The New York Herald Newspaper, December 18, 1873, Page 3

LL THE BLACK FOG. & Dey of Collisions and Collapses—Tho City Under a Cloud and the Stages and Carsin a Tangle—Gropings and Hard Knocks of Ferryboats and Other Crait—The Scenes in the Streets and on the Rivers. . Everybody was in a fog yesterday. Just ex- actly what particular place the fog everybody was in started from, or how it began, or why it began at all, wasa mystery of which even “Old Probs” himself had not dared to prophecy a solution. ome had it that it was nothing more nor less than a sample piece of jhe “pea soup’? mantle which enveloped London last week in its ample folds, sent over here by means of some rapid transit only Known to enterprising Yankees who dont’t want to see the “blarsted Britishers” get ahead of us in anything. At all events, whether it was native and to the manner born, or a mere Bhred of the London article, it must be given the credit of being a downright earnest, persevering fog. When once it had made up Its mind to put THE ENTIRE CITY UNDER A CLOUD, It went about the business in a truly business way. It did not particularly care who liked it or who disliked it, and was consequently impartial in pay- ing its respects to all parts of town, though in the neighborhood of the two rivers it threw a darker Bhadow than anywhere else. The streets alone were not its only field of operations. Into back yards and from back yards through windows left open for ventilation’s sake into the houses, up stairs and down stairs, in parlor and kitchen, in hallway and closet, it crept and floated about in Neecy clouds that chased one another trom room to room at every draught of air. But itwas out of deors, after all, that it revelled it tts greatest glee. It was tbin and light as a veil of finest lace at mid- night; bat the shadows which at first lazily @oated in patches here and there, and that seemed to run away from you as you approached them, and then to come together again as you left them behind, grew more nd more dense as the hours wore on. The stars @t one o’clock were light, and could be seen twinkling as if from behind a screen of gauze; but the fog had wound its thickest folds about the sleeping city. Now, it has never happened before ‘that Gotham should be compelled to grope its way in the daylight, like a man feeling his way im the ‘dark; but the fog had determined that it should do ‘Bo yesterday, and so, Jor once, the laugh against our Cockney friends about their foggy London was on the wrong side of our mouth. ‘Take our friend Jones’ experience, for example. He got up, as usual, at five. He knew it was five, because he had heard the clock stmke one five times; but Yor the life of him he could not see the clock on the mantel. There was @ film before his eyes, and that boy round the corner who makes his nightly Tom and Jerry was in his heart of hearts ‘heartily cursed for over- doing the strong partof the mixture. But what ‘Was Jones’ surprise on looking out of the window of his back room to see—well, to see nothing. He rubbed his eyes and looked again, but the film that had dimmed his vision in looking for the timepiece had not vanished and Jones became alarmed, prob- ably because he had never known what it was to Bee nothing before. Up goes the window and as the fog clouds tumble in Jones draws a breath of relief and makes up his mind that the boy round the corner 1s not such a bad fellow after all. But Jones’ experience out of doors was everybody’s experience and everybody's expertence was misery @nd-dread. And yet, though THE GROPING IN THE DARK ‘Was the cause of many an accident there was a funny side to the general scene. At six o’clock and as late as seven the fog was impenetrable Deyond a distance of five or six feet, The resuit was disastrous to nerves that were easily shaken, It fell to the lot of the horrid milkmen to begin the day’s horrors. They bes up as carly as ever, did their screech owls, and though they have no better bang than ordinary mortals they all managed to Ind their way to their customers’ doors. But it ‘was the horses that knew the routes—not the men. They yelled out their blood chilling cries, as usual, on arriving at the gate-ways, and it was ee by reason of @ sudden arrival of one of these iikimen at Jones’ door when he was going out that the poor man was made to _ feel weak in the knees for the rest of theday. Down the stoop the way was clear to the pavement, but beyond that ail was a ‘fleeting show’ of shadows. The poor man walked down bravely, but as he turned to grope his way up the street a shrill cry at his very car as of one in dire distress smote him to the heart and froze every drop of blood in his body. lt was in vain that he gazed about him; there was nothing visible--notning but the mcs: ‘wail of cloud that shifted and fitted as if in giee at his horror. Again did the cry strike sbriliy on his ear, and boldly striding near the curb whence it seemed to proceed he ran piump up against a ‘wagon, and was cruelly greeted with “Don’t you want yer milk to-day?’ But Jones was not half so as @ denizen of the wilds of Yorkville, who, in an attempt to ‘walk from his home in seventy-fifth street, near avenue A,to the Third Avenue Railroad depot, about seven o’clock in the morning, lost his way in Seventy-iourth street and Second avenue, and ‘who, on asking the policeman “‘Where am |?" re- ceived the reply, “In New York somewhere— blamed if 1 know where.” But 1t was at the hour when the early business men began to be astir that the effects of the fog became deplorable as well as laughable. The lamps at the street corners gave but asickly fare of light that, even at the distance of a few feet, lodked like a dim glimmer of a candle light blocks away. Near the river sides the lamps, it is said, could not be seen at all. Near First avenue and Forty-first street the lamplighter had to grope about with a lantern in his hand to FIND OUT WHERE THE LAMPS WERE. On Broadway and the avenues, where the cars run frequently alter six o'clock, the scene was a bewildering one. The tog was thick, and the sight oi the hundreds of waylarers making their way through it was laughable inthe extreme. It was everybody for himself. it was like walking on ice the way they walked, shuiling their feet under them as though they feared if they took a long step they would pitch over a precipice, And yet it was the most cautious who snifered the most. . Collis- fons were the rule, not the exception, and “I beg your pardon, sir,’ was the greeting one got at every few steps, and men who “met by chatice the usual way,” and who for some reason or other fondly embraced one another évery time, the result of a collision was signalized by a clash of hat brims, The streets, indeed, seemed to have Deen turned into