The New York Herald Newspaper, April 18, 1874, Page 4

4) ; ~ NEW YORK ‘HERALD, SATURDAY, APRIL 18, 1874—TRIPLE SHKET, —— THE NICARAGUA GANAL The Interoceanic Commissioners on the San Juan River. FEASIBILITY OF THE ROUTE. —_+—_——_ The Bar at Greytown—Interest- ing Experiences. TRINIDAD, SARAPIQUI RIVER, Nicaragua, March 17, 1874 Despite innumerable delays incident to a trip the San Juan River at this season, the [nteroceantc Canal Commissioners are still prosecuting their labors with every possible despatch, They will probably reach the barbor of Brito on the Pacific side by the end of the month, when, accompanied by Commander Selfridge, they will proceed to Chin- Chin in the United States steamer Saranac and determine the relative merits of the Atrato route by way of the Napipi, after which they will rejoin the Gettysburg in the Gulf of Darien and start for home. In a previous letter I eaid that the harbor was almost completely shut im by the accumulated. ridge of sand at the mouth of the San Juan, and that all vessels coming to Grey- town must anchor out in the open road- stead, and if they had any cargo to give or take it was a question whether it was ever de- livered, owing to the dangerous experiment of crossing the aforesaid bar. I should have added that this bar oficiates as a jail wall for the residents of Greytown. Occasionally a few of them escape. True, one of the royal mail steamers comes here every month and drops her freight and passen- gers, if she have any, into a sternwheel, light draught steamer, with acrobatic tendencies, The unfortunate travellers are shat in @ pen in dimen- sions about twelve feet by six, and trom the mo- ment they leave tbe mail steamer until they touch the classic shores of Greytown they reluctantly behave toward each other like deadly enemies, I entertained the impression that the Nicaragua packet was most of the time bottom up. The style in which the breakers washed over that craft was something least of all suggestive of & canal. She was whirled about like @ chip, and hearing that we were about to cross the bar all hands held thefr breath. But the dark pilot knew his busi- ness and every inch of the ground to boot, and he scores of playful sharks that revelled in the boiling foam failed to divert him. And now as we approached this terrible bar all hands clutched something—a beam, a door handle or a fellow pas- senger. Up we go on the crest of a “comber” and with @ “whoop” from the man at the wheel the packet shoots over as if she had been fired from acannon. We were told, moreover, that good weather prevailed that day and that it was un- usually smooth, and I did not wonder so much af- terward when I learned that the residents of Greytown did not often go outside on fisning ex- cursions. Of late years not only is the depth of the harbor decreasing, but Point Arenas has so rapidly advanced to the westward as to form a complete blockade except to the claas of vessels I have mentioned and canoes, and the trips that even these make are always attended with peril. I saw it stated somewhere that the government had secured a loan of $5,000,000 in England, part of which is to be devoted to harbor improvements. Ifone-third the money it will now take to over- come the engineering diMculties had been judi- ciously expended a few years ago, the streets of Greytown would not to-day be covered with grass. Suould the Nicaragua route be selected as the more feasible for an interoceanic canal, this harbor of which [ speak must Claim an important share of attention, The estimated cost of its improvement is set down at $918,525. It may require a much larger amount to bring about the desired result; 11 certainly cannot take Jess. Greytown has about 1,500 inhabitants, of whom a dozen or so are foreigners, Wio make all the money. bere are a good many rabber hunters among them, who, like ail other Centra! Americans in that business, work for a jortnight and Keep drunk the balance of the month, always, ef course, coming out onthe debit side of their employers’ books. Greytown boasts of some pretty Wooden structures and is altogether a picturesque little place; but that noise ou the bar sounds like its death knell. THE ASCENT OF THE SAN JUAN. Thad heard a great deal of the San Juan River, of its tributaries, its majestic low and general | surroundings, and anticipated its ascent with mingied feelings of pleasure and curiosity. Mr. Romeo Freer, the American Consul, who had in many ways assisted the expedition, assured me | that there wonld be little diM@uity in overtaking | the party in twenty-four hours, so without much ado a canoe with two paddlers was engaged and — off we started. And now asI look back to that | bright morning—it is not three days ago, though | it seems an age—a feeling of regret comes over me that I did not hire a couple of goats and ai light wheelbarrow as a means of transportation. There was litle or no water in the river, and. Iam now informed that in @ week or so we shall be able to retrace our steps on foot. The captain of the canoe—his name was Cesar, and I may as well state at once that no envious Greytown Casca will ever make arent in his garment, owing to the limited character of his wardrobe—and his friend did wonders with the paddles for a, coupie of hours or so, and then the misery began. Here and there broad, thirsty looking patches of sand began to appear in the river, and whateverswater there was came down at a rate that made the poles bend like reeds against the shoulders of the canoemen, whose ebony backs glistemed with myriads of crystal drops in the broiling sun. Poor fellaws, the sin of our first parents was certainly visited on them, if earning a crust hard be retribution, When I asked Cesar if could not get out and walk on the bank his grin assumed proportions suggestive of a good appetite. Ithen became aware of the fact that on each side of us was an almost impene- trable jungle, wherein the feathered tribe in countless variety maintained a conversation such as can be heard only in the tropics. Caesar knew. the river well, and his knowledge, derived from long experience, compelled him to deseribe sev- eral important propositions in order to go ahead, Sometimes a clear space for a mile or two ap- peared, but the current was so strongin thecentre that the canoe was obliged to keep weil under the banks, over which at times huag the most lux- | uriant foliage. TROPICAL FEATURES. name of Leaf, having become possessed of a litte island in this vicinity, erected a house upon it, and, bent on a horticultural display, cleared away all the trees