The New York Herald Newspaper, October 11, 1872, Page 4

* had not the friendly hana of Captain Williams, of 4 THR STEAMSHIP AMERICA. | Special History Progress of the Fire by Which the Vessel Was Lost. “All Bight” in the Evening, but a Dire Alarm in the Dead of Night, Simple Origin of a Most Serious and Fatal Conflagration. ‘The rest. began ropes. of tho ta money they thousand dollara—ticd tt and, thua heavily weighted, jumped into some hand gave way by all were Bome ef sea. To these circumstances must be attributed ITALIAN SHOT IN RELIRG. After everybody had left the ship the launch of the Italian corvette Vittor Pisani came alongside and fired the contents of her howitzer into the ship, trying. to sink her. But this was altogether futile, the shot having no effect upon tho ship's sides. Efforts had been made before the captain left the slip to food the magazine, bus this place was in- accessible, The tug was now alo jo with & steam fire engine fromshore, and alt) ugh several streams of water were continually played upon her the ship burned all night and all next day, until » When thore was little left to burn; and The Vessel Wrapped in Flames | tie rain, SS cmos pamo® which blew Suddenly. DEFECTIVE HOSE AND NO WATER — Sad Scenes on Board and from the Shore. Friendly Aid from Men-of- War’s Men. Tho Chinese Jumping to a Suicidal | thres foreigners Watery Grave. {Loss of Life, Loss of Treasure and Loss of a Fine Ship. BOW DM THE DISASTER OCCUR? Official Investigation and Finding of the Court. Description of the Scene by a United States Naval Officer. flow Our Youthful Tars Boarded and Manned the Burning Deck. By Hgratp special correspondence from Yoko- hama, Japan, under date of September 5, we have _the following extended and complete report of the origin and progress of the fire on board the mail steamship America, by which that vessel, with very mai human lives and a considerable amount of treasuse, was lost, The HERALD writer supplies, also, ¢8tatement of the oficial inquiry which has been already made—another is probable—with the view of ascertaining the true cause of the calamity. Barning of the Pacific Mail Steamship Amorioa. Yoxomama, Sept. 5, 1872. The Pacific mall steamship America, Captain Doane, arrived in port on the morning of August 24, after a pleasant voyage of 23 days across the Pacific ocean. Her passengers and cargo for Yokohama were all landed that day, and during the afternoon a fow packages of carga were taken in from this place for Hong Kong. AIRE IN THE NIGHT AND TUE SHIP WRAPPED IN FLAM At eleven o'clock P, M. nearly all hand had re- tired to rest, as all the officers had been up the | whole of the previous night, preparing to enter | port. The Captain and first officer had gone their | usual rounds and found everything allright, A | few minutes past eleven, when the whole ship was | hushed and quiet—nobody being around but the ‘watchmen, the stewardess and the captain of the lighters—smoke was seen to issue from the side- lights of the ship and from the saloon, and immedl- ately the terrible cry of “Fire!” rang through the ship. All hands made the best oftheir way to where the fire was said to be. It was certainly below the main saloon. The first ‘People to get to the steerage appear to have been the Arst officer, Miller, and a quartermaster named Wilson. On the starboard side of the upper Steerage some twenty bales of hay had been | stowed, and these were found to be on fire. Al- though the smoke was very dense—as burning hay | makes @ rapid and suffocating smoke—all these | first witnesses of the fre areof one mind, that the fire covered but a small space, two bales alone being apparently then on fire, AFLOAT, BUY NO WATER, The hose was immediately stretched and the noz- tle potnted at the fames, when horror! there was no water. By this time the Captain and several | others had reached the scene, while their enemy, the fire, was progressing with fearful rapidity. | “Water, for God's sake!’ shouted everybody. In | about five minutes, to the joy of everybody, water | came; but alas, only to mock their efforts, fora feeble stream played for about three minutes and | tuen ceased, The truth then for the first time seemed to dawn upon those who were endeavoring | to quell the fire—there was no steam to drive the | pumps. Buckets were now drawn into play and | thrown on the burning steerage deck from the main saloon, the deadlights of which leading to the steerage deck had been broken through. By this time the fire had spread with fearful rapidity, It had taken possession of the whole of the after steerage, being fanned by a score of open ports and several ventilators, which caused a cur- rent of air through the steerage most favorable to the spread of aconfagration. The fire made its way along the narrow passages to the forward steerage | and up to the maim deck. Inch vy inch the men were driven away from the stecraye, om the saloon, from the main deck. EXCITING SCENE IN THE WARROR, BUT FRIENDLY AID OF NO AVAIL. In less than twenty minutes from the first dis- covery of the fire the whole ship was full of sutfo- cating smoke, and was afire its whole magnificent length, Allover the harbor fire alarm belis were | ringing, and tke harbor was alive with boats; but so rapid was the fire that we have only heard of two boats being able to board the ship, one acut- _ ter from the British man-of-war Rinaldo, and a | sarpan, containing two oficers of the United States | ship Lackawanna, who happened to be passing on their way to their ship at the time. The futility of further fighting the fire soon impressed itself on the minds of all. One by one, as the officers and the men were veaten back by the flames, did they seek safety from the burning ship by jumping over- Doard or sliding down ropes. At twenty minutes to tweive the Captain himself jumped for ils life. He was the last to leave the ship. A® be struck the water his limbs became paralyzed, and be would inevitably have drowned the Costa Rica; sei#ed.ii as he was about to sink for the third time. THR OMINESE PASSENGRRS RUSHING TO DESTRUC- | TION. In the meantime there was terrible confusion | among the 160 Chinese passengers forward. at | the first alarm of the fire they commenced rushing | on deck with their boxes and packages and e!- fects. Ail rushed for the one Jadder forward, gen- Th Grom shore wes grand and terrible, ie soene from. shore wi . Before it was known to the people of the settic- ment. the fire had mado groat headway, and at- ene toaave her had been abandoned. for the reat of the shipping. it was a dcad caim, 80 that there was little danger of othor vessels being injured by the boas ship. ‘On the afternoon of Bunday tho postings of tho ship were cut away and sho was towed over to Kanajawa. In doing so sho fouled the Decapolis, but did hor no damage. She then fouled the ship White Adder, some of whose headgear had to be cut away before the wreok drove past, She then fot foul of the Thracian, and on set her on fire; ut this was soon put out, and the Thracian, silp- Ping her cables, got out of danger. REMAINS OF THE MARINE STRUCTURE, All that is-left of the Amerioa ia her funnel, hor immense iron wheels and her tron bracing nnd cop- r. There is scarcely enough wood loft to make B x of matches. LOSS OF LIFE AND NUMBER OF THB VICTIMS. The human yictima to. this disaster numbor tifty- ne, viz:—Fifty-three Chinese, three Japanese aud The foreigners were John H. Barker, engineors’ storekeeper; Joseph Lymort, steerage watchman, and Thomas B. Cook (colored), ptoerage cook, All the bodies have been recovered. TREASURE. On the persoss of the Chinese were found bags and pouches containing Mexican dollars, Ameri- can gold coin and gold dust. About $7,000 has been recovered andigs now in the hands of tho United States Consul, Undoubtedly there must have been among the Chinese passengers a large amount of money—as Chinamen going home from California have usui managed to save from $500 to $5,000, This they always carry with them, never buying drafts or giving it tothe purser for sate keeping; and there is no doubt that con- siderable of this money has been recovered and secreted away by wreckers, There were no Luro- an passengers on board at the timo. All the Yovonsma passengers had landed with their effects during the day. ‘The Hong Kong and Shanghae passengers were ashore, but had leit all their baggage on the ill-fated ship, and, of course, that was all lost. There were about four hundred thousand dollars in treasure on board. This was placed in a large iron tank in the hold. The compavy’s men are now at work on the wreck trying to get this tank up. INQUIRY AS TO CAUSE. How did the fire take place? When I saw Oap- tain Doane next day and asked him this question he answered that he coutd only account for it in one of two ways —either it had been set on fire or it was the etfect of spontaneous combustion, Ho was then under the impression that the fire com- menced on the freight deck, and so expressed him- self on the stand during the oficial investigation. But this theory was disproven by all the witnesses who saw the fire in its tncipiency, and further by the facts that had it been on the freight deck it must have been some time before it could commnu- nicate to the steerage deck, where it was first seen, and during that time it would have exposed itself through the smoke that would have assur- edly escaped by the ventillators that communicate with the hurricane deck. Again, on the freight deck were several boxes of cartridges which did not burn until about three o'clock the next Morning, showing that the fire must have been communicated to that deck after its discovery on the steer: ge deck, It undoubtedly originate: the hay. How? It will be seen from the testi- money adduced at the investigation that the steerage hatchway was the thoroughtfare generally used lor coolles, &c., going down to the freight deck to work. Now Japanese coolles will smoke wherever they have the opportunity, and they are extremely careless as to where they tygow the still burning ashes. But we see that lies quit jeWork at eight o'clock; and althon, were at first allowed to stay on the steerdwe eck by the first officer, this order was rescinded, provably on account of that oficer reflecting by the com. bustible material that was im the steerage and on the habits of the Japanesi at nine o'clock thoy were all (a8 shown by the oficial investigation), But it is quite possible that one or two either stayed there to sleep or made their way to that place after- and | Wards, for the Moga dy steward distinctly says that one knowing the ship could make his way there without beingseen by the watchman, and the fact that the steerage watchman was not the: first to give the alarm otf fire, although it occurred at the place where he ought to have been on the lookout, and the further fact that he himself was burned, speak very little in favor of his care and watchful- ness, Whether it was accident or design ts more diMcult of explanation. My own opinion is that one or two coolies had surreptitiously remained or crept there, realizing the fact that bales of hay made @ softer bed than the boards of the deck, and that while there indulged in smoking and thus set fire to the ship. The story told by the two sailors of the Lacka- wanna is altogether unworthy of credence; the conception of the romance was evidently after the fact and is to be attributed to that love of the romantic inherent in the breast of every sailor, especially a man-of-w: man. In the first place Japanese do never, in speaking among themselves, speak “pigeon English.” On the contrary the; invariably speak their own language, of whicl these men*do not understand a word. Again, if there had been any design to burn the ship, where these saliors were would be the last place that the erpetrators would rush to to tell their design. Further, sailors are not noted for reticence. Yet this man Davis, as he testified, hears of a probable burning of an American ship, takes no in- terest im the matter, makes no inquiries, and tn @ room full of people only tells his chum of what he had beard. Chum again, not being bound to keep it quiet, neverthe- less Says nota word about it fo any one, and, al- though the fire occurs that night, does not speak of it to a living soul, not even to the officers of his ship or his mates, until several hours after he has veen on board the ship and two days after the fire, although they both saw the fire. Besides, the Japanese women alluded to were examined. None of them knew anything about the fire till next morning, and the only basis for the whole yarn is that when the sailors left the house the next morn- ing one of the women said, “Big Melican ship makee burn.” As the boys overnight had mdulged in considerable flrewater their recollections of the time when this occurred are pot probably very | distinct. Another rumor got started around the settlement that the ship was set on fire by Japanese, from motives of revenge, It was stated that just before the Great Republic started on her Jast voyage to San Francisco a Japanese had been killed by two omcers of the Pacific Mail Steamship Company on that ship, and his body bad been sent ashore in a barrel, and several Japanese who had been wit- | Resses to the deed were secured in the company’s erally used by the Chinese passengers. Upon this coal shed until the Repubiic got away, gittion this turned out to be all “bosh,’? On investi- The whole the great loss of life, for the water was perfectly |, calm, and the burning ship was surrounded by in- numerable boate, the oocupants of which didevery- thing tn their powor to save life. blowi an it waste of steam and coal. Now, it ia a well-known fact that econ- omy in en) on the engineers. This of only keeping a half supply steam on has more than been gan by the com and its agents, For the lack of steam, the: pe ‘the responsibility lies tween the com| the engineer; and, in my opinion, the should bear the heavios brunt of the matter. com) are aware bi ruleI do not know; if i¢ ia not, then the chief en- gincor is culpable, Atte Cae ae ttl ha 8 fuses enone preciso mes ready when required, - con praaanoe with this rule the chief engineer is in at fault, i might be asked why the lowor cocks were not turned on and tho one Nooded ang sunk, thereb; saving at feast the bull of the ship, which coul have been afterwards raised. tain “Done's answer to this is—'That at first his confined to ric ow to put the-fire out. that was found to im ble the lower docks were unapproachable.”” The great loss of Ilfe is without doubt attributable to Chinese to save their affects, thom appeared tn the Court and stated that when the alarm was first ‘given if they had not been pre- vented by some ropeans from jumping over- board a great many more would have Beek saved, Nothing correborating this cou e1icited the othe. testimony, hinese aamit at one time