a vast Turkish bathroom, minus the heat, One walked at times as it were alone, an res there was about one’s ears & constant din mad M INVISIBLE WAGON WHEELS AND HORSES and the tramping of pedestrians, Ghost-like Jorms in the distance fitted to and fro, From out the fog, here, there and everywhere too the und of approaching footsteps was followed by the appearance of a dark,undistinguishable torm slowly emerging from the clouds of mist which gradually assumed human shape and form as the clouds seemed to part to make way for it, and which in another moment glided by in the dim light, and, if youook the risk of looking back, it could be seen melting away in the distance—the folds of the fog clostag.in upon it like « curtain, and finally shut- ‘ting 2¢ out trom View altogether. It was like A DAY SELECTED BY GHOSTS for ap earthiy airing, and the strangeness of the scene was rendered all the more bewildering by the cries of the stage drivers Wich greeted one’s ears from #ll:sides, and the suddenness with which the forms af the waylarers appeured and disappeared, Occasianally the fog liited—not wholly, but in spots here and there—and then the buildings on ve op- posite wide of the way loomed up gioomily, looking ‘Wierd aad ghostly through the misty atmosphere, which, while not completely hiding them, made them look far taller and graider than they Were in reality, The stage drivers, as they yelled and wecreeched to warn or irighten their ieliows swarm- ing up and down the street on their boxes, looked passers DY At adistance as tuough thev were soiling in tord-vir; far away in the distance tie ‘drivers came first into view and the horses and stages 1ust, the tog lying low to the earth. It was ‘altogether, yesterday, a day of shadows and mysti- fications, And one that must have made every Britisher who loves to be reminded of his couti- metropolis take anextra mug of “har! und hart’ to celeprate the occasion titly, It was a day that sew Yorkers will not care to. see the like of again, and i the same experiences are to be gone through with to-day (a8 seems probable, judging from the way che fog was increasing last night) it need nat be wondered at if somebody boxes up the confounged thing and sends it to London, where fogs are most at home, The seeme at the toot of South Seventh street, Williamsburg, during the early morning especially, Dexgars description. Nearly the entire space Within the enclosure was covered by «a mixed crew of pneiness men, clerks, laborers and work- ing girls, whose countenances were the pictures Of disappoimment on discovering thatall the boats to Roosevelt street had been withdrawn, and the ovly hope of reaching the Mecen of their desires ‘was by Grand street, pon boats so crowded by teams and human freighé that the more timid feared that they would be swamped. The ap- proaches to the ferry houses were blocked tightly v vehicles, and the earses of the drivers mingled vith the IMPRECATIONS OF THE PEDESTRIANS, AD oxt7a boat was pubon tho lipe fro South NEW YORK HERALD, THURSDAY, DEUEMBER 18, 1873.—TRIPLE SHEET. Seventh street to Grand street, New York; but still the aecommodations were not suimciently. ample to transport the vehicles, m: of whic! had to wait three or four nours for their turns. Once landed on the New York side people’s diff. culties did notend, The cars did not afford ones tourth of the would-be passengers transportation down town, and many hundreds had to exercise thetr muscles to react their counting rooms and workshops. Hundreds of persons bound for’ home in the afternoon went to Roosevelt street, expecting that the bouts were running, only to find the gates closed, although a person could see balf way across the river, and they were lorced to go by the ioul-smelling, infectious cars of the Belt line to Grand sivec’, and there cross, This Was especially annoying mi Nye WORKING CLASSES, who had to wait until tiiteen minutes before six lor the very unaccornmodating ferry company to send out their first boat to south Seventh street. ‘The same utter indifference to the demands of the public waiting in the evening at Wililamsburg to cross to Roosevelt strect was manifested by this corporation, A funeral procession en route to New York and hundreds of ople were delayed more than an_ hour, or until twenty minutes before six, Jor a Roosevelt street boat, although tne fog had entirely disap- peared and the tower of the East River Bridge could be easily seen, One of the gatekeepers gave a HERALD reporter a8 a reason for the delay that they were waiting for @ pilot to get his supper. When it is remembered that the company collected three cents from the passengers and run them across to Grand street, Where the rate is but two cents, the public cam uhderstand why this com- pany do not desire to cousume coal by delivering their passengers by the longer route to Roosevelt street, Brooklyn Befogged. “I thought as much,” exclaimed a man making his way through the fog bank towards the South ferry early yesterday morning, addressing bis com- panion, “I thought@s much. The past two days have only been weather breathers, and a pretty state of affairs they have hatched. It will be late when we reach our place of business mn New York. Oh, that that East River Bridge was up, whether it cost $9,000,000 or $19,000,000! We should have some certain means of reaching New York then.” “That is true,” remarked his companion, as they stepped into the ferry house, which was thronged by belated business peopie, men, women and chil- dren. ‘These ferryboats are not only siow in their trips, but they are also dangerous, Just imagine what AN AWFUL CALAMITY it would be were a collision to take place in mid river between these boats, which carry from 1,500 to 2,000 sonis when their morning and evening trips are delayed by reason of afog! Nothing could | id, i two hours afterwards they had disappeared, and | 9oiine Oy SNE Setanta ar Ot te oer rete the confusion which would result, very few per- sons could avail themselves of the use of the life preservers, or, having them, could put them on properly. The loss of life would be awiul.”” “It would, indeed, be fearful,” chimed in another citizen, as all bent forward trying in vain to detect the outline of the boat, Which was whistling in the river and slowly feeling her way to the slip, guided by the bell, which kept up its melancholy tune at the end of the pier adjoining the ferry slip. ‘In my opinion,” remarked the last speaker, “the ferry companies do not take the proper precau- tions to avoid calamity. ‘That is to say, they they have an abiding Jaith in a continuance of the same Providential protection and success that have characterized their efforts up to the present. They should exert themselves more to become familiar with the modern