The New York Herald Newspaper, December 29, 1872, Page 3

THE CITY’S SHAME No Steps Yet Taken to Recover the Bodies of the Victims of the Centre Street Fire. WHO IS RESPONSIBLE ? The Board of Police and the Board of Health Refuse to Act—The Comp- troller QOalled Upon, Sorrowful Scenes at the Ruins Yesterday— Grief of the Stricken Relatives and Indignation of the Public. "Another day bas. passed and no steps have been ‘taken to recover the bodies of victims of the Centre wtreet fre. It was supposed by the public and the persons so deeply interested—the relatives—that ‘work would have been commenced yesterday morn- ing, and in anticipation of this nearly a hundred Jaborers collected about the ruins in search of a job, but the day wore on and they still continued idle. The fire engine which had remained near the Dremiges aince the fire was dug out and taken away by the fremen, as its services were no longer required, although smoke continued to rise from the smoldering embers which had not been properly extinguished. When the firemen commenced dig- ging the engine out a large crowd collected, think- ing that the search for the bodies had commenced, bus they were soon undeccived and left the scene. ‘The Sixth precinct house was more than usually crowded with THE RELATIVES OF THE DEAD girls and boy. They were rushing incessantly in and out, making frantic inquiries of Captain Ken- medy and his men relative to what measures, if were going to be taken. Captain Kennedy re- eetved them as kindly as it was possible for him to iMeatmnen Sar Bug te pained | ‘Captain has had a hard and he states ‘Bhat ne has never suffered so much anxiety since fae came to the precinct. He has done all that it was possible for a man to do to have the search fommenced, as have the police authorities at headquarters; but they have no discretion in the matter and must await the course of circum- stances. Soanxious are the policemen in the pre- cinct to have the bodies found that they have unanimously expressed their willingness to work im the ruins themselves on their day off duty. ‘On the opposite side of the street large numbers of people were congregated during the morning and afternoon, and their comments upon the dis- graceful spectacle of seven bodies being allowed to remain to rot in one of the most crowded thor- eughfares of the city, while the relatives of the victims were enduring the torture of grief and doubt to which they have been exposed were many and severe. Well dressed men in the crowd, and even women, stated that they would cheer- fully go to work themselves, if permission were only granted, to clear away the débris and solve the mystery which WILL OLING AROUND THE TRAGEDY antil the bodies are found. One gentleman who ‘ives in the vicinity said, “My God! this is terrible; ‘It is shameful. If immediate steps be not taken in the matter an indignation meeting of citizens should be called to protest against such an outrage upon Christianity and civilization.” Similar ex- pressions were indulged in by every passer-by. In- feed it is long since any occurrence in the city has ‘xcited such general indignation. Some one sug- gested that some enterprising citizen should ad- vance a thousand dollars and have the search Made, no matter what, obstacles there might be » khrown in the way of 8 undertaking. Coming so close upon the Fit! Hotel fire and the singular verdict rendered by the Coroner’s jury, the poorer classes of the people who were gathered at the ruins asked ami thempselves, ‘Are the hives of servants and wo: people of a0 value, that they should be,so disregarded by the wealthy as they have been’ within the past few weeks?” All classes of necme in every of the tity are equally loud in their denunciations of the spirit of miserable economy which has Leap see e public authorities, the lessees of the building and the insurance companies to act in the in- human manner in which it is considered they have. Last evening scarcely anything was talked of on the streets and in the hotels, and, from every appearance, if the proper measures are not im- mediately instituted, an attempt will be made to ee by force what should have been an im- mediate and imperative duty. Among the relatives who came to the station house yesterday to make inquiries was the mae of Bridget McGrath, one of the unfortunate ir FINDING NO CONSOLATION at the station house. he stated that he would go to the HERALD Office and tell his story, which he did. He says his sister was twenty-one years of age, and was the idol of her aged mother. On Monday she went to work at the establishment of Anderson & Archer, and returned home well pleased with her new situation the same night. On Tuesday morning she proceeded to business again, and that is the last her mother saw of her, as she never re- turned. When evening came on the old woman began to feel very anxious, but when the night had d away and no tidings were received of er daughter, she was almost frantic with grief. Early m the morning she heard ofthe fire, and then she tried to prepare herself forthe worst. She still hada faint hope that Bridget was not dead, but would turn up unex- paper Christmas Day was the most mourn- 1 of her life, and when, at its close, there was no clue to her daughter, she abandoned herself to despair. The son states that his mother is almost crazy with grief, and every time he returns frem the ruins with the news that nothing has been done, ne THINKS SHE WILT. GO MAD. The poor fellow wept bitterl: hea 8 the amMicting garrative, saying in conclusion, “Oh, will no one 0 anything to find the bodies? My poor sister! My poor sister !"’ ‘née brother of the Donoho sisters also entered ‘the HERALD office in company with McGrath. He, is an invalid and lame, but he has kept his place’ Centre street ever since the mourful occurrence the long-deterred work to be commenced. is overcome with grief, and states he cannot say what the consequence will be to his mother if the bodies are not soon found. She is a widow, and the two girls, since their father’s death, have been hor sole support. The relatives of the other girls were ali on the ground, and the picture of their saffcrings made many persons weep. Some of them are old men and women, and the tears rolled down withered cheeks when they found that ‘the bodies of their loved ones would have to re- main buried beneath the ruins and the snow. The only arance of work on the site of the Gisaster is that which is bye} (ercreee by Mr. Cameron, the owner of the building occapied by MR. GEORGE MIDDLETON. it work yesterday in clear- ing joining the part of the book bindery in which the fatal fire escape was Situated. ‘This action will sacili the search when it is commenced, if ever it is commenced. A 80 employed in clearing the