The New York Herald Newspaper, March 16, 1877, Page 4

£ BEWARE OF THE DOG! What Our City Fathers Are Doing on the Cur Question. MR. BERGH'S PROPOSED POUND. | Euthanasia for the Vagrant Canine— Scoop Nets and Submersion. | DR. HAMMOND DECRIES THE SPITZ. A Tilt with Mr. Bergh’s Theories—What Is Hydrophobia ? ie aeleia ‘The canine ordinance agitation was again before the Board’ of Aldermen yesterday. The controversy bas | Veen somewhat enlarged by the introduction of the subject of cats, Several propositions havo been before the Board, and one ordinance was reported from the Law Committee, But Sir, Bergh comes to the front | for the ten thousandth time, and a dog conterence be- | fore Muyor kly bus been the result. The particulars of this wondertul conclave have been published in the HekaLp, CAT AND DOG ORDINANCES, Mr. E, T. Gerry, counsel for the Society for the Pre- | sention of Cruelty to Animals, sent in an ordinance yesterday to the Aldermen, which reflects the ideas of It provides that ng cat or dog shall out a chain or cord six his association, be permitted to go abroad wit feet long attached thereto, No dog or eat shall be Mlowed upon @ street railroad car or omnibus, The penalty for any infringement of these rules is put down at $10 for each offence, 4 pound 18 to be pro. vided for the imprisonment of stray animals, and they tre to be killed within forty-eight hours uf not re- tlaimed by owners, -The Society for the Prevenuon of Cruelty to Animals is to have exclusive control of the whole matter, A PLAN FROM ALDERMAN MORRIS, no following additional ideas are presented by Alderman Morris:— a on who barbors any dog shall take out # permit tor exch dog at the Permit Burean, paying the suin ot $2 tor the sw All permits and ienew: Als of the same shui be dated trom the Ast day ot May in tach and every yoar, and shall be for one year from date, And all renewals shall be $1. Said permit shill have the tame of the owner und the Bamber of the permit or license iit. Any dog so Licensed must have 4 collar around bis geck with a metal tag attached baving the number of the license on it, and any dow so licensed must, when in the Hreet, be held by such oF sou, secured by cord, Tope or chain no! t hb. But is optio be captured the same ay if no a. aving * collar ud ta with the number of his license on ‘around his neck, that may be in a wason or other vehicle belonging to his owner, shall be captured. | ‘Auy person appoluted by Hix Honur the Mayor to capt ke Fr Inor ure e dogs rt en proven the or more than dogs who shall permit any person to o from him for nothing or for pay shal veto: upon the 5 afine vf not less than $1 e. cept those appointed by the Mayor will be 8 under a penaliy of BO”, d shail be furnished with a ul badge, for which he must pay, and every badge shall ve across the top the word “licensed,” in the centre a 's head, and across the bottom the number ot his tic and he shall wear th dye at all times when on duty éunspicuous place on the front of his person. eison may make a complaint of perso At the police stati he cttive me, and wi P persou tin ther shall ‘us for other violations of city ordinances; and, in wddition to the $3 1iceuse fee, shail be added all costs and suits of the same as for any other violation of the city ordinances Licenses may be granted any time in Aprit, but must be dated to take effect from the Ist of May foliowi om. winediately alter U clivered at the pou for that purpose: char ¥ be transmitted to rporation Attoruey, the ken before a poli r fined not less than $5, of more than lV for every offence. Any sppointed dug catcher who shall tuke way from an: Aixow kay dog that is complying with. this ordinance in full Shiai be Arrested and taken Lelore & police justice, and upon han 710 oF more than Sad. Mayor is nianes anil two of the pers, insertions each, time within three ks betore the law goes into effect, a churze the sume to “City Contingencies” for enforeiag the dog law. PRESIDENT BERGH TO THE FRONT. Mr. Henry Bergh sent in a memorial in favor of the passage of the ordinance prepared by Mr. Gerry. He offers several of his peculiar suggestions in advocating this measure, and contends that the proposition in the ordinance lately introduced ‘for the payment of a sum of money to certain persous who will capture and de- liver to a place to be indicated all dogs found running at large,” is objectionable, on the ground of public morality, a5 Well ag ineffectual in suppressing the evil complained of, In order to iilustrate this latter fact let it be supposed that instead of filty cents a reward of $5 were given for every dog so captured and de- livered, Would not the laws of trade assert themselves in the case of the dog and be stimulated by the profits resulting {rom such atraffic? Would not the novel de- Inand experience au increased enterprise and competi- tion for its adequate supply on the part not only of local jdeaiers, but more largely, perhaps, from th® — kecn-witted — external tradesmen ? Mr. Bergh then goes on to deery former dog ordinances passed vy the Common Council, He regards the prop- osition to impose any wx wh vous injud \ for the reason “that there are many poor people who regard their pets as the most devoted irivnds they have—und with justice, too, perhaps—who could not allord to take from their scanty earnings the sain re- quired for the indulgence of their atlections,”’ He 1s also opposed to m' ing, On the theory that it bas been a well ascertained physiological tact tbat by thus impeding the natural secretions of the animal, it is rendered more expo-ed to disease und madness, it | not to hydrophobia He next cowpliments the Putla- delphia system