The New York Herald Newspaper, October 23, 1873, Page 3

“ ¢ NEW YORK HERALD, THURSDAY, OCTOBER 23, 1873.-TRIPLE SHEET. STATE POLITICS. The Effects of Public Opinion on the Twenty-Ninth and Thir- tieth Senatorial Districts. General “Jim” Wood, of Erie Railroad Fame, and George Bowen Thrown Overboard by the Republicans. A New Departure at Last in Alleghany, | Wyoming, Livingston, Niagara, Genesee and Crleans Counties, ES a What the Republicans Think of the Outery Against “the Five Tweed Senators.” Why the Renomination Dodge of 1871 Was Not Repeated The Six Counties to Send Seven Repub- licans to the Assembly. Arica, Wyoming County, Oct. 22, 1873. The hopes and aspirations of those virtuous dem- ccrats who have done so much during the past three years to foment trouble and engender heart burnings among the stanch adherents of that portion of the party of great moral ideas which Moves and has its prosperous being within the contines of the Twenty-ninth and Tuirtieth Senato- Yial districts, by their unstinted denunciations of the corrupt men the people of these same districts have persisted in foisting upon the State Senate as their proper representatives, have been at last gratified; for the nomination of a republican candi- date for Senator has been made in each, and George Bowen and General James Wood are not the men selected. Yet, if the democrats of these two districts are really happy over the fact, Iam seriously at a loss to find out in what manner they generally express their teclings when they feel particularly elevated over a good thing. Indeed, I half incline to the betief that after all they would have preferred this year that both Bowen and Wood should have again been put in the fleld, True, this would not be consistent with their loud-mouthed professions of reform and their denunciations of the past; but. then consistency, we all know, is a jewel of very small value in politics, Had those two men been renominated the democrats would have, as of old, good ground to work upon during the campaign, and they might easily have turned the tide, 11 not altogetier in their favor, in the districts most con- cerned, at least have so wrought upon, the reform feelings of the republicans outside of the districts during the campaign as to force them on election day to cast their votes against the party that dared to approve of the nomination of men whose names have been A HISSING AND A BY WORD with every democratic paper in the State since 1870. Itis true that three candidates, whose re- putations have been seriously questioned in com- mon with that of Bowen and that of Wood, have been renominated in three other districts for the Benate by the republicans, thusleaving the demo- trats ample occasion for their old style of attack; but as I will have something to say about themin a future letter I will now confine myself to dealing with Bowen and Wood's districts exciu- sively. 1 have travelled through them both, mingled freely with men of both parties in the’ two districts and theretore am able to speak as to the “prospects’’ by the card. It will be borne in mind that Bowen and Wood were members of that notorious band of five Senators borne into the Senate o! 1870 and destined never to be forgotten afterward in the political es- timation of the democracy who believe that to the re minded all things are not always pure. htfully or wrongtully—I will not stop here to argue the question one way or the other—these two men, ever since Tweed got his famous charter through the Senate, have been considered, as were Lewis and Winslow and Woodin, Ot targets for sey good democrat to have his fling at, in and out Oe, bal. THE HUE AND CRY tn 1871 was taken up even by some of the repub- licans, and yet in that very pe when the reiorm movement swept over the State like a whirlwind, tearing up root and branch everything rotten in the democratic camp, it carried into the Senate by larger majorities than even those five suspected men who went into the campaign onthe very Issues their enemies had dragged up against them. There ts probably nothing in the political annals of this State, which presents so many phases of mys- tery, as that which seems to surround this band of brothers. ‘The charges made against four of them have only been made by rtion without positive proof, and, notwithstanding the investigations that have been started from time to time by legis- lative committees into various questionable trans- actions that Ppparently concerned them not, yet which were set on foot indirectly to get evidence agamst them, not a particle of positive proof has ever been dragged to light fixing upon any one of the tour of them the crime o! corruption in office; Bnd yet, in the face ofit all, ldo not believe there can be found one man in five, even among the republi- cans in their own districts, who does not believe that the suspicion which attaches to their names Is justly founded. The strangest part of the whole thing is that but one of the five has ever taken @ step to reiute the charges so openly made in the newspapers, and we ull know how he came out of the investigation. ‘The other four have stood up boldly against the accusations made against them, and have time and again met asser- tion without positive proof with assertion alone, and upon that alone have they veen content to let their reputation rest. 1 was painfully struck with the cool way in which the charges are treated by some Oi! the republicans in tue two districts I have especially referred to, REPUBLICAN IDEAS OF REFORM. Meet one of them on the street and ask him what he thinks about them, and, ten to one, if he is ina talking mood, he wil irankly tell you that he thinks there is something in them, but “it's too late now Making a juss about the matter.” I met a gentle- Man in Attica, here in Wood's district, who 18 juite rominent in politics, and a republican, aud e said, ‘I think that every one 01 the five Senators who have been charged with being bribed by Tweed were bribed. I have always believed they were. I ‘was at a meeting one night a couple of years ago, andi heard Judge Davis, now a Supreme Court Judge in New York, say openly that there were now in the Senate five republican Senators who nad been bought by Tweed. I will confess he did not mention any names, but he might as well have done | 80, jor itso happened that of the republican Sena- tors of the Senate o1 1870 only five were members of the Senate of 1872,"” “And do you think,” I asked, “that a majority of the repubiicans in the five districts concerned believed, during the campaign of 1872, that the charges were true ?” “| won’t say a majority believed them to be true,”’ was the replys “put had every republican who did believe them to be true voted against our candidate in this district he would have been overwhelmingly defeated.” “And yet that was the