The New York Herald Newspaper, March 2, 1875, Page 5

NEW YORK HERALD, ‘TUESDAY, MARCH 2, 1875,—TRIPLE SHEET. THE DUANE STREET DISASTER. Coroner’s Investigation Over the Victims. EVIDENCE OF EYE WITNESSES. The Falling of the Roof Described. A MEMORIAL MASS. Death Traps Found in Theatres and Churches. WHAT IS NEEDED. The investigation into the causes of the falling pf the wall of the Shaw building upon the roof of Bt. Andrew's church—by which Mary G. Connors was instantly killed and by whicn the cougrega- ton of the church were so infuriated or crazed with fear that in their fight to the street they trampled four other persons to death—was begun yesterday morning in the Coroners’ Office. The rooms were crowded. District Attorney Phelps was present, his appearance being a response to the following letter sent bim on Saturday :— Cononer’s Orrics, New Yorg, Feb. 28, 1875, Dear Str—-You will have perceived by the public prints that tho examination of witnesses In the matter of the Duane street calamity will commence to-morrow t this office. As jonday, March }), atten o'clock A. M. is is an unusual case, I invite the District Attorney to present, ther in person or by @ representative. verything.lias been done so tar by me to insure a trir pnd frigid investigation. A jury has been secured, com- posed of well-known Pesens, every one of whom is above suspicion, and I desire that nothing shall be left ndone to secure an impartial and just investigation. | am. ‘dear sir, with his consideration, your obedient servant, ANTHONY LICKHOFFP, Coroner. To B. K, Puexrs, Esq., District Attorney. In opening the case Oorover Eickhoff said:— “We will now proceed to inquire what was the first cause of the deaths of Mary G. Connors, Michsel McOarthy and three other unfortunate persons who iost their lives on the evening of the 26th day of last month tn St. Andrew’s church, whither they went in devout moods, thoughtless of dying before the altar. Somebody must ve re- sponsible for causing their deaths. The wind ts not the only culprit, The storm which occurred on the evening mentioned was not unusually severe, yet it overthrew the wall of a building. Whats needed from this investigation is the dis- covery of whoever is to blame for allowing an infirm wall to stand until a blast carries it down.” REV. THOMAS CARROLL was the first witness called, His testimony was as follows:—I live at St. Stephen’s church and am ® clergyman; on the evening of February 25, 1875, 1 was in St. Andrew’s church; I had been called there to preach; I was preaching for about twenty minutes, when I heard the wind blowing against the window; I stopped and reflected, as the wind was very strong, and then continued my discourse; soon aiterward I saw and heard the plastering coming down from the ceiling of the church on the east side; immediately afterward there waga great panic and confusion, and I, at that time, was unable to jorm an idea of the danger; I thought the wind had Iified tne roofoff or haa blown in the side wall; the dust preventea me from appreciating the exact state of the church at the time; I escaped from the church with the others, but returned afterward; I went through the sacristy door, and then through the base- ment; I went to the Park Hospital, and anointed the people who were lying wounded there; that evening was the first time I wasin the church, and I was not aware of any danger. PATRICK F. MULDOON testified as follows:—lam a roundsman of police, attached to the Twenty-sixth precinct; on the evening of Febrvary 261 was attending services in St. Andrew’s charch; Father Qarroll was preaching; about twenty minutes past eight o’clock I heard a rumbling noise which I thought was caused by 4 number of empty ice carts going through the street; | was sitting in the body of the Shurch; I heard a crash and and dirt falling and a number of people were thrown down; I jumped up on my seat and begged the people to remain quiet, as the fanger was allover; 1think the first noise was made by the tumbling of the loose bricks upon the Blates of the roof of the church; I think that a few seconds elapsed between when I heard the strange w mortar, bricks | people from passing out that way; that the door was not closed, BARTHOLOMEW BUCKLEY, being sworn, testified :—! live at No. 17 City Hall place; on the evening o! Feoruary 25 | was tn th Middle aisie of St. Andrew's church; I first heard @ rattling of the windows ofthe church; the peo- pie then appeared to become irizbtened; then I my impression the ceiling near the altar, aud aimost immedt- ately alterward another crash, and another hole Was made in the ceiling; there was great con- fusion in the congregation; | got up and went Inte the middle aisie, where | was caught vy the surging crowd and carried out of the miadle door, which was about three-quarters open; I was carried out to the stoop; _after- ward I went into the church again and saw a young man in the gallery cailing out for the people io keep quiet; Oiicer Muldoon also called out for the people to keep quiet tn the gallery, and not to throw themselves upon the people below; less than (wo minutes aiterward the firemen came aud went up stairs; I went with them tuto the eastern gakery; Isaw one body—a woman’s— being carried out -by the firemen; abe had been found In the gallery under some ruin: think the firemen may have climbed into the gallery, asl saw a ladder standing against it; when I first heard the rattling of the windows Fatner Carroll was preachin, @ stopped his discourse for a moment at the time; he bad spoken probably five or six words aiter he had resumea preaching when the crash came. BRY. MICHABL CURRAN aged the following evidence ;—J am the pastor of . Andrew's church, and on the evening of Feb- ruary 25 [ was in the churen; Father Carroll was preaching; we were going on with our devotions when | heard a heavy crash, which was to me like @ loud clap of ‘hander after a vivid fash of light- ning; the windows bad rattled betore the crash came; [ calied out or the people to run; the pries's leit the ailar, and I enaeavored to keep quiet by calling a* the top of my voice; there was reat confusion, and people were running about— he strong running over the weak; ,toe doors were ull open; I saw no dead in the church; no one has spoken tc me about the danger of the wall falling since the fire; at the time, aud during the fire, | was warned by some officers to keep away from the wail, as it was dangervus; aiter the fire was over I had no intimation of the dangerous condition ef that wall; 1 think that toere were about 200 people in each gallery on the night of the catastrophe; alter the fire 1 was told by the isurance authorities to go on and fix up the church which had been damaged by the flames; part of the eaves of the church had been burned and some slats had been broken; the carpets and frome of the ornaments of the church iad been Injured by the hose bursting; some holes had to be cut through the floor to allow the water to run through into the sand; so lar as | know no exam- snation has been made Of the means of egress irom the church, REV. EDWARD J. FLYNN testifed:—Iam assistant pastor of St. Andrew's church; on the evening of February 25 I was in St. Andrew’s church; 1 was seated im the choir gallery listening to the sermon ot Father Carroli; the preaching had been going on for about twenty minutes