as to the care of dogs, und savs that “this citywhieh annually pays about $1,000,000 tor pot hype | its Slreets clean—can aflurd the inconsid- erabie coswol elfectually euppressing what the pubhie are pleased to regard as a great nuisance. ‘The whole matter has been reterred bac! dermanic Law Commitice for consideration, to the Al- A HeRanp reporter calied at the Museum of Animal Crueity, corner of Twenty-second str and Fourth avenue, ou Wednesday, to see Mr. Bergh, and us that gentleman was enjoying the excitement of Peralto’s ride at the Hippodroine, the reporter had an opportu nity to view ail (he curiosties of Lhe place while iog bis return. Strange that mon ot te should seek the aid of the taxidermist to perpetu: the contorted remains of avimals bratally kilied, | Among the stulfed relics of we collection of the | museuin aro a pigeon, “well killed” at a shoot, | and a buil dog in a gemi-tmastieated condition. | The bird seems to have just twilen close within bounds, weignted with an ounce and a halt of No. 12 Ibe dog, which is white, has is head mangled :nto the sembiance of rump steak, | and the illusion of te: of vermiliion distributed with artistic effect over the siufled skin, To the-ordinary cye these Lares and Penates of the museum of ¢ e very shocking, When Mr. ted the honor ive of the HrkaLp, ho ceremony Was per- din order but not so Lo the tender bearted inmates, Bergh returned trom the show lie acec out to @ gentleman's views 1p relation to dogs rot wards of the Stute, 10 answer to this prefatory announ Mr, Bergh began to inveigh against the prac riding Mustangs against ti nd when be had fin. | ished he proceeded to elaborate bis views un the care | of dogs. NOT TO WE CURTAILED “+t te clearly within tue meaning of the law that the caro of dogs found loose 1 the sirvets devolves upon this society, and any attempt ot the ( on Council to curtail or iniringe our rigbt to power will be resisted. The society isp Rave the dog catching of the cily thrown when the thing bas to be done weare determine be done in a merciiul manner, Some yours | it, bat itsnall | . When the eity offered a reward Jor vagrant dogs the suburbs ot New York were diligently convassed by thieving | young men and boys, Who brought all-the dogs they pound, and were paid lity cen A pew Industry Was creaiea by jogs, and bunareds of avimals were Molen and impounded. Ihave known of cases where | dogs reineed Lo go to the pound, and the evpiors have Uchberutely broken the beasts’ legs tn order that they imight be more inanageable. Now, if the Common Council offer Ba beso eae such scenes and outrages a turee years ago. The abuse L epeak of wui 7 je that fondeat ‘of the pound and vring bim to court. do the sawe thing again The society edge te os si norives will douale a suitable place of confinement | for the animals pending recognition b age 4 Su Ts Such dogs us are sick and worthless Wil 1 be eu 1 those that are valuable will be sold, avless , San (a come forward, claim them and pay @ fine. | f onink fee city could be kept free of dogs at an annum oe ~ | ‘about $4,000, The Society tor the Preven a ity to Animals ip Philadelphia, now in wor! ; er, performs this important service for that CO aad muol less money. ur men ‘would go during could find to the apiece jor them, tne head money on 4) ying ab i was compelled to arrest the agin | will if provocation $8 given, to catch and make away with mm the city, provided te 0 cryin | strain vivisection, | tion have driven meaical students to Paris, where | Bergh’s notions have not yet penetrated. } it would not kill you umess you had, perhaps, an | toms. riy hours of the morni: all the dogs and cats in the streets and remove an eye- sore from our thoroughtares. To do this wg would re- quire a lot of ground on the ri 100 by 35 feet, on which we would arrange houses, &c., as fol- lows.” Here Mr. Bergh produced the following plau: PLAN OF THK PROPOSKD POUND, River Front. | | Street, EXPLANATION, . Dock for drowning do, Shed for condemned animals, Es Shed for dogs to be kept. Stable for horses, Yard and water trough. hed for abandoned animals found tm tho streets. Shed for wayons Ottice. “9, Entrance gate, 10, Veterinary Surgeon's office, THE CosT. The expense of erecting vuildings would be very small, avd after the land had been paid for, the busi- ness for which it is to be used would be transacted for aimere trifle, There being no job in Mr. Bergh’s plan he claims it 18 improbable that it will suit the City Fathers. pepe 2m, DR, HAMMOND ON HYDROPHOBIA, Ex-Surgeon General of the Army Dr, William A, Hammond, being regarded as one of the most eminent autborities on nervous diseases in this country, was requested yesterday to give his views on hydrophobta, which is pow conceded to be a nervous disease. The Doctor was found at bis residence, No. West Fifty- fourth streot, and although besieged by a host of pa- tienta he readily consented to contribute bis share toward a solution of the vexed problem which £0 vitally affects the public health. It will be seen that the Doctor concurs with the position of the Herano regaraing the dangerous nature of the Spitz dog and considers Mr, Bergh’s theory of the barm- lessness of tho Spitz absurd. It should be stated that Dr. Hammond was not questioned as to the nature of the Spitz at ail, but of his own volition and without the prompting of bis interlocutor, bimself introducea the subject of the Spitz and dwelt on it with much earnestness and emphasis, as though desiring to sound a Warning note against the terriblo depredat.ons of this pretty animal. Owing to its paramount import- ance this part of the conversation, relating to the Spitz, 18 here given first: — ‘THE SVITZ DOG'S BALIVA, ‘«gpitz dogs are more prone to excite hydrophobia in the human sysiem than apy otuer breed of dogs we know of,’ the Doctor added, involuntarily, to some general statement of the nature of the disease, “How do you account for tbat, Doctor ?”