The New York Herald Newspaper, February 19, 1877, Page 6

SEEKING THR SOLUTION, Record of the Attempts Made to Dispel the Mystery. HUMAN PERSISTENCE DEFEATED. Narratives of Those who Have Tried to Thread the Wilderness: THE HERALD’S EXPLORATION. Encampment of the Party at Sink o’ Pinhooks. Sixx o’ Pixnooxs, Fla, Feb. 2, 1877. Just before the war of secession the phenomenon of | the Pinbook smoke began to attract the attention of several persons of prominence. The government of the State of Florida equipped an expedition for the purpose of making the Wacissa River navigable, A canal was cut through the delta which was formed by tho stream before it flowed into the Aricilla, The rocks of the great belt of flinty débris which I havo mentioned lay in the course of the operations of the engineers, and a contract for thor removal was granted. The gentleman who had charge of the work became much interested in tho hinted existence of a volcano, and set about examining the characteristics of the barrier of rock. It is related that it turned the edge of every drill that was used as often as it was re- sbarpencd. The mass was full of pores and bub. bles, and detached portions were twisted into all man, ner of GROTBSQUK, PLUTONIC AND SINGULAR SHAPES, Some of it seemed to havo dropped in.a molten state from the air, while some had the appearance of having been dipped inthe veritable lake of fire, With some of his wen ho sought to follow the course toward the interior of the swamp which was marked by these scattered fragments. His curiosity Jed him a toilsome march, waist deep through slime and water. He says that the débris as he advanced was more and moro plentiful, so that he or his men frequently became wedged in among it and had difficulty im extricating themselves. 1n this region the jungle was terribly wild and intricate, They roused pumas from their lars and proceeded with the utmost caution for fear that somo of these animals would spring upon them trom the towermg cypresses, They at length fancied that they heard a singular incessant sound in the distance, but were terrilled by tho wild aspect of nature around them and wearied by their struggle with the morass. They were very bungry, and so | from trepidation and necessity they turned their faces away from the unknown which they were approach- jug and withdrew with precipitation. | During the progress of the work in the Wacisea River another person was authorized to geek the origin ofthe smoke. His plan was to proceed in a small bout to the point supposed to be nearest the mystery, and thence to cut a sort of watery road or canal through the brambles and canebrake, hoping to find vaviga- tion practicable nearly to the object of his search. He | labored four or five days until hit provisions wero ¢x- hausted. His experience was similar to that which 1 have just narrated, He returned with his party almost vead with fatigue, dampness and hunger, and there" after never resumed the search. A SERIES OF ATTEMPTS. These efforts were made about eighteen years ago, | The mystery was almost forgotten during the nijht- mare of civil coniliet, but since the war about a bun- dred attempis havo been made to reach the unknown, and without success. One of the most enthusiastic, persevering and in. trepid of the explorers has been Judge James Bell, of | Monticello. In March, 1875, accompanied by Colonel Samuel Hamblin, of Quincy, he started from the summit of Linn Hill, on @ line of observation inade with the compass, toward the smoke. This line, how- ever, had not been projected with accuracy, 1 smoke was not visible on the day of departure, and | the surveyor bad relied on the memory of persons | who pointed out to bim the portidén ot the horizon | froin which it rose, The direction taken was fifteen | degrees west of south, Correct observation has since placed the smoke as seen from Linn Hill five de. grees west of south, ‘The party prosecuted the geareh with vigor, a8 may be judged when it 1s stated that they were nut appailed by the traditionary hor- rors of **Feather-Bed Bay” and “Ti-Ti Swamp.” A | ride to the camping ground. | sky, Which promised the fairest of weather for the | swamp asa moccasin or an alligator, and whose mis- * ¥) NEW YORK HERALD, MONDAY, FEBRUARY 19, 1877—WITH SUPPLEMENT. plenty of spirituous amm: eastward of Sink o’ Pinbooks, and says that he tra: ersed five miles of the most horribl atery wilder- ness that he ever beheld, Other persons, however, who have visited his Iino of exploration, say that be advanced not more than a mile and a baif, This !abor consumed many days, and as theo the munitions of progress were exhausted the expedition returned, THE LAST REFUGE OF THE ‘sMOKE.” 1 might mention many other abortive attempts to obtain definite knowledge of the significance of the mystery of Pinbook forest, but there has been about most of them a monotonous dearth of enterprise and perseverance, Judgo Bell alone has shown the inde- fatigable zeal of the true explorer. When I reached Monticello I saw and consulted him, and enlisted him in the new project of a final search for the myth or marvel which has so long puz- led all observers. ‘The Judge holds that he has beat up every unexplored portion of the swampy region excepting that which lies eastward of this camp and extends not’more than five miles north or south, Preliminary observations made by the Hinatp ex- ploring party lend a confirmatory probability to this theory, This mysterious region ts never entered by the hunter, who dreads its shadowy mazes and fears the invincible pumas and ferocious aligators that mako ittheir haunt. The stories of Maynor and Stanisland would seem to indicate this a8 the place they visited; and, acting upon the principle that there is a grain of truth im every romance, even tho latter's narrative may be studied by the explorer with profit, Tho Hera has a lofty lookout at this camp, from which the identical “smoke” which has become so famous has been repeatedly descried, The compass has marked it seventcen degrees south of east, and this 18 the most tangible clow to the desired discovery, and bus thus Jar been the basis of the exploration which I have directed, ORGANIZATION OF THU EXPEDITION, ‘The expedition was organized in Monticollo, Now, Monticello is a straggling, mert ‘looking village, and desolate ruins still mutely speak of the Incendiary blight which swept over it two years ago, Its aspect of dulness and btiter grief does not belie the character of its inhabitants, Doctor Ox might there find a mis- sion, and Mark Tapley might be able to ‘come out uncommon strong” tn tho midst of depressing circum. stances, But it Monticello looks drowsy and morbidly Diue its inhabitants have the true rustic curiosity of tho olden time, Aaron Burr’s project of empire might have budded and bloomed under their noses without their knowledge, but an attempt to reach the Pinhook volcano, which these people through three or four generations have been too lethargic and unam- bitious to investigate, could not be blessed with good luck without the gratuitous bestowal of their advice and their