The New York Herald Newspaper, September 18, 1875, Page 5

“WOGALAKA TONKA —_ +—__—_ Incidents of a Ride Through the Indian Country. SPOTTED TAIL’S TEPEE. Mysteries of the Toilet of a Na- kotah Princess, DELAY OF THE NEGOTIATIONS Rep CLoup Lypran AGency, Nebraska, Sept.’ 10, 1875, Early on Tuesday morning I left the White River bottom and rode along the white clay banks toward Spotted Tail’s hamlet, From a distance it had quite an imposing aspect. In the centre was the largest tepee, which was very tall and covered with white can- vas, The other tepees were smailer, and one of them was shaped like a dome. I rode to the principal struc- ture, A tall, painted chief, with a saturnine face, whom I recognized as the Lodge, saluted us, and we entered the tepee of Sintigaliska, It is the finest in the Sioux nation and its interior furniture may, from @ barbarian point of view, be called luxurious. Soft robes were spread upon the ground as divans, or sitting mats, and the walls were decorated with trinkets and arms of Indian manufacture, the fur and horns of animals and several well-dried scalps, Crazy im the Lodge invited us to be seated, and my companion Opened a conversation with him in the sign language, interspersed with a few words of Dakota’ While we were thus engaged a comely squaw, in one side of the tepee, was making her morning toilet, with the assist- ance of an inferior female, who seemed toactas a handmaiden. While I am fully aware that my fair Caucasian readers are dying with curiosity to learn the details of the ceremony, I modestly refrain from pre- Genting the picture, After the rites were concluded MRS. BPOTTED TAIL NO. 4, the youngest and most beautiful of the great chief's consorts—for it was she—had a much heightened com- plexion, thickly decorated with vermilion and yellow ochre. A shawl of rich colors and really fine material enveloped her graceful form from her shoulders to her Prettily beaded mocassins, that encased small and shapely fect. Under this she was attired in a dark blue gown, bordered with soft fur of the beaver, and her waist was clasped by a glistening girdle of wampum, from which hung several trinkets of very fine workmanship. Her neck was encircled by a heavy string of imitated pearls, and the same orna- ments were appended to her ears, Her hair was parted accurately in the middle of her forehead, and the ex- posed portion of her scalp was colored a deep scarlet, after the manner of all the Nakotah belles, “It hung in two long jet black queues, which were wound round and round with bright red ribbon, Her whole array must have ‘cost her noble lord several of the finest ponies of his herd. Her face is moulded to a type of gentleness, although lacking intelligent expression. At the mention of the name of Sintigaliska she seemed (nterested and said a word or two. (AN ANTIQUATED BEGGAR. We informed Crazy in the Lodge that we had come from Ke-sapa, but had brought no meza-si with us. At this he shrugged bis shoulders and adjusted his blanket about him with an air of diplomatic doubting. He informed us that many lodges were gathered on the Shadron Creek, and that Spotted Tail had ridden over westward in the morning before our arrival. After I had mounted my horse to depart Crazy in the Lodge took my gun from my hand, and, after receiving an ex- planation of how to place the cartridge and how to cock it, fired a shot, supporting the cold butt against his bare shoulder. Black Hawk, a half naked and grimy old brave, came up and shook hands, with the impressive manner of a Turveydrop. He went to his tepee and brought out his credentials, which he presented to me with an expectant gleam in his eyes. After perusing the statement that he was a good Indian chief, and had promised to always live friendly with the whites and not to leave his reserva- tion, I returned them to him, merely saying, Good!” His face became clouded, and he exclaime “Give! How much !” “Bahret,” and I shook my head. Black Hawk strode off on his naked and spindling pedestals with as much dignity as they were capable of sustaining. THE WOGALAKA TONKA. Before reaching Shadron Creek, where, according to Spotted Tail’s peremptory desire, the Council was to be held, galloping along the dusty road toward Red Cloud, we encounterea many Indians mounted on ponies and armed. Their costumes were brilliant and varied, and #t a distance, as they carcered across the bleached plains with their bright mantles wrapt about them, they looked like the warriors of the Eastern deserts, A gesture of the rignt hand elevated above the head would attract the attention of a horseman, and he would draw near, saluting us with, “Ah/ cola! how!” With a mixture of signs and words quite an intel- ligible conversation could be conducted; but it was for a long time difficult to obtain any information about the wogalaka touka, the great Council. Most of the braves whom we met indicated that there would be a mighty gathering on Shadron Creek, ‘they were either Brules or were from the agencies on the Missouri, and having just come in and camped on Bordeaux Creek, near the old Spotted Tail Agency, were, as I afterward ascer- tained, partisans of Spotted Tail in favor of holding the big talk on the Shadron, The White Hills, bearing a short, brown species of grass, were for miles covered by herds of parti-colored ponies, and small Indian villages dotted the valleys, giving the landscape an en. livened and variegated aspect, © Where the Toad sweeps around a hill, we looked upon a city of white lodges, swarming with savage life, and on the surrounding ridges unarmed horsemen were herding thousands of ponies. The white man who should visit the valley of the White River now, while the bands are gathering in black multitudes from the remote corners of their country, would conceive no mean idea of THE POWER OF THE SIOUX. Their actual force is unknown until it is brought into hostile action, but then it would be in their own figura- tive speech, “like the blades of the grass,” They pos- ‘sess an immense number of ponies and many American horses, The Commissioners have expressed to me, since Ihavo been here, their concurrence in General Crook's opinion that the Sioux will have to be whipped before any faith can be placed in their remaining peace- able, and observation is gradually creating in my mind confirmatory conviction, A Dakota boy, who was seated ona horse on the summit of a hill, hailed us and came charging down ‘upon us in the true warlike style, bending nearly to the ground as he sped along, his form swaying like a willow wand in the gale. He evidently wanted tosbow the skill he was acquiring in riding as his fathers had ridden upon the enemy, and laughing with youthful braggadocio, approached with a boldness ‘unusual in those youngmen who have not yet taken their first scalp. My companion told the youth that he was a Crow chief, at which he again laughed, and shouted to another Indian boy on the top of the hil “Wasicu henagi congi wichasha alo!” (“Here is a white man who says he is a Crow!”’) They both Jaughed, “and our and cantered away at full speed, eidents that we encountered it would be im- Possible to relate. An apparition with long, sablo heir, wrapped in a long blanket of red, yel- Jow, white or blue, circled with a well loaded belt, and armed with gun, pistol and knife, would frequently soud by us, like a fleeting cloud, until we chose to sig- nal a halt and hold a talk, Most of