The New York Herald Newspaper, December 12, 1871, Page 5

‘WHARTON-KENCHOM TRIAL. Whe Accused Lady and Her . Attendants. once He ce CONTINUATION OF MEDICAL TESTIMONY, waar Aiken’s Intelligent Account of the alysis of the Stomach of the Deceased General. Discovery of Antimony, or Tar- tax Bmetic. ANNAPOLIS, Md., Dec, 11, 1871. Iewad jdkt ten o'clock this morning when Obtef Pustice Miller and Associate Justices Hammond and den came into the courtroom and ascended to weata. The Chief Justice let fali the gavel directed the crier to cajl the Court for the nth day’s proceedings in the case of E. G. Wharton, on trial in the Circuit p of this county for the murder of General W. scott Ketchum. The prisoner and @aughter, and ner devoted friends Mr. and Miss Netlson, Mrs. Nugent, Mrs. Wnharton’s brother's Wife and Miss Potts, daughter of the Ohief Olerk of *he War Department, came in shortly before ten, @od took theirseats, as usual, behind those occupied yy the counsel for the defence. They were the re- Piptents of kind attentions from several of their lady friends during the time they were seated aiting for the Court to commence. Mrs. Wharton med In good health and spirits, amd Mlss Nellie eemed more cheerful than upon any previous day the trial, She nad as her companion a fine look- ‘ young man, a Mr. Wharton, from Philadelphia, ® relative of her family. The court room was Prowded, as usual, and the same interest was mani- ested in the proceedings as on any preceding day f the trial. The ladies were ont in good ots but the number was perceptibly less fen upon the early days of the trial, probably on account of the uninteresting medical festimony that was to be heard. The Court ana ounse! for both prosecution and defence seemed uch refreshed from the twenty-four honrs’ respite had enjoyed, and there was no delay tn getting Work as soon as the Court was called to oraer. ye Court adjourned on Saturday, with Professor Aiken on the stand, and he was tife first wit- Rees calied this morning. He took the stand at ten oinutes after ten o'clock, and resumed Nis testi- nony a8 to his analysis of the stomach of General Ketchum where he left off on Saturday. ROFESSOR AIKEN ON THE SUBJECT OF THE ANALYSIS. Professor Alken—On Saturday Ihad concluded my idence as to the search for strychnia; I next pro- peeded to examine for the presence of arsenic; the erial I had to work was everything originally pl +h) and in addition some of those reagents I had added in my search for scrychnia; nothing wi moved except what could have been dissolved b; he ether, and as that brought away nothing except i x ntity of fatty matter; the materiais I used wer fartaric acid, in the first instance, and bicarbonat pf soa; they left a residuum of tartaric acid; thert an excess of alkali necessarily, as my ‘opject a8 tO decompose the strychnia; these two articles have mentioned, with the ether, were all that I ecollect adding to the original matter operated pon; those substances Ihave named I knew could norcontain any arsenic, otherwise { could not bave € certain of my results with that material so THE PROFESSOR SEARCHED FOR ARSENIO, f now began the search for arsenic; I mixed all he residues from the strychnla process, making a homogeneous mixture, and divided it into two arts; One of these two parts I put into an evapora- sing dish, and added strong hyaro-chloric acid and ested that, adding occastoually crystals of phiorate of gee the object being to break up nd disorganize any organic matter present; hen that had been done and all traces oi japic matter had disappeared, & clear yellow uid Tesulted, and | passed it through a Olter and shed it with @istilica water until [had about a pint of liquid filtered from this yellow fluid; I ced 16 1n &@ glass and passed it through a stream yf sulphurated hydrogen gas, previously passed hrough water, knowing that the arsentcal matter, present, Was nof likely to be there as arsen- ,acid or white arsenic, but was most likely to have been converled into arsenic which is a diferent compound; in order tion of the sulphuretted hydrogen as, Witich acts more slowly on the arsenio acid han on the arsenious, Lapplted heat to the vessel ontaining the suspected matter; while the gas waa ing through it I had the temperature ed, pen arrested and held 1t until It became cold; en tting it stand twenty-four hours at rest 1 ut the uilphuretted bydrogen gas again and again; let it nd twenty-four hours; 1 then separated by a fliter e precipitate that had coliected—a dark-colored recipitate, and examined the precipitate to ascer- him what that was; if arsenic had been present pat would have been a compound of arsenic and miphur; the color was 20t W Lwould bave ex. ted in tho sulphide of arsenic, and I examined one simple Lge, knowing the extreme solu- ity of arsenic, tried a Portion of this precipitate spirits of ammonia, and the action of the ammo- ia was 80 trifling that it satisiied me that it could ot be arsenicum; that Onished my inquiry for ar- DSEICION THaT ANeTNONT, Of TARTAR BMETIC WaS R iT. set the precipitate aside and reverted to the her portion of the original matter not used in the genic process; the results I got {rom an examina- on ofthe precipitate in the arsenicum taquiry, nd its extreme insolubility m ammonia agreed ith another known substance, and led me to sus- pct that antimony was present; the ac- on of auiphurreted hydrogen gas of solutions etal dropped into water gives a white pre- pitate; there are no other metals that would give wilte precipitate under these circumstances, but 6 White antimonial precipitate is made orange red ompound of sulphide of ammonium; if it ing else than antimony the white prectn: te Would be darkened by the same sulphide of IMmonium; any substance under my examination at would give me these three resulis— orange sulphide, the white product nen adijed to water, and the reappear- hee of orange red when the sulphide of ammonia last added—such substance must contain some mony; I don’t know auything except an auti- 0 tat woud give such resulta, and as gor hose resulta in this case from that portio! amined I cannot entertain a shadow of doubt ag the presonce of antimony; I took the portion of material not used in the arsentcal process, ded to It up excess of tartaric acid and filtered aud oxamined be filtrate by sulphurettea hydro- ag in fhe first instance; I pbancant a u Sans poral recipitate; bin ound re used C4 this separate metals in grow on the groups would bo thore met: ‘ive dark ana bdlack-colored sulphides, an 0 ve I Y ae pose gut ot esent any metal t! formed dark or biack ul- des, or my precipitate would have been dark only metal oat could give a result lik t if i was antimony, and thera- searched for the presence of ermal prosense of antimony is established taiping two or threo results; these results I ci laractoristio, and are compatible with that lumony and are not compat with the presence ing else; the momenvt | began the search antimony If hud these resnits in my mind, and gan the jnquiry ag to whether J could get them m the teri the results of which I speak p—firs orange red sulphide of antimony, pro- iced, 6 action of sul) ae as Aa ntimonial —compou! a Orang and dried a precypitate gollected soraoks. in rong bollin, fyaro-ehiorio, other characteristio that of solution; re W on necessity for destroying the organic eter, Cv! uently 1 added hydro-chiorlo acid d ‘thoride of Lepore in il "5 PY a poi ination; the