The New York Herald Newspaper, February 13, 1877, Page 4

; y H i : ; 4 THE FLORIDA MYSTERY. A Blind Chase After Savages Through the Jungles. A LEGEND OF “FEATHER-SED BAY.” Wonderful Story of a Conted- - erate Deserter. A TERRESTRIAL INFERNO. Camp ov tux Heratp Exrionixa Exr mem} at Sink 9? Prxucoxs, Jan. 31, 1877. The troabies with tho Indians left the sottlers of Florida little time tor speculation on her natural wonders until the removal of the Seminoles west of ; the Mississippi, But there are traditions that the heat of conflict bore the whites many times Into the depths of jurigles and morasses previously believed to be tm- penetrable, where they found the enemy eucamped und fort:tied, These discoveries were of course the rer fulls of chance only, und, alter retreating from the retuges upon which they bad stumbled, they always found that to retrace their steps would be nearly im- possible, The tangled wildwood presented to the re- trospective glance no clew to the pathway of pursuit which they had made, and in after years, when this was obliterated, curiosity was always baflled in at- tempting to revisit those sequestered haunts, PURSUIT OF INDIANS, 1t was in the year 1515 that General Jackson marched to the village of the Miccosukies and captured 300 scalps which bad been torn from the crowns of murdered white women ; and during this expedition a party of savages was chased through the * Flat Piney Woods” into the morass, They were followed even there, for, the season baving long been very dry, the waters were almost entirely absorbed by the thirsty earth, aud they trod among the tussocks without wetting sheir moccasins. One of the pursuers was the brother ofa man who had built his bat of logs at the utmost verge of nvilization, eight miles north of Sinko’ Pinhooks. He is stn living there, and, with ready tongue, will narrate to any inquirer thrilling tales of those “times which Wied men’s souls,” The brother who participated in the war is as tall as Powhatan and straight as au arrow, The lapse of years has crowned him with white hair, bot he wears the mein of a Nimrod, with the vim of the soldier still lighting bis eye, Fancy this figure clad ma suit of tawny homespun, which harmonizes well with the rich bue of bis skin in face and hands, There you have the hero of many a desperate hand-to- hand encounter with the assassins of white women and children, who gloried in shedding the blood of the red sons of the Everglades. BERG MAYNOR. Berg Maynor is nis name, although in the wild days of which I speak a quarrel with his tamily, who were of the patrician station in Barbados, had caused him to enlist with a false account of himself, which muy be found in the old muster rolls, if they are yet preserved in the archives of war. He was, according to his own Btatement, a witness of the assassination of General , Thompson by As-se-se-ha-he-lar, whom, he says, he tried to kill, but he failed, as his gun missed fire, It is opined by his neighbors that old Berg is doting on his part in the war, and merely imagines that ho was hid in the woods when Osceola did the deed; but bis ac- count of the first mentioned incident bas the air of truth, and besides is exactly the same as that which he rendered forty years ago to hearthstoue and camp fire listeners. Maynor was warring under the leadership of Gencral Jessup tn 1838, when a battle was fought near the foot of the Lime Hill, The Ludjans were strong in numbers and fought with obstinacy, but, as is their usual cus- tom, retired deeper and deeper into the forest so as to draw their enemy into anambush. The whites had long been disgusted with the peace-dabbling policy of the government, and now that they bad at last mot their hittierto almost invisible toe their enthusiasm tn pressing the conilict knew no limits. It is said that Chitto-Tuskunggie, achief und warrior, who figures prominently in the peace-making proceedings, maawu- vered the savages on this occusion, alternately re- pelling and inviting the advances of the whites, *SUULES? WALLOW,”” Tous they fought all the day along the old trappers’ path that Jed through the pines towara the present St, Mark's, In Jater years it became a wagon road, over Which the planters carried their cotton to be hauled to the seaboard, und it is said that the sloughs and marshes now dubbed by familiar names have each its tale of horror. A famous slough is called “The Mules’ Wallow,” becanse in it many planters lost their val- uable beasts of burden, who would somotimes, with load, driver and all, sink out of sight in the bottomtess slush, Here many of the brave whites became fouled in the pursuit, and the Seminoles, betaking themselves to the neighboring jungle of ‘T1-ti Swamp,” killed thom with deliberate shots. Those who safely trod the tussocks, however, were not dismayed, and the ln- dians gave way with load shouts and yells, THE HORRORS OF “PRATHER RED Bay.” Beyond the *‘Mules’ Wallow”’ there is a marsh about which the most remarkable stories are narrated. tin called “Feather Bed Bay.” No wild animal when chased by the hunter was ever known to cross it; the bayings of the hounds might force, the deer a little way from the firmer earth, but it would then become tlarmed with its rapid sinking and struggle out even “into the jaws of death.” Under the tread of any living thing upon the treacherous tussocks the whole surface of the marsh will tremble as if it were merely a floating scum ona hidden depth of water, As one surveys its tall furze and tufted grass, traversed by the quivering undulations produced by the breeze, and pon- ders on the frightful stories of the lives which have been smothered in the unfathomable slime, his won- derment at the application of the name of “Feather Bed Bay” ceases. Never was a more happy stroke of pomenclature achieved. 1t was comparatively un- kuown to the whites until the battle which I have been narrating took place. The Indians, in retreating, hoped by their superior lightness of foot to cross the “Feather Bed Bay’ before they were overtaken. They would aye avoided !t bad they not been pressed very hotly, and by boldly attaining the other shore they thought that the whites would be induced to attempt to follow them. But the trepidation of the moment prevented the sate Sage upon which *they had reckoned, The suriace of the bay shook under so Many moecasined foet, and warrior after warrior sank iu the slime, bis last breath gurgling up like the croak of the frog at twilight. To add to the horror of the scene, wich even to the heated whites Was repulsive, Indian women, whom runners had warned of the n: ig struggle as they sat fishing on . the margin of “Sink o’ Pinhooks,” appeared on the further side of ‘Feather Bed Bay,” wringing ther hands and tearing their hair with terror as their hus. bands, brothers, lovers and fathers struggled with the Mrange cyclops, Some of them even flung them- selves with long resounding and long remember shrieks into the fatal pool of mire and disappear with their defenders. Stalwart warriors, whose cop- bery fiesh seemed to have assumed a redder hue from having been painted with the blood of the whites, Wunfully