and planted flowers. The result was @ caution to enterprising gardeners, for the island, hitherto laved gently by the waters of the San Juan, which encircled it, was now- bereft of its support, and gradually wore away. Prior to this mishap the Colorado River was @ miserable little stream, or did not exist at all; but tt seems that, deriving a fresh impetus from the partial clearing away of the isiand, it robbed the San Juan of its course and struck boldly for the Caribbean Sea, into which it now foys with a thundering noise, there being something near eight feet of water on the bar. Thus the San Juan, deprived of the great volume that formerly rushed to Greytown, sweep- ing away all obstacles, is now far too teedle to carry off the accumulations which are annually deposited in its bed by numerous tributaries, It would not, however, require much engineering skill to divert the course of the Colo- rado into the San Juan; but as I have already inti- mated, the Nicaraguan government seems to have been under the influence of opium or soda water for some years past. Candidly, the wretched cop- dition to which tt has allowed the harbor of Grey- town to sink is sure evidence of persistent indif- ference and approaching decay. Thus far the San Juan has disappointed me. In point of color, depth and impassibillty it is only rivallea by THE STYGIAN STREAM in Broadway, that flows on siush days—thanks to the Venetian gentlemen of street cleaning fame. Of late this mver—the San Juan, 1 mean—is hardly Navigable by the smallest craft. Having said 50 much about the San Juan, it is proper to state that none of the facts mentioned militate in the least against the canal route across Nicaragua, since it | 18 proposed to make forty mtles of the distance be- | tween tne lake and the Caribbean Sea inland canal. | The imtervening sixty-five miles is to be slack- water navigation. THE ENTIRE LENGTH of the San Juan ‘rom Fort San Carlos—the outlet at the lake—to Greytown, ts about 108 miles, the lake navigation for the proposed route is fifty-six miles, and the distance from the shore of the lake to the harbor of Brito, on the Pacific, is a trifle over sixteen miles, making the distance from ocean to ocean about 180 miles. The pre-eminent advantage claimed for the Nicarazua route for an interoceanic‘canal is the inexhaustible supply of | wateratthe summit level. Beyond question it Is the great reservoir of water of Central America. | The practicability of the route was demonstrated | py Colonel Catids over twenty years ago, when the route was surveyed for the then existing Ameri- | can, Atluntic and Pacific Ship Canal Company. | The estimates of that engineer were only a little | more than half put forward by the present expedi- | tion, although, of course, the same difiiculties did | not formerly exist which are now presented. And | it snould be added that Colonel Childs’ estimates | are based on the supposition that the proposed | canal slrould be only seventeen feet deep—a depth | totally imadequate to the requirements of such an undertaking. & A matt. | At length we have reached Trinidad. It isa sort of half-way house between Greytown and Lake | Nicaragua. Here it is that the Serapiqui River enters the San Juan from the southward. We | have been canoeing and wading for over fifty hours, and Osar thinks that a rest would be in | order. The canoe is hauled close under the bank, | and we gratefully return the welcome of the pro- prietor of the rancn—a structure well known to | the old “Transit” passengers, We are somewhat amazed, however, to find noless than four military | gentlemen from Costa Rica, barefooted, of course, | and bloodthirsty. Not iully posted on the political | state of affairs, we begin to ponder, and eventually | come to the conclusion that a revolution is immi- | nent, Bus our fears are allayed when we learn | that the Costa Rican soldiers are under arms | simply to prevent the smuggling of India rabber | through the Serapiqui River. My impression is | that the rubber hunters get the better of the war- | riors, both by day and night, for the reason that | the gallant sons of Mars are not insensible to the | bewitching arms of Morpheus. All the India rub- | ber smuggled through the Serapiqui ana captured by these wide-awake heroes is confiscated, but I am told that the quantity of property seized thus | Jar would not, if converted into money, pay any | reasonable undertaker for the final disposition of the bodies of the four soldiers from Costa Rica. The commissioners are now at Machuca rapids, CENTRAL AND SOUTH AMERICA | | Consular Saluge to a New President—Forsign Mails Accumulated at Panama—Public Peace and Presidential Cancus—Revo- lutionist Agitators in Irons— South Amcrican Exploration. Panama, April 2, 1874. On account of the 1st of April being the day when the new President of the Union, Sefior Santiago Perez, takes possession of the Presidency at Bo- gota, the consular and other flags were displayed in the city througnout the day. INSURANCE COMPANY CAUTION. The London Sun Fire Insurance Company refuses to take any single risk over £4,000 in Panama, in which case adjoining houses will be limited to 2, 7,000. IIR FOREIGN NAVAL FLAGS. The United States steamship Saranac left here on the 20th ult. to convey Captain Selfridge to | Darien on a preliminary visit, and returned on the 30th. Her Britannic Majesty’s tron-clad Repulse, carry- ing the flag of Rear Admiral Cochrane; the Came- Jeon, Captain A. J. Kenneay; the Reindeer, Cap- tain W. R. Kennedy, and the French war steam- ship "Hermite, are at present at anchor tn this harbor. MAILS DELAYED. The Pacific Matl Company's steamship City of Panama, irom New York, arrived here too late to connect either with the steamer for Central America or the one for South America, and conse- quently the mails, which are very heavy, will have to remain here eight days. Central America. The jatest news from Central America goes to of a degree of peace. | President Guardia had again assumed the Prest- | dency of Costa Rica. A conspiracy got ap with the intention of deposing him was discowered and sup- | pressed. E The meeting of the several Presidents was to | take place in Guatemala on the 10th ult. COFFEE AND Cash. The coffee crop in Costa Rica was small, but ‘would be made up by the high prices this articie was commanding abroad. At nightfall we drew up on & sand bank for | supper, aching and fatigued, principally from ex- ertion, so far as [ was concerned, in entertaining wasps and hornets. Special attention was paid to large yellow flies, which were quite adept