contrivances for guarding against Joss Of ilfe in time of fog. Each terry sup should be provided with an electric light which would il- juminate the viver Irom one side to the othar, and thus enable vessels to avoid collision, Electric lights are expensive, I know, but so are suits for damages, which latter would be brought by the relatives of all who lost their lives inevent of a catastrophe 1 a fog on the ferry.” The above conversation is worthy of publication, as it shows the temper in which the dark veil, iall- ing upon the Brooklyn shores, found THE BELATED MORTALS who have to cross on the ‘eirypoats, morning and evening, to their places of daily labor, and, fur- thermore, it reflects valuable suggestions worthy the serious consideration of the lerry companies. Long lines oi market wagons, grocers’, butchers’, brewers’ and other vehicies extended from the Jerry house gates up the sireets, awaiting their turn to be transported to New York. The drivers of the vehicles in many instauces indulged in tall swearing, Which was none the less blasphemous for being unreasonable, Alter nine o'clock the sombre Vail was lifted from off the bosom o1 the river, and navigation was resumed with wonted reguiarity. Shortly after eleven o’clock, however, the dark, gray, moist atmosphere once more rolled along the streets of Brooklyn and over the river, obscuring the sun and shutting of any extenaed view of the surroundings. The darkness was remarkable, especially in tie lower section, of North Brooklyn, and, coming up with such suddenness, caused alarm in the breasts of many, The writer turned down Myrtle avenue trom Fulton stress, just as a dark cloud, strongly resemmbh!it, ¢..0Ke, Was making i wey along tue avenue, and giving the impression to everybody that there was a fire raging on that thoroughiare. Penetrating the dense atmosphere as he pro- gressed, the reporter met a policeman, who, upon being questioned as to whether there was # lire, replied that HE SMELT THE SMOKR, but had been unable to discover the cause, as there was no fire on his beat, The fog blockade was once more established on the river. The people began to fear that we were going to have a repeti- tion of the remarkable London fog of last week. There were those who, having read of the prophe- cies of the “venerabie” men and woman corcerning the coming of three days oi supernatural darkness in punishment for the sins of the world, believed that the dreaded period was at hand. Happily these fears of the nervous were not real- ized and nothing transpired that could not readily be attributed to a second cause. Others there were who promise this section a repetition of the heavy-gales which swept over alarge section of Engiand, doing great damage subsequent to the fog. In the course of an hour, by 12 o’clock, the light of day dispelled the darkness of the fog. and the winter’s sun struggled through the misty clouds which had obscured his genial face irom the earth. Travel was resumed, ladies went on the “even tenor of their Ways,” shopping, and everybody was relieved from that feeling of op- pression which a sudden immersion 1n a fog en- genders, ‘Tere were no serious accidents reported in Brooklyn, AT THE BROOKLYN NAVY YARD. Outside work on the Minnesota, Florida and Roanoke was suspended during the prevaience of the fog at the Navy Yard yesterday, and the, monitor Dictator was not able to find her way to the Erie dry dock, South Brooklyn, where it is pro- posed to take her for repairs, The owners of the “blockading” coal barge Upland were unable to commence operations for raising her. The Ara- pile’s sailors are very weary of their present sta- tion, and sigh ior the dawn of the day when the dock gate will open to permit their egress oat upon the saline waters. The story concerning the discovery of a plot to blow up the Minnesota at the yard, which appeared im a cheap morning paper, is denounced as false vy the oficials at the Navy Yard. The Fog on Staten Island. The fog of yesterday morning was the thickest ever seen on Staten Island. It was said by some of the oldest residents, many of whom have seen “the Loudon fog’ years ago, that the fog which enreaen the island yesterday “came within an ace of it.” The trains from Tottenville were several min- utes behind, and the street cars moved so slowly ‘that patience became a virtue. The ferryboats oa the north and south shores ploughed their early trips through the fog from the island to the city very slow, and in one or two instances a coilision was imminent. The regular he were made, but the cars were over half an hour behind. ‘rhe Upper Bay was 80 bejogged that man: intending to leave at an early hour hi over. PIGEON SHOOTING ON STATEN ISLAND. Messrs, Charles Metcalfe and John A. Decker shot a pigeon match, yesterday, at the Sea View Park track, New Dorp, Staten Island, resulting aiter a close contest in Metcalfe’s favor. SUMMARY. Sea VIEW PARK ASSOCIATION, New Dorp, S. 1, Dec. 17, 1873.—Mateh at Se Shooting.—Charles Metcalfe, Richmond County Shooting Club; John A. Decker, Staten Island Shooting Association. Twenty-five birds each, 21 yards rise, 80 yards boundary, for $50 a side, find and trap for each other, Judges—For Metcalfe, Mr. TH. Metcalfe; for Decker, Mr. ©. Trantor. Referee, Mr. T. Thompson. Metcalie—0, 0, 1, 0, 1, 0, 0, 1, 1, 1,1, 1,0, 1, 1, 1, 0, 1, 0, 0, 0, 1, 1, 1, 1-15. Decker—0, 0, 1, 1, 0, % 0, 0, 1, 1, 0, 1, 0, 0, 1, 1, 1,1. 0, 1, 1, 1, 1, 1, 1—15, ‘The tte was shot of with the following result:— Metcalfe—1, 0, 1, 1, 1—4. Decker—0, 1, 1, 0, 0—2 A good match was also shot by Mr. Dwight Townsend end Captain Jacob Vanderbilt, 10 birds each, the Captain handicapping Mr, ‘townsend jour yards gud beating him by one bird, The score was:—Captain Vanderbilt—Killed, 9; missed, 1, Mr. Townsend—Killed, 8; missed, 2, PICEON SHOOTING TOURNAMENT, BuFFAato, Dec. 17, 1873. A pigeon shooting tournament commenced vessels to wait in this city today, open to all ama- teurs, First prize, $150; second prize, $125; third prize, $100; fourth prize, $75; flith prize, $60; entrance fee, $15. The match was shot from H and T ground traps at 15 single rises, 2t yards rise and 80 yards boundary. There were 49 entries. ‘The following “is — the result of to-day’s shooting:—Newell, Schulta and Weighell, each killed 14; Wilmer, Bear, Marsh and Lansing, 13; Green, Snuth, Jones, Farrar, Miller, Clay and Dorr, 12; ror Lom, Wheat and George Smith, 1; ‘Jol, Shemlela, Melvin and ‘Tyler, 9; Nash, 8; Richmond, 7, Darkness put a stop to the shooting. whieh will be resumed at nine o’¢lock to-m@rrow mor Ding? HEAVY FAILURES. Oberholser, Keefer & Co—Their Liabilities Over Half a Million—Edson, Bradley & Co,— Liabilities $450,000—Condition of the Bankrupt Firms, Failures of leading dry goods and importing