prec! oxaminationied was’ dissolved in hydro- orle acid; that soluuon ropped into water emo a White precipliate; that white precipitate 6 orange, red when treated with sulphide mmontuim; tt also Gisappeatecr as We! golubi solution of tartaric acld; that eémpleted all bmed necessary to convince me that I had been ling with some produced tb of antimony; m; eriments oniy produced the presenoe of antl. ny; that left a4 for probabilities, and a3 the ¢ompound of antimony known to commerce 19 a¥ cmotio the overwhelming probability was in or Of tartar emetic; {can only approximate as the quantity of antimony found,,as it Was not de- mined by actual weight, THR QUANTITY OF POISON IN THB STOMACH. samount of poison hn Not so important, tn my as the character of it; J never autached any ance to the question of quantity, except ip whore minute particles of poison are found, oh might have yi) Qocidentally introduce: o the stomach; then the fact that It was minute explain ite Presence; ) consider that the nb of poison at any time found ip dead man’s stomach bas nothing to do with cause of death; im my opinion ‘the ntirs antimony found could not have been i caf aty gruins, if you call the article tart cffan orange red compound J got * | «of émetio; definite compound; ina e~ vy thy re-agents und there Will be © Ps Ly opt 0} ony, anda * < oetiain Wolg! e 1 vertald weight of sulphur; tartar evo 1* qual) a definite compound, and a certain ft of tartar emetio Must contain a certain Weight metallic antumony; {t then follows of @ necess! t the antimony present in a certain peight bide of anumony Would form @ certain NEW YORK HERALD, TUESDAY, DECEMBER 12, 1871.—TRIPLE SHEET. @f tartar emetic if it bination which may be calculated; that calculation gives this result:—that ten grains of sulphide of satinony corresponds with twenty grains of tartar emetic; I would like to have it understood no one ever ‘extracted tartar emetic from the stomach of any dead man unless it remained there undissolved, for once let it enter into a solution and it 1s beyond the reach of chemt- cal process; the only evidence of tartar emetic would be to get the presence of some antimonial; my estimate of the weight Of tartar emetic in Gen- eral Ketchum’s stomach was based on the results of another examiuation, going on at the same time; in this observation I was anxious to get some close approximate to the quantity of tartar emetic resent from the observed weight of the ulphide of antimony; hence by comparing in my mind the quantity of sulphides got in that case to the amount developed in this case 1 was enabled to Spyroximase the amount In this case; in the one case I got ten grains of sulphide of antimony, and I conclude I was safe in assuming that it 1 got ten pame in the one instance from half the quantity found inthe stomach analyzed there was twenty grains there. ANALYSIS OF THE cones OF THE HIDDEN TUM- A tumbler of water was given me by Dr. Chew tor an- alysis, about the 30th of June last, containing a sedi- ment; he asked me to taste it; I did so, and found an unpleasant acid, biting, metallic taste that I ald not think resembled arsenle, and to sausty my own mina I ot a fragment of white arsenic and a crystal of tartar emetic, and then tasted all turee and found the resemblance {n tuste was between the tartar emetic and the sediment in the tumbler, and lat once made up my mind what substance I should search for; 1 was 8o well satisfied that I began to search for those oharncuarasion of antimony, a de- scription of wnith I have already given, and found hem; in regard to the quantity present’ that case she only guide I had was acting on a known quan- titys welghed out one grain’ of hite sediment, and obtal from it all the antimon: in the shave of sulphide of abtimony, which, ‘arled and weighed, was four-tenths of a grain, trom which Linferred that the tartar emetic presen. In that grain. ore sediment was eight-tenths of a grain; if ‘i Was true of one grain it was true of the whole, and eight-tenths of the whole weight must have been tartar emetic; 1 estimated the whole sediment at fiiteen grains of tartar emetic; there must have been twelve grains; but I put it at ten rains sO as to under-cstimate it rather ‘han over-estimate {t; I dia not separate the tartar emetic from the organic matter: no one can ever Separate in gubstauce things which have once been swallowed and dissolved in the stomach; when tar- tar emetic 1s Laken into the stomach and ts mingied ‘with organic matter the means employed to get rid of that organio matter destroy the tartar emetic, but do not destroy the antimony that existed in a art of it; it mereiy decomposes It; it breaks up one ompound and leaves another, Mr. REVELL—Did you consider your analysis of General Ketchum’s stomach exhaustive? WirtNess—Ifyou mean by exhaustive did I doevery- thing that was ever dono or suggested in such cases, 1 will say that I did not make use of all the means ever muggessed to discover antimony, but 1 dia use the means necessary ‘to arrive at what I had a right to consider per- fect certainty; the means { employed I earned when a svadent, and they were then recognized as reliable, and aii the authorities consider the evi- dence as I haxy deecribed ag perfectly conclusive; I have been teaching my classes so long that I cannot remember when I n to teach that these are the reliable means of detecting antimony; I have not practised medicine for forty years. By Mr. REVELL—May not @ leet die o1 poison . Pas trace of it be found In the stomach atter ea! Mr. STEELE, for the defence—How do you ask htm, as a chemist or a medical expertr Mr. REVELL—As elther or both. Witngss—I studied and practised medicine for eighteen months, but have not practised for forty years. Chief Justice MILLER—I don’t think he ig sumi- clently a medical Ces to answer the A Ses hpi Mr. REVELL—I put the question to him asa chemical expert. Chief Justice MILLER— Me Aiken 18 simply an analytical chemist, whose duty is to detect in apy compound before him if 1¢ contains poison. are of the opinion that your question mvolyes a knowledge of medicine, and think you must pro- Pound 1t to a medical. experts Mr. REvBLL—Will Your Honor permit me to ask whether from bis own knowledge or reading he can answer? Chief apy ILLER—Reduce your question to writing an ae pass you on it, Attorney General Syester then reduced the fol- lowing ere to writ and handed it to the Court:—"Does your Knowledge of chemistry and of Poisons enable you to declare your opinion whether or nota person may not die of poison and yet no traces of the poison be foundin the stomach after death, and whether it is not within the scope of your profession to know and explain the effect of isons on the human system t” Chief Justice MiLLER—The Court is of the opinion that you cannot ask the question. Altorney Weneral SrsTER then asked the witness several juestions, toshow his competency as an expert, but the Court excluded the testimony. rofessor Alken was now piaced in the handa of the defence for crogs-examination. THE RESULTS OF THR ANALYSI8 NOT PRESERVED, By Mr. STBE @ pou, any of tue practical results of your analysis of the stomach of General Ketcham to show the arr Professor AIKEN—I have none; they might have been preserved if the idea bad extered my mind at the time that they would be wanted; in cases of arsen! poison, when the arsenical orust is obtained It ls preserved, but J do not know that