them vaunted that they were chiefs, and seemed in excellent humor. Hi Eagle greeted me with friendliness from a remembrance ofa former meeting. An advantageous trade was made with a young chief, of a knife in a leather sheath for one encased in buckskin, covered and gargeously ornamented with beads, An aged chief, riding with his daughters, who were mounted on miniature piebald ponies, claimed acquaintance und talked garrulouslye He said that in twenty-two days he would go out agatnst the Crows, Lone Horn, of the Oukapee Ogallalas, hud lately been killed by the latter, with six of his braves* He feit a burning thirst for vengeance, AN INDIAN DEPREDATION, ‘When we reached Shadron Creek no lodges were to Devecn. Beyond that wo met an Indian, who in- interloper turned All the in- NEW YORK HERALD, SATURDAY, SHEPTEMBK formed us that the Commissioners wore still at the Red Cloud Agency. At an old deserted ranch on Ash Creek we stopped to rest and quaif some hot coflee. Startinfy again we were overtaken by an Indian, who was perfectly naked and painted in a very pecuhar manner. He was covered by black stripes, crescent in form, and rode a pony with nothing but a lariat and a black blankeson him, This pony, he said, had be- longed to a relative who had recently been killed in an encounter with soldiers. The animal had been cap- tured and he had made # vow to recover it As was riding along in our com- pany it suddenly flashed upon me tnat there was a singular resemblance between this pony and my own, which I had left in charge of Williams, our guide, to lead forward to the end of the journey, I satisfled myself that it was really my property and then came to the mental query of what was to be done. This Indian told a tragic story of his wrongs. He probably belonged to one of the wild bands of the North so feared by the whites, I was unwilling to submit to his claim without protest and was puzzled to accopnt for his having induced Williams to relinquish the horse, I had purchased it in the Black Hills, knew it to have been previously procured from the Indians and feared that the naked warrior, who said that he had many young men in his band, might have told the truth and contemplated not only reclamation, but vengeance, After much gesticulating he appeared exceedingly wroth and finally turned to ride back whence he had come. Williams was at least a mile in the rear, The Indian sped away amid a cloud of dust. My heart sank within me with the certainty that a Sioux had actually committed a depredation upon a corre- spondent of the New York Hsraup. Our surprise and amusement a few minutes later at our miscomprehen- sion of the Indian, when, looking back, we saw Will- jams still leading a pony, were extreme. When he ap- proached and joined us the joke became apparent. The naked warrior had desired to give me his own pony for mine, which was much inferior, a transaction that I would heartily have approved. He considered that Williams was the owner, and on learning of my claim concocted a lie about the killing of his relative, for whom he was mourning. When he had ridden back to Williams he had remounted his own pony and sur- rendered mine, ‘THE COMMISSION EMBARRASSED, Near Crow Buttes we met Major Howard, agent for the Brules, on his way to bring the Indians in his charge to the Red Cloud Agency, for the holding of the Council in its vicinity. You have already learned by telegraph of the fecling of Spotted Tail against going so far from his agency to meet the Commissioners, It has delayed the opening of the actual negotiations fully a week... According to rumor this has been brought about in a secret way by Major Howard, who, it is said, has nursed the petty jealousy of the more numerous neighboring band that troubles Spotted Tail’s breast. Major Howard on Tuesday received positive orders from the Commissioners to in- duce his people to meet them at Crow Buttes, six miles from this agency. On my arrival here I immediately sought the opinions of the Commissioners on the issue of the negotiations and found them much embarrassed by the unexpected stub- bornness of Spotted Tail. They reached this agency on September 4 and have since been endeavoring to com- plete the preliminary arrangements of the Waka Tonka as quickly as possible. They have made but slow pro- gress, The Indian is mentally very inert and has little idea of organization. On Wednesday a council was held, at which Red Cloud, Two Strike, Two Bear, Blue Horse, Yellow Breast, Rock, Red Dog and others were present. The only question considered was the place of pitching the great Council lodge, and it was finally and definitely decided that it should be at the Crow Buttes. Red Cloud made an impressive and manly specch, assuring the Commissioner$ that he would look after their safety. Red Dog visits the commission most frequently and talks the most. He is an able Indian, but impairs his usefulness and import- ance by garrulity. Man Afraid of His Horses the elder, with his son, the present hereditary chief, was also present and gave expression to much good-will toward the government, THE NORTHERN CHIEFS. The Sioux have very recently had a practical evidence of their utter dependence upon the Tonkasila, or the Great Father, impressed upon them. Eighty of the Sioux and Cheyennes travelled about 250 miles to the north under Young Man Afraid of His Horses, and accompanied by Louis Richards, to visit their Minneconjou cousins in the Powder River country and to ask them to help in the treaty deliberations, They found no game what- ever in their route, and on their return march the Com- missioners were obliged to forward to them a supply of beef, as they were unable to obtain any wild meat by the chase. Louis found the northern band on Rosebud Creek, east of the Big Horn Mountains, (the Kishkah- Rha.) Here he encountered Crazy Horse, an mveterate wild chief, who has always Tefused to consent to any treaty-making with the pale faces, Crazy Horse has an ancient hatred for Louis Richards, and, at this meeting, threatened to kill him, Man Afraid of His Horses, however, assured Crazy Horse that if there was to be any killing he would be there and would avenge it, Lonis undoubtedly owed to this speech the preservation of his life. The result of the visit to Rosebud Creek is the accession of 200 lodges ot Minneconjous to the council under Lone Horn of the North. The number representing each of the various bands and tribes which will be gathered here cannot yet be accurately stated. Arapahoes encamped at the agency number about 1,500, Eight thousand Yanck- tons, Yancktonais, Lower Brules, Ohenopas, Rawboxas, Sans Arcs, Saulees and Cheyennes are now in the neighborhood of Bordeaux Creck and will move wherever Spotted Tail goes with his councilmen, Crazy Horso and Black Twin have refused to come to the Council, but Little Big Man, who shares the authority of chief in his band with Crazy Horse, has arrived here with many of his warriors, Crazy Horse empowered him to represent him in the negotiations, Sitting Bull of the North, one of the most dreaded of the chiefs of the wild Indians, has said that he will concur in any treaty made by the other chiefs of the Sioux, but added that he might per- haps come in*to the Council “when the leaves begin to fall”? He did not care about treating with the whites, He only desired to be let alone by them and he in return would let them alono, INSTRUCTIONS TO THE COMMIS- SIONERS. Wasurxorox, Sept. 