accumulated snow. ‘The history of the attempt to have the ruins re- moved is as follows:—On the day after the fire Su- rintendent Kelso telegraphed to Mr. Robert ad, the owner of the building, to take meas- ‘ares to have the cleared and the bodies re- covered. Mr. Craighead was not heard from until piety (3 when he called at Police Headquarters and said it was not hisduty to act in the matter and he wouk! not incur the expense. He said it was the duty of the eet who have property be- neath the rains, te move in the work, as they are the parties interested. Here another obstacie stops in. The lessees evade the performauce of the duty, and take shelter in she statement that the ground is virtually the property of the insurance companies until the in- surances are settled, and that they (the losers) would incor the risk of on their policies should bes 4 attempt to interfere with the buildings. ¢ Coroner now stepped in and addressed a letter to Superintendent Kelso, ASKING THE POLICE vo undertake the task, as he thought they were i fied in incurring the expense, suggesting that, if the police had not the tegal be cruci to allow a matter of red tape to interfere when a humane duty was to be performed. The ier then took the affidavits of Captain Ken- Qedy and two men whose relatives are supposed to be buried in the ruins. Superintendent Kelso referred the mattcr to Mr. A. J. Vanderpoel, Counsel of the Police Board, who yesterday sent to the Board the following communication : Onan exaraiandon a the uation of the v: tutes relating to the Board of Police and the Police Department, | ameat, able to find any law authorizing the department to inc Seyecsin the removal of rubbish from the lots Nos. Siatarlat irom the street, Veit may, grist to remove 4 sance. Respectiully MDB te cena buiee New Yore, Dee. 28, 1872 PORL, of Counsel. When Superintendent Kelso found he had no au- ‘thority to take an, ee the matter wan renrred 40 the Department of Publiy Works, ‘This depart- power, it woul SEW YORK HERALD, SUNDAY, DECEMBER 29, 1872—TRIPLE SAKBT. the ground that tne traMic, and conse- it ’@ business to clear iway.""fas, Bound of ih was next ap- to, and it also ee aero sppropria- Coroner Herrman, who has acted with commend mi determined that REMAIN the popniar will, as ex- @ speedy answer. @ fire @. statement which a scene of the conflag Bi, deectren fe. be cor Teoted. it was encod that od ira wo ked in the at in of fire assertion is incorrect. ‘@ttached to the duild- means of escape are abundance of hose independent of the ig trom a special hydrant, and the proprietors in case of a sudden fire are amply toencounter it and coeak before it ) ao any mewaitude. No are now cuspieres ng, were more two hundred a few wee sco Libby & Co., who them, have moved ou It is expected thas & great concourse of te Will vielt the raine to-day, and an extra forge of Pelice will be detailed to preserve order. AN IMPORTANT REPORT. Hh lH A at R nad Marshal McSpedon on the Causes of The following fas to the canses of some of the recent fires will show bow far investigation has gone in tracing the disasters :— After a careful and thorough investigation of the fire at Barnum’s Menagerie and Museum on Fourteenth street, which occurred on the noe. of the l4th inst., I have arrived at the following conclusions —On the 24th of No- vember last one of my assistants, OMicer A. B. Mooney, made an examinat gute premises and reported to me the condition of the iding.. He pronounced It to be most dangerous so far as the heating was concerned an Mable to take fireatany moment. He also pointed of these facts to the managers of the museum and menayerie, and Shey. promised to have the dangers remedied as soon as possible. this jam ¥rom give this place of yn, but a press my carrying out report I considered it my duty to | ment a caretul personal inspec- the moment prevented i inca she, Both, day of the same month I again sent my officer to see if the altera- tions he had recommended had been made. He made a second examination, and reporied the place to me as being in the same condition, and added tbat the people in charge of the place seemed ve ‘isposed to place any confidence in Sim or believe there was any danger of an accident in Seeding. My officer explained the difference between ordinary steam pass ig through heating pipes and we call mperoee d steam. ‘This superhea' am is the vapor that passes through pipes when the fires have been banked, and the ordinary isiness of the heating of y seems finished. It is one of the most dangerous and ignitable elements we know of, and one of the destructive rents we have to contend against. And notwithstanding the strong sxptessions ot opimiog made both by him, and myself Mr. Hurd told hii, at Bis last visit to the Museum, that “when he saw a'fire trom that causo he would believe it.” I then conside! u duty to report to the under- writers the condition rt y. itm; of affairs at the Museum. They thereupon visited the premises, and, becoming convinced of” the dan Shieh T ad pointed = out, threatened to eh their policies unless the necessary improvements I suggeste: were ried out. These Imonitions were entirely neglected, and it will be obgerved by the testimony of the master builder, Mr. Ball, that even he made some altera- tions of the steampi y cutting away the woodwork ana other combustible material that surrounded these Pipes, on the lth inst. Btill these alterations were not adequate, in my estimation, for the preservation of bu- man life and to obviate the dangers of a panic during the rogress of the entertainments. ‘The testimony taken eiore me on the investigation into the origin of the fire will bear me out most forcibly in the conclusions that I arrived at. In my opinion. asan expert, the fire origi- nated under the floor immediately oyer the boiler, and from superheated steam, which {n its effects is as de- ctive ae burning gas oF dame, and where it isallowed togain strength ts ste to be the cause of terrible results ‘Continuing this tLeome, next to the disastrous fire that occurred in Contre street, on {he evening of the 24th inst., where so many itves were unfortunately lost. m ali’my examinations, ‘the testimony taken by my ‘assistants and the reports of my officers, who have several times carefully gone over the premises, I have arrived at the conclusion that the fire originated in the rinting office of Dun, Barlow & Co., on the third floor of ihe building Nos. 81, 8 and 85, and ‘from there spread to the other structures which are now a mass of ruins. From all the particulars that I have gathered I learn that two boys were washing off the presses with benzine, and the vapor from this liquid got into contact with a lighted Daper which was probably ‘thrown on the floor by some, careless