I have ever met with a case of preservation of the aptimontal resutt; antimony is capable of preserva tion; I do not kiuow whether sulpnide could be pre- served in the state in which it is precipitated or not; I was born in 1807, and am, thorefore, sixty-four eo of age, and have occupied the chair of chem- ry in tho Maryland Medical University since 1887; the medical gentlemen who brought me the stomach of General Ketchum to analyze did not say anything to me about the treatment he had rée- ceived; 1 did not learn that he had taken two doses of yellow jessamine and thirty grains of chioral the day he died; Ijdid not make laboratory notes of thé analysis; I kept memoranda of it until I could make @ report and then set aside; it was nota fuil detail of all I did; 1 have nothing to show the jury as to the result of the analysis. me which required Questions wero thon put Telerence to the report f Professor Aiken upon the analysis of the stomach of General Kotchum, made toa certain Mr Knott, State attorney of Balumore city, when objection was made by the prosecution and a demand made for the report; two copies were produced, which were claimed to be copies of the original—one from tne prosecutio: and one from the defence—which so materially dit- fered from each other that the original had to be sent for Dw the 1 Dacgotnecdtlin controversy the de- fence stated that Professor Alken had refused to give the defence a copy of bis analysis, ana they were, therefore, obliged to get a copy from the State Attorney of Baltimore city. To this statement the prosecution objected, and accused the defence of atempuing to create @ prejudice against the wit- nei ‘the Court puta stop to the discussion py direct- ing them to proceea wiih the examination of the witness. ‘The cross-examination was then resumed, and the general feature was the asking of hypothetical ques- eS It was Sull In progress at three o'clock. ‘The ourt adjourned until three o'clock, when the exain- itt Professor Alken wiil be continued and clude While the testimony adduced to.day upon this remarkable trial may not have been to the general reader as as Lo Lae ‘upon the prece oper it has been full of interest nd importance eloping the manner in which & chemical analy: made. ‘he other important witnesses that are to renew nd, it 18 sald, strengthen the evidence of the td gary proceedings about Mrs. Wharton’s house, tt ta par upon the stand, and their testimony will of Wat intensely interesting character that was a ‘ked feature of the first days of the trial, YOUNG MEN'S UNIVERSALIST ASSOCIATION, Election of OMicers for the Ensuing Year. The gnoual meeting of the Young Men’s Univer- palist oclation of the city of New York, for the the election of officers for the ensuing year, and such other business as might be brought before phen was held at their rooms, No. 1,288 Brondway oO evening. Tho attendance was ver gratifying and the interest exhibited of a nature to fully Srrecming what @ foothold the association has ready among the canner members of the Unt- ereaiist Ohurch of the city and vicinity. The pclety ts af pas moye than @ year and a hait i we joreased facilities it has already Atforded for intellectual, mor snd res gtous guiture, and for tendiy and social jnterooutse among tts __miembers, can hardily be estimated. There are now on the roll 228 names, several of these being ladies, who have done much to enhance the interests of the association. Mr. James Qushing, Jr., presided. After the usual preliminary business had been dis. ensed with the election of oMcers was proceeded ASD, Seguin as follows:— —William A. Myles, ice President—Norman Stratton. ding Seoretary—Kawin Banks. responding H. 8. Brooks, ‘etar’ nancial Setar William G, King. rar ‘an i Lanton, Honor ice" Pregiacnits—A. 0, Hewlett, B. F. fonora Romaine, Jt; Samuel Weeks, Walter Scott, James ¥. Walker, Jt.; Frank B, Mayhew, Abner Wesiens, Felicitout deches were made by the retiring and inopming Ofiiciais, and resolutions of thanks passe: in comp! ee the deserving manner in whic the duties of he several positions had been dis- charged during the past yo The association meet in social reunion during the winter month e fire! ebe pleasant occasions of the season being on Leet of January next. A TERRIBLE AOCQIDEST, - dhe Dead Body of a Man Who Had Died from Smallpox Consumed by Fire, PHILYDELPHIA, Deo, 11. 1871, Tho explosion of 8 coal oll lamp caused a fire last night in a dwelling on Perth street, above Parrish, in which the body of @ man, wnd died of Sitalipox, was consumed. Ah¢e “uother i throe children were turncg out of ihe house, and the neighbors iene fiot gyve them Shelter for fear of infection. i jubsequently conveyed to rhe sation existed in that state of com- | THE HORNET. Arrival in New York of the Captain of the Adventurous Cruiser. His Story of the Trials and Difficulties of the Hornet—How She Was Detained by Spanish ‘War Vessels—Alleged Attempts at Bri- bery—The Conduct of the American Minister at Port au Prince— Spanish Demands on the Haytien Government. The Hornet is a paddie-wheel steamer of 620 tons, 240 {vet in length, 35 feet breadth of beam, 14 feet deep and draws 10 feet of water when deep loaded. She 1s schooner rigged and is furnished witn a high pres- sure engine, bullé by Stewart, of England, She is known as one of the fastest boats afloat, making easily fourteen knots an hour, She was built in London, Englana, in 1862, for a blockade runner, and named the “Lady Stirling.” While attempting to run the blockade she was captured by the United States, and was then fitted up and used by the late President Lincoln a8 a yacht, Subsequently she Was sold to ome parties In New York, who had her internal fittings altered and used her in trade be- tween Hallfax, Philadelphia and New York. sus- Picton being aroused as to the legitimacy of trade she was detained in New York for some time, but eventually got away and went southward under coin- mand of Commodore Higgins. Running into Wil- mington for coal she was seized by the United States authorities and detained there about eleven montna, but was finally released and returned to New York with @ cargo of rosin and turpentine, After dis- charging her cargo, together with all the arms and ammunition she had on board, she was laid up at ‘Willtamsburg, and afterwards at Hoboken, where she took in coal and left for Nassau in ballast, being placed under heavy bonds not to engage in illegal traMe, General Butler becoming one of her bonds- men. Her record since leaving, as personally stated by her captain, 13 best told in nis own words, TRE CRUISE OF THE HORNET, The Hornet left here in charge of a temporary captain, her real commander joining her at Port au Prince some time after. This was Captain r. W. Waisman, a German by birth, He is apparently a Man of about thirty-five years of age, but has spent most of his life amid stirring scenes at sea, On the 7th of December, 1870, the Hornet's clearance papers were obtained, and on the 9th she left New York bound for Naseau in ballast. Owing to some representations made bythe Spanish Consul that she was intended for contraband trade with Ouba she was detained for a short time, but everything appearing regular she was allowed to de- part. She got to Nassau on the 16th of December and there tried to obtain coal, but was refused by the British authorities, under the advice of the Spanish Consul. When the Hornet arrived at Nassau @ Spanish gunboat was lying there, but lett during the day of the 16th, the Horne. leaving about two hours after, when ‘she was con- voyed outside the harbor by the British man-oi-war Philomel. On leaving her convoy, the Hornet steamed directly for Port au Prince, where she ar- rived on the 18th, withoat having seen anything More of the Spanish gunvoat, While at Port au Prince the Hornet took in two hundred tons of coal, and left on the 23d for Aspivavall, arrivip; there ou the 27th. The coal she had obtain at Port au Prince being of a very inferior quality she discharged the greater portion of it at Aspinwall and took in 160 tons of a belter Kind, and cleared from there for Port au Prince on the 31st, On the 6th of January of this year the Hornet had to Tun into the Bay of tiburon for the purpose of re- pairing her boiler, the tabes of which had become leaky. This 1t was found Impossible to do eficientay Bo some of the tubes were plugged up, and she lett the Bay of ‘Tiburon for Port au Prince, where she arrived on the 10th. THE DIFFICUMTIES OF THE HORNET. As soon as the Hornet arrived at Port au Prince she was put in shape for thorough repairs; the botler, tuves and all her machinery was overhauled, and iv was found necessary to send to New York for tubes, the old ones being too much worn to allow of repairing. That entailed a lengthy delay, conse. Eeyen d the greater part of the crew was discharged. ‘ne work of repairing was pushed forward briskly, but it was necessary to wait for the new tubes to come from New York. Meanwhile other complica tions arose, On the 2ist of January the Isabella Oatolica, a Spanish man-of-war, arrived in the har- bor of Port au Prince, and ler commander immedi- ately communicated wita thy Spanish Muinisier Olivera, Who in turn sent word to the Uutted States Ministor, Mr. Bassett, that the Hornet had been con- demned by a Spantsh court at Havana; that she was held ag a pirate, and her oiticers and crew would be all treated as pirates. No more official Notice of any action on the part of the Spanish au- thorities at Havana was given than the wora of he commander of the Isabella Catolica. Captain ‘aigmman, of the Hornet, entered a protest against the demand of the Spaniard to deliver up the Hornet, and claimed the protection of the United States Minister and also of the Haytien govern- ment, he being then in neutral waters, Not recety- ing any satisiactory assurance of protection further than that the Hornet should not be forci- bly waken out of the harbor, and finding that the Isabella Catolica sent out picket boats, the first night she anchored in the harbor, Captain Waisman determined to go to New York, well know- et would require considerable time to put the ornet in proper sea-going trim, and from & desire to save the owners of the Hornet all the expense he could, Consequently the day after the arrival of the Isabella Catolica, Captain Wals- man, after receiving the assurance of the Haytien government and of the United States Minister, that the Hornet, while in the harbor of Port au Prince should be fully pro- tected, left for New York. Meanwhile the Hornet, although unmolested, was closely watched by the ‘Spanish man-ol-war, which nightly sent out picket boats jor the P $d ed of preventing her going to sea, although it was well known at the time that she was not in a condition to do 80. ATTEMPT TO BRIBE THE CAPTAIN OF THE HORNET. On the 24th of March last Captain Walsman re- cetved instructions from the owner of the Hornet to return to Port au Prince, and he mp a4 left immediately, arriving at that place on the 4th of April by the steamer City of Port au Prince. He then wok entire command, and found the Isabella Catolica still there, watching the Hornet, and also heard that they had threatened to seize her or blow her up. He renewed his application for pro- tection, and was again assured of it by the Haytien overnment and the United States Minister. The rm stand taken by Captain Walsman and by the Haytien government provably deterred the Spanish from taking any overt act of aggression, so they Meanly resorted to bribery. m the 12th of April Captain Walsiman was spronehed by Mr. Murphy, chief engineer of the Isabella Oatolica and offered from ten to twenty-five thousand dol- lars to sink, burn or blow up the Hornet. Captain Walsman promptly replied that he was not in the Market for any such busmess, Afterwards, on May 2, offers were made to some of tre quarter- masters of the Hornet that they should receive $5,000 to sink or blow up the Hornet. They also were unapproacnable, although every assurance was given that une money should be deposited in @ safe place in the city. It was then said by the Commander of the Isabella Catotica, and by the Spanish Minister, that if they could not buy the Hornet they would tako her by force, hearing wnich Captain Waisman i renewed hi Applica jon to the Haytien government for protectiod, and also @pplied to Mr. Bassett for a United States war ves- f the fag he sailea 1 to apa the dignity nder. Although he received assurances of sup- port from the Haytien government, Mr. Bassett tem- rized, and, in effect, would not send for a vessel }o protect the Hornet, he at the time being under th Hot belo rom What he had heard from the Spanish Minister and not from oMiclal information, that the Hornet had been outlawed. ANOTHER SPANISH WAR VESSET. About the 12th of May the Spanish steam frigate Pizarro arrived at Port au Prince to relieve the Isabella Catolica, which left on the 15th. The com- mander of the Pizarro, ropety, aoting under in- structions, was much louder in his denunciations of he Hornet than was the commander of the jabella Catolica, and also more active in his recautions. Hitherto Captain Walsman had per onally been subjected to no insult or iadigaity, but after the arrival of the Pizarro he and his crew were frequently insulted. Foul epithets were hurled at them by the Spaniards whenever they were met under suoh circumstances as would render tt more than folly to resent tuem. The commander of the Pizarro told several parties he would blow his own brains out Lf tne Hornet got away from nim. READY FOR § About a month after the Pizarro arrived the Hornet had her new botlers in, and was mado ready for sea; but It was late in July before she was nite fit to put out, po tt] then ons oi cane ar ho) orde uri me a ea Oe, up @ close watch upon the rae ee every night had out several pioket boats, which kept about the day, ready to give Hy if te Ho} uk lett. The Spaniards openly declared ey ‘vould urn ot blow op the vessel that so cou- Tageously defied them if she made any movement. tain 4 nan Was consequently obliged to keep os W hon board his voat, and was thus put to much eee red expense, from the threat of the Spaniards he thought they would, if they could, place a torpedo under her, One night in the middie of August ‘the boats of the Pizarro were out and ¢ {n close alongside the Hornet,Captain Waisman flied them and ordered, teu int ae Raper me obeying, he ‘oly a ye ved 14, and sought diatary puus eh rt} bs poke! Ae hore Eowneu under t orning the comman gnd made complaint his boat’s crew, and poe he soould Gortately fy Placed @ six-pounder Bo 8 of the Pizarro. 