The New York Herald Newspaper, December 24, 1871, Page 8

TENEMENT HOUSES How a eae the Poor Live. FRIGHTFUL REVELATIONS. Revenues Received from Rottennéss. ‘Where They Are and How They Are Con- @ucted—The Blind, the Lame and the Bedrid- en—Professional Beggars—“'The Taberna- ole’—Fire Scencs—Fearful Figures—The Uses and Abuses of Charity—‘‘Bucket Shops” and Their Oustomers—Negro Necromancers—Half the Population of Now York Huddled Together in Horrible Holes—Official Doo- uments—"‘Looney Lizzie.” RAGPICKERS’ ROW. ‘When the lights are biazing in the boudoir and ‘the mistress of the mansion lounges luxuriously on an elegant diva, the bright fire dancing in the dis- tance, how littie does she dream, even if she stops to think, of the wretched squalor and miserable ‘want in which thousands of her sisters drag along @weary life! Nestled in lace and almost purled be- neath the crash of satin and silk, the fashionable ‘woman of society rarely has time to give @ mo- ment’s thought to the agonized existence of thou- Bands of other women equally blessed with nature’s gifts, Her side of the picture 1s all magnificence, luxury and conquest; but the other is the dark and dreary view, where nothing ts to be seen but MISERY, DESPAIR, DRUNKENNBSS AND DEATH. ‘The one life ts arapid dash through a whirlpool ‘ef delights; but the other is a long chain of dire dis- tress, in which want and nakedness are but the slightest links. In elegant mansions, from which the slightest zephyr of the winter’s afr 18 serupu- Jously shut ont, the scant famuly is lost, scattered through the vast apartments. In iniserabvle dens, reeking with filth, dozens of large families are crowded together with scant room to stretcn their ‘wornout bodies in when the lab6rs of the day have ended. Side by side they glide down the stream of Mfe, and yet the mansion seems never to have an daea that the hovel exists except when the owner's income is derived from some such property, The lady, who ls the honored and acknowledged centre of an admiring circle, sits upon her social throne surrounded by a horde of eager flatterers, to whom she nodsher pleasant approval at inter- vals, never for one moment pauses to reflect that thereis a world beyond her own, @ iife of TRIAL AND HARDSHIP, of anxiety and regret, of hope ana fear and tortures only endurable by the almost broken back, Her ‘mind is occupied with balls and parties, the opera and her dress, or, perhaps, with the coming pleasure tobe derived from the crushing of a rival. Her friends are the pleasantest people in their set, and nothing 1s permitted to approach her that may prove disagreeable. While she ‘Wanders listiessly through her elegant rooms, Or sits delightedly attentive to some fairy story of affection as the soft Mattery is poured more vigor- ously inw her ear, the eye brightens at the person- ality, the blood tingles and rushes with a double Torce through the swelling vessels and visions of ecstatic dreams of life-long biiss float before the ex- cited imagination. Simiiar soft romances are not unfrequently indulged in by the forlorn outcast who lurks tn dark and noisome alleyways and snuns the Gaylight. But w her clouded existence they come i2 & 80 much milder form their unreality rarely amounts to pleasure. Her home (at least the place im which she lives 1f such a den might get the name) is in the shade, and NEVER SEES THR SUNSHINE. What wonder, then, her mind ts dim aud not always to be trusted! She was bora in a tenement bouse—she scarcely Knows another existence— Bnd such life as sne has lived has been passed in them. Up the narrow, rickety staira she fan boldly push at any hour of the day and night tmto the abominabie corner in which she roosts, Hers is not the only family that has been brought ap from childhood in the scawe apartment, in the very room; there have been severalof them, and got always divided irom each other with any pre- tence of decency. The existence she knows is to start, shivering, ct the break of duy from fhe nu- td lair of straw and do a day’s work for her parents before she goes to her employer's, who generously give her sufficient remuneration to buy ® day’s food for @ week’s wasting} of bone and Muscle. Trudging along, wet or cry, cold or hot, to THE VILLANOUS 81ED tm which she Coi!s, always patient.and never repin- wg at herlot. Home again, with more to do than there was in the morning when she started, and not @ufrequentiy going back to the dreadfai conch, Bbusea and wronged by @ drunken father, or, perhaps still worse, a mother In the same condition. Not unirequentiy, tf one watches close enough, she Will be caught stealing a few minutes to work, with aimost lightning speed, at some little piece of inex- pensive finery. The struggles and disunions of all those around her sne is compelicd to be familiar with, and @ thousand times a week even her duiled sensibilities are shocked by the sceies that sure round her life, One day during the last week an attaché of the HERALD, going wto one of the large tenement houses im one of the lower wards of the city, noticed a girl ‘that appeared to be of this class. She had crossed the open yard in front of the huge mausoleum, and had passed out into the street by a hallway that ran Urrough the buildings fronting the street. An old Iman, Who stood at the only door of the tenement, ‘Was asked :— “Can you tell me who that girl is?’” “Ob, yis, sur; saure, she lives in here, on the top ure,” was the answer. “low long has she lived here?” “On, vedad, that | can’t tell ye. She was here afore me.” “She lives on the top floor. Do you mean the ” “No; she lives wid a family in that room,’ point. ing to @ window. * “Have the family the room all to themselves ?”” “Ah, No; there's tive of ‘em in it.” “Five families 1? “Yis, sur.” How many are there in cach fam tly?’ ‘i dean’t railly kuoW; sum ov ’em 1s six an more isseven. A‘ aii ivints, there's Jols 0’ childer.”' “Aud all in one room 1! “Yis, altogither.”” p{But they have partitions dividing oT the difer- effi taintiies, naven’t tney 1" “Purtilionsy Weli, | mever see ony."? “Well, but they huve some Kind of screen hung ‘up, don’t they ?,’ “Weil, yis; Lizzie had one, an ould horse rug fuil o’ holes that Ume sue had the litte trouvie.” “What kind of trouble did she have?” “| doant exactly know how it kum about, but tne ny thing got wronged be sum one, aod sie hada that room" ur. That wos how she kum to git the um 0’ the wounin folks lint id to her.’ out couldn't they take her out of it”? “They had no place w put her. They wur jest as bad off thimseives as she wus, wud the exception of gum ov 'em havin’ husbands, au’ begor wauy ov ‘em is better wudout ‘em.’ “What became of ine child”? “1d didu’t live, sir, ye see. The poor thing was a long \ime sick, an’ Wo gita bite o' somethin’ fo ate was obliged to sell the few rags she bad, until the only tung was there was an ould couon gownd W keep bersei/ aud the little thing warm. id cum On sharp one bight and the young one died, The Mother nivir found jd oct uwtll toe mornin’, whea abe Woke and sound id dead beside her,” “an it be possible” “It's the wath {'m tellin’ ye, sur; ye can ax any one in the house. She took on terrivie, She huog herseli down on the ground, an’ Wre hur hair au’ bate bereell line A ORAZY THING, Sve cursed the women au’ said ‘twas their fault, an’ all (vey could do wouldn't quiet her. slie kept id ap like that for two or three days widout ever aun’ a vitor a sup, an’ abare she wint out ov her Bead @ bilan’ aivir got into Id agin, Toat’s wuy we . alls ber Looney Lizzie. “There @ sometaing strange about the girl, That Was why | fret noviced her." “Sue's a harmless poor thing, sur; she cums an’ joes Widoul sayin’ a word Ww ony oue, Sie Divir i@4 ho Hutice Ly nO One.” “Row dues she get a iiving 7” oBue's purty havay wid ine needie, av’ J pelere nor lookin’ at no one,” “How many families are there in this house !”