17, 1875. The following is the letter of instragtions issued by the Indian Commissioner to the members of the com- mission to negotiate with the Sioux concerning the ces- sion of the Black Hills:— LETTER OP COMMISSIONER SyxITH. DEPARTMENT OF Tum INTERIOR, Orrice ov INDIAN AvVAIRS, Wasuntyeron, D. C., June 18, 1875. GxextLEMEN—You have been appointed by the honor- able Secretary of the Interior, under the direction of the President, as members of the commission to negotiate with the Sioux Indians relative to the procurement of a cession by them of such portion of that country known as the Black Hills, between the North and South forks of the Big Cheyenne, as the President may de- termine to be desirable for the government to purchase for mining purposes, and a re- linquishment of their rights to that portion of Wyoming known as the Big Horn Mountains and lying west ofaline running from the point where the Ni- brara River crosses the east line of Wyoming to the Tongue River (said line to keep distant on the east not less than fifty miles from each of the forts formerly known as Reno dnd Kearney), and also of the necessary Li Vd way through their country to reach the country ceded, By reference to the treaty of 1868, made with these Indians, sections 2and 16° * * * you will be in- formed asto the nature and extent of the respective claims of the Sioux to these tracts of country. That jortion of the Black Hills country which lies within the undaries of Dakota is without disput: wt of their ermanent reservation, The country mentioned in yoming, ag described in the sixteenth section of the treaty above referred to, is a portion of “unceded terri- tory.” To this the Indians have no claim, except for huating purposes and the exclusion of other people. By reference to a map of this country, enclosed here- with, you will observe that the cession of the Black Hills and the relinquishment of the Big Horn country leaves a considerable tract between these two cession’ still within the claim of the Indians, as defined in the xth section, This region, especially along the Powder River, is known as the Sioux hunting ground for buffalo, and is intended still to be preserved to them for that purpose, a passage to it being still lef open on the north of the North Fork of the Cheyenne, as well as on the south of the South Fork. The Sioux, who are parties to the treaty of 1868, by which the rights involved in this negotiation were as- sured to them, are now found at six different agencies— Sante, Crow 'Creck, Cheyenne River, Standing Rock, Red Cloud and Spotted Tail. They number not far from 85,000. There are also probably not far from 3,000 to 6,000 who roam over the Black Hills country and to tho north and west of it, who have not been enrolled at any agency and who were only indirectly represented at the making of the treaty of 1868, It is deomed necessary, in order to dring this matter tairly before the large body of Indiana in terested. that @ postion of the Commissioners shall visit them at their respective agencies and procure such interviews as ay be possible with the roamin, Indians, and lay definitely before them all the wishes 0! the government, and their own necessities and inter- ests as involved in the question of the desired cession, and invite the Indians at their agencies to send representative men to & general council, to be held at as early a day as practicable * * * which general council all the members of the commission are expected to attend. In negotiating with these ignorant and almost helpless people you will keep in mind the fact that you represent them and their in- terests not less than those of the government, and are commissioned to secure the best interests of both parties so far as practicable. Great care should be taken in your interviews not only to secure proper and exact interpretations of the communications passing between you, but also to satisfy the Indians that their words are fairly conveyed in English. Rev. S$. D. Hinman, a member of your commission, is en- tirely competent to give an exact rendering both of the English and of the Sioux. I will be well, also, in every case to employ the services of such an interpreter as the Indians may select, 60 as to secure between the ser- vices of the two not only exactness, but the entire con- fidence of the Indians. In presenting this subject to the Indians they should first of all be assured of the kindly intentions of the President and the government toward them ; they should, if possible, be made to understand that this effort on the part of the government to procure a portion of their country originated solely in adesire for the continuation of ace between them and the whites; that since the opinion that gold is to be found in the Black Hills has prevailed among the people it has been almost impossible to prevent white persons from entering their country, and that there is no little dan- ger that, spite of all efforts to the contrary, some evil disposed persons will break through the line and that conilict and blood will ensue, ASSURANCKS TO THR INDIANS, You will assure the Indians that it is not the wish of the government to take from them any of their prop- erty or rights without returning a fair equivalent thero- for, and that you have come, representing their Great Father, to fix upon an equivalent, which shall be just both to them and to the white people. You will be careful in your negotiations to keep constantly impressed upon the minds of the Indians that any agreement en- tered into at the Council is to be brought back to the President and by him to be submitted to Congress for consideration by that body, and that until the contract has received the approval of Congress it cannot be binding upon either party. Respecting the right of way, this should be left to the discretion of the President, as to the routes to be selected and as to any restrictions to be imposed upon parties using the routes, ‘The attention of the commission is invited to the tenth article of the Treaty of 1868, in which provision is made for an hg ge for clothing and other ben- eficial purposes for the Sioux for thirty years from the date of the treaty, and also for subsistence of meat and flour for a period of four years, This latter provision has expired by treaty limitation, leaving the Sioux nation lependent for the necessaries of life upon the annual charity of Congress, The Pateyipey tor the last_ few years for this purpose of subsistence varies trom $1,200,000 to $1,500,000 annu- ally, and if it should be demed by Congress in any of the annual appropriation bills these Indians must be lett to great hardships and to hunger, verging upon starvation, unless they attempt’ to sup- ply their wants by marauding upon the settlers, which attempt would inevitably lead to a con- flict with the military. ‘This ditference as to the length of time in which provision is made in their treaty for clothing and subsistence had not been well understood by them until the late visits of the delegations to this city, when they were assured of the facts by the Presi- dent, and seem to accept them as such, THE BEST INTERESTS of these Indians will require that any compensation made to them shall include this provision for subsist- ence in some form, and that in no case should it take the form of acash annuity, but, so far as it shall be possible to gain their consent, shall be left in the dis- cretion of