in the knack of drawing blood. Suddenly a strange noise broke upon the ear, like the rumbling o! an express train over a distant bridge. In a twink- ling large, heavy drops of rai began to ial, and before we could scramble to the canoe we were thoroughly soaked. Imention the fact simply be- cause thisis the dry season here. It poured in torrents the entire night, and I have only to re- mark that, should lever happen to be in Nica- ragua in the wet season, I would preter being under cover. We did stop at a woodchopper’s ranch about midnight—the only one for miles on the river—but left in an hour or 80, a8 the weather promised to improve. Once fairly out in the stream again, poling, tugging, wading and haul- ing, we had more substantial evidence of the fickleness of fortune, and I finaily came to the conciusion that the seasons had got mixed some- how. On the following afternoon we reached the Colorado, the southernmost outlet of the San Juan, and learned that the Pit-pan, conveying the com- missioners, had left at dayligh® THE SOURCE OF GRIEF. From this point many people trace the present condition oi the San Juan, as well as the silting up of the harbor. Howbett, tne story runs that about ten OF tweive yeaiB azo @ gentieman rejoicing in the Peru. Another attempt at revolution was made at Lima, Peru, on the 16th ult. One scene occurred in the barracks of Santa Catalina, in that city. The plan of the conspirators was to seize the President aud get the other regiments to joinin. An agent of the government djscovered the plot aa hour before the time for acting? Tue ringleaders are in iroas. CABINET CONCILIATION. ‘The Ministers of Justice and of Foréign Affairs wished to resign, but President Prado retused to accept their resignation, a8 those who opposed the administration offered no new policy by which mat- ters could be mended. | SOUTH AMERICAN BXPLORATION. Admiral Tucker, who was sent out by Colonel | Prado to explore the Peruvian branches of the Amazon, had finished the work and was in Lima, | expecting to publish the valuable data he Mas Cole | lected during the exploration. cht | _ The Bolivian government has ordered its engi- neers to mark out the twenty-third paraliel as the line of demarcation between Chili and Bolivia, without consuiting the former Republic, RELATIONS WITH TUR ARGENTINE REPUBLIC. The Argentine government has cancelled the exequatur of the Chilian Consul at Mendoza, on the ground that he has mixed himseif up with loval dis tees of the peace. Notwithstanding | show that the several States are in the enjoyment | | the term of Collector Driggs is $25,000. | missioners of Brooklyn was held yesterday of this and the question sbout the Straits of Magel- lan, it was thought that all such questions between Chil and Bolivia would be amicably settled, NEW YORK CITY. re Mr. Charles Sutton, the keeper of the City Hall, who was very tll lately, has completely recovered. Sir Lambton Loraine visited the Sub Treasury yesterday, and inspected the vaults in com; with General Hitihouse, ited At a meeting of the Lincoln Club last evening resolutions of regret and sympathy were passed in reference to the death of Mr. William Barber. The funeral to-morrow will be attended by the club. The Range Committee o! the National Rifle Asso- ciation announce that the range at Creeamoor 1s being rapidly put in conditton’and will be open for | Pp ice ou May 1, when targets numbered from 0 to 20 will be ready for use, On Monday a resolution will be introduced in the Board of assistant Aldermen directing Com- missioner Van Nort to have the front of the City Hall burnished up. ‘The contrast between the Hail and the new Post office is glaringly strikiug. Commissioner Van Nort stoutly denies the alle- gations made against the street opening contract in Seventy-ti{th street by the Commisstoners of Revision of unts. A letter contradicting the charges is now being prepared by Mr. Gibbs, his superintendent, on tne subject. The ninth anniversary of the Helping Hand Asso- ciation was held yesterday at the Dutch Reformed Collegiate church. The audience was very lurge, consisting chiefly of women supported and helped by the society, Addresses appropriate to the occa- sion were delivered in the course of the services by Dr. Hutton and Mr. Ralph Wells, The Ladies’ Temperance Union met yesterday at Association Hall. Several ladies narrated their visits to dram shops ip the central portion of the city. They were uniformly received courtevusly by proprietors, who admitted their trade to be per- nicious. Prayer meetings will be held daily next week, and the visits continued. The plumberg held a mass meeting last evening in the Germania Assembly Rooms. Andrew J. Walsh presided and made a lengthened address, in which he urged upon the men to organize and prepare to resist the proposed enforcement o! the fen Hour law. A committee of conference was ap- pointed to confer with outside organizations and ascertain their sentiment on the matter, and act in concert with them. The German Republican Central Committee held @ meeting at the Teutonia Assembly Rooms last night. Dr. Mubr presided. The Executive Com- mittee recommended the adoption of resolutions condemning the inflation policy of Congress and the pantsge of the Senate bill and offering tne thanks of the German republicans to Senator Conkling tor his opposition against such a course. Kesolutions to that eflect were passed. The Ladies’ Temperance Union held a meeting yesterday afternoon in the lecture room of Asso- ciation Hall, Twenty third street and Fourth ave- nue, which was but slimly attended, owing, doubt- less, to the inclemency of the weather. Mrs, Col- lins presided. A letter from Poughkeepsie was read, showing that the cause is progressing there most favorably, and that the efforts of the ladies seem sure to meet with final success. Sev- | eral iadies present yesterday reported that | they had visited many liquor saloons in the central part of the city and tnat they bad been Kindly received by the proprietors, all of whom acknowledged that the sale of mtoxicating drinks, as it was now tolerated, Was most pernicious. It Was resolved to continue the visitation of the sa- loons, and to hold daily prayer meetings next week for divine help in the temperance crusade, Plans of visitation will also be matured at these daily meetings. Several brief addresses, in the jorm Oe Disa ere, were made by the ladies yester- day, and in these a most earnest devotion was manifested. The ladies also joined in the singing of hymns aiter the prayers, BROOKLYN. There were 195 deaths in