when there was a sound of rushing wind which rattled the windows; almost immediately afterward tbere seemed to be a second gale; Father Carroll stopped speaking for a moment and then resumed; almost immediately aiter- ward I heard @ crash, and looking toward the east sige 1 saw @ hole in the ceil- ing: there was 2a plank of peculiar shape coming through tne aperture. It was long and sharpened at the lower end; tn its descent it seemed to be retarded by some power out ol sight; going into the western gallery ] saw its occupants rushing and pushing to get down stairs; the staircase was crowded with a mass of humauity, mude up principally of women, old and young, and little girls; all were tranueally trying to reach the foot of the stairs, but they were so packed together that they could not move; a little girl in the crowd appealed to me 10 rescue her, and I endeavored to pull her out of the crowd; [ wished then to clear tne staircase, and I called upon several gentlemen to assist me in clearing It; their efforts and mine soon overcame the crush on the stair: case; tue people in the gallery were quietea ana were allowed to go down Stairs in twos, threes or fours; after arranging things in the gallery I went down staits, and in the vestioule I saw a woman | who was evidently dying; | administered the rites of the Church to her and then went into the street, Where there Was a great crowd collected; I returned to the church and procured some neces- sary articles beiore | went to the Park Hospital, where Iadministered the rites of the Church to the sufferers; I also weat to the Sixtn precinct station house, but not to Sweeny’s Hotel; I saw no deaa in the church; on the morning of the fire 1 was in the basement of the church Say ne had been warned oy the eugineer that the | Wall might be dangerous; katner Curran warned me; after the fire | had no intimation whatever of danger. The inquest was adjourned until this morning at ten o'clock. oe THE MEMORIAL MASS. SERVICES AT ST. PETER'S CHURCH—SYMPATHY MANIFESTED, There w beautiful religious service in St. | Peter’s churcn yesterday morning at ten o’olock. | It was designed to procure repose tor the souls of | the five unfortunate beings who were killed al- | Most before the altarin St. Andrew’s church on | morial mass.” The church was crowded with | people. Sympathy and pity for the fate of the | victims drew them together and inspired | them to pray fervently toat they should not | suffer in the hereafter who have felt | excessive anguish here. Tne service had beside | s mournful interest for many people of tatth dif- | ferent trom the creed of the dead who were | mourned for. and sorfowiul character. Everything and every- body was sombre. The altar clotns were black, | and the vestments of the priests and the cassock: | Of the acolytes were of the same raveu bue, | The celebrant of the mass was the Rev. Father heard a crashing, aud, looking up, [saw a lole to | saving some things, and | heard father Curran | | Tharséay night last, and it was termeda “me- | Tne mass had a peculiar solemnisy | a rumbling and the time I heard the crash and saw | michael Curran, the pastor of st. Andrew's church, the plaster and bricks falling imto the church; | The duty of Gs eat fae for the benefit of the souls of his deceased parishiouers was one ap- ryntl owe tf etiges el pe teal propriate for him, but 1t must nave carried wita Jumping over the side of the gallery into the body =}, anguishing thought and must have wrought of the church; 1 caught in my arms one woman wiental pictures of disaster and death torturing who had been hanging to the side of the gallery; ‘0 the amiable old priest. The deacon tn the mass was Key. Father Henry, and the subdeacon then some more bricks came down, and Iretreatea Fut i C two pews; Father Curran asked me to go to the front door and get the other half of the doorway open; one half was already open; the people were lying against tne door, and it was found tbat tneir pres- sure alone kept it closed, as it was not bolted; wnen they were removed the door was easily opened; | cannot say low the door of toe church opened; passing the stairs leaaing to the Bailery on the east side I noticed a number of women with ‘their faces looking up the stairs, holding on to the handrail or something else, and It was with difficulty that they could te Temoved ; Iremained at the middle door by Father Curran’s Girection; the firemen soon came; I noticed some ey a J women out irom under the ruins and heard cries for assistance; I saw Jour persons dead in Sweeny’s Hotel, but dia not see any dead in the cuurch; I reached tne Jront door by going over the backs of pews a part ol the way, and then went into the aisie and Picked wp & woman who was moaning; some people were lying in the vestibule, and | had to ¢ Walk over them to get to the staircase leading to bhe east side gailery; 1 do not know where the ople were killed; there are three doors on | juane street beside the door on City Hall place, by which peopie can leave the church; did not know the walls were dangerous; had never any Intimation to that effect; heard at the time of the | Gre that they might tall upon the churen, LOUIS &. ROUSE was the third witness, and said:—I live at No. 81 Pine street; on the evening o! February 25 I was | {m the vestry of St. Andrew’s church; | was acting | Bs usher; there were avout 800 people in tue church, all siting; I was sitting in @ chair; an- bther usher was in the vestry with me; l heard | the rattling of the wincows and thought that nail was knocking against tuem; Father Carroll stop- | ed preaching for a moment; very soon there was BCrden and some of the people arose and came | soward the vestry; wen’ down stairs end opened the Dejvate door leading irom City it place the vestry; when [ ppened the door a money box Jeli in| front of me; people were jumping out of the win- flows; i turned back and Went up toe vestry stairs to keep the people in line as they were comin flown; I heard screams from the vestibule, and ran down the middle aisle to the (ront voor and found it partiy open; { went to the east door and found tt only hail open; the other half was boltea at the top, and tne firemen and police were trying to get the crowd back to get tie door open; I no- ticed several persous on tie ground, amoung them the boy Feeney; they were lying in the vestibule Bt the foot of the stairs on the east side of the | church; there nothing to prevent the | people at the eastern door from leaving it and | Bong out of the middle door. | JAMES J. WYNNE | testified as follows;—I live at No. 42 Park street dam telegraph operator at Pdfice Headquar- | ters; on the evening of February 26 | was attend. | Ing services in St. Andrew's courch; | Was seated pa the west aide of the centre alsie; | heard a | ramole like toat of a tornado passing over the city; 1 heard a crash and almost immediately | afterward another crash, and looking up [ saw tne rool coming in; the aisies now became filed with people, and there was a great panic and con- | fusion; | gotup aud made my way to the centre floor, which was hal! open; I endeavored to reach the vell, but could not on account o1 the pushing amd hurrying of the crowd; | saw @ pros- brate| woman at the centre door, and | @ young man trying to ward of the crowd froin ner; | helped to raise her up: I noticed the crowd At ‘he cast door and heard the crash oi the break- ing of the casing of the stairs tere; when the casing gave way I did not see any people fall; f think the crowd was 80 dense that no one could Jail; they were in the wildest confusion and huried themselves against one anower; | think the westerly door waa closed to prevent tne | people in the gallery on that side from interfering ‘with the other people; when | first got into the vestibule tere were two streams of peopie from the east aud West sides trying to get of the | centre door; | cannot whether atany time | amy person closed the eastern door to prevent | Father Corley, of St. Peter's church, After the first Gospel the Rev. Father O'Farrell ascended to the altar and delived a brief address on the re- ligious lesson of the calamity by which the five human beings, for whose souls the mass was cel- eorated, had been hurried out of the world, He urged upon his hearers the fact that the disaster eniorces the fact that a Christian should live so as to be always prepared for aeath. No one can tell when the summons may come totim., Achurch seems to people tobe a | place into which death cannot set foot; yet these | poor people were stricken down in the sanctuary in which they had always felt themselves to de | sac. Fapher O'Farrell referred feelingly to tne efect which the disaster fas upon the jife of the Rev. Father Curran, a priest who, after fifty years of service in the ministry, meets his xreatest mis- Jortune. Father Curran has been the friend, the | parent, tne brother, the essential relative to every one of his parishioners. He has regarded them all as the gilts of God to himself, and the misior- tune which has fallen and touched so many of them vrings to him the most poignant sufferings. Father O’Farreil’s sermon deeply im- pressed his hearers, aud when the reverend gen- tieman inyited the people belore him to contribute toward benefiting the families of tne dead and wounded, generous responses were made to his | appeal. CHURCHES AND THEATRES. THE LIFE GUARDS REQUIRED IN THEM—START- LING STATEMENTS BY THE INSPECTOR—DEATH IN THE CHURCH, THE THEATRE AND SCHOOL- ROOM. The recent deplorable accident at St. Andrew's church, by which so many lives were lost and so large a number of devout worshippers maimed, bas called attention to a subject to which the HERALD has often alluded. Time and again the HERALD fas commented upon the danger attend- ing religious services in our crowded churches and witnessing the amusements given our people by the managers who cater to metropolitan thea- tre-goers; yet these warnings have, in a great measure, been in vain, and to-day there are han- dreds of places im this city where large numbers congregate that are DEATH TRAPS of the most dangerous character. This is snown im the list Of church inspections that appeared in yesterday’s HERALD. These examinations were made by a corps of careful inspeciors sent out directly (rom the office, and they show the follow. ing alarming state of things: | Number of doors opening outward a uuinber of Goors opening inward 123 Number of doors sliding back. 19 Number of doors left open during service. Total churches inspected . 170 These figures tell a tale that shonid be heeded by every worshipper in our city churches. Church architecture certainly requires a great revolution when we find that out 01170, 123 of the outer doors swing inwardiy, thus supplying a certain blockade to egress in the event of a sudden panic such as seized the congregation of St, Andrew's on Thuraday night, and offering the harvester Death ample opportunities to use his scythe to effect. In nearly ali our churches the doors dividing the lobby from the auditoriam swing outward, thas enabling the audience to be easily emptied in case of emergency into the lobby. But wnat ts the ad- vantage of this precaution i the outer doors are found closed, and they cannot be opened owing to @ mass Of excited people being forced against | | them. It matters butlittle to the victim whether | be be burned to death in the body of the edifice or m the lobbies. Tuere ts, in fact, more hope for | | eacape if the doors dividing the lobby from tne | | main body of the church were closed, for in that case, retreat being cutoff, the audience would | naturally resort to the windows as a means of | escape. Ouce jammed into a lobby between two | | Umes of doors opening in opposite directions, a: these inspections show most of our churches are constructed, all means of egress are cut off and retreat to the main body is rendered impossible. i NECESSARY PRECAUTION | Would suggest that during religious services all | | Outer doors should be fastened back so as to | permit free exit, yet there is no law on our stat- ute books providing for such guard against acci- dent or sudden panic, How far sextons and | ushers resort to this precaution to prevent acci- dent 18 shown by the | puolished yesterday, | from which it appears that out of 170 churches | Visited, the front doors ot | BUT ONE ARE LEFT OPEN | | doring the services. Architects who were visited. | | yesterday agree that the only common sense way | | Of providing means of egress from a church in case | | Of panicis by having the inner doors open out- | wardly and by having the outer doors wide open | during the entire service. If it 1s found that | the weather 18 tou cold to leave the outer doors open, a double door should be provided | atthe mato entrauces. The outer ones should | swing both ways, so tl they would be | ing and sout ont the drait, while the second or heavy one should be fastened back. At the conclu- sion of the services they could be secured, and the | Cost ior this extra door outside of the main door | would be @ mere trifle compared with the security | 1t would give to life. It is to be regretted that we | have no laws at all adequate to guard against tne | dangers rejerred to, Too much is left entirely to the judgment and | CAPRICE OF THE INSPECTOR | of the Building Department, who is not always | | gifted with sufficient tnteliigence to detect the | | danger or the firmness to enforce bis demands, | | The section of tne law regu'ating all buildings o | @ public character, including hotels, churches, | theatres, school houses, restaurants, ratlroad | | depots, public halls, &c., 18 to be found in chapter | 626, passed April 20, 1871, section 29: | In all buildings of a public character already erected or hereatter to be built in sald city, such as hoteis, | churches, theatres, school houses. reataurants, railroad depots, public halls and other buildings used or intended | to be used ior purposes of public amuseinent or instruc. | tion, the halts, doore, stairways. seats aud atsles shall be | 80 arranged as to facilitate egress in cases of fire or accident, and to afford the seauisite and proper accom. modation tor the public protection in such cases; and all aisles and buildings | Dassagewavs in said devote to purposes of amusement oF instruction | shall be kept tree trom camp stools; chairs, sofas and other obstructions during any 'pertorm- ance, service, exhibition, lecture, concert, ball, or any public assemblage ; and the Superintendent of Butla- ings may alany time serve a written or printed notice | upon the owner, lessee, or manager of any of sald build to be done in or about the | ngs. directing ay act or thing arrangement ot