struggted back to the shore, with eyes glar- Ind, tongues protruding aud faces streaked with sweat and yore, Thero the whites, with the passion of ree vengeyrimly burning in thoir eyes, stood firing at the fgures which were attempting to reach the other side; and those who struggled affrighted with death in so sickening @ form, were given their quictus by blows inflicted with the butts of their muskets. Their bodies were thrust back into the mire and never sven more, ; A BLIND CHAS Pitty of the savages passed ‘eather Bed Bay” either by treading the tussvcks with superior quick. ness and agility or by running around it with their utmost speed, The latter example wos followed by many of the whites, who resumed the pursuit, after preventing the escape from the mire of two braves who toiled nearly stioulder deep the edge. Some ot the whites here turned bwek, but others, forgetting discipline and = hot bearing = the voice _ of command, pressed = on in hot chase, Tho night had fallen and the found of the breaking vines and shrubs and th ‘pldsbing ot the water in the morasses as tho, swept through ‘Wu, on, they went; was all that gt the faint pre he sérvdd to confure ull ‘nether obiects, and the | ‘pine and cypress | cove. | could not proceed, and abandoned the search, NEW YORK HERALD, TUESD assomed strange aspects as they sped along. There was # sort of intoxication in the wildness, weirdncss and uncertainty of the bovt There was danger of ambusp by wild beasts aswell as by savagea They beard the svarl of the panther over their heads (re- quently as they passed inte the dense tangle of the palmetto hammocks or “tight eye” jumgica But they were men who had cause to thirst for the blood of the Semunoles, and they knew during these hours of night only of the now near, now distant, sound of their footsteps and hated voices; sometimes the sobs of the querulous squaws, sometimes the defying yells of the Gend-like warriors. A PROPLE’S SWAMP ISLAND Old Maynor says that, judging by the position of the moon, they went eastward trom the ‘Sink o’ Pn- hooks,” where thero stood a few deserted wigwams, crossed several streams aud “thicks,”? and Gnally approached a large isiand in she midst of a great expanse of warer and forest, The island was densely ‘and closely shaded with magnolias, bays and live oaks, and a great camp fire in the centro cast about a wonder- ful glow, which disclosed to them a circle of many wigwams, The Indians stood at bay and renewed the ght But they were surprised by the sudden appari- tion of their pursuers, who, they supposed, bad been bated by the tortuous and tangled way which they bad ted = them, The soldiers dasbea in upon them and killed a squaw, but they wore quickly surrounded by more Indians than they baa expected to encounter,and could only cut their way back ito the morass, froin which they maintained an occastonal fire at the Agures which ven- tured out of the wigwams. They related that some of these were negroes, They then plunged backward the way that they bad come, and about sunrise found themselves at the Lower Pinhook Sink. ANOTURR WONDERFUL STORY. This the first time that ever white man pene- trated beyond the outskirts of the great Wacissa mo- rass. Berg Maynor, who isa life-long hunter, nevor was able to find again the pathway, if there was one, which led him and his companions to the Indian en- campment, There is only one other instance in which a similar place in-the morass was visited by a white man, and the story im this case rests upon the word ofa deserter from the Contoder- ates and a spy tor the federals, His name is Stanisland, Ho relates that during the war of secession he had de- serted from the rebel army, which be had been com- pelied to join by conscription. To avoid capture he sought refuge In the “flat, piucy woods,” and received aid und sympathy from a ‘‘corncracker,”” who had ro- mained a loyalist despite the infliction of the lash by the rebel “‘chivalry,”? Stanisland haunted the country near the coast, where the fish and game both were plentiful. He stole a boat from some fisherman and sailed frequently from an island in the Pinhook down to the Appalachee Bay. Through the long sum- mer days of 1863 he used to observe a federal gunboat moor near the mouth of the Ocilla or Aucilla River, Atter a time he became familiar with the crew, so that, in exchange for tsh, venison and information about the aflairs of the Con- feaerates, he obtained flour, tobacco and coflee. He had not been many weeks leading this solitary life when, whilo sailing on tho bay, or fsbing there with a net, he often observed over the black pine country a dark, dense column of smoke, which seemed to riso very rapidly. Supposing that the federals had sta- tioned a gunboat in the Aucilla River he {nquired one day of the Heutenant of the vessel in the bay why it was done, a8 there were no towns to monaco or fortill- cations to capture in that quarter, The commander de- nied any knowledge of the cause of the smoke, and said that be had taken observations of it for some time, Be told Stanisland that he bad been Informed that its origin was natural, and his curiosity was so awakened that he would give $100 to any man who would find it and report his discovery to him. Stanisland had been fur up the Wacissa many times, and trom triangula- tions made on board the gunboat thought that he knew exactly where to leave the river and enter the morass in order to reach it, A projonged drought had caused almost all the water to disappear from the swamps, and the Wacissa, which is usually spread out among the cypress torests which border its current, had sunk so low between its banks that he was able to effect a dry landing. AN INFERNO ON BARTIL We follow tho story of Stanisland, upon which his subsequent conduct threw much discredit. He moored his boat in a cove, and, taking only bis gun and a scanty ration of food, started immediately toward tho west. When be bad gone alittle way ho saw smoke in the distance, and directed his course toward it, On approaching it appeared more and more dense, spread- ing through the woods before it ascended above the tree tops, At the same time he listened to a strange notse—a combined hissing, roaring and rumbling. A ridge lay across his way, a few feet above the floor of the surrounding morass, and seemed to be the source of the smoke and the uproar, Stanisland, as he drew near the ridge, which would be an island during a season ordinarily wet, felt awe and fear creeping through him, and proceeded very cautiously. The hissing be- came louder, and he saw smoke rising as {rom a long crevice beyond the summit of the ridge. When he set foot upon the island he felt it quaking under him, and he stood still with suspended breath at the verge of this strange land of shades, His sensations must havo been something like those of Dante when he contem- plated the ‘Inferno.’ ’ A feariul awe possessed him, as if some diabolical deity held revol within a few yards of the spot where he stood. He would not have been surprised to have seon “pale Hecate’s shade”? stalk about, berating her seven haga while they tended the boiling of the black cauldron, Such ideas were not defined in bis mind, but he yiclaed to the spell of terror and hid himself behind a distorted live oak which stood neur him tu friendly attitade, As he waited there, specu- lating on the cause of the uproar and smoke, he could not muster fortitude enough to brave the pangs of fear aud go to the opposite side of the island, whereby he could have solved the mystery. In this emergency be deplored the lack of a companion who would have shamed him intoa more thorough investigation, THE EXPLORER DISMAYED, Ue determined that be would not return to the river, but would start for the woods on the western side, and, returning by water to the gunboat, would claim the reward, offer to lead the way to the smoke, and iu any event recover bis boat He had escaped from the swamp and was walking on the Newport road when he was surprised by a troop of Confederate cavalry, which arrested bim and took him to Jacksonville, There he was set at performing the work of a gunsmith, and, having con- siderable iiberty, escaped, He went immediately to the place where he hud moored his boat in the Waci: River, but it was gone. Then he proceeded to the mouth of the Aucilla, where the gunboat had Juin so Jong, but that, too, was gone, WAS IT A DREAM? Years afterward he wrote to a gentleman who was interested in the mystery of the smoke offerig for a certain sum to guide him to the island which he bad diveovered, His proposition was accepted, aud men were appointed to go with him; but on going up tho Wacissa River he failed to recognize the spot where he had moored bis boat, as the water had risen high and had obliterated for the time the shores of the Without this initial point of his journey he The en- | thugiastie explorer who employed him asserts his be- | het that Stanisiand’s tale of discovery is utterly false. | He has since written to hitn and endeavored to engage him in another attempt to verify it, but in vain, itadream ? Whether or not It was a dream the observations made by the present expedition point to the probabil- ity that the source of the mystery lies in that poftion of the morass visited by Maynor long ago and by Stan- island more recently. Its labors thus far have been aimed in that direction, and I hope soon to chrovicie some of their substantial fratts. Was VISITING AFRICA, Innumerable police raids have been mado on the court Nos. 57 and 50 Thompson street, known as “Alrica,’’ bat still almost every night a case of robbery or violence occurs among iis dissolute negro aud white inhabitants, On Sunday night Peter Mouton, an Kast Indian sailor from Poudieberry, visited Africa and made the acquaintance of a white woman named Mary Devlin, whose negro lover, David Dawsey, came im, and, aided by her, robbed Mouton of $9 40 and then threw im Out of the second story window, Luckily, he fell on @ pile of dirt, aod was not much injured, hth precinct, arrested Daw- on being wrraigned before jammer yesterday were held for trial in de- fault of $2,000 bail each: “Dawsey said he was born in Hayt, and the woman Deviin claimed the whole state of Pennsylvania tor her birthplace, Mouton was sent to the Huuse of Detention. MINISTERS IN COUNCIL. Very nico biblical and theological questions and dis- tinctions occupied tho attention of the Methodist aud Bapust ministers’ conferences yesterday. The Rev. Joseph Pullman read an interesting and elaborate paper before the Methodists on the revision of the Bible by separate ahd indepondent committees of scholare in England and tbe United States. In each country there are two committees, one for the Old Tostament and one fér the New. Each committee in its sphere acts indo- pendently of the others in translating, but the two commitveos tn each country meet periodically te revise one another’s work. ‘hen the English joint com, mittee send their translation to the Amert. can joint committee for revision and approval, ahd the Americans do the same thing with thei work by sending it to the English. They have thus jointly carriea through the translation and revision o! tho Pentateuch, and some of the historical books of tho Old Testament, the Gospels aud the general epistics of the New, and the: bow © on Isaiah and Hebrews, While # ranslations are quite new, the old text, So far as it can be, will be retained, The changes will embrace errors of grammar and pane- tuation; will put the poetical parts of the Bibic in metrical form; will exclude Interpretations such as the reference to the ange! coming down at a certain eazon to trouble the pool at Bethesda, and the in Jonn’s drst epistle to the three that bear record in heaven, &e. It will ied tranglations of the game word are translated bishop, elder, pres- will give @ uniform meaning reek word evorywhere. ‘The distinction that should be made be- tween the words hades and Gehenna will be made, And while the text will contain the best translation that can be given the other forms will be retained in mar- ginal notes, No part of the work will be pubsished for circulation autil the whole 1s completed. And when the cominittees In each country have dnished their work they will meet as a committee of the whole, either in England or America, to revise their work throughout no time necessary for the translation and revision is estimated at ten years from the begin- ning of the work, Tn the Baptist Conference the Rov. Mr. Smith read a paper onthe “Relation of Justification to Sanctifica- tiou,’”? which was discussed by Brothers Hugh Norton, Reid, Samson and others, in which nice the logical ‘distinctions were made between those two spiritual conditions, But the main thought of tho essay and of the discussion was that sanctification, as that term is generally understood, was not an instan- taneous work, but 1s a gradual process of grace in the soul But there is a sense in which sanctification is iu- stantaneous, and that is when {t means the setting apart of 4 person or thing to holy uses, Butus regener- ation is the Woprenihg. of the new life sanctification is the development to the maturity of that life corre- sponding to manhood in the natural erowth and re- demption is the completeness of the growth in grace. The efficient cause of this growth and development was shown to be Christ dwelling in the human heart and developing his own holy life through the spiritual life of the believer. The Reformed Church Classis of New York met at Dr. Ormston’s chureb yesterday morning to act upon acall which has been made by the church in avenue Band Fifth street upon tho Rev. JacobSchlegol, The classis heard and received the-call, but deferred final action until their regular spring meeting. BRIDES OF HEAVEN. THE GOOD SHEPHERD NUNS AND THEIR FIVE WHITE ROBED NOVICES. The Good Shepherd nuns had a very interest- ing ceremony yestorday morning. Five fair young postulants, robed im soft, white draperies, that were soon to be exchanged for other spoticss robes of a different fashion only, knelt before the altar und re- ceived their burning wax tapers from the hands of the venerable pastor of the Good Shepherd Convent. In touching worda the good priest painted to them the beauties of a life consecrated