great reform year ?” “I know it; but it was, strange as it may seem, that very reform movement that carried him, and 1 dare say the other Jour, along. We were unwilling to trust any democrat, and so stood by our own, with il their alleged sins fresh in our minds, Then there were certain doings in the district, that Yooked to us like malicious persecution on the part of his enemies, which helped him; but his election was not, as ven ont by his iniends, a popular bs of the charges made against him and the In Mr. Bowen’s district I found a large number of repo teea who also confessed they were a little “doubtful” of him, but who as frankly remarked that, had he desired a renomination, he could have obtained it, “and what's more,?? one added, “been elected by a larger tee than ever.” In Batavia and its immediate vicinity his friends appear to be quite numerous, and many of them, though not quite free from suspicion as to all that had been said about him being true, declared that even if they knew them to be true by tive proof, they would vote for him all the mae Yet again J met others who told me that Mr, Bowen would not have dared to ask fer a renomination, and that if he had he would have suffered a most humiliating defeat, “This was what prevented him,” said a Batavian, whom! met at the notel, “from being a candidate, He was shrewd enough to let well enough alone.” Mr. Bowen’s successor ‘will be Daniel S. Cole, of Albion, who has already served in the Senate, The Convention nominated him by acclamation, ‘A DEPOSED GENERAL, Probably there is no one man in the Thirtieth istrict who has taken the charges against him so much to heart a8 General Wood himself. This, of any publican accused of wrong doing: jo man accu: but what I m a n to Kay is that the accused in instance has been very unjustly sti j as & man who actually took pride in being denounced for bribery, Who’ m: nO attempt to conceal the fast that he ‘ba taken mower irom ‘Gould an® a ho had declared that he would do #0 Tree pe “got the chance. Th again is charge | have heard sayen made him, and from the information derived from reilable sources 1n his district I know it to be utterly ‘ound- less. It will be generally conceded that last winter, in the Senate, he made a — record for himself as a hard worker, and, ough he was set down as one of those who re- ceived $5,000 for voting against the Pro Kata Freight bill; the general belief is that he was sus- pected of being asharer in the Pro Rata bill pool simply because of "the $30,000 revelation made during the sittings of the Committee on Privileges and Elections, which had in charge the question of the right of Tweed to his seat in the last Senute. General Wood still claims that he was never bribed, but admits that he did borrow money from ‘Tweed and Gould; but as the people at large have already prett, well made up their minds as to what the loans made to’ him were in reality intended to accomplish, I need not here go into detail about the matter, Suffice it to say that he has not been renominated, and could not have been had he tried his best to secure the Convention in his favor. It was his intention some months ago to run again jor the Senate, confident that the people of his district would give him a@ hearty support, and he Was probably led on to this hopeful view of thin, by what his Iriends alleged to be a fact—namely, that the very chara that were investigated dur- ing the session of the last Senate were freely made against him during the canvass of 1871, and that, notwithstanding they were made the rallying cry against him by his republican as well as democratic antagonists, he was re-elected by the tremendous majority of 5,257 over his popular opponent, Elias E. Harding, Allegany county, alone, where there was considerable division among the republicans, giving him a majority of 2,821. In the other two counties he actually ran ahead of the State ticket. THE RFFECTS OF PUBLIC OPINION. Ris friends, however, this year learned to their cost that even though Mr. Wood’s run in the dis- trict might have been construed asa sort of rebuke to his alleged maligners, that in 1871 the charges were simply regarded as campaign sianders by many, and that then no formal investigation had been held, a8 in 1872, This difference Mr. Wood himself doubtless overlooked when heexpressed his intention of going betore the people again as @ ut the fact is that, whether and although the Senate from an jominious expulsion, the results of the oficial investigation made an impres- sion on the ople in Livingston, Wyom- ing and Alleghany counties that promises tobe lasting. It took the poor old gentleman some time to become convinced of this, but his friends a short time ago got their eyes opened to the real dangers of the situation, and so, very prudently, induced Mr. Wood to declare that he would not be acandidate, The Convention was finally held and the nomination has been given to Colonel Welland, who will, beyond a doubt, be elected bya hand- some majority over his democratic antagonist. Had the Convention been foolish enough to have placea Wood im the field, as decided as the is as a republican green, pet I be- from what I have heard upon all Alleghany and Wyoming coun- ties, that the «democratic candidate would have had Labahonts | his own way in the race. This is saying @ good deal more for the honesty of urpose Of the people of the Thirtieth district than can say for Mr. Bowen’s district; for, a8 I have already intimated, had that gentleman been: re- nominated he would be re-elected. However, I suppose that the people in his district look upon the charges against him pretty much in the same light as Wood’s constituents looked upon the charges made against him in the newspapers and by rival politicians before any ofticial investi tion had stamped the suspicion attached to conduct with the seal of condemnation. A GOOD RECORD BLOTTED OUT. And yet General Wood is greatly to be pitied, As @ general during the war he made a brilliant name for himself as a gallant soldier, and won the re- ect of every man he had any dealings with in the army. When he returned home he resumed practice of the law, and even his most inveterate enemies are compelled to acknowledge that as Chairman of the Judiciary Committee of the Sen- ate he had never had a superior in pojnt of ability. In his Senatorial district he was popular to a degree that falls to the lot of but few public men in country districts, where a man’s every-day con- duct, and even his private atfairs, undergo a scru- tiny from his neighbors which public men in” large cities never dream of; and in his own county he held an_ honored place in the estimation of all his neighbors, demo- crats and republicans alike. But his election to the Senate was, indeed, a fatal thing for him, and 4 his “imprudences,” as his friends call