The New York Herald Newspaper, September 25, 1875, Page 5

THE PRODUCE EXCHANGE, DESCRIPTION OF THE BUILDING—THE WORK DONE THERE—THE FEELING ABOUT THE CUR- RENCY. The Board of Managers of the above body met yes- ferday to transact the ordinary routine business, The following names came up for election to membership, and they were elected ag members of the organi- uation :—G. B. Beyer, C. A. Burt, James Carmichael, Asa P. Cassidy, W. H. Donaldson, J. Holzderber, F. Johnson, T. W, Leonard, John Merylees, Warren R. Miles, Wm. Pyott, Simon Uhlmann, A. Wendt, As the fall season opens the Produce Exchange be- gins to put on a more lively appearance, A great num- ber of merchants have returned to town after a summer spent by the seaside, in the mountains or at some of the numerous watering places scattered throughout They come back with renewed vigor to the contest, and the speculative interest in the mar. ket is thereby largely increased. To an outsider who the country. enters the building from the Moore street or WHITERALL NEW YORK HERALD, SATURDAY, SFTEMBER 25, 1875.—TRIPLE SHEET. WALL STREET NOTES. ANOTHER LONDON FAILURE AND ITS EFFECT— STOBIES OF STEAMSHIP RIVALRY—A WONDER- FUL FEAT OF SUB-OCEAN TELEGRAPHY. ‘Yesterday the stock market was somewhat affected by rumors of failures in London and a report of the start- ing of a rival steamship line in opposition to the Pacific Mail Steamship Company. The bears were not slow in availing themselves of the opportunity, and the conse- quence was a decline in various shares, the fluctuations of which will be recorded in the proper column. The London failure of Killingham & Campbell is believed not to entail disaster to any American houses, the con- nection on this side having been gevered about five months since, As for THE STRAMER STORY, it is founded on the rumor that anew line of British built, compound engine screw steamers will shortly begin running between Boston and New York and the west coast of South America by way of the Straits of Magellan, The Pacific Steam Navigation Company, of Liverpool, has for recat run @ line from Liverpool to thi entrance, in the busy part of the day, about one o'clock, ba gaia pe Call rough the Straits of Magellan, ak ceanbl. uc mealies! 8 new line, owned entirely in New England, may rolpars " aes f and perplexing in | prove a great benefit to New England manufacturing reme. resembles the commotion | interests, as it will enable them to compete for South that takes place in an ant’s nest on the | American trade on equal terms with English manufac- invasion of some destructive insect. Men aro | “er® hurrying from one part of the building to another as if attempting to escape from some unseen foe continually pursuing them. Every now and then pausing and shaking hands with a neighbor, just as the little ants vhen they meet, one member will ask of another, “What can you do about that?” or “That” seems to be touch their antennw “What do you think of that?” the chief topic of conversation on the floor. At times the noise and confusion fully equal those of ordinary days on the Stock Exchange, They bave recently erected on the lower floor on the Pearl street side a largo iron ring, around which the pork speculators con- Bregate, and which serves the same purpose as the fountain in the Gold Room, The office of the Western Union Telegraph Company occupies one corner of this side of the room and that of the Atlantic and Pacific the other, From here members can communicate di- rectly with the dealers on the ‘Noor of the Produce Ex- change in Chicago, Many LARGE TRANSACTIONS are thus daily accomplished by means of these direct wires, On both sides of cach entrance a small space is Failed off for visitors and messengers, A tablet of marble built into the west wall of the building is ip seribed with the names of the first trustees, in +961, when the Produce Exchange was in proce’ of con- Btruction. Most of these gentlemen hor? long since closed their useful and honorable lives On the oppo- site side of the room from this sblet are the provision men and butter and checs dealers. The southeast corner is reserved to dealers in petroleum and naval stores. Against this wall is suspended a large brass medallion of William M. Evarts, presented to the Ex- change by some of his friends, Mr. Evarts was elected an honorary member of the association for the ability which he displayed in appearing before the Legislature of this State on behalf of the claims of commerce as against the Canal Funding bill—an affuir which created considerable excitement among the merchants of this city some years since. The more useful city directories, gazetteers, atlases and dictionaries are kept in small but tasteful black walnut cases on this side. The Water street side 1s occupied by the pork and provision pack- ers, hog dealers and provision buyers and speculators, Opposite to them is the lard table, the only table on this floor, Around this collect THE DEALERS in lard, soap, grease and oil. The table is used for their samples. Here are likewise the desks of the President, Superintendent, Cashier and clerks, On the wall, near one end of this desk, is a full length rtrait of Mr. Abrain 8. Jewell, ex-President of the xchange, of the firm of Jewell, Harrison & Co. It 1 @curious coincidence that on the day of his election to the Presidency of the Produce Exchange his partner, Mr. Harrison, was elected to the same office in the Cotton Exchange. Two busts adorn either end of the Superintendent's desk, The one on the right is that of Mr. N. T. Hubbard, one of the oldest members of the Exchange, called’ the “Napoleon of the Provision Trade.” He died some months since, aged ninety years, The other bust is that of Mr. Banks, also deceased, ‘Opposite each entrance rises the grand ‘staircase to the upper floor. On one side is a'box for letters, which is emptied every hour, anda mail bag for Western letters, which is taken up to the Post Office every day at twenty-five minutes to four P. M., in time for the through mail. Two-thirds of the upper floor is cov- ered with tables for the samples offered by the members of their goods. This floor is occupied by the grain and flour merchants, ‘The flour tables run all along the Moore and Water street sides. The wheat tables are on the west side, Next to these, on Pearl street, are the corn, oats, feed and barley tables. The highwines dealers do not sell by sample, and therefore have no table. They collect around the northeast corner. BULLETINS of the state of the markets in Chicago and London, the marine news and the amount of grain in store are attached to the pillars and walls of the building. There are also two gold indicators, one for each floor, and several Stock Exchange indicators, A largo map of the Erie, Oswego and Champlain canals, drawn by an assistant of one of the professors at Princeton University, is hung on the east side of the building for the convemence of reference by the mer- cbants in case of any break in the canal or other acci- dent to boats coming down. The basement contains a ‘coat and umbrellaroom anda reading room, where many of the commercial papers from all parts ‘of the world are kept on file. There are also preserved on this floor number of law books and other volumes, the donation of Hon. E. C. Benedict, late State Senator, and a com- plete shipping list presented by Colgate & THR WORK DONE, Standard committees are annually clected by the members of the Exchange to consider the following subjects :—Finance, rooms and fixtures, law, Floor Com- mittee, trade, information and statistics, ’ Arbitration Committee and a Complaint Committee. ' The latter is ehanged every month, #0 that cach member of the board serves upon it’ in his turn, The trade com- mittces are:—Grain, Flour Inspection, Provision Inspection, Lard, Naval Stores, Distilled Spirits and Petroleum. Special committees are also appointed as occasion requires. The amount of work done may be Geteres from the fact that during the past year there we been 673 meetings of the different committees, ‘The