houses, antictpated since the commencement of the panic, have at last begun, not, perliaps, on a very large scale, but stall of suMcient magnitude to cause considerable alarm, particularly as many of the failures which occurred days and even weeks ago only came to hight yesterday. Early yester- day afternoon rumor spread through the commer- cial circles of the city that a very extensive whole- sale dry goods and importing house had failed. The report caused very considerable excitement, and even affected temporarily the state of affairs in Wall street, ‘The alleged failure was rumored to be for at least $500,000, and the excitement became proportion- ately great. The name of the house which had fatled could not be obtained up to three o'clock, the closing hour of business in Wall street. At length, however, after lengthened search, tho HERALD reporter discovered that the latest heavy failure in the commerce = world of New York is of Oberholser & Keefer. Their card reads as fol- lows:— P-SIO OMENS SRE SORE eee S JACOB OBERHOLSER. | SAMUEL KEEFER, 3 OBERHOLSER & KEEFER, 3 IMPORTERS AND JOBBERS OF 3 FOREIGN AND DOMESIIC WOOLLE a $27, 829 and 331 Broadway, New York. COLLET DE TLIO LODE SEIOIE LEE DERELOLE EEE: A VISIT TO THE ESTABLISHMENT showed that the firm in question occupied very ex- tensive and imposing premises at the before men- tioned numbers on Broadway. A mere glimpse at the interior aspect of affairs showed that the situ- ation was gloomy in the extreme. IN ONE CORNER of the establishment, nearest Broadway, sat some five or six individuals, with rueful countenances, cogitating onthe state of affairs. They had evi- dently suifered in some way from the failure and looked correspondingly uncommunicative. There was one, however, who maintained his seil-pos- session and seemingly natural politeness. Inreply toa question of the HERALD reporter the gentleman inquestion said that Messrs. Ober- holser & Keefer, the principals of the firm, had just gone to attend a meeting of the creditors, Caretul investigation in regard to THE BANKRUPT FIRM elicited the following facts:—The original firm was that of 0. W. & G. W. Moore, a house which nad an honorable reputation. They were succeeded by Ely & Oberhoiser, the latter of whom was the rincipalin the now bankrupt firm, When Mr, Ely withdrew the house was reorganized under the name of Oberholser & Keeler. This last men- tioned partnership began two years ago with a special capital of yap to which alleged gen- eral partners added $50,000, It is alleged tnat aMr. Worthington “put up” the $150,000, Mr, Oberholser on his own statement having advanced nothing to the new firm because he had had special relations with Worthington and assumed art of his liabilities to the firm of Ely & Oberholser, lo the capital stock of $150,000 the general partners of the newly organized house of Oberholser & Keefer added $40,000, They admit having Cone on this impaired capital of $200,000 a business of between $2.000,000 and $3,600,000 a year. . THE FAILURE 1s said by the principals of the firm to be owing to the panic and consequent shrinkage of values. They claim that the number of their merchandise credi- tors is about 150, chiefly commission houses and importers. The foreign indebtedness is small, the firm having done mainly a jobbing business, AN INTERVIEW WITH THE HEAD OF THE FIRM, Mr. Oberholser, the head of the firm, lives at No. 69 Orange street, Brooklyn, in a modest two story and basement irame house which has the consola- tion of being only two doorsirom Mr. Beecher’s church. A HERALD reporter called at Mr. Ober- holser’s house last evening to get his statement in regard to the half million saiiure. The head of the firm looked serene. The word ‘failure’ could not be read in @ lineament of his countenance. He looked tolera>ly satisfied and by no means un- happy. He was evidently on his guard as to the manner in which he should answer the very simple juestions relating to the status of the bankrupt drm, its antecedents and Way of doing business. WHAT OBERHOLSER ADMITTED. Oberholser is @ tall, dark complexioned man, with Mephistophelian visage. He was by no means Teady 1m answering questions. He admitted, b ever, the foilowing instructive particulars :. house began to realize several weeks ago Was in avery ticklisn position, Towards the end of last week matters began to come rapidly to the disagreeable focus of the failure of the respectable honse of Oberholser & Keejer. On Monday last Mr. Oberholser went to flvé Gi hus most C>tensive creditors and asked for the appointment of a committee of five to whom should ws. submitted a statement of the indebtedness of the house of Oberholser & Keefer. The committee was appointed and a statement placed in their hands. All this took place on Monday last. The matter was kept very quiet. In fact, as Mr. Oberholser said, the affair was, in his opinion, one which con- cerned only his firm and his creditors, and they did not want the general public to know anything about the failure. Yesterday, however, some of the notes of Oberholser & Keefer were protested, and the cat being out of the bag the “general Rene could not very well be kept longer in the ark. Mr. Page, or tne firm of Falkner, Page & Co,, was appointed chairman of the committee of five. This committee has not been empowered by the majority of the creditors to settle up the liabilities of Oberholser & Keefer. No general meeting of creditors has yet been held. Mr. Oberholser said last evening that he is from Akron, Obio, and that he made most of his money there. Keeler is from Indiana, but has been in business in New York ior a considerable time. He was at one time a member of tne firm of Bradley, Keeler, Welter & Co., and subsequently of the house of Edson, Bradley & Co., joobers in wool- tow. failed on the 10th inst., with liabilities of 10,000. About a year and a half ago VERY UNPLEASANT RUMORS were rife in regard to two fires which occurred in fel woe at the establishment of Oberholser & eeier. Mr. Oberholser says that when the panic began their liabilities were from $800,000 to $900,000, and their surplus $160,000 to $170,000, The tire which occurred on the 27th of April caused, Mr. Oberhol- ser states, so much damage that the house was un- apie to resume business until the 20th of August. He admits that he was fully covered by insurance; but alleges that his force of about 70 men, having been engaged by the year, had to be paid full salaries between the day of the fre and the re- sumption of business, BROOKLYN YACHT CLUB. Distribation of Prizes Won During the Past Yachting Season. A special meeting of the Brooklyn Yacht Club was held at its rooms, No. 26 Court street, last evening, the prominent object of which was the distribution of prizes to the owners of the