unsolicited inspection of all preparations for the exploration, Tho plan which 1 had formed contemplated a very small party. The chief engincer and three assistants formed the work- ing corps which was to defy the terrors of the swamp, while a hunter and-a woodsman were to at- tond to the needs of the camp. Aunt Hannah, a bright and “right scrumptious’? colored body, wos employed to go along us cook, and she evinced hor delight ala prospect of camping once more in tho woods ‘us 1’se used todo m de’vival times ’fore do ’manclpation.”” The woodsman, Miller, was sent for- ward one fine day with av ox team attached to a wagon which was loaded with provisions for a prolonged ab- sence irom civilization, Miller is a massive negro with the animal cast of features, movements as sjow as those of the saurian tribe, eyes like sauce. pans, foet like *flat bottomed fly boats” and garments hanging in such tatters as to seem like scales. ‘The custody of the provender pleased bim mightily, aud he said that he would ‘make those thyer steers perceed right smart all do way to ole man Eph Williamsus.”” The latter lo- cality is in the depths of the piney woods aud is at present the last outpost of civilization, on the bridle path leading to Sink o’ Pinhooks, Another lond of the essentials of cump life. departed from the chiet inn of Monticello, about ‘the witehing hour,?? on the succeeding night, Aunt Hannah ensconced herself among the ‘baggage to enjoy a slumbrous nocturnal The chief engineer took cbarge of the equipage with an adventurous alacrity, ‘The stars gazed with liqaid light out of a moonless ate future, Juke Byrd.and Joe Dallas, two in- telligent mulattoes, who are as much at bome ina sion it was to cut a pathway through the jungles and tanglewood on the line of obsertation toward the haunt of the mystery, set out to accompany the cara- van on {got, gin the morning the remainder of tho | party, among whom wns the chief explorer, the cor- respondent of the Herap, followed, There was a tedious ride of forty miles before we arrived at the base of operations, IX THK Woops, Soon efter descending trom the uplands we entered the dark and solemn of the piney forest. Here the road rapidly became less clearly defined. It pur- sued a most tortuous course in avoiding fallen trees, bogs and quagmires and sometimes seemed utterly to mile below the present camp of the Hukatp exploring expedition they were led astray by seeing smoke trom | a forest fire rolling among the timber, and left their | Ine in pursuit of it, but found nothing to gratify thetr | euriosity, as the murky cloud had evidently drifted for | a long distance beneath the dense canopy of pivey | necdles, About six weeks afterward the same party mado another expedition for the same object. The previous line of observation was continued, A lookout was built three miles below its lower terminus, but no volcanic smok 1 came upon great | fragments of twisted rock, different portions of which | resembled flint, porphyry and silicious limestone. | They pushed forward until they emerged from tho swamp on the shore of Appalachee Bay, Their expe- dition had demonstrated where the «moke was not, In the eurly part of January, 1876, a party, com- posed of twelve white men and seven negroes, was ied into the swamp by Judge Bell, who was this time accompanied by Colonel Hamblin and Mr. Andrews, ot Vermont. They sailed down the Wacissa River to tho mouth of the Pinhook, and there encamped in a was seen, very puradise of fish and game, They ubtzed | six days im exploration, following an imaginary line bused upon an observation made from | @ mooring in Appalachee I The course pursued, if continned long enough, would have Ied them east of Sink 0’ Pinhooks, through the region now beimgexplorea by'the Iunatp party, and where tho mystery {s most likely to abide, One of the party was Jost in the logoons; the weather was very severe, and most of them hecarme {Il with dyeontery, agus and fever, fo that further progress was abandoned. In February the Judge started from St. Mark’s in a boat, ia order to obtain a more accurate observation of the “smoke;’? but the weather was so stormy that be was unsuccessful. A WONDERFUL EXPLOSION, | In March he again started with a corps of negroes in | @ sailboat. They were poling the craft through what the Mississippt boatmen call a chate, when suddenly there was a tremendous exp , which seemed to | secur very near them, Cypr aud live oaks shook | as with supernatural ague, and the water heaved in gurgling billows, The voat quivered and the sail | bail a tremor, as if it were a huge aspen leaf, One of \he negroos jumped up and flung his arms around the Mast; another, with a dismal shriek, junged nearly over the edge of the boat into the water and was only | saved by the main strength of his employer, while a third ejaculated a phrase peculiar to the spiritual feasts of his race and began'to hum, “1 want to die like ‘Laz’ rus died,” evidently believing in the eflicacy of a musical prayer. Tho same detonation was heagd at St, Mark’s and on board vessels in the Gulf The most probyble explanation of it is that it w d bya | sudden land-sink. It is related that years dni Jar noise startled the laborers from their ticlds many s distant, Butsome persons connect both these rrences Wi@ the exixtence of a volouno, The explorers afterward landed and estab caus iehed a shes west of porth | camp, They pushed wher rese {row the mouth of the Pinhook River, but an equinoc- tial storm came upon them; a strong wind rose from the southeast and roiled the salt sea waves trom the Guit through ther tents They were compelled to seok rel- uge in ther boat and vo abandon for a time the search for the mystery. p ty May, 1876, four mea named Noreue, Cobb, Jones git Douglas peuetrated the Pinhook moruss, They t they were near enough the mysterious Jer to bear a strange noe, which they likened to the rumbling and rattling of atrain of cars. They | stopped at a piney istind south of Sink of Pintiooks, | eros acd ty he further mde, avd them turned back. | Jalge Whine, of Quiney, organrzed wa expedition, | aud urwed 16 wot only with powder and shot, bul with vines | mit of a rotten and mossy cypress bog— “there were four coons clinging to four trees, and a | pearance with two prizes, nether of which, however, | had titted us for m | negroes dra which soon produ ing it cheery glow through ¢ lose itself and make up its mind to go nowhere, We passed several decaying log huts whose toppling chim- neys, constructed of mud and sticks, were grimy with the accuinulated soot of an epoch, The road lay through deep fens and wide sloughs whero horses and vebicle were half immersed in the reddish tannic water which had flowed through a score of *sinks” and cypress marshes betore it sluggishiy flowed across our | way. Theso streams, fed by a thousand generous springs that rise from the earth every few yards, eventually roll into the Gulf volumes of water known as the Wasissa and Ansilla’ rivers. Bays, sweet gums, cypresses, the tight-eye shrub, tangiod and vexatious brambles and canebrakes veil the inher precincts of