? “the Spitz ts a cross between the Pommeranian hound and the Arctic fox. All hybrids are bad. The mulatto is neither as good as the White man nor as the negro, While the blending of varieties 1s good, that of genera is accompanied with evil results, 1 have al- ready said that the disease cun only be communicated by the saliva or by a wound, and not by the injection ol the bluod of the hydrophobic animal. The saliva ig the only poisonous part of animals, The saliva of the rattlesnake will kill you, and yet you can eat the rattlesnake,” and the Doctor here added, laughingly, “as [have done. | have beeu seven or eight times in the Rocky Mountains, where I have had occasion to live on ratilosnakes, Inuies and other tidbits of that kind”? “How did you like them t”” 4] preter my porterbouse steak,’? the Doctor res- ponded with a laugh; ‘but, to resume, you will find that the saliva of vipers, copperbeads, &c., 1% fatully poisonous while their flesh 1s not necessarily 80. Now, until more comprehensive investigation settles the question, we are justified in assuming from our present experience that the saliva of the Spitz dog is more uniormly poisonous than that of apy other dog, und experience teaches that the saliva of a dog not suffering from rabies may be poisonous under certain condi- tions—-when the dog is ina state of anger or fury or merely in a coudition of excitement.” “You think that the Spitz’s saliva is aniformly poisonous?” DR, HAMMOND'S CENTENNIAL SPITZ, “Until we have convincing prcols we must yesume that it is, I have had some experience with Spitz dogs. 1 bought a pup six weeks old av’ the opening of the Centennial We called him ‘Centennial,’ He bo- camo attached to the family and was most kindly cured for, He was raised, sir,’’ the Doctor added, in a serio-comic tone, “amid the most moral associations, And yet he would olten show treachery while exnibit- ing not anger, but kindaess, and bis periods of anger and good will would abruptly alternate without appar- ently uny reason whatever, He would affectionately liek your hand in ung moment aud violently snap at it in che next”? I hope he is not around just now,” the visitor ejaculated, A FEW WORDS ON BERGH. “No, sir,” the Doctor replied, soothingly ; “we were very fond ‘of him, but we gave him away.’ I enurely agree with the wisdom of the HxRaLD War upon the Spitz. Mr. Bergh’s defence of the Spitz is absurd. His idea, for instance, that only the male dog can communicate the disease is preposterous. ‘The female 1s justag dangerous in his respect, and, to this con- nection, 1 would like to say that, while 1 have respect for Mr. ‘Bergh’s manifest sincerity, | think he is cong much mischiel. ‘Take, for instance, bis desire to re- Here is u city whither repair annually 1,200 students, They spend at least $200 cach. Here is a quarter of a milhon atonce. You can readily see that to drive away these students to some more liberal centre of science where no harass- ing restrictions are placed upon medical men wouid | bea decided loss to the city. In London this actually has vecurred, and the tijudicious restraints upon vivisec- Tsay this, with aildge respect to Mr, Bergh’s sincerity, there is no doubt that the course he is pursuing 16 @ serious hindrance to scientific progress,” EXTERMINATE THE SPITZ, “And to return to the Spitz, what would you do with bit #”? “Pd kill him,’? the Doctor replied, energetically. He is absolutely Ot no use, and in a matter ike this, involving precious hives, 1 is better to be om the sale side. Nothing would be lost by exiermimating the spin” Anat mode of extermination would you recom- mend, Doctor ?”? “1 think drowning them in erates would be about the speediest, easiest und most painless mode of dis- posing of them,” So much for the Spitz, On the subject of hydropho- bia in general the Doctor expressed himself briefly as follows :— SOME 8 FEATURES OF HYDROPHOBIA. “A aog periectly beaithy, or at least iree trom rabies, May produce the disease by his bite through bis saliva, as 1 have already stated. You remember the case of McCormick. Ji that cage the doy was exhibited to the Neurological Suciety more than a month after be bit Me k, and as hydrophobia runs its course sUt days, and us (he dog invariably dies, d not bave hud it or be could not have 10 question, Remember, tt takes a wound to produce death, You mighy swaliow the saliva and abrasion on your lip, The saya is only poisonous .When commuiteated through a wound. You get lock~ "jaw, Or tetanus, from a simple wound, and hydropho- via seems to be tetanus plug a group of other symp- malt this 1 would appear that the science of medicine knows very little about bydropbobia,”” “We can recognize the origin aud symptoms of by-,| drophovia as we can Uuose of scarlet ever or measles. has discovered the primal origin of know that we cannot cure Lydropt bia, Renmember that there bever bas beeu a cure on record lt is uecessary not to confound the prevention with the cure, There are a great many people who clain to Lave invented cures for hydrephobia, bulthey mewn cures after the bite and before the poison hus been developed. This is an easy matter, but no cure has us yet been effected after the poison (which lies dormant ih the system a lew weeks, and sometimes even several months, and even several years) has been developed, In the early part of tust tall a distinguished officer of the army