the suid bulidings and the several ap- | pilances therewith connected, such as halls, doors, stairs, | windows, seats, 6 and escapes, so as to afford the | greatest possible security to the public in the uses to | which they may be severally applied. | At will be observed that the wording of the law | | 18 very inaefinite, while very generally it makes | no provision a8 to how these doors and other modes ot emptying achurcno or theatre shall be constructed, That is !eit entirely to the inspector. | ‘Toe law, however. provides @ fine of $60 for any | violation, such a8 placing camp stools or | CHAIRS IN THEATRE AISLES, | This act by nO means meets the requirements | as regards churches, school houses and theatres. | Mr. MoGregor, the late Superintendent of Balid- | ings, in the session of 1571 spent many weeks at | the Legislature endeavoring to secure a stringent | law, but be met with so much opposition in every | | step he took, from architects and builders, that | this imperiect act was ail that could be obtained. | The present Legislature should not adjourn with. | out grappilog with this. subject. Stringent laws | sbould be passed defining how each door and | stairway should be constructed in every public building, and fixing a heavy penalty upon cnureh officers or theatricul managers who lock in an au- dience by closing the means of quick exit in case ol emergency. itis gratitying to know that man- | | agers of places of public amusement are now very | | generally complying with such suggestions as the inspectors make Jor the better security of ille. With a view of covering the responsiblity of the non-compliance with the law, the writer yester- day called at ‘he Department of Buildings and ap- pued to tue Secretary, Mr. Donaldson, for intorma- | tion, This gentleman, who is always prompt to | give any imlormation tne department may sug- | gest, stated that the department exercise, | through its inspectors, careful scrutiny over all buildings where people congregate, and, so far ag it can, under the imperfect law, eniorces 1!. ‘The | theatres have in the past given the department much trouvle; but the inspections are so !requent and the watchfuiness of the inspectors so marked | tnat he considered they were well protected. Mr. | Donaldson introduced the reporter to Dr, Silsbe Inspector of Theatres, who sat down and chee: fouy communicated the resulis of his examina- jons. CONDITION OF THE THEATRES. Inspector Silsbee states that under the abov law the department has laid down certain ru regarding theatres. In the first place, as regards “fire guards,” be reports that in every theatre from lour'to eight fire extinguishers are to be | placed on the stage. Theu there snail ve kept as | many water buckets as the inspector May ordery running {rom ten to twenty-four, according to the | Size of the stage. In places where there are ballet | | fc eda bd @ Dumber of wet biankets are to be | left on each corner of the stage to throw over girls whose clothes may become ignited. Jn such tnea- | | tres as Booth’s and the Grand Opera House they | | also provide water sprays over the flies, by which, case of a fire, they can let on ‘heavy shower of water to extinguisn The Grand Opera House has, in addition, | water spray ip the ceiling by which the audience | | can be instantly covered by @ shower of water | and the progress of the fire checked. In all first | class theatres the department requires as an addi- | tional “fire guard” sufficient hose of from one and a half to two inches diameter on each side of the | stage to cover it, axes to cut away machinery and | other necessaries. Tuey have gas jets protected by wire screens to prevent fire. | EGRESS IN CASE OF FIRE. The department turough its inspectors regulate | the widtn o1 stairways, aisles, etc., accoraing to | the number of seats ina bench. The aisle should at ali times be irom three to four teet wide. He reports that the iaw preventing the empioymeat | of camp stools and chaérs 1D the aisies ts generally | comphed with, There is one exception, wher | they are used, and although repeatedly r ported the managers stili persist m openiy violat- ing the law. The inspector exhibited to the writer his book showing that in Feoruary he reported violations of this character several times, and stated that alter being reported they would for a | day or two discontinue their use, but althongn tifere is a fine of fifty doilars for each violation, | they resume their ase. | WALLACK’S AND BOOTH’S THEATRES, in this particular sometimes violate the law, and yesterday the Inspector reports he notified the Managers Of Boovh’s, Wailack’s and another the- atre to discontinue camp stools and chairs in the aisies, He reports that with the exception al- ready noted all exhivit a readiness to comply. A! | to Booth’s and Wallack’s the violation is only tech- Nical, as their aisles are so wiue that they haye room enough In aisies and lopbies to put in chairs and wouid be entitied to piace benches there in- Stead if they sodesired. The doors of theatres, he reports, 18 & matier leit to the inspectors, IN THE PARK THEATRE a8 originally opened the inspectors found that the entire auditorium, seating about 1,200 people, opened through an eight foot stairway to the | Broadway loboy. ‘They ordered an additional stairway opening from the second balcony into the hall of the adjoining builaing on Broadway, | tne door irom the parquet widened from five to | ten feet, and the stairway connecting it with the main exit extended toten feet. These orders were | complied with, and it now requires but five min- | utes to empty the theatre, where it formerly took | eleven minutes. At this point the writer put the | question, “Is there a single theatre in the cit; | now without sufficient means of egress?" “No, think not, with one exception. THE METROPOLITAN THEATRE, They formerly had two four-loot stairways | emptying the first balcony into ope tour-loot | stairway. You can imagine the danger here. We | nad it changed so that the two four-foot stairways | emptied into an eight-toot stairway. AT DALY'S NEW THEATRE | we find that we had vriginally no protection | against fre in the sliape of doors between the | | Stage and greenroom, 80 as to prevent tne are rushing up the spiral stairway for four stories, | where are located the dressing rooms and ward. robe. The changes were at once made by the in- troduction o1 iron doors, and a bridge erected connecting the upper floors of the theatre with | an adjoining building. IN THE STADT THEATRE, the winter belore last we found several of the up- | | rigbt columus supporting the balconies rotten | and reported them. They were ordered to make the place secure, but declined. Mr. Adame then | Bent men down to do the work, but they then did it themselves, and we compelled them to put in | thirty-seven of these column supporis before we | considered it sate. They were compelled, also, to Mako additional openings: from every balcony, | that each balcony now has an extra ineans of di charging its occupants. Inspector Silsbee stated that the | EXAMINATION OF THE CHURCHES | was a feature that did not come unier his super- | | vision, They were usually covered by the district | ‘law. His experience, is that generally the doors leading from the main body of the church open outwardly, and he did not know a single church where they open