several yacits that were winners during the regatta in June last ana on the annual cruise of the club up the Sound, The majority of the officers and many of the prominent members were present, all of whom evinced the Itveliest interest in the proceedings, The prizes were placed upon a table in the centre of the front room, receiving much attention and many praises from One and all. Mr. P, W, Ostrander presided. After the preliminary business of calling the roll and the election of Mr. Daniel Edgar, Jr., of New Rochelle, as member of the club, the distrioution commenced. Vice Commodore Dickerson, in @ neat speech, presented Commodore Voorhis with two prizes won by tne Madeleime during the regatta. The first of these—the club prize—was a large and magnificent mandoline, playing Six tunes, and the second—the fag oficers’ prize—a beautiful silver fish knife. The Commodore feelingly responded, thanking the members for their uniiorm Kindness and courtesy, Then followed in the order named the presenta- tion of the Union prize to the Fieur de Lis, Vice Commodore Dickerson, an elabrorate and costly epergne, the salver of which is richly gilt, and bearing the figures of Neptune and his court, while the apex, of glass, is trumpet shaped. First class sloops—Vision, Josepn J. Alexandre, stiver ice- tongs, flag officer’s prize, and two unique bronzes, American birds in full flight, the club prize; Undine, Brasher and Fowler, Union prize, ‘dozen silver dessert knives with pearl handles, Second class sloops—Sopma, Chauncey N. Felt, two ou Po (not yet finished); J. T. Se Oceante Club, silver wine caster, riz Third class sloops—William TT. Lee, hauncey N. Fel wo oil paintings $y yet finished); Brooklyn, William Edgar ‘orris, large marine giass, Union prize. The fore- going were won during the regatta, while the sub- Joined were presented ior competition during the cruise and were won in the harbor of New London, July 23—Maggie B., Charles 8, Stratton, dozen sliver nut pickers, spoon and two silver crackers; Commodore, Joseph Ellsworth, metallic barometer. EXPLOSION AT A POWDER MILL ROCKLAND, Me., Dec, 17, 1873. The mixing mill at the Warren Powder Manu- factory exploded about four o'clock yesterday afternoon, Fortunately no lives were lost, the workmen having gone out a few minutes before, The mill was entirely destroyed, parts of it being blown across the river, and the building neXt it was badly damaged. Glass was broken in others, Housag io Warren village were shaken by the concussions nion + have ever before been built, Mr, Liny. BRIDGING THE HUDSON RIVER. Laying the Corner Stone of the Pro. posed Bridge at Poughkeepste. Poucukeepsig, Dec, 16, 1873. Whe city is thronged with strangers to-day to participate in the laying of the corner stone of the proposed bridge across the Hudson at this place. A special train arrived here from Hartiord shortly before noon, having left Hartford at seven A. M., and reaching this city in three hours aud 40 min- utes after, which Is considered extraordinary good time, when the fact is known that it came over two new ratlroads—the Connecticut Western and the Poughkeepsie stern, both of which are the main eastern connections of the proposed bridge. On board the train were Mayor Robinson, of Hart- ford, and representatives of the Hartford Common Council, members of the Connecticut Governor’s staff, the President of Trinity College, and about 126 of Hartfora’s most prominent citizens, ‘The faot train from New York on the Hudson River Railroad brought J. Edgar Thompson, of the Penn- syivania Railroad; A, L. Dennis, Samuel Sloan, John J, Blair, J. H. Lenaville, A. Carnega, C. B. Thurston, G. F. McCandlass, G, 8, Howell, J. M. ‘Tower, M, Perry and others, They were in a spe- cial drawing room car attached to the train, All were very hospitably received by the Pough- keepsians. At noon a procession was formed, and moved forward in the following order :— Colonel George Parker, Grand Marshal, Aids. Flacoon ot Police, Veteran Volunteers. Twenty-first Regiunent. Engineers of Fire Deparunent. and. Poughkeepsie Fire Department St Peter's T. A. B, Society. Students of Lastman College. Knights of Pythias, United Aimerieau Mechanics. German ‘lurners. 1. 0. 0. f-. two Lodges, jand. Free Masons. Fifty Carriages containing Gueste, After countermarching through Main street the procession proceeded to Reynolds’ Hill, on the bank of the Hudson, where the corner stone was to be laid. The ceremony of laying the stone was conducted entirely with Masonic exercises, Grand Master James W. Husted, of Westchester. officiat- ing. The same form was gone through with as on the oc of laying the corner stone of the new State 1, and the exercises were witnessed by certainly 10,000 peopie. In order to give the readers of the HERALD some idea of the importance of this bridge, 1t is, perhaps, well enough to write what its connections will be. A line drawn directly west from Poughkeepsie Wul pass through Chicago and Omaha and very close Ww Cleveland, Sandusky and Toledo, while Cincinnati and St. Louis lie to the south of it. No great Western cities lie north of tie line but Detroit, Milwaukee and St. Paul; and, to reacn these by rail, one must go around toe south side of Lake Erie, which is south of the line, If a railroad could be built due west from Poughkeepsie, there- fore, it would be the most direct route tor the stream 0! travel east and west. Every mile nortu or south ol this city, or of the direct line east or west, that a passenger on his way West goes beiore crossing the Hudson 1s just so much out of the way and adds accordingly to the length of the route, the time consumed in the passage and the expense of carrying. DISTANCE SAVED BY THE POUGHKEEPSIE BRIDGE ROUTE. There are now three great lines between New York and the West—the Pennsy!vania Central, the Erie, and the New York Central, The first two are compelled to transport passengers across the Hud- son by ferry, and must with our present engineer- ing faciliues continue to Go so, The third, the ony all-rail route, bas its bridge at Albany, 75 miles north of the points aimed at, and every car that runs over it must not only run that 75 miles north- ward to no purpose, but somewhere on its way must and does turn southward again for an equal distance, The same js true of the roads termi- nating at Jersey City. There is now no all-raii route jor coal from the ‘mines of Pennsylvania to the East but the roundabout one by way of Albany. from 80 to 125 miles longer than the’route through Poughkeepsie. From Scranton, Pa., and the coal mines of that region, to that part of Massachusetts centring about Springieid, and of Connecticut, centring about Hartford, by the way of Albany, over present railroad lines, the proximate distance is 315 miles, By the