the charges meade against him, in two brief years he has forfeited the respect ana esteem oi some, if not all, of the best men in his district; As I said belore, no vue feels his position more keenly than General Wood himself; and 1 must say that I pitied him from my heart a ghort time SE when {I met him and he told me he wasn’t going to run again for the Senate, and when he added, rather re- preachy, “You newspaper men will have one less to abuse now.” THE ASSEMBLYMEN. As to the Assemblymen in the two districts, I find that Elbert Townsend, who was the represent- ative of the ig Regd year, has been renomt- nated, and that ha §. Whalen has also been renominated in Orfean’ county. ‘They are both republicans and will be re-elected, although the farmers in the latter county threaten to make things lively for Whalen because he went over to the camp of the Usury law repeaiers last winter. Whalen is, consequently, on his marrow bones every day, begging piteously for mercy and pas to vote the other way this winter ff the question ever comes up again. His prayers may have the effect between now and election day of softening the heart of the hardfisted plough followers in the district, and if they do no man will be happier than Mr. ‘Whalen. Niagara county will also be sure to send two re- ublicans ee this year, A. C. Comstock and Dr. . Bardwell being nominated. Alleghany will send & republican, and in lieu of Archibald Kennedy Jonathan B. Morey, republican, will be elected in Livingston, and Wyoming will also as usual send arepublican, So it will be seen that as Jar as the Twenty-ninth and Thirtieth districts are concerned there is no hope for the democracy in the matter of either Senators or Assembiymen, THE LIBERAL REPUBLICANS, Meeting of the State Committee at the St. Denis Hotel—Reports from Various Parts of the State, The Libera! Republican State Committee met yesterday nvon at their headquarters, room 1 of the St, Denis Hotel. There was a very fair attend- ance. General John Cochrane presiaead and Mr, Clark Bell acted ag secretary. A resolution was passed “that the county com- mittees of the various counties be requested to provide their own State tickets for their respec- tive counties, for the reason that it is impractica- ble for the State Committee to do it on account of ae local nominations being printed on the State ticket. General Cochrane read a large number of letters from various parts of the State, showing that the local organizations are working zealously to insure the success of the ticket nominated at Elmira. The letters were, jor the greater part, from officers of liberal republican organizations in the north- ern, western and eastern parts of the State, The following genilemen were elected members of the State Committee:—Mr. Alexander Pond, of Saratoga Springs, to represent the Nineteenth Congressional district; Mr. James J. Lindsley, ex- Mayor of Kingston, lor the Fourteenth district; Mr, Burt Van Horn, of Lockport, for the Thirtieth district; Mr. Solomon Shaw, of Springfield, Erie county, for the Thirty-first district. The following gentlemen were appointed memuers of the Ex- ecutive Committee :—Colonel Frederick A, Conk- ling, Benjamin F. Manterre, ex-Police Commis- sioner; Charles W. Goddard, Mr. Gilbert C. Deane, Charles St. John, Jr., Grinnell Burt, General Ed- ward F. Jones, Mr. Thomas E, Stewart, Benjamin A. Willis, GeneralJohn Cochrane, Chairman; Ss. Taber, Secretary, and Mr. Clark Bell, Treasurer. The committee then adjourned, subject to the callof the Chair, The Executive Committee will ae rt morning at the St. Denis Hotel at ten o'clock, THE TAMMANY RATIFIOATION, A meeting of the Committee of Arrangements of Tammany Hall was held yesterday afternoon to consider the proper preparations,to be made for the grand ratifications meeting to take piace on Wednesday, the 29th, The following sub-commit- tecs were appointed :— Invitations to Speakers—Messrs. Schell, Meade, Fine, Morton, Koch, Onley, Chanier and Pium, Music—Messrs, Vampbell, Flanigan, Blair, Ryan, Fitgpatrick and Michaels. Printing—Messrs. Young, Gorman, Donnelly, Gale, Ackert and Keenan. Fireworks—Messts. Morrissey, Hayes, Healy, Moore, Keese and White. Stands and Decorations—Messrs, Miller, Quincy, Marrin, McGowan, Harris and Spaithorf, Opicers af Meeting—Messrs. Kelly, Maciay, Schell, Fox, McMahon and Hogan. Leawith, Shandiey, Police—Mesers. Coulter, Murphy, Reilly and Powers, Committees on resolutions and facilities for re- porters were also directed to be appointed, It is understood that a number of eminent speakers have accepted invitations to speak on the occasion. REPUBLIOAN OOUNTY CONVENTION, A Conference Committee Appointed. The Republican County Convention was held Iast evening at Republican Hall, Twenty-third street and Broadway, for the purpose of nominating can- didates for the various county offices. After the meeting had been called to order Police Commis- sioner Hugh Gardiner was appointed Chairman and Colonels B, T. Morgan and A. B, Ketchum and George W. Lyon, Vice Chairman. The first business in order was the reception of credentials and the calling of the roll. In the First distrigt two liste were presentea, but that headed by Michael W. Burns, the regular ticket, was recogmized by the Convention. Ohester A, Arthur moved that @ committee of one from each Assembly district be aj ‘the Chair to ations as report to te er wi ES i thud Convention, so-morrow evanina. Which Was carried. The following were appointed as such committee :—Messrs, jchael Ww Burne, Morris Frieasam, Thomas F. Geary. E. 8. Newins, Jam Winterbottom, Daniel F. Crowley, John D. Lansoi John J. O’Brien, George E. Kasmire, Charles Strong, George Bilss, Chestes H. Charles 8. Spencer, Kobert B. Ld Hiram A, Pooler, William Laimbeer, Joel W. Mason, Chester ‘A.-Arthur, Isaac 0. Hunt, William A. Darling and William Haw, Jr. A motion was then offered that the Convention proceed to vote by informal ballot, which was lost. The Convention then adjourned, REGISTRATION IN BROOKLYN. ‘The total vote registered in Brookiyn during the four days of registry this year is 66,657. The fol- 8. Soutnworth, Ward. Fourteenth. - 3416 et ++ 2,912 3,993 BLS Fighteenth 17 Nineeeenth. + 2617 Twentieth » 3,399 Twenty-t * + 2,738 Twenty-second .. 2,571 Twenty-third 10 325. Twenty-fourth 512 Twellth. Twenty-fifth. 