inwardly. The outside doors usuaily open outwardly or are fastened back dur- ing service. Someties they have temporary | doors putin to exclude the air irom the lobbies, while tie main doors are fastened back. Accord ingly the department oad found the doors hung wrong and had them changed, Ushers are sia- | tioned fn ml churches and theatres. whose duty it | is the moment service 18 Over, or the curtain falls, | or in the event of a panic, to open the doors in- stantly. Toey are carefully instructed in their duties, and 1 they act promptly there 1s little dan- ger of the audience being blocked in. Such were the results of the investigations of @ representative of the HERALD yesterday. Krom them the reader will see that the laws are entirely inavequate lor the protection of life In theatres, places of amusement, antl no doubt the same t true of Many of our schools, colleges and hot What is needed is more explicit legisiation at a Traphagen, | evening at Tammany Hall, provision in the form of heavy fines for any viola- tions Of the laws, To THe EpITOR or THE HERALD:— Last evening I attended service at the Collegiate Reformed Dutch church, corner of Filth avenue | | apd Twenty-ninth street. 1 was a littie late. They were singing. the first hymu. The centre doors were jocked; a notice Was posted to go to the | | side doors, | what would have been the consequence, the doors f an alarm oi fire nad been given, opeuing iuwardly. Very respectiuily, MARCH 1, 1875, SAFETY. A CORRECTION, New Yorx, Maroh 1, 1875, To THE EDITOR OF THE HERALD:— In your report to-day on the church doors you" class St. Alphonsus’ church, in South Fifth ave- nue, as having its doors open inwardly. allow us to say that your reporters were mistaken, as all of the seven street doors in our church open outwardly, and 4,000 persons can pass out in four minutes. THE REDEMPTORIST FATHERS. NEW YORK CITY. The month of March opened yesterday witn & snowstorm, followed by hall, and \t was very cold. Owing to the iliness of Mr. Strahan, counsel for Superintendent Walling, the trial of that oMicial ‘was postponed until Friday. Aslignot fire yesteraay morning on the third floor of No. 83 Jackson street was caused by a kerosene lamp explosion. Damage $100. Pallont Giovani, cook on the bark Prince, lying at pier No, 54 East River, had his hand caught by | @ hawser and wus severely injured yesterday, The Tammany Society held its regular monthly meeting last night, when among others Mayor ol Jersey City, and Congressman Meade were initiated. On February 20 the City Chamberlain had of city funas $974.247. He recetved last week $300,899, disbursed $505,715, and had a balance on hand on Saturday of $719,431, : Mrs. Sbepard will, at three P, M, to-day, read a paper on “Knowledge of Good and Evil, the Basis br Moraiity,”” belore the Women’s Social Educa- tional Society, at No. 44 Union square. James McDermott, aged nineteen, residing at No, 820 West Forty-elgnth street, was run overand dangerously injured at the corner of Chambers and Centre streets, The driver, Charles Wagner, was arrested. Dr. William Albbard, formerly President of the Bowery Fire Insurance Company, was buried yes- terday from St. Paul’s Methodist Eniscopal church, ey James officiating. The remains were in- terred at Yonkers, The Ancient Britons’ (Welsh) Benefit Society held its annual meeting yesterday and elected the following officer ‘Evan Jones, President; David E. Rees, Vice President; William Lewis, Secretary; John J. Thomas and William R, Martin, Stewarda. The New York Neurological Soctety held its eleventh regular meeting last evening at the Col- lege ot Physicians and Surgeons. Ow ng to the inclement weather but few mem tendance and the meeting was next week. Marianne, wife of ex-Surrogate Alexander W. djourned until Bradford, was buried yesterday from the Church | of the Transfiguration. H. B. Chapman, Professor Drisier, vr. O. P. Wells, Dr. J. OC. Jay, Judges H. E. Daviesand W. E. Curtis, and D. R. Jaques and 8. P. Nash were the pallvearers. The Cuban cause will receive a benefit this billiard experts im the country bave volunteerea another chance o! witnessing the result of long practice ata game of skill that has become the | pennies indoor amusement of the citizens of che nited States, The St. David’s (Welsh) Benefit Society held its annual meeting yesterday, when the following officers were elected :—President, John L. Davies; Vice President, Henry Parry; Treasurer, William D. Davies; Secretary, Robert H. Roberts; Stew- ards, William R. Martinand W. R. Roberts; Di- rectors, W. Jones, D. H. Morris, D. KE, Reese, Ed- ward Lumbey and Ea. Richérd. BROOKLYN. There were 354 persons arrested by the police last wee, Thomas Hunt and Patrick McGinness, boys venteen years of age, quarrelied on Columbia e 4s sin made good his escape. held yesterday afternoon at the office of that com- pany, ex-Senator H. OC. Murphy in the chair. Mr. W. 0, Kingsley, from the committee appointed to consider the pronosed bill for the action of the Legisiature, reported that they had. decided to | suomit the document to the Board without altera- | tions. Mr. Carroll expressed the opinion that there was some doubt as to whether the clues would make the bridge @ public thoroughtare or cbarge toll. it was resolved to make the term of office of tne future board of Directors two years, and alter some other minor amendments the Board anjourned, LONG ISLAND, The Ravenswood and Astoria Rallroad willbe opened about the 2lst inst. The Jane Moseley, of the Long Branch line, was | yesterday sol’ to the Quintara line. | Bishop Littlejohn will confirm converts at St. John’s, Hunters Point, on Friday evening next. Long Island City is dissatisNed with its gas sup- | ply and the city are organizing a new company. | The Queens county democrats are preparing ior 4 bed eee elections on the second Tuesday in \ Apr! elected Henry Sharkey President and J. H. Living- ston Secretary. Long Island City taxpayers petition the Common | Council to oppose the bill for appointment of tife- saving police on wharves. Thursday evening the citizens of Jamaica will vote on the proposition to bond the village in | $35,000 for @ new schoolhouse, or $5,000 for im- provements to the old one. NEW JERSEY. In the Court of Quarter Sessions at Jersey City, | yesterday, John Shea was sent to the County Pen- | ttentuary for three months for larceny; John Buf, larceny, two months; Edward Kemington and William Jones, larceny, three months, The heaviest portion of the criminal calendar of | Hudson county has yet to be disposed o!, Beside | the trial of Hamilton, the deiauiting City 1reas- | urer, and Klenen, the defaulting bauk secretary, groves, tor the homicide of William Livingstone. The land adjoining the eastern entrance to the new tunnel of the Delaware, Lackawanna and Western Railroad Company 1s rapidly sinking. As fast as the rubble stones from the excavations are depositea tnereou they disappear beneath the sur- face o! the swamp. Efforts are being made to fill the entire locality with earth. Before Recorder Bohnstedt, in Hoboken yester- day, acase of the ownership of a valuable horse came up for consideration. Mr. Nevius, a prominent. contractor, and a geatlem: rom Staten Island, lay claim to the animal, The latter claimant's | iriends stealthily took tne horse irom the stabie at Weehawken, but they were arrested