the President to be used for their comfort and civilization and the education of their children; and they should agree in accepting this provision to allow their children to educated. The safest investment of any funds for them will be in United States coupon bonds, ‘The outlook for the tribe is by no means encouraging. ‘They cannot live by the chase; they cannot be sup- ported in idleness by the government, They must be- gin at once to learn to live by herding or by agriculture or both, For this and the education of their children they need help, and whatever expenditures the govern- ment makes in their behalf inthe {uture will be for their benefit just in proportion as the mode of its appli- cation corresponds with their actual necessities. The Commission will make a full report of their doings and the results of their negotiations with the Indians, and submit, for the consideration of the department, such recommendations upon the subject treated by them as they may deem best, Hon. W. B. Allison has been selected as chairman of the Commission and J, S. Collins has been appointed as secretary. Messrs. Herriman, Comingo and Ashley have been requested to undertake the preliminary work of visiting the Indians at their respective agencies, in order to lay the matter of the negotiation before them, and invite them to send delegates to the Grand Coun: cil, * Such members of the Commission as are under pay in other service of the government will be entitled to receive their necessary and actual travelling expenses. Other members will receive in addition to the above & compensation of $8 per diem, while actually on duty. Your attention is called to circular lotter of the honor- able Second Comptroller, of February 26, 1875, and departrhent circular of July 19, 1874, for information as to requirements in settling your account for expenses, Very respectfully, your obedient servant, EDW. F, SMITH, Commissioner. Hon. W. B, Auuisox, Dubuque, lowa; Bishop E, R, Ames and others. THE NEW POST OFFICE. inet Raping! STAMPS AND STAMP BUYERS—A SCENE AT THE STAMP WINDOW. It is appropriate to say that in the sale of national postage stamps in this city, ‘There's millions in it,” Not, however, for the few obliging storekeepers who retail the stamps, but for the National Uncle, who alone is in the wholesale business, and who won’t have any profit made out of him in this one particular item. Ten thousand dollars a day are received by the cashier of the new Post Office for stamps. This handsome sum includes stamps for both newspapers and letters. There are five windows for the sale of stamps for any amount under a dollar, and the average receipts daily at these windows are $1,500, The sale of three cent stamps is about three times greater than that of either one cent or two cent stamps. Like all other venerable institutions, landmarks of a past time, the old, dingy buildiug on the hill in Nassau street had many familiar peculiarities which New Yorkers miss in the new edifice. So much has been said of pie in connection with the Post Office that it is better here not to touch upon that whilom fruitful matter, The loss of the pie corner has deprived the new office of one of the oddities of the old brick rookery. Without the pie the boys could not congregate in the after- noon, and hence there are marksabsent in the new pilo which were never to be missed in former times. Again, there is lots of room around the windows for any num- ber of people on business bent, and a dozon men might wait around each of the five stamp windows with- out attracting, any notice, everything surrounding being of such immense proportions, In the old$Nassau street pile it was really exhilarating to stand in line waiting for your turn to buy stamps, It ‘was a democratic proceeding and a red shirt thought no more of elbowing you out of his way and into your own position in line than did the little urchin next you of treading on your toes and begging your pardon with a wink at his depraved young comrade. A ‘swell? was made to feel that his *‘make up” could not carry him through in that particular place nor cogld a fancy clerk effect the tmposition which ‘nice’? clothes sometimes succeed in accomplishing in many “locations in life.’ “Stand in line”? was the order, and he who chose not to obey it had to stand aside. But there has been a revo- lution. A Hera.p reporter yesterday asked one of the hard worked clerks if the “authorities” (meaning the gentlemen with good salaries, who therefore are always anxious to keep down other people)—if there was any talk of “lopping’’ off some of the clerks’ monthly income, and the young man seemed somewhat puzzled at the question, but when it was explained to him that there was some use in having such gorgeous desks and splendid carpets and all that, he said, “There might have been a chance against us, but, you see, we were on the qui vive—we started the ventilation grievance. But all these grand and splendid appurtenances make the new Post Office an entirely brand-new affair, and things are not as they used tobe Everything is eminently nice and neat, The “young fellow,” with the red shirt jouch hat; the modest, retiring, middle-aged clerk; the gray-headed old man, the dozens of young men Out of situations, the singularly-habited foreign- looking biped, who {s surely hatching somo ‘skin’? game; the nervous-looking chap, whose eyes are wan- dering around under the steady gaze of the magnifi- cently-attired and diamond-pinned detective—all form in line now with @ subdued air, as if each was conscious that “old umes ‘wero gone’ | and that all were expected to be very mueh on their good bebavior, The lines leading to the stamp windows | at the busy hours have quite a funereal aspect, not quite as bad as if they were answering the invitation to take a farewell look at the face of the Secretary on the stamp, but something in that sort of style—nothing that is likely to be permanent, but a etaral kind albovetisd- | ness, which is felt by some people when they put on a “ttle” for the first time. The young scapegraces, who have more brains now than they are likely to have as men, have had their day. The most impetuous of these urchins dare not now vonture to do more than make faces at objectionable people. They behave them- selves with a praiseworthy amount of patience in not taking without ceremony other people’s places. There can be nothing said of them except what redounds to their credit in the new building. They are sufficiently impressed with the proportions of the vast edifice, DIOCESAN CONVENTION. Tho Protestant Episcopal annual Diocesan Conven- tion will assemble in St John’s chapel, Varick strect, on Wednesday, September 29, at ten A. M. The regu- lar morning service will be conducted by Bishop Pot- ter. The business of the Convention, which has accu- mulated during the jt year, embraces a variety of subjecta, Reports will be presented from the standin committees of the accounts of the General Theological Seminary, the diocesan fund, the episcopal fund and the fund for aged and infirm, Bishop Potter will de- Jiyer phe annual addrosa, OUR FERRIES. The Birth and Growth of the System. OLD LAWS AND STATUTES. The Ancient Fight Between New York and Brooklyn—Singular Reprisals—Compar- isons of the Old and the New, ‘The passage by the ferry from New York to Brooklyn, now @ matter of a few minutes, was at one time accom- panied by no small amount of danger. Two hundred