decisions of the Arbitration Committee have the samo force as those of the New York State Supreme Court, ‘The only penalty that can be inflicted, according to the rules of the institution, for dishonorable conduct among its members, is the posting oftheir names on the bul- Jetins and their expulsion from the floor of the Ex- change. NUMERICAL STRENGTH. The number of votes polled at the last election was 1,036, The total number of members is 2,469, and they are coptinually gaining strength in numbers. In fact the present building is not half large enough to meet ‘the actual wants of the Exchange. At No, 33 Pearl street they have already been obliged to hire tworooms ince the 1stof May—one on the first story for the Board of Managers, the other on the ground floor fur the meetings of committees. From the constant increase of member- ships and other revenues a large surplus fund has been ‘created. This fund is now valued at $375,768 42, partly invested in United States bonds and partly in New York city bonds, In 1873 an agitation was raised by some efthe merchants for the purpose of having this sum divided among the members. A meeting was called and the proposition was yoted down by a very large majority. They decided that the money should be allowed to accumulate until an amount could be raised sufficient to defray the expenses of the erection of a new building. It was for this purpose that the fund was originally created, and toward this end the mem- bers are steadily progressing. This determination is ‘well expressed in the closing words ofthe address of the President, Franklin Edson, to the members on the oc- casion of their annual dinner, May 14, 1874;—When we can point to you a Merchanie’ Exchange worthy of the commercial metropolis of our country; worthy of the age in which we live; worthy of the constituency ‘we represent—viz, the merchants of America—then, and not until then, will our highest aim have been ac- complished.” PRINCIPLES OF THE MEMDERS. It is not alone in the dull and precise roatine of busi- ness that our merchants have distinguished themselves, When several of our sister cities were struck by some dire scourge of fire or water the merchants of our city were among the first to extend a helping hand. New York has cause, also, to be proud of the courage and bravery of its merchants, When in the troubled umes of the politics of our State ail its canals, with the Bumerous interests attached, were threatened to be thrown into the hands of a ring, and that permanently, 80 that no alteration cowl be thoreafter made, it was the New York Produce Exchange, in the person of William M, Evarts, who successfully opposed the Canal Funding bill and prevented its passage by the State iglature, hey have spoken, algo, an national questions. May 27, 1874, a committee was appointed to urge upon the government the necessity for the adoption of a reci- Pprocity Weaty with Canada. Let this account close with Aheir clear and precisely expressed opinions on THE OCRREXCY QUESTION, * taken from\a report of the special committee appointed December 12, 1873, to consider the subject of national finances :— First—Goldyand silver coin constitute the only cur- rency that is a Arue measure of values. Second—We believe that the present legal tender and national bank currency will, when made convertible into coin, fully mee't the demands of trade, and also be- Heve it to be unnecessary for either issue to be in- creased or diminishes|. Third—A system ot central redemption would check the overissue of currency. Fourth—We consider the national banking system The rumor mongers forgot to add, however, that the Pacific Steam Navigation Company is largely subsidized by the English government, and without such ald would be ranning at a heavy loss to-day, Another story set afloat by interes Parties was to the effect that the Pacific Mail Company had BOLD Irs IRON 8, the City of Peking and City’ of Tokio to the Japanese government for ),000, and it was argued, with plausibility, that if ‘such was the case the company was on the verge of bankruptcy to part with the best part of its ocean property for a song. To analyze these stories would be folly. It believed, however, that the Tokio and Peking are mo; gaged to'the Panama Railroad Company, and that 7) sale such a reported has been made, it would bet. wooden ships (sidewheel), and not the iron ye“r5y nol, cated. The whole story {s doubtless Cairloag cloth, to answer the aiins of Wall stree:*0ck jobbers. ‘THE WESTERN UNION aflont yesterday, in addition to ye, reported in the Heracp exclusively, of the sail-€ °! the cable steamer Professor Morse from Key west to Punta Rasa, wag ‘one to the effect that ‘organizers of the Nation in Francisco had notified their Telegraph Company ' corporators to Fece®. their subseription money back, an thoy had: (28" the late California Bank troubles— decided to a2don the enterprise, Of course all this gives he» 10 the telegraph monopolists, THE DIRECT CABLE ig «ing a good work in the quick transmission of dtean messages. Yesterday the manager of the com- pany showed the Hymatp representative the record of message which had arrived from London in three minutes and was sent to its destination in one minute more. The London time of transmission was 4:55 P. M. and was recoived in New York at 4:58 (London time). BUSINESS FAILURES. ANOTHER LONDON HOUSE GONE-—SUSPENSION OF LAGER BEER BREWERS, Yesterday morning there came a report of the sus- pension of the important mercantile firm of Killmgham & Campbell, of London, The house indicated was supposed to be very strong, but, as in cases of other and recent failures, no weakness was discovered until the fact of the stoppage was made public, Upon in- quiry by a HeRaLp reporter among the for- eign merchants it was learned that the firm were large dealers in indigo, spices, drugs, foreign woods, dye stuffs and general merchan- dise, with business relations all over the world. “Their correspondence extended to Spain, East India, Central and South America, as well as with this country. As it was understood they had a branch house in New York the Hxnatp correspondent waited on Mr, Julius Hess, No. 17 South William street, who was connected with the house a short time since, and the following infor- mation was gained:—“Messrs. Killingham & Campbell were large and enterprising merchants in general trade. Their relations were with Spain, the Indies, South and Central America, and they have also carried on A LARGE PETROLKUM TRADE. Ihave no idea ot their liabilites, but as they were heavy shippers of naval stores and had to give long credits, and collections have been very slow, it is likely from these facts alone, owing to the terrible condition of trade in both hemispheres, that they have been at length obliged to succumb. I think one of the partners is now in Spain, and another of the firm in Central America, trying to make collections.” Mr. Hess denied having had any connection with the house of Killingham & Campbell for five months; the partnership was then dissolved, and his house was = hot at all the failure, The London firm is believed to be composed of honorable men, energetic apd above sus. picion in their business operations, Upon further in- quiry among petroleum merchants it was confirmed that the house was not known here as being prominent in that line of business, and no idea could be given of assets or liabilities, but it was believed that no New York firms are losers by the London failure. LEVINGER & CO. VAIL. The German portion of the community and the sub- jects of King Gambrinus generally will learn with re- ret of the suspension of a large lager beer house at College Point, L. I. The house is that of Levinger & Co., and has only been established a tevqyears. CLAFLIN’S DRY GOODS “DRIVE. THE GREATEST SALE OF PRINTS EVER MADE IN AMERICA. By far the greatest sale of prints ever made in America was concluded yesterday at the establishment of H. B, Claflin & Co. In connection with some sales which were made on the previous day over 7,000 cases of the most celebrated brands wero disposed of at prices lower than ever made before. The terms were net sixty days, or two per cent off ten days, and the stock was divided into the following lote:— No. 1.