person, and before many minutes the entire in- ferior way amass of secthing flame, I found that before the people employed upon the premises could get from the pressroom, in which the fire originated, all egress from the buildings was shut off. The exterior means of gecape wore most meagre, and the unfortunate loss of life that has occurred was unquestionably due to the negligence and interested parsimony of the proper ai thorities. “The utter neglect and want of proper co sideration for public feeling prietor of the building duri bile at. Jorge thes. alm jc at jarge the joul tend with “ae” caterer. for community. It has shocked me perso! no doubt thousands of my fellow citizens, crushed and maimed bodies of the unfortunate poor girls who lost their lives at this fire should still be left buried beneath the ruins, and no effort made on the part of the culpable owner of these buildings to search for the bones for thelr weeping relatives, who are anxious to comfort themselves by giving them ‘decent interment. I discov- ered that immediately adjoining the only staircase of this building was elevator that served during the fire as a flue’ to convey the flames to the floors above. If this trap had Deen constructed for the purpose, and fitted at the foundation with an enormous. bellows, it could not have more effectually performed ‘its terrible work of de struction. There is but little room to doubt that the re- mains ot even human beings—six young woman and one Doy—lic crushed beneath the mass of brick and burned timbers now heaped upon the foundation of the ruinous structure that caused not only their death, but sorrow in the hearts of their friends and the public at large. In this building there was but one staircase (and I have no other term to use for it but; the internal machine, the elevator, was placed close to it, so that when the flames Caught one the other wasattacked, aud almost as quick ar lightning all chance of escape was cut off trom the ‘ople above. The fire escapes, or the complicated ma- chinery meant to be escapes, fitted upon the outside of the building, were simply mantraps, entirely inadequate for their intended purpose and in most wretched con- ion. Pursuing the subject still further into our latest disns- trous fire, which occurred at Maillard's confectionery manufactory, In Mercer street and Broadway, on the Morning ot the 27th inst. discovered that this contia. radon ‘was one of those accidents that no human fore- ought could have anticipated or prevented. Every recautionary measare had -been taken by Mr. Maillard guard against the possibility of fire ; but, notwithstand- {ng his constant care, a furious fire broke out when and where it was expected. I cite this instance particularly asa warning to the community, and I rere trust that the conductors and managers of large establishments throughout the city will pay careful attention to the points I have laid here before them. This fire, so far as have been able to penetrate it, origin- ated in the basement, under that Portion of the building connecting the Broadway with the Mercer street prop- erty and was caused Dy sparks from the furnace, close which cocoa was roasted, ese sparks smouldering among the warm shells burst th into flame in the morning and caused the terrible consequences we all have witnessed. THOS. Mc8PEDON, Fire Marshal. car- tting among the shells, and Fires During the Weck. Fire Marshal McSpedon reports forty-five fires for the week ending December 28, 1872, at noon. The estimated loss is, - $1,157,700 | Amount of insurance + 1,780,200 The causes of the several fires were as follows:— ses of occupants and employes. 2B er racem cone ns ceme me jot ascertained. A DOWNTOWN FIRE BELL, To Tne EpiTor oF THE HERALD:— Cannot some plan be devised to have a fre alarm in the lower part of New York, or is it true that the city is too poor to support one? In these times, when fires are occurring so often, and so much property is veing destroyed and so many lives being lost, all the people want to know when a fire occurs and where. A man leaves his family in the upper part of the city to go to his business down town, and his house may be on fire for hours and he know nothing of it. How convenient it would be jor such to hear the alarm beil and to count off the number of the station and to know the locality of it! Since the Post Ofice bell ceased to ring the downtown people get no alarm. In many ways @ fire alarm bell is wanted down town, and would be of great convenience. MERCHANT. DEATH OF A PITTSBURG OITIZEN. PirrsBurG, Pa,, Dec. 28, 1872, | but we had nothing else and STORM-BOUND TRAINS. Shameful Example of Rail- road Neglect. SIXTEEN HOURS IN THE SNOW. Four Trains Stuck Fast in the Metropolitan Suburbs. -—— What a Wornout Locomotive Did—All Night on the Track—Women and Children Eating Snow—A Frozen Conductor’s Hero- ism—No Food, No Fire, No Water. Asingular and most reprehensible example of plundering incompetency aad mismanagement was displayed on the line of the New York and New Haven Railroad on Thursday last, and, though not attended with any very serious results, about one thousand persons, comprising men, women and children of all ages and conditions, were subjected to great suffering, privation and inconvenience. In order, however, not to influence the public judgment in the matter it will be perhaps best not to characterize the “fluke” and the outrage on public rights which it led to in teo severe terms, but simply to let one of the parties adfected tell his own story. At this particular season, when all the railroads are so much inconvenienced by the phenomenal snowfall of the past few days, it is of course a matter of extreme difficulty to keep the lines in running order, and the public is not so exacting as toexpect the trains to make schedule time. A fair effort in the public’ interest is all that is de- Mmanded. Hearing, however, that several pas- senger trains were blockaded on the New York and New Haven road just above Morrisania, or in other words IN THE SUBURBS of the city, on Thursday last, @ HenaLy,teporter yesterday sought out a gentleman ‘who had been @ passenger on one of the treinf in question to learn and give to the vyollc his version of the tory. The gentlemar, whose story is appended, objected, nowevey, fo the publication of his name at present, bat he ts a well known citizen and says that should ‘his statement be denied he will then come pybiicly forward. Tho reporter found him late yesterday after. ‘noon, “after the matinée,” in the mana- ger’s room of a well known and popular up- town theatre. Upon being informed of the object of the reporter’s visit the gentleman said :— “Well, sir, [ didn’t want to appear prominent, or, in fact, in any way, in this matter; but in the im. terest of the public I think it should be told, and [ am willing to tell you jnst what MY EXPERIENCE was. If my statements are questioned | will then back them up.” “To begin with,” said the reporter, “when and on what line was this blockade in which you suf- fered?” “It was—let me see—day after Christmas—that’s Thursday—night before last. It wason the New York ‘and New Haven road, and we were blocked up for about sixteen hours.” “Near or between what cities on the road?’ asked the reporter. “Between no cities, but right here, in New York, almost. Why, sir, it was between’ Tremont and Morrisania. 