? “Fourteen, sur.” “Do you know who It belongs to?!” “No, sur, but we pays the rent to the man that = the uquor saloon on the corner.” “He manages the house, does ue sur. use Was a good type of that large class of tenements m which @ numoer of families live all huddled together in the various rooms, large frame butiding, standing alone in the rear of some others that fronted on the street. lt was five stories high and flithy toa degree both inside and narrow doorway that lea w stairs by a circuitous and dificult route, On the ground floor there were six rooms, all occupied by hard. working, mostly laboring people; but the population in- creased as one ascended until the state of thi described by the Old Irishman was arrived at on the top, On tne third Hor the entire population turned out to be that class who live by picklag up ODDS AND ENDS in the streets—ends of cigars, of which there was an immense heap in one corner of tie room, rusted iron and nails or any other description of valuables that may happen to be lying avout uncared for, One family was exclusively engaged in picking up bis of bread about the restaurants, hoteis ana private houses. The pest parts of these they sold to the neighbors and Test the; toasted and sold to be manufactured into toot powder and used for soup in cheap kitchens, The greater part of these tenement houses belon; to wealthy a and some are the sole property 0! the owners. any of vhem were built and are still tne sole revenue of men who live in Europe and never pay the slightest attentionio the manner in which they are conducted. It 18 @ notorious lact ‘among the people who are compelled to live in THESE AWFUL DENS that the houses belonging to the poorest men are the best managed and the most comfortable, in these cases the men themselves are on the spot, and take &u interest in the working of their estate, It 18 80 Much to their advantage to keep the house clean and in good repair that they rarely want to be reminded of its getting out of order, In several cases that came under the notice of the writer these owners had obtained @ sort of sovereignty over the people, who paid them rents, They settled all dificulues, gave advice, and were almost immediately consulted when grave questions came up that involved the interests of some portion of that community, But when the property belonged to an absentee or 801 mtle- man who was too great to look after ft himself, | then the state of things that was permitted to go on is beyond the descriptive eloquence of any pen. ‘The number of tenement houses in this city in the year 1867 Was 18,582; but since that time they have eoaahalarnd multiplied, until it 1s now esdmated a ONE-HALF THB POPULATION of New York is fo10ed into these den: The following table shows the manner of their distribution in the various wards and the number thas were in @ bad sanitary condition when the report for that year was made:— ae mn Sanitary Condition Srom Any Causes 115 ” 300 180 360 890 Tenement Houses, Wards, TOtAl.....000eeereeee cove oe 18,582 This table shows that in 1867, of the entire num- ber of tenement houses, fifty-two Per cent were ina bad sanitary condition, that ts, in @ state ruinous to health and dgngerous to the lives of the occupants, and, above all, SOUROBS OF INFECTION to the neighborhood, Thirty-two per cent were in this condition from overcrowding, the accumulation of dirt, an imade- Pes supply of water and the results of neglect. ‘he danger to the health of the peopie, however, especially in the eveut of an epidemic, which re- sults from these conditions, 1s not fully expressed by these figures, for while in the upper and jower Wards of the city the ienement houses are generally well built and looked after there are many local- ities where almost entire blocks are composed of such houses alone, ali of which were-in A DEPLORABLE STATE, and where the danger ts very much increased by this very crowding. Even the aingie fact of fill @ house of this kind to its utinost limit with inbavi- tants would not be sumicient to show that danger to which heaith and life 1s exposed within the shelt. ut the great evil exists in the building of two jouses Upon the same lot, one behind the otter, or what is called “rear houses.” These places are utterly deprived of air and light, many of them being completely dark, and the most robust health stands but a poor chance in such an atmosphere, The tenement honses in this city are divided by ‘the Metropolitan Board of Health into three sepa- Tate classes, and this distinction 1s most wise for reasons, It groups, without maki too Many divisions, certain classes of the population ‘Who havesimilar habits and customs or who pur- sue Vocations partaking of the same general charac- teristics. And again, because it is & well authenti- oated fact that among te foreign born population there 1s ASTBONG TENDENCY to and uils classification binds them more glosely together, and at the same time makes it uch more easy to ascertain at any given moment amount of mortality in any separate district, established fact in sanitary science 1s that the crowding together of dwellings in towns and cities jaces morbid, mental and physical conditions im 6 Inhabitants, These conditions multiply at ao enormous rate when the dwelling Nouses are’ not only crowded afon every foot of ground but the butidings themselves are s0 arranged as to compel families and members of the same famlly into the closest companionship consistent with social and domestic decency. In many instances at the pres- ent moment even these barriers have been broken down and have yielded to . THR PRESSURE OF POPULATION. And in some places this huddling together has at- tained to such @ degree that privacy 16 impossivie, ‘This disgusting and disgraceiul fact is fully borne out by the lamentable swury of that poor, upfor- — woman whom her neighbors called ‘Looney Lizzie. the first district of tenement houses takes in all the lower portion of the city, which 1s principally given up to commerce. It is filthy to a deg aod is peopied with a class pro- vervially lmprovideat. These people are mostiy emigrants, newly arrived, and others, who obtain @ livelinood about the docks, piers and along the river side, It wbounds in lodging house: dance houses, “bucket shops” aod houses of evil repute Wich not only serve Lo perpetuate the degra- dation upov whicn they live but also to swell the abnual dewth rare of the district toa magnitude Waich would be frightiul if ts causes were not under- stood. A large majority O1 the teamsters and cart- men of the city are housed In this locality, and their stables, With the dirt they make, add considerably to the general unbealthiness. Tno Fourth and Sixth Wards teem With the very worst description of tene- ment houses. Jn every street and upon every block “bucket shops” abound, and are the main sources of THE UTTER DEPRAVITY ofthe