—Cayudutta, side band; Amoskeag, medium Cts, light fancy; Amoskeag, light fancy; Amoskeag, side bapds, fancy..........0+5 + BM No. 2—Amoskeag mode, side bands. 4 No. &—Garner & Co., shirtings. . bars No, 4.—Garner & Co., cheviots 6% No, th many Rab fancy. 4% No, 6.—Garner & Co., light fancy. 6 No. 7-—Garner & Co.) medium chocolates; Garnor ‘& Co., Distingue plaids; Garner & Co.,’ Quaker styles; Garner & Co., medium fancy; Garner & Co., printed shades, dark; Garner & Co. printed shades, light; Garner & Go., purple side band... 6 No, &—Garner & Co., pUrple......... sseeeeeecee 6% To those conversant with dry goods the above prices will furnish a sufficient explanation of the excitement that ruled in the mammoth building of Messrs. Claflin & Co, at the opening of the sale yesterday morning. ‘There were buyers from all parts of the United States and the Provinces, and the various lots were disposed of as fast as the clerks could check the names of buy- ers and tne descriptions of goods, The partitions en- closing the space usually devoted to the sale of prints had been removed for the occasion, and the surging throng had free scope throughout the vast floor. The hour before the commencement of the sale was devoted to the studying of the pattern cards representing the various lines of goods, and the comments and criticisms on the different styies were eager and to tho point. A delicate “Quaker” or an exquisitely shaded chocolate was admired or re- jected, not on ssthotic grounds, but for the very mat- ‘ter-of-fact opinion that it would or would not readily sell in the purchaser's city or town, In some seasons there are certain lines of goods that the great dealers here can confidently predict will be popular in the South or West, but yesterday there was a very even distribution of patterns in all the sales made, no style appearing to be excessively cought after by purchasers from those sections of the country. ‘The large lot of Wamsuttas went to Steinman & Co., of this city, and 600 cases of rade were purchased in a lump by’Flood & Bainbright, of Philadelphia All dry goods men agree that there never was here a sale to such an amount or at such low figures, or one that, happening at this particular time, has been such a benefit to the trade of this city, The dealers were doing almost nothing; but the congregation of buyers from other sections of the country has already bene- fited trade to an immense degree, simply by inducing the presence here of so ' many purchasers, whose influence is already felt in the sen- sitive channels of trade ana will be felt in a much more marked degree bolore ther departure. While they are in the city, they will re- plenish their stocks in other lines, according to their requirements, and the aggregate amount of money thus directly and indirectly put into circulation here by this sale will bo enormous. Theto seems to be no lack of money when such temptations as this are held out to buyers, and in other purchases tho samo satisfactory soundness of buyers is shown. Every State in the South and Southwest was represented at yesterday's sale, a fact of much significance, and it is evident that goods will move freely toward that seotion of the coun- try for some time t© come, Parties here have a0c- cused Clafn & Co. of a desire to break down the market by such a sale of goods at this particular time, but they say that such an accu- sation is ridicalous is in the extreme. The goods havo been disposed of at extraordinarily low prices, to be sure, but then they were out of date here and they | wished to be rid of them at any price. That the mar- ket is not and will not be “broken down” js sufficiently proved by the simple fact that the print market for Standard seasopable patterns remains unchanged. The sale haswettled the disturbed and distrustful position of the market, has drawn here the largest crowd of ready money buyers seen for years, and has imparted a tone of buoyancy and brightness to the trade to which it Satisfactory. Fia_We deplore the :nergency that called for the temporary use of any porthon of the forty-four millions Of legal tender reserve. Sizth—We hold that thé United States Treasurer shoujd be empowered to recelwe from any person or corporation legal tenders, issuing certificates therefor, to draw 3.65 per cent interest, ‘That Congress sball proyide for the resump- Alon of svevic payment, , has for a long time been a stranger. ANOTHER NEW SAN _ FRANCISCO BANK. Lazard Fréres had decided to establish a new bank. On inquiry at the office of the firm information way Teceived to the effect that it has been the design of th} Lazards for some years to abandon the business importing and jobbing dry goods and engage in bankiy Immediately after the suspension of the Bank of fornia a cable telegraphic correspondence was 0) with influential English and French capitalists rangements concluded for the organization of a ba” house. One of the members of the firm is of taking his departure for Europe to hold co with foreign capitalista, As regards reso = wealth, paid up capital and general influence’® ®t" institution will not stand second to any bar OD {he coast. It is the intention of the founders tos#ke It & strictly commercial bank that will stand rey +0 aid, strengthen and uphold the industrial intgsts of the coast, The Lazard Brothers have been enged in {he importing trade in this country ander ¥ Same frie and name for thirty-five years; have copucted busi. ness in San Francisco since 1849; have World wide reputation and acquaintance, and ‘in a f¢ months wi open one of the greatest ing hor America, THE INSURANCE CON£NTION. THE METHOD OF TAXING INSUGNCE COMPANTES AN INJUSTICE—THE MODE /¥ RATING LIFE INSURANCE AN ABSURDITY. The National Convention of Ingirance Commysioners and Superintendents continuel its sessions yester- day at No, 156 Broadway, President Chapman vas in the chair, The minutesof the previove meeting were read and adopted, The Committe 00 Blanks and on Legislation being still in sge~°2 RO report was pro- sented, Mr. Heal, of th- 40™° Fire Insurance Company of Now York, ap~* member of the Committee on Legisla- tion, made“ important address on the subject of the . of insurance companies. He said that it was .awise thing for insurance companies to be taxed «¢ all except upon their actual capital The tax should be considered rather in the light ‘of a payment for the license or privilege to do business in any particular State, and hence should not be laid ‘upon the values in gross, but upon the values in net— that 18, upon the income of the companies, Where a company’s gains are only about ten per cent of the in- surance they are now taxed for the remaining ninty r cent, or about ten times as much as ser. ought to Ber ‘In’ seven years of his company’s business in Michigan their payments were $675,000 and their ex- penses being about $267,000, there would be left out of @ total of $1,070,000 an apparent gain of $124,000. Under the present system of taxation, however, they were taxed on the gross amount the sum of $32,148, or about thirty-eight per cent. of all their earnings. Would any man in business maintain such a tax as that? ere was no justice to property init, In the year 1871 their losses exceeded by $23,000 their premiums, and yet they had to pay $5,000 t the State of Michigan for the privilege of doing business there. Some more sound principle oi taxation should be adopted. The speaker advocated the plan of taxing the net value of the premiums for the year, or the net earn- ings of the company. He also éarnestly opposed the present system of being obliged to pay taxes to the dif- ferent districts, towns and counties of a State instead of the State itself. Much trouble to all parties was thus occasioned in the collection of these taxes. He con- tended that a proper ad valorem tax, fixed by the