came to me, who had been bitten by a doy, manifestly hydrophobic. I cauterized the wound with a red bot iron, and I regard him as perlectly 8 scarlet RETRIBUTIVE VENGEANCE. “There is evidence also that the disease ean be com: municated by the man tothe dog; so, you see tat there 18 such @ thing as retribulive vengeance, EXx- periments have been made by imocalating the lower animals with the saliva ol a hydropbobie man, end it hos given them the disease, Isaw a co cation in one of the morning pufers the other day stating that the wolt is not subject to rabies, This is a great orror, It is the most dangerous of atl animals in this ree pect, for he flies atthe throat, which Is not protected by any clothing. Cats, Doraes, gouts, pigs, all mam malia and all birds are subject to the disease, As to wolves, in the Pyrennees they often, from starvation oF other causes, become subject to rabies and com- municate the poison to men.’ De. Hi king of the symptoms of birds who re been bitten by mad dogs, ‘red to the following passage in his work on nervous diseases :— THE SYMPTOMS OF HIKDS, “When the disease bas manifested itself the birds appear to be influenced by the same nervous excita. bility and restlessness shown in other animals. They seem to labor under similar mental hallucinations; they perform all kinds of frenzied movements; avoid the hgott! they can dnd shelter; their voice is husky, and at times they also appear to be moved by the same misehievous impulse to bite which generally mark: course of the malady in the lower animals, and for one of its acteristic features, A si and ultimately paralysis, indicate th death,” Of course this interview by no means exha' subject on which formidably bulky works bave been written, but owing to Dr, Hummond’s pressing engage- ments it bad to be brought to a cl HOW THEY DO IT ELSEWHERE. To Tux Eprror or tag Hukatp:— ‘The owners of dogs in Vienna, Austria, are obliged to take out a license yearly for each dog. At the near- est police station they leave a description of the dog and pay $2o0r $3, and receive a brass tag about two tuches in size, with the numberof the Jicense on it. Each year this tag 18 changed in shape—say one year round, the next triangular, &c, Iti attached to the collar of the dog. ‘They have men employed to go about the city, with poles and 9 Wire noose vttached, to @ipture ull dogs without the license tag on them and take them to the Pound, when, if not reclaimed and fine puid in a few days, they are destroyed. a CA ARCTIC EXPLORATION. an ENGLISH’ EXPLORER ON THE RECENT NARES EXPEDITION TO THE NORTH POLE, ‘The following letter 8 from Dr, John Rac, of Lon- don, the Arctic explorer and discoverer of the fate of Sir John Franklin, to the President of the American Goograpical Society on the late English Arctic Expe- dition : Lam delighted to see by the papers that there Is probability of the United States government pros cuting Arctic research via Smith Sound, @ line of route specially American, and made famous by the expiora- tions of Kane, tiayes and Hall, who, with their com- paratively ill-equipped aud sinall expeditions, did such noble work, the latter, indeed, having tuken bis vessel, the Polaris, withiy a few mniles of as far north as the point reached by the Englisi ship Alert in the expedi- fon of 1875-6, which, notwithstanding all its bolster- ing up by some able writers, wus a failure, if we com- pare wbe work done with the programme laid down for its accomplishment. Having bad some experience of sledging on several very long jourueys on the Arctic coust, at up average daily rate of from eighteen to twenty-iour miles, and a great deal ol practice in snowshoe walking during o twenty years’ residence im the Hudson Bay Company’s Territories, perhaps you will permit me to offer a few remarks upon those points where 1 think the recent English expedition made mistakes which, although ap- parently slight individually, amount to a good deal in the aggregate. ERRORS OF DIET. In tho first place, the men employed on the Nares Expedition were, with few exceptions, habituated to a dauy ration of grog at or near midday, this ration having been doubled for five montus of winter, while the men had comparatively little work, except merely walking up and down for a few bours and hauling ice for water, which was not sullicient to Keep their muscles iu proper condition for the laborious work of sledge buullug. ‘They had a regular allowance of lime juice on voard ship, which was doubled im quantity for some time belore the siedge travelling began, when ib was discontinued altogether, ‘Their diet was sud- denly changed trom the ship allowanco of preserved meat, corned beet aud pork, with six ounces of pre- served vegetables, pickles and fruit and one ounce lime juice, with one gill rum, to a sledying ration of pemican, cured bacon, Wo ounces preserved potatoos, one-half gill rum and no lime juice, OBJKCTIONABLE SLEDGES, ‘The slodges, with runners about eight inches high and three incues broad, used by the recent expedition, were very ovjectionable, us they sank deep in snow when not very hard packed, and when descending irom a hummock of ice the fore part dives deep into the snow below, giving immense labor to pull und Jit Mt out—labor which the men suy was like tearing their arms off. ‘The best sledge 1s one resembling the lndian toboggan, but much larger, 80 a8 to carry 800, 1,200 or 1,600 pounds if required, with three runners, rounded atthe edger, not more than two and a wulf or three iuches broad and about three-quarters of au inch deep, Tconsider tbe best size 18 a sledge to hold about 800 pounds, or a load for four men; because if very diffi- cuit