people. These places sell the vilest com- pounds under the name of liquor, ‘The owners of them accommodate the prices of their liquid fre to the means of Lhe customers, and when tuey buve 10 money to offer in exchange for alcohol any kind of ‘Value 1s taken for the arug, In this way women and men give up ali the Wearing apparel they pos- sess, and when they no longer have anything of their own with which to get whiskey, they vorrow, beg and steal irom each other anul the’ require surfeit is obtained. During the last few yearsa class of ‘bucket shops” have come into exuience, larger and more pretentious than those formerly in use. | These places are styled “‘drstilleries,"’) and im them the iquor Grewo directly from the cask meaning by tnis to imply that the quality of the *mercuandize is vetter whem, on the contrary, if anything it 18 worse, They all hang out large lacards announcing to ‘the unfortunate in- Rubitauts ‘of wie district that. they seil alcohol ut sixty cents the galion. Fifteen cents wortn of this compound 18 suM@cient to make an entire family of five persons drunk or, rather, mad, aud to it nay be altributed oue-huif the crime committed in the city. A resident of the Sixth ward, a gentieman who thoroughty understood the dismal subject, pointed out a number of tuese places to the writer, aad It Is astonishing bow such @ multitude of them could exist In such seemingly impoverished localiues. ‘Tpis gentieman, on being asked how the proprietors ol these dens lound @ profitable business in tnese wards, replic “They tlrive, sir; ay, and fatten, too.” “But how? Where does the money come from !’’ “Well, the population is @ large one, aud there is beside a vast amount of money constantly owing 1n bere from ail parts of the city.’ : ae men, I suppose, bring in a good deal of avy’ “They 40; and beside that, the people themselves earn a good deal, There is a large class of meu and women down here who will work for two or three days With the sole object of getting drunk for the re- mainder of the week.” “I have been told that the women are the best Patrons of these places.” “You were rigttly informed, Unfortunately for us, the women, when they are leit at home enjoy them. selves by treating each other to the stud sold in these distilleries.” “But they can’t always get money?’’ “That does not matier in the slightest, When they have no money they give their clothes, and When their clotues are all gone to the single gar- ment sary for the street the cooking utenstis and tl furniture go, anless tue husband or son may comme home to stop the thing for @ time.’ “[ thought the religious people who came down here had pat @ stop to @ good deal of this sore of pre they are hombugged right up 10 baelr very eyes.” “ka Waa wary’ toiny | Weil, no doubt they nave; bat, Lora bless you, “In @ thousand ways, You see they don’t under- stand the customs of the people, and then, when they come 1m, they treat all alike. Now, some are hypocrites ana some are soncupeinie opgmprorement, while a large majority are rea! “Then you think the mistake i in the treatment of the subject?” “Now, [ will endeavor to show you. At first when the movement was started these gentiemen and ladies came among the population of the tenement houses. Well, they saw nothing but the most abject POVERTY, DIRT AND SQUALOR, compassion for the people, supposing they were hungry, they gave them money. ‘hey no sooner turned their backs, however, than one of the wo- men, or a chiid, was sent out for whiskey to the Tull amount of the gilt, and the population of we whole foor got drunk,’’ “Such Unings seem scarcely possible ?”” “Tuey do; yet they exist,and worse than that too. I bave seen people who were shivering in their roums with cold, and who had nothing to make a fire with, yet when they were given {food or fuel they immediately sent it wo tue ‘bucket shop’ for alcnonoi.”” BS But surely these men would not-take bread from em + “I nave Known of cases where, after a distribution women would go around the place, coliect the food and take it to the ‘distillery,’ where she would ex- change it for rum, and come back to make the whole party drunk.” ‘nen, Where do they get food” ‘Oh, they never have much difficulty about that, and often, when the stomach really craves food they mistake the feeling fora desire for whiskey, and the whiskey 1s always preferred.” “But, independent of thus, there must be a great deal of suilering among some deserving people.” “*Phere is more than any oue calculates upon.” “Weill, and how do you discriminate in dealing ‘With the two classeg!”” “An, that is the difiiculty. I can only show you What exists, 1 am sorry to say 1 can’t pout outa remedy.” “How about the children?” “There i8 another grave question, and the most difficuit one to deal with. I have seen numvers of cases Where they could put the children into good institutions, Where they would be well cared lor; but no, the parents would not part with them.”’ “For what reason ¥”” ‘it 18 NOt because they are too fond of them, you May be certain; but rather tnat they Py useiul,’? .. home?” “Sometimes there and oftener out of it. They run errands, work about the house, and, when occasion Tequires, they are sent out to beg, or, perhaps, worse, “1 suppose the presence of the children excites & sympathy that could not pe evoked without tnem?”? «There you are right, and thousands of these very children are trained to tricks that wouldBappal tue bardest.”” “What kina of tricks?” ‘Little dodges to get up feeling, such as crying at the proper time—of course when strangers are present—asking for bread or something to eat wien by a Wink or some such sign they are given to un- derstand one of the parents ts thirsty.’? “This 1s @ serrible siave of things, 13 1 not?’ “You may well say so; but if you watch these places well on a cold Winter's day, When some be- you wiil notice the fact of the visit iy beralded a biock abead, and the vesutuse are doubly destitute when they come tuto the room.” “Is this really true}? “It 1s, sir, Ihave seen the same number of chil- dren do auty iu three several houses, in how many families { don’t Know; but [ have seen thom yo {rom house to house to meet vie ladies and make an elect ipeach. 1 nave heard of others and 1 know it to be the truth.?? in the Sixth ward the tenement houses vary & ood deal in character, ‘There are some of the jihiest and most densely populated in the city in this ward, and there are otners of the improved and better descriptions. One of the worst and most no- torious of these was burned some iour or ive weeks ago,and has since been ordered to be va- cated by the Board of Health, This place was Known as the ‘‘fabernacle,” and was at one time a church, It was @ five story irame rear building, completely shut in by tall structures, The entrance irom the street was through a narrew, dark aail- Way through a brick building on Mulberry street. Between the iront buildiug and the ‘*iabernacie” a Dairow lave ran the tull lengtn of the houses, and the only means of entrance or exit to THIS VAST SHELL Was one small doorway that opened on the alley- way. At the time of the burning there were in this place filty reguiar families, and at night it covered 60u peopie, ‘the stairs leading tothe different floors were barrow, rickety and oat of repair, and from the top of the house to tne foundation it was one mass of accumulated filun. Every