Stato upon the nét value of the privilege grauted to the com- pany, and paid to the State alone, was the proper thing. If the privilege is proved to be of no value to the company they should certainly not be taxed. Another suggestion was also made by him that the legal advertising which was required of every company should be in one or two of the large papers in the State rather than in a great many. In Ohio, for instance, they were obliged to advertise in every county. If ‘this could be done away with, about ‘one per cent of their premiums could be saved. Dr. Lambert, President of the American Popular Life Insurance Company, was the next speaker, He an- nounced his subject as the ‘‘Fictions and Realities of Life Insurance.” He defined the sole function of in- surance of any kind to be to relieve the mind from anxiety. Life was a property like any other, and life insurance was a solemn contract. These were some of the realities, AS at present managed, however, the system of life insurance was about one-third gambiing and one-third speculation, He opposed very strongly the custom of fixing the rates of ull per- sons according to their age: He would rather make them according to the health of the persons insured. He likewise said that life insurance companies should combine in their own defence, and never accept a com- promise in any suits growing out of policies. Either the whole amount of insurance due to the relatives of deceased persons was payable to them or none of it was, and it was a cowardly part to accept compromises. The Chairman, Mr. Chapman, who during the last speaker's remarks had transferred the chair to Mr. elsh, Superintendent of the Insurance Department in Kansas, then arose and moved that the Convention ad- journ to mect at two P. M. in the Fifth Avenue Hotel in executive session. The motion was carried without opposition, and the public sessions were consequently declared adjourned sine die, THE PHILADELPHIA OYSTER TRADE. Oysters, says the Philadelphia imes, are found in both salt and fresh water, but the former are superior im size and flavor, and generally grow in shallows where there are no breakers. The principal breeding time of the common oyster is in April or May, when the spawn, which at first appears like little spot of grease, fastens upon rocks or stones, Very commonly it adheres to adult shells, and thus are formed oyster banks. It takes about eighteen months for an oyster to obtain table size. “The powers of multiplication which the oyster possesses,” says a writer, ‘“‘are so wonderful that the banks or beds which they form occupy por- tions of the sea extending for miles in shallow parts. The species most esteemed in America are the Virginia oyster (0. Virginia) and the Northern oyster (0. Borealis). Naturalists bave found that the oyster possesses locomotive powers; they move trom place to place by suddenly closing their shells, and thus eject- ing the water contained between them with suflicient force to throw themselves backward or in a lateral direction. Yesterday a ‘imes reporter visited those piers on Delaware avenue specially set apart for the use of oystermen. About a dozen trim sloops were observable, moored between the quays, upon which were lying countless dredges, and their crews were busily engaged bending sails preparatory to proceeding to the banks. A prominent oysterman gave the follow- ing facts yesterday in regard to the trade to the writer:— “The first arrival of oysters this season will be from the western shore and Maurice River—the Jersey and Delaware sides of the bay. None of these oysters have deen in the market this summer. Yos, those are Southern oysters you see the Betsy Jane unloading; they come’ from Chester River, Maryland, and they are not good for much. I wouldn’t import an oyster out of the regular season, though a good many are consumed during the summer in the cities and fashionable resorts. About five hundred Philadelphia Doats are engaged in the oyster business, and they are owned by about sixty-five merchants, few of whom own more than ten or twelve, You ask me if last season was agood one? Yes, sir; it was very fair; if this season ‘as good I shan’t complain. We can’t tell till the oye- ters begin t come in, but we hear favorable reports from the banks as to the probable yield. All oyster- men who do a large business ship heavily to the country. We send large quantities to Boston, Ohio, Michigan, even as far as California. Certainly they have oysters on the Pueiflc coast, but they’re too coppery—have got the English flavor. I don’t ship Many across the Aulantic, but others do, in considerable quantities, mostly to France, They'll keep in the shell even as far as San Francisco, The hotels, saloons and retail dealers are, of course, our best customers, A very aged number of oysters are opened on the dock and the sheils are carted away to the lime kilns along the Schuylkill and the gas works. Gas can’t be made Without the best lime, which purifies it, Prices vary so much during the Season, according to the supply and demand, that I can’t give you any very close esti- mate; as a general rule, common sorts run from $250 to $350 per 1,000, and prime all the way from $6 to §9.”” CARDINAL M’CLOSKEY. PRESENTATION OF A GIFT FROM AMERICAN CITI- ZEN: [Correspondence of the London Daily News.) Romer, Sept, 10, 1875, At noon Cardinal McCloskey received a deputation, charged to transmit to him a present from several American citizens, poth Catholics and Protestants, who were residing in Rome last spring at the time he was raised to the Cardinalate, when it was resolved to offer him a present as a mark of af- fection and esteem. The gift consists of a complete cardinel’s dresa, with a mitre ornamented with eighteen large proctons stones. It was accompauved by an ad- dress Lg abewean the good wishos, esteem and venera- tion of donors, His Eminence, in his reply, thanked the deputation, mains. present aé & token added that the Pope, in raising him to the dignity of Cardinal, did not only wish to honor bim, but desired to show how much he appreci the Roman Catholics in America, This elevation to the Cardinalate showed the strength of the bonds which united the Church in America to the Holy See, These sentiments, the Pre™te continued, caused him to feel the necessity of a superior co-operation in the labors of the Church, and being unable to rely upon himself for the purpose of attaining that good result he relied upon God's frei and called upon his hearers to unite them- selves with him in obtaining that object. In conclusion he again reverted to the oh donors, and repeating his thanks he expressed deep gratitude, MUNICIPAL NOTES. Robert M, Noah has been appointed first clerk to tho Corporation Attorney at a salary of $3,000 a year, James Haggerty was yesterday made a clerk in the same office at a salary of $1,800 a year. Francis Lind Stetson has been appointed an assistant in the Corporation Counsel’s office. that he would consider tho America’s gratitude, and he [Special to the Sacramento Union, Sept. 16.] A repor) was current on the streg) this evening that ‘There was a rumor yesterday that Comptroller Green had resigned. Jt wag too good Wo be true, 7 CRIME AND ITS CAUSES. THE LEGISLATIVE INVESTIGATION—MR. HESS OB- JECTS TO MB, TOWNSEND ACTING AS COUN- SEL OF THE COMMITTEE—HIS RESOLUTION NOT ADOPTED—MORE REVELATIONS. At the opening of the session of the Assembly Com- mittee on Crime yesterday morning Mr. Hess, one of its members, arose, and, addressing the cbairman, offered the following resolution: Whereas a witness who testified before this commit- tee, named Victor Bramson, has under oain mado gravo charges against Mr. John D. Townsend, the coun- sel of the committee, before the Board of Police Com- missioners, at an investigation held before that Board on the 22d inst, in a complaint against John H. McCul- loch, captain of police; therefore Resolved, That until Mr, Townsend appears before the tribunal where such charges were made and an- swers the same adequately his appointment