years ago people hesitated before hazarding the passage, and would bid goodby to friends before taking a trip on the cranky and ill begotten boat which alone made | da: the daily traffic between the town of New Amsterdam and the Long Island shore, Accidents and deaths were not infrequent, and one case at least is still recorded of a trip by the regular ferryboat, as early as the winter of | 1695, when the boat and the passengers were carried down the river and were never heard of more; probably taken out to sea by the ice drift and perishing, unable to return, With such chances in store it may well be understood that the more prudent among the honest Dutchmen who then owned Manhattan Island did not hanker after froquent excur- sions across the river, It is indeed shown in the earlier records that the travel was excessively small and hardly enough to support a profitable company. And yet’ on this subject of ferries arose some of the earliest disputes of the colonies, and some of those mooted points which even now have not been settled to the entire satisfaction of our sister city. THE FIRST REGULAR FERRY. It is a somewhat singular fact, though natural enough when looked at sensibly, that the first ferry ever estab- lished was from a point now known as Peck Slip to what is now the foot of Fulton street, Brooklyn, It was no doubt soon recognized that, taking into consideration the tides, and the proximity of the two shores at this point, the venture would be best made here, At this period of our city one Dircsen leased the ferry from the municipality of New Amsterdam. In the two hun- dred years which have since intervened, and spite of all the changes which have taken place, this still remained the most popular ferry, and, no doubt, {t has had its effect on the population of both cities, Tho traffic from Long Island was then exclusively that of farmers who came to the town to sell their produce. New York was then the market, as itis now, Farms existed on what is now Columbia Height’, but there was no market there, and New Amsterdam, with its popula- tion of phlegmatic Dutchmen, was the only commercial mart for the products of nature or for anything else. But somehow or other the ferry was a constant subject of dispute. The revenue derived trom it was enough, at one time, to support the whole municipal council of New Amsterdam, It was not until long afterward that other ferries were sought to be established and incorpor- ated, and, therefore, it was a close monopoly very much as it is to-day. THE FIRST PERRYMAN, The person we have any record of as being interested ina ferry was Cornelius Dircsen, who, n 1642, kept a small one near Peck slip, where he owned a farm, also being the possessor of a farm on the Long Island shore, about what is now tho foot of Fulton street. By thus possessing the two points on the river nearest to each other, at a time when crossing was a matter of difll- culty, it is probable that Dircsen’s ferry became the most notable, though being at the time some distance outside of the city limits, The price charged by Dircsen for a passage across tho river seems to havo been a quarter guilder, where now wo pay one cent during cer- tain hours of the day, Diresen sold the ferry to H. Wilhelm Hamasen for 2,300 guilders, and tho latter ran it on'the same principle as the former ownor and at tho same price, but with a gradual increase of business. In 1652 travel had increased so much that the burgo- masters asked Governor Stuyvesant to grant them a ferry franchise, saying it would be of material benefit to the city. Governor Stuyvesant, however, peremp- torily refus#%p and there the matter appears to have dropped, and Hamasen retained his rights, He had no peculiar privilege, however, and a great deal of competition existed against him. One of the ferries started from what is now Whitehall over to the por- tion of the island opposite the lower end of tho city. This ferry was not a popular one, because of the danger of the boat upsetting constantly in summer, drowning its oceupants, and in winter taking involun- tary excursions out to sea Still there was compet- tion and continual squabbles caused the first ordinance tobe passed regulating ferry traffic. It ordered the fees to be paid, and the fines tobe incurred unless a license were obtained, In 1665, Egbert Von Barsum leased the ferry from Governor Stuyvesant at 300 guilders per year, and one of the conditions of his lease was that he’ should build a ferry house on the Long Island shore. He went on holding the privilege, and charging the same rate of fare until 1673, when he was allowed fifty guilders by the Governor for public services rendered. VERRIES UNDER THE DUTCH. During the continuance of the Dutch government, however, though the ferry was to some extent regu- lated by ordinances of the muncipality, the city of New Amsterdam never held this ferry as a municipal right and franchise, The portly burgomasters, who would at times take their wives and children across to Long Island for a Sunday in the country, always watched the ferry with eyes of envy, and many were the attempts they made to become ed of it. But the owners of the ferry appear to had the ear of the Governor and the ferry still remained a private property. Tho traffic was constantly increasing and Van Barsum seems to have become quite wealthy by it. Ho on several occasions refused, while his men were engaged, to per- sonally ferry any one over, “feeling it benvath his dignity.” ‘Shoruy after the city fell into the hands of the Eng- lish forces, was retaken and finally exchanged for the islands of Demerara and Curacoa, ‘In the meantime the ferry passed through various hands until 1674, when it was leased by ©. Dyre at £108 English per year. Governor Dongun arrived here in 1683, and this opened an important era in the history of the ferry rights He immediately assumed authority, but exer- cised {t in the mildest possible way. Ho began by granting a charter to the city, giving many rights and rivileges, but in which no mention was made of the ferry. Eimboldened by their success, the Common Council petitioned the Governor for more privileges, and, among other things, demanded a ferry franchise and all vacant lands in Long Island, from low water to high water mark, “for the pur- of the proper establishment of a ferry between said city and Long Island which shull hereafter be appointed.” Governor Dongan, in his reply to tho Common Council, expresses surprise that, after having granted s0 many valuable privileges to the city, ho should be asked for any more. Yet, still he granted what they asked, on the condition that two boats be constantly kept on each side of the river for passengers and one for cattle. This Dongan charter, granting to New York the lands below high water mark on the Long Island shore, has been a source of ‘constant dis- pute and litigation ever since, At the time it was granted Brookiyn rebelled against it and the inhabitants assorted their rights by ferrying themselves across, and to that extent that John Arensen, who owned the ferry, failed, owing to the number of independent boats that were ron. fn another way Long Island endeavored to have some voice in the ferry matter, by passing an ordi- nance prohibiting negroes from crossing the river on the Sabbath, Thie was done in consequence of several rows that occurred. But the fight between the two sides of tho river went on. In 1709 we find that one