family in the building took i lodgers at night, the number in gach varying with the accommodation they pos- sessed. The first two flours being the it the greatest number of people huddled im them, and a More motiey gathering could not be discovered in New York than was w be seen there every night. The blind, lawe and crippled were huddled ene Di: without regard to decency or comfort. Profes- sional beggars Made this den a resting piace, and the scenes that were nightly evacted in it were @ disgrace toeven the coarsest civilization. On the first, or ground floor, the rooms were regu- larly laid out tor the accommodation ot tue lodgers. Bunks were arranged agatust tue walls, one over the other, 80 as to economize the space. The winter’s stock Of coal and wood was piled up around the rooms, aud upon them were disposed such sleeping arrangements as were at haud for the havuués. When the bunks against the walls were filled with the earliest customers the others who ventured 1n later were DISPOSED ABOUT THE FLOOR, and each room was packed until it could hold no more, One woman, who during the day played the rote of @ distressed “blind widow,” with @ large family, owned two apartments on the third floor, and she always had a large oltenteile of impostors of her own class. On the Sunday morning the fire broke out the wild- est consternation prevaiied among the inhabitants, Men, Women and children rushed to the windows and tumbled through tne narrow doorway, shout- ing to the neighbors tor assistance. Furniture of all descriptions was flung out of the windows, aud when the police went into the house to assist the people out numbers of them refused to be re- moved without their valuables, ‘The “bind widow” was bodily taken hold of by a stalwart Sixth ward Leiter and as he was handing ber out the win- jow to his companions below she shouted out wildly that she would not be stirred until she got her pipe that was Jeit on the hob intheroom. She was, notwithstanding, landea in the street, and sne no sooner regained possession of her fect than she waiked off to the liquor saloon on the corner in a direct line. An oldman who had a corner on the top floor, where the fire first broke out, worked with a Will, pitching out the furniture to his spouse who stood in the yard below to receive it. Wishing to protecta table, which was the most imporiant article in the household, he attached a piece of rope to one of the legs and begau to lower 1 down gently, when the cord gave way and THE VALUABLE MAHOGANY fell at the feet of the lady of the man- sign in a thousand pieces, This clumsiness on the part of her lord so exasperated the lady vbat she rated bin furiously, until he disappeared from the Window, driven away by the flames. In another rear tenement of this kind in Baxter street a num- ber of negroes congregate who tell fortunes and do oiher mysterious things of the same kind for the colored population all over the city. These peopie do a thriving business, and fatten upon the credulity of their race. Underneatn this house in Baxter street 1s a large stable where balls are held periodically by the chief “necromancer,” ana on Unese festive Occasions the abandoned population of the surrounding neighborhood, white and black, congregates ior amusement. ‘The second district of tenement houses 1s situated east of Catharine street the Bowery and Fourth ave- nue aa south of Fourteenth street. This is the must densely veopled part of the city, the Seven- teenth ward, which comprises less than one-fortieth of the total area Of the city, alone containing not Jess than one-tenth ot the whole population, A census of this ward, taken by the Sanitary Com- pany Of the Metropolitan Police, in the year 1868, showed that 4,120 nouses coutained 95,001 innabl- tants, of whom 14016 were children under five years of age. The Eleventh ward is still more densely populated, the rate not being jess than 200,000 people two the square mule and giving scarcely sixteen yards to each person. This census, taken in 1868, and which 1s believed to be accurate, contains detalls of 3,628 front and 492 rear Mee of which 8,534 are brick, 414 frame, 118 stone, while four only are com- posed of iron. The population, front and rear, is shown iD the following tabie:— Front Rear Build- Butid- ings, ings. Number of families. 218,413 2,796 Number of persons 129 10,062 Number of males, +4++25,461 8,090 Number of females, aduita, . .28,704 8,352 Maves, vetween 6 and 14 years 7,490 1,202 between 5 and 14 1,661 age. ¥ 1,808 Basem H} . 2,006 804 5 ‘The Third disirict e1 e8 all that portion of the island that ties north of Fourteenth stfeet, and Is by far the beat conducted and most wholesome part of the city, ough there are in many places dens as bad as those to be found in the lower districts, ‘They are not, however, so thoroughly shut of irom improveinent as those in the localities where dozens of houses of the same descripuion are to be found huddled together in ONE DISGUSTING MASS. There is a square bounded by Houston, Stanton, Pitt and Wiilett sireets that gives an aduiirable il- lustration of the value of iocal superintendence Over @ crowded tenement house population. In this square 18 @ group of three front ana seven Tear houses, which are under the charge of an agent who does nis duty skilfully and conscien- tiously, This place ts called “Ragpickers’ row,’ which is @ ost appropriate tu he ten houses contain 106 iamilles, making @ population of 452 persons, They are ali ragpickers, although they also gather BONES, BROKEN GLASS AND SCRAPS OF IRON. These they used to carry to their iomes to as: and nx, to await the coming of the junk di * but that practice has lately been stopped. ‘Their rooms are clean @iu Weil Kept, notwithstanding the business they are employed in, and ali their quarrels and disputes are settied by the agent of the build: ing. They send their children to school, and many of them have money in the savings banks. This question of tenement houses is now oceupyin, & prominent place in the attention oi the Board ot Health. Within the past week about a dozen of the worst class have been ordered by the Board to be vacated, and subjoined will be found the sworn bratee! of the medical uspectors who examined The strange sigut sickened them, and, taken with — of bread or meat in a@ house, one or two oi Lhe | hevolent peuple are going about to help the aiilicted, | of @ class:— 7 ard street, front and rear, agreeably to your instruc- | dons or rather'in pursuance of your lustructious, directing bag foe ey So Leonard street, 1 find the following condition existing in the several build- Ro. 25 (front) is a two story and attic frame building brick {ront, inhabited by three families and two stores. roof gutier on rear. Front and rear eaders broken ana de- v -ctive and not pro} co! #0 tbat rain water is dis- aig oe pee the walls and the stairs of the bouss are broken in laces, holes in the a. the cellar and. the treads, and are unsafe and di and Tear stairway to cellar in house are extre! filthy with all whole house nas been forts of rubbish and dith, The wood work of the wh very much out of repair and very ity. The a removed {rom the rear hall window, (0, 28, rear. ‘Two anda halt story and basement. Four families, The roof leaks, The basement ie unused and open to the air, All the woodwork 1s defaced, broken or carried away. ‘The rooms are filed with