as counsel to this committee be suspended, Mr, Townsend, the object of this proceeding, was busy preparing papers for the examination of witnesses and apparently unaware of what was going on until Mr. Hess had gone halt through the reading of the above resolution, The motion seemed to take likewise by surprise all the other members of the committee— Messrs, Campbell, McGowan and Dessar—who wero present, General Husted being absent, A promiscuous conversational debate ensued between the members of the committee, during which the Chair- man attempted to show to Mr. Hess that his resolu. tion called upon Mr, Townsend to do two impossible things, in that it demanded that he should endow with jurisdiction over him as a citizen and a lawyer the Police Board, who could adjudicate only on charges against police officers, but none others, and that Mr. Townsend should prefer charges against him- self, since no one else had preferred any against him, Mr. Heas, however, insisted upon his motion, which waa lost, he @\vse voting for the adoption ot his resolu- tion. Mr. McGowan thereupon offerea the following resolu- tion, without preamble:— Resolved, John D. Townsend, Esq., the counsel of the committee, the examination of witnesses and in the procurement of information for such committee. abstaining from voting thereon. quired of Mr. Townsend regarding the matter unless Mr. dressed two days age to Mr. Commissioner Disbecker, as counsel for the committee. tation, addressed the Chairman. He called the attention of added a statement of his slight acquaintance with that as a witness, and give the same account under oath, ti himself as a witness there in a trial of a police captain, to appear hore and failed to answer the summons. Mr. sponsible for the veracity of the witnesses. utmost precaution had at all times been used by coun. sol to prevent falsehood, and this very witness, Bram. son, who had been introduced, only’ roborated the testimony taken by Superinten testimony hefore this committee. Police Board had a verbatim copy of this testimony fur. nished him by his request and mittee, If dence. it was proper to show the character of heads of de. artments. without further reserve, ‘usual, ing Lemicane dl addressed to Police Commissioner Disbecker;— LETTER TO COMMISFIONER DISBECKER, No. 125 Lexineton Avanus, New York, Sept, 22, 1875, Hon. A. Disnzcken, Commissioner of Police of w meeting of your public, grave charges against Mr. senior counsel of the Assembly Com meuber of our committee has had entire coufidence in Mr. Board yeaterda; ‘ogalnat Mr. John D. ‘Townsend, self that thes at the next meet inst., at eleven Aldermen, in thi your charges aguiust Mr. ‘Shall certainly be given to the matter. Ihave the honor to be, very respectfully, THOMAS COOPER CAMPBELL, Chairman, DISBECKEW’S REPLY. oe, lew YORK, Hon. Twowss 0. Caxrsnts,, No, 138 Lexington u Sin—Your favor of yesterday's date was ing received by me. The subject matter of your communica- tion presents itself to my mind in a somewhat different light from what apparently it does to yours, I do not bglieve that ‘the public are so interested in Mr. John D. Townsond as to desire any investigation, at the public expense, todetermine as to his character or professional standing, or any othor mat- ter or thing relating to him. What I have stated in refer- ence to Mr. Townsend I am responsible for; and if he con- siders that he can in truth take exception to anything I have said the law affords him a remedy, He will find me prepared tw meet him. During to-morrow I will forward to you a copy of the evidence given by one Victor Bramson in an investi- gation before the Board of Police. This Bramson was ex- amined by Mr. Townsend before your committee as a person whose statements were worthy of credit. If what Bramson now states in reference to Mr. Townsend is truo, 1 do not think, whatever your opinion in the past may have been, | that you will in the future exprem yourself in such flatvering terms in reference to Mr. Townsend. I have the honor w be, very respectfully, ABRAM DISBECKER. Henry F. Vail, sworn, said that he was cashier of the Bank of Commeroe, and he received $6,850, subscribed by bankers and merchants for the discovery and prose- cution of bond forgers; he acted as treasuror of the fund, and paid the money out to Pinkerfon’s dotectives on the order of Di thirty-four years in the Bank of Commerce, Jolin W, Merritt, af No. 80 East Ninth street, sworn, said that Julies L. Adams had been boarding with bin; in October, 1874, made himself very obnoxious, and when requested to leave would ‘not, but finally ho did leave; then he came back; acted very offensively and fired a pistol at witness; finally he ‘was arrested and locked wp in default of $2,500 bail; went #efore tbe Grand Jury; be was indicted, but nothing came out of it; went several times to the Dis- trict Attorney's office; there was a report that witness had received $1,000'to compromise the case, which had no foundation in fact; called upon Assistant District | Attorney Russell and called his attention to the des- perate nature of the cage; Mr, Russell said, “Oh, you are not burt, and need not fret;” witnesses swore that they saw tha monger» William ©, Stewart, of the Court of Goneral Sessions, recalled, and testified that he broaght in an indictment against Adams; could not explain why tho bail was re- duced from $2,500 to $1,000, Joseph P. ‘twobey was next sworn and testified :— That he purchased tobacco from man named Rutger ‘Veal, who said he represented « firm in Duane street, and paid him $87; that he subsequently discovered the man was a fraud and caused his arrost; the money found on him at tho time of ‘his arrest, but a few dollars, was sent to the Prop- erty Clerk; when subsequentiy Teal was tried, found guilty and sentenced to Sing oaty Mood one year, ho tried to get his money from the Property Clerk,’ but was told by the latter that it had been sent to the Dis- trict Attorney’s office; he never got goods or money since. After recess the committee went into the investi- gation of a seemingly foreign matter, the dismissal of ex-detectives Tilly and Heidelberg, for stealing & blanket, Sev witnesses were examined in con- nection, but their testimony was’ unimportant The committee will meot again on Fednesday next That the membors of this committer nave fall confidence in the ability, integrity and fairness or fn the conduct of the investigation before them and in The resolution was adopted unanimously, Mr. Hess ‘Then Mr, McGowan stated that no explanation was re- Townsend himself gestred to be heard. Mr. Townsend expressed such wish. Before he entered upon his state- ment, however, Mr. Campbell read a letter ho had ad- inviting him to appear before the committee to-day with his witnesses to substantiate the charges he had uttered, according to a report in the Hrearn, before the Board of Police Commissioners, against Mr. Townsend Mr. Disbecker did not appear in answer to this invi- Mr. Townsend arose, and in quiet and fluent language the committee to the testimony of Mr, Bramson, as given before the committee, when Mr, Bramson hap- pened to state, although uncalled for by any question, that he did not know Mr. Townsend at the time he paid the $15 to Captain McCulloch, Mr, Townsend then witness, and expressed his readiness to take the stand desired, before the committeo then and there, or before the Board of Police Commissioners if they would afford him the opportunity by subpenaing him as a witness, He as a lawyer knew of no other modo to present his statement before that Board. He could not obtrude and he had not been favored with any subpena, It is otherwise with Mr. Disbecker, who had been invited Townsend then referred to his letter in yesterday's Heratp challenging Mr. Disbecker to make good his personal aggressions before a proper tribunal, and complainant. Mr, Townsend referred to the surprise this motion had caused to him. Mr. Hess had never heretojore expressed any dissatisfaction with counsel’s action, and had always been offered