there were over one hun- dred on tho ladder, Of courte the ladder broke. The probabilities are tha such in- terference took place it was to warn them from crowding be much and attempting to save their baggage. veral of the bodies pike up had large bags of clothing tied on thelr backs. One thing certainly was neglected, Some officers should have been detached to see to the passen- gers and endeavor to get them all off the ship in an orderly manner; but there is no evidence that this was done, THE COURT OF INVESTIGATION AND ITS FINDING. Tho omictal investigation lasted nearly four days, but it was by no means.a complete one. Many un- necessary uestions were asked and many vital ones omitted, The United States laws for the government of passenger-carrying steamships were apparently not consulted. Besides, a@ certain ne of harshness was used by the President of the Court towards the witnesses entirely at variance with the usual suave manner of that gentleman, It had the effect of placing the witnesses on the defensive, they seeming to have a feeling that each individually was ou trial for burning the ship, It is most probable that a more comple! expert ship will be held in New York, where expert shipmasters and engincers will be called upon for testimony. That the investigation here should have been incomplete is quite compre- hensible, The Conrt cannot bo pa panied to be thoroughly posted upon steamsh{p matters, and there were few if any experts at his command. Nevertheless the Court evinced the utmost patience in trying to silt the matter, and if it did not thor- oughily succeed but little blame can attach to it, THE DECISION rendered by the Court. is a lengthy one, and de- cides nothing. It is & mere resumé of the testi- mony with the opinions of the Court attached. It seems to me they might have gone a little further. With the exception of very lightly ere “on the want of aos or great tardiness” in tho engineer's department, no blame is attached to anybody. Yet the Court finds ‘that notwithstand- ing all this capacity—referring to its capacity for poring out fire—steam was only on one donkey oller, and, with a full head of steam, not more than five streams, altogether, could be supplied to exttned ish a fire.” Surely, somebody is to blame for this, ‘The Court finds that it is “usual to allow steam to go down on all boilers except the donkey boil- ers, when in port.” If this be true, and the cOm- pany is aware of this, then the company Is respon- sible. If not, then it rests with the Captain and other ofticers of the ship, Again, the Court finds that too much time and too many persons were occupied with phe house, instead of forming lines with the buckets, 18 nobody to blame for tnis? Is anybody to driven out | | | absurd story had been founded on the bare fact | that on board the Decapolis a Jap had been killed, An American who was engaged on the coal on that ip bas been arrested, aud he states that tne man } down the hold by accident, A full Investigation into this matter has not yet been held; but it will probably turn out as the prisoner asserts, HOW DID THE DISASTER UAPPEN ? Now arises the question, how did tt happen that a ship like the America, well oMcered and manned, thoroughly equipped in all ways, should be com- pletely destroyed by a fire, insignificant 1 its be- ginning, in the space of time little exceeding half an hour? cally given by the witness There was no water! There was not sufficient steam to work the pumps to supply the water, Alter the fire the chief engineer well understood that inquiries would be made of bi reason that there was no available steam, and felt that he was unable to sfactorily answe those questions, When on the stand his manner Was hesitating and confused; but le weakened his own cause by attempting to attribute the lack of Water to other causes than to the absence of steam. His plea that the fecd pipe might have burst or at the investigation. The answer bas been fully and unequivo- | broken or fallen down, or that the joints had melted | or bui was absurd—was flatly contradicted by the testimony of facts by the different witnesses, and none more unequivocally than by his own first assistant engineer. Li any accident had occurred to the pipe how could water come through any one hosef Yet it was fully roved that one hose tn the saloon and one on the hurricane deck did give water; and the captain states that that one on the hurricane deck was transmitting water when he des:ted the ship, His statement that the one hose might Lave been connected with other sources of supply showed that he was ignorant of the machinery of the ship, for the captain, first officer and first agsistant en- gineer all distinctly swear that there Was but source of supply ship. The theory of the hose valves being closed ts flatly contradicted by the first oMcer and the o tain. The first officer saw to the valves lumsett, and it is but nataral to suppose that the veriest blockhead, in connecting a hose with the feed pipe, would see that the valve was open. The cause, therefore, of the fire becoming master so soon is attributable to the want of steam and to that alone. While there can be no doubt, therefore, as to this fact, the question Of responsibility ia de- | batabie, OFFICIAL PLEAS IN JUSTIFICATION, The company hay published a pymphiet coutata- ut one | ev water throughout the whole | blame for the ee cnenmon as to the headway of the fire and the “confusion?” And, | lastly, is no one to blame for the “unexpected fail- ure of water??? The “conviction” entertained by the Court that the fire was the work of an incendiary 1s scarcely borne out by the testimony, That it is quite pos- sible and even probable is most true, but not more possible or probable that it was the result of an accident. There is no reason to suppose that any antipathy did exist “on the part of some person towards the Pacific Mail Steamship Company or some Of its oflicers.”” And as to the fact that the few Chinese passengers were generally supplied with large sums of money—this is of monthly oc- currence—every steamer brings more or less China- men. The America was carrying an exceptionally small number of passengers—160 in all. However, as stated above, there is Just as much reason to suppose that it was the action of some depraved wretch as to etapege it was the result of an accl- dent. But whether it was the one or the other is destined, Iam afraid, to remain forever a mystery. The Oficial Investigation. The Court consisted of Consul Shepard, presiding; Captain Paul Shirley, United States steamship Lackawanna; Captain Percy, American steamer Emperor. United States Minister De Long occupied a seat onthe bench, and from time to time made sug- gestions to the Court. The Court convened August 31, 1872. SETH DOANE’S TESTIMONY. Captain Seth Doane being duly sworn, testified—Am a shipmaster; my last command was the Pacific Mail steamship Company's stemmship, America; wasin com- mand and on board at the tme of the fire; I was asleep; ‘was aroused by the first officer, wh: id the ship was on tire; as near as I can recollect it w ew minutes past eleven o'clock; six bells had struck; I rushed into the saloon; saw the hose stretches and men to quarters; each man has a station; (was shown a book ‘of «Regulations of the company which he recognized as" such); pace 48 ot sald book is the Fire Stations bill; copies of these are posted all over the ship; Isaw the flames through the deadlights of saloon