wet, pie sobbean bane ag * cham FILTH, a ‘excrement ‘The yard common to front and rear at No, 28, in front of a | rear building, has an old brick t, hori full of holes.” The remainder of the yard building is not paved, ana is must be di tow. Gloset vault; sowerda, Ye fall ane Gazustt loset vat Seowered, and mgt! offensive. Ail the closet fithy. re are bro! and (001 id wooden henhouse in th rhe at and of toe aren ia trot of steps, wal e Hast eset coat iat eakn cen 4 ry and }, ocoupied by a io and fourfamines: ‘The whole bull ie iy toone side (towards the alley) that itis only kept up by >No. Bf across the alley, witch sofarates them. and also by timbers bracing it st rear corner of house. So considera- ble is this 7 in e1 ‘and Tooms one walks ti dows and floors depart from the angle. rafters and woodwork entire house are BOTTRN, ORAOKED, SHAKY and out of plumb. The roof is decayed and leaks all over. ‘The window sash and frames are broken, and in some places wanting. ‘The plaster of the walls and ceiling of some rooms of top hail is loose aud danzerous, No. 35 (rear) {s a two and a half story brick and basement, It 1s in& most untenantable condition. ‘The roof is leaky and the rain pours through. ‘the floors and oeams are de- cared. The walls, cellings and woodwork of the rooms and halls are broken and filthy. The rear rooms, used ‘as bedrooms, are dark and have no ventilation or connection with the external air exce] fh the door opening into the aitting rooms, and are black with filth. The hail door of the front on the ‘irst hoor 1s broken off its hinges, and the front steps are craggy and worn. ‘the basements aro unoccupied, the window sashes and doors are gone, and the rooms are full of straw, lth, rabbish and buman excrement, The pavement and the floor of the area are broken, dangerot id unprot The stairways are shaky, dilapidated and foul with dirt, There are three families and three unocoupied rooms. In yard between the tront and rear of No, 25 is a miserable stable, made of rotten planks and old patches of tin roof. Near this ts the closet. The vault is sewered, but fuli and offensive, and THE HOUSES Al with the usual dirt, ‘The seats of these hot away. The floors are broken and dangerous, and they are, {no fact, almost unusable. No, 27 (front) is @ two story and basement frame, with brick front, The roof leaks badly ; the plaster in the ceilings | of the upper hallways is broken, and throughout the whole house fs dirty, ‘The clap are fallen off from two large Places on the second and top floors at the rear of the house. The ciapboards are also off irom several places on the side next tue alley becween 27 ani25. The front leader in the alley is not properly cemented and keeps the ground damp. | The area in front of the front basement (used as a shop) on the street is not paved and has no railing around it, No. 27 (rear) is a three story brick. ‘The roof leaks. The ain lender in front ig broken and disconnected. The yar which fs common to x1, rear, and 2%, rear, is paved, bt needs re-grading and repairing. The basement and area are in the same condition as the basements and areas of Nos, 35 and 23, rear. ‘Tce owaer of these buildings is a lady, said to be now in e Hame could not be ascertained. The agent England, but lives in the city. T consider theee butldings. from their age, their want of repair and the sanitary conditions which I have alone de- scribed,as being unsafé, dangerous and unfit for human havitatfon. 1 respecttuily recommend that Nos. 28, front rear, and 25, front and vacated permanently, , front and rear, be vaca‘ pairs under "the instructions of the Board, Another inspector describes the premises No. 8 York strect in the following terms >— It is a two story aitic and basement (building) frame and occupied at present by five families, and presents the follow- ing conditions detrimental to health :— fe roof is very rotten, broken and leaks so badly that the Looms OF. Me, ewer. Goors ye rendered) dep, and._un- eaithy, ‘The plastering of the walls and ceilings of the halls is dirty and broken. Peed Micron entre merge ‘The steps from the back hall door to the yard are dilapt- Tear, be dated, shaky and unsafe. The front is used’as @ depot for Junk, and ia in a very filthy condition. The rear basement is open, unused and filled with rubbish, straw and filth. ‘The building fs of frame, three stories high, with two cel- or basements, and is ly out of repair. The beams ‘are settled; the floors of the rooms, balls and amtages are broken; externally and internally the patchwork of boards and thin plank, too frail to live in and ot such light material as to be a perfect temder box,” endangering the safety of the adjoining build- 3 he root leaks all over very badly; the plaster is broken !n a the halls, rooms and passageways. basement alleyway is extremely dark, damp The and filthy. ‘Phe yard is imperfectly graded, 1s paved with bric and oteuslre from accumulation ‘ot ait, ashes and old, junk, de. Gf ‘the closets common to Nos. 8 and 10, rear butld- tng, is covered with piles of old rags, and refuse'of bales of Fags are stored in the yard. ‘nother inspector, giving a description of 163 West Brosd- + AYR S— "The premises are occupied by three families, and are in a condition detrimental to health, and dangerous to life and ithe stairways are steep, dark and unsafe from want of re ¢ stairways are steep, dark and unsafe - air, and between the second floor, rear, and the third floor, nt, are not provided with any rail Tne floors of some of the rooms are broken and uneven, and some are very slanting, owing to the settling of the butlding. One cellar is used for storage of junk, and is very dirty. ‘The other cellar is occupied by mw shop and dwelling room. ‘The ceiling is so low that a small man cannot it. of cracks and stand up floors, sidewalks and cellings (all plank) are full air holes. The whole apartments are foul and black with dirt. The sleeping rooms are not ventilated. There are two closets on the second floor; one is dark, on haar hesogentig ale copiled win water others len a to applied with" wa cig pL a ween the two stores, whi al ‘ol a hol in the wall, and conf ly 80 aithy that, it is seldom It leaks into the corner basement ‘The passageways throughout the house are narrow, very ty. The floors are uneven, with holes worn in {hem in many places. resemble mostly a congeries of rat holes The cellings of the rooms and hails are very low woniaiag of the hous, on the side or rear, area number of burned-out stovenipes projecting + ‘nnd close to the Tough boarding which covers back of the house. Minis house is tue reaort of the vilest class of abanddfied colored women. The rents for the apartments are high, and the sidewelk pavement on York street is broken, dirty and dangerous. In this sketch of the lives and trials of the poor the fashionable woman will find ample food for Meditation whea she finds time to think, and an excellent field in which to labor for the improve- ment of a people who will sadly need before the winter months are passed some such attention as can only be bestowed by the wealthy. Sr. STEPHENS’ CHURCH FAIR, In this Joyous season, with the great festival of peace so near at hand, people's hearts expand with generosity, and their poorer and more neg- lected fellow beings are kindly remembered. Those ‘whose minds are not exceptionally dull to the re- quirements of