counsel’s services in any case Mr. Hess might desire to have presented. Mr. Townsend referred to the fact of his unanimous ap- pointment by the committee, owing, as he modestly as- serted, to his abstinence from politics. Here counsel was interrupted by the Chair, who remarked that the first in- timation of his selection for counsel came from Mr. Hus- ted’s office, who represented the republican party as well as Mr, Hess. Mr. Townsend continued—tbat being no politician and being conscious of having excluded partisan wishes entirely from his line of duty he did not mean to be deterred by the strange attitude of a minority in the committee from pursuing his course as heretofore, The committee could not be made re- Sull, the cor- dent Walling, and Bramson’s statement before the Police Board as to his acquaintance with counsel was not only not corroborated, but contradicted by his own The counsel of the e courtesy of this com- ¢ Police Board’s counset had intended to act as fairly and openly as this committee he could the Police Board as here, Mr. Townsend called the at- tention of the committee to the ctrcumstance that he had excluded, thus far, personalities from the evi- He desired the committee to reflect whether It they so concluded he would open the indies of evidence in his possession on this subject Dxak Stx—I read in the papers of this morning an account at which you made, in the mitteo on Crime. Eweh statements should be thoroughly inquired into, [therefore desire to write and request you to attend ‘of our committee on Friday next, 24th ‘at the old chamber ofthe Board of City Hail, with witnesses to substantiate Townsend. A full examination ict Attorney Phelps; have been | | THE POLICE BOARD. ADDITIONAL CHARGES PREFERRED AGAINST THEM—DAMAGING STATEMENTS, IF TRUE. ‘The long promised charges against the Police Com- missioners by David J. Twobey, one of the principal witnesses before the Legislative Committee on Crime, were submitted by him to the Mayor yesterday, The charges were accompanied by a letter, in which My. Twohey dilates at great length on the need of police re- form. The following are the charges:— CHARGE ONE. George W. Matsell, President of the Board of Police Commissioners, is wholly unit for the office he holds, Specification 1—Said Matsell is wilfully and habitually negligent of bis duties, Is is the duty of the Superintendent of Police to prose- cute before the Commissioners any and all charges of wrong and negligence that may be pre- ferred against subordinate members of the force, and it is equally incumbent upon any Police Commissioner, knowing the Superintendent to have neglected hig Official duty, to compel its performance and to punish him for continued neglect Kighteen months since, when said Matsell was Superintendent of Police, I called upon him at his office at Police Headquarters and preferred numerous grave charges against certain police captains. No action was takep upon those charges by said Matsell, who further habitually neglected his duty by failing to cause the suppression of gambling houses, policy shops and other unlawful resorts, the existence of which was a matter of common notoriety and constant complaint, though it is @ fact, established and admitted by tho best police authority, that such places cannot exist without the knowledge of the police. And there is culpable lack of evidence that Matsell, as Police Cor missioner, 18 an improvement upon Matsell as Police Superintendent, Bpecification ‘2—Said Matsell, as Superintendent of Police, Was partial and brutal in his conduct, and thas ‘a violator of the rights of the citizen and of the laws he was sworn to observe and maintain, and his later declarations and omissions afford no proof of # better relation of morals to duty in this respect, Some weeks after made the chatges above mentioned, in which I named, among others, Captain John H. McCul- loch, then of tho Twenty-ninth and now of the Seventeenth precinct, as tolerating panel houses in his precinct, sharing in their profits, levying blackmail and other wrongs, I again calle upon said Mateell at Police Headquarters. I was at that time disiigured from a murderous assault made upon me the night before by hired rufflans; and I further charged said McCulloch with instigating this assault upon te, and once more urged the Superintendent to act upon these charges, whereupon he wrathfully ordered me out of the oice, pushing me rudely toward the door, and finally called une of his attendants to put mo out, ’ 1 was thus violently expelled from a public office, where every citizen bas aright to be heard and pro- tected, merely because I respectfully insisted that the Superintendent of Police should do his duty and manifest a decent regard for the public welfare | and his official oatt, . instead of persistently prostituting both to a corrupt partiality for an unscrupulous subordinate, Being thus unsuc- cessful in my appeals to the Superintendent, and the Police Commissioners, to whom I preferred like charges, being indisposed to act, owing to differences among themselves, I repeated these charges in an argument before the Legislature of 1874 In response to that ar- ument, which also set forth a long array of other facts ia reference to police rascality, the Senate appointed a committee of investigation, which committee failed to investigate, because of a change in the Board of Police Commissioners, which, it was thought, might correct the existing evils, but which ultimately brought Matsell to the head of the department as President of the Board, only to disappoint f | the hope of police reform, ’A pamphlet copy of tho argument upon which this committee was appointed, and substantiated by my affidavit printed upon it, was also transmitted to said Matsell after ho became Police Commissioner; but neither as Superintendent nor as Commissioner did he take any action upon any of those charges until recently, when the clamor of public alarm forced him to act; though had he done his duty there would have been ho such alarm and no occasion for the expense of a Committee on Crime to reveal our danger and disgrace, for there would have been no possibility of the present infamous police demoralization. Specification 3—Ignorance and incompetence, An old man, who has spent most of his life in police ser- vice, and the best of it in publishing a Police Gasette, however pernicious the character and tendency of that ublication, and yet, as Superintendent of Police, sonds 18 officers to hunt for panel houses at midday, ts at best too ignorant and innocent for the stern roquire- ments of police control, and therefore necessarily in- competent to fill the first place on ‘the finest police force in the world.” The said Matsell is that old man, While he was Superintendent a newspaper reporter, be- traying my confidence, reveaied to him the names and addresses of certain panel thieves known to me to 7 if hinted at his intention of bringing ' Mr. | be operating in the Twenty-ninth precinct a short Disbecker as defendant before a — proper | time previous; and thereupon Matsell, apparently not court unless he would enter one —_as | knowing that’ panel tbieves frequently change their quarters, sent forth two of his detectives, in company with this reporter and in the busy hours of the day, when, as every policeman knows, panel houses are not in operation, and therefore not to be detected, under the pretence of suppressing these houses. ‘The thieves, thus kindly forewarned by this dumb show of police devotion, suspended business temporarily ; the cunning detectives and the astate reporter reported to the simple-minded Superintendent that there were no panel houses at the places I had named, and in a short time the panel business prospered again as defiantly as ever. - CHARGE Two. Abram Disbecker tis wholly unfit for the office he holds as Police Commissioner. ification 1—Remembering the traditional su; riority of young men in war, and already realizing that the battle with police villany would be severe, soon ‘atter said Disbecker was appointed a Police Commis- sioner I re d to him the same charges that I had made to Matsell, and likewise presented to him a copy of the same pamphlet containing my argument before the Legislature and sworn to as before stated. 