Cornelius Lehring, a farmer, petitioned for permission to establish a new ferry from some polut between the old ferry and Red Hook to the centre of the city of New York. Over this the Common Council got terri- bly alarmed, and remonstrated against the petition in the most pitiful language, reciting that the rental of the ferries was the only Important revenue left to tho city for the maintenance of the public highways, jails, public buildings, landings, &c., bw | up by a State. ment that the demand of Cornelius Lebring was un- reasonable and unjust, The petition of the latter was thereupon thrown out, At this timo the ferry was rented at the annual rate of £200, but there were constant rows between the ferry and the Corporation. In 1727 the ferry wae sold at auction to Olaworth & Victualler fora term af five years at £258 per annum. In 1720 Brooklyn endeavored to run a ferry,and actually broke ground with the intention of putting up a ferry house; but the city of New York caused works to bo bailt on the low water land, obstructing the entrance to the ferry house, This caused a new squabble, and in 1780 tho Corporation of New York got a clear title, but George LI. refused wo sanction it. In 1732, however, the Colonial Assembly confirmed it, In 1745-6 Brooklyn had this decision broken in the English House of Par- liament, but it was stifled in the Privy Council, and ever since it has remained a patent right, RATES OP RENTAL. In 1737 William Cowell gota lease of the ferry for five years at £300 per year. In 1750 the rental per an- num was £455, in 1758 £650, in 1763 £800, and in 1768 it went down again to £650, where it remained for a long time, nobody being willing to give more. In 1774 the Corporation by official ordinance established three fer- ries—one from Coenties slip to the foot of Joralemon | street, Brooklyn; the second from Peck slip to Fulton street, and the third from the Fly Market to the samo locality. These three ferries remained the only ones for apertod of some forty years, and the traffic con- stantly increased. They were always held by one man, who took them on speculation. it always proved @ paying jpyestment and from the fact that the outlay | i 18, 1875.—TRIPLE- SHEET. for boats, paraphernalia, &c., was considerable, one man generally held them till he chose to give them up. ENTER ROBERT FULTON. ‘The year 1814 opened a new era for ferries, Up to this period the game old system of running the ferry by horse power had been in use, but in January of this year Robert Fulton and Claremont signed a lease for twenty- five years for a steam ferry across the most populous route, ‘The price agreed ypon was to be $4,000 for the first eighteen yeats and $4,500 for the following seven years, inauguration took place by the running of ‘the steam puryeom Nassau, It caused a genuine sensa- tion and added immensely to the travel across. But the other ferries continued to be run by the same old system, and in four years after we find that on the Red Hook ferry the horse which moved the boat, having arrived at ‘@ good old age, died, and that in consequence the ferry ‘was stopped for four days, the proprietors iu the mean- time looking around for a horse sufficiently lean and sufliciently old to do the work properly. SUBSEQUENT GROWTH. In 1821 Robert Fulton died and Cutting became the sole proprietor of the ferry, paying therefor the sum of $100,000, He ran it in connection with Henry E. Pierrepont until 1844, when the Union Ferry Company was first organized, bat this only took in what is now the Fulton ferry. In 1863, however, the company coalesced with what other ferries existed, and had no opposition, One cent was tried for some time as the rate of fare, but was not found to pay, and, obtaining a change in their charter, two cents became tho price, and is so still, with the exception of certain hours of the Y. So far as the old laws were concermmed as to tho right of the city to the ferries, they applied as well to tho North River as the East, and not until some years after the Nassau was first placed on the East River did they put any but the old one-horse boats on the North River passage. As to the other ferries on the East River, they ave been of gradual growth, and in accordance’ with the increase of the city in size and prosperity, but all dating subsequent to 1853. CUBA. WIDESPREAD DESIRE FOR PEACE—SPANIARDS AND CUBANS TIRED OF THE STRUGGLE— JOVELLAR'S INTENDED VISIT OFFICIALLY DE- ‘NIED. Havana, Sept. 9, 1875. "The great question to-day is whether wo shall have Peace or not, Both the rebel papers which run the blockade and reach Havana, Spaniards who live on the borders of the infected districts and the Spanish papers commence to whisper “paz,” “paz? for tired-out Cuba, The prayer offered up to Heaven in many a secret shrine, stronger and more fervent and vehement in view of the preparations made by both parties for the final struggle, cannot but find an echo in every feeling heart, Cuba needs peace and must have it, and soon—very soon, unless commercial and intelligent communities have an interest in her industrial and ag- ricultural destruction; and now, more than ever, is the time when friendly advice will be gladly and effectually received. The Spaniards are convinced to a man that the further display of military power is worse than useless—even criminal, The blanched and unburied bones of 50,000 old Spaniards, commingled with Cubans, Africans and Chinese, too truly attest the fact, Seven years of conflict and the destryction of one- half of the “Queen of the Antilles” is more than a sufficient atonement for the national crime of slavery. CONSUL GENERAL MALL CRITICISED. Several American cittzens of standing and monetary position have approached your correspondent with anxious inquiries as to the reason why our Consul Gen- eral, Mr. Hall, in leaving this city, had left his consulate and American interests in the care of Mr. Williams, form- erly a merchant of this place, thereby ignoring his consu- Jar clerks, appointed by the State Department, and Mr, Springer, who is the oldest employé in the office. It is supposed, however, there may be some diplomatic rea- son or authority for his so doing. If this be not the case Mr, Hall has committed a gross injustice, Sharkey did not leave on the Morsella. It is under- stood that unforeseen difficulties have arisen, He has no means of paying for past board and his passage money is not forthcoming. His Cuban friends once again fool- pal attempting to have him unconditionally released ere. Among those who have recently escaped from the “Ever-faithful Isle’ is the famous Trujillo, who is now accused of being the leader of a gang of robbers who hold Havana in terror, WAR NEWS. ‘The news from the seat of war is very meagre, the country papers being muzzled by the local governors. The few Impartial passengers coming through from the burned and daily burning districts, however, give us accounts of the sad state of affairs, As your corre- spondent has often told you before, the government forces are merely acting on the defensive and manifest no desire to hunt up the dreaded “Mambi,”” whose sharp-edged machete, under the guidance of ‘a modern Fabius, has brought bim within a six hours’ railroad ride from Havana. The destruction of property in Cienfuegos seems to be the heaviest, the rebels hold- ing almost entire control of that locality, JOVELLAR. ‘Valmaseda has received an official telegram