Christmas time seek, therefore, for some place where they may best bestow their aid, and in which thelr benevolence may have the greatest effect, The Fair at St. Stephen’s church, which has now been in progress several days, affords the Catholic public ample opportunity for the gratification of yenerous impulse and well timed deeds of charity. There 1s so much of attraction at this Fair that, perhaps, nothing like it has ever before been gotten up, even by the ladies of St. Stephen’s, and they have hitherto borne away the palm for excellence in this respect from every other cnurcen in the city. Every taole bas some ornaments of its own upon which it specially prides itself, and each vies with its neigh- bor in the desire to present to visitors ’ A CHARMING UNIQUENESS that is irresistibly inviting. To those sage people who live over their youth again each recurring Christmas in wondering at the stupendous bounty of the kind-hearted Santa Claus an especial oppor- tunity fs offered at the Fair, Santa Ciaus himself could not discover any storehouse in the city at which he iyic sapply himself for the sake of his thousands of littie ones a8 well as here, and what more than this can any one ask? There is the prome- nade, with its crowds of merry, laughing girls and ineir’ delighted escorts; the “old people” walkin; about entranced with the gorgeous appearance o the hall, which {s brilliantly illuminated and full of all sorts of decorations; crowds founging about the orchestra stand, where the accomplished Danforth wields the baton with his al skill, and those pretty little plagues, the girls with the knick-knacks, who wont stop laughing whether you buy or not; not to speak of the young gentiemen at the billiard table and the embryo marksmen at the shooting gal- lery, ail forming a picture ee to look upon. A léasanter place to spend an hour than at this Fair Ke would be difficult to find, even without once think- tng of the orphans, the forlorn and the poor whom every five cents spent here aid8 in supporting and sheltering from the winter's cold. So far THE FAIR HAS BREN A GREAT SUCCESS, and the ladies who have day alter day labored to help it have reason to feel proud of their efforts, Especially to-morrow, Christmas Day, 13 1. expected that not only the members of St. Stephen’s parish shail attend and lend assistance, but that the kind+ hearted {rom all parts of the city shail be visitors, if even to only encourage by their presence those ladies who up to the present have been laboring 80 zealously in their self-imposed duty. It should not bo forgotten that Dr. McGlynn has never closed the doors of the many inatitutions his courageous zeal has establisned in St. Stephen's jhe and that these institutions are filled with inmates from all parts of the city. And hence chis appeal 1s only just, and, indeed, might be made to Christians of every nomination, for sect or creed has never been allowed to interfere in the harboring and caring tor the lost and suffering, whether young or old, who have sought assistance in any of the asylums of St. Stephen's parish. Whether, therefore, on account or te passing pleasure with which the Fair itself 1s surrouuded, or on account of the more enduring jeasure in the knowledge of having done good, the ‘air has clauns Jor generous hely AT THE DEPARTMENTS, Another Dull Day and All Quiet Along the Line. No business of any importance was transacted yesterday at any of the departments, The Mayor ‘Was busily engaged during the afternoon in signing warrants for the benefit of the workingmen who had been in the employ of the city government up to December, and he appeared to have his hands full. All visitors were warned off, on the ground that the Mayor had something more impor- tant to attend to tan ordinary conversations with outsiders. Even Charley Cornell, wao seemed to be very anxious to have a little talk with the Mayor, Was unable to get in @ word edgewise, aud had in the end to go his ways unsatisiied. The only sensation of the day at the office was the appearance of several of the newly elected Aldermen aod Assistant Aldermen, who expressed themselves extremely desirous of tak! the oath of oifice, Colonel Joline, all smiles an complacency, received each and ‘every one cor- dially; but, while allowing ail to swear as much as as Pleased, reiused utterly to fie the docu- mentary evidence in any one’s case, This was in accordance, of course, with instructions from the Mayor given weeks ago. By New Year's Day, therefore, we may expect an awful lot of Fan over the change in the Board of Aldermen and ant Aldermen. The Comptroller’s Office was thronged the live long day with workingmen and workingwomen too, wuo had been notified that they could get their warrants for work done daring September last. The inspectors of sewers were tne only men who succeeded in getting their warrants all rignt before nightfall, and tue women who do the frei scrubbing and cleaning about the pubito of- ices were also made happy by receiving one montn’s ue. Many of the women carried little baces in their arms, and looked extremely destitute. There ‘Was no question Waulever about their baving done their hard work for every day char; in their accounts; but they too to remuin in the office Pali ‘with wet many hours before they could be attended to, Board of Apportionment—The Park Impr ment Fund and the New York Brid; Company Get a Few Dollars. The Board of Apportionment held a meeting yes- terday afternoon at the Comptrolier’s office. Tne Mayor presided. Colonel Stebbins, President of the Department of Public Parks, and Mr. Green, the Comptroller, were also present. Tne follor resolution was adopted, after which the meeting adjourned:— Secclred Seah pursuance of the authority conferred upon the Mayor, Comptroller, the Commissioner of Public orks and the President of the Department of Public Varks by the provisions of section 4, chapter 688, of the Laws of ‘Is71, the Comptroller be and he is hereby authorized to issue, in pursuance of iaw, from time to time, as may be require d at such rates of interest as he may determine, not ex even percent per annum, t.e Loilowing stock and bonds of the city oc New York, viz. City Park Improvement Fund Stock as authorized by ghapter 290, laws of L871, to mect requisitions of 1be Depart- ment of Public Farka, dated October 7 and 24, 1871, $600,000, New York Bridge bonds as authorized by chapter 399, sec- tion 12, laws of 4807, aad ordinance of the Uommon Council, pissed December 28, 1883, to meet requisition of the New ridge Company of December 14, 1371, $450,000. Latest from the Comptroller’s Office. Comptrolier Green on Saturday removed Michael Fay, Clerk of Fulton Market, and several clerks in the Department of Finance, and attendants of the Supreme Court. The Comptroller depositea $50,009 to the credit of the Department of Public Parks for payment of laborers and others on the parks, He also paid the men and women employed as cleaners, &c., in some of the public buildings and oMices, inspectors, axemen, messengers and others employed in tae Department of Public Works, ANOTHER ASORTION CASE, Catherine Cahill’s Misfortune—A Post-Mortem Examination to be Held To-Day. One more victim has been added to the long list Of the villanoug abortion cases py the death of Catherine Canill, She was a young and handsome woman, and asthe body lay in the Morgue yester- Gay, cold