betore they | could escape. As the Kecorder dismissed the case there were various conjectures as to who the legitimate owner 1s. ‘The two horse railroads of Hudson county have Joined hands tor the purpose o! de/eating tue rival railroad schemes in the Legislature, presidents, Messrs, Bonn and Keeney, had a long conference yesterday afiernoon, after which Mr, Bonn proceeded to Trenton. Mr. Rabe’s bilt jor a new railroad passed the lower house and had second reading in the Senato, and Mr. Sheeran's bill will be passed tn the House this week. Both | these railroad schemes are based on the principle | of cheap transportation. An investigation of the cause of the increase of smallpox in Jersey City shows that there isa 1 | inspectors, and are generally butit accurding to | wrangle between the Health Inspector and the County Board of Health on the question of vacci- Nation.. Kach contends that it is the duty of the other to see that the vacciuation 1s performed, and consequently the duty 1s neglected in every | case where it 18 not performed by private physi- cians. Ii tne new charter of Jersey Oity be passed @ physician who will attend punctualiy to his duties, William Paxton, the last of the gang arrested On suspicion of tbieving at the Cunard dock, was discharged yesterday morning. No c.ew has been obtained to the whereavouts of the thieves who wore chased irom the Caratm dock on Friday nigit, although @ close watch is kept over the wharves, under which they «disappeared, and where their boats must certainiy be lying. The Cunard and Cardi! companies have agreed to offer a reward lor information yhat may lead to the arrest of these robvers, who will, I | Set a taste of Jeraey justice, Please | Ts were in at- | Seven of the leading | their services, and the ladies will be 'hus afforded | street, near King, on Sunday nignt, when the | former stabbed McGinness in the side, inflicting a | ainful. though not dangerous wound. The would- | There was a meeting of the Bridge Directors | The Taxpayers’ Association of Long Island have | | there remains the trial of Haunt, Gtlygan and Cos- | The two | nation of Commissioner Georgi | Van Nort as Commis of Public Works. | FITZ JOHN PORTER HIS SUCCESSOR. | | Correspondence Between the Mayor and Mr. Van Nort. | HIS RECORD IN THE DEPARTMENT. The rumors that have been so rife during the past two weeks relative to the retirement of George M. Van Nort from the position of Uom- missioner of Public Works crystallized yesterday in his resignation from office and tbe appointment | of General Fitz John Porter as his successor. Tne resignation of Mr. Van Nort had in a measure been anticipated during the day by the politicians, but | most of them seemed to be considerably at sea as to who the new Commissioner would be, Many believed that either George W. De Forrest, Arthur | Leary or some other prominent Tammanyite wi destined to be the coming man. But few, compara- tively, put any /aich in the rumor that the place of | honor was reserved for General Porter. Although it | Was quite late in the day when the Mayor received Mr. Van Nort’s letter of resignation and appointed | his successor, there was quite a number of the | Alde'men and other politicians in the City Hall, » Who remained down town longer than usual, with | the hope of learning exactly what was to be done | by the Mayor. There was considerable excite- | ment manilested all round when the news finally | leaked out, and, judging from the expressions Made use of as well by the loufgers who hola public office by those who hope to very soon, the appointment of General Porter wus not a wel- come one. On receiving his appointment General Porter was at once sworn in by the Mayor. When asked when he would take charge of the | Department of Public Works he said that ne | would go to work immediately to-day. | made in the department as soon as the new Com- Missioner gets his hana in, he had not as yet, he said, determined upon appointing his cniet deputy; and it is the general bellef that the present deputy, Mr. E. P. Barker can hold over if he feels inclined, However, it ts quite probabie that he, too, wiil re- | sign, Mr. Van Nort and Mr. Barker, it may be | satd, have been associated together in the Depart- | years, Mr. Van Nort was appointed December 29, 1871, | to the position he has jast vacated. He was was made Comptroller of it in 1870, being suc- | ceeded as Seoretary by Mr. Barker. Previous to his connection with the Park Department he held | office tn 1856, under Lorenzo Burroughs, State | Com prroner and was Deputy Clerk in the Legis- lature. tween the Mayor and Mr. Van Nort:— | MR, VAN NORI’S LETTER OF RESIGNATION, 1 New Yorx, Mare! yh 1, 1875, Hon, Wiuaw H. Wiexmax, Mayor of the city of New ork t Sin—Herewith I submit a condensed statement of the | trans actions of the Department of Public Works for the period of three years, during wiuch time I have dit charged the duties of Commissioner. The condition of affairs and of the public mind at the time I came Into the office are too well known to need | at my handsa recapitulation. | Atthat period of transition I wa successor of Mr. Tweed, as Mr. Green | successor of 3 | pointed the suce | latter appointees from any obligations to or aMiilations with the retiring Ppointed as the $ Ste the tebbins was ap- Like both of these SS0F | of Mi clly government. 5 | ly oficial record will show how far I have carried out in my departinent the policy of “retrenchment and reform’? which was demanded by the taxpayers of this represented by the “Committee of seventy,” epted by Mayor Hall in his last important a’ ointments. ‘Ty reduce the current expenditures of the department and at thé same time not only maintain but promote its efficiency required much care and labor. The satlsiactory | complished amid all the discord and lack ot harmony haracterizea the city government during tois | period. | tat has ¢ since my control of the department I have annuslly | made known to the Mayor and Common Council the Wants and requirements of the department; but in most | eases have tailed to receive that co-operation whicn the public interest seemed to require, ieaving to me alone | the responsibility ot procuring the necessary legisiation for the beneficial working of this branch of the city government. - | _ All the legislation that has been procured for the de- partment has been without expense to the city. As you ari are, I have, during the brief term which has elapsed ce you became chief magistrate of the city, commu: d with you on several subjects of vital importance to the cityrequiring legislation. T have explained to you ‘the object of public improve- ments in progress and those in contemplation, and have ct of repavements, and sub- t drafts of acts necessary to provide tor putting the pavements m a proper condition ona reasonable und equitable basis of expense to the | taxpayers. | “Thave also made known to you the wants of the city | including the two newly annexed wards, in reference | to furnishing an ample supaly of Croton water at every an act necessary to compiete and carry out the same, without whica the system of mains alreatly laid and be: ing Iaid cannot be brought into use, thus defeating the prolect now within the grasp of the city of furnishing Croton i | an unlimited supply throughout the lower D: city in case of fire. Ithough sufficient