way of Poughkeepsie, over the Connecticut Western, and Pougnkeepsie and Eastern Railroads onthe east, and roads projected and building on the west, it will be 216 mules—a saving in favor ot the Poughkeepsie Bridge route of more than 100 miles in Lhe 318, or more than 80 per cent, The savi in distance by this route over the one by Jer City and New York, independent of the cost and delays of transshipment of treight and ferriage 01 passengers, is, to Hartiord 50 miles and Springfield 69 mies, ‘This same important saving in distance not only a#7ects every part of the country on the line from Boston and Providence to Pittsburg, but propor- tonatély the whole of New England and the West. These iacts a!one are sufficient proof oi the neces- sity for a bridge *t Poughkeepsie, for a direct through middle route; and with New Engiand, the headquarters of manuiacturing in this country, using milltons of tons of coal, :* becomes an tmme- diate, Imperative necessity. Poughkeepsie is also the only present and prospective RAILROAD CENTRE from the East to the West, between New York and Albany. Aline drawn irom Boston to the coal fields not only passes through Poughkeepsie, but the railroads already built or in progress ate on this line. It 1s the only point on the Hudson where railroads on either side of the river are concentrat- = making direct railroad connections, the entire length of tne bridge wiil be about one mile, of which about half—a trife less than 2,500 feet—is over the channel of the river, and the other half consists of approaches, mainly on the east side, The height oi the bridge from the water to the bottom chord of the huge trusses ts 130 feet, and the trusses themselves will be about 65 Jeet high, so that the entire elevation o1 the track above high water mark will be nearly 200 teet. ‘There will be four piers in the channel, and one on each side close to the bank, so that the main bridge wiil consist of five immense apne, each 500 leet long. The land approaches will be made up of shorter spans, according to the nature of the ground over which it passes, Each pier on the land will be built of solid gran- ite or bluestone masonry, the foundation being laid on the bed roch, like that of No. 8, where the corner stone was laid yesterday. se Will De & or 10 in number, and will vary in height {rom 20 to 80 or 90 feet. The piers, or abutments, on the bank will be somewhat Similar, but higher, and in all re- spects more massive and substantial. The piers in the stream present the greatest difficulties tu the engineer, and will be the most important and costly part of the whole structure. They must not only extend 130 feet above high water, but about an equal depth below, in order to secure @ solid and immovabie foundation; and it is this work below the surface that taxes the skill and science of the builder. In olden times such piers were usually built erther by dumping in stones, forming wiat is calied arip rap, or by driving piles aud laying the miasonry upon them. But the weight of modern bridges is (00 great jor such a joundation, and tn late years three special methods have been adopted for excavating at the bottom of rivers to secure a basis on the rock. One 1s by means of coffer dams, which are bolit round the spot se- lected for the pier, and made water tight. 4 water is then pumped out and the earth at bottom dug away. This, however, is only leasit when the aepth of water and mud Is comparativeiy little. A second method 1s by sinking caissons, or great inverted boxes of heavy timber, ‘These are floated to the spot and sunk by laying the masonry upon them till they rest on the bottom. A pressure of airis kept up im them oy powerful pumps suflicient to keep the water out, and being open underneath men are employed there to remove the earth, the caisson being low- ered a8 they progress, Wnen the foundation 1s sufliciently solid, the interior is Oiled with con- crete, and the timber, being all far beneath the water and thus rendered imperishable, furnishes 4 substantial and unchangeable basis jor the ma- sonry. This method was the one adopted at the East River bridge, at the St. Louis bridge and at Many others of the yao bridges in this country and Kurope, It is, however, exceedingly costly, very slow, and the pressure of air causes great inconvenience to those who work in the cais- sons, and below a certain depth itis not probabie that haman life could be sustained. The third method is 4 comparatively new one, and wiil prob- ably be made use of in this case. It is by the use of What are cailed pneumatic piles. These are iron tubes, about three feet in diameter, made in sections 80 ag to be extended to any required length, One of them is lowered till it rests on the bottom and driven down & sufficient distance in 3 the mud to prevent the water from working in | under it. That mside is then pumped out, the earth removed either by machinery or by sending @ man down in the well thus formed, and the driving down continues till the pile rests on the rock, when it is filled with concrete, Another is placed beside it, and then another, ull the area of the bottom of the pier ts covered, tls § are then bolted together and fastened by a band passed around the whole, aiter which the space between is filled with con: crete us well as the piles themselves. A riprap of loose stone surrounds the whole, and gives tt still further stability and firmness. ‘These pneumatic piles will extend to within eight feet of the surface of the water, where the masonry will in. This will be of granite, cut in large blocks without seam, and laid in the most careful manner, Each pier will be potnted in the direction of the current each way, so as to with- stand the action of the ice, and will be furnished with @ lignt at night, to able boatmen to avoid it. . The superstructure will be of iron, the trusses being formed after a plan invented by Mr. Linyille, the chiet engineer of the bridge, and known as the “Linville truss.” It 18 peculiarly adapted to long spans, having been used in the bridges across the hio and Mississipp|, but these will be onrer than ie, how- ever, has no doubt of their practicability, and ts ready to guarantee not only to place them in post- tion, but that they will bear any strain that may come upon thei when complete. ‘The railroad track will be laid upon the top chord, and perbaps @ Wagon road willbe made on the bottom, but this has not been definitely decided, The proceedings this a ternoon opened at Colley- | ¢ wood Ay House with an addrees of welcome by Mayor H, G. Eastman, and closed with a grand ban- quet, at which appropriate toasts were read and responded to, The galleries of the opera house were thronged with ladies and gentlemen, and the gr thusiasm prevailed, ‘e for home on the early