deck; these deadlights were about half way between main and mizzen masts; saw the light of the flame through the deadlights; there was no other evidence of fire in the saloon as there was no outlet; caw men at- tempting to open the hatch leading down (o the steerage ordered them desist and not to open the hatch till water came; [then passed into the ladies’ saloon be- low; saw no smoke or other indications ire there; then returned to main saloon, broke open a deadlight and led a hose down; there aré five decks in the ship— orlop, ht, steerage, main and hurricane; the hold | has tl Ikheady and two compartments space be- | C Pileck and freight deck ts used for frelght and | bunkers oecupy space amidships alongside of ft A ikhead ‘comes hait way between inain the space between freight deck and steerage deck 1s used for freight, that between steerage and main deck for passengers and freight; on this cecasion there was only some hay in that part over the after com- partment; the fire was ‘discovered on steerage tor- in middle compartme: ocd sts twas pled by coal; it may have of af tly over the spa n Over elther or bo compartments; ‘could not tell exact situation of fame: soon after putting the hose down the deadlight the oke and flames drove every le body away; Tgoton to the steerage deck through the sid door, whi is 1s About the middie of the ship; got nearly into forward part of stecrag but the sim was £0 dense Tcould not stay; cannot say whether fre broke out on freight de r sicerage ik; cannot tell particularly ‘Was burning, the whole deck was in a perfect shect watchmen are stationed all over the ship; the chman was on watch at the locality of the fre; he has charge of that deck; the quarter+ master on watch should go through there every halt h hen I was on steerage deck Idrove the pag sengers out of the steerage and then went back into the | suloo e to the upper deck, and started the hose through the ventilators; in case of fire it is the duty of the executive officer to proceed to the place of fire; I saw the frst oMcer there; I think all the officers were at thelr posts; noticed none absent; when I first went into the saloon no Water was passing through the hose: it was v oF five minutes before water came; when the water ome itonly lasted four or five minutes; only one was be played on the fire from the saloon; proba: hose were laid; as many ag six should have nly two sets of hose are stipposed to be in the about twelve should be on the steerage deck; & large cast iron pipe runs through the steerage deck; atin- tervals of about ten feet there are taps for hose attach. | ments; incase of fire all the taps should have hose attached ing to the fire; when the water stopped run- ning through the hose we carried water in baekets tc avout ten minutes, but it teat no effect this wai stopped; the hose was not used afterwards; the reason that the water stopped running through the hose was that there was no power to drive the pumps; in port we should have steam cnough on the donkey engine to drive all pumps; do not know whether there was steam enough to drive one pump; the engine fires are allowed to go out in at of the donkey engine; this is not sufft- i the pumps; have no explicit instructions ‘iter of keeping any Amount of steam In port; fre that steam should always be on the don- know how mech steam there was; am sure me steam; chief engineer has general orders to keep steam always; all the oflicery were on board at time of the fire, except the doctor; were was a on the America, situated on the starboard in this case it was not availed of, because y all oh aes were out of the shi betore the rest of us ceased fighting the fire; second of- ficer has charge of life rafts and boats; four ‘boats were one Was lowered at the very last thing by the second officers, assisted by ‘an officer from the Lackawanna; these and the stewardess and some others vot into that boat; T lertthe ship twenty minutes to think that must have been the time, for my watch stopped hat ti should judge I was on the ship halt an hour after the alarm was given; I jum overboard after the last-mentioned boat was clear of the ship; there was no hesitation on the part of the crew to obey orders yifa occurs at sea the steam power comes froin the main the donkey is for use in port to handle cargo, drive espe and so forth; the donkey is supposed to have sufficient power to drive Romprcnongh to put out fire; Chave always gone through the fire dr th He Bae gigate at see pownds w having been eae seagate 3 Te Warnes have you lor putting iat ra soa lied by main ry donk jt ours in i cr y Reena ypou xs atcam, could not sor iy Ought to have beon able to twelve ry water onthe fret in my judgment there was n br nnd enough sion om ew ocean de} wed us of apo to ‘fight Se ae Beek ebiot chaise inorder seam should Tovort bo the ineer ‘and. “Bs re no water!’ He made no reply; rushed jonkey bolicr; no pumps were wt opinion is the fire mi have ky at palt-pest oleven found noth! es tal uy ral on the ire mu: eoks below, on ail decks below it injecting ated fire was above; m: inion as to tte canso of thé fire fs thar ie Waselther sot Of fire it rows ‘ho had Poon w inom the fought deck mong (he Segond and titra ‘are in direct charge of super. by ret; hi ere becn m on the donkeys I dete wig Lettie evear valve water rivican wo might ty ned them: a irs sunk the ship, but this wi mu at lose of life; alterwi pes: in case of are, eo 3 i... be cre not towered ; there, were any wantity f boats all round he ship; | jieg of Atty-three Ghinamen, three Eusopeaus ai ree Japs en found ; most of the Ohinamen lost thelt ny tosave dram ta we hence yp jum Panes. han eataecaed ei ard any at Ban Franclaco was mostly ‘Australian coal, ‘with some Liverpool coa! JOSEPH HALLETIS TESTIMONY, Joseph Hallet, sworn—I was first officer of the steam- ship America at the tame of tho fire; 1 was in my room; I the quartermaster out “Fire in aiter steer- T rushed to tha tried to got the hose tha: ne! re are. fugit in, t place al re, but pot pn account of but could not; I then went into the iain there with some hose; went on thd hore stretched, but there wa: wator passing Soroush any took my wate! ip passing water witl wi smoke; tried a ‘saloon; ricane deck ; tr! i bul found water In one on the hur: » butt not long enough to reach the sa- oon; got ariothor length and aitachea lt nd put itdown a ventilator; I then he ames fox DI ‘house, played on that; told the was afraid i was too tate; captain orders to get the boats clear; I went to the boat on Hee tet cl ancomeor frou tie Lackawanna tal fowa on the. lower falls and the otherg on the after falls; ship Toon; throu, leaving I looked around but could see none on the y pleked am the water and pulled to @ bark and put o1 ray then went back. to the ship to pick up more, but could see no more; the place @round Rie stip was alive with boats; quartermaster Wil- 6on first gave me the alarm; when I went below I could see nothing but smoke; I could smell the hay burning; [ saw the flames through the dead lights of ¢ paloon; bet ry yy the fire er priqsipal tiag Sener pane Ou ¢ hay was the pr: i fathulos tasted clapecd betorg "water cane tl the hose; i only hose saw Ma ry the one 1 had hold of; it was suppli from the pump by steam from the donkey boiler; I have Not to inspect the en; ae room; Ido nof think there was steam on the donkey; if there was steam there would have been water; di pot go into the engine room; when T first