time may not have elapsed since you asstimed the duties of your office for vou to. ac these matters, am firmiy convinced of the fact that the | party now dominant in the city and State, being at va rtance with my views, Is unwiling to invest this depart- ent, with me at its head, with the rry forward such works to completion. suc ne the case, it would be a grave injustice to the taxpayers | for me tocuntinue in a position where their interests would in any case suffer. Recogmizing, a8 I did a year since, that with the lack of harmony existiug in the city government, embarrassing and hindering the prosecution of public improvements to which the city was committed and for which. the property owners bad paid large amounts in assessments, | and considering thata harmonious government aud the ayers should be the paramount y of every official. [intimated my inven- | tion of resigning my office, and only upon the earnest solicitation of such taxpayers did I consent to remain. | “ater much thought and careful consideration I have now decided that rather than continue in office under so many embarrassments during the few remaining months of my term, I prerer to rest upon the results already ac complished: sheretore Ido hereby resign the office of Comunissioner ot Public Works, to take effect upon the accession of my successor, and'am, very respectiully, RGE M. VAN NORK THE MAYOR’S REPLY. Executive DeraRtwenn, New Your, March ty 17a" | Hon. Gronce M. Vax Nort. | Dar >in—I have receive your communication of this | date, submitting a condensec statement of the transac- tions ot the Department of Public Works for the three yeurs during which you have been the Commissioner, nd resigning the office rather than continue in it under the circumstances to which you call my-atteniion, Twas not repared for the communication; in fact, | intimations made by you in a number of recent cou: | Versstions had led me to expec ti. But I none the less | reuret that the circumstances of the present political | situation should so seriously affect the usetuiness of a | distinguished public servant as to seem to him to make his voluntary withdrawal from office a duty to the com- munity which he has served so long and with notable resuits, | . The dificulties and obstructions you have had to con- | tend agains: have been manifest. ‘ But so far as my per- | Sonal Knowledge of your administration of the depart. ment extends it has been efficien nothing has been brought to my official notice whi pairs your repu- tation for integrity. | Certainly, I have observed no department of the city i} | bigot which ts 80 welt organized as yours has | Been, or in which business has been conducted with ich'thorough aysterh and such excellent methods as have been pursued in your office and in the several bureaus attached to it. Your successor has tinusual opportunities in beginning | histerm ot service with the advantages which your training and skill as an administrative officer have in | these respects prepared tor him. With many thanks for the courteous consideration and attention which have uniformly extended to me during our official intercourse, and ‘with renewed as- urances ol my best wishes for your continued welfare, | itn Terpecttully, WMH. WICKHAM, Mayor. | GENERAL PORTER'S APPOINTMENT. | jp mhe following ts General Porter's appointment, which was handed to him by the Mayor imme- diately after Mr. Van Nort had received the | Mayor's reply to bis letter of resignation | Exvoorive Derartugyt, Ory Haut, New York, March 1, 1875, 1, William H. Wickham, Mayor of the city ot New | York, by virtue of the power conferred upon me by | chapter 300 of the Laws of 1874, being “An act to amend apter 3% of the Laws of Is73, entitled ‘An act to re- | Offanize the locul government of ‘the city of New York | passed April 80, nd the acis amendatory ther do hereby appoint Fitz Jonu Porter so be Commissioner of Public Works ot the city of New York in the place of George M. Van Nort resigned, and for the unexpired term of said George M. Van_ Nort, which terminates on tho 2th day of December, 1875, WILLIAM H. WICKITAM, > of the ty ch im) MUNICIPAL CHANGES! 4 CONGREGATION LOCKED IN IN FIFTH AVENUE. | Although | it is pretty certain that many changes will be | ment of Parks and Works for upwards of eighteen Secretary of the Park Department in 1858, and | The following is the correspondence be- | ‘ayor Hall I was absolutely free | heads of three of the most important departmeats of the | - | hola 3,900, results herewith shown have been ac- | point in the whole city, and submitted to you a draft ot | vater In buildings of great altitude and insuring | t on | joWer necessary te | alry and artillery. In 1856 he was a) tant General, with the rank of capri Oe tes outbreak of the war he was made Colonel of the Filton United States infautry, and soon after be | came a brigadier general of volunteers. He directed the siege works before Yorktown, and for his services on tne Chicka- hominy Was appointed Major General of Vol- upteers and alterward Brigadier General in the regular army. He led the retreat of the Army of the Potomac when General McCiellan { moved trom Harrison’s Landing, and was tempo rarilv attached to General Pope's command aur. apg the battles which were fought between the Rappabannock and Washington. General rome found great fault with nis feeniauct while under bis command, and made nis censure the subdject of a portion of his official report, and preterred charges against bim. General Porter was, ag. result of this, removed trom his command; but, ti b the intervention of Generai McClellan, Was alter- | ward restored. He then sook part in the Mary- land campaign, and was in command of the re- serves at the pattle of Antietam. He was tried ; by court martial on the charges preferred inst him by General vope, and, on January 21, was cashiered irom the army. Since his forced retire- ment from the service General Porter has and 1s now, 8 resident of New Jersey. Gener: Porter 1s a democrat 10 poutics, MR. VAN NORT'S EXHIBIT. The following is an exhibit of the working of the Department of Puolic Works for the three years Curing which Mr. jo Nort has been in office:— | ‘The expenditures of the Department of Public Works | are divided into three classes :—~ Piret—| enditures met by general taxation; for the | ma inten @ of the Crotod Aqueduct, reser’ | pipes, street pavements roadways, sewers, public bakd: | ings, for lighting the city with gaa for salaries of em- 10 for furnishing and cleaning public offices, free outing bath it | c. |“ Second—Expenditures met by the issue of ‘col ate it | ponds. and tor which the city is reimbursed by the | lection of assessments, for grading, paving, curbing, tering, flagging, sewering and otherwise ump | streets, roads and avenues, | for the ex: | system, improvement and alterations of the aqui irticuon of storage reservoirs and reconstruction old sewers, ‘The expenditures on taxation account during the | past tnroe years were as follows:— n 1872, | in 1873. 3 | in 1874, “exciusive ‘ot cor | poses and lighting Tw and Twenty fourth war Total for three years. pen No comparison can je “with the expe: in 1869 and 1870; during part, of which the works now | under the control of this Department were under the | charge of the Street and Croton Aqueduct Departme: wu no official report trom the Street Depart- 186), to April 10, 1870, and froin January 1 to April 10, 1870. 