1°11 tell you just my story, and then any questions you want tg ask I'll answer—if I can. IfLcan, mind you! never promise to do anything unless I think I really can do it. Now, then. 1 was at Tremont, and I left there to come to New York shortly after four o’clock on Thursday afternoon, on a way train, consisting of locomotive, tender, baggage car, I think, and three passenger cars. The snow was pretty deep and falling fast, and when we had got ee a mile or two this side of Tremont the whole thing came to a dead standstill and WE WERE STUCK IN THE SNOW. Of course the engers, myself among them, ' thought we should soon get along and for a little while ery no attention, but when we had been there half an hour we began to look about. We tramped alongside the train to the en- gine and found that there it was where the trouble lay. The locomotive was a ‘busted- up,’ broken-down, pa pe gone-to-seed old thing that wouldn’t draw a prize on a policy ticket, let alone three or four railroad cars. elt was acta- ally an old rattletrap not able to make any head- way, a8 was @ell proved by the fact that trains on the other track, consisting of more cars and going through the same depth of snow, passed frequently at good speed. The conductor of our train, whose name I don’t know beyond the fact that ne was called “Frank,” really seemed to be a good man, and exerted himself in every possible way to get us out of our difficulty. He sent despatches to the Superintendent, asking for mo- pita ede the answers were to the eifect that he musi GET HIS TRAIN OUT HIMSELF. I heard this in relation to several despatches and replies. At last darkness set in, and our condition became critical. Other trains kept coming on be- hind’us, one being a New Haven train and another was called ‘The Boston Express.” There was still another, making four biocked in all, all of them being passenger trains and contain- ing, 1 should judge, about @ thousand pas- sengers. Many of them had __ travelled all A and were pretty well exhausted, particu- Jar e ladies and children, and it was now sup- per time, with many persons hungry and no pros- pects of supper. Frank, the conductor, had been doing everything that lay in his power, and was almost bored to death by the indignant passengers, but he was notresponeibie for it. He waded about in the snow irom one train (or engine) to the other, asking questions, trying to devise means to get out, sending despatches to the Superintendent, and worked in every way tili AT LAST HE CAVED IN from sheer cold and exhaustion. His hands and feet were frozen; he became insensibie, and we all thought he was going to die. We brought him into the car and rubbed his feet, chest and hands, spread warm clothing, such as we could get, over him, but it seemed noe use, and we felt sure he would not hen He was in this condition all night. Toward midnight things began to look desperate. ‘The passengers in the trains behind us began to come to our train looking for wood, as theirs had | given out, and their cars were becoming bitterly cold, It so happened that we were better provided with wood than they, and we managed to keep half warm.” “Could you supply them with anything at all 9 asked the reporter. “Oh, no. We gave them a little wood, I think, not much of that to give. The water in the fliters was exhausted, and no one had ak to eat, and people began to suffer intensely wit! + ‘THIRST, COLD, HUNGER and loss of sleep. it was pitiful, indeed, to hear the littie children Rae ih every car, and their mothers, themselves suffering, trying to soothe them. ‘The snow, of course, continued to tall, and, I tell you, things looked very bad. Our conductor still lay imsensible. The women and children on Toany of the cars had to eat snow to quench their thirst, and this only increased their desire for water, besides causing them internal pains, as they were ail without food.” “Were there no farmhouses near from which you contd Lig assistance 7? “Wait a minute,” replied the narrator; “I was just coming to that. I began to get desperate and aoe 1 must have some warmth and sicep if I couldn’t get food; so I started out in the darkness to flounder through the snow, looking for u house where I might get a bed till morning. 1 will only say that I was about an hour or two away and came back, I hadn't gone very far. I had iound no house, and got back to the train WET, COLD AND EXHAUSTED to the last degree. Everybody became demoralized and made up their minds that there was nothing to do but to wait there till daylight or until help came. Meantime, however, information had been sent along the line, I suppose from New York, about the blockade, and the other trains that came down during the night on our track were switched off at some northerly station, and passed us during the night on the other track on their down to New York. It was s sted thi be set to stop one of these trains, 80 that the: might take off the passengers of the snow-bouni trains; but there seemed to be no one who had au- thority or would take the responsibility of stopping the down trains, and 80 WE PASSED THE NIGHT as best we could. Men grumbled and cursed and walked about to keep warm, children cried and sobbed in pain, while mothers tried to lessen their suferings. I got a few winks of sleep by curling myself up on & seat, but then tt was too cold to ob- tain either rest or comfort. All this time poor Frank, the conductor, was in a very bad condition and was suffering terribly. And 60 the night wore away. No one had any food, most of them nothing to drink, and, of course, as they haa not thought of bringing their mattresses and bedding with they little sleep. Three trains passed down to the city on the other track during the night and to’ the morning, and it made all the | Apo gers on the blockaded trains feel desperately de- reesed to know that they were so near their des- ination—in the saburbs of New York, in fact—and yet could not budge an inch.” “Well, how were you ultimately relieved ?” “Hold on a minute! Of course morning came at W.C. Robinson, @ prominent manufacturer of this city, died this evening, last; we had the consolation of knowing that that would come