saw the fire had water Icould have put the fire out: three minute; nie spoil elapse between the alarm and getting water; {h this case ten minutes elapsed; my opinion is that the ship was lost from wan! of steam on the donkey engine ; [ consider the rules jssuct icked uy by the company ample and that they cover ground; had those rules been acted up tothe ship Ww ad ot have been lost; at sea Igo round to inspect every fours was in the steerage at nine o’clocl iy the freight dock algo, but saw no gyidence j on the freight deck there were coy a arms; the fire was back of the coal; wé had Ing that day on orlop and trelght decks; we took nothing from the steerage deck ; 1 had an opinion that the fire was caused by the carelessness of coolles; I at frst yas foun to allow ithe coolies to remain on the steerage deck, bu on consideration I remove: em to the main Geol some may have stopped there and smoked; I think It originated the hay; the ste e watchman was in charge the! uartermaster on had orders oO through at ho went through at hall-past ten} at ais bells (leven o'clock) he said he saw four bales of hay on fire, and gave the alarm; 1 immediately went to afler steerage; cannot say Whether all the officers were at thelr posts; saw the second officer and every body Ih occaston to communicate with; I stayed on the s half an hour; all hands did the best thoy, could, obeyed all orders and were prompt; 1 think if the fire had caught on the freight deck we should have seen evidence of it through the ventilator on the hur- ricane deck; I consider I took all precautions against fire; no cargo was lylng loose; the holds were all secure ( if the fire cecurred at sca it would have been subdue immediately; 1am firmly of the opinion that when first saw the firo it was confined to the hay; the cause of go many Chinamen losing their lives 1s owing to the fact that they tried to save their baggage; some were drowned by boxes being flung on them while in the water; know nothing about the breaking of the gangway ladder; there was a liberal supply of life preservers, about twelve hundred, convenient to steerage passen- they acrib, with the words “Lite preser- in both English aid Chinese on it; the valves were Not open on steerage deck; were open oi upper deck; I opened them myself on hurricane deck; there was Bo breakage that l know of in the pumps. JOHN GRAHAM'S TESTIMONY. John Graham sworn:—Was chief engineer of America at the (Ime of the fre; was on board at the time; have n in the employ of the company, off and on, for twen- ty-Wwo years as chief engineer ; soon after six bells struck lieard a person call fire; rushed down att to see where it ent into main saloon; saw the flames through the deadlights; then went forward tosee if assistant engi- neers were at their stations; three were at pumps amid- two were iu the donkey room; went to see if water ‘unning through hose; went to the upper deck and found water going through the outboard discharge; had that closed and went back to in deck and found water running through hose; went forward again to donkey room; staid there till the smoke and flames drove me out; I think it was Captain Miller that gave the alarm; in. case of fire in port have no par- ticular station, the main engine not being used; 1 was cool’ and collected; did go to | the engine room; we had fire and steam on the donkey boil- ers; twelve pounds of steam were reported to me; we do not ‘use donkey engines for handling cargo; have not been in the habit of doing so; they are used for feeding boiler, jumping up water, dc. ; there are thirty-two connections jor hose in the ship: the donkey is not powerful enough to feed them all; with twenty pounds of steam can drive five jets; when the fire broke out there was twelve pounds of sieam on and it was rising; with twenty pounds of steam could throw water forty'to flity teet; we are re- quired not to exceed twenty pounds of steam; generally carry twelve pounds in port when the watch is set; that is the rule on all ships that I have been in; the outboard valves are generally opened before we start the pump: and atterwards are closed; I heard the people cry ou there was no water, and I found none in the gangway ; the fifth assistant engineer was on watch; the engineers, storekeeper and China firemen were with him to look after the the donkey; gave first assistant engineer, that night Vel age going to bed, orders about coal, none ag to swam; it is le‘t to the engineer's m should be Kept; can’t al- because it would be incon- ways keep twenty poun venient to those on board, requiring constant blowing off, and would be expensive to the company; I have not re: ceived any written instructions from’ the company for four or five years; 1 do not consider twelve pounds of steam sufficient in case of fire; the fifth assistant was on watch receiving coal; we keep no engineer In engine room in port; the engineer on watch was supposed to be looking after the donkey engine and coating; all the pumps were not connected, because the boilers were not sufficient to keep them going; my first assistant was at the engine room door; the stcam pumps were over for- ward main borers; Arst assistant’s station Is at pumps; sixth assistant, I think, was looking atter the hose; the freman is a Chinaman; I have not seen him since the re, To Mr, De Long:—Do not know of my own knowledge how much steam there was; twelve pounds was reported to me; did not see the gauge ; was not aware that wacer had stopped running through the hose aiter it first started; heard some one cry out there was no water ; did not CS the donkey engine at any time ; as to steam he had only given general orders while he was on the ship to keep twelve pounds of steam on, except when fens then to have Wwenty pounds; this general order is generally understood by the engineers; about five minutes only elapsed between the closing of the outboard discharge aiid the water being in the hose; saw water flowing through two pipes; all the pumps lead to the main pipe on the steerage where the hose attachments are ; the second assistant was in the eyes of the ship; it takes trom thirty to torty-five minutes 10 get up steam on donkey boilers; we only keep steam on one boiler in port; do not think that all the steam power in the ship could have put the fire out; have been on board several ships while on fire. Lieutenant Durnford and Sub-Lieutenant Wil- liams, of Her Majesty's steamship Rinaldo, were then sworn, but their testimony threw no light on the matter, as they came to the ship too late to render any assistance. Many of the under officers and employ¢s were next examined, but their evidence was principally to the same effect as that of their superiors. UNITED STATES NAVY OFFICERS ON THE STAND. J. Field, Lieutenant United States steamship Lacka- ing off to Lackawanna in company with Mr, pp, captain's clerk, saw the fire on the America and ulled towards ot on board and saw hose stretched, uit there was no water; found one hose on the hurricang deck that had water; he helped to lower a boat and put the stewardess into it; picked up several people who were in the water; was of the opinion that he was one of the first to get on board the burning ship; was of the opinion that it alt the hose had been in play when he saw the fire it would have been useless, escaped himself by sliding down the boat's tails. Frederick Klapp, captain's clerk of the Lackawanna, was called, but his testimony was of no importance, CHINESE