Brooklyn last week, against 184 the week before. It is stated that the tax office deficiency during Mr. Richard O’Gorman will deliver a lecture on Sunday evening, at the Academy of Music, in aid Oo! St. Vincent's Home ior Boys, in Vine street. Five cases of alleged violation of the Excise law by selling liquor on Sunday were yesterday inves. tigated by the Brooklyn Commissioners. No de- cisions. Clement Doran, a convict wife-beater in Kings County Penitentiary, cracked his skull by jumping trom the second story corridor to the ground, forty feet. He died yesterday. Mr. Thomas H. Field, Superintendent of Public Schools, delivered an address yesterday afternoon before the Teaehers’ Association, in the hall of the Young Men’s Christian Association. At a meeting of the Commissioners of the Sink- ing Fund yesterday it was reported ghat assess- ment bonds to the amount of $47,000 had been paid, although they were not due, in order to save the interest, The Kings county Supervisors, at a meeting yesterday, resolved to notify the Commissioners of Charities to reduce the number and compensa- tion o! their employés. The salaries for March amounted to $7,393 25. Thomas Flemming, a newsboy, tweive years old, was yesterday killed by a Fulton avenue car. In jumping off the front platform he fel! beneatn the wheels and was dreadfully crushed, Frederick Richter, the driver, was arrested. The cost of repaving Lafayette avenue is $118,- 413 24. Yesterday the Board of City Works re- solved to fix the district of assessment from Flate bush to Bedford avenues, at a distance of one hun- dred feet on each side o! the avenue. It has been found thanthe Thirteenth Regiment Armory cannot be built for less than the original estimate, and yesterday Supervisor Clancy moved that the site be sold. A resolution to authorize the Board to raige $14,000 to meet the additional” expenses Of the armory Was adopted. A session of the Board of Excise and Police Com- nearly four hours’ duration. President Jourdan occupted the chair, and there were present Com- missioners Briggs and Jensen. Five cases of viola- tion of the Excise jaw, by selling liquor and beer on Sunday, were examined, and the decisions will be rendered to-day. Ata late hour on Thursday night OMcer Ken- nedy, of the Fifth precinct police, was informed ‘there was a man setting fire to the foundry of Purdy & Co., on North Thirteenth street, Williams- burg. Proceeding to the place he tound that a fire had been kindled by a man named Joshua Noble, discharged mouider, who took this method of re+ venge. Justice Hiliott yesterday committed him until Wednesday next for examination. Yesterday Clement Doran, a convict, died from the effects of a fracture of the skull at the Kings County Penitentiary. Doran was sentenced to that imstitution upon conviction on a charge of assault and battery preferred against him, before Justice Semler, by his wife, January 24, 1874. On Weanesday he sprang off the second story corri- dor of the Penitentiary, striking bis head on the flagging, forty feet beneath, and sustained the tn- jury which resulted in his death. The Coroner Will hold an inquest to-day. Coroner Jones has been notified to hold an in- quest over the body of Thomas Fleming, twelve years old, a newsboy, who died at the Brooklyn City Hospital yesterday. The boy, who was en- gaged in selling newspapers, was in the act of jumping off the iront platform of car No. 20 of the Fulton avenue line, when he fell, and the front wheets of the car passed over his body, mangling him in @ shocking manner. He lingered tor sev- eral houws in great pain. Frederick Richter, driver of the car, was arrested. The little tellow resided with his parents at No. 618 Vanderbilt aveuue, The exchequer of this most excellent charity is low. In order to improve its condition Mr. Richara O'Gorman has been invited to lecture in aid of the Home, and has kindly consented to do go. Accord- ingly, as was announced from the pulpit in all the Catholic churches of this city on last Sunday, he will deliver, at the Academy of Music, Montague street, to-morrow (sunday) evening, his iecture on ‘‘Eamund Burke and His Times.” Apart from the general interest of the subject and the ability of the lecturer to treat thereon, the object jor which the receipts will be devoted commends tt to | city for the past located in Vine St Seroun at elter and instruc- ‘incent Home street, and ia devoted to the wae crime. According to tne report of Dr. James Watt, Registrar of Records and Vital Statistica, there Were 196 deaths in Brovklyn last week, being 11 more than the preceeding week; 87 deaths oc- Gr riea Amons children under the age of 5 years, deceased 102 were between the ges: of 80" and 100, iss ars; 133 Were born in the United states, 281n Ireland. 19 in Germany, 6 in 2 im Scotland and 7 in Hy jands, The rate of mortality was prety in the Sixth ead where there was 23 doathe. Consumption off 21, pneumonia 18, 8, Teasies ‘aud sryripelas Secon, cerebro-spiunl ich, cerebro-8) m disease of ‘kidneys’ and whooping and secular, of a class of street boys Otherwise grow up im ignorance and The whole amount said to be missing from the Tax Office during the term of ex-Collector Edmund Driggs is aid to amount to about $25,000, and he peng’ requested to appear before the Board of ‘adit and explain the deficiency. Mr. Driggs, who 18 @ bf respected citizen and has be - bent in the various reform councils athe three or four years, is ot being culpably connected with ties in the accounts of the office, but }, it 18 expected, be able to assist the Board in ascertaining the particulars of the logs. He vis- ited Mayor Hunter yesterday and disclaimed any knowledge of the “defalcations. ‘The financiat branch of the business be confided to Mr. Isaac Badeau, who was his deputy, and Captain A. W. H. Gill, both of wnom are under indictment awaiting trial. The experts have discovered that there ex- isted @ systematic scheme for plundering tne city. NEW JERSEY. The new city government is overwhelmingly democratic, and the disappointed eandidates are everywhere raising the cry of an unfair count at the polls. The new Health Board of Hudson county con- sists of Dra. Youlin, Elaer and Buck. The new Board of Freeholders will, however, set these ap- pointments aside. E Odd Fellows’ Hall, Hovoken, was crowded to excess last evening, the public school children giving an entertainment to aid ‘n establishing a school library.. Tne people hope to see substantial books purchased, The agitation against the new abattoir near the Pavonia ferry has become exciting. Dr. Lochner, City