175 Thirteenth. —— Total... - 66,657 This is a decrease from last year of 9,884—vhe Tegistration of 1872 being 76,541. MASSACHUSETTS BEPUBLIOAN NOMINATION, Boston, Oct, 22, 1873, Dr. George B. Loring has been nominated by the republicans for the State Senate, in the Second (Essex) district. NATIONAL BOARD OF TRADE. No Congressional Aid Needed by the American Shipbuilders—The Question of Tran:porta- tion Discussed—A Series of Resolu- tions Adopted—Plea for a National Bankrupt Law. CHICAGO, IN, Oct. 22, 1873. The National Board of Trade resumed its session this morning. President Fraley announced the Committee on Reform of the Currency, National Banking and National Banking Laws as follows: Messrs. Wooley, of Cincinnati; Nurse, of Boston; Stranahan, of New York; Wrignt, of Chicag Bonner, of St. Louis; Prindle, of Louisville; Burwell, of New Orleans; Grosvenor, of Portiand; Smitn, of Milwaukee, and Bromberg, of Mobile. President Fraley was added to the committee. The Secretary read the report of the Executive Council on the National Bankrupt law, containing the following suggestions:—The abolition of fees and the establishment of salaries for officers; en- Jarging the powers of assignees; authorizing credi- tors to choose a committee of their own number to settle the accounts and make distributions; that the federal government fix the amount and kind of property exempt from assignment, not sub- ject to change by States. The Board proceeded to discuss the following resolution regarding AMERICAN SHIPPING INTERESTS, offered by the Executive Council :— Resolved, That a just regard for the increase of American shipping interests should cause Congress to en- courage American shipbuilders aud ship owners by an allowance of bounties tor building sulps, whether the materials used in the construction be of foreign or Amer. ican, production, so that American shipbullders may be placed as nearly’ as possible upon the same toting as competitors in other countries. Resolved, hat the Board renew the recommendation to Congress that all articles of toreign product needed tor subsistence and general use on board of vessels in the foreign trade be allowed to be withdrawn without the payment of duty from the bonded warehouse. Kesolved, That justice to the shipowning interests and the best weltare of the national commerce alike that the right be conceded by law to American citizens to purchase tonnage wherever built or owned, and to Diace it under the protection of their owu flag. Mr. HawLey, of Detroit, opposed any discrim- ination by the government 1n favor of any indus- trial interest as unwise and unconstitutional. Mr. STONE, of Wilmington, said shipbuilders there did net desire any government aid. Their cost of building was not more than ten per cent moze than she cost on the Clyde, and the cost o1 building on the Ciyde was daily increasing by the advauce in the cost of labor, coal and iron. Wilming.on ship- builders asked no government aid. Mr. WETHERILL, Of Philadelphia, agreed that American shipbutiders needed and asked no pro- tection from the government. Steamshipsare now py in American waters at a less cost than on the ie. Ri Smiru, of Milwaukee, opposed the first reso- lution. Mr. CONGER, Of Massachusetts, opposed any class or special government legislation. He said let pro- tection rely on individual enterprise. Mr. SPRANAHAN, Of New York, suid most of the foreign carrying was done in soreign bottoms be- cause Wages were cheaper, and he hoped some aid would be extended to Americans engayed in joreign commerce, The debate was continued by Messrs. Burwell, of New Orleans; Davis, of Cincinnati; Dore, of Chicago; Hersey, of Portland; Yayior, of Cinci nati: Nazro, of Boston; Woviey, o: vincinnal Dorr, of Buffalo; Grosvenor and Stone, of Wilming- ton, {The resolution was rejectea—yeas 3, nays 58. The second resoiution was then taken up, and amendments to include all vessels engaged in in- land trafic and apply to articles used in the con- struction of vessels. Pending a vote on the amendments, a motion to lay the whole subject on the table was carried; but on the motion of Mr. Covington, o! Cinciunati, the vote was reconsidered, and the amendments voted on and rejected, as was also the resulution, by 22 yeas to 36 uays. The third resolution was then taken up. Mr. NaZENs, 0! Boston, moved to amend by add- ing the words ‘‘apon the payment of a reasonable ane on the cost.’? The amendment was adopted, and the resolu- tion, as amended, was then rejected by 40 yeas to 23 nays, there not being two-thirds in the affirma- tive, ie action on the second and third resolu- tions can hadly be considered a fair expression of the Board, owing to the confusion and uncertainty occastoned by the wrangling over the amend- ments, and several members voted under protest. Mr. ABLE, of St. Louis, gave notice that he would to-morrow move the reconsideration of the second and third of the above resolutions. The report of President Fraley, iavoring the government’s establishing 4 DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE, ‘was submitted, with the proposed act of Congress establishing and defining powers, &c., giving this executive department tie supervision and care of agricultural, commercial, manufacturing and miming interests, under government regulation. The report was accepted, and the President ex- plained the details of its provisions, ‘The report was then referred back, approved, to the Executive Council, with instructious to urge on Congress the establishment of the department. Mr. GROSVENOR, of St. Louis, Chairman of the Committee on TRANSPORTATION FACILITIES, submitted a partial report embracing general resolutions, Firet—Recognizing measures for cheapening transporta- tlon as @ national necessity. Second—Declaring that Congress should charter an road between the interior and the seaboard which pri- vate capital may undertake to build; but that such road should be subject to the same Siate laws, as to taxation or control, as other roads in the same : tate. Third—That Congress should prevent unjust restrictions by any State upon inter-otate commerce, but that the protection of the people of each State from exactions of roads Within the State, or refusal to perform their full duty a8 common carriers, may most effectively Le s0- cured by tate courts and Let atures. Fourth—That the only permanent guarantee against unreasonable rates is found in the Improvement ot the natural free highways by water clamuet to the sea, and therefore rejoicing at the improvement of the st Lawrence route by Canada. and the efforts to improve the canals by, the State of New York, recommending ¢arnest investigation of other routes, and trusting that Ment ot the Mississippi and Ubio rivers may hats Board of Commissioners should be ap- pointed to investigate all plans tor internal improve- ments, and that appropriations should be made only on its recommendations, The subject of the National Bankrupt law was next taken up and the recommendations of the Executive Council approved, and Vongress asked to appoint a commission, consisting 01 the Attor- ney General and seven merchants, bankers and manutacturers, to revise the law. The Board then adjourned. OHBAP TRANSPORTATION, The Senate Committee on Inland Trans portation in Richmond. RicHMOND, Va., Oct. 22, 1873. Senators Conkling, Sherman, Windom, Norwood