3} was particular to put all the facts before Commissioner Disbecker, believing it to be his purpose, as he had proclaimed it to be his ambition, t do his duty without fear or favor. And he promised w at- tend to the matter at once, If he kept that promise it was by attending to the interests of the offenders rather than the rights of innocents and citizens. have drawn the attention of the witness and ijication 2—On the first day of the late trial of the Board to this discrepancy. On the main | Captain Burden, and long before the trial was con- rot the payment of money to Captain | clud Commissioner Disbecker publicly declared Sco och, Bramson testified the same before | that he would not believe tho principal witness, Martinot, under oath. No man is fit to weigh testi- mony oF sit in judgment in any case who goes out of court to destroy the character of the witnesses before the case is concluded; for a witness discredited is a witness destroyed as effectually as if dead or absent. Nobody understands this better than certain prominent police officers und their confederates, as I infer from their known industry in assailing me, and I am credi- Tne examination was then allowed to proceed as | bly informed that Commissioner Disbecker has re- Mr. Campbell, Chairman of the Commxtee hay- read the following letter, which he had peatedly imitated this poor example of a bad lot of the ‘best police force.” It is ineredible that either of the Commissionors herein named 8, indispensable to oar lice organization, of which is respectfully sub- mitted. DAVID J. TWOHEY, INTERCOUBSE BETWEEN THIEVES AND POLICE- MEN TO BE STOPPED, The full Board of Police Commissioners met yester- action of the department relative to the arrest! of padrones having in their custody small Italian chil¥ dren whom they compel to perform and beg. Placed _on file, The Deputy Chief Clerk submitted a notice that an action for false imprisonment against Captain Garland and Patrolman Byron, of tho Eighteenth precinct, had been instituted in the Court of Common Pleas by Wil- liam 8. Barry, On motion, the matter was referred to the Corporation Counsel. Commissioner Smith offered a resolution that Patrol- man David Harvey, of the Eighth precinct, be dismissed from the deyartment, he having been found guilty of being in conversation with a known thief. The resolution gave rise to a debate, in which all the Commissioners participated, Messrs. Voorhis and Smith being in favor of its adoption and Messrs, Matsell and Disbecker opposed. ‘The former took the ground that, it having been the custom of the department in the past to sanction con- versation on the part of policemen with criminals for the purpose of obtaining valuable information leading to the arrest of others of their class, 1t would be unfair to visit the extreme penalty upon an offieer thus con- versing without first giving general notice to the mem- bers of the force that it would no longer be permitted. They agreed that the custom was pernicious, and were in tavor of inflicting a heavy fine wpon the officer, but were not in favor of dismissing him under the existing state of circumstances., Commissioners Voorhis and Smith were in favor of dismissal in this case and every other, Information obtained from thieves was dearly purchased at best. ‘A policeman on terms of familiarity with such charac. ters wag not fit to be on the force. The police should be the deadly enemies of criminals, and not seok counse¥or information from them. No general notice was necessary, Every policeman already knows that it is wrong. The resolution was lost, Messrs. Voorhis and Smith voting in the affirmative and Messrs. Matsell and |)is- becker in the negative, The case thus remains in tho hands of the Board. Commissioner Disbecker then offered tho following, which was adopted :;— Resolved, That the Committee on Rules and Disciptine be instructed to consider the propriety of reporting arule which shall prohibit, ander penalty of dismissal from the force, any intercourse of the part of members of the force with thieves And any other improper characters whatever, except un supervision of the Superintendent, Patrolman Faye, of the Fifteenth precinct, the officer who was found in the gambling Ie on Eighth street when the same was raided, was motion dismissed from the department. Commissioner Smith offered a resolution that here- afor all persons appointed patrolmen shall be first signed to duty in one of the following precincts: First, Fourth, Twenty-seventh, Fifth, Sixth, Tenth, Seventh, Thirteenth, Bighth, Fourteenth, Ninth, Fit. teenth or Seventeenth, Adopted. CAPTAIN M'CULLOCH’S TRIAL, ANNIE SMALL AGAIN IN THE WITNESS BOX. Tho trial’of Captain McCulloch was resumed yostor, day, Commissioners Matsell and Disbecker holding court at the Central Ofice, For the defonce A, Oakey Hall recalled the last wit, ; three person: 5 ness, Victor Bramson, and asked him if since the pre- vious trial he had called Mcvulloch, im the presence or , an Irish ——, The witness replied that he bad not, Kate Heath, Annie Monroe and Annie Harrington testified that Captain McCulloch had never, directly or indirectly, sought to influence them in not trading with Victor Bramson. John Stevens (colored), formerly a watter in Bram- son’s restaurant, testified that he never knew McCul- loch to interfere with bis employer's customers. ; Annie Small, of Assembly Investigating Committee notoriety, took the stand and swore to all she had tes- tifled to with relation to Captain McCulloch before that committee, which testimony has already been pub- lished. The witness repeated with @ marked positive- ness the details of the nocturnal visit of McCulloch to her house in search of Twohey, and his persuasive argu- ment for her not to appear before the Committee om Crime. She also restated the circumstances of her mida- night arrest by the police under Captain McCulloch, Counsellor Hall submytted the witness to a close cross-examination, In which she admitted her conmeo- tion with houses of ill repute. Andrew Baker testified to having had a conversation with Bramson on the day of the last trial; the latter remarked that he had just come from court, where he had testified against McCulloch, calling him by an inde- cent name. Patrick Downing corroborated the previous witness, having, he testified, been a listener © the conversa tion. ‘Thomas Fitzsimmons also testified to having heard the indecent remark by Bramson. Sergeant Schuita, ob the Eleventh precinct, testified to having seen Captain McCulloch eject Bramson from his (McCulloch’s) office in the Twenty-ninth precinct station house one night when Bramson had called see the Captain. Special Officer Edwin K. Robinson was called to rebut the evidence given by Annie Small The witness swore to Nps) with McCulloch, visited her house on the night of June 30, 1875; heard all the conversation that took place; was positive Captain McCulloch did not speak of the Assembly committee in any form. David J. Twohey was next called, but did not respond. and the case was declared adjourned until the 29th inst, ANDREW LBAHY’S DROWNING. THR ROCKAWAY STEAMER COLLISION INVESTI- GATED BX THE UNITED STATES STEAMSHIP INSPECTORS. ‘An investigation was commenced yesterday at the office of the United States Local Inspectors of Steam- ships in Pine street, beforo Jeremiah Simonson, Local Inspector of Hulls, into the causes of the collision between the steamer Americus and a steam launch off Eighteenth street, North River, when Andrew Leahy, the engineer of the launch, was drowned. The said collision occurred on Sunday, the 15th of August, 1875. ‘The following evidence was given by the several parties, connected with the steamers: LUKE SCHENCK, PILOT OF THE STEAMER AMERICUS, being sworn, testifled—When I first discovered the launch we were about six