whether it brought relief with it or not. The conductor of our train, who had been so utterly prostrated during the night, recovered tive Bonet, and telling him of our position; but I | considerably, and a number of the once suggested to him that he shoul STOP THE NEXT TRAIN that came down toward the city on the oppo. eight o'clock in the ngers at site track. Abo morning a_ trai came slong, responded to our distress signal, and took off the passengers, reaching this city shortly after ten o'clock. Of course some time was occupied in dis- embarkation, but we were about sixteen hours stuck fast on that track, and suffered terribly ; and there was no cause for this beyond the me:n, nig- economy of the railroad officials in trying to train through asnow storm with a worn- out and worthless old engine. Any one of the three trains behind ours could have come through without any assistance had our train been out of the way; but it was impossible tor as to move. Indeed, our ENGINE FIRES WERE BURNED OUT.” “And you think all was done that could be done by your conductor to get the train through?” “Yes ldo. Me sent despatch after despatch to the Superintendent, I can only speak in reference to one dispatch trom the office in New York to the conductor, It was in reply to his inquiry as to what he should do, and, so far as my memory serves me, the answer was, ‘Get the train through yoursel!, if you can,’ or words to that effect.” “Then you left your train still blockaded yester- day morning?” “We did, and for all I know it is still there, snow- bound on the track. 1 heard one gentieman on board complaining bitterly of the PECUNIARY AND BUSINESS LOSS he would suffer in consequence of the detention, and he said he would sue the company for damages if it cost him fifty thousand dollars to prosecute his claims.” “Did you know any of-the passengers on the train with you?’ “The only passenger I saw that I knew personally was Ed Hi Nae ie is a well known man in New edt bat n’t know exactly where you can find im. : The reporter then took his leave, and having been previously furnished with a cine as to the 5 porate oad = Slag Mr. Haegerty, made search for him, but without success. THE STORM ON THE NEW ENGLAND COAST. The Wreck of the Bark Kadosh—Terrible Story of Death and Privation—Arrival of the Sur- vivors—Bafety of the Siberia and Cuba— Steamers Overdue and Expected— Abatement of the Storm and No Boston, Dec, 26, 1872, The great storm has now fully submded, and tne amounts af its sad consequences along the Eastern coast are beginning to come in. Feartul apprehen- sions of the loss of various steamers and vessels overdue have in many cases been dispelled to-day by the reception of telegrams announcing their safety. ng those thus neard trom is the Cunard steamer’ ria, which left Liverpool on the 10th for Boston; and which was heard from this after- noon at Halifax, where she put in early in the morning for coal, intending to resume her trip this evefting. The Cuba, of the same line, but bound for New York, 1s also reported as having put into the same port at the same time, for a similar purpose. There are two other steamers on their way from Liverpool for this port, the Sir Francs and the Texas, the former having sailed on the 10th and the latter on the 12th, The Saxon, of the Philadelphia line, is also overdue, The survivors of THE BARK KADOSH, bound from Manila for Boston, which was wrecked on Point Alderton, have all arrived in this city. Their sufferings were long and painfully severe and It is ® wonder that any of those on board were left to tell the tale. Mr. 8. K, Gorsuch, the first mate, who was among the saved, in an interview with @ HERALD reporter stated that the ill-fated vessel was beating about in the bay inside of Race Point three days before she struck. Being unable to find a pilot, and when the clouds threatened a storm they were too far in to put to sea again, as the easterly wind was blowing them further towards the shore every moment. Alter the weather became very thick, and concluding that the land could not be far distant, the vessel was anchored at noon on Thursday, The storm tn the meantime grew more furious, the sea running high, and everything betokened the coming danger. 4n about one hour after throwing the anchors over she STRUCK ON POINT ALDERTON and soon began to break up. All hands immediately looked about for means with which to save their lives. There were two large boats on board, be- side a whale boat. Ten of the men got into one and started for the shore, landing safely. Captain Matthews selected the whaleboat, into which him- self and seven others took refuge; but on its pas- sage it was unfortunately capsized, precipitating its occupants into the sea, and all were drowned. The nautical instruments were in this boat, and nothing was saved except a chronometer, which was afterwards picked up on the shore. It is some- what singular that the whaleboat, always consid- ered the best craft in @ high sea, should meet with such an accident, while the more clumsy boat car- nied its burden safely through. Alter the survivors reached the land they natur- ally looked for their comrades, and on discovering the sad mishap three of the men got into the boat and started back to save th struggling in the waters. They failed, however, of their generous purpose, but succeeded in getting THE DEAD BODY OF CAPTAIN MATTHEWS, which they brought to the shore and carried it inland as far as the bluffs, about one hundred yards from the water line, where they deposited it, sup- posing the locality to be secure from the reach of the waters. On searching for the body on the next morning no trace of it could be founa, the sea having washed it away or the snow covered it beyond their reach. Besides the big od crew there were on board two stowa- ways, both of whom were saved. One of them was a Manila boy, whose first experience of anow and ice will probably make a lasting impression. He remains at Hull, having ® wholesome dread of a voyage up the harbor through the drift ice. 1 the persons on hoard eight were lost and nine saved, Among the survivors is Mr. Join Wilson, second mate, The following are the NAMES OF SIX OF THE LOST: J. A. Matthews, captain. John W. Kirby, steward. Christizn Overiander, cook. John Guymer. Julius Svenian and Charles Greenland, seamen— the latter a Swede, The bark is broken into small fragments, scat- tered about the shore. A portion of the hemp has also been washed to the land, and will be saved in a damaged condition. The sugar will all be lost. ‘The vessel and cargo were valued at about one hundred and forty-eight thousand doilars. Up to this evening there have been no further details re- ceived of THE WRECK OF THE PERUVIAN, the loss of which, together with all