TESTIMONY. Ta Sin (warned to speak the truth)—Was fireman on board the America; was at the donkey engine amidships on the main deck at the time of the fire; duty was to attend the fire at the donkey boiler; when the alarm was ‘iven there was fitteen pounds of steam on; had had fteen pounds all night; afterward it went’ down to fourteen pounds; four or flve minutes afterward went up to sixteen or seventeen pounds; tne highest it ever reached was cightcen pounds; chiet engineer had told him to keep fitteen pounds on ali night; was alone on duty there all night always alone on duty in port; At sea there are several firemen uty at ‘the same time; in port sometimes the third assistant engincer is with us; stayed by the donkey about twenty minutes aster the fire occurred; then ju overboard, Then again came officers and officials of the America, Hallett npn being re-examined, said that there were thirty-five bales of hay in the steerage; it was kept for the feeding of the cattle on the homeward trip; it was kept in the after steerage, because that was considered the safest place for it; any person could have got into the steerage on the night of the fire. Here the testimony closed. The Court retired for deliveration and then re- corded the following Decision. We, the undersigned, comprising the Court of In- guiry assembied at the United s1 ‘okohama, Japan, on the dist di to inquire into the cause of the lot ship America, having heard and ‘elully consid+ ered all of the testimony adduced in the case, do find as follows:— That the steamer America arrived at this port and an- chored about seven o'clock on the morning of August 24, 1572, That, as usual with ships of that line when in this port, all steam was allowed to go down except in one so- called “donkey boiler.”” That when in port steam is only up in this boiler for the purpose ing CArRO, pul ing the ship, pumping boilers and working fire pumps. That, wi Steam on the main Dotter 0 full capacity of re-extinguishing apparatus on veawel Was thirty-two streams, together with a complete supply of rar a ee st tat one donkey hand than five m8 § Beceem fore pier. steor: and on ibe. t aide of ero pi Bay Or tse on the homeward voy i in rows, three cop, aad af lead. at bales the de Ughts of the main deck, which dead ights at tegu the centro of the cabin ing. y during ihe , crlval all/Strelght for the sr Hong Kong roselvod and'piscod sn. the frolghe dick inter ths seers stec! estat atts NE col Large caus soveral af gariidean: tha tle fren stoel a during the day used a6 thoroughiares that while thie ved and discharged s reful watch: bo! frogs anor Ing, wen or! s p ‘verse! teh tchway carciully locked, thus cui al myacasen th the after freight which com- the vessel had no por ut dd have one ad ugh f ¢ hurricane dock; 4 at half ‘at ten half-past ten creles of the o: ening in question this after steerage was Vv! by the proper of ne wal Hof Speen Pall to detect any evidence of fir or the prescuce of any persol a ae ‘All woll.” That at the mention me the steerage steward with a closed Hight care! gees this hay to see if any persen was lyin} 0 out it, That he was immediat ig seo toly followed or pré- ; ded 0 the quartermaster On watch, wh with, nt Hie eats tnppectd apart theron aig must have been observed. That during the evening coal was being received into the vessel forward, ¢ reason seemingly posudicien’ ‘9 ne, tt sixth nly enginecr then on duty In the ship— ng. 6 recotving- and stowing of this coal, & Chinese stoker alone ot ing n watch in the ey boller room ; thatsuch was th cone of affal leven o'clock of th: en Quarterm: evening, w yon after ies “‘aix bells” proceeded on his tour Inspection, up mn reaching the main deck and near- ‘the dit saloon, he with the stewardess and others detected the smell of smoke—glanced over the side o! the vessel, saw smoke issuing from the r-steerage porta; rushed at once below into the after s nd there saw fire in the two upper tiers of this bh t this fire then occupied a space less than three feet square, and not belong connected with any woodwork of the ship; that iminediately a general alarm B the Up was given, ai most of ‘the oficers and ¢rew at 9e8 tt forth every effort in their power de, sup jue the james; that aie | the directlon of the first officer a fir hose was stretched In the after steerage, the valve turnet on and wat e awed but none came before the smoke And flames drove him find his assistants, above at deck, That under the supervision of Captain Doane, four linos of hoss Were at dneo stretched {ny tie main salgon pe valves opencd and water theré AWaltod (oF Boing whinh{es. That eventually—and for is Sore time only—a little came through one Ine of the hose and then failed, no more coming through any hose until they also were al doned, the captain and crew bein) driven b f! the hurricane deck. That here another f jad been gercrcned, te first officer when dri the steerage taking charge of it; but serough this also no water came until the flames ha possession of the vessel below the ‘hat from that time the supply throt hose was full and continued to porr f rough it until the ship was abandoned, To our minds th fas} proves the fire pumps and supply pipe of the vessel to have been in good working order, at the pyesenpe of water for a few, mol eR through one line of nee the cabin tg Biaok that. leam Wa: I in the donkey bolle; det w hen turned on suppifec ‘eam for a very {e' nutes h fell so low as to be useless, until just before andoned. We are of Onjnion thas the long time which elapsed betore even this one stream was started denoles reat want of propa: ‘ation or great Youre in the engl. iecr’s department, and we entertain no doubts that if steam to the amount of twenty Pounds or more had been on the donkey boiler at the time alarm was given the fires under that boiler in proper condition, and proper expedition used in gettin, re ee pumpe at work, the fro might been extinguished and the ship saved. We are of opinion that pecanes of the peoullar location of the fire—the very combustible material in which it com- menced—a general misapprehension as to its headway prevailed on all hands, cen ts in some contusion. ‘here seems to us to have peen too many people for too long a time engaged at the waltiog, tor water, and too Fest sons organizing. is with buckets, In fact, it seéms to us that the glare of this light on the large sec- tion of dead lights in the main saloon erroneously im- pressed all on board with the idea that the whole after steerage and after lecks were on fire; that this, with the unexpected failure of water, led every ope te follow his own Judgment in doing what he could to subdue ¢ flames, We feel that this meed of praise is, however, justly du toall the officers and crew of the vessel ; that they seeme: to have worked with great gallantry and persevorance from the moment they realized the danger until driven from the vessel by the flames. The great loss of life among the Chinese passengers resulted, in our opinion, riety of causes. First, from the general effort by all of them to save their property. This led some verweigh themselves with money; 4s, for instance, gn one tody which was recovers ine twenty-seven hundred dollars in gold was found tl more or less coin in various sums was found on nearly all. Second, some threw their heavy boxes overboard into the sea, upon the h those below, Third, they neglected to secure an; he great number of Iite-preservers within