Physician, has prepared a report for the Board of Health showing that the sanitary condi- tion of Jersey City will be seriously affected if this nuisance be not abated, not suspected the Pal del The Board of Canvassers in Jersey City yesterday counted out James Roche, democrat, elected for chosen Freeholder by a majority of one, and Archi- bala White, democrat, elected tor Alderman also by a majority of one. Both gentlemen gave notice that tuey will appeal to the Supreme Court, ‘The present Board of Chosen Freeholders of Hud- son county not only expended an amount of money beyond ali precedent, but charged the county $1,800 for board, wines, cigars and legal | Jees during the late legisiative session at Trenton, The election on last Tuesday routed the corrupt majority and the Board is now democratic, The Citizens’ Relief Committee of Paterson closed their labors to-day by issuing two days ratious to about 400 families. Since December 6 the committee have supported from 400 to 600 ja milies constantly. They have distributed fully 400 to ns Of provisions and expended about $17,000, the average costeol one day's rations tor each per- soa relieved averaging only five cents. About ‘00 families still remain on the reliet list, but it has been decided to discontinue the charity. The Erie Railway Company have instituted pro- ceedings against Street Commissioner Van Keuren, of Jersey City, for preventing by force the laying of the track for a new horse ratiroad in Henderson street. ‘I'he Erie Company intend to run rauioads between Pavonia ferry aud the Pennsylvanta Ratl- road Ierry on one side and West Hoboken on the other for five cents tare. The present: horse rail- road to Hudson City and Bergen charges eight cents, and turnishes very little accommodation to the public, HENRI ROCHEFORT. English Opinion of His Escape from Penal Exile. {From the London Examiner, April 4.) The news of M. Henri Rochefort’s escape from New Caledonia will be hailed with satisfaction by all, of whatever party, who recognized the cruel | injustice done to him py the Counctl of War which condemned him. No doubt the fugitive will have a stirring account to give of his escape, which mnst.have been effected under circumstances of exceptional diMculty. He bad been hardly a fort. nigut in his place of ceptivity when he succeeded in evading tue vigllance of his keepers, and there can be no doubt tuat his rescue was planped by his friends beiore his departure trom France. M. Roche- fort 18 comparatively young in politics, having sprung into notice by the boldness of his polemics in the pages of tie then democratic Figaro, and subsequently by his famous Lanterne, two or three years beiore the tail of the Empire. The London Spectator of the 4th of April, com” menting on the escape o/ M, Rochefort and his Communist companjons, says:— Some Communists and Henri Rochefort have es- caped from New Caledonia. The wildest stories as to the method of their escape are current in Paris, | the most popular being that they swam through a mile of sharks, but we preter the prosaic account telegraphed from Sydney, A vessel visited Noumea with goods, and a small band of men got on board as “stowaways,” who were not, of course, seen by the captain until out of French waters, when of course he was under no obligation to return, The stories about the complicity of the government, or of the Governor, or of the French Consul at Sydney may be true or false, but are none of tiem in the least necessary to ex- plain the escape. Rochelort’s iriends were sure to find an agent in Sydney, and, as political pris- oners in New Caledonia are not ironed, all the rest was easy. The dread of Rochefort’s pen, ex- peed alike by government and the Bonapart- sts, 18 & Curious testimony to the old saying, that nothing in France can survive ridicule. Roche- fort has not a svidier benind him, no party, noth- ing but a pen, and his escape from the antipodes is nevertheless a Kuropeau event. Preparations for the Reception of Roche- | fort. The Manchester Examiner of April 4 publishes the following interesting news:— Although but a very short time has elapsed since the announcement oO! the escape of Henri Roche- | fort, of La Lanterne: notoriety; Pascal Grousset, Jourde, Oliver Pain, Balligre, and Grandille (the Commanists), irom New Caledonia, was made by telegraph steps are being taken, upon the strength of the news that they have sailed irom Sydney jor London, to give them a fitting reception, in a Com- munalist point of view, when they arrive im the metropolis. This is being prepared for by some of the Frenchmen and Germans who celebrated the anniversary Ol the establishment of the Paris Com. mune on the 18th of last monvh in the New Hall of Science, Old street, St. Luke’s, but it is stated the “welcome” to British soil of the escaped convicts willnot pe so warm to M. Henri Rochelort, whom the Communists of London are said not to care much avout, as to the other five—especially to Pascal Grousset. The ‘reception’? will take place in the new Hall of Science, a few days after the arrival of Rochefort and his companions in London, and at it are expected to be present Com- munalist delegates from Brussels and several large towns in Germany. It appears to be weil known to the Teanbte French Communists in Lon- don that Rochefort bad, when he was taken from Paris, and still has, a balance of over £1,000 at a banker’s, and that in London he will be {u no im- mediate want o! money. A French View of the Escape. The Paris Frangais (a semi-oficial journal) of the st of April, says:— It 18 said tnat the refugees are about to breathe the pure air of America, and before touching Europe will make a halting place in the United States. ‘Ihe Americans are juite excited on the suyject. For a long time we ave pepplied them with nothing buf vo- calists and comedians, Now they are gbout to possess one of our phenomenal states- men. It is said that certain practical spirits of the country, who have seen Barnum’s career, think they can make money of the ad- venture, and they will very shortly be negotiating ‘with the ‘New Caledonian Quadrille” for a series or og ded exhibitions. M. simon has begun to re cite his recollections of the 4th of September. Rochetort will reiate his, There will be much to learn irom his stories, which cannot but interest Uncle Sam, and already people are talking of offers to be made to M. Rochelort of 20,0001. per night to see and hear him. Americans know better than we in antiquated Europe how to make money out Of notorieties, Alter ail, it seems the old axiom, that in