the shallows, which are the paradises of the crane and is brethren and cousins german. As ove approaches them “the bit- tern’s boom”? is beard from nis sedgy haunt, and the broad wings of the pelican often darken the view ns he is disturbed in bis pensive angling from the sum- Where the purple river rolls fast and dim, Perehance he may be blessed with a glimpse of the ivory ibis, whose stor like plumage as 1t flashes in the level rays of the setting sno might well have inspired the satarnine Egyptian with superstitious love, more exalted than that which the Romans felt tor Mother Goose. A WATERY WILDERNESS, At last there was only the faintest track of man to guide us, Several times our decrepit caravan struck upon a “cypress knee” with a force that sent a shiver through its ancient frame, and there we would be fast Jocked, gazing disconsolately trom the midst of our isolation in the chilly fen until means were devised for our extrication. As the poor beasts toiled southward the dry earth became stranger and stranger to our eyes. There was Water, water everywhere, and out of the midst of it rose on every side giant shapes of cypress, draped and bearded in dreary gray, while on the hummocks were densely grouped the rank and gracetul palinettoes, among whose stiff foliage the wind sang ina bollow whisper, We were nearing tho camping ground when we saw three of our party ex- citedly standing in the edge of a morass, while the dogs were baying toward the sky, Sure enough, ponderous black bear had sougiit refage in the friendly crotch of a dead cypress, The fates seemed bent upon early visiting us with adventure, Alter we bad reached the camping groand the coon hunters made their ap- was Bruin, whom they had treated with distagt cour+ tosy. “Tne DAY 18 DONT. ’* The sun was but two hours above the horizon and our tenis were barcly pitched on a ‘ary piney ridge,” W yards from the Sink o? Pinhooks, when darkness fell, biack, dense, impenetrable. The day's journey | | of LITERATURE, THE ART OF EATING—THE ART OF SMOKING— a nuvz 'ro KERIVA. Gastronomy AS A FINK ART, OR THR ScrExcR oF, GooD Livixe: A Translation of the “Physiologie Da Goat” of Brillat-Suvarin, By RE. Anderson, M. A.. Lon- don: Chatto & Windus, New York: Scribner, Wel ford & Armstrong. j: Who but a Freachmaa would write a book on gas- tronomy asa fine art? And who but a Frenchman could wake such.a book worth reading? Savarin was a clever man, an epicure and an egotist, One cannot read this book without feeling that there is more in the science of cookery than he ever dreamed of before, It is not @ receipt book, though 1 con- tains some instruction for cooking. The author gives twenty fundamental truths of the scien co of gas- tronomy, one of which is, ‘*The fute of nations de- pends upon how they feed.’ The sense of taste is elaborately treated of. In this chapter the author says:—‘'For my own part, I am not conyined that there is no complete perception of taste unless tho sepse of smell have a share in the sensation; but 1 am further tempted to believe that smoll and taste form ovly one sense, having the mouth as a laboratory, with the nose for {replace or chimney. More exactly, that one serves to taste sulids, the other gases.’’ In proor of this theory we know of a cook who never seasons his food by tasting it, but can toll by the sense of smell just how much pepper, salt or vinegar 18 necded. The importance the author gives to the subject of gastronomy is highly amus- fog. “Gastronomy,” he suys, ‘rules every momont of our lives; for the firatcry of tho new born child is a call for the nurse’s breast, and the dying man swallows he will never digest.” Savarin writes in tho most off- hand Freneby style, and enters into tho spirit of his theme with such zest that one lays down the book with a keon appetite for the dishes described. Here are his rules for a pleasant dinner party :— «Let the number of guests not exceed tweivo, so that the conversation may be constantly general, “Let them be chosen so that their occupations are various, their Lastes analagous and with such points of contact that there will be no need for the odious tor, mality of introductions. “Let the dining room be brilliantly lighted, the cloth spotless and the atmosphere at a temperature of {rom sixty to sixtyeolght degrees of Fabrennolt, “Let the men have wit without pretension, and the women be pleasant without being coquottes, “Let the dishes be exceodingly choice, but small in number, and the wines of the first quality, cach in its degree. ‘Let the order of serving be from the moro substan- tial dishes to those that are lighter, and from the sim. pler wines to those of finer flavor, “Let the eating proceed without burry or bustle, since tho dinner is the last business of the day; and let the guests look upon themselves as travellers about to reach the same destination togothor, “Let the coffve be hot, and the liqueurs chosen with particular care, “*Let the drawing room to which the guests retire be large cnough to admit of a gamo of curds for thoso who cannot do without it, while leaving ample scopo Jor after-dinner chat. “Let the guests be detained by the social enjoyment, and animated with the hope that, before the evening is over, there is still some pleasure in store, “Let the tea be not too strong, the toast artistically buttered, and the punch skilfully made. “Let everybody leave before eleven o’clock and every- body ve in bed by twelvo.”? ‘These rules are well worth obeying, for they wero only written after long experience and thought/ul con_ sideration. One would scarcely believe how very cn- tertaining M. Brillat-Savarin has made bis subject until he has dipped into the book, which is enlivened by anecdote and apt illustration. ‘Tax SmoKex’s Guipg, PmiLosornER axp Frrexp. By a Veteran of Smokedom, New York: Scribner, Wel- fjord & Armstrong. We cunnot speak go highly of the “Smoker's Guide” asof the “Epicure’s Guide,”? which we have just noticed, ‘The prosent volume, while it containy somo curious information on the subject of smoke and te bacco, is olten slangy and vulgar. In a chapter on pipes the author gives the preference to the common clay, as they are the easiest to keep cloap, aud go cheap that one can afford a new ono for every smoke. “As to the shape,’’ says tho writer, ‘good taste sanc- tious only tho old and goneral design. We, thereforo, protest against those fantastic heads, barrely, thighs and legs which have been produced by tho rioting Juncy of manufacturers, a class of mon who sys" tomaticaily pervert the taste of the community in all its requirements by tempting 1t to extravaganco and eccentricity, engerly catching at novelty.’