from the Colonial Minister authorizing him to officially deny the truth of the news forwarded by the New York Asso- ciated Press that Jovellar had solicited the command of the 12,000 soldiers that are to sail next month for Cuba. ’The report was credited here and created quite an oscillation in the gold market. The official denial may probably serve to quiet the fears of the few sur- viving believers in the forced subjection proposed by our actual Governor. Havana, Sept. 11, 1875, Immense preparations are being rapidly made to re- ceive, clothe and forward to the front the expected rein- forcements, The militia cavalry regiments belonging to the Western Department are refilling their ranks to the full standard, and all the hor8es are being impressed, and no plea of exemption will be accepted by the local gov- ernors im Cinco Villas, How the authorities will man- age for funds to feed and pay this large army remains to be seen, butevery one seems to dread another forced loan in the shape of a polite request. It behooyes for- eign governments to keep a watchful eye over the inter- ests of their subjects in this last “final” struggle, for each contending party will resort to extreme measures, regardless of the consequences. The rebels in the mean- time are actively employed in burning and laying waste the future battle ground. The Havana papers aro reti- cent in the communication of bad news to their readers, and it is only when they expect the publication of war news in the New York papers that they make a few meagre statements for mere show. If your readers had access to the Cienfuegos papers they would seo that nothing has been exaggerated: on the contrary, your correspondent has rather underrated the extent of the damage already inflicted on poor Cuba, The decree royal prohibiting the importation of American potatoes has received its quietus, the Medi- cal Board having decided that fifty cents per barrel, lev- fed aftor a medical examination, will prevent the ibtro- duction of the diseased potato and secure the deni- wens of the ever-faithful city from all the bad conse- wae resulting from the use of the diseased bulb, ‘his is certainly a well devised plan to increase the sal- aries of the port physicians, and, as large quantities of potatoes are used on the island, asuflicient revenue, ex- tra, of course, will be derived therefrom to compensate some ono for assuming the responsibility of setting aside a “royal decree.”” Many rumors aro afloat about the Uruguay having made a successful landing on the south coast, but we have not been able to trace them to any reliable foun- dation. If she is captured we can assure your readers that there will be no more Virginius ba vn for orders have been given to the navy to sink her and all on board, ‘The little town of Regla celebrated her annual feast in honor of the Holy Virgin. This is a great day here for Africa’s daughters, who are taught to believe that she was the bond fide mother of the white infant Josus, and they spare means and sacrifice everything rather than full Paying their respects to her holy shrine on this day. The copper-colored mixtures, natural con- comitants of slavery, also celebrate their Virgin det Cobre the same day, Tho latter is the favorite Virgin of the Mambi, and her shrine is located on the copper mines near Santiago de Cuba, JAMAICA'S HIGHWAYMEN, On Monday evening last William Ritta, residing near Foster's Meadow, in the town of Jamaica, in company with three friends, while on the way home from East New York, was stopped on the turnpike near Richmond Hill by William Aldenburg, John Lowrey, Barney Daly and William Connell, who, after robbing him of $7 50, took possession of his horse and wagon and drove off. ‘They left the horse aud wagon standing near the toll- gate at West Jamaica. Lowrey and Daly, who were ar- rested on the following morning, were arraigned hye terday before Justice Bennett, at Jamaica, and held to await the action of the Grand Jury. The other rufMans have not yet been arrested. They belong to what is known as the “Jamaica gang,” and are well known to the authorities, A MURDEROUS CAR DRIVER, James Mann, o farm hand {n the employ of Mr, William Fish, at East Jamaica, L. 1, while returning home from New York on Thursday night, fell asleep on his wagon, His horses kept the wagon in the track of the East New York and Jamaica Horse Railroad, Ono of the horse cars overtook it, and the driver of the car, John Horan, called to Mann to turn out of the track. As he did not do so promptly, Horan og from the car, and, mounting the wagon, struck Mann geveral times over the head, inflicting serious, if not fatal, in- juries. A warrant Las been issued for Horan’s arrest, A DUELLIST'S DESERTS, Dr. Stevens, of New York, who recently challenged Mr. Georgo Langucletto, of Hicksville, to fight a duel with either broad or small swords, and who was atrested and taken to Queens county to answer the charge of unlawfully sending a challenge to mortal combat, had an examination before Justice Chipp, of Oyster Bay, on Thursday, and was committed to the Queens County Jail to await the action of the Grand Jury, 5 THE LIGHTNING MAILS. Immense Excitement in Chicago and on the Route, “THE HERALD’S EXAMPLE” Trip of the New York Cen- tral Train. Cuicaco, ML. Sept. 17, 1875. The arrival of the fast mail train from New York at a quarter past six this morning made a genuine sensa- tion for this city of very notable sensations The Lake Shore depot, into which we rolled in the cold gray of the morning, was occupied by a multitude of welcom- ing citizens, who certainly must have experienced an uncommon stimulus of interest and curiosity to hasten. down from their homes at such an early hour and in such “an eager and anipping air.” This enterprise of tho Post Office was hailed all along our route with demonstrations of the liveliest satisfaction. News from the nation’s metropolis is always welcome to those living West, and away from it; and it would seem as if the further we travelled in the direction of the oecident the higher rose the enthusiasm and delight of the people, The success of the undertaking is established beyond peradventure, and a fast mail train can ba driven surely and safely from New York to Chicago im twenty-four houra. The initial trips made by the Her~ ALp lightning trains during the summer satisfied all the towns on theline of travel westward of the practicability of the feat, and this It was that created so much inter- est in the attempt of the Post Office Department to tmi- tate the example set by the Hxraup THE LOOTED FAST MAIL by the Pennsylvania route reached Chicago this morn+ ing at fifty-five minutes past six o'clock, or forty min- utes behind that of the New York Central, When wo thundered into Cleveland the depot—a large, commoci- ous structure—was lined from end to end, A great number of ladies were present, and the enthusiasm was unbounded, Cheer after chcer went up from the peo- ple on the platform, and those on the train wero in nowise backward in responding, It was plain to see that the known fact of two fast trains being at the samo moment by different routes bound for Chicago—in fact that the greatest locomotive railroad race ever heard of was in progress—drew tho enormous multitude to the depot and stirred up the excitement that occurred. Not alone was the Cleveland depot thronged, but even the vicinity up and down the track tor some distance was lined