wholly to God, and then, as each ono knelt before the altar, be asked her why sbe presented herselfthere. They all repliod with one accord that they demanded the holy habit, He bago each attend to the voice of the Holy Spimt which speaks to the docile heart, saying, ‘Forget thy/people und the house of thy father, that thou mayest draw down upon thee the favorable looks of thy heavenly spouse,” ‘The Novice Mistress then conducted them to the tribune while the priest blessed the white habits, belts, scapulars, veils, rosaries and mantles. ‘he choir sang appropriate anthoms, and ag the novices returned the strains rose higher and higher in the grand notes of the “Quam delecta,” until all bad again knelt before the altar. Then the novices began the responses, *1 have chosen to be a servant in the house of our Lord Jesus Christ.” ‘As the priest gave the scapular to each ono he ad- monished her to bear the sweet yoke of Jesus Christ and léarn of Him to be meck and bumbie of heart. The white veil was then placed upon each bowed head to hide the eyes from the world and preserve the purity and modesty of her who agpires toa lite hidden in God, Tne chaplet of white beads, with a smull white cross, was given to cuch one as a testimony of devotion to the Blessod Virgin Mary; and as the flow- ing white cloak wasclasped about each form they were warned to preserve it without a spot for the murriage feast of the Lumb. As a mark of the victory each one ig to obtain over the world, the dev‘! and the flesh, a now hame was given, with the admonition to follow the example of go illustrious a namesake. While the priest gave the benediction of the Blessed Sacrament all knelt tn silent prayer, and at its close the Prioress affectionately embraced each new novice. As thoy passed up the choir the religious on either side sa- fate them, while the chanters sang the “Laudate Dominum.” Father Joseph Durthaler, 8. J., officiate and Misa Teresa Doherty received the name 10 re- ligion of Sister Mary Emerantiana; Miss Annie Burko took the name of Sister Mary of St. Aguetis; Miss Maggie Burke is known as Sister M. Ciotilda; Miss Honora Dwyer as Sister Mary Hilda, and Miss Jane Gabbett as Sister M. of St, Eugenie. THE EVE OF LENT. FROM CARNIVAL AND PANCAKES TO SACKCLOTH AND ASHES. To-day is Shrove Tuesday, which in all European countries is kept asa feast day, as immediately pre- ceding Ash Weduesday, the tirat day of Lent, Io France it is called Mardi Gras, or Fat Tuesaay, it de- rives the name of Shrove Tuesday from an anciont practice in the Church of Rome of confessing sins, and being shrived or shrove—that ts, obtaining absolution on that day. In olden times it was always regarded as a popular festival The day preceding, which was called Collop Monday trom the practice of eating collops of salted meat and eggs on that day, was looked upon ai season of jollity aud fun. All through Shrove Tuesday there was a feast of pancakes, und to this day the Irish people look upon the pan. cake as being inextricably connected with the day Belore beg cuten there was always a great deal of contention among the eaters to sev which could most adroitly toss them im the pan, At present in Westminster school the following old custom 18 ob- served:—At eleven o’clock in the moruing a verger of the abbey in his gown, bearing a silver baton, emerges from the college kitchen, followed by the cook of the school in his white apron, jacket and ca; and carrying a pancake. Ou arriving at the school room door he announces himself, “ihe cook,’ and, having entered the school room, he advances to the bar, Wiech separates the upper school trom the lower one, twirls the paucake in the pa: id then tosses: it over the bar into the upper school among a crowd uf boys, who scramble for the pancake. Whoever gets it unbroken and carries it to the dean- ery dewands the bonorarium of a guinea (sometimes two guineas) Irom the Abbey funds thougn the cus- tom 1s not mentioned in the Abbey statutes, The cook also receives two guineas for his performance. In this city Shrove Tuesday will be largely ob- served among our Irwh,” Gerinan and French fellow citizens, and to-night = there will be a number of privato purtics and recep- tions given, where the pancake will form one of the principal features of the supper. It is an old cus- tom which {s yet observed to make a large quantity of batter into wliich agold ringis placed and the party receiving as his or her sbare of the feast the pancake containing therein the ring will, according to the old tradition, if single, be married within tho year, ‘To-morrow, St. Valentine’s Day, will be to the youths and maidens all over our land a day of joy to be long remembered, It will bring to these more advanced ip years the recollection of the time when they too were young and their hearts throbbed impatiently for tho knock of the messenger bearing to them some sweet souvenir from the ono they loved, Mixed with these feelings will be also the more serious thoughts o! pen- ance and devotion; for on this day, by a rare coinci- deuce, the Lenten season begins, Asb Wednesday must also be kept, and a strange contrast will be presented Letween the tonder words of love and the penitential faces of the senders of Cuptd’s missives. A fasting lover will, no doubt, be a curious and laugh- able spectacie, By the pleatifal provision made by our valentine manufacturers lor the celebrationot St. Vale entine’s birthday, nowever, lovers will be provided with sweet epistles adapted to all occasions and condi- tions of life, which, if they were composed by U sender, would be wotully marred by the effect on b spirits of the absence of his morning me re aro--scoflers, disbelievers in the plow si their cynicism by sending malicious valentines and car. jcatures of the receiver's litte weaknesses in lieu of the expected message of love, The letter carriers will be taxed to their utmost to deliver these certill- cates of Cupid’s pranks; but no matter how welcome they are on ordinary occasions, on this day they will be rewarded with a beartier greeting than ever, and more substantial token of the receiver’s pleas- ‘be old, old story will still be told, and the poetry oj life will still have its devotees in spite of high prices and the scarcity of money. The dealers in valentines have only one day in the year to improve their busi- n but they make the most ol it, They don't have to seck trade-—it comes to them; no “drumming up’ Is Lecessary. Financial houses may go down, there may be panic everywhere, wars and rumors of wirs may be provaient on ail sides, but this trade will still go on, lor though the world grow older fresh toun- tains of life continually arive and ardent young hearts who ere the year is vut will light the torch of Hymea will always be found to celebrate the birthday ef St. Valentine DRUG CLERKS. PROPOSED AMENDMENTS TO THES LAW CON- CEBNING THEM-- WHERE IMPROVEMENIS MAY BE MADE. lt i understood that during the prdsens session of the Legislature an act amendatory of the existing law relative to druggists and their clerks will be introduced, having for its purpose the better protection of the public against errors 