? The mecr- schaum is eulogized 1n a pleasant vem, and china, the German's favorite, utterly discountenanced. This writer says you must never smoke out of doors in frosty weather, It may cause sore lips and bo other, wise injurious, An ivory or amber mouthpiece in the pipe excites the salivary glands less than horn or other material used forthe purpose, Clean your pipe frequently, if not fivo times « day, should you bo a heavy smoker. It is bad to suck « pipe or cigar to tho last extremity, To smoke with the cigar or pipe attho side of the mouth may be a convenience, but it is un- advisable, for it excites tho secretion of more saliva than when the pipe or cigar is held in front of the mouth. ARtwx to Kava, Travels aud adventures in Central As. By Fred, Burnaby, Captain Royal Horse Guards, with waps, &c. New York: Harper Bros. Captain Burnaby’s story of nis ride to Khiva is told in a dushing, off hand style, His observations are made at a glance, and his conclusions, while sometimes ‘one sideq, are those ofa practical, clear headed man. Anything on the subject of Rasta is read with avidity now, and Captain Buraaby’s book has had a rapid sale jn England, where 1t has been warmly welcomed by the reviewers. Every obstacle was thrown in the way of tho gallané Captain by the’Russians, but ho rose supe- rior to circumstances and accomplished his object, MacGahan, in bis campaigning on the Oxus, gives a good sdea of the privations to be endured in a trip of this kind, The intense cold, tho impassability of the roads, the hindrances of government officials, all | tended to make a ride to Khtva an uadertaking which required pluck, endurance and no smali amount cleverness, Captain Burnaby possessed all | these requirements, His conclusions regarding the political, ~—s corruption = ands oppression | of the Russians in Turkestan aro borne ont by Mr. Engene Sebuyler, whose observations wero made with more calmness. He thinks ‘that a war in Asia is only a question of time. We quote:;—‘‘In fact, you cannot be with Russian officers in Central Asia for halt an hour without remarking how they long fora war, It is very natural, and’ the wonder to my mind is why Russia has not extended herself stil further in Cen- tral Asia, ** = * * Nothing would be so popular with the officers in Central Asia, or, indeed, for the matter of that, in Europ: land about India; and as the only public opinion which can be said to exist inthe Czar’s Empire 1s repre- sented by the military class, whieh ina few years will absorb all the male population of the nation, we ought to be thoroughly prepared for any emergency.” ‘aptain Barnaby was very kindly treated im Kniva, from which place he was summarily expelled by the Russians, Ho considers the Khan of Khiva the Jeast bigoted of all the Mohammedans be met, and does not believe in the stories of his cruelty to the Russians, The descriptions im this hook are graphic and pleasing, and the render 1s carried aloug by the freshness and dash of the author's style. From the first page to the Inst thore is not a dull lino to be found, and “Captain Burnaby’s Rido to Khiva’’ deserves to rank with the books written on this subject by Mace Gaban and Kugene Schuyler. CoxtrineTions TO OPERATIVE SURGERY AND Suraicat Paruowey, By J. M, Carnochan, M, 0, With itlus- trations drawn trom nature, New York; Harper & Browers. 18 In the series of publications contemplated in the of the night angel's wings, Tt mattered not, then, that | the faim began to drizzle despite the fair omen that had | attended the starting of the expedition; and each tent | was a ‘house of sleep” whch would have suited well the ideal picture of the author of the “Faerie Queene.” -LAW." | To tHe KiToR oF THK HeKALDim | I notice an article in the irate of to- | “A Model Mother-in-Law, be ap Bey tine gl ’ in relition to Manahan’s isand, whieh my irends and tho public may miatake for your humbie Kervant. The party arrested 18 not moimber of Manaban’s Band y; “S MODEL MOTHER- THOS, MANAHAN, Leader of Stanaban's Band, plan of this work will be included the history of some operations that bave exhibited ¢m an extreme dogree the resources ot surgical science to remedy the detects and perversions of nature that have acquired a wide fame and have given splendor to the aunals of surgery in this country, All the great operations that were lirst done by the author will be chronicled in these pages, with the reports of his more remarkable cases of ordinary operations. It does not commonly occur to the ordinary ob- server how much of the inventive faculty is involved not merely in the history of surgery aa it exists, but in the formation of a good surgeon, Probably there iano other art whose progress represents so many great dificultics overcome—so many absolute tri- | still with some pleasure the last potion, which, alas! | Russia also, as awar with Eng- | umphs of the Intellect over obstacles of every con- coivable species asthe artof the surgeon, His epor- mous arsenal of instruments, the Jarge number of recognized operations—while they tell an eloquent story of buman misery—aro more eloquent still of the ingenuity and devotion applied through ages to the alleviation of that misory. Surgery was a labor of discovery from the first. How many wretches bled to death from simple wounds betore the most prim- itive moasures for the arrest of hemorrhage were cou- ceived; how many others were killed by the applica- tion of the semi-savage measures of primitive surgery that followed one another in the centuries before some great man made the discovery of the uses of the liga- ture—a little weapon so trivial, so commonplace now— but greater than the discovery of America by compari- son with all the resources of surgery that went before ie . The oldest of human arts has more great discoveries in its record than apy other art practised by men, yet it has scarcely more than one for every century of its existence; for the history of its progress has been that tho ten thousand surgeons have practised always the methods and operations originated by some ono more perceptiveor skilful than the rest and waited for an- other one in ten thousand to carry the arta step fur- thér, It is for this reason, perbaps, that notwith- standing the art has been practised by millions of men, one can count on his fingers the surgeobs whose names have made a world-wide impression and that are remembered through the lapse of years. It is an error to suppose that the inventive surgeon is a merely adventurous operator, who takes reckless chances on human life, He is tho man who saves the art, and therefore saves thousands of other lives than those of his immediate patients, He ts the man who observes the new relations made for his art by the growth of knowledge in physiology, in mechanics, in all the sciences that may be brought to bear upon tho case before him, and he presses that new kvowledgo into the service with brilliant success, where the plodder would have gone on forever in the quiet way, ‘There are some words in the preface of the book te fore us that put very bappily the point of the relations of courage and prudence in the good surgeon :— In some of the cases contained in these contribu- tions the methods are essentially curative—as in the exsection of the entire ulua and 1m the exsection of the entire radius, where the amputation of ,tho ontiro member is avolded; in others the mothods are porely operative; but whether curative or operative, 1 flatter myself that they are entitled to consideration, in many instances, ou tho grouud ot