and Davis, United States Senate Committee on In- land Transportation, arrived here yesterday. A conference was held to-day which was attended by Hon, Mr. Hereford, of West Virginia, and dele- gations of prominent citizens from Norfolk and Lynchburg. After inspecting the first level of the James River and Kanawha Canal and the ship locks, the committee examined @ number of wit- nesses, including Mr. Bocock Oraighul, Chief En- @ueer of the James Kiver Improvement, and Colo- Del Whitcomb, Chief Engineer of the Chesa- peake and Ohio Ratiroad General Hanpt and lormer engineer of the Hoosac Tunnel and now General Manager of the Air Line between Richmond and Atlanta. The testimony taken was chiefly with the view of ascertaining the practica- bility of the proposed completion of the James River and Kanawha Canal, and the construction of tunnel for the canal the length of nine mies, The opinion of the engineers was to the effect that the means being supplied ior the work, the tunnel and canal would be compere within five years, acree e ticion he Venaad Koes morrow to , th, Bt Louis and Louisville THE TAR-AND-FEATHER ENIGMA. The California Yarn Found To Be False—Is Dr. Banks Looking for Kelsey ?—That Eternal Inquest—State Aid Hopod For. Hunrmaron, L. !., Oct. 22, 1873. The latest report coneerning “new develop- ments” in the Kelsey case will tn all human proba- bility go the way of those that have preceded it and prove a fizzle. On Monday last Runtington and Oyster Bay were suddeniy set agog with the astounding rumor, at the time traceable to no source, that Charles @, Kelsey, the missing victim of Huntington’s apparently tragic buffoon play of November last, was alive in California, personating his brother George, who is supposed to have died in the Golden State about twenty years ago, and that the parties implicated in his disappearance were taking steps to produce him here at the earli- est practicable day. The report in other hands was modified, how- ever, to the effect that information had been re- ceived showing that George Kelsey was still alive, and that his letters to his relatives hero were the cover of information conveyed to them {from Charles. Since then I have made the rounds of all the parties who were likely to know anything con- cerning the truth of the rumor, and save as to a bare possioility, which will be found stated in its order, THR WHOLE STORY HAS COLLAPSED. On visiting the residence of the Kelsey brothers, who live some distance outside the village, I found that they hada brother named George, who went to Oaliornia among the “Argonauts of '49,” as Bret Harte calls the pioneer diggers; that he was about twenty years old at the time of his depart- ure; that the family ceased to hear from bim tn or about the end of the year of 1852, and that Jor nearly twenty years they have regarded him, and still do regard him, as dead, At the same time they have never received any proof whatever of his death. He wasa man nearly six feet m height, and bore no personal resemblance to nis missing brother Charles. The family further state that they have not received ay letcer purporting to come from him during that interval. Calling at the residence of Dr. George B. Banks, who, I thought, by reason of the fact that he has been so prominently involved in the case and ex- hibits so much anxiety regarding it, would be likely to know WHAT STEPS ARE BEING TAKEN to eave Kelsey’s existence, | was iniormed by an elderly gentleman, a member of the iamily, that Dr. Banks was absent from vhe village, and had been gone for severa! days. The gentleman stated, however, tha’ he had not heard o! the report be- yond what he bad seen in the HERALD on the sub- ject, and he did not know whether Dr. Banks Knew auything 0. 1tornot, When I inquired of him somewhat pointedly as to Dr. Banks’ where- abouts, or whether his absence had gc. aa ses lo with the rumor, or whether the joctor was endeavoring to find Kelsey alive, the gentleman indicated clearly by tis hesitancy ana silence that he did nov desire to answer the question, and I learned nothing further than that he would probably be back in. a few days.” Jafterward inquired of a number o: other per- sons, intima.es o. Dr, Banks, and they all seemed vo be well aware of his absence, but declined to say anything encanta ee ovjects of his depart- ure. Scores of people here express the opinion (whatever it may be worth unsupported by any reasons) that his absence is in some way connected With the rumor, and that he is louking tor Kelsey “somewhere,” whether in E! Dorado or not. Con- ceding freely the Doctor’s right to leave the vil- lage on business, and particularly his right to PRODUCE THE REAL LIVE ‘“CARTHALO” at the inquest on Friday, which latter denouement would be the happiest, as well as most surprising, that could result, 1 must say that bis absence nas caused a singular amount of comment, when taken into consideration with the pointed refusais of his friends to say where he is. His acquaintances, or those of them I subsequently sougut, happen to be included in what is known as the tar and feather party, and, thinking they might know something of the — rumor, asked them convern- ing it. It had reached them all, in va- rious disguises, but they said they knew nothing o1 its truth or faisity. The Postmaster in- formed me that no letters bearing a Calliornia postmark had been received at his oulice for along time and that he usually noticed them when they did come, It 18 therefore just possible that be DR. BANKS IS “LOOKING FOR KELSEY,’ but Ido not think it atall ikely. The air all day long in this village is tuick with groundless rumors, and ft anyoody having a taste for gossiping and slander wantaa job of that sort nis is a good Place ior them to emigrate to. There is every probability that the inquest will be ciosed on Friday, though with suc a very “onsirtin”’ kind of man as Coroner Ba; lis no one can tell what may happen. He wants strong evidence, that he bas not yet obtained, before he can reach much of a résult in the matter, and if that which he has 80 often promised, and as often failed to produce, does not turn up itsel/ and walk right into court le may want to adjourn for a month or two more. Meantime everybody is pleased that the HeraLp editorially urges STATE INTERFERENCE, to be initiated by Governor Dix, and several of the persons prominent in the “tar party” have stated to me that they hope the Governor will take action, 80 that, whether the guilty parties aic discovered or not, those who are innocent may by prompt measures be relieved of the odium of a crime which they had no part in committing. The people unite in the cry “Why don't somebody do something?” aud there it ends; town and county seem paralyzed and helpiess. THE FIRE FiGHTERS. National Convention of Chief Engineers of Fire Departments of the United