eve CUBA. ACHEEN. Defeat of the Imperialist Army by the Invading Dutch—Surprise by the Natives and Severe Fighting. TELIGFAM TO THE MEW YORK HERALD. Stvaarone, Dec, 17, 1873, Tne body of Dutch troops ander the command of Genera! Van Swieten, whiecd lately landed om the coastof Acheen, have bad an engagement with the Sultan's army and defeated it, SURPRISED BY THE NATIVE* AND FIOWTING STTLE OO PROGRES A rumor is current here that the Acheenese made @ night attack upon the Dutch terces, surprising them, A heavy battle was fought, the result of which © not yet known. Slave Owners Discussing the Question of Slavery—The Principle of Freedom Making Steady Progress. TELEGRAM TO THE NEW YORK HERALD. Havana, Dee. 17, 1873. The siavery question is now seriously discussed among slave owners. : According to telegrams and letters from Spain | Radical Re‘ormers Placed Under Arrest. the government ts determined to bring the ques pag o tion before the Cortes for action, but desires the TELEG*/M TO THE NEW YORK WERALS. slave owners to propose some plan, making the pee! Maw SPAIN. » Deo, 11, 187%, abolition of slavery a certainty without injuring Fifty arrests nave been made ak Barcelona of seriously the agricultural prosperity of the island. | porsons engaged in the recent demonstration ® Many prominent siave owners are in favor Of | tayor of declaring treating slaves like contracted Chinamen, Canton. It is doubtful whether the Cortes would sanction shane - such or a similar plan, ‘The number of members of the Havana Abolition Society is increasing. Barcelona an tugs peadent SPAIN AND CUBA. An Important Debate Pending in Parliament President MacMahon to Enjoy a Pleasant Role. TELEGRAM TO THE WEW YORK HERALD. VensaiLies, Dec. 17, 167% ‘The Assembly to-day, despite the opposition of the Leit, decided to discuss the bill empow the government to nominate Mayors of of immediately after the budget is acted upon, PLEASING ACTION TOWARDS THE PRESIDENT AND PARIS. The Committee on Finances to-day voted te increase the salary of President MacMahon im order to enable him to give /étes at Paris. This action does not imply the removal of the national capital to Parts, GERMANY. An Iron-Clad Oath To Be Taken by Bishops Generally. War Office Preparation for the “Crushing” of the Co. onial Rebellion. TELEGRAM TO THE NEW YORK HERALD. MADRID, Dec. 17, 1873, A Council of War has been appointed, consisting of Generals José Concha, Caballero de Rodas, Val- maseda and Partilla, to examine the plan of a campaign submitted by Brigadier General Donato for the complete crushing of the Cuban insur- rection. ANOTHER CUBAN EXPEDITION. The Patriots Fitting Out the Steamer Edgar Stuart in Baltimore—Colonel Melchor Agucro and His Merry Men Before the Mast. BALTIMORE, Dec. 17, 1873. The steamship Edgar Stuart, famous for her ser- vices in the cause of Cuba Libre, has been lying in idleness and solitude at one of the Baltimore wharves ever since February last, when she put into this port afler the third of her successtul blockade-running expeditions to the island wiih men and TELEGRAM TO ThE vEW YORK WERALD, “Trnntx, Dec, 17, 167% An ordinance is officially promulgated to-day ordering that in future all bishops, upon their installation, shall swear to maintain the come pletest subordination to the State and co-opert tion in the suppression of ali disloyal intrigues, ARMS AND WAR MATERIAL for the patriot army. This is the last of the ships which the Cubans heve employed for that purpose, and sf has so far bad a more successful career than any other one. After being unemployed for ten months, the friends of Cuba in this country have once more turned thetr attention to her, and she 1s now being fMtted up for another expedition to the island, ‘The operations of putting the vessel into proper condition for sea have been conducted with secrecy, and had consideravly progressed before they attracted any attention. Two weeks ago Colonel Melchor Aguero arrived here WITIT A CORPS OF AIDS, and at once went to work onthe ship. Colonel Aguero is a Cuban gentieman of large property in the island, who served in the revolutionary army from the outbreak of the war for ireedom, and after being four years in the field left Cuba and came to the United States, In March, 1872, he purchased the Edgar Stuart at New London, Conn., and started for Cuba with a cargo of arme, ammunition and reinforcements for the army. On the Ist, 2d, and 3 of January last the Stuart made three separate landings of arms, Which were safely conveyed to the Cuban army, and she then returned to Baltimore and has been idle since, Colonel Aguero has with him as aides-de-camp captain Pastor Burgos, P. Pitou, L. F. Sanches and Fillberto Aguero, the latter of whom Is the ex- ecutive omcer of the ship. All of these have seen service in the cause of Cuba, both on laud and at sea. Colonel Aguero’s assistants all look like men of courage and resolution, and they bear about them the marks of long service. The most noticeable of them is the Engineer, Mr. G. Acosta, sometimes known as Leonardo Basso. He was the Engineer- in-Chief on the Hornet and Anna, ani is a thor- oughly eiigpenens man. Under his directions the repatis to the engines are now being made. e Stuart made her last voyage with a broken shaft, and she will need anew one before being ready lor sea. This is now being forged in ts city, and is the greater parto! the necessary re- pairs. The ship is otherwise in excellent condition, and needs only to have her bottom cleaned and rigging set i Her topmasts are now on deck and willsoon be placed in position. Next week she will be placed on the marine ratlway and alter- wards sent to the machine slop to have the new shaft putin, The Stuart is a fine vessel, 175 fect long and 241 tons burden. She was originally BUILT AS A PLEASURE YACHT, and can run her 16 knots an hour with great ease, The officers have no fear of being gnable to and their cargo, which will be a large one, aud com- posed of arms, ammunition and a great ‘lety of ‘war material. A number of recruits for the Cuban army may also be taken, but that will depend upon circumstances, one of which will be the keeping of the ship trom any violation of THE NEUTRALITY LAWS OF THE UNITED STATES. Tre question will enter largely into the future movements of the Stuart, but Colonel Aguero has a precedent to go by, which, if observed, ought to prevent any interference with the expedition by the United States authorities. When the steamer | Edwin H. Webster was purchased in this port by the Cuban agents two years ago and loaded with @ cargo of ARMS AND AMMUNITION FOR THE PATRIOT ARMY, she was detained by the Custom House officials under charge of being engaged ina hostile expe- dition against a friendly power and was held until Creation of