originality of con- ception, And I may add here that while respect for life will dictate to the surgeon tho greatest pradence— will counsel him to attempt no operation which he would not be willing to perform on his own child—it will also teach him that if tho extremes of boldness are to be shunned, pusillanimity 18 uot the necessary alternative, The surgeon who has not sufficient courage to propose a usetul operation, and sufficient skill te perform it, 1s as open to censure as the reckle-8 practitioner who js swayed by the unworthy lure of notoriety. Our o¥servatious on originality in surgery aro naturally suggested by the name on the title page, Dr. Carnochan’s name 1s associated honorably with those of a generation of surgeons that bas well nigh passed away, and fs as distinctly identified as a leading ‘one in the great feature that is most entitled to intel- Jectuul pre-eminence in surgery. It is a distinction of American surgery that it is joventive above surgery in all other countries; that it possesses in a peculiar degree the best distinctive feature of surgical art; and the body ofevidence presented in the history ot cases includea in the plan of Dr, Carnocnan’s volume will establish his right to an honorable distinction for this particular inthe number of the groat surgeons this country has produced. , LITERARY CHIT-CHAT. Harper's Magazine for March contains an interesting article on contemporary art in France, illustrated with portraits of the artists and speciriens of their work and other good reading matter The Academy speaks very highly of Colonel Dodge's “The Hunting Grounds of the Great West,” and suyse that ‘Is That Ail?” is a pleasant book. “Macmillan & Co. will publish a new book, by Lady Barker, called ‘‘A Year’s Housckebping in Natal.” Sampson, Low & Co, will issue shortly **Warda,” a translation from the German of Professor Ebors, au- thor of the “Egyptian Princess,” M. Bruel, in the collection of unpublished documents relating to the history of France, has begun his pub- Keation of the *Cartulaire de Cluny,” which is consid- ored a great undertaking, as the monastery of Cluny | exercises a very considcrablo influence over Christian Europe. General Gustavus W. Smith, late Commissioner of Kentucky, has just pablished a new volume of “Notes on Life Insurance” (D, Van Nostrand). Tho first edition of this work, published in 1870, was in pam- phict form and contained little over 100 pages. It re ceived high commendation from muny of tho leading men of the country. Sinco that timo tho author has been for several years Insurance Commissioner of the State of Kentucky; and the present well bound volume of moro than 200 pages embodies the results of his ox- perience in the business, The work isa well directed effort to popularize and simplify the principles which constitute the basis of life insurance, and should be carefully read by all who care to learn anything of this mammoth institution of thoage. Officers and agents of life companies will hereafter havo no valid excuse for not comprehending what has heretofore been by too many considered actual mysteries. Tho book should be in every library. A collection of papers written on various scientific and philosophical sibjects by tho late Professor Chauncy Wright, of Cambtidge, will be issued in book form, with a memoir of the author by Charles Eliot Norton, by Henry Holt & Co., in a few days. A volumo of stories by Auerbach, published in Ger man, under the title of “Alter Thirty Years,” will be republished in this country by Honry Holt & Co., with the stories of which they are the sequel, in the same volume. Tho firat volumo has been issued for the first time in Fngiish under tho title of “The Convicts and Thoir Children.”” i J. Byron, the playwright, is writing astory for thé Hornet, cailod ‘A Bad Debt.” We hopo that it was Bot contracted by “Our Boye.”” The Magazine of American History and Notes ana Queries is tho title of a new periodical just issued by Messrs. A. 8. Bacnos & Go. It ts edited by John Austin Stevens, hbrarian of the New York Historical society, and the first number contatns much that is curious and valuable, Champlain’s expedition against the Onondagas in 1615, “*The Lost C:ty of New England,” abiography of David Jamison, who was Attorney General of New York in 1710; a collection of original ducuments and letters, notes and queries and literary notices of historical publications are the principal ar- ticles In the January number. The February maga- zine will be equally instructive ana interesting. ‘Among the contents articles are ‘Mount Washington and Its Capture,” “Biography of Pierre Daillé, the first Huguenot Pastor of New York,” “Narrative of the French Expedition in 1705 against St. John, New- foundiand,” the “Journal of Colonel Rudolphas Ritzcma, of the Continental Army, during the Canada Expedition of 1775-6,” and the ‘Maryland Declaration of 1769." The annual meeting of the New York His- torical Society will be reported. This magazine de- serves lo be supported by every one who has an intel- ligent interest in American history. It fills a vacant place in our literature and we wish ita long and pros NEW BROOKS RECEIVED. ‘The Record and National Advocate of Insurance (No. 1, sha 1). Tack piace and No, 19 Bareiay street, New ork. A Kew South Wales, the Mother Colony of the Auatraliny, IL. Reid. Movers. Truvmer & Co., London and New York. Railways ot New South Wales; Report on their Constrnc- tion and Working, from 1872 to 1875 (iuclusive) ofticial to arlinment, Thomas Richards, Government Printer, Syd- ‘New Rovision of the Statutes of tho State of Now mmnisioners and Accompanying Messrs. Weod, Pare ‘Steilinn, Major: By Arthur Bi on, No. 149 and 1877, K. «i ted). Mes OL Broadwny, New Y Harper's New M Messrs. Harper « 1 Tho Galaxy (Marel ), Marel (ily Magazine (N thers, Frauklin s re, New ¥ 1877), Messrs. Sheldon & Doctrine Demon- st Christian office, al Review (March-April, 1877). Messrs. New York and Boston. March, 1877), Messrs D. ‘ork. fe Catholic World (Maceh, 1877), The Catholic Pabli- cation House, No, # Warron street, New York, A Plon tor Artin the House 1, Lottie; and House s Garrett. Porter & Coates, by Bhoae and Ag pin, ed Path A Love Story in Modern 18, Peterson & Brothers, jelphia. Game of Kuchre, as Adopted } Euchre, Club, with’ Rules for "Messrs. T. B, Peterson & Broth- the Ci o Wt The Laws and by the Wasbington (D. Plast k Me od od Poker, ra, Phitadelphin Temucest's Liiustrated Manthly (March, 1877) and Mads ame Domorest’s Mirror of, Fashions illustrated), Office of Publiention, No. 17 Bast Bi uth street, New York, ‘Neribner's Lilussrated laazing tor Girls aud Boys (March, 4877). Messrs, Scribuer & Co,, New York. THE _DESTITUTE. THE IDLE WORKINGMEN AS THEY ABE NOW— STAVING OFF THE HUNGER—REDUCED FAMI- LIES--TRE NUMBER OF THE HOMELESS IN- CREASING, At the beginning of the winter it was computed by careful calculation that there werd 50,000 idle working- men in the city, The gumber of men out of employ, ment far exceeds that computation at the present time, How these men and thetr families have battled against tbe ‘shard