and neglected, the spectacle was certainly very sad to contemplate—a decaying relic of malpractice, The deceased, said to have been @ dressmaker, ooarded at 22 Pike street for four days prior to her death, It appears tnat on Wednesday last she informed the landlady that she was uowell and needed the aid of @ physician. She visited a doctor the same evening and was prescribed for, but 1t would seem that tne patient became worse. and was finally aMictea by severe pains and convulsions, She was subse- quently conveyed to Bellevue Hospital in an ambu- lance. Her case was promptly inquired into, and afver examination conclusions were arrived at that the sick woman was the victim of malpractice, The poor girl died at an early nour yesterday morning, prety! been ‘fectly unconscious for over forty- eight hours, The body was afierwards placed in the Morgue for identification. Suspicion of foul play was naturally created by the surrounding cir- cumstances of the case, and Detectives Shalby and ‘Wild, of the Seventh precinct, pry kept @ loo out at the late resiuence of tne deceased, Orders were given that any person making inquiries concerning her spould be detained, At noon yester- day @ gentleman presented bimself at the house in question and asked some ques- tions in tion to Catnerme Oahill, He ‘Was arrested and subsequently taken up to Bellevue Hospital, but on being takea imto the Morgue, and seeing the body ot this Catherine Ca- hill, stated that the for whom he had in- quired at Pike street was alvogether different in appearance from deceased. an investigation into the circumstances was held at the hospital b} Beach, on behal! of Coroner Herrman, and, it ap- pearing that the party arrested was in some way connected with or could throw some light upo. the mystery of Miss Cahul’s death, he was removed to ‘the Seventh precinct station, in default of ball, to await the result of the post-mortem examination to be held to-day. In answer to several in- terrogatories the accused stated that he had just arrived trom Philadelphia this morning, and that on reading the papers he saw the name of a lady he bad known mentioned onder the aistressin; circumstances referred to; that he at once proceed to Pike street, and on being taken to Bellevue Hos- pital to identify the body, disclaimed all knowledge ‘of the di . That malpractice bas been brought into requisition the police surgeons have already determined, and the reason assigned for the deten- tion of the accused 1s, that aliiough he may not rove to be the criminal, it 1s thought that he will be able to solve the mystery chat now surrounds the death of the unfortunate woman, of whose arentage, associations or history nobody seems to now anything. The post-moriem examination, however, will doubtless reveal some of the im- portant facts connected with the case, Warden Brenoan, the genial and generous super- Intendent of the hospital, succeeded in making the eve of the great festival as agreeapie for the suffer- ing inmates of the institution as possible. Under hig auspices special entertainments will be provided to morrow, and, although sociaoility in an Nosptitat may seem rather paradoxical, gentleness, good natore anda kind word will go a long way to sootne the feelings of chose whom distressing accl- dent has severed irom their homes, ABOLITION OF FEES TO PUBLIC OFFICERS, New york, Dec. 19, 1871, To Tae Ep1ToR OF THR HERALD: ~ In yesterday's issue, under the head of “Official Pickings and Stealings,” you very properly announce needed re- form.” You will find this same subject made a plank in the platform of @ political organization existing several years ago. This anti-republican system of paying officials by fees of office Inave long considered corrupting in ite influence and inconsistent with the government of an intelligent com- munity. The oficial who {s suffered to appropriate the fees of his office as bis compensation ss furnished with additional clerical force and assistants, paid out of the pub lic treasury, as the business of his office increases his receipts are increased without any cor Under a repub while Tesp onding expense to himeelt. Hea government 1 th for the public good he the fees of oflice are for very hight 1d Fou cuutinue, this ollice 1s passing into reformer he will, of course, be oi id pro- bs publicly announce pe trace One reform vy offering to make an assignment to the City $easury of ail Over and above 818,000 per annum-B10,000 44 smpensation for himself, %6,00) for je deputy and 63,000 for is assistant—to which the reform candivate took ception! waying twas then getting 910,000 per num,” eari me to the fororn conciusion ap increase of salary was this reformer's incentive, vd the only reform the public, would derive iron. this change Was the Feforming of one set of olliciais out to reform Eacuver set in, Row. a, Lean. sanure you that a very com er leman, ‘leotly familiar w: e duties of Regis- ter For the best deoul i per anol been one es in that oflice, would ‘accept it at um. enclose moony of the platform of the association which this subject under consideration, and the third and ith articles were introduced by myself. But those officials you refer to are not the on.y ones on the aysvem you so justiy Condemn. Fees as compensation should be aboitshed in every insiance, Under the general goveroment it has worked rank corruption, I strongly urged Secretary MeCulloch to ‘abolish it in his department, as I had seen its corrupting in- fluence in the Cusfom House. . Zive puritication of our elections is, also sought to be effected by legisiative ensctments; but my jctions are that unless a greater reverence, a greater respect tu. the Dallot is secured, very little reform will be effected. The Jaw has very properly removed the polls as far as possibie from the effects. of whiskey; but T would submit for the consideration of our lawmakers that they clothe the polis dignity of a ovurt, compel ullto enter the eld uncovered, with all the respect it no swearing, and regia all where the poll ie nded on enteriug a court roo ribaldry or political arguments, Tho tors tere of election possess the power and ates of w justice: why not, then, secure to them the same decorum and dignity that appertaics to a court of justice’ itm a solemn du C the ott yerforme in vote, and more dignity ‘woud ascnFa ereater Buri ‘LiRBENAU. Mi place dei bishops. His Holiness left his private apartment about eleven A. M. in the dress which he ugual! assumes On audience days, but not that useq solemn occasions, He was followed by his suite of prelates and guards. Entering the torial hall, the Pope seated himself on the With Cardinal Antonelli on his right and Caterint on nis left, and immediately began to: lish the names of the new bisnops, without nouncing any allocution or induiging in any test. Cardinal Marichini came frst on the list Archbishop of Bologna, vice the Dominican nai Guidi, resigned. The latter could not get ‘With the local nobility, clergy or people, and fore His Holiness has provided a successor for gifted with more prudence aud @ more spint. ‘THIRTEEN NOMINATIONS TO VACANT BISHOPRICS ITALY followed and five to sees tn partibus, three of were in favor of Irish preiates— Fathers Conway, Skreene; MacCormack, of Westport, and Bryan, Nenogh—who will eventually succeed to the et ive bishoprics of Killaia, Axhonry and Killaloe, At the conclusion of the ceremony the Pape some observations to we cardinals present, Diaining that une Italian government insisted the presentation of tha buji of nomination by th new bishops before conferring upon them the ro; exequatur, HIS HOLINESS AND [HE EMPEROR AND EMPBESS 0) BRAZLL. 