every insurrection which 1s subdued the smnall offenders puy for the great ones. Of the twenty-four members of the Commune the greater number contrived to save themseives at the last moment, and are living peaceably in Englaua and Switzerland. Four or tlve only were trai rted across the sea, and they will enjoy now thé sweets of liberty and the access of popularity thi from a romantic escape, a long voyage and vived hopes of radical democracy. The sacred right of insurrection is revindicated. It is a fine time for the return of citizens Rochefort, Grousset, Jourde and Kégere. For the restoration of these prodigal sons M. Naquet ought to kill the democratic fated call. 8 the re- * LITERARY CHIT-CHAT. ‘Two Booxs on “The Woman’s Temperance Move- ment" are already out, and if the sale is not burried up the spasm will be over before the books are marketed. ‘Tue TweNty-Fourra VoLUmE of Palmer's “Index to the Times Newspaper” bas appeared in London, ‘This is the only attempt to make a printed index to any daily journal. A volume is published quar- terly, corresponding to the tour volumes a year which the 7imes makes when bound, and the index costs two guineas per annum. DEAN STANLEY, it is said, will soon publish a book on Ri TaE Ni ApvprTion to Holt’s “Leisure Hour Series” is a brace of novelettes, ‘Spring Floods,” by Ivan Turgénteff, and “‘A Lear of the Steppe,” by an anonymous French writer. THE Frrst CaraLocue of publications in the Engligh language was published in 1595, by Andrew Maunsell, bookselier, ‘for the glory of God and edification of the Church of Christ in England.” " THE TweLyrg EDITION of that most useful financial work, “Fenn on the Fands,” has ap- peared in London. It contains statistics of the national debts and public and corporate securities of all nations, PROFESSOR WILLIAM G. SUMNER, of Yale College, has in thé press of H, Holt & Co., “A History of American Currency, with Chapters on the Eng- lish Bank Restriction and Austrian Paper Money.” An appendix will contain the celebrated “Bullion Report” made to Parliament in 1810, by Francis Harner, AMONG FoRTHCOMING Booxs of local history 1s Mr. N. Matson’s ‘French and Indians of the Illinois River,’’ which is to appear at Chicago. HOWELLS’ new novel of Italian life will be begun in the July Adantic, BROOKLYN ANNEXATION. Determined Opposition by Large Prop- erty Owners—Visit to Mayor Have- meyer—He Pledges His Support. About sixty of the most respectable and eminent property owners of this city met yesterday atter- noon in the office of Mr. William H. Raynor, No. 534 Pine street, and there passed a series of pre- ambles and resolutions, as also an address to the Mayor, requesting his co-operation in opposing the annexation of Brooklyn to New York city. Mr. Lieweliyn F. Barry presided, and Mr. Joseph H. Godwin acted as secretary. At half-past two o'clock the gentlemen composing the meeting waited on His Honor the Mayor, and Mr. Barry, after being introduced to Mr. Havemeyer, read to him the following address:— - To His Honor Mayor Havemeren:— ‘the undersigned, your tellow citizens, respectfully ad: ress youin support of the position you have tuken against the union of New York and Brooglyn into one city. The measure has been advocated upon general arguments, too vague to rely upon or to advert to the practical questions upon which it should be decided. ahese present serious and fundamental objections First—Starting from the basiness section of each city on the East Kiver the residence section of each stretches out in opposite directions, year by year growing farther ‘apart in miles and in hours This divergence separates the social life ot the people of the two cities. Each has its own parks, improvements, institutions and places of public gatherings. The people of one do not traverse ‘and are not acquainted with the other. This divergence Will increase and does not present a case of vital and social union. This objetion is not overcome by the “tact that @ small proportion of the inhabitants ot Brook- lyn have daily business relations with this city. Second—The hardest political problem in this country is the right form ot municipal administration. The his- tory of each of these cities shows it. Hach 1s in a condi- tion of permanent unrest, change and revolution in the theory of government and ot incapable, improvident or cCoreupe a minisiration, This diificuliy will be doubled by uniting two such citles under one government, each now and for its whole existence, with a different and un- satistactory charter and laws, Third—Vhe officers of the two cities are now clogged with details and unable to take hold of the broad and ends. Penal the yarious internal departments the adminis- tration would,even after the union, continue to be dis- tinct, substantially as it is now. ‘Nothing would be gainéd for the people by the general administration which would result, It wouid be broken by discordant interests both at home and at Albany. it would be more ineflicient than either of them now is, and ail the evils that now embarrass them would be increased. Signed by the following gentleme: Llewellyn F. Barry, Cyrus Clark, Ben Joseph H. Godwin, J. A. Edgar, Abran rain Freeman, George Hobart scott, Jai liam H. Raynor, J. Mansfield Davies, A. L. Mordecai; K. M, Freeman, John W. Piersson, Charles McRae, George W, Carleton, H. ‘. Livingston, Grimth Rowe, Albert Tilt, J. Romain Brown, Charles F. Livermore, ‘Kdgar Wil liams, Benjamin F. Raynor, Wikiam Lalor. James H. Gillis, James H, Welsh, M. 'O. Munroc, Mare Kidlitz, Satnuel Cohen, Edwin Uobbs, A. Van Valkenburg, Isaac Lockwood, Hi. M. smith, Levi Goldenberg, A. . Kelter, Pliny Wiison, A. 8. Dickinson, James Webb, William Stewart, John Hi, Power, James smith and others. At the conclusion of the address he read the an- nexed preamble and resolutions: — ‘Whereas a bill has been reported with favor by a com- mittee of the Legislature to unite the two cities of New York anJ Brooklyn under one government, and whereas We, the undersigied, taxpayers and owners ot real estate in the city of New York, deem such a mexsure to be m- jurious to its best interest ‘on account of the increased taxation which must ensue if the union be consummated, from the fact that by the union the principal cost of the Brooklyn Bridge will fall upon this city ; now, therefore, ‘we protest aguinst the said proposed ‘union for the rea: sons heretofore stated. Resolved, That it the credit of the city isto be loaned to any transit scheme it ought to be given to ita own. in- habitants (who are to pay the tax) to enable them to reach their own