hands on board, was reported in the HERALD’s despatches of last night. Her cargo and remnants of her wreck are mingied with the floating ice all along the coast. The weather, though, is too severe to attempt to recover the cargo or search for the bodies of the unfortunate crew. It is doubtiul if any of them are ever recovered. The bark Pca = from Batavia, via Singapore, ashore near Highland Light, Cape Cod, remained tight at last accounts, and lay about two hundred feet from low water mark. The Underwriters’ steamer, Charles Pear- son, tain Nash, has gone to her assistance, and when the weather moderates will endeavor to lighten her with a view of towing her afoat. Se DANI BARK PALSTEH, Captain Bache, from Antwerp, via St. Thomas, was at Provincetown this morning, and was in charge ofa pilot. The weather is very cold, and there is much ice drifting along the coast, but the sky is clear, the sea smooth and the wind northwest, ing a moderate breeze. The bark Juan F. Pearson, of Portland, Captain Gould, from Montevideo for Boston, with a valua- ble cargo of hides, put into Gloucester harbor Fri- day all right. Some anxiety was felt for the safety of this vessel, as she was known to be on the coast when the storm came on. Late telegrams this evening from Gloucester and Provincetown state that no further disasters are yet reported, EASTERN TRAVEL, The Storm on the Housatonic and Nau- gatack Railroads. Bripo@Erort, Conn., Dec. 27, 1872. The severest snow storm of many years occurred here on Thursday, drifting badly and leaving about | two feet of snow on a level. The ratlroads are ail badiy blocked up, and the mails very much disar- rapged. No through trains on the New York and Boston line have passed either way since yesterday noon, and the morning train from New Haven to New York was two hours anda half late. Up to noon to-day we have no New York mails. On the Housatonic road the mail and passenger train, which left here at half-past ten yesterda: inde <4 reached Pittsfield, Mass., at three o'clock ti morning, or twelve how te. The down miik train on the same ne due here at nine o'clock THE ADRIATIC. Departure of the Crack Ship of the White Star Line Yesterday. pancreas The Question as to Her “Disabled Condition” and ‘What the Agent of the Company and the Cap- tain Have to Say About It—The Steamer in No Danger and a Quick Passage Pre- dicted—The United States Authorities Notified as to the Vessel’s Con- { dition and the Mails Put on Board as Usual. Considerable excitement was occasioned yester- day throughout the city by a report-published in one of the daily papers that the Adriatic—one of the steamers of the White Star line~was to leave yesterday afternoon for Liverpool in & thoroughly disabied condition. It will be remembered by the readers of the HERALD that the Adriatic had a ter- rible time of it during her late passage across the Atlantic to this port. Although she was considera- bly knocked about in the storms she encountered, she very fortunately, thanks to the stanchness of the vessel herself and to the skiil of her commander, Captain Perry, managed, in the long run, to reach Sandy Hook without having even a boat stove in or @ piece of weod about the ship even splintered—to use the words of one of the scamen. However, during the voyage her screw was damaged to a cer- tain degree. It was this damage which attention was called to by the report in question, and as a consequence many of those who had been BOOKED FOR PASSAGE on board the vessel were seriously alarmed. A HERALD reporter yesterday, in order to ascertain whether the ship was really unfit to make the voyage safely, paid a visit to the office of the com- pany, on Broadway, and finding tnat the agent, Mr. Sparks, had gone over to Jersey City tosee the vessel Off, at once proceeded to the company’s wharf, Mr. ‘Sparks aid Captain Perry, the com- mander of the vessel, were on board the ship, and, on ascertaining the object of the reporter's visit, willingly consented to answer any questions put to them concerning the condition of the steamer. ‘Is the ship in a disabled condition, Mr. Sparks?’ was the first quéstion. “Well, as to that,” was the reply, “I think that the company have common sense enough not to be willing to loge their property if they can help it. All the vessels on the line are insured by the com- pany itself to the extent of one-third of their value, and it is not likely that they would send one of them to sea in a disabled condition. They value their own property as much as any outsider can, and the Captain here can lain to you how groundless was THE MALICIOUS REPORT published to-day concerning her ‘disabled’ con- dition, You know the line,’”’ he added, “is anew one and has suddenly sprung into popularity, and is making great inroads into the patronage of the other lines. Time and time again reports have beer scattered broadcast about our vessels with a view of injuring us, and it has happened more than once since the vessels have been running that articles written through malice or jealousy have been hawked about to the various newspaper offices, but have failed to deceive the publishers, The article in question to-day was promptea, I have not the slightest doubt, by a party who has malice to gratify against the company, and I have learned that it was allowed to Led either through mistake or inadvertence. It states that the writer called on board the Adriatic. If he did no officer of the ship knew it, and his ‘informa- tion,’ therefore, can be taken for what it is worth, But, as I said before, Captain Perry can explain THE SHIP'S CONDITION to you.” “And I will do so with pleasure,” remarked the Captain, “Nowas to the broken acrew. It is a four-blade screw. During our last voyage two of the blades were broken, and a thorough examina- tion was made by a diver, who has given in writing astatement, showing that we have two blades com- pre, one-half of a third and two-thirds of another, if that can be called ‘thoroughly disabled’ then I don’t know anything about seafaring.” “But in case of a great storm would the present condition of the screw not endanger the ship's safety 7” “Not at all,” replied the Captain, trying to re. | press a smile at the, to him, evident simplicity of | the question. “Why, some vessels that go abroad have screws of only two blades, But that is neither here nor there, The fact is this:—The sony, is quite competent to do the work required of it, ana if you have any doubt on the subject: let me give you A FEW FACTS. On the night of the 12th instant, when the two blades were broken, we were in the same kind of weather as the Canada, the City of Paris, the Man- hattan and the Abyssinia. In other words, all | these vessela were within two hundred miles of one another, as can be seen by their logs and our log. Now, here are the distances accomplished by these steamers and our own from the day the two blades of our screw were broken :— Adriatic, Manhattan, Canada. eeree. ae 14 Iz — 18 64 i 66 139 7 208 161 18 202 267 24 24 m5 216 29 218 1 BT Dec. 21 m 2 303 - “Now, you can see by this what little effect the damage to the screw had upon our ship, and that there were days when we made faster time than the other vessels, they having no drawback other than the same storms we had to encounter. Be- sides, itshould be borne in mind that the Adriatic can carry more sail than any other steamer afloat that plies regularly between this port and any for- eign country. will make as quick, if not a quicker passage this vovage than we have ever made, weather permitting.’ “Then you do not consider that the damage done to the two blades of the screw will in anywise en- iF the safety of the vessel?” consider that she is just as safe as if the screw had all the blades intact. Her running time with the broken blades shows that; and the damage anyhow has Lae do with the management of the ship. She can mani as easily with or without the screw. I naven’t the slightest doubt but that with sail alone she could make the passage in fifteen days.” “Had there been a dock jerge enough to accom- modate the vessel,” remaked Mr. Sparks at this point, ‘“‘we should have had her put up at once and @ new acrew put in. But that we had not been able to do go is no fault of ours. The city is to blame for not having the proper accommoda- tions. But, asthe captain says, the damage to the screw does not put the vessel in the slightest danger, as the malicious report this morning tries to make out. Ifitdid I certainly would not Ra on her, as [have shipped to-day, $30,000 in gold, on which there is no insurance, I’ should also state that I notified the United States authorities | allabout the damage to the screw, and as we carry the entire United States mail tor England, a very valuable one always, it is pretty certain that if there was any danger the authorities would not have allowed the matis to go by the vessel.”’ THE DEPARTURE OF THE STEAMER, At the close of this conversation it was nearly four o'clock, and shortly aiterward the pilot came on board and the huge steamer kg? out into the stream and at once headed down the Bay, *o all appearances scudding along as rapidly as though the screw was intact, Captain Perry, her com- mander, is said to be one of the most experienced seamen in the marine service, he having already had an experience of twenty-two years, and the vessel has a fall crew and is ably oMicerea, She took out eighteen cabin passengers and about fifty steer- age. veral of the cabin , owing to the report about the vessel, ked out and did not take their departure. THEODORE THOMAS’ CONCERTS, ‘The second of Theodore Thomas’ symphony con- certs was given last evening in Steinway Hall, toa large and ‘appreciative audience, mainly made up of the German nationality. The programme in. cludei an old favorite, namely, Beethoven's sym- phony, No. 6, Pastorale, Op. 68, This was the opening piece of the concert, and was followed by the Orst appearance in this city of Mr. 8, E. Jacob- sohn, who appeared to give great satisfaction to a Beess of the audience in the rendering of Max ucli’s concertos, for violin, iD. The overture, King Lear, Op. 4, closed the first part and received its just merit of spplause. The loneliness and the madness of Lear were marvellously por- trayed in the weird, wonderful music of this piece. The gem of the evening was the second and last part. Liszt’s symphonic poem ‘Die Hemner- scblacht,”” was a musical representation of the wars of the barbarian hordes inst the Chris- tians. The choral that proclaimed the final triumph of the Christians was touchingly rendered, and included an organ solo and ac- companiment that was admirable in purpose, but might have been more perfect in execution. Wagner's introduction and finale, “Tristan und Isolde” and “Der Ritt der Walkaren,’ concluded the concert, The first is a beautifully descriptive piece of the ecstasy and ry of a last night, reached the tat seven o'clock this me The 01 Naugatuck road is reported ali clear, the train comin in this mornii monly hair an hour behind time. drifts on the New York and New Haven road ported ‘ The hae "heen "very cod wor’ thee days Te ‘The reads will be all for trave) by this and mise eae love, with a finale that blends from a dis- toa harmony of sweet sou a that tells of the lovers’ brighter and ecg 1@ SEC> ler desi Catach abt Sate ease tt alkuren, or Wall ofthe Odin maldens are given with 80 mach spirit as to send the andience with atten lta tee fade | used man—[with vel 3 THE KU KLUX PRISONERS. Arrival of Some Notable Individuals from Charleston—A Baptist Minister Among the Namber—Their Departure for Albany Penitentiary Last Night—Four- teen Murders Confessed To by Three of the Party. Yesterday morning, at a few minutes before noon, the Charleston steamer James Adger cama to her moorings at pier 29 North River; situated at the foot of Warren street. The vessel was en- crusted fore and aft with a thick coating of ice, which made her decks as slippery as a skating pond, and on which the sailors repeatedly fem while handling the ropes which were being used to moor her to the pier, ‘The hull and paddle- boxes of the vessel, coated with ice, sparkled in the noonday sun with wondrous brilllancy. The hoarse cries of the pilot of “Stop her!” ‘Easy ahead!” “Slow her!” ceased after while, and eventually. thesteamer, which had been buifeting the bitter northeast breezes since last Tuesday at noon, was safely moored. Long before she had been made fasta H&RALD reporter had sprang aboard and ‘Was engaged in conversation with TEN KU KLUX PRISONERS, who were found in the second cabin, and wha were on their way to the Albany Penitentiary to undergo various terms of imprisonment. The, party looked jaded and worn, having all beew great martyrs to sea sickness. AS soon as tha steamer was moored the party landedon the pier, headed by A NORTH CAROLINA MARSHAL ! and two Deputy Marshals, their rear being guarded by several members of the river police attached ta harbor police boat Seneca, which was lying off in the stream, awaiting their arrival at the adjoining, wharf, belonging to the Narragansett Steamshix Company. The pfisoners marched along witly downcast heads to the end of the pier, where a number of colored men were at work moving baleg of cotton, \ WHO SCOWLED AT THE PARTY i as they went by, aud several of them remarked they supposed they were being taken to thd Tombs, which was the proper place for such; murderous individuals, As the prisoners passe: into West street several of their numbek looked around, as_ if, oping