ea in plain sight of all. Fourth, by the carryin of: the accommodation ladder when crowde Chinese passengers all were hurled into. th a meupgle and die together. Fifth, two boats that had been to bring coal on board the Blip. and which were lying alongside en the fire broke out were left in charge ot Japanese coolies by their officers, who boarded the ship to help extingulsh the fire. ‘These boats the es and sail in a cowardly manner set adrift, lending no hand towards rescuing either the Chinese or even their own officers. And lastly, this great loss of life was occasioned by the fearful rapidity with which the flames spread; the iong continued effort made by all hands to subdue the flames leaving no time or opportu- nity to lower the ship’s boats or its lite ratt after such efforts were discontinued. Tn conclusion, we most regretfully state that from all the evidence we are convinced that the fire was the result of intention and not of accident. Only the most remote and improbable chance for it to have occurred from any ccident exists; whereas @ person £0 disposed could, in our opinion, without diMiculty and with but the slightest chance of detection, have communicated this fire, The inducement to do this may have arisen from sera on the part of some persons towards the Pacific Mail Steamship Company or some of {ts officers, or from the fact that the Chinese passengers, although go few in number, were so generally supplied with farge sums of money. This Lae have become known on shore and in- duced some wretch to fire the ship for the sake of an opportunity of robbing these people during the con- flagration. CHARLES 0. SHEPARD, Consul and Prosident of the Court. PAUL SHIRLEY, Captain and Senior United States Naval officor present. E. D, PERCY, Shipmaster. wz States Consutate, Kanagawa, Japan, Sept. 5, = reach By courtesy of the Court, and at the request of th agent of the Pacific Mail Steamship Company at this port. I, the undersigned, was present and participated in king the testimony in this proceeding, and tully concur in the foregoing findings and conclusions. C. E, Ds LONG, United States Mintster, The Disaster Reported by an American Naval Officer, é) WASHINGTON, Oct. 10, 1872, A private despatch from one of the officers of the United States steamer Lackawanna, dated Yoko- nama, August 27, and received here to-day, says:— About ten o'clock Saturday night Captain Shirley sent for his executive officer, Licutenant Com- manding A. G. Kellogg, as fire bells were ringing on board some of the ships in the harbor, Captain Kellogg immediately ordered a boat lowered sup- plied with axes and buckets. On nearing the Scene of conflagration what was our surprise to see flames breaking out everywhere from the mag- nificent steamer America, of the Pacific Mali line, and just arrived from San Francisco, On the hurricane deck of the ill-fated steamer stood Lieutenant Field, of the Lackawanna, direct- ing such of the crew as had not jumped overboard and lowering the last boat the steamer had. It appears that Lieutenant Field and Mr. Klapp, the | captain’s clerk, were passing when the aiarm was given. Field ran on board and, finding the officers mostly gone and everything in confusion, assum commant and set about saving the lives of the pas- sengers, DIFFICULTIES AND CONFUSION. One stalwart passenger refused assistance in lowering the boats and tea to escape with his carpet sack. Lieutenant Field, in the coolest manner possible, knocked him down and threw his luggage into the sea, This prompt action on the part of the young lieutenant at once restored | order, and Field worked with a vim until he barely escaped with his life from the burning ship. Mr. Klapp jumped overboard and swam with a lady and her child to a beat and put them in it. He tien returned to the ship. but found the decks too hot to hold him. He slipped down arope where a & lot of Chinamen were hanging. ey seized Klapp by the legs and were endeavoring to drown him when Captain Kellogg with a boat's crew came along and rescued him. It was a splendid sight to us tosee our young navy licutenant surrounded by the Ca flames, and yet discharging his responsible and laborious duty with as much coolness and delibera- ve if he was making nis bow at an evening HUMANE BXERTION IN THE FACE OF DREAD FATALITY, Our boats worked nearly all night picking up and saving those we could find, and yet in spite of all our efforts it appears fifty-six persons were drowned, The officers of the America proved to be a sorry lot and brought no credit on themselves. The mate was the first to jump overboard to escape from the gunpowder. OFFICIAL MERCANTILE THANKS, The agent of the Pacific Mail Compapy addressed & note to Captain Shirly the next day in which he said, ‘Please convey to the officers and men of your command our warmest thanks for the hearty ald rendered us in our tate disaster. We would More especially mention Lieutenant Commander A. G Kellogg and Lieutenants Field and Elliott and their men, their acts coming more under our personal observation. Occasionslike the one through which we have passed, though terri- ble in themselves, still show us the sympathy of our friends which palliates, though it cannot relieve our troubles,’ A TYPHOON IN CONCLUSION, A fearful typhoon sprang up early Sunday morning, and blew with such violence that rocks weighing upwards of five hundred pounds were thrown from the sea wall and carried fifty feet up the road, Our steamer sustat no injury There were 208 deaths in Brooklyn during the past week, Of the deceased 47 were men, 48 wo- men, 48 girls and 66 boys. | THE RING FRAUDS, Bill Tweed and Tour Fields Before the Court of Oyer and Terminer, Arguments of Counsel on Applica- tions for Delay. It having been announced that arguments would take place in the Court of Oyer and Terminer yes- terday morning in relation to the disposition of ong or more of the “Ring” cases, a large number ef persons were present to watch the pi Among the legal lights present were District Attor- ney Garvin, Wheeler H. Peckham, John MoKeoa, David Dudicy Field, ex-Judge Beach, Henry % Clinton and John E, Burrill, Messrs, Garvin, Peck ham, and Clinton, as prosecuting counsel, sat together on one side of the table, the other counsel sitting at the opposite side. Judge Jobn 1, Brady sat on the bench. THE TWERD CASE. Counsel for Mr. Tweed referred to & report in one of the daily papers of the proceedings of the Cours on Monday, ina manner which gave a false im» pression in relation to counsel connected with the ‘Tweed case. He wasnot aware that. the indiot- ment in Oyer and Terminer had not been merged into the one in General Sessions. i Mr. Peckham said that the question now was ag to getting the case down for trial’on Monday next. fendant's counsel said the indictments had mes been merged, but as there had been a mi henston on his (counsel's) part, it perhaps wi be better to move de novo for a day of trial, thus give Mr. Tweed’s counsel more time to prev pare for opposition to the motion; he would requird enough time to consuit with his associates, and Ae presumed that at least two days’ notice should be given. ay District Attorney Garvin suggested that Saturé aay or Monday be set for arguing the motion toset the case for trial. Defendant's counsel then asked that Tuesd: appointed, and it was determined that the Dist Attorney move on Tuesday to have a day set for the trial of Mr. Tweed, counsel for the defendantto be present to