrant to the inclusive patentees or their surveyor the exeoution of the Warrant, and make the priation for the i cluagd patents, as they are bound to do, it shail be executed from the taital a and connected with the triangulations of the exterior ines of tbe Incly- Blye patent made by the United Staci @ Me sonal contentions which saight arise from put the question as the amendment pro} Dr. CROOKS was appointed to lead the discussion on this subject next week. He accepted on condi- fled according to the sense of the mee! é Ri ara wilt Setuerrerts a few tn! odist press ears ago, which « some merriment. abs about | or aown? found floating among the ice in the water under female department of the Fulten ferry house Uon that the question should be understood or mod! | were removed to the Beekman street English vocabulary on oti sides of the ticket plate form. AS the HUraLy reporter was leaving a ticket oftice of the Rooseveit street ferry the follow~ ing conversation us going on between the clerk | and a gentleman: “HOW soon are We to git over, sir?” “Probably betwéen four and Ove. your ticket.” “Be gor, sir, I wouldn’t like to take the ticket till see if there wis ally chance 0’ the beat got! 9.2? “I am sure I dow’t know when the lee will mova away.” “Masha! do you tell me now that ye can’t git tt up That bares Bannagher, aud it was mee self that thought the hate of the boat would melt it, Be gor, that bates Bannugher!” “Please take youl Kel, sir, and let ladies step 1 want to go u} in.” “Walt new a bit, if ye plase, to Jimmy Connolly's, in Monroe street, an’ inaybe oan’ wouldn't be back in time Lcoulan’s ge e to the ould women at all at all. “L have no more tiie vo talk, sir; you must move in or out; now, one way or Le other. “Algy, now, avick, jlslt for half asickond, 1 rather you'd give me back the two scinis, and I" thry some other ferr Conlda’t you til ma’— “You must let all these ladies and genllewen pass, in. J can’t tell you. ‘ow, think a bit. Take I'd What I want to know is If yowll be plased to ll me, Mf, supposin’ 1 wing cown to Fulton street, mays boats wouldn’t be runnin’. Ud rather go home (han go up wo Jummy Connoilly’s.” Patience was her exhausted, and one of the he'ps had to rem quietiy e awkard-looking figure of the burly Irishman, Lis saccessor ag tue oillce became a very luw sized, but astonisuingly ent female. yen your boad go ofer?”* ot some hours.’? “L gant sbtay zome ours; mine mon he mind thé 3 corp’ {ean't help you.’ zo long yor? I sees boad ol i gant sitay nere m longer. Der Gumpui ever, Mine husvar ill you take a yot vor ven n0 boad? Tiiked # “Certainly.”? “T wont goin yod. T sees ein Dutch policeman, vot mine husband he knowa."? “All right.”? “Vot hour ven I's come pack.’ “Four o’clock.”? And 80 It wi hours. Ket and Youid you led me oud vem s, wilh variations, for more than tw@ DOMINION CF CANADA. Extensive Fire in Hamilion—Loss Forty-fong Taousand Dollars, HAMILTON, Feb. 13, 1571. Avery destructive fire occurred here this mornd ing. The premises were occupied by Field & Davide Son, extensive wholesale saddlery, harness and@ trunk manufacturers. ‘fhe ttre originated in thal neighborhood of the furnace in the cellar, and apy pears to have Ipllowed the hoist, at once em | the third and fourth stories, the contents of whi were entirely consuined. Wield & Davidson estl< mate their stock at about $40,000; insured $19,000, ‘The building, owned by Green & Tate, musured for $4,000, Encouragement of Emigration tn Ontario. ‘LORONTO, Ontario, Feb, 13, 1872, The province of Ontario has voted $30,000 to ene courage emigration, and $20,000 to build houses and clear from three to five acres of land on a number of free grant lots. The proposition is intended particularly to meet the requirements of new set< Uers who may have $200 or $300, and be wi ta ay 4 moderate sum cash down !n order to obtain munediate shelter for their families and secure @ crop of potatoes and other vegetables as a 8! for the first winter, i a Release of the American Schoener Whit@ Fawn. St. Jomn, N. B., Feb. 18, 1872, . ‘The American schooner White Fawn, which wag captured by the Dominion cutter Water Lily, had beon released by a decision of the Vice Gree ‘Tue Judge aeclared the act of the commander of Water Lily hasty and legal. ANOTHER PLEA FOR THE FOUNDLING ASYLUM. The remains of a female infant were