States. BALTIMORE, Md., Oct. 22, 1873, The National Convention of Chiet Engineers of Fire Departments of the United States met at ten o’clock this morning, President DAMRELL submitted a report from the Committee on Finance, assessing each delegate $5 to meet the expenses of the Convention. Chief Engineer SprxMan, of Baitimore, stated that there were no expenses to be provided ior, as that matter had been attended to, but the assess- ment was to defray the expenses of printing and incidentals that may occur between now and the meeting of the Convention next year. ‘Ihe report was adopted, Ex-Chief Engineer George B. Harris, of Roches- ter, N. Y.; Henry H. Hall and M. B. Wilson, oi the Board of Underwriters of New York, were curelled as members of the Convention. The Baltimore Un- derwriters was selected as the organ of tne Con- vention for communication between chiefs of de- partments and the Executive Committee. The Committee on Constitution and Bylaws sub- mitted a report, which was adopted, Chief HILL, of Cleveland, submitted a report on fire escapes actually serviceable for invalids, wo- men and children, and recommended tue plan sub- mitted by Mr. Tobey, of Boston, The report was recommit ted, with authority to memorialize Con- gress to adopt the necessary measures to stimu- late invention in this respect. Chiet STOOKELL, of Nashville, reported on the regulation of the storage of inflammable ma- terial and the use of the same for heating or iliuminating purposes, and the exclusion oi ruvbish liable to spontaneous ignition; rec- ommending different. modes in reference to we storage of petroleum and for the prevention of spontaneous combustion. The report was recom- mitted, with instruction to print that portion rela- tive to spontaneous combustion from oils. Chief HOWLAND, of New Bedtora, moved that the committees which have not reported be instructed to repors to the &xecutive Committee, Adupted. Chief RAYMOND, Of Cambridge, subm ttea a re- port on the best mode o1 organization and the most effective system of discipline jor fire depart- wents, and the importance of separating them irom political influence. ‘ine report, wach was accepted, deprecates annual changes in fire de- parcnents, and recommends a term of taree years’ service, with thorough discipline. On suggestion of President Damrell that delegates representing the underwriters be added to the permanent committee. Mr, George J. Hope, President of the Continental insurance Company of New York; Edward 8, Rouse, 0: Cleveland; Mr. Kinsley, ot the Faneuil Hall Insurance Company of Bosion; Henry Ket- logg, President of the Phenix Insurance Company ot Hartiord, Conn, and J, B. Seidenstrider, of Baltimore, were placed on comunittees. The usual resoiution of thanks to the presiding oMcer and secretary, to reporters and the Fire Commissione! t Baltimore ior hospital ities was passed, congratulations were exchanged, and jue Convention at twelve o'clock adjourned sine die, The delegates visited Washington at one o'clock in a special train provided by the Baltimore and Onio Railroad Company. The banquet, which was on the programme for to-night, took place last night at the Carrolton Hotel atiended and happy ‘affair, ne ee PIRE ON AVENUE B A fire broke out yesterday morning in the premises of the New York Gas Company, on avenue B, between Twentieth and Twenty-first streets, Till be held bY tuo Fire Wareual te-eee ae ween FLEETWOOD PARK. sR Be Crown Prince the Winner of the Special Premium of $1,000. Three hundred persons assembled at Fleetwood Park yesterday aiternoon to witness the race be- tween George N, Ferguson's white gelding Crown Prince and Joseph Harker’s brown gelding Young Bruno, fora spectal premium of $1,000, mile heats, best three in five, in harness, Bruno was the fa- vorite heiore the start, $100 to $70. Crown Prince won the first and second heats, when the betting changed to $100 to $12 on the white gelding, Then Young Bruno, aided by the unsteadiness of his competitor, won the third and fourth heats, whea he became the favorite at $50 to $40. In the fifth heat Bruno went into the air at the hali-mile pole, which mishap settled the matter ior ym, as Crown Epon oases away and won the heat and race as ed, SUMMARY. FLEeTwooD PARK, MORRISANTIA, N. Y., Oct. Special premium of $1,000; mile heats, best three in five, in harness. Judges—Messrs. Brown, Kida- boch and Irving. George N, Ferguson’s w. g. Crown Prince (Ferguson). week tS 3 2 Joseph Harker’s br. g. Young Bruno 22, (Charles Green)..........ssseeeeeee 2 211 2 TIME, Quarter, Half. First heat... 37 1st Second heat. Third heat. Fourth heat... 8134 Fifth heat... 80% PROSPECT PARK FAIR GROUNDS. Berkshire Boy the Winner of the Post- poned 2:39 Race. Two hundred persons assembled at the Prospect Park Fair Grounds yesterday afternoon to witness the decision of the postponed 2:39 race trom Tues- day. Promptly ut two o’clock the horses were called, and aiter five scorings the word Jwas given to a good send-off, Without any difficulty Berk- Shire Boy took the lead and maintained it through- out, winning the heat and race, Fred Tyler was second and Sterling third, but in the distribution of the money Sterling has second prize and Tyler saves his entrance. Immediately after the heat Mr. William McMahon, of Deerioot Park, Eels Berkshire boy for $5,700 casn, The lollowingisa complete suMMaRy. * PROSPECT PARK Falk GRouNDS, L. L, Oct, 21 and 22.—Purse of $600, for horses that never beat 339, mile heats, best three in five, in harness; $300 to the first, $150 to the second ana $50 to the third horse. Judges—Kobert Fietcher, Charies Bloom, Arthur Benson, H. Hunt and Geo. W. Oakley. John Merritt's br. g. Berkshire Boy... 3 192 1 1 M. Hopkins’ ch, g. sterling 14138 J. H. Phillips’ rn. g. Frea ‘tyler. 23322 L. 5. Samus’ s, g. Port Washington.. 6 2 4 4 4 H. 0. Whitson’s b. in. Pauline... bs 6 Chee 5 5 Join Murphy's 5. g. Sorrel Jake, Tr Me. Quarter. First heat......- 39 Second heat 8044 ‘Third heat 89 Fourth heat. +. 39 Filth heat,........ 