with animated crowds. On the platform at Sandusky a powerful chorus of male voices rolled out the Old Hundredth Psalm. Two sleeping cars were connected with the train at Cleveland, and their accommodations were taxed beyond their capacity, Newspaper men and others wero compelied to make the most of the situation and stow themselves away in aggravatingly limited spaces, But though there were many sleepy oyes and jaded frames the best good humor prevailed. Jokes tlew thick and fast, and some of the passengers gave their lungs a de- gree of exercise that must last them a long time to come. The company was sufliciently varied in charac- ter to do away with monotony and few could afford to be listless or indifferent with the train flying at such a high rate of speed, while at every station where iti stopped cheers upon cheers filled the air, THE ENTRY TO CHICAGO was a scene never to be forgotten. It was just about, dawn when the distant lights of the city came in view and the drowsy ones roused themselves from their couches, some of which consisted of fat mail bi and) peered through the windows at the approaching desti- | nation. Toilets were disregarded, and now the great: anxiety was to get into the depot and refresh the inner man, for the morning was biting cold, and! over Lako Michigan a dari stone-tinted | a of clouds rested thi ve the jow ying Prospect a dismal and repelling look. Soon the cheers of the awaiting numbers burst upon our ears, and Presently wo were in the midst of a great host ol cheering well wishora. The journey was ended amid general congratulations. One remarkable feature of it was that during the whole trip no case of a journal be- coming overheated was noticed, though it was common to observe engines smoking while standing motion! at several stations we passed. To show the interest taken in Chicago in this enterprise, both the Mayor and Postmaster of that city, with a number of other citi- zens, came as far as Cleveland to meet the fast train and there boarded it to return home. ACCIDENT TO AN ENGINEER, From Elkhart our engineer was a man named Osgood, who had a very narrow escape from death. In passing from his engine to the tender he missed his footing aud was landed violently on the rough pile of coala, The ac- cident was attributed to a sudden attack of nervousness, His feelings had been highly strung by the undertaking he was conducting, and, no longer able to bear the ten- sion, when he found himself running tm home and victory won he fainted with the termination of the ex- citement. DELAY OF THE FAST MAIL. MISHAP TO THE RETURN TRAIN—AN AUTOCRATIO RAILWAY SUPERINTENDENT WHO GAVE THE ORDER. Considerable feeling prevails in mercantile and busi-« ness circles generally in consequence of a delay of some eighteen hours in the mails due yesterday from Pitts- burg. In accordance with arrangements made between the Post Office and the railway authorities, the postal cars attached to the limited mail train on the Pennsylvania road which left this city at half-past four o’clock on Monday morning were to bo returned from Pittsburg by the fast train which left thereat eight o’clock P. M. on Thursday, This would have been done but for a telegram from the agent ot the railroad company at Altoona, G. ©. Gardner, ordering the cars to be detained “by order of the manager of the road." In virtuo of this order the cars wero detained. Consequently letters which should have been delivered in New York early yesterday morn- ing will not be received until to-day—a delay ot some twenty-four hours, The cars were sent on here empty last night, Mr. R. ©, Jackson, Superintendent of the United States Mail Service, says that a definite arrangement was made by the Superintendent at Large, Vail, and himself with the railway company to return the’ cars by “the fast train” from Pittsburg, and, consequently, he can account for the action of Mr. Gardner only by supposing that some misunderstanding has arisen, He thinks it will be setiled very speedily. WHAT 13 SAID IN PITTSBURG. Prrrsacna, Sept. 17, 1875. G, Clinton Gardner, General Superintendent of the Pennsylvania Railroad at Altoona, telegraphed to Depot Master H. M. Butler, at Pittsburg, last evening, not to allow the two postal cars forming’ the limited mail, and which arrived at six P, M. from New York, to return to that city, No reason was given. The telegraphic in- structions further said that the mail cars were to be held for the 1:10 P. M. Atlantic express to-day. This order caused the greatest possible inconvenience to the Post Office Department of this city, as they had arranged to send a large amount of mail matter from the West which had just arrived. The mail matter which should have been distributed in the cars while in motion was taken to the Post Office and distributed there, causing a delay for parts of the Eastern mails of from eighteen to twenty-four hours. The eight o’clock train last night took only the New York city regular mail. Mr. Theodore N. Vail, Assistant General Superintendent Railway Mail Service, as soon as he knew of the postal cars we | held, immediately started for Washington to consult with Postmaster General Jewell on the subject. The Post Office authori- ties here are at a loss to know what this detention of the postal cars means, Mr, Jackson, Superintendent of ilway Mail Service has returned to New York to con- sult with Postmaster James. The detained mails at Pittsburg were from all points in the West, Mr. W. Kemerick, Superintendent of Mails, states that no mail matter will be moved on the limited mail by the 1:10 P. M. train, excepting New York city and Philadelphia city mails, Postmaster Negley told the Arran correspondent to-day that he did not intend to interfere in the matter, a8 the authorities in Washing- ton will attend to it, CAPTURE OF A “MODOC.” There was much rejoicing in the upper quarter o Hudson county yesterday when it was announced that the notorious outlaw, Oscar Klubert, was in jai. He was brought before Recorder Morgan yesterday morn- ing on a charge of having brutally assaulted and beaten a boy named Theodore Buttonbaum. This attack was made shortly after Klubert had made an unsuccessful attempt to ill-ase a woman on the Hackensack Plank road, In the latter instance he was only frus- trated by Mrs. Cox, whose attention was aitracted by the woman’s cries, and who pornted a pistol at tho ruflan, threatening to shoot him. Klubert do. sted, but Late pts ig his flendish procliy- ities, he repaired to Mrs. Cox’s residence with a bi one im hi id, and declared his willingness to das! her brains out with it She remained within doors until the ruffian went away, A constable undertook to arrest him but Doputy Sherif Philon then gave chase to Klubert, and caught him after @ long run through ——_ jorough- fares acrosa swampy lots. “Modoc? ‘was speedily overpowered and conveyed to the Record- er's oMice, He was committed to the Votre ee to await trial The prisoner’s parents went to Germany not a) ago, in order, it is said, to shun the unfortu- nate fellow and to escape the disgrace his name tended to bring on them, He is not long out of the State Prison, where he served a term of several years, and he is likely to go there soon again, STABBED BY HIS BARTENDER, James F. Quigley, a bartender In the employ or Mathew Madigan, No. 9 Fulton street, Brooklyn, was committed to await examination in the sum of $5,000 by Justice Walsh on a charge of skabbing hig ly