0 fer on the Pizarro went inat the Hornet for fir ifsueh % cong wel aig ®t rte of © Gone n:0 106 Hornet. He witaer in the bow of the cutter, and the crews of the picket boats thence- forth went out nightly fully armed, ANOTHER PROTEST. Seeing such warlike preparations, and hearing the openly expressed threats of the Spaniards to or blow up the Hornct, Captain Walsman again made posepleiat to the Haytien government and also to he United States Minister about the armed boats in he neutral waters of the bay and about the Hornet. $ usual, Mr. Bassett did nothing, but the Haytien overnment acted promptly. They at once notified e Spamards that they were violaung neutrality and ent out armed boats from a man-ofwar then in_-harpor and the harbormaster’s boats to revent any Outrage or collision, The Hornet had jow been lying for several months in the water, nd as her bottom was becoming covered with bar- aces Captain Waisman determined to take advan- tage of bis enforced delay and clean her. He ac- cordingly discharged the greater quantity of coal he had on board on Fort Island and had the shi raised and her bottom thoroughly scraped an cleaned, While this was being done the Churuca arrived to relieve the Pizarro, which ostensibly leit; but she, together with the Isabella Catolica and a@ satling brig, kept close watch outside the harbor, one at Gonaives, another at Tiburon and the other hovering near, The Hornetnow being completely ready for sea her captain applied for an obtained clearance papers tor New York; but when Mr. Bassett was asked to insure protection to her he declined, on the ground that he had been told she was outlawed. Captain Walsman immediately de- manded to know why he was allowed still to fly the American flag and why his clearance papers lately granted were not forfeited. ‘This was & poser for Mr. Bassett, who, upon the earnest and repeated demands of the captain, wrote Samana Bay for a war vessel to watch the ornet. THE UNITED STATES STEAMER. In response to Mr. Bassett’s application, the United States war steamer Swatara, Uaptain Allen in command, arrived on the 21st of September and auchored some distance outside the harbor. Cap- tain Waisman, immediately on the arrival of the Swatara, called on Capiain Allen, and together they repaired to the United States Muin- ister, where Captain Allen overhauled all the Hornet’s papers and found them all correct and regular. Captain Walsman then asked Captain Allen What he thought of the Hornet going to sea, and what protection he would receive. He was told he had better wait awnile as there was plenty of time, “But,” said Captain Walsman, ‘hadn't [ better get in my coal and be ready, as it would take about forty-eight hours to do 80,” He was then again told to walt until instructions were received from Washington, ag that had been the plea on which the Hornet had been detained in port for several months, Captain Walsman, as the chief oficer of an American trad- Ang Vessel, threatened with violence by @ foreign man-ol-war in neutral waters, made a formal de- mand of Captain Allen for protection, which was refused until orders were received from Wash- ington. INTERVIEW WITH THE CAPTAIN OF THE HORNET. As the Hornet was now ready for sea, her captain determined to go out in order to test the new builers that had been put in, and accordingly on the 27th of September, at nine A, M., they got up steam and prepared fo leave. In face of the threats that had been made this was a bold proceeding, which will best be told in the captain’s own words, RePORTER—Where was whe Spanish vessel when you prepared to leave? CaPpraIN—She was lying outside the storeship, REPORTER—How Jai was she trom you? CAPTAIN—About halt a mile, eee sce there any other war vessels near OaPTain—Yes, the Haytien man-of- war Union was lying close by. RSPORTER—Where was the Swatara? CaptaiIn—She was lying a good distance be- tween the Churuca and ‘the lighthouse, about two miles off, REPORTER—Supposing the Churuce had fired into bg would the guus of the Swatara have reached er CaPraIn—Certainly, She is armed with eleven- inch guns, RePORTER—What distance apart were the Churuca and the Union? CarraIn—About half a mile, REPoRTER—Do you think if the Churuca had fired into you the Unton would have resented it? OaPrain—Yes, I belleve they would, I was told aiterwards they were determined to do so in order to protect their neutral waters, REPORTER—Did you go vat only to test the new boilers ? Oapratn—Well, I wanted to test the boilers and also the speed of the ship, to see whether she had a Toul bottom. ReEPORTER—Had you any other object? Caprain—Certatnly I had. The Spaniards had said they would fire into tne Hornet if she made any movement, and 1 wanted to see if they had courage enough to ao so, wort inten ata near the Spanish vessel did you pass CaPTaIn—About the ship’s length, RePorTsR—Did they hail your CAPTAIN—No, but all hands were mustered and were standing oni the rail, REPORTER—Did they get up steam? Capratin—Yes, REPoRTER—DId they follow you? OAPTAIN—NoO, they didn’t attempt to. REPoRTER—How far out did you go? Carrain—I went to the lighthouse, about five miles, I remained outside about forty-five minutes, in order to find out how long % would take me to turn the ship, for if the Churuca had fired tnto mo I would have about and run iovo her, as I told parties in Port au Prince before I leit, Eurosta—Did you see any other vessels out- side CAPTAIN—Yes; the Pizarro was laying off some distance towards Gonaives, ReEPORTER—Could you, if you had been so dis- Posed, have got away ut that time? CarTaIn—Yes, sony, if I had had sufficient coal; Image two and a half miles in fourteen minutes ‘Without a full head o! sveam. REPORTER—Couldn’t you get enough coal to go away? CAPTAIN—No} the agent of the Hornet refasea to let me nave lt, RerorTer—If you had sufficient coal on board would you have got away? Capraix—Certainly I would; for my being de- tained there was A gross outrage, and it was also entailing enormous expense upou my employers, RerorTek—Did the Swatara get up steam Carrain—No, sit. REPORTER—WhY not? Qaprain—Captain Allen said afterwards that he did not get up steam vecause IJ had not sent him any notice that [ was going out, That } didn’t con- sider it necessary to do, because 1 was not going out far. RevorTER—Do you know what Captain Alien would have done if the Churuca had fired into you? Caprain—Hardly. I know that he told some artes after that he would have waited first to see Frhat action the Onion would have taken to protect the neutral waters; but if they had nov fired into the Ohuruca he certainly would have done so for the protection of the flag. REPORTER— What time did you get back ? Oarrarn—About twelve o’clock, when I ran alongside Fort island, and soon aiter | commenced taking in about a‘hundred tons of coal that I haa left there. Early in the morning of the aay after the Hornet haa made her trial tip the Swatara got up steam and left. Captain Walsman had intended to run alongside her for protection as soon as he had taken in coal, but he pow found himself once more left alone to contend singlc-handea against the Span- Jards. On application to Mr. Bassett he was assured hat the Nantasket, Captain Carpenter, would shortly arrive, indeed that she was expected hourly. The Nantasket, however, did not arrive, and the Plainif-evidenced supimeness of the United states rovernment in this matter encouraged the Span- rds to make SPANISH DEMANDS ON HAYTI. The captain of the Churuca, through the Spanish Consul, demanaed of the Hayten oMicials of the port that the Hornet should be delivered up to him within thirty hours, or he would take