lengths away from her; at first I did not know it was a launch, but supposed it to be a small sloop; the launch kept on antil about one length off, when the furnace door was opencd and showed what she was; as she was coming down very fast 1 slowed my boat, and immediately after com- menced backing; before ringing my slow bell I blew one whistle, which was not answered by the launch; I heard, as we were approaching the Jaunch, some one call out on herto put tho helm ‘hard a star- board; this was when we were less than a length off; the wheels of the Americus made five or six turns back before striking the launch; when we came together she sagged right toward us; tle shock was so slight that we hardly noticed it, but the LITTLE BOAT WAS CRUSHED THROUGH AND DISAPPEARED ont of sight; our wheels were then stopped and we got ‘fa boat ready’ to lower, when we saw a boat put out from the docks to render’ such assistance as was necessary ; we laid by some ten minutes, when we were told were saved, and, as wo had drifted near the bathhouses, we started ahead and made our landing at Twenty-fourth street; as I said before, THEY HAD NO LIGHTS UP and did not answer my whistle; had they kept their course, or even ported their helm instead of starboard- ing, the collision would net have occurred; our lights were all up and burnmg at the time; I did all in my ower to avoid the collision; I went aft to lower a boat, Bae did not do so, as there was another boat already there picking up the people in the water; we were at tho time about 600 feet oi! the docks, WILLIAM LEWIS, A SANDY HOOK PILOT. and passenger on the steamer Americus at the time, testilled—When I first saw the launch she was about @ point off our port bow; the Americus was out twe lengths off the docks; when I first saw the launch the pilot of the Americus shut her off, as she ‘was going at full speed at the time; he blew one whistle and rang one bell to slow, and then stopped; at the time I was leaning out of the after port window of the pilot house, and at that time I saw this launch star- board her helm; previous to this you could not tell what she was, as she had no lights; 1 eaid to the cap- tain to back her quick, which he did, but she was Tight across our bow; the Americus was ‘backing until she struck the launch; after the launch was struck the Americus stopped and laid by for some time; there were no lights up; certainly none on the starbs side; I saw nothing to indicate that she was a steam vessel; SHE DID NOT ANSWER ANY WHISTLES; the pilot of the Americus did all, in my opinion, in his power to avoid a collision; if the launch had kept her course the collision would’ not have occurred; the Americus did not alter her course; it did not vary one quarter of a point either way. ie YN, Yareea ees nee passenger on the steamer Americus, test ‘as about to go on deck, so as to land at Twenty-fourth street and when I 'got at the forward gangway, on the po side, I heard one whistle from the Americus; I went forward and saw some small vessel; the bell then rany to slow and stop and back, which all came together; then saw what it was; I heard gome one on the launch sing out to hard to starboard the helm, three or four times; I then saw something passing under our bows; 1 veut across to the starboard side and as I got there i saw the fire fly out of the furnace of the laun AND HEARD THE CRASH; I immediately went astern and tok the mate to lower a boat, and at the same time I saw a boa put out from the dock to rescue the people; when I first saw the boat she was on our bow; I saw no,lights on the launch; as the launch was putting her helm to star- board I’saw the light from her furnace; the Americus Jaid by some ten or fifteen minutes after the collision, OFFICERS MOSES W. CORTRIGHT AND HRERY AITKIN, of the Sixteenth police precinct station, testified ip their opinion that the men rescued from’ the launch were more or less under the influence of liquor, as they (the officers) had an opportunity of judging, as the a were with the oilicers all of three-quarters of an our. ‘The foregoing evidence was corroborated in the main by Solomon Coombs, wheelsman of the steamer Amer- icus, and Thomas Liddicoat, master of the steainship Canima, plying between this port and Bermuda, WILLIAM MILLER, CHIRY ENGINEER O¥ STRAMSHIP CUBA, testitied that he was a passenger on the launch, and he did not see the Americus until she was on them; that they were up tho river on @ pleasure excursion, and not being acquainted with the river did not know how Townsend. We have found him to be honest, impartial and day morning, President Matsell in the chair. far up they reat bat on returning landed past of the sic. But the statements made b; a as to his vi 4 iy at irty-sixth street and wn nfiden ‘ourself, to the Board of Police, | eral o ir. te 7 Fegegeern cyt: oe aeles 0. Soe Hoard of Foch vs ey the boat intoxicated; Mr. Lynch did not hold a pilot's license to my knowledge; he §was foreman, and I steered the boat according to his orders; 1 cannot swear that there were any lights up; 1 did not hear any whistle blow; I heard the order to starboard the helm and the order to blow the whistle, but it wag impossible to blow under the circumstances; the Avricus struck us before we had a chance to blow, JOUN LYNCH, owner of the launch, testified that the collision occurred on Sunday, August’lS, 1875, at about eight P. M.; we had been up to Excelsior Grove, and on coming dowa landed at Forty-sixth street, anfas we came down ip turning Twenty-fourth street we sighted the Americus as she was leaving Tenth street; a that time Mr. Miller ‘was at the helm; I told him to keep in close to the docks, as the Americus was coming and we wanted to .Keep out of her swell; I told bim to starboard ag the Americus wus coming toward us; I was for- ward standing in the we when she struck us; the man that was drowned went over on the port side; Miller and I went over on either side the Americus’ stem and under the wheela; I suppose the wheels of Americus drew the other man (Leahy) under and struck him, we had to swim for the dock; no one offered any assistance > reached the corner of the dock I meta boat told them to go to the assistance of the o' two men; they found Miller and not Leahy; this launch had never been inspected; she was not ready for inspec- tion; we were constantly making alterations on her; there was no licensed master or pilot ; had been up tho river and stopped at Excelsior Grove; there was some lager drank there also; there was a keg of lager aboard, but nohe of the ns on board were under the intluence of liquor; Be camage to the launch was about $1,900; she has since been raised; there was one life lost—via, Andrew Leahy, engineer, ‘ he investigation was then adjourned sine die, A de- cision in the case will be reached in a few days, THE BURNING OF THE ZODIAC. AN OFFICIAL INVESTIGATION, Captain W. H. Chapin, of the steamship Zodiac, which was burned at sea on the 7th inst, mado his official report yesterday of the affair to the United States Inspectors, In his opinion the fire arose from Spontaneous combustion, Jeremiah Simon- son after accepting the Captain’s report took his ad- dress, so that he can be summoned as a witness for the official investigation, It is a curious coincidence that tife Zodiac was burned within five miles of where Missouri holocaust took place some years back. A LUNAR BOW. A Pensacola (Fla.) papor says:— Last Sunday night an unusual and motty, by Buk ‘was witnessed in this city, though, probabl fow, owing to the lateness of the hour, Just before midnight, ‘during the heavy rain, a jugar rainbow was ‘visible in’ the northeast, aud so continued with great drilliancy for the space of about thirty minutes, It was of a bright yellow color and perfectly distinct, in wok Hon go than are rainbows Peg seen in the daytime During the time it visible a heavy shower was falling, coming from the northeast, while at the same time the sky was perfectly clear in the: south and west, and the moon shining with exceeding brightnesa,