oppose said motion. This matter having been disposed of, “counsel for Mr. Tweed complained that private counsel, act- ing ostensibly for the people, hi 4 Ao TO THE uP JURY, boeing 3 and probably ¢kércised an undue influence over them, It was not right that any other than the District Attorney should have access to the Grand Jury, but if such ht was accorded to nominal assistants of the District Attorney, but who were, in reality, private counsel, the counsel for the de- Touuen avout have ting same privilege latrict At ludge Brady said that no ut the rict tornegt Sry Butheratd repfeaoatative had any right to confer with the Grand Jury. ) ounsel said that private counsel had attended oe pana Jury's sessions and had become cog- nizaut of the secrets of the Grand Jury and had substantially given the Grand Jury advice. He be- lieved he could show that what he stated was true. Judge Brady said he could pay no attention to statements baged pity on perere: there must be ould io! absolute proof. He titute proper inqui- ries, and if it was found that any improper com- muni atlons hed meen had with the Grand Jury 9 Féniedy Would be immediately applied. Counsel then expressed ely satisfied with the assurance of the Cour! acd piowhy ‘ASE OF TOM C. FIELDS, igs Mr. Beach the nidVed to postpone Thomas 0. Fields’ case and to put it over for the term, on the ground that an tmportant witness for the defence could not be present during the present term, The indictments were for bribery in relation to fire+ men’s claims while Mr. Fields was in the Assembly. In 1867 Mr. Fields undertook the duty as privat counsel to get these claims passed, Mr. Fields to get thirty-three and one-third per cent of } amount obtained as private counsel, In 1868 th Fire Commissioners opposed the claims and they were not paid. Mr, Fields was not @ member of the Legisiaturé {a 1868, nor was he in 1969, when the claims were issed, The gist of the indictments was that Mr. ‘ields received & consideration for his yote or ser- -vices as member of Assembly, in procuring the ee ing of the claims, The material witness was Rich- ard B, Connolly, the late earner and it wag eapecren to be shown by him that he had audited and paid ten per cent of these claims without pay collusion with Mr. Fields. Neither Mr. Connolly’ family nor friends could tell where he now was, or at least dented that they could, and his whereabouts were Peas and could not he ascertained by counsel. Mr. Garvin said that the records of the Comptrol- ler’s office would be adequate proof of the auditing and payment spoken of, and the Comptroller was not a material witness. There was no evidence that Mr. cre would ever appear, even if he was needed, He had failed to appear heretofore aa @ witness, and could not be found, and it was not claimea now that he would be found, Mr. Beach sald it could be shown that the fire claims were inserted in the tax ey By Mr. Con- nolly, without the knowledge of Mr. Fields, and that the tax levy was so passed in the Le; ture as to leave it doubtful whether Mr. Fields knew that the claims were inserted in the tax levy. Judge Brady said that it would be wrong to force the defendant to trial, if there was any probability that by a delay an olin tool) witness for the de- fence could be procured. Mr. Peckham said that there was no claim by the counsel for the defence that Mr. Connolly cou! or would be found and procured as a witness, Judge Brady said that was the weak point in the Snplication for @ postponement. ir. Beach ‘in reply said that it wags expected to obtain Mr. Connolly, but it could not be certainly shown that he could be obtained, but in case so seriously affecting the defendant ossible indulgence sho be is efforts to produce @ mai for his defence. The defendant to blame for Mr. Connolly's absence and should have some latitude allowed him in his efforts to secure Mr. Connolly's attendance, These indictments have been allowed to sleep, but sud- denly, on the eve of an important election, a great effort is made to press the case to trial, and such sudden action looked strange, at least. Mr. Garvin thought that it was incumbent upon the defendant himself to come forward and make an affidavit, on which to base @ motion fora ponement. The defendant knew whether he = self was aware that the claims were in the tax levy when he cast his vote, and the point ia which Con- nolly could be considered a material witness was simply as to whether he, without any consultation with the defendant, inserted the claims in the tax levy, but the real point was, after all, whether the deiendant knew the claims were in the tax levy when he voted for said levy. Mr. Beach said it was singular, when the Tombs was crowded with murderers and others awalting trial, that a case in which the defendant was on ay Was so suddenly and vehemently pressed to Tial. Judge Brady said he would take the papers and consider the question of postponement, mainly on the basis of whether it had been shown that Mr. Connolly has in reality avsconded and cannot be procured. The present impression of the Court Was that there was not a sufficient ground for de- lay, but the question should be closely examined and decided at an early day. This cnded the discussion and counsel left the court room. 8 FORGERY OF MERCANTILE ORDERS. An Ingenious Young Man Who Ob- tained Plates of Copper on a Countere felted Signature=His Arrest and Ime prisonment. Yesterday a man named Frederick G. Hendricks was brought before Judge Scott, at the Tombs, on the serious charge of forgery, and was remanded ta Jail to awalt examination,, When in the court room his appearance was by no means remarkable, otherwise than that he wore a sinister expression and bad very red hair. The facts of the case seem to be that Hendricks was arrested by Roundsman Stewart, of the Fifth Ren on Wednesday under accusation by the rm of Holmes, Booth & Hayden, of No. 49 Cham- bers street, Who are dealers in brass and coppet plates. Hendricks’ crime is said to be the coun- terfeiting of the signature of J. R. Palmenbergh, of No. 466 Broom Teet (who is a hardware mer- chant), on orders for goods which he seut to Holmes, Booth & Hayden, the number of pounds of copper, Lowever, not being stated in every in stance, but left to the judgment of the bearer. ‘The wording of the forged dovument was alter thia fashion :—- a Pl bh ts and chi Itto ead let bearer have what he ants And CBee the rascal had been able to get in this way about $132 worth of copper into his possession, which he had sold to one Joha Stack, me keeps a junkshop at No. 85 West Broad- way. The firm of Holmes, Booth & Hayden sent their bills to Mr. Paimenberg. Ho was astonished at the purchases which they represented him to have made, and disclaimed the signatures which were attached to the orders, Detective Fields traced the property to the shop of Stack, whom he found, had purchased it for seven cents a pound, while it was really worth fifty cents a pound. He arrested Stack, and both prisoaers were in Court yesterday, but no new develo; ments were thea made. Previous to Wednesd: BURNED TO DEAT. Coroner Keenan yesterday morning received in- formation that a few hours previously Antonio Tozo, an Italian youth, had been burned to death by a fire which occurred at his residence, 153 Bliza- beth street, Deceased was @ musician and ‘had been out late the night previous. The remaine were taken to 50 Prince street, from which place they will be buried by bis friem