her by force. They also demanded of the Haytiens $120, 000 in gold as an indemnity for the coal and other expenses in- curred in watching the Hornet. These demands were indignantly refused py General Lorquet, who in the absence of President Saget, then at Aux Uayes, was presiding over the government of Haytl. This action 80 incensed the Spanish Consul that a few days before the Pizarro left he hauled down his flag and went on board the Spanish war vessel, and emoved to the Churuca when the Pizarro left. Uenerat Lorquet immediately placed fifty soldiers on Fort Island) and a battery of uns on shore, He was himself out on jorseback all night, ao! to prevent the threat- ened seizure of the Hornet. Ie also despatched a special messenger to Grand Guave with intelligence of the Spanish demands to President Saget; and, although the distance was about fifty miles, the messenger returned within twenty-four hours with the Prewidene’s reply, tpon't GIVE UP THE HORNET under any circumstances.” Mr. Bassett also acted romplly and demanded the active protection of he government for an American vessel. A meet+ ing of the foreign Ministers in Port au Prince was held, and they highly approved the course taken by General Lorquet, In spite of the bombastic de- mands and threats made by the Spaniards they made no attempt . seize the Horaet, hav- ing probably been deterrea by the active pre- arations made to resist them. On the 8th of November, alieges Captain Walsman, the Spanisi fe cou came to him and told him that he though e could buy the Hornet for about $60,000, and that 6 would give him (Captain Walsman) half the amount if he would ald in the purchase, and would also fg! 1,000 for the crew, This, as revious attempts at bribery, says Cap- ain jan, was indi; nang rejected by Wi him, and shortl after, indin: there was le or no chance of getting the Hornet away at resent, be lett for New York in the bark Trait de inion on the 16th of November, arriving here on the 4th inst, When he leit the Spanish war steam- ers Saragossa and Pizarro were daily expected at Port au Prince and have since arrived there, BROOKLYN AFFAIRS. Contagious Diseases. Health OMicer Cochran reports that there were fifty-seven cases Of smalipox, twenty-five of scarlet fever, one of typhoid fever and one of diphtheria in the olty last. week, Smalipox 1s again on ihe in crease, Alleged Highwaymen Held (<2 § Jfearin: Charles Quigg and Jonn <inqmple WES deduced yesterday, Serord Justi¢é Walsh, of taking from the 1 perton i Michael Casey the sum of $9 60, by | ‘reats and violence, on the highway, They denied the accusation, and were committed to jail to awall @ beanng on next Thursdar CC (wT THE FOURTH AVENUE MAN-TRAP. Meeting of the Aldermanic Committee—A Conference with Citizens—How Be- lief Can Be Secured. ASUNKEN TRACK STRONGLY URGED Mr. William H. Vanderbilt’s Offer—The Com. pany Anxious to Remove the Nuisance—Rapid Transit to the Brooklyn Bridge Called For. ‘rhe special committee appoinved by the Common Council w report upon the best mode of relieving the citizens of the upper portion of tne etty of the nuisance caused by the running of trains on Fourth avenue, met at eleven o’clock yesterday morning in the Council Chamber, Alderman Mitchell in the chair, By ivitation, extended In an advertisement, @ large number of property owners of the Nineteenth ward were present, including Mr. Robert Edmunds of the East Side Cttizens’ Association, and the following members of the Nineteenth ward Railroad Reform Association:—-D, R. Jacques, John McCool, ©. E, Simmonds, M. M, Vail, Alfred Conger, Terence Farley, J. Mo- Cormack, Robert McCarferty, J. Cohen, Jonn David- son, R, W. Martin, Charles Cornish, Nicholas Pence, M. Twombley, Terence P. Smith, D. Ackerman, Henry Burchell, W. H. Quincy, —— Hudson, John G. Prague, Henry Grossmeyer and John Cormack, ‘The Harlem Ratlroad Company was represented by William H. Vanderbilt, and a number of property owners who were not identified with any soctety were in attendance, After the Clerk had read the resolution of the Board of Aldermen under which the committee was appointed the Chairman invited any gentlemen present to address the committee. Mr. M. M. VAtL, Secretary of the Nineteenth Ward Raniroad Reform Association, took the foor, and after describing the organization of his associa- Won referred to the numerous accidents and loss of life on the line of Fourth avenue, There were about eighty trains per day passing over the ave- Due, so that one passes every fifteen minutes, and 86,000 passengers are carried daily. The railroad companies of the city, he declared, were a disgrace wit, ‘The streets are owned by the city and the roads had been granted the right to lay tracks for the convenience of the public; but they proved to be for the convenience of the companies. He char- acterized the Third avenue company as one of the worst, and wished the President was present so that he could excoriate him. His cars were filthy, full of lice and breeded more disease than all the pest houses of the city. The people have some rights, and they were bound to have them respected. The moment these corporations encroached upon their liberties the people would arise in their might and hurl the corporations from power. The Huriem Railroad Company had got the right of way free, and we should have some benefit from it instead of a nuisance, Every one of the acts of the Legislature provides that the Legis. lature shall have the right to repeal them. ‘The pecule can take @way every privilege given them. ere the speaker branched out into a perorauion upon the greatness of New York, which he com- ared to Venice, when Mr. Muller arose, called him order, said he did not come to listen to buncombe but to transact business and asked Mr, Vall to Gole fine himself to facts. Mr. VaIL continued and explained that every ordle nance of the Common Council restricted the com- Dany as to grades, cuts, tc. The members of the asscciation had devised a plan to remedy the ovil. ‘They propose a viaduct from Harlem Kiverto Haa- lem Tunnel, sunken covered tracks from Harlem Tuunel to Filty-eightn street, and open sunken tracks below Fifty-eighth street, This involves the sinking of the Forty-second street depot as well as the track, and would incur a cost of about six millions of dollars. ‘The question to be considered is—fHlas the city the power to compel the com- pons to sink the tracks? The charter gives the jariem Vompany the right to run to Twenty-seventh street. For himself he would preter to havo the ‘wacks sunk and the ground walled in, at prescut the tracks being four or five feet above the grade, Mr. JACQUES hext addressed the committee, and, submitting the report of the Nineteenth Ward Rail- Toad Retorm Association, in favor of sunken tracks, stated that the estimated tme for the completion of the work would be three years. He desired to call attention to the views entertaiued by the citizens of the soil and the remedy. The evil seems to be that these great corporations have erected at a great ex- pense a magnificent depot, the arrangement of Which contemplates the tracks on the level. When the Fourth avenue wus a wilderness this was very well, but now look at tne fact. Fourth avenue and the crogs streets are now built up with first class houses, while the avenue is simply a rall- road track, with no gutters nor gradings. It is ab- solutely impossiole to do all the railroad business