37 TO-DAY'S AMUSEMENT. This is the second day of the regular trotting Meeting at the Prospect Park Fair Grounds and two interesting events are on the card. First of these are the three-year-old colt stakes, which has three starters, and the second a purse of $600 for horses that never beat 2:40, mie heats, best three in five, in harness; $325 to the first, $175 to the second and $100 to the third horse. Entered for tais are Daniel Pieuer’s black stallion Daniel Boone, John Murphy’s bay gelding Everitt Ray, J. W. Pendergast’s chestnut mare Lady Emma, A. J. Feek’s bay gelding Clothespin, J. H. Phillips’ gray gelding jack Draper, M. Martin’s bay gelding Mystic, James Dongrey’s gray gelding Kd. Katon and Peter Manee’s bay mare Mary A. whitney, The first race will be called at two o'clock, suarp. The Coney Istand cars leaving the Fulton terry every ten Minutes, pass the grounds, DEERFOOT PARK, The second autumn trotting meeting at this popular track commences Tuesday next, 28th inst., and continues Wednesday and Thursday. There wiil be two races each day and entered for the several events are over fiity horses, represent- ing the finest clippers in this vicinity. Mr. McMahon the Superintendent has dd the purses to be trotted as ioilows :-—Tu 2:38 classes; Wednesday, 2:42 and 2:34 classes; Thursday, three minute and arace to be decided upon the “iree-tor-ail” not having filled. TROTTING IN KENTUCXY. Second Day of the Trotting Horse Breeders’ Association Meeting at Lex- ington—Mambrino Patchen Filly, Hylas, Dairy Maid and Joe Harker Filly the Winners. LEXINGTON, Oct. 22, 1873, This was the second day of the Trotting Horse Breeders’ Association meeting, and the attendance was very large and the track in fine condition. There were four races on the card, the first being the Tracey Stakes, for two-year-olds, $50 entrance, half forieit, mile and repeat. Of twelve nomina- tions but three came to the post, these being John M. Patterson’s sorrel filly, by Balsora,dam by Mambrino Prince; Dr. L. Herr’s (Joseph Ewalt’s) bay filly Mambrino Patchen and Dr. L. Herr’s (John Stout’s) sorrel filly, by Mambrino Patehen, dam by Mark Time. The latter won the race in two straight heats, ‘Time, 2:48%{, 2:54. Th: second event was tue Woodford County Stakes, jor four-year-oids, $50 entrance, $25 for- feit. It was @ walk over for John B. George’s sor- rel colt Hyias, by Alcalde, The third event was a purse of $700, for horses that had never beaten . mile heats, best three in five, in harness; $5v0 to the firat, $150 to the second and $50 to the third horse, There were eighteen entries and tourteen starters. SUMMARY. Dairy Maid. 35412111 Chieltain. 1138338 Captain Ja 821222 Frank Miller... . 65445 Fannie Robins 82654 Howard. 46566 Ira E.. Richmon 1 —2:394—2 3424, @ match between Hoyt’s Contederate Chief, and ‘The lat- 36—2 63 The fourth contest was two-year-old filly, by Macey’s two-year-old filly, by Joe Harke' ter won, distancing the jorimer. Time, MARYLAND JOCKEY OLUB First Day of the Autumn Running Meeting at Baitimore—Che Events and Entries—Pool Selling. BALTIMORE, Oct, 22, 1873, The razes commence to-morrow and the pros- pect of a fine day’s sport is good, The fields are fairly filled, and the four contests, with the excep- tion of that for the Dixie Stakes, will be closely contested, it is thought; but Tom Bowling is sucha favorite that he is almost accredited with the stakes before running. In the first race, a mile dash, there are eight entries, comprising Chickabiddy, Ortolan, Preak- ness, Coronet, Limestone, Ailie Hunt, Tom Boston and danover. Preakness sold for $210, and all the others combined for $136. Tne hurdie race has three entries—Lochiel, Victor and Prince of Wales. ‘The iormer sold tor $100 and the other two ior $30, In the Dixie Stakes are 1om Bowling, Lizzie Lucas, Catesby and Merodac, Tom Bowling brought $205; the other tree, bunched, $42, There are siX entries for the two-mile heats race, comprising Harry Bas- sett, M. A. B., Lady Clyde, Shylock. Warlike and Dick Jackson. Harry Bassett sold for $275, and ali the others together only $75. ~~ OOEAN RAGING. From Owl’s Head to Five Fathom Bank Lightship and Return—The Schooner Smack Wallace Blackford Willing to Sati Any Vessel of Her Class for $2,! New York, Oct, 22, 1873, To THE EDITOR OF THE HERALD:— Through the liberaiity of the Commodore of the New York Yacht Ciub our schooner smack was lately permitted to test her sailing qualities in the ocean race with some of the swiftest sailing craft of New York Bay; but, very much to our disap- poiatment, the Wallace Blackford had no compet- itor of her class, thereby depriving us of the priv- liege of demonstrating that she 18 the fastest sail- ing fishing smack afloat, Permit us to say, through the columns of the HERALD, that the smack Wallace Blackiord is open tosailover the same course against any fishing lore December espectit EUGENE G. BLACKFORD. H.C. ROGERS & 00. GOLD OOIN FROM THE MINT. Over a Ton and a Haif in Twenty Dol- lar Piece: PHILADELPHIA, Oct. 22, 1878. Eight hundred and fifty-five thousand dollars, comed in twenty dollar gold pieces, was delivered { coiner to Superintendent Polk ied She pnitea eiphia Mint ‘The gola we over a ton ands hale 3 DETECTIVES. How and Where They Are Em- ployed and Amused. A TELL-TALE LIST. There is perhaps no subject in which the generas Public is so deeply interested and of which it 1 atthe same time so lamentably innocent as the detectivesystem, Ordinary minds picture this rep- resentative of the thief.taking fraternity as @ man of deep and penetrative character, given to sly and stealthy ways. Heis supposed to lurk in dark, mysterious corners and to be always on the alert for the evil doer. He is endowed in the im- agination of the multitude with a vast and varied knowledge of the moral construction of other men and looked up to with awe and dread a8 @ person of very superior qualifications No doubt, according to the popular theory, before humanity was invented the de- tective had a very tine time of it. As it is, he by no means answers the general demand at all times, and people are staggered tn their shoes very frequently by the sudden discovery of tho kind of man he is. ‘The vulgar and miscellaneous intellect is prone to look up to authority, No mat- ter how flimsily or feebly the baton of power be swayed, it is recognizea as the emblem of society’s strength. The commonest policeman becomes a personage the moment he puts on the uniform and is cuddled and caressed by the inhabitants of the locality he honors by his @zpearance in w manner never extended to the ordinary mortal. COFFEE AND CAKES, cigars and wines are liberally tendered him free of cost, and he not unirequently fails in Jor little sweetnesses in the shape of greenbacks that are always welcome to his soul, If, taen, the ordinary understrapper inspires so much respect and admiration, what must be the feelings tuat surge and roll beneath a citizen’s waistcoat when he comes into the presence of a detective? The sub- ject is too pivound for the ordinary dissector of mental matters; a thousand fathoms 01 line wouid never get to the bottom, and there are, besides, so many channels of descent made by the various shades of feeling standing forward at the entrance, one becomes lost at the very outset, Probably, while every emotion is struggling in that noble bosom for the mastery, generosity, tinged witha touch of conciliation, breaks forth, and, standing ou the trembiung and doubtful tongue of the man ol the people, demands, “WHAT WILL YOU TAKE?” The officer may condescend to take a drink or he may take @ good dinner just at the moment, ‘Things that are too heavy for his hands or