ice 18 to be got over these ure much more easily handied, and do not require to be unloaded so often, if at all, CHOCOLATE AND COCOA BAD THINGS, The English took chocolate or cocoa tor breakfast—a very bad thing, tea being much better, us it keeps away thirst, ‘Lhey stopped avout an hour and a ball in the middie of each day’s journey to make tea, a mistake which should be avoided, as the men must get chilled very much after perspring freely, 1 und my men never stopped louger than turee or tive minutes ata ume, particularly 1! the weather was coid, during the wholv ten or mure hours we were traveuling, only eating occasionally a moutbiul of pemican or bit of fat, if, however, this plan, which 1 have ulways found best, docs not suit those who are accustomed to dine about midday, use extract of tea, by which at least vne-balt time of stoppage may be saved, because the water need not be boned, but merely brought to a ficient heat to be pleasant to drink. The English sledgemen used for bedaing wot ouly a heavy coveriid but a duffle bay for each man, und they also put ona thick duille ‘jumper’? belore ;oivg to bed; thus the arms were separaed from the body by two folds of a tuick non-conductor, and eued man was kept apart from his neighbor by four folds of this mu- terial, 80 that beat could not be communicated irom one to the other. In my own cuse we had one cover- ing tor all Ove, witu a strip of thin hairy deer wkin be- tween us sud the snow on which we lay, We took off our coats’ plocing them either over or under us, uccord- ing to taste, then lay ux close as we could comfortably pack, | always being one of the outsiders, the cook tor the time being the other. If one of the **outsiders’’ felt a little cold the whole party put “avout ship,” as fn sailor would say-—that is, turned over on the other side—and thus tho part of the body that was previously cold got the warm berth. 1 way say that T never was uncomlortably cold but once, and that was when the snow house was made too sinall and we had to shove our legs ouside. Our whole beddiug tor five persons weighed between twenty-lour und twenty-tive pounds, or less than five pouvas cach. SNOW HUTS THE BEST SHELTER, Tents were used on the recent expedition, and are the worst kind of sheiter jor Arctic service, being not only very, cold, but having this disadvantage, that neariy ali the condensed breath and vapor from the hot tood adheres to them, not only making the tent heavy aud unpleasant to Handle, but the least shake makes this condensed vapor fail down upon the bed- ding, into which, if great care 13 not used, it gets 1m- pacted and aids materially in making 1 of that “sheet iron”? consistence spoken of by Captain Marknam at the meeting of our Geographical Society. Snow* huts are the best shelter in any temperature trom 10 degrecs below the (reezing point to 70 degrees below zero, and if these cannot be built, either trom men not knowing ow to do so, or because the snow is not suiliciently packed, snow walls should be run up, whicu ts not bard work if properly set about, ‘bese wails may be of any thickness most convenient, and should slope I+ wards as much as possible; should be Live or six Jeet high, tat is counting the depth of space hollowed out by removal of suow Jor the wails. A piece of sheeting bas generally been used axa rook 1 should prefer a double told of thin, but strong linen, having between the folds a thin layer of birds’ down, which would make this kind of shelter nearly 4s warn 4s a true snow hut, which I and my men never failed in building. SNOWSIHORS. Snowshoes should aiso be taken on every Arctic ex- pedition, aud would have been of great use iu the recent one, although the ollicers are not willing to allow as much; gt icast Sir George Nares has said that heavily loaded Sledges cannot be hauied by men with Showshocs on. Im fact, the gallant kuight knows nothing about it, probably never baving in tis life seen aSledge so Hauled, yet he gives bis opinion with as much confidence as if he hid great experience. The snowshoe best adapted for Arctic work should be short, aud broad in proportion, ‘There should be dit- ferent sizes to suit the different weights of the men Shoula it be requisite v9 build boats to be hauled over the ice they should be made much broader, in proportion to their length, than those I huve seen, TUE SLEDUH JOURNKY. As regards the sledge journey pole ward, I can only Say that itis ho Wouder litte progress was made with the unnecessary heavy loads* that were dragged by men suffering rom scurvy, who, in their weakened ve must have tound great difficulty in surmounting obstacles which 10 healthy and experienced meu would have been easy, KSTINATION OF THE ICERERGS, at least one weak poiut in Sir George h eflvet that there is no got- ting a ship neurer the Via Smith Sound than the point reached by the Alert, As carly as tne dist of July, 1876, a strong SouthWest wind urove the teepack out to sea to the northeast, and enabled the Alert to | round Cape Rawson and, run ten miles south ward tbrough a fairly open channel until stopped by a beavy fle (iloeberg) one and a halt miles In diumeter, Which moved off next day northward "with the tide at the rate of one and a hall mites an hour.’ (See Nature, Nov. % 1876, folio 4) “Ihe question to be asked 18, Whore did ail this ten or twelve miles of ice and great floeberg yo to? As they Went northward the immense ticlus of ice, 100 feet or more buick, to the vorth must also have been moving in that direc. tion to Inake room, otherWise We cannot account tor so large a space of open Water appearing So suddenly, Probubly a day or two of southerly wind might, a few weeks jater, have driven the iminguse piles of paleo- cristic ice many miles away and lett a clear passage to the north, even for ships. At Repulse Bay, latitude 66 dog, 82 min, north, in 1847, the ico did not clear away sufliciently to allow iny boats to get along shore unul the 12th of August, It is also provable that the great ruges of ice that looked so formidable and were So unsurmountadle to scurvy stricken mev, with their heavily laden sledges, iu not extend very tar north waid beyond tue latitude 83 deg. 20 min. 26 ave, north reached, of ouly twenty-uve north of the land at Capo Hecla, NO GROG I should recommond that no grog be given as an al- Jowance, either ov bourd ship or on the siedging; that men should be chosen who hud not been accustomed | to @ regular ration waily of grou; that a tew wen should be taken ax huuters, &G, Who hud been used to * After the auxiliary sledge returned the loads wore more than 400 lbs, por Bi8ie NEW YORK HERALD, FRIDAY, MARCH 16, 1877.-TRIPLE SHEET. setting nets under bt be 1 think, pers, Arctic service, 1 have more obedient than the men of tionalities | bad on three occasions under me, and the cheerfulness with which they did an immense deal of bard work would baye surprised most people, and this, too, without a word of Janguage or an oath that could have offended the most deli lady. BXERCISES POR THE M The men should during winter, whenever practica- ble, be exercised in snowshoe walking, snow-hut and snow-shelter building; if lake is near, in setting nets under the ice oF perhaps in the sea, if there are signs of fish; also tn sledge hauling, to a sufficient ex- tent to accustom leg muscles to this particular kind of work. For some time belore starting on the sledge journeys the men should, in some degree, be ™ accustomed to the 8 ‘ing diet, go as to dis- if it agreed with them, although ‘they could not be ted to eat it so readily on board ship as when travelling. THR CLOTHING, The clothes used by the English expedition were much too beavy and Woolly outside, not keepivg out the wind sufficiently. The best coat, ip my opimon, is one ma@@ of close but not heavy beaverteen or of thin leather, lined with stout nel or bath coating, with as much woollen clothing under- neath a8 ® Man may by winter experience tind requisite fort. Moccarins inade ef good moose skins 1 consider best for spring journeys, with cross pieces sewn on to prevent slipping, lo early winter some. hing waterproof 1 best. Esquimaux boots are not bad. 1 could add @ goud deal more, but think | bave said enough for the present. If there happen to beeven only | one or twoof the suggestions I bave named thought worthy of adoption | shall feel myself amply repaid for troubling you with this long and hurriedly written letter, which I send off in its unfinished state so as to catch to-day’s mail. Betiove me, traly oar JOHN RAE, Corresponding Member of the Geographical Society, New York, PrxsipextT op THE GEOGRAPHICAL Socixty, New York. BROOKLY. N’S. ALDERMANICG DEAD- LOCK, THE DEMOCRATS DISREGARD THE Mayor's ORDER TO MEET AND ELECT A PRESIDENT— ONE REPUBLICAN ABSENT FROM THE MEETING, The efforts of the Common Council of the city of Churches to agree upon a suitable man amobg the twenty-five members of that august body to occupy the Presidential chair and decide wpon their delibera- tious for the current year continue to Interest the politicians and not a few taxpayers, The oraer of Mayor Schroeder, which was transmitted on Tuesday last, directing that special mectings of the Board of Aldermen be held daily at two P, M, till such time as they shall have ngreed upon a permanent President, bas been treated with covl indifference by each and every member ot the Common Council claiming to be ademocrat, But that is not the only stumbling block in the way of republican success tn the long pending struggle for the chair, There are loud whispers afluat in quarters supposed to be reliable that the republi- cans are abuut to meet with a heavy disappointment from one of their number. It is stated that on Monday next the namo of Robert Black, Alderman of the Fourth ward, whose name has been kept on the demo- cratic slate ever since the first meeting in January last, will be withdrawn, and that in its stead the name: of Alderman Wilham H. Murtha, of the Ninth ward, who is also a regular democrat, will bo substituted, This change will meet with the approval, It Is sald, of Alder- man Burnett, republican, of tho First ward, who, seeing that there is no prospect of organizing in apy other way than by electing a democrat, will in order to end the municipal misery cast bis vole for Murtha, ‘That would give one majority to the latter, independent of Alderman Douvovun, of the Twellth, who has main- tained by bis vote the deadlock thus far, But it is not @ertuin how the refractory gentleman from the latter ward will yote on Monday, as he declines to fore- shadow bis jatentions upon that subject, THE DEADLOCK COMMISSION, At agecret caucus hela un Wednesday night, at which all the democratic Aldermen, with the exception of Don- ovan, were present, the action of the Mayor was dis- cussed, und It was decided that they would not attend the meeting called by His Honor tor yesterday alter- noon, Alderman Burnett, it was understoods would be absent, having to atiend the tuneral of @ relauyo, and Alderman Murtha, democrat, agreed to ‘pair ofl” with Burnett by staying away trom the meoting, even though the other democratic Aldermen should sce tit to atteuu, In that manner no untair advantage could bo taken on either siae. The following Aldermen wero designatea to serve on the democratic side ot the electoral