times” for three months past the records that have been constantly furnished by the Hera.p from the charitable societies go a long way to show. The daily rehef supplied by the organizations devoted to the helping of the poor bas been going out to these people; but, even with all tho system of charity which is at work during the winter season, ‘the sustenance afforded his fallen sBort of meeting the pressure of the existing destitution. At the beginning of the winter the cry of distress was loud and universal allover the city, but, as the season advanced, the so- cioties got into better working order, secured moro funds from the city and trom charitable citizens, and if they did not actually keep everybody from being hungry they supplied food enough to stop the cry of starvation which was beginning to be alarmingly heard on evory side. VIRST CRIBS OF STARVATION. That cry was a very sad one during the most of De- comber and unul the early part of January, Hundreds of poor workingmen’s families were driven downto the very Inst stages of poverty during theso ficst weeks: of the winter, It was during that time that the fur- niture of the poor was sold, their clothing pawned and every available article that could be converted into money disposed of, The bleak winter stared theso 50,000 men and their families in the face, without a single comforting hope, m the midst of the distress from which they wero suffering, The workingmen knew that there was no prospect of work before then, nor could they see how they were to subsist during the coming season. But poverty is a stern teacher, and by degrees tho doors of the char- itable sogieties wore found to be open for ‘them, and they entered therein, There wera s0 many men out of work who had nevor bofore been so completely reduced in circumstances that much of the most pain- ful part of the destitution was to be found among these, for they had no idea af how to set about apply- tng for help at the socicties, aud as a result themselves and their families suffered long before the visitors from the relief associations discovered their whereabouts andthoir wants, By degrees, however, the humane men who go round among the poor seeking for desorv- ing subjects for relief gathered in the great majority of the idle workingmen’s families to their shelter, and by the help given, small thongh it may have been, every week, the threatened famine among the idle classes was averted, STAVING OF¥ THK BUNGKR. In the doing of this great work the churchos all lent a helping hand to those more !mmediately con- nected with them. The St. Vincent de Paul socicnes labored arduously in assisting the poor in every parish in the city; the Society for the Amelioration of the Condition of the Poor did good service also, and St. John’s Guild had so heavy a lond to bear that it was no longer able to continue to meet the demands ma upon it, and wag coupelled to reduce by a half the ro- Nef it was called upon by the poor’ to give. From the coal charity 14,000 familics were saved from famishing. The Washington Market and Fulton Market soup kitchens gave a much needed assistance, Tho Night shelter, corner o1 avenue D and Tenth street; the Shbilon Shelter, corner ot Prince and Marion streets; the Leonard Sirect Shelter, in the old Fifth precinct station house, all gave lodg ng to the poor, Lomoless wandorers, and relieved the streets and the police sta- tion houses of those who, having no fami- lies of their own, were’ easily cast adrift when they had ccased to be at work. The pros- pect now {s somowhat more encouraging. With the spring trade not lar off and with amore sottled tone in business circles the workingmen look forward to an independent living for themselves and their tat ilies once more. Their more prominent leaders have despaired of getting employment tor the men on the plan often suggested of putting them to work on pub- lic improvements inaugurated by the city goverument. ‘The winter is now so far advanced without any steps being token vy the city wuthoritics in this direction that reliance fur work upon a public movement of that character has been abandoned. The workingmen themselves fecl that they must contioue to wait with the sume pationt fortitude that has characterized them this winter oti! business regulates itself and the hap- pier time of activity tn branches of trade restores to the employer as weil totbe employé a buoyant contidence which will make work brisk again for all. i “WRDUCED’? FAMILIES. But while, of course, the winier’s distress has fallen most heavily upon the workingmen’s families, there 18 avother class that has suffered this season in a remark- le degree. Itcau be easily understood how maoy hundreds, even thousands, of men there are in this city who, but a year or so ugo, bad stores of their own in some business cr other and were able to mnukea comlortavie living, bringing up their families with pe: haps more of an assurance of their being in mdepend- ent circumstances than was prudent or they were enti- {led to assume, ‘The writer, who has been for tonths past daily visiting the charitable socioties of the city, has heard from each of tho associations most pain- fat accounts of the hardship endured by families of the class rolerred to. In cases like thesc there 1s too much pride remaining to allow members of the families to make known their distress pubicly, and je itis among these that tho hunger “wolf” not unseldom inakes tho most ravages, Tt was understood that the societies not only acknowl- edge the delicacy which induces these people to sufler in silence, but that a speciol task of each of the thou- sands of visitors connected with tho charitable fosti- tutions is to seek for tamilies hike these above all others; that they lighten their burden and bear them up as Wellas can ba doge, antil tue dawn of brighter prospeots may cheer them into activity again. Tho severest mouth iu the year tor the poor is March, so that the charity ot those who can afford to give will still bave to bear a strain a littic longer. GETTING WORK AT TMH NIGHT SHELTER. ‘That there is some little improvement in the gotting of work omong the idle people not belonging to the mechanical tiades the number of men and women of this large class who bave got employment wnile beiug lodgers at the Night Shelter, corner of avenue D and Tenth street, may bo taken as an indication. For some weeks past trom eight to ton of them havo se- cured situations out of this lodging house every day. On Monday last thirty of the lodgers were fortunate enough to get employment, lt may be said that all the arrangoments at this lodging bouse are oxcellent and that the institution is laying the foundation of work that im the tusuro will prove of incalculable value to homeless men and women in the city, Bat the rent oi the premises is altogether too high, and the charitaple geutlemon who are bearing the expense at tho resent time ought to hire other premises that would not involve sach a large oxpendituge of money, especiatly when over$ dollar that can be spured for charity is 80 badly needed now und 18 likely to be for some