19 dispensing and compounding medicines, To ascertain bow far the law now in opera tion. covers the case and what new provisions might be benetictal brief conversations were had yesterday with some of the better known pharmacists jn the city. Some beid that the original law was more to the pur- pose than the present in that particular provision making it incumbent upon ali clerky who dispense meuicines to be Hcensed and properly registered. This point was absolute in the old law, and was a great safeguard. The enforcement of that section, though it seemes harsh jn seme cases, allowed only qualided persons to act us clerks—that is, if the Board of Pourmacy did their business in properly examining ap- plicants. The law now to force permits apprentices and junior ussistants to dispense medicines, under tho supervision of registered pharmacists or graduates in pharmacy, The liberty th erded in many in- Pag bas proved the stepping stone to fatal mis- takes, lt was also beld that there 18 pot suflicient precuu- tton taken by the Board of Pharmacy relative to the registration of those clorks who present themseives armed with certificates that they have graduated {row Many ol these cer- They may be held by the owners yy not be. Fraud can be practised with them as with bogus medical diplo and bas been known to be practised, Therefore, every appli- cant betore the Board of Pharmacy, whether hu pre- sents such oredentials or not, should be subjected to the examination which the important nature of the matter demands, Such is sot vor bas it been the practice with the present Board of Pharmacy, and tho amended act should be so framed as to allow no lcop- holes in the certificate business. Nothing should be taken for gramted when lite and death are concerned, THK SALE OF POISONS. ‘The law uow on the statute books regarding the gale of poisons does not seem sufficient 118 allowed to be sold if the buyer can gatisly the draggist that he or she is acquainted with its deadly character and can satisfy him that the purposes for which !t is tntended are legitimate. A good deal more than this is required {to prevent improper persons from obtaining doudly drugs, No retail nor wholesale druggist should be allowed to dispose of them to any persvn not having in his possession a physician’s prescription, and who should be identified, as a stranger wishing to cash a check ut any bank 1s required to be, ‘The latter plan 4s adopted by several of the leading stores. The present law also permits physicians to dispense s they deem fit, and in the opinion of phar- of known reputation this clause might bo mn- ‘and some safeguard thrown around it, in order heey rent possible wrong doing. tA 0 held vy those in the business that the ma- jority of errors that occur in compounding medicines are made by.the most competent clerks. CARELESS OLERAS. “The best in business; those thoroughly competent and familiar with tho profession in all tts details, make some of the mistakes,” one g man. ‘ho reason,’? be continued, that just such competent clerks become over confident and cu! hence the blunders. Enact a law that will prevent’ men from becoming careless and the groat point will be reached. No druggist of repute, howevor, will employ other than competent men to do his dispensing and compounding. His Hert ping and certainly bis reputation are at stake, When there is a vacancy with us tho applicant must go _ through his examination jn this store. We don’t care how many cxamining boards he has passed, we don’t care what college he has gone through, he must satisfy us here at the pre- scription desk that he 1s competent to fill the position. In this way we have conducted our business for years without error. '? ‘The education of the drug clerk is essential. All clerks, it is held by tho leading drug firms of the city, should go through with the regalar course of study in the Uollege of Pharmacy. Not to do ths js a mistake, and no one intending to become a druggist should ne- glect it. A clause covering this point might with consistency be introduced into the new act, making 1 apply to tu. ture applicants before the Board of Pharmacy. Some of the members of the leading drog firms also felt that, notwithstanding much good may come out of an amended law, there was a growing disposition to overhaul and ‘tinker’? th st at every session ol the Legislatare; not to improve it, but 10 do something na ep will add to the fees and perquisites of the inter- es THE DESTITUTE, A MONTH’S WORK BY THE SOCIETY FOR AMELI- OBATING THE CONDITION OF THE POOR—A COMPARISON OF THE DISTRESS AS IT EXISTS IN THE SEVERAL WARDS. The Society for the Amelioration of the condition of the Poor has just received the reports of its visitors for the month of January. These reports serve tu show acomparison of the distress prevailing in each of twenty-two wards in the gity. A special feature of this socioty is that each visitor Is supplied with funds for distribution and immediate reliet is given at tho time of the viait, the other charitable societies deeming it more expedient to have an application made frst, then a visit, and subsequently the distribution of the rehet, ‘There are 376 regular visitors connected with the society, but during the winter montns this number is increased to about 500. ‘The result of having so large a number of visitors 13 that they aro ail /amiliar with the wants of the people in their respective neighborhoods, Net afew of t visitors have been connected with the sooiety for ov slated y: gentlomen have been ex: posed to danger Iu the performance of their charitable work. Thieves and other disreputable characters have endeavored to entice them into their dens under pre- tence of cases of destitution tor the purpose of robbing them, Tne followiug table shows the number of fami- hes and the number of persons relieved by the society during the month of January and the amount in cach of twenty-two wards-— TABLE OF RELIEF, Wards. Families, Persons, Visits, 66 316 94 305 1,207 400 192 238 210 218 188 304 217 355 242 223 245 608 699 1,483 144 258 248 Bol 255 412 107 por 358 435 547 1,090 317 358 608 1,033 425 760 225 320 seen MAD 222 Totals... 