against hope, that some pest might be made to rescue them by sympathizers in this city; but such hope was fllusory, for the procession o! sleighs, freighted with merchandise, swept on in tne even tenor of their way, while their drivers were unconscious of Who the strange-looking indi- viduals were composing the small procession, while on the sidewalk the shivering pedestrians rushed along looking neither to the right nor the lett, but all impelled by the same motive—viz., to reach their destinations quickly. Leaving the street with its snow hummocks, and its roadway with the snow of fully a foot In depth, through which the sorrowtul party tramped, the wharf ot the Narragansett Steamship Company was reached, and when they had arrived at the further enda halt was called by the Marshals, THE PARTY GAZED WISTFULLY across the broad exvanse of the Hudson until their attention was called to the evolutions of the police steamer Seneca, which was seen fighting her way through the ice to the end of the wharf to take the party on board and to transport them to Forty- second street, on the East River, where they were to be taken to the Grand Central depot, and for- warded by the afternoon train to Albany, At last the trim little steamer buifeted her way through the ice and was close to the pier, from which a plank was thrown out, and a few seconds later the prisoners were on board the Seneca, CAPTAIN FRANK SPEIGHT, THE COMMANDER, stood on the d and instructed the prisoners to move aft, This order was obeye: lacrity, for the men were glad to escape f itiless blasts which came sv Hudson, After the prisoners wi safe keepingone of the North Carolina Marshals joculariy remarked to the prisoners, “We have come to put you boys among white ‘people, eh? while another individual remarked “youre going into an awiul tight place my jads.” The prisoners to whom tlicse would-be facetions remarks. were addressed received them in different manners. Some tried to smile, as if reckless as to what fate might await them, while others uttered suppressed oaths, doubtless wishing the United States authori- tes duly placed in EVERYTHING NUT A HAPPY NEW YEAR. The following is a list of the ten prisoners :— Kev. John Bzell, of Macedonian Baptist church, near Lewiston ‘ings, Spartanburg county, South Carolina; married and has children, Alfred Lemaistre, Union county John Whitlock, Union county, Marion Fowler, Union county, Hosea Matthews, Union county, § H. Whitesides, York county, 8. dJemmy Donald, York county, 8. C. Robert Moore, York county, 8, C. John Whisonant, York eounty, S. C. Jerome Whisonant, York county, S.C. ‘The ages o! the prisoners varied from nineteen to thirty-five, and all are married except McDonald. The terms of imprisonmest and fines vary con- siderably. Jemmy Donald is sentenced to two years. Fowler to jour and all the others to five years’ imprisonment each, The Rev. John Ezell ia bball to pay a fine of $500 and the others $200 each. FOURTEEN MURDERS CONFESSED. The Brothers Whisonant and Lemaistre have confessed to having cointitted fourteen assassina- tions, while the others have been found guilty of conspiracy and oi the raid on Union Jail, some two 8 ago, in which some fifteen men were killed. Nearly all the men are sous of people owning plan- tations. AN INTERVIEW WITH THE BAPTIST MINISTER. This individual, who was terribly crestfallem told the following story in a tremulous tone: I was ordained to the Baptist ministry in 1846 in Spartanburg county. I used to go among the neighbors, and used to try to dissuade them from entering into any conspiracy, but my motives have been misconstrued, and I was arrested, tried and condemned, J am a marri nan. My eldest son ia & theological student at enville, N, C., and the other is at @ theological. seminary in Watford county, North Carolina, 1 consider 1 am an ill- euce}—and you may pub- lish that ia the HERALD. THE NORTH CAROLINA MARSHALS, The names of the Marshals who brought on the men from Charleston are Colonel RK, M. Marshall and Deputy Marshals M, Hubbard and Coats, the latter wearing an immense bearskin coat, while Mr. Hubbard wore a private soldier’s blue over- coat. The prisoners had no overcoats, but had blankets thrown over their shoulders. Their beards were stubbly, and they all iooked much in need of rest. They refused to hold any converse on the subject of their crimes, real or alleged. Their faces, with one or two notable exceptious, were of an agricultura! type of a somewhat low order, which was borne out by tleir conversation. Tiley ap- peared to have oe of clemency from Washing- ton. They left for Albany last night. STABBED T0 THE HEART. Terrible Marder Near LoutisvillemA Butchery for a Few Articles of Cloth- ing. LOUISVILLE, Dec, 28, 1872. Levi King was arrested to-day, charged with the murder of Richard Baker on Thursday. The two lived in the viliage of Arnoldtown, in the lower end of the county, about thirteen miles from the city. On Thursday Baker and King went to a store in that vicinity, and bougit a dress and some trinke: The men left the store together, and Baker failing to come home, search was instituted, and yester- day his body was found in a ditch about a mile from the store. An examination revealed the fact that Baker had been stabbed in the heart, and that his head and faco had been beaten and bruised entirely beyond recognition, A brother of the dead mi identified the body by the clothing. chased by Baker was found in King’s house after the latter's arrest. A Knife was found on King’s person, one blade of which corresponded with the wound in Baker’s breast. King denies all know- ledge of the murder, and says Baker got drank and he left him asleep under a haystack. King is held for a further examination. THE COTTONWOOD AVALANCHE, Reported Loss of Twelve Lives=-One Body Recovered. Sait Lake City, Utah, Dec. 27, 1872. But littie additional intelligence has been re- ceived from the Cottonwood a che. It 1s as- serted that twelve men are missing. The slide came from ee very mountain, a distance of a mile, with fright and force. The storm preva- lent prevented any warning of its approach wWntil it was upon the lines of teams at the it he road. Mei, and sacks of ore were carrried away ‘wisps. The body of snow where the force of shovellers are at work is very large and excavation is v slow. One dead body was recovered Vag 3 storm continues, rafn here and snow in tl ie — ‘The Union Pacific train is nine hours HORRIBLE AOOIDENT. Two Men Scalded to Death in a Boiler. Ouxcinnati, Ohio, Dec, 28, 1872, James Venters and Andrew Diles, workmen im the Belifonte Iron Works at Ironton, Ohio, werq scalded to death yesterday while cl & boiler, ‘The e! supposing the boiler been connected, Tarnes’ on the steam while the were in the boiler. —"