5 In the afternoon, at four o’clock, His Holiness ceived in private audience the Emperor and E: press of Brazil, accompanied by Signor Figueir the Brazilian Minister at the Holy See. ‘Their Jesties arrived in Rome on Tuuraday evening, an after a little rest and refreshment at the Hotel Ties Britanmiques, went to the Apollo Theatre ¢ hear the opera of “Guarany,” which was dedteat tthe Emperor by the Brazil.an maestro, Gomes, who studied at Milan under the patronage of Majesty. THE EMPEROR SEEING THE SIGHTS. Yesterday morntng the Emperor commenced ‘ round of sight-seeing at the early hour of s1x, ac. companied by the Commendatore Rosa, visiting t Piazza of St. Peter first, but reserving the church) luseif tor @ visit 1n company with the Empress, Majesty next went to the’ Convent of Mt. Onofrio, where he was much interested in the objects con. nected with the last days of the unfortunate poet Tasso—the oak under which oe used to sit Mm the; garden, tue cell in whic he dled and the lette: which he left in the convent. Dom Pedro continue his excursion along the Taniculum, espe ing the magniticent panorama of Rome frou» thi terrace of Sau Pietro in Montorio, Recrossing thi ‘Liber the Emperor visited the tomb of Pellegrin Rossi in the Churen of St. Loreazo in Damaso, an expressed his veneration tor that great ital patriot, The Pantheon was the last object ins} beiure the Emperor returned to breakfast, altel ‘Which repast the sight-seeiug was renewed, the Eni. press and members of their Court Jotning the party, which filled four large landaus. A part of the after- noon was devoted, a4 1 have said, to @ visit to the Vatican to see Pius [X, His Holiness received hi Imperial yisitors 1n the most Cordial manner, Thei Majesties returned vo their botel to dinner. VICTOR EMMANUEL PAYS HIS RESPECTS. } About eight o'clock in the evening King Vi Emmanuel arrived to pay thein a visit, accompaani by Prince Doria, prefect ol the palace, The Bm} came down to meet the King. The interview tween the two sovereigns wus rather long. The} Dad many points of mutual interest to discuss. Bot profess liveral principles and observe scrupulo' the Constitutional réyimv. Both are anger amo. their suvjects. Their age is not greatly dissimilar. ‘The King of Italy is if y-one years oid, Dom vedro, Emperor of Brazil, 1s forty-six, After a good deal of conversatiun the Emperor presented the diga! of his Vourt to the King, aud when Victor Em manuel put an end to his visit Dom Pedro accompa nied him to the foot of the stairs, TO THE COLISKUM AND FORUM. Later in the evening the Emperor went out accompaaied ony by oue of nis gentiemen and ih Commendatore Rosa, to visit the Coliseum and Fi Tum by moonlight and the Capitol by torcniight, turning very lute, which did not prevent him going Out again very carly tus morning, to altenively the Palatine, the Forum, the farpe! Rock and the Mamertine Prison, in which, accord. ing to ecclesiastical legends, St, Peter was THE PROGRAMME OF THE FESTIVITIES attending the opening of Parliament eetorcd been published; but there are no appearances oO! the Pope’s making good lis threat of abandoni Rome so soon us that ceremouy takes place and tn bul for suppressing religious corporations under consideration. ‘ihe Liveria says on this sub= ject:—“We are assured that the various is corporations in Rome are drawing up an address the Pope praying nim to remain at the Vatic We give this news with the greatest reserve.” shall only comment on the illuminations and othe! festive demonstrations after I have been able to judge by ocular demonstration of their et al- hough the Osservatore Komano decides beforehan that the Chevalier Ottina’s designs will on far ferior to those of the 12th April, in the Pope's time MISCELLANEOUS, 5 Every train from Fiorence or Naples bi anum. ber of memvers of Paritament to Rome. We aver age about thirty Senators and sixty Deputies ever; day. the Municipality of Naples hae sent to that of Rome @ magnificent national fag as @ sign of i joy at the installation of the Purlament in the de« nitive Capital of italy. This morning the first meet of the Anglo-Roman: foxh ounds took place at the Cecchignola, seven mil from Rome. The King did not attend, hoped, but Prince Humvert and the on the ficia by eleven A. M. The weather was fin and the sport excellent, promising @ good continua-! ton of the huoting scason. CALIFORNIA. A Blunder by a Clerk of the Signal Service! Bureau—fhe Receut Floods in Nevaan : County—Examining the Case of Manuel! Cobos for Piracy. SAN FRANCISCO, Dec, 22, 1871. An employé of the Signat Service Bureau created quite an excitement last night by ciroulating @ re- | port that a despatch from Washington predicted a second storm to-day more violent than the last, Ag! there are no signs of a storm up to this te the 56+; port is believed to be a biunder. The report of several deaths in Nevada county! from the bursting of a dam is contradicted by tha superintendent of the Noith Bluomfleid mina, Ex~ msive aami has been done to the milis alon Garson River Nevada, and portons of Dayton an Empire City have been flooded, ‘The Southern Pacific Railroad has been repatret/ and trains are running to Gilroy. There are no, trains yet by the way of eltner Vailejo or Stockton ; to Sacramenio, and the only communication is by! boats, ‘The examination of Manuel Cobos for all , iracy in seizing the schooner Cina Greenwood in| Qagdatena Bay, which was claimed by Drake De-, Kay, 18 now going on. DeKay admitted on the} crosa-examination thac Cobus paid for the schooner here, but that he (DeKay) took out papers in his! own name. When Vobos iearned at jalena that the vessel had not been entered in his name he | seized her by force, , Clearing Up of the Blunder about the Second. Storm—The Piracy Case Dismissed \ SAN FRANCIECO, Cal, Doc. 22—Evening. (/ ‘The reporter for the Weather Signal Service says; the prediction of a heavy storm was made on hig, own responsibility, not on that of the bureau ati Washington, United states Commissioner Sawyer has dismissedy the charge of piracy against Manuet Covos, in the) matter of the seizure 01 the schooner Cina Green-! wood at Magdalena Bay, without the introductiom| of evidence for defence. " CANADA. Prorogation of the Ontario Parliament. ToRoNTO, Ont., Dec. 23, 1871, ‘The Ontario Parliament has been prorogued until! January 18, when the vacant seats of the new Minis-- oad neg those created by contested elections will all 0 ? Pigeon Shooting at Toronto—Bogardus Against Ward. TononTo, Ont., Dec, 23, 1871, | A snow bird match was snot yesterday between. Captain Bogardus, the champion shot of the United, States, and James Ward, of Toronto, Ward shot sixty-six birds out of one hundred, and Bogardus, sixty-five, A good deal of dissatisfaction was ex-, pressed at the result, as 10 1s believed that both mem; could have done pevter, BISHOP BAKER'S FUNERAL, Concord, N, H., Dee, 23, 1871. ‘The funeral of Bishop Osman ©, Baker, of the Methodist Episcopal Ciurch, took place this morn- ing at the Methodist Episcopal church, No bishops attended the tuneral, put a large number of clergy men were presen> a af , cr