6,800 9,012 $10,965 12 During January, 1876, the total number of families relieve: was 7,954; persons relieved, 31,739; visits made, 13,593, and amount oxpended, $23,477 08. It thus appears that the work done ip January, 1876, was much greater than in Jast January. But thisis ex- plained by the tact that this year the funds have not come into the society so abundantly as they did in 1876, great difficulty belag found how in collecting money. Old subscribers were compelled to reduce their customary subseriptions by about one-half, on account of the pressure of hard times opon them- selves. THE DISMISSAL OF YOUNG WIL- SON FROM THE NAVAL ACADEMY, ew York, Feb. 11, 1877. ‘Yo tne Epiror ov tax HeRatpo:— Tread in your valuable paper of to-day what pur. ports to bo a telegraphic ‘despatch from Annapolis, Md, stating the dismissal of Cadet Midshipman John © Wilson, Jr., and giving the cause thereof, Itisa fact that such disinissa) has taken place, My som notl- fled me to that effect on Thureday, the Sth inat, Iim- mediately proceeded to Annapolis to ascertain tho canse and returned home this morning. Admiral Rodgors boing sick, I was unable to see Lim; but :ny interrogatories were replied to by Captain Terry who represented the Admiral. Captaim Terry intormed ine that young Wilson was dismissed for bad conduct and for giving evasive answers and ingouiously worded ex. cuses on the sabjectof smokipg. He seid nothing to me About any letter having been written to the 1 Des partment regarding: the Admiral or anything about chewing tobacco, 1 think 1s somowhut strange, us, being the father of the young man and going to Annap- olis tor the express purpose of finding out the bouom facts of the case, that if what you publish is true, it was not imparted to me. My son 18 now in Washing. on for the purpose ot huving bis case investigated ‘with a view to being reinstated. I therelore respect- fully ask that you will publieh this in contradiction to the brond assertion of the telegrum referred to above, unul such time os that investigation can be had and the truth of the matter ascertained. V respectiuily, JOHN ©. WILSON, No, 984 Sixth avenue, N. Y. LIVE SLOCK FOR EUROPE. ‘The shipment of beef to the English markets has proved #0 profitable that a cattle dealing Orm in Hole Jana has started the enterprise of transporting live stock from this country, The Rotterdam steamers have been engaged Jor tis purpose, and 175 head of cattle purchased at the Jorsoy City stock yards willbe transported ns soon as the necessary arrangements can be made on board the steamers, A CONTESTED WILL. ‘Tho brother and aisters of « docoased Brooklyn mor- chant, Mr, Carson, have contested his will, by which his estate, valued at $30,000, was leitto his wifo and son * | AY, FEBRUARY 13, 1877:-TRIPLE SHEET. JOHN O’MAHONY. DECEASED PATRIOT'S FUNERAL TO-DA CROWDS VIEWING THE REMAINS. Notwithstanding the immenge number of people who visited the remains of Colone! O'Mahony during the previous days of his lying in st a crowd, far groater than any of the former ones, sought admission yesterday at the armory of the Sixty-ninth regiment INSIDE THE akMORY. Io the officers’ room the scene was much the same as op the previous days, Several now floral offerings were laid on or near the coffin, Two large crosses of roses, carnutions and camellias, bearing the name of the deceased, were presented by unknown admir- ers A little gir! passing !p the crowd lala @ handsome bouquet ov the coffin A large Irisb harp with broken strings wag presented by a jady, and a beautiful model of an Irish pillar tower in crimson and white carnations aud blue rmmorvelies, bearing the dates '25—'48, was given by a soldier of the Irish Legion, A large pillow ‘of tube roses, Dearing crossed sabres tn crimron iminor- telles aud the dates '48—'65, was sent from Huriem by a “patriotic irishwomu: ‘A quantity of evergreens, tube roses and camellias were also sprinkled round the body in the cofllu, aud.on the surtace of the glass plate there lay a little wreath of shamrocks. THM REQUIEM, At six o'clock this morning the body will be re- moved trom thearmory to St. Francis Xavior’s church, which will be draped iv mourning The members of the Feman Council and the managing committeee will alone accompany it. Tho church will not be opgned | 4ill near ning, wt which Beur the mass will commence, | The ceremonies at the church will be wholly of a ro ligions nature, aud will consist of a solemu high mass for the dead. Father Waite, who attended Colo O’Mauony while sick, will probably sing the mass In addition to the usual choir the services of a large chorui been secured, * ‘the hearse will be an open one, drawn by (our black horses, aud will be attended by the pall-bearers and a military guard of honor. Besides bodies previously mentioned, the *Holy fnnocents Ritle Corps,” of this city, the Bergen Point Volunteers, and the ‘Spears’? Rides, of Poiladelphia, will attend, ON THE DOCK. The Williams & Guion Company will have their dock red by an early hour, Carpet will be laid in the ered portion, and means will be provided for the seuling of the coffin in a lead-lined oak case, in which it will be packed tor the voyage. The vessel will have finished lading by half-past nine A, M., a space tn the after hatch being reserved for the collin. pe proces- sion 1s expected to arrfve at half-past one, The vessel will gail at turee. RESOLUTIONS OF RESPECT. The Brooklyn Common Council passed resolutions yesterday regretting the death of John O’Mahgny and recalling bis services to the United States during the period of the rebellion, They appointed a committee of tive to altend the funeral, The Ninety-niuth regi- ment will attend the funeral in a body. A PROJECTED OPEN STOCK BOARD. Wall street is apparently dissatisfled with itself, and ig going in for a reformation in the matter of stock transactions, For some timo there have been mur- murs of dissént in certain circles at the manner in which business has been done on the Stock Exchange. Some have deemed it too close a corporation for their arposes andi have clamored for an open board, und latterly, whem the rates for purchasing stocks were raised 60 as to exclude a considerable amount of the small busineas that usod to ve a feature of the street, the action of the Governing Committee, which led to this result, was feltas a severe blow by many of the brokers who had hitherto earned no inconsiderable sum by acting for those operating on limited margins. Since ‘that decision was promulgatec various efforts have been made to either modify or abolish the rule, but without avail, ‘The exchango has steadily adhered to it: Now an outside effort is on foot having no less important step in contemplagion than the formation ofan independent stock board, To forward this meas- ure over a hundred Wall street men met at Pelmonico’s yesterday, and discussed the project, Alter a good deal of general talk om the necessity and utility of such an enterprise a committee was appointed to torward the scheme by drawing up bylaws und regulations for the body’s government, Another meeting will be held pee the presentation of this committee’s report in a few jays, AN UNDESIRABLE TENANT. ‘About four months age man about forty years of age, giving the name ot Major George W. Corliss, hired the apartments on the second floor of the residence of Mrs. Mary Sparr, No, 189 Secondavenue, His conduct in the house caused Mrs. Sparr to give him notice to leave. He then threatened to shoot her and her son. On Sunday evening he locked the doors of his rooms and lighted up his front windows with candles, hang- ing a quantity of underclothiag and huge placards bearing the fngcription ‘*Rooms to let” on tho outside, The unusual sight attracted the attention of a large crowd, which assembied in front of the house, and for a time the ‘travel of tha Second avevue street cars was impeded. Captain McCullogh and Officer Butterby, venteenth precinct, on- tered the house for the purpose of arresting Corliss, On being summoned -to surrender, the Major rephed by firing a pistol shot through the door which happily did no damage, Captam McCuilogh looked through the keyhole and saw Corliss standing in the middle of the room with a large revolver in his band, It was de- cided to allow Officer Butterby to remaim\in the house all night; aud on Corliss attempting to leave his room, he was promptly arrested. When brought before Jus- tice Wandell, at the Essex Market Court, he dhe was the editor of an insuranco [lad and had an office at No. 206 Broadway. Justice Wandell fined him $10 anc sent him to the island in default of $1,000 ball for his future good conduct. FILTHY STREETS. The condition of the streets is beginning to claim the attoution of the Heaith Board, in view of the great number of deaths from diphtheria and typho- malarial disorders recently. Yesterday elevon of the ganitary inspectors, physicians, met with Professor Chandler and bad a conference on the filthy condition of the streets, on the west and cast sides, especially where the pavements are cobble or wooden, Thero are many boles and pools of stagnant water, and these are said to be most frequent in the neighborhood of Tontb and Eleventh avenues, between Thirty- third and Forty-second streets. In the vicinity of West Thirty-ninth street, where these cesspools are found, diphtheria prevails most, Many cases of malarta have also been reported from the east side. To-day each of these inspectors will make a report of the actual condition of the stroets in his district as to cleanlineas and soundness, A YOUNG REPROBATE. Christopher McCarthy, thirteen years old, has long beon a terror to his companions and family. Ho lived with his mother and sister at No. 128 Baxter street, Yesterday morning be obtained a quantity of liquor, and on going home quarrelied with his mother and sister. In his frenzy he attempted to stab the latter. She fled from the room, and, while the mother stopped the egress of the son, called for the police. In front of the sergeant’s desk at the station where he ‘wus taken the prisoner suddenly turned on his sister, and attempied to kick ber, Alter some trouble he ‘was tuken down stairs and locked up in a cell Ino few moments he became very violent and made an effort to beut out his brain tho grated door. He was then removed to another cell, where a special man was appointed to take care of him, He has veeo arrested Jor drunkeness before, RAILROAD TRACKS ON HIS HEAD. “Bose,” said Mr. Charics Wilson, of No, 16 Minetta street, when brought beiore Judge Flammer at the Washington Place Court yesterday, ‘this ’ere Bob Cromwell’s a bad nig, bois. 1 didn’t do nuffin to him, and ho went for to cut me with a razor, ‘Then 1] went right to work, and being a citizgn defended myself. 1 don’t want no razors, boss, I've been cut with them razors belo’, and my head’s just furly covered with rajlroad tracks frow ’em now." The facts were that Messrs. Wilson and Cromwell, both colored, met on the night of the 3d inst, in Speckiign’s saloon at Broome and Sullivan streets, snd Guring « quarrel which followed Wilson beat Cromwel) over the bead with arevolver. He escaped at the time, and a war- rant was issued for hig arrest, Cromwell, who was captured at the time, got five days and was discharged n week ago, As he did not appear in court yesterday the Judge auld, “Mr, Wilson, you can go home.” HEALTH IN THE PUBLIO SCHOOLS. ‘The bill m the Senate of this State providing for the Aappomntinent of an additional assistant superintendent of schools for medical supervision has received the unanimous approval of the Medico-Logal Society, the Medical Society of tbe County of New York and other medical associations, A WIFE'S NARROW ESCAPE, Officer Geary, of the Second precinct, Brooklyn, yes- terday morning beard the roport of a pistol and crice of “Murder!” and “Help !"? issuing from the tenement house No. 191 Front street, Ho at once elfécted an eutrance, and found Owen Huzay, a iborer, somewhat under the Influence of liquor, Booting at hie wile, Bridget. The officer at nce arrested Huzzy and he was locked up, Justice Walsh yesterday committed the prisoner to Raymond Street Jail to await oxamination, ARRESTED FOR ARSON. ‘two women, giving the names of Kitty Burke aud Mary Clements, wero urraigned at the Tombs Court yesterday charged with setting firo to the Motel Jagel, at No. 47 Barclay abeeot, The only evidence againat the prisouers was (bat 1 were seen coming Out of the betel at an unse je hour and shortly belore the flames broke out. swiee, fires held that tuero ‘was not suilicient proof to Lold the prisoners, and they wore accordingly diucharged, SUICIDE OR MURDER? A Young Woman Found Dead in a Field. ON STATEN ISL EXCITEMENT ND. THE BODY UNRECOGNIZED. Murder or suicide? is the question to be sulved in re- lation to the handsome young woman whose body wag discoverod ip the Quarantine Grounas, at Tompkins- ville, Staten Island, on Sunday, as bricfy related ia the Hexanp yesterday, There are circumstances couected with tie case which favor the theory of murder, avd that tm o romantic, secret and terrible form, which, if revealed, may equal, jp fact, the semi-fictitious story of the unfortunate Marie Roget, as pictured by the thril- ling and sombre pen of Edgar A. Poe, Some of the reasons for takjng this view of the case, as opposed to | the commonly accepted one of suicide, appear below. Although the body was visited Sunday and all day ‘yesterday by hundreds of people from’ the adja- cent country, no one has yet recognized the unhappy gir. An inquest was to have been held it night by Coroner Demp- sey at Bay Viow Hotel, Tompkinsville, but when the jury had agsombled it was resolved, at tho sug- gestion of the Coroner, to postpone the mvestigation until Wednesday, in the hope thatthe body would, in the meantime, be identified, or some light thrown upon the matter, 1t wus resolved to take u photograph of the deceased to-duy as a means of identification in case decomposition should set in before the interment is maue. The body will remain on view at the undor- tuker’s shop of Michael Oates until Wednesday or pos- sibly Thursday, and should no friends appear {twill bo covsigned to earth in the potter’s field of Richmond county, It was also resolved last might to have the stomach, which was removed at an autopsy held Sunday afternoon, anulyzed it it could be done for $25 or less—not otherwise, the Coroner objecting to lay the county under any heavier expense, ‘The circumstances attending the finding of the corpse vivdly recall the case of Sarah Alexander, who was killed by Rubenstein, FINDING THE BODY, About half past twelve o'clock on Sunday two little boys, named respectively Robert and Edwin Murphy, were flying kites on tho grounds reforred to, when the younger of the two saw tho body lying out- stretched, face upward, tn a slight bollow of the ground and within twelve fect of tue road. The child was frightened and called his bruther an@ a number of other boys, who notilied the residents of the vicinity. Ina few minutes the spot was surrounded by sight seers. Lying upon hor back, with her arms by her side, one leg drawn up and the other extended, sug- gestive of easy slumber, lay a swoct-faced and intelll- gent looking girl of twenty. THK DEAD GIRL, p A fair face, shaded with brown hair, which was combed buck straight from a broad forehead, blue eyes, small eara, a well formed mouth and chia, sug- gestive of a kindly disposition, aud a nose somewhat broad and the least trille mclined to the Roman out- line, combined to form a countenance indfative of a frank, intelligent and good woman. There were no marks of violence to be seen, Tho deceased was about five feet two inches high, Was attired in a grey alpuca skirt, black alpaca waist, a shawl of black and gray with ‘a border of mixed brown, und a i felt hat, turned up at the side, trimmed with black velvet and a feather oj tho same color fastened with a square steel buckle in trout, A white woollen cloud was about the neck, and the feet, which were small and well formed, were encased in fine kid buttoned shoes, mach worn, und outside of them a pe of dainty rubber oversboes. Ou Lee third Hoger of the left hand wasa chased circles ot gold, Alter inspecting these details some of the party as- sembled miormeu Coroner Deimpsy of the case, That olticial empanelied a jury ou the spot, andy after they had viewed the body, warned them to be on band at the Bay View Hotel, at ‘Tompkinsville landing, at seven o'clock last night to attend the inquest, By this time such a crowd lad gathered that the body wus with difficulty removed to a hearge which bad arrived to couvey it to the establishment of Michael Oates, undertaker, at Stapleton, where it now lies uwailing identitication, A Yost MORTEM HKLD, At five o’clock Sunday afternoon, shortly after the remains Were conveyed thither, an autopsy was made by Dr. Theodore Walsir and Coroner Isauc Lee, Upon the back of w linen cellar worn by deceased were the initials **K, R.” stamped with indelible ink. Nothing ‘was found upon tho person which would serve to iden- tily it. All the clotuing was of a rather fine qualty and indicated a person of respectable station in life, In the pocket of the dress was found an empty ouuce vial without a label, \ Lurking in the bottom were seen atew drops of liquid whico the learned physicians were unable 10 recognize, but which a neighboring apothecary pronounced cyanide of potassium. Per- haps it was the finding of this which led the Coroners to pronounce that the deceased must have come to her death by poison, The organs were all in a healthy condition, The unfortunate woman was found to have been enciente for about tour months, and the doc- tors state that sho had been a mother before. The voay couldn’t have Jain twenty-four hours when it waa found, ag the viscera of the chest aud other parts were warm. Besides, the spot where it lay was in fail view of the road, and tt could not have failed to be seen by some passer-by had it been there on the previous day. WHO WAS SHE? Among the hundreds who called to view the body yesterday there was noone who recognized it. The writer visited the place in the afternoon. It is atum- ble-down one story structure used as a stable, cur- riage house and workshop. 1n the corner devoted to the latter use stoop the Cotlin surrounded by a group of curious young girls who gazed upon the features ot the dead. A brutal lack of reverence was exhibited in tbe treatment of the dead and the disposition of bor eflects. Itseoms likely, trom the fact of tho girl not being known by the people of the vicinity, and from the proximity of the piace where the body was tound to the ferryboat landing, that the deceased was a resident of this city and went to the scene of her death by the boat. WHY IT LOOKS LIKE MURDER, The theory of suicide would séem to be incompativle with many facts in the case, Lo the firat iisun- likely that a woman who had swallowed a deadly draught would deliverately repince the cork in the vial, carefully wrap about that her veil, and then bestow it 1p her pocket 1m the position in which vial, sup- posed to pave contained the was juuod, Agan Dr. Walzer, who tapeetatty examined the bottle, gives it as his ‘Yhat it contained chloral, although thore was uot enoagh of the liquid leit to’ determine with absolute ocrtainty. Now, the bottle only holds un ounce, and ft ts declared by med- ical men that a solution ot chioral could not be made so strong that one ource would cuuse death, The 10D of a druggist to whom the vial was shown, that it had contained cyanide of potassinm 19 declared to ve erroneous, as the liquid in tue bottle was perteciiy coloriess, while the poisou in quéstion bas ao yellowish hue. Many persons, tuo, scouts the idea tbat a woman would lie down iu such a quiet way, swallow a deadly drug, aud then carciully compose her Hmbs, smooth out hor drei close her own eyes, fix her lips iuto a smile ave dis without a stragyle to mark the last ee. The fect | that while her arms were outstretched, and nota single evidence of convulsion anywhere ulseyher right leg should be doubled up under bod} 1s regarded as suspicious. Many residents dp not hesi- tate to declare thoir belief that the woman elsc- whore, probably in this city, and that her was carelully arranged, brought to the Island 1m « close carriage late. on Saturday = might Sanday morning, and carefully peal ae wis found, When it was discovered the hat was drawn down over the eyes, as if the wearer down to go asleep, A strong ovidende of foul cy found in the fact that nova cent was found the pockets of her clothing. Nota singi¢ stain of taud o7 anything else had soiled the garmen' u oven shoes bore no traces of travel. It is t tijas | hastily carrying the body trom a yi Jett | standing im the road and despositing i a could have been doubled up us it was found, bat cour not have occurred naturally, A RASCALLY SON Actually sodden from liquor he presented @ misen able appearance when brought up tothe bar Hit clothes were tattered and dirty, his eyes bloodshot, and his hands trembled so much that he could scarcely hold fast to the, railing in front of the Beach, His Mrs. Sevilla Davis, a poor old lady, living at 504 Grand street, made the compiaige fe She said that he had been a good gon ta her until he became a drunkard. Four years ago he stole @ set of harness aud was sent to the State Prison jor two aod « half years, which m he served. Lust August he stole $686 irom ‘er and ran away. He came back almost naked and hun wry. She forgave him and took him buck, Two diya ro New Your's he asked her tor money, which ‘efused to give. Ie broke open her truuk, stole $1 money and $320 worthof clothing, and left. Not! was heard ol him until Sunday night, when Detechye O'Connor arrested him im the rear house of No. Lewis street, in Company With a woman whe ela to be his wife, Justice Wandelt eal ‘Jamey Adajite Suiith, you are the most periect specimen of a m: able bummer I ever suw. You might bave beon one ex spectuble, but you can’t even steal from al cept “your por mother. Your" bail wilt be $10, wid you are beld to awalt the action of the Gran Jury,” Sinith, who kept-aullenly quiet, was down stairs, FELONIOUS ASSAULT. Michacl Polarno, the Italian who Clarkson, of the Twenty seventh prec! gor on Sunday night, was yesterday wt the Tombs Police Court, ‘The officer’ to be but comparatively sit saa earner shen Stet