homes with comfort and rapidity. ved, That we tender our thanks to His Honor, the Mayor, for his admirable message to the Senate Commit. tee on Cities, in opposition to the loaning of the city’s credit to build said bridgo. Resolved, That we request that the dill now pending before the Legislature be referred back to the Committee on Cities, in order that a hearing may be had at an early day in opposition thereto. LLEWELLYN F, BARRY, Chairman. Joseru H. Gopwix, Secretary. The Mayor replied that he was very happy to state that he heartily concurred with the senti- ments expressed in and the object of the resolu- tions. He is satisfied that New York as well as Brooklyn has as much as either can do to take care of itself without annexation, Annexation, he fears, 1s becoming fashionable, it not epidemic, Here he was tuterrupted by a gentleman who hoped he did not regret the Westchester annexa- tion, The Mayor replied :—“There at least we want no nigh bridges to cross, but need tunnels.” Yhis movement of the property owners, the Mayor continued, will have his hearty co-opera- tion. At the same time he hopes that it will not end in talk only. Men who own lots around Pros- tion, and will leave nothing undone to ac- complish the object, He (the Mayor) had received @ letter containing an ar- ticle from a newspaper in Brooklyn owned by one of the Bridge Commissioners, who echoed his sentiments in opposing the union. - Brooklyn is, doubtless, used up, and New York 1s a great field in which to mend broken fortunes. He will endeavor as long as he is the presiding officer of this city to maintain its integrity. We have enough annexation how. Bridges may unite the two cities, to which he has no objection, but let them be under separate governments. In this interrupted py the applause of his petitioners. After leaving His Honor’s private room the roperty owners met in the outer office of te jayor and appointed a committee, consisting ot Messrs. Llewellyn F. Barry, Cyrus Clark, William R. Stewart, Joseph H. Godwin and Jonathan A. Ed- gar, to proceed to Albany to lay the matter before the Legisla\ure, aiter which the assemblage withdrew. _ CORONERS’ CASES, The Suicide in Hast Tenth Street. Coroner Woltman yesterday held an inquest at No. 44 East Tenth street on the body of Annie Kopke, the German girl,twenty years of age, who died from the effects of 4 quantity of oxalic acid, which she swallowed mote than @ week ago, with suicidal intent. Deceasdd had been low spirited for some time, but from what cause did not ap- pear, and rising early in the morning quietly pro- ceeded to the cellar, aid swallowing the acid, aown on a pile of coal, where she was found by her sister, @ domestic in the the same family, De- ceased could not be induced to state her reasons for the suicidal act. Her sister 1s s00n to be mar- ried, and deceased seemed fearful she would not be able to give satisfaction to her employer. . Died of His Injuries. Patrick Walsh, alabarer, twenty-nine years of age, born in Ireland, dita at No, 646 Second ave- Que, Several weeks agd deceased was at work in & sewer down town, When @ bank of earth caved in upon and Jataily Injuled him, Coroner Eickhom! heid an inquest. * A MANUPAGTORY BURNED, Boston, Mass., April 17, 1874. A fire in Cambridgepoft, this morning, destroyed J. J. Gray’s picture frane manufactory, an exten- Siveestablishment, Th¢ building, owned by Micah Dyer, Jr., was damaged to the extent of $20,000. Mr. Gray's loss is estimated at $40,000, upon walon there is small insurance, COTTON STATEMENT, The following are the f cotton since Sey tember L 1513 at all porta ct ee oF Om vis Ports, Bates. _ Ports, Bales, Galveston. 343,610 Boston. 17,778 New Orlean| 1,116,643 Baitimoi 13,729 Mobile. 242,109 New York 172,183 11434 Providens 4.386 Charleston, aH iy on preeeecey om ‘hl JOLpM AM. «6. ++ : 413,911 Port Royal. _ Bis de ovensenese «+ 3,491,917 general measures upon which the prosperity of each de- | pect Park in Brooklyn are anxious for consolida- | strain the Mayor continued, and was repeatedly | which was kept there tor domestic purposes, lay | | the cost of manufacture, and | lL, proposed to have the official documents sent CONGRESS. Continuation of the Debate on the Condition of Louisiana, Withdrawal of the National Troops Advocated. THE FRANKING PRIVILEGE AGAIN SENATE, y WasHINGTON, April 17, 1874. Mr. SHERMAN, (rep.) Of Ohio, presented regolu- tions adopted bya large meeting of citizens of Cincinnati protesting against any infation of the currency, Which were relerred to the Committee on Finance. Mr. MorRILt, (rep.) of Me., presented similar resolutions adopted by the Board of Trade of Port- land, Me. They were referred to the Finance Com- mittee. Mr. CRAGIN, (rep.) of N. H., introduced a bill for the better government of the Navy of the United States, Referred to the Committee on Naval Affairs. THR LOUISVILLE AND PORTLAND CANAL. Mr. Scort, (rep.) of Pa., Called up the bill to pro- vide for the purchase of the bonds of tbe Loais ville and Portland Canal Company, and it was dis- cussed by Mr. UONKLING, (rep.) of N. Y., in a speech: of some length. The amendment | oegeneard by the Senate Finance, Committee to strike out the provision that the Secretary of the Treasury shall pay no money an the Secretary of War sha!l not take possession the work until the State of Kentucky shall cede te the United States jurisdiction over the canal, and relinquish to the United States the right to tax, or in any way to assess said canal during the time the government may remain in possession thereof, ‘was agreed to; also, the amendment to strike out the provision that no money shall be paid under the provisions of the act until all claims for said tax shall have been released. The new section reported by the committee, pro- viding that, if at oe time it should become neces- sary to enforce the lien of the mortgage poe sald canal Bropery for the benefit of the bondholders, it should be lawful for the trustees named in the procesdings in any Court notice to the United mortgage to commence having jurisdiction, witl States a3 terre tenant pro forma and serve the process upon any officer of the United States, who shall have the superintendence of said canal, was also agreed to and the question then recurred on agreeing to the amendment of the Houses as amended by the Senate, _ Pending the discussion the morning hour ex- pirea and the Senate resumed the consideration of the Louisiana bill, THE LOUISIANA QUESTION. Mr. TrpTon, (lib.) of Neb. made an elaborate speech, alter which, at a quarter to four P. M., om motion of Mr. BOREMAN, the Senate proceeded to the consideration of executive business, and after @ short time the doors were reopeded and the Sen- ate adjourned till Monday. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES. WASHINGTON, April 17, 1874, The early part of the session to-day was con- sumed in the despatch of private business, an effort having first been made to change the rule 80 that in future such business should be confined to Satarday only, instead of, as at present, to Friday and Saturday. A joint resolution tor an appropria- tion Jor the relief of the poor people who suffer from the late overflow of the Mississippi was re- ferred to the Committee on Military Affairs, ‘The House then, having refused to go into Com- mittee of the Whole on the private calendar, went, at fifteen minutes past three P. M., into Committee of the Whole on the state of the Union, Mr. Wood- ford, (rep.) of N. Y., in the chair, on the Ley lative, Executive and Judicial Appropriation bI THE FRANKING PRIVILEGE. The item appropriating $50,000 for postage stamps for the Stute Department reopened subject of franking. A Mr, BUTLER, (rep.) of Mass., proposed to appro- priate only $1,000 for :urnishing postage stamps at ‘Mr. WARD, (rep.) Oo} through the mails free. Mr. GARFIELD, ach, of Ohio, opposed both propositions and advocated the propriety of each department paying its own postage. Mr, BUTLER stated that the Post Office Depart ment hada portion of ita own business carried through the mails free. Mr. DaWEs corroborated that statement by the assertion that iarge boxes of postal cards were | sent every day from Springtield, Mass, to all parts of the country free through the malls, Mr. WILLARD, (rep.) of Vt., Offered an amend- ment to make the item read, “For furnishing | Official postage stamps to an amount not exceed- ing $50,000, $1,000. Mr. GARFIELD appealed to the committee either to restore the franking privilege openly and squarely or else take the exactly opposite course and let the Post OMice Department sell ite stamps to all comers at their face value, After considerable discussion Mr. Willard’p amendment was adopted. Along discussion occurred in reference to the clerical force of the Treasury Department, Mr. GARFIELD, of Ohio, making an elaborate expiana- tion of the bill in that respect, and Mr. BECK, (dem.) of Ky., arraigning the administra- tion for extravagance in the conduct of the public business. Mr, Warp, of Iliinois, suggested an amendment providing that no more pay should be given to the male employés than to the female employés for the like service, while Mr. NipLack, (dem.) of Ind., suggested that the female employés should be clas sified as the other clerks are. All that was accomplished, aftera long discus- sion, was the reduction of the salary of the Chiet Clerk and seven other principal clerks of the ‘Lreasury Department trom $3,000 to $2,500, The committee then, alter getting through ne page of the bill, rose, and the House, at five o clock, adjourned. THE LONG ISLAND MURDER. . Reet ei Close of the Trial of Gilligan—Sentenced to State Prison for Life. The most intense interest was manifested yes terday in the case of Gilligan, on trial at North Hempstead, for the murder of Philip Reid Howard, ‘The court rvom, even at the early hour at which proceedings were commenced, was densely packed. The prisoner, as on the day pre vious, was accompanied by his wife and children, and was apparently unconcerned as to the result of the trial, He was cross-examined at some length by District Attorney Downing. He had been in the habit, he said, of gunning on the meadows for some ycars past, and had not been interfered with. Howard, he admitted, at one time fell back, but it was—he insisted that it was— for the purpose of coming at him another way. He was examined minutely as to the position of the parties when the shooting took place, and finally acknowledged that Howard was got towards his house when the encounter occurr In his expianations, Gilligan exhibited a pen and ink diagram of the premises, prepared by which he insisted upon referring to, instead of the one in thé hands of the District Attorney. His general statements did not vary materially from those of Lennon. The detence then introduced several witnesses to testify as to Gliligan’s character, and testimony in rebuttal was brought forward by the prosecu- tion. This ‘closed the testimony, and Judge Morris summed up the case Jor the delence in a speech lasting an hour and a half, reviewing the evidence minutely, and claiming that no premeditation had been shown, as Were necessary under the law to convict of murder in tne first degree. district Attorney Downing summed up for the people, in @ speech of an hour's duration. He characterized the testimony of Lennon and Gill. gan as false and confiicting; contended shat the verdict tor the crime was “pure cussedaess,”’ and insisted that Geuneratiog was shown for tie fact that two shots were fired. Judge Barnard then charged the jury. He ex. plained the points of the law beri upon the case, In order to prove murder in the first de- gree four things must be shown :—1st, That the Taan was dead. 2d. That he must have been killed by Patrick Gilligan. 3d. There must have been premeditation and deliberation. 4th. The killing must not have been justifiable under the law, The first two acts were clear, As to the third it was jor the jury to find whether there was delibera- tion even for an instant. As to the fourth, the jury must find whether the killing was done in seli-detence. The Judge then explained the char- acter of murder in the second degree, and in- structed the jury that they were to decide with- out fear of consequences, ‘The jury retired at a quarter to twelve o'clock, and Weré absent about two hours, when they re: turned a verdict of “Murder i the second degree.’* District Attorney Downing moved jor immediate Gilligan was ordered to stand up, and did so smiljng, aud having very little emotion. Im answer to the usual questions he stated that he was fifty years of age, born in Ireland, by occupa tion & carpenter; could not read nor write; waa never in Roos before, and had nothing to say ex+ cept that he was innocent of the charge. judge Barnard then made a few feeling remarks to the prisoner, descanting upon the suormity of his crime, and said that there was not a shadow of doubt but that the verdict of the jury was fully sustained by the evidence. He then sentenced the prisoner to the State Prison for life at hard labor, Snd Gilligan was removed from the room in charge sentence. of the Shertm