commission:—Sterling, Phillips, Murtha, Reardon, Ormsvee, Duane und Kaston, This evening the republicans will in caucus appoint a similar number of commissioners on their sit aud an attempt will then be mado to se: lect a fifteenth man, when a yote will be taken for President. But litle faith is raposed in the success of this plan, Alderman Kane remurked esterday that he did not see why democrats should fdtsire 10 wry the Electoral Commission plan so soon alter the late disustrous example of its workings at Washingion. He for one considered it to be avsurd and ridiculous. SPECIAL MERTING OF THE HOARD, The special meeting of the Board of Aldermen was called to order shortly alter two o'clock yesterday atternoon by the temporary Chairman, John Freaoch, of the Twentieth ward. There was a very large at- tendance of working men out of employment in the lobby, but few democratic politicians of any distinction were visible, When the roli was called eleven repuo- leans responded to their names, Burnott being the only absentee of their party. ‘Alderman Ray, of the Thirteenth ward, moved to adjourn, there being no quorum, Alderman Griswoid, vf the Eleventh ward, said be- fore the motion was carried that he would like to re- quest the Mayor to change the time of these meetings from afternoon to evening. He could not be down tn the afternoon without great sacrilice to his business, Alderman Acker, of the Sixteenth ward, said ho could not come in the evening, Alderman Fisher, of the Twenty-third ward, said that once a week was sullicieyt for the Board to meet 1 the interest of the city. He understood that it was the object of the Mayor to compel their datly attend- ance, to their inconvenience, aud to apply to the courts to eniorce their attendaucggtill they carried out his purpose and effected a perm@hent organization of the Board, ‘These aiternoon meetings could not be done away with, The Mayor was now absent in Albany, and he did not know when he would return, They could only adjourn wll this afternoon, ‘Alter some further discussion the Board adjourned till two P. M. to-day, when doabtless the same lurcical proceedings will be gone through with. Suould the Mayor appeal to the Court tor a mandamus to eompel the attendance of the demycratic members the latter will employ uble counse! to argue against the right of His Honor to direct them 1n their course of action or to coerce them into making any choice for Presigen otber than by their own method, Temporary com. mittees have been appointed long since, and they claun that the bus!ness tterests of the city are not suffering because of their tuilure to elect a permanent president, LICENSING STREET CARS. THE CORPORATION COUNSEL ON THE CITY'S RIGHTS—SUITS AGAINST SEVERAL COM- PANIES, At a recent meeting of tho Board of Aldermen a resolution was passed, on motion of Mr, Sheils, asking for the opinion of the Corporation Counsel relative to the power of tho city authorities to exact license tees from the diflerent street railroad compuntes tor each of their cars and all other informatign in hig hands on tho same subject. Mr, Whitwey says that the question of the rights of the city to exacta license fee from street car companies was brought before the Court of Appeals in two cases—one against the Second Avenue aud the other against the Third Avenue Compan; ‘The suits were commenced under an ordinance of 1! Common Council of Mecember 81, 1868, pro- viding for the recovery of penalties from the several railroads for running passenger cars with out a license, The Court of Appeals decided that municipal corporations can legislate enly in respect to regwiauions of police and imterual government, and not for the mere imposition of a duty or sum of money for revenue purposes, and that an ordinance tinposing # license duty upon city cars ior revenue purposes only Was hot an ordinance for police and Internal goy- ernments. The dectsion of these two cases, however, depended in a great measure upon the co | the grants to the assignors of the company of the fran- chise to baild the road and run street cars, The Cor- poration Counsel turther states that the question of the right of the city to impose such license tax has not | Ween brought before the courts in the case of any other | railroad company, There are now pending, however, a | (ons brought by him against cleven different companies | for the recovery of hcense {ves covering several pears | buck. The cow panies sued are as follows ‘ne Third, Sixth, Eighth, aud Ninth Avenue; the Hadson River, Central Park and North and East River, Houston Street, West Street, Pavoni Kerry, Bieecker Street | and Fulton Ferry, Broadway and Seventh Avenue, Dry | Dock, East Broadway and Battery, and Forty-second eet and Grand Street Ferry railroads, These ac- tions, It 18 expected, will be tried in May or June, und then the whole subject will probably be settled, As to his own opinion in the matier the Corporation Coun~ | set concludes by saying:—‘l do not think that the city hag a general power to impose burdens for rev- enue purposes only in the shape of license tees upon railroad or other companies; bat I am of the opmion | that the most, if notall, of the horse car companies aro liable to the payment of the license fees sued fc Under the ordinance $50 is exacted for each car, THE SIDEWALK STAND NUISANCE. A discussion yeaterday arovo in- the Board of Alder- men upon a motion of Alderman Bryan Reilly vo grant the privilege to a woman of keeping a stand in front of No. 11 Park row, Alderman Cowing denounced this general practice of giving such permission tv encumber the sidewalks, and he Was supported in his position by THE NEW DOMINION A Triumph of Canadian