name, he wiilleave behind witha great deal of care. Many circumstances combine to produce this ef- fect, the first, of course, of which is his position. Then his dress and appearance, the patronizing airs he 1s accustomed to put on and his _ selt-satis- fied manner, the result o1 being coustautly looked up toin the vulgar circles where he 1s oftener sound, lend their aid to carry out the ideal. His big dia- mond looks bigger than that of any other man. His new coat seems newer and better brushed. His boots are brighter and of a daintier fashion. His neck tie of a mode more moderna than that of any one else as to color, and fastened with a faultlessness never arrived at outside the force. His linen is unapproachable, for in that department he has projessed to an im- maculateness of whiteness almost dazzling to the vulgar eye. Then he is never greased, or tossed, or tumbled, but 1s aiways sleek and smooth and pleasant to contemplate. To the faded senses of toiling man he presents a refresuing picture, and he knows 1t, for the study of his decoration is his most constant employment. Man needs bat little here below, is a phrase not copied into his vocabulary, The detective thinks he needs ail he can get, and as for wanting that Uttie long, he thinks he wauts it just as long as he can keep his hands shut upon it, aud that is along time, as a general thing. iis first and great object in getting into tie department is, that he may have good chances opened up to him, and, once in, the gigi arrive and he never misses one. who fancy Peop! he spends his time in tue search of crim DARK DENS AND HUMID HAUNTS of thieves in the city are very much Mmistak more affects the broad and populous thor where beauty and fashion show themselves to ad- vantage and rich attire may be shown and beneld, Where there is much to admire and litcle to do. He has not entered the detective police for the pudlic weal, as is the general and erro’ us SUp- position, but jor nts own good, and that he is going to pursue atter his own method ‘There are at present twenty-scven men detailed for duty at the detective ofilce, Not threc of the twenty-seven have been appointed there for fitness or adaptability to their positions or their duties. Generally speaking the reverse is the case. A less qualified or more incompetent body of men could not ve selected jor such a service. Some of thei know absolutely nothing about police auty, never having served as officers in the depurimeut, but were literally taken from the street and detailed to the detective office. It is not, of course, the officers’ jauit that when they get positions tiey rely upon thetr relations and irienids to keep them there; itis due to the system. The effect of this is terribly demoralizing in the department, but no steps have ever been taken to check tnat infla- ence. Certain routine duty is supposed to be gone through in the bureau every day; but it is the MEREST GHOST OF A SEMBLANCE. The roll is called by the captain every morning at nine o’clock. Some of the men present them- selves; many pay no attention to the fact that they ought to be there, Of those who condescend to grace the office with their appearance four are selected for dutyin Wall street and the neighbor- hood. Two are sent to Broadway; two to either side of the city, Two are retamed lor official service, and the remainder are given the cases to work up reported during the previous twenty-four hours. ‘Trivial cases, prom:sing no substantial return, are naturaliy buried. And where a good reward is offered there is a regular scrambling lor piace. No such thing as classification exists, Every mau stands on the influence he can bring to bear. No one ison his merit. Instead of beiug @ place to which men who had done well tu other pranches ol the department could be pro- moted the detective ofice is the LOUNGING PLACE OF POLITICAL PETS. Of course there are good, hard working, com- etent officers there, but they are so overwhelmed in influence by the useless ones that their services are lox to the public. Some six montis beiore the going out of office of the old Board, Commis- sioner Barr introduced a@ resolution asking that the detectives be ordered to make aunual reports to tue Board of the number of arrests made by them, and the convictions obtained on these ar- rests. The following is asummary oO! these reports ag presented at the time :— Captain Irving..... «. 17 Detective Dilks.. z Deective Weldsibers 62 Deiective Tully . 1 Detectiue Ryder , ry Detective Moore jottice at Detective Golien Sthe time Devective Lu: rT, a Detective Tiem Detective Avery. Detective Farley 3 Detective Limington. I wmnBES! ould Detective ustac Detective Dickson, Detective Radior Detective Clapp.. Detective McCon A resolution 1s to be brought before the Board of Police to-day demanding that such reports shall be made monthly in future, BEHEADED BY OAR WHEELS. Soutu NoRWALK, Conn., Oct. 22, 1873. The third instance in this locality, within a pe- riod of four weeks, of & man’s head being dissev- ered from his body by car wheels, took place on the line of the New York, New Haven and Hartford Rallroad, early this morning, about a mile below the depot in this city. The “owl train,” Conductor Cowan, which leaves here at fourteen minutes past four A.M, for New Yors, when moving rapidly round the curve between this city and Five-mile River, ran over a substance which to the engineer appeared to be something unusual. He stopped the train, and on returning to the spot the con- ductor and brakemen iound the body of a mun with the head completely cut oi, cold and stid, as if death had taken place several hours previously. The remains were taken to Stamiord, and rom thence conveyed this morning back to tuis city, where they were examined by a jury of inquest. No papers or anything to indicate the name of des ceased were found. BIGHT YEARS WITHOUT EATING. Remarkabie Case of Abstinence from Food. There isayoung woman named Mary Fancher, re- siding at the corner of Gates avenue and Downing street, Brooklyn, who has, it 18 asserted by her physician, Dr. 8. F. Spetr, taken no food for eight years, She 18 twenty-five years of age, bright and intelligent. Asa gitl she was a close applicant to her studies, and was wont to abandon her meals to ponder over her books until the strain upon lectual and physical strength overcame oer 7) ‘aiso sustained injuries by being thrown from a horse, Subsequently she fell off a Fulton avenue car, and was along the street for a distance of forty teet r crinolme ing in the car. She was nervous prostration and has bed. Her are twist are drawn up Denna her head. She but little, and 1s said to be endowed with nt faculties. works embroidery in great facility, and has made sllj ate Pt Te one era! wat voruo, purpose, The cade ‘han Padion the skill of hundreds of baywiotane have examined ie