centring here, with the tracks on the level north of Fifty-ninth street, and give the people the relief We require, Suppose we all agree as to the diml- culty, and I doubt not the railroad companies seo it and feel {t too, As I understand It, the chief uitt- culty, and one upon which the engineers do not agree, is how to secure @ measure of relie!, and at the same time not destroy the present arrangements at the depot. I understand that ail agree that it is periectly pracucable to sink the tracks above the depot, to arched or placed upon a viaduct, The only pot is Low to make the sunken grade above Fiftieth strect comport with a level grade below Forty-eighth street. They can’t be Fremedied, except by bridges across the blocks south of Forty-eighth street. it has been suggested to throw bridges from Madison to Lexington avenne, below Fiftieth street. It we desire to secure tho Interests of property owners and consult the safety Of life and mb it is tor us to consider whether any such experiment fs sufficient. The assoctauon, Mr. Chairman, hope you will very carefully cousider Whether any means can be found short of sinking the road from Harlem to Forty-second street, the depot included, You may be toid that the immense expense puts it outof the question. Tne deiloera. on with which the companies went to work and id that depot, with the calculation that they ‘ould use that avenue forever, scems to take away y breath. it seems that tt was the intention of he companies to take and level this street and ran their property upon jt for all time to come. ‘the ordinance {ynposed certain conditions on this company, and under its seal it covenanted to per- form certain duties, One was that when the avenue became an obsyruction to travel the corporation could remove the tracks on & month’s potice; another was that they would never use the avenue to obstruct the cross streets. The ordnance pro- vided that the company should make all excava- Uons necessary to render the passage tirough the cross street easy; tnat in case of excayations the company should construct the sewers, We are told that the sewers are the main dificulties, and ff the roadbed is sunk it will affect them. I suppose if & few sewers should be required to render even their tire ine of road it would not make much dif. ference to thts rich company. The opinion on the east side of the city is [ey there is nothing im- bracticable in sinking the (racks. Messrs, HASWELL and Prague addressed the committee upon the engineering diiiculties at length. Botn of these engineers agree upon the feasibility of sinking the tracks, but differ in some of the minor details, Mr. Haswell stated that he haa conferred with the Harlem yogi | Company and they were disposed to do all tu thelr power in the premises, You are aware that they require a great deal of room with the other roads running over their tracks, The work would require a great Geal of time, but the lowering of the track from outside of the depot to Thirty-second street would be necessary to conform to the grade. He would sink tne grade about Forty-ninth street, and run as rapidly as possible unt! tue proper depth is obtained. It ae be by an open cut or tunnel, From Forty-ninthj street up sewers are met. The baso of the sewers is thirteen feet. Ifa closed cut 18 selected to depress the sewers niue- teen feet of ground would be required for @ tunnel. I would cross the upper streets—Forty-fifth, Forty- sixth, &c. —by alternate bridges, for foot passenge! and vehicles, but the bridges I would have Col structed, with the approaches to tiem, parallel with the track, thus: views taken by the meeting. The Hariem Kallroad Company will be pleased to confer with any com. mittee as tothe best means of providing for the prevention of accidents, ‘the company has been importuned to provide means of transit for the city of New York, agit has been expected to provile for the.suburban population, ‘There are now daily from 85,000 to 45,000 passengers arriving at and departing irom the depot Five years nence there will probably be 10,000 more. There are 2,000,000 of people affected by it There is business enough on the Ine to move trains every tifteen minutes to all points within fifteen miles, but the demands of out- side travel must be met, A gentleman had hinted at litigation, The company does not desire to fight any one; It desired a rence. The road from the depot to Harlem Ri as well managed as any road in the world, and 100 men are scattered along it to prevent accidents. Occasionally the men Were unable lo prevent them, some refused to Rae Ne 80. leave. tho truck. I do not think \ UD $0 fast, but the public must be accommodated, in answer to a question Mr. Van- derbilt announced that negotiations were pending with the New York and New Haven Com which the sy bai business would soon by water from Hariein River. ‘An informal discussion foliowed as to who should bear the $6,000,000 expense of sinking the tracks, Mr. John McCool suggesting that the property own: ers bear one-third, the city one third and the com- pany one-third. ‘This met the determined opposi- tion of many of the gentlemen, who claimed that neither the city nor the people should construct a railroad; that the company whose action had de- ereased the value of property should bear all the expense. Iderman PLUNKIT? opposed another conference, on the ground that, as there was a question of law as to Who compuses the Common Council after Janu- oy 1, ugation might ensue, and there was no time 0 lone, The Chairman, Mr. MILLER, then announced that the committee would rise and report to the next miceting of the Common Council. ANOTHER MURDER IN DEATH AVENUE, To THR EDITOR OF THE HERALo:— ‘The HERALD reported two deaths there last week, Novody knows how many more were suppressed and how many “narrow escapes,” Have you seen the new death trap at Fifty-third street—the inven- Uon of the arch-enemy himself, who is only waiting for a gloomy, damp, frosty morning, when the tracks are glippery and the engineers lose control of their “old dangers,” to give the HERALD the use of its iargest types? Per- haps the article is prepared already, the HERALD enterprise usually anticrpates events. ‘This 1s the place where the outward and inward tracks cross cach other. Why not use those large types now, and follow every new murder with a record of those that have preceded it? Reduce the number of tracks above Forty-eightnh street to two, and those underground, Letali trains be made up on the companies’ premt: by means of the ‘‘shut- process of cross tracks, as in England, One such machine 1s being built at Forty-fith street for moving cars sideways. Let fretght cars go where there are freight accommodations, instead of using Fourth avenue for blocks as a delivery depot or freight and receiving depot (or brewers’ slops— cholera breeders every warm day. 4 THE THIRD AVENUE OAR AGAIN, New York, Dec. 11, 1871. TO THE EDITOR OF THE HERALD :— ‘2 he Is it not high time for the Third Avenue Rallroad Company to understand that passengers in their cars have rights which their employes are bound to respect? I had an idea that that case of Mr. Hamilton would have shaken the managers out of their long sleep, but it would seem that Judge Spencer's words of warning have fallen upon ears that refuse to hear. Indeed, it may be neces- sary for the company to get mulcted out of a lew hundred dollars every week or s0 in a “test”? case to bring