Ingenuily—Fight- ing- Winter Blockades. A MARINE NONDESCRIPT. Seven Miles an Hour Through Ice Twelve Inches Thick, Bh Eh Orrawa, Can., March 18, 1877. It may seom a novel, if not a preposterous, idea that Canada should be able to teach her republican sister across the border anything in the art of steam- boat building, or that results have already been ac- compiished which leave far behind in the race all the efforts of a similar kind to which the attention of Americans has been directed. Yetit is even so, The readers of the Herat will recall the fact that but a few weeks have elapsed since the East aud Hudson rivers were so obstructed by ice that at times it was @ sheer impossibility for ferryboats to make their regu- lar crossings; while at Baltimore and Philadelphia thousands upon thousands of dollars were spent inthe futile endeavor to keep open navigation in order that commerce might pot be interrupted and the local in- terests, of tho respective cities thereby suffer. Ip either instance the thickness of the ice did not ex- ceed eight or ten inches, and yet the most improved expedients applied to tug and icebpats and steam ma- chinery failed to break the barrier and acbi the object sought. Now observe what has been done in Canada, this country of Arctic temperature, frozen streams and bays and dangerous bergs, ICK OR SCIENCE—WHICH? The Straits of Northumberland are bounded on their south side by the shores of Nova Scotia and New Brunswick, and on the north by Prince Edwards Island, The distance between these shores averages about forty miles, except in the narrows between Capes Tormentine and Traverse, where the distance is about nine mies, It is between these two points that communication has been secured (during the winter months) by means of ice boats, The time occupied in crossing by these is said to be from four to thirteen hours; no freight is carried, and tho exposure at times is s0 terrible as to be accompanied by loss of fifa “Ac cording to the description which I have received “tho surface of these straits becomes go’agitated, at times, by conflicting currents as to have the appearance of a boiling caldron; masses of ice are to be seen hurrying in opposite directions with @ rotary motion, while the large fieids, some of them miles in extent, are rent asunder like paper, and their meeting edges piled up into walls of ice, ‘I'he roar and screaming noise of the meeting floes, the hissing of the eddying waters, often accompanied by a storm, forms a grand, and almost appalling scene, Lnsigniticant, indeed, appears THR WINTER SHIP tn the midst of such a scene, as turned around and litted like a feather, it trembles ike an aspen leat in the grip of the pressing ice which passes down trom euch side to the keel ull meeting there, it makes a very cast of the slip im ice, Just as quickly will the whimsical currents subside and join, hurrying away and releasing the imprisoned craft. the phenomena is said to be caused by the throbbing or upheaving of the Atlantic Ocean, which, according to the violence of the storm, throws a suriace wave, us it were, intp the atraits which, let it be moving at an elevation of ouly afew inches, Would cauge an eddying or surtace agita- tion of these waters, particularly wuen moving in a contrary direction to the tide At Cape Tormentine the tides run in opposite directions, their ebb aud flow being of the same duration, vi six bours, and their riso and fall from 81x to eight icet.’? ‘This condition of alfairs more or loss obtains be. tween Georgetown, on Prince Kdward’s Island, and Pic- tou, Nova Scot, the pointe which the Dominion agreed should be connected by ferry av all times, sum- mer and winter. In fact the undertaking isa part of the conditions of confederation. Several experiments Wore made, but they failed, no boat being tound strong enough to sustain the tremendous strain and thump- ing and pressure to which it must be subjected, At this juncture a Mr. K. W. Sewell of Quebec, a ship Dulider of many years experience, Whose hobby tor the last quarter of a century has becn the navigauion of rivers clused by ice, made & proposition to the govern- tent, Which was uccepied, He thereupon commenced tue construction of the winter steamer, now cele- brated throughout the Dominion as THE “NORTHERN LIGHT,” ‘With true Canaaian energy he finished it in less than SIX INnouLus, and with true Cunadian thrift he made it cost bim legs than $60,000, tie. ‘Tue first trip took place in the month of November, since which time the ferry of forty miles has been com: paratively upiuterrupted, thus seeuring to the people ‘of Prince Eawara’s island practical commercial eman- cipation, As an illustration of this fact, among the freight receutly brougut vy the Northern Light trom Pictou were iron knees, ‘oakum, copper and iron bars, wire, hemp, &., urticles which enable many of the ship builders on the isiand to lagneh their vessels on the first open water instead of at the beginning oi June, It 1s true that during some of the terribls weavher which prevailed there were delays, when the stanch little cratt was locked in the flerce grip of the ice for several hours at a tine; but all of her experience at- tests that for the purpose for which she has been de- vised she has proved a greater success than even her projector expected, Tue object now in view 13 to establish winter Davigaticn in the river St. Lawrence, thus securing to the Dominion uninterrupted commu- nication With the outer world, Mr. Sewell says that with the board ice covering every rock’ and shoal, the floe ice laying like a great band or shield under tha passing ship’s lee, und tho total absence of fog and sea, this 