176,193 1,681,787 Iu 1871 the expenditures trom taxation were.. $3, The reduction in 1872, as compare } with 1871 $1,312,798 | The reduc } mre reduction ‘ia 187 gt | The reduction in 1874 as compares | “With 1971, 1k ss wees vee 693,654 vo pe $4,707,068 $2,875,705. 4,464,572 4,681,443 Total tor three year sie The expendivures one saat his account in 1871 were Reduction tn 1872, compared with 1871, : 13,726 | Reauction ‘in’ "1873, “as ' co npar | wath 1371, | Reduction | | n with Is71... ‘Total reduction in three years. $4,995,508 | The ceruficates ot the cost of completed im- rovements transmitted by the Department fo°tite ‘Board of Assessura during the three years, and now in preparation for transmni n, amount to... $95,817 following isa sumimary of the ‘amount of work reet improvem nts during the past three +o miles of streets regulated and graded, 243% curbed and guttered, 49 miles of silewalka flagged, 22 an 2 miles of stre ved with stone blovks, 11 miles of lelford Macadam roadways constructed, miles of sewers built. 10 miles of underground drains, | 16-10 miles of culverts built and 3i1 recetving basims com | TUG RPENDITURES ON ACCOUNT OF THE FUNDED DER r ~ $1,699,612 + AS04311 1,999,397 Total for three years. | Bxppnaitiren om asd S71... | Reduction in 1872's comparea with 1. a 91, 137,857 | Reduction in 1873 as compared with i «se 1,883,157 aa tion in 1874 as: | Ie | Reauet | A671. | Total reduction in three years. «84,500,084 | Under this head the following been done | since January 1, 1872:— | Completing and bringing tnto use the s| 6 voir at Boyd's Corners, of « capacity of & "0000 allons. * Completing and bringing into use the high setvice tower and reservoir at Carmausville, and laying mains irom | the same to the north tend of the isiand, to Yorkvill and to Murray Hill, Purchasing the land for the dam: of @ new storage res- ervoir ou the middle Dranch ot the Croton iver, te 001.000 gallons, And making plans estimasee and specifications tor the whole work, which ‘was let by contract on the 28th of October Last. In connection with the alterations of the aqueduct on | Tenth avenue there were 2,785 pieces ot 48-inch ceived at the yard, tested and delivered on the $2,000 Lineal leet of #5-1nch pipe laid, 39, foundation and protection walls buult, 90,000 of earth filled in, 10,000 lineal feet of sowers built, [2 seta of iron gates tor 4¥-inch pipe set, Ind purchased for gate houses at Ninety-second street and 118th street, and ate houses partly constructed, The water was let into the pipes on the 18th of Decem- ver last. ‘The city will be reimbureed for part of the expenses of this wors by the (ee of onem: urses the and now may be retmb' pied by the aqueduct, and | through logislation authorizing an assossment joining property tor that part of the work which appet tains to the regulating and grading of Tenth eyenue, between Ninety-second and 115ta streets; also ot Ninety- second street, between Ninth and lenth ues. The land to be sold embraces about soventy buliding lots, vaiued at $4,0U0 each, making | atoial of. .:. Sak $280, The assessment for grading and sewert sak | pe about. 700,000 | Making the reimbursement to the city....... | REVENUE COLLECTED BY THE DEPARTMENT, | From Croton water rent, and ta) | ping pipes in 1872. From Croton wate | Ping pipes in 18; |. Total for three Amount collected yea ears. ears. sry uring the’ preceding three ‘5,572,678 Increase of revenue for three years. | From vault and sewer permits, sal material, &c., 187 From vault, and 89 material, &c., in 1873. | From vault and sewer material, &c., in 1874. | | Total for three yei woke rslevecsveninecie | In 1871 the cost of collection of Croton water it, together with that turned over for collection to the Clerk of Ai rears, and the unexpenaed balances of appropriations returned to the general fund, may be considered as an offset to the expenuitures on account of the funded debt, and show the following result: the funded debt Expenditures on account of tor 1872, 1873 and 1874. -- $4905,927 Revenue trom Croton water. 157, 684 Revehue trom miscell: sources. 298,792 “Yferon property 1a07 jen.on property..:.-.. | unexbended balances of app: | “tions returned to the geuel fund... +s 327,600 pean Showing a surplus over the expenditures of the department on account of the funded | deot for three years of. . of the department, rot the ie rtment to the City Hail, amouny ing to $80,000 annually, formerly paid for office rent. The removal took place May 1st, 1873, and the saving to January Ist, 1875, amoants to $50 The reduction In the expenditures of the aepartment, and the { ein revenue collected, during the past three pours aperee with the year LAT, toge' with the saving in office rent, may be summarized as tol- lows: Reduction in expenditures from taxation $4,787,060 Reduction im expenditures trom + bonds: 4,997,566 Reducth 4.509.086 Increase in revenue irom Croton water. 7 Saving in office rent... INVESTIGATING GREEN. THE ALDERMANIC COMMITTER ADJOURN OVER TO THIS AFTERNOON, Owing to the storm yesterday several of the | Most important witnesses who had been sum- | moned to testify before the special Aldermanfe | committee as to what they knew about the mis- conduct of Green Comptroiler were unable te attend the session of the committee, Mr. A. Vakey Hall, who had been subpoenaed among others, appeared, but * as excused until a | a8 he had to attend io @ case in the Court of Com- | mon Pleas. Mr. Walei, who was also present, | Stated that he would submit-his written evidence | (under oath) Which Was taken at the last session of the committee when the committee had ne official sienographer to take down the testimony. ‘The names of Mr. Van Nort and Mr. Joho Wheeler were called but there was no response. Aa mes senger was sent for Mr. Van Nort, who sent back word that ne was very busy but would appear in half an hour's time. A telegram was received from Mr. Haskin, another witness, taat he was detained at White PI It being evident to the tuat the Witnesses could not betgot an adjournment was taken until to- General Porter's surety will be August Belmont | day at hatl-past one o'clock, | the office o1 Health Inspector will be given only to | OF Edward Cooper. | THE NEW COMMISSIONER. | qe new Commissioner, General Fitz John Por- | He graduated | Patrick's Day have been completed by tne Irish ter, 18 a native of New Hampsiire. at West Point in 1845, when he received a brevet In the war with Mexico he so distinguished himself in several battles by his bravery, that he was bre. that war ne became assistant instructor of artillery at caught, | West Point. In 1853 he was made Adjutant of the | Friendly Sons of Ireland will hold banquets in the 4 Post, and in 1854 was assistant instructor ot cay- second lleutenancy in the Fourth artillery. veted captain, and afterward major. After | ST. PATRICK'S DAY IN NEW JERSEY. | The arrangements for the celebration of St, societies of Jersey City, Hoboken and other parts of Hudson county. Twenty-six socteties wiil be represented. Thomas Lynoco will be Granda Mare shal, Wilham Farrell First Ald, and James Mo Cormack Second Ald. An invitation bas been ex. tended to the Emerald Zouaves to joip in the pro- cess and the right of the line will be extended | to them, The Knights of St. Patrick | evening.