them to thelr senses. Let me give yous sample of what happened last evening on one of the cars (No. 160) as 1 was coming down town. In the first place the driver, as if to show his con- tempt for everything on wheels that was not a car of the company’s, ran into a wagon with such force as to pitch the mau seate’ in it headlong to the pavement. Whether he was killed outright or not I know not, for the car folks did not watt to see the result of their carelessness, and drove rapidly on, Jeaving the unfortunate man lying in the street, Shortly after this the attention of the passengers in the car was attracted to @ disturbance on the rear platform, which was crowded, when in came a gentleman who turned toward the fellows standing on the platform and charged them with having attempted to pick his pocket. He appealed to the con- ductor to put the men off, but the con- ductor made no answer. After we had gone a few biocks further the car stopped for several persons who were getting in the worthy conductor catled oa! “Look out for your pockets |” Now, Mr. Editor, does this not plainly show that the conductor was aware of the character of the men on the rear plat- form? Why did he not put them of when they were at first compiained of? Must passengers take tt for granted that they have no protection against plck- pockets on the Third avenue line’ PASSENGER, got in, and as thi YOUNG MEN'S DEMOCRATIC REFORM CLUB, Branch Associntion to be Formed District of the City—Meeting Last Nig The Young Men’s Democratic Keform Club, which rendered such efMcient service during tne late political campaign, how that the heat of election is Over, has no Intention to cease tis labors, but, ou the contrary, proposes to establish itwelf upon an enduring basis and become one of the permanent organizations of the city. The young men, having tested the amount of their influence and power, Gre by no means disposed to slacken in the good work, and from the measures they have adopted and are adopting this ciub promises to be one of the Most valuable agencies yet started in this city for electioneering purposes. At a meeting held last Friday evening oMcers and commitices were appointed for tbe ensuing year, the President being ©. A. Jackson, and the Seore- tary A. W. Green, A meeting was also held last night to take action on a resolution of the Ex- ecutive Committee to establish branch clubs in connection with the central one in every district in the city. A pretty large number of the members aticuded, and great im- terest was manifested in the proceedings. Mr, Camp bell, Secretary of the Executive Committee, Track This would take about twenty feet on each side of the company’s property, While the road was being depressed I wolud give them the permisston for two extra tracks for Harlem travel. The com- pany are disposed to enter upon the work, and will put two additional tunnels through the deep out @t Yorkvilie to lay the additional tracks, and thea viadnet the road to Harlem, And If it 1s thought ne- cessary hereatter they may extend it to Westchester, Whetlier you are willing to incur the delay neces- sary Wo lower tracks 18 a question for you to con- sider. If bridges are used and the depression com- mences at Forty-ninth street the work can be done nifteen months. ar. EpMunps, for the Bast Side Association, ad- dressed the committee and urged prompt action, Mr. qy UROH Wanted preparations made for the fates, he track sunken down as far as the Brooklyn bridge and more tracks given the com- any, 80 a8 to have rapid transit, aud that the oom- ‘pay ® commission for the privilege. Mr. Wiputam H. VANDERBILT came forward and said:—1 have beep very much pleased with the mann high {aa ft ject fas been considered to-day Regent eit present, and to eee that the discussion is #0 free from vituperation against The company are ready and this question in #& proper such | as euould ‘he com walling an be a en relerence bo ‘pave It ny. fo meet aberal spirit, ia t J suppose the . % oi re ioeting fas nh OCS tS Sécompiish what w a ee pieasea wit Wwe excellent Tead the proposed scheme tor the establishment of the branch societies, which 1s as follows:—The asso- ciation shall be formed iu the diferent Lp eye A districts, to act as follows:—The members of the club residing in each district shall constitute the members of each district club, and shall associate with them Buch persons as they shall deem proper, Each dis. trict suall decide for itself by wuat officers tt shall be governed. Preliminary meetings will be held in each district at stated times, A select committee of five shail be appointed to consider the relations which the district clubs shalt bear to the central asgoclation. An animated discussion took place relative to the adoption of this amendment, it Was finaly re. solved to adopt the part relative to the founding of the clubs, while the remainder was sent back to the Executive Committee, with power to act as they deemed proper. Some of the. members reporied the most flattering prospects for the suecess of the scheme, and as there is a vast amount of unsettled politicat material floating around there will be no trouble in forming the or- anizations, No time is to be lost in settin, ail rolling. The committee appointed wul right to work. [It was also resolved to ap- Point @ committee of three to consider the question of municipal reform and administration changes, and to urge upon the Legislature sucn measures as will be conducive to the public good and general prosperity of the communtty. With regard to a new charter tor (he city 1b was decided to offer no plan, but to wait until something definite Would be attempted by those hn cee matier in charge, and the scheme @ good one to give it all necessary support. All measures tending to a reform, in both local and State adminis- tration, will be fairly and impartially examined and inquired into, and, if necessary and just, will meet with no factious opposition from the Re- form Democratio Club. At the game time, the welfare and progress of democratic priactpies Will be looked after and every opportuni ity of the party furthered tn every honorable way. A com- Mitte of twenty-five waa appointed to Increase the number of members and perfect the principles of the organization. The proceedin, were chara terized by the utmost harmony, and the earnestness and unanimity manifested augur well tor the fu- ue wWeifare of the club, A FATAL MISTAKE, Swallowing Poison Thinking it Whiske: It was resterday reported that Bridget Sraith, a woman thirty-nine years of ags, had died in the Minety-ninth Street Hospital from the effects of poison, Deceased, a woman of intempeyate habits, had been employed about the Centre Strect and Bellevue Hospitals as @ domestic, aud afew days ago Warden Brennan caused her to be transferred to the West Side Hospital. Deceased, in ner great desire for strong beverage, found @ botue contain- ing benzine or chloroform, which, ing for weiskey, she °~"k. Her error was immediately discovered, and antiu. ** administered, but without effect, as death subsequently ensued. THE DEATH OF THE REV. DR. HIGBEE. Coroner Young yesterday noid an {aqtést over the remains of the late Rey, tyr, Edward Y. Higbee, who on Sunds; artérhoon weq found dead in his room at Y it econd street. Dr. E, T. 1. Marsh Wee ewnte Ination of the body and sat led Fimselt that apoplexy was the cause ol death. Sucld was the Verdiot of the jury. 5 a the go