Cardinals—Vatican Compliment to France and Spain. TELEGRAM TO THE NEW YORK HERALD. Rome, Dec, 17, 1873. The Papal Nuncio at Paris has been notified that the Archbishops of Paris, Cambray und Valencia have been elevated to the College of Cardinals, ENGLAND. Discount on 'Change—Bullion from the Bank— Conservative Gain in Parliament. TELECRAM TO THE KEW YORK HERALD. Lonvon, Dec. 17, 1873, The rate for money at the Stock Exchange om government securities is four per cent, BULLION FROM THE BANK. The amount ot bullion withdrawn from the Bank of England on balance to-day 1s £9,000. CONSERVATIVE TRIUMPH AT THE POLLS, The borough of Huntingdon has elected Mr Karslake (conservative) to the House of Commons bx 158 majority. THE S00L00 ARCHIPELAGO, Press Report of the Spanish Action in Seizing Prussian Trading Vessels—Charges of Con- traband Against the Germans—The Dons’ Defence by Right of Law. TELEGRAM TO THE NEW YORK HERALD. San Francisco, Dec. 17, 1873. The China Press says the German brig Marie Louise was captured on account of her having been found at anchor among the Sooloo Islands, a very little distance from the land. The brig Gazeile, also German, was likewise captured at a distance | Of four or five mitles from the coast, according to the account of her Captain. These two vessels were loaded with arms enw other munitions of war, ‘The German Covsul was present at the inquiry into the matter. He had received official informa- tion of the affair and heard the declaration of his countrymen before the tribunal, which adjudged that the capture of the vessels was under laws es- tablished from the earliest days of legislation in Spain and in strict contormity with those of tri- vunals for the same purposes in other countries, The Marie Louise was not only found anchored off the coast of the Sooloo Islands, but had, before a decision was received from Washington | @choring, already discharged @ portion of her as to her right Mo depart. This decision | cargo, thereby violating ail laws of contraband, was to the eflect that, as her papers were e th ’ " all right and she had *cieated ‘trom the The Captain of the Marie Louise remained on board ofthe ship. The people who made off from the ship were Mr. Field and the Second Mate. Tbe Captain and the German Consul presented a protest customary in these cases, which, with the. minutes of the matter, has been forwarded through the local authorities to the home govern- ment, who will give final decision according to Spanish law. st CENTRAL AMERICA, Baltimore Custom House in the usual manner, SHE COULD NOT BE PREVENTED from going upon her ostensible voyage. The Webster cleared for Aspinwall, but successfuily landed her cargo upon the coast of Cuba. If the omMicera of the Stuart follow this precedent they have a fair chance of getting to sea, and it is sup- Posed that they will eve by the example. The Cubans and their friends in this city are in- cited to greater exertions by the Santiago massa- cre, and money for the Stuart expedition ts forth- coming in plenty. The recent enthusiastic meeting at the Maryland Institute showed that the cause has pea of fends; and it Is contemplated to soon make another Popaiar demonstration, at rae leading men of both political parties wiil speak. Panama, Dec, 8, 1873, This city and the isthmus generally enjoy pro- found peace. Ex-President Netra has leit Panama for Buenaventura, Business in Panama {ts still dull and made more so by the failure of the banking house of Messrs. Fields, Penso & Co., in Aspinwall, These gentie- men decline, ft is said, to give any explanation ta their creditors, The interior of the State is shghtly agitated by the politicians, but is otherwise quiet, Honduras may be considered pacified. Consid~ erable forces from Salvador and Guatemala still occupy the State, The conviction is general that Costa Rica acq esced in the expedition of Palacisis in the Generak Sherman, and in the attack which be made on Honduras, The bombardment of the Castle of Omva by Her Britannic Majesty’s ship Niobe, Captain Lambton Loraine, is still exciting @ great deal of attention in most of the States of Central America. The Minister of Foreign Affairs of Guatemala directed the Honduras Minister in London to complain of it to the British goverument. Indigo has risen to seven reals, and is likely t@ increase in price, in San Salvador, On the 218¢ ult, General Guardia retired from the Presidency of Costa Rica and Don Salvador Gon- gules. ag the first substitute, was called on to ex- ercise the executive power, THE APPOINTMENT OF COURT ATTENDANTS, The Corporation Counsel, in a letter to the Comp= troller, decides that the appointment of attendants upon the courts in New York is vested in the Judges, and she act of 1870, transferring the power the Comptrolier, is unconstitutional and void. He adds that as the Supreme, Superior and mon Pleas courts of the city of New York have cided that the statute referred to contravenes “ART MATTERS. Sale of Art Books To-Night. This evening a number of interesting and valu- able art books are to be disposed of at auction, at Clinton Hall, and the sale will be continued on Friday and Saturday evenings. Among them are two fine missals in a state of perfect preservation, One of these is 4 large and beautiful manuscript of the sixteenth century, on 78 leaves of vellum and with nearly 200 illuminated capitals, Zhe manu- script was executed for Pullip LI. oi Spain, and is a relic of those years of moukish seclusion wherein the superstitious illuininator dreamed himse!f into a@n ecstacy, while h.s deft hands handled with ex- quisite touches the splendid colors and the gold with which he arabesqued the vellum with rain- bows. The other missal ts an illuminated mann- script of the early part of the fifteenth century, with 14 full page miniatures in the manner of Hem- ling, and emblazoned With Iruit and flower border- ings. There are also upwards of 20 small minia- tures and a picturesquely adorned calendar. The size 1s 8vo, and the work is bound in crimson vel- vet, With antique silver clasps, Besides these two medieval reminiscences there are quite a large number of volumes, more interesting in an art than a ore, aspect. Eminent among these are the British Gallery of Pictures, the Crozat Gallery, the Florence Gallery, Gilray’s caricatures aud Ho- garth’s works, DEVASTATION BY A TORNADO. The Town of Milton, Cal., Entirely De~ stroyed—Several Persons Injured. | So th SAN FRranctsco, Dec. 16, 1873. A tornado passed over the town of Milton, 1n this State, to-day, destroying the entire place. Several buildings were blown away from their joundations, and other boticings were prostrated. of saad were bad Jos further litl- in im- A number ly injured, but no lives were be tented on |ppea) to be Yours uf Appeabie