time to como, Ib 1s true that the buiiding 18 woll adapted for uae to which it is now put, but the rent strain is too much to be cuntinued long, The bath rooms, sleeping roo and yeading rooms are all pe) eb pede geengnk clean, every jacility is aflorded the lodgers to try during the five days they are permitted to remain in the house to make theinselves look as neat and respectable tn ap- peurance us they possibly cnn. The vetter the appear- auce an appiteant for omploy ment presents the greater 18 the chauce of getting work, aud everything ts done to help tue poor waytarer to this end, U8 HOMELESS IXCRWASING. It would seem that the advai of this institu. e becoming nore Widely Know), are ing numbers to scek the help it aftords the station houses aud nearly all the charitavlo with tickets for admission to the Shelter, so that when respectable men or women who may not know where to got « night's lodging ap- ply at any of these places for bolp they can be sent to the Shelter, where they will bo taken card of, The Dumbers of admission so far this inonth were as fol- lows bruary 1, 231 males and 18 females; Febru- ary 2, 263 males and 17 females; February 8, 212 mal and 15 females; Fevruary 4, 269 mules and 14 females ; Fobroary 5, 290 males and 13 females maies and 12 females; February 7, females; February '8, 326 malo: February 9, 332 mates ond 22 te 289 males and 11 females; Febru 11, 306 males and 9 females; February 12, 387 males and 9 females February 13, males and 12 femal Feb. roary WW é mal and 15 females; Feb- ruary 15, 847 mal and 30 females. These figures, while thoy show that the management of the Shelter is appreciated, also impart the information homeless und hungry who that tho number of the wandering about lodging are as a rule thoso who Jeast this winter—been thrown upon the streets, They ure pearly all sent hero by tho police or by the chari- table societies, and tt may thus be understood how miny poor men abd women are dally parading thi streets with the thought where they can get a night's lodging uppermost in their minds, At the shilob Shelter the lodgers are permitted to continue to occupy a buuk every night us long as they please; bat as bere there (8 a restriction to five nights, except in special cases, 1t Would seo. that there must be over 800 poor nen thrown Upon the streets for the first time within covery five day:, 01 wlarming faetin the record of this season's destituiion, It would be difficult to tell how long they may have been hoiding out without breaking down altogether, HOW YOUNG MEN CAN 1E: When they enter the Shelter they are geverally found to be in dilapidated condition in appearance, but with the aid of baths and a warm meal and the cleanly surroundings of tho place @ fresh cours; inspired and they set to work ut once to restore thom. suives to something like a respectable appearance. ‘There can be a great deal of good done by young men in this city in helping the poor fellows out of work who seek this last resort for apee. Most of the lodgers are sure to be wanting me article of wear- ing apparel, and if those who thoughtiessly throw aside into closets garments po longer uselul to them vould gather them ap and send them to this Shelter they would do a more charitable work than likely they themselves would think they were doing, As itis well to help those who are trying to belp themselves, and = as all, = the. men avd women tw this placo have only tho L one thought belere their minds—where to get work to earo aliving—there is always a chance here to meet with deserving cases, Many churitabio ladies and 0 already acted apon the su; tien gentlemen made Plicant, ploymen| and the world is not good-natured enough yet to stop to think thatit is @ very hard winter, and that the idle and homeless break down vay. quickly in the matter of cletbing. Other donations have recently been made to the Shelter, among them being a number of old magazines trom Brentano; tapes, Beodles, &c,, from Shephard, of Broadway; hardware from Lewis & Conger and same from &, H. Allen & Co.; butter tubs, casks, &c, from Park & Tilford, and thermometers from Hunter, of Broadwa; “EMIGRANT. RUNNERS, ABUSES THAT ARE COMPLAINED OF BY RAIIe ROAD OFFICIALS AND TRAVELLERS. An inquiry into the truth of some recent complaints made to the HkRaLD justifies the nmpression that the abuses to which certain classes of strangers, visiting the city or passing through it, are subjected have no parallel in any other city ot the Union, The subjects of the complaints referred to are the robberies of strangers by emigrant runners and tholr confederates, and the trouble is that among those-holding licenses from the city for the prosecution of this business are several who have done tho State sere vico within its prison walls, The wholesaie swindling of ‘green’ travellers which was 80 notoriously practised a few years ugo at the railway aepojs and along the docks of the various Zuropean steamers induced through its own enormity a certain measure of relorm. Men aloue and with their families, with considerable sums of money and with barely enough to pay their way to the point of destination, were ull alike fleeced merci« lessly by sharpers who, if they did not wear the badge of a licensed runner, were introduced to their victima by confederates who did, Baggage was stolen, to bo returned for a reward, bogus gold wus given in ox. change for greenbacks, money was borrowed on worth- less checks by confidence operators, and travellers were swindled and robbed by the baneo game and by every device known to the ingenuity of experts in fraud, Some of the most dangerous o@ the gangs of emigrant thieves had their headquarters in the Firat ward. There they were a power, and exercised no little political influence. Their fight with the police was a prolonged and vigorous struggle, for they had come to consider their depredations in the light of a legitimate business, THK OLD GANGS ROUTED. But tho gangs were finally routed, A few were sent to prison, others left the city-for tho city’s goud and somo died misefably from tho effects of their excesses, ‘Lhe dens wherein most of the robberies were comunit- ted disappeared, too, and for a time no comp.aints were heard of the presence, in any large number or to any troublesome extent, of this class of criminals, But alter a lil complaints came up again, ‘The swindiers were uot all quieted, and by the approach of the time for opening the Centennial Exposivion some of the gangs were well organized aguin for pluuder, Anticipating trouble during the expected rush of taut time some of the rauroad officials mado irce quent applications to the Volice Commissioners for officers to protect travellers, and about the early part of last September men velonging to the steamboat squad were stationed at tue dilfere! ferries to give information und protection to the trav elling public, ‘The policemen on this duty pursued the rule of preventing runners from ‘soliciting straugers ‘on the piers, bouts or premises of the railroad cum- panies, and by this meuns suved many from talung into the hands of sbarpers. Before the appointment of these officers to the posts they now guard emigrant riuers were becomiug as much of u pest as ever, ‘They swarmed about the ferry houses and railroad depots, and there ovtained information which enabled thom toswindle the unwary. Numerous stories are told ot the way they Jaid tovir plans; but these are mostly repetitions of the old tules of bogus money and baggage smashing. HOW TARY OPERATE, A licensed runner would ascertain the name of the place from which a passenger by one of the incoming trains came and tell an associate, who, on pretence of having known the victim at home, would contrive to cheat him im some way buiore tbe traveller’s departure, Sometimes a man would bavea day to spendin New York, and, with their newly tound friend ol toriner years, would set about spending 1 to his cost. Cuses have been known where a runner and his contederaie have come upon 4 traveller, and wailo one bus taken hig valise the other has coolly walked the man off in an opposite direction. Sometimes the travellor has recovered his property by giving a reward; but if the thieves consider themselves pu’ the traveller has to put up with bis losa as best he can. Some hackimen, too, it is charged, are im league with certain of the’ runners for swinaliog purposes, and olten go unsophisticated Countryman, goimg to one of the lifth rate hotels, near the water front, 18 driven two or three tines around a bluck to confuse him ag to the locality, and to make the jour. ney seem longer, that there may be a chance to charge him enough for a “aryvy.”” CAUSK OF THK TROUBLE. Tho root of all this trouble 1s found in the fact unat Heonses aro issued to improper persous, Tho ordi- hance governing the issue of these licenses contains Do provision us to what shall Le the character of the pers Suns tu Whom they may be issued. The following 18 @ copy oi the ordinance :— swerion 1. The Mayor of the city of New York may, trom time to time, grant ilce he shall think proper, fo a ruuner or perso. acting for himselt or for and on vebalt vf nected with ony steamooat, railroad or forwarding y or omnigrant boarding housé or hotel, to exercine yon the business commonly known as steambons runuer, railroad runner, emigrant boarding house raoner and hotel Fanner, tor the purpose of soliciting passengers of questa, and that he may suspend of revose any und ail of such licenses at bis pleasure, or compu: and Ske. 2. By on receiving such license shall pay therefor the use of the city, the sum of 2th, at wu suall expire, uul soouer ro- Foked, one your from the dave thereot, and fv shall be law= ful for the Mayor to renew and contin hb Heenses, provided that the applicant there! in all things qualified an ubetore provided to hold such Ticense, and the application to be made therelor prior to the expiruiion thereo!, at such time as may be appoluted by the Mayor; aud every person upon tho renewal of the license shail pay to the Mayor, for the use of the city, she further suns of $12 50. DRC. b licensed person, whenever o: in soliciting passengers for steamboats, railroads, « ployed or authorized by the keeper, proprietor, a officer of any hotel or bosrding house, shall wear ously on his cont metal badge containing the nu Nis Heeuse, and no porson, except he ‘be so licensed, shall ‘or any bind.e purporting to be the badye Of auen Heensed person, under a penalty of $10 tor every such offence. The Mayor of this city shall determine the forin and waterini of suid badge. ‘Sic. 4, No person, except ho be licensed as aforesal shnil oxereise or entcy on the business commonly known stenmbont runner, road runne: tel runner and emibe fi runuer, under a penalty of $25 tor 8 such offence. 3. any forfefture or penalty arising under the ordi may. be entorced by the Mayor or recovered by an name of the city and county of New York, tice, AS prescribed by the ciuy rfoiture ¥o recovered shull Le chat paid into the city treasury. S¥o. 6, All ordinances or parts of ordinances inconsistent or conflicting with the provisions of this ordinance ure hereby re) Sue. 7. fect immediately. Adupted by the Board of Ald men Ene vA, 1875, a by the May or, J AprEPANGIS J. THOME. Aut complaints tbe made 40 4 7, chy Hall Tothe M ‘kK of Common Council, Mayor's Marshal, room or’s Marshal ts left the appointment of these men, and it is tor him to determine what shull be a suflicient recom: dation. Ward politicians have boon the backers of the worst of the runners and have helped them through their difficulties with the authori. tues. At present tke police protect people on the boats, &c., but outside the ferry gates the police navo no power lo intertere with arionor wearing a badge, He has his autbority from the city and is protected tn the pursuit of his busitiess. A RUNNER'S PRIVILEGES. He has paid for the lege of fleecing countrymen, and he thinks tho offic has no right to stop his litle ce. Since the stationing of the steambout squad at the different raturoad ferries last September, Sergeant Gastliin says his om have mad over fifty arrests of confidence operatora and bave secured several convictions, They have put out of business in that tine some ot tbo Vory worst charagt aloug the river irout, aod now with @ n of the licensing system they could The railroad officials say they have no objection to the presence on their promises of honest and properly appointed agents for hows and respoctable rding houses, but they want to be roe lieved from the sharpors, They wapt passengers pro~ tected, Complaint ts atso made of the conduct of the hacks mon, They gathor about the ferries in swarms, grab the satchels of passengers and hustle them avout in a most undignified way. As a remedy for thia evil it ie suggested that cach driver ve compelled ke Bit on bie box and solicit only therefrom. THE OAPTURED HIGHWAYMAN, Jobn Bowles, of No. 77 Catharine strect, who was captured by Captain Murray, of the Fourtn precinct, at midulght, Saturday, whilo in the act of committing highway robbery, an account of which was yesterday pablished exclasively in the Henao, was arraigned at tha Tombs Police Court yesterday before Juuge Kil- breth. Tbe victim, Mr, Kdmund Murphy, of No, 429 | Kast 119th street, made aflidavit that he was proceed~ jug along Poarl street, near Chatham, when ho was set upon by three men, two of whom seized him from bes hind, while the third wrenched his watch, valned at $100, from bis chain, and then ran away. Murphy gave chase to, caught and grappled with the rob- ber, meanwhile shouting at the top of bis voica for tho police, The outcry reached the ears ol Captain Murray, the Fourth precinct, who weat to Mr Murphy's assistance and secured the highwayman. On his person was tound a watch, which Murphy identi fied as his property. ‘The other two robbers made their escape. Captain Murray, on the witness stand yesterday, rdoited the circumstances of the capture, Tho prisoner, who is a heavily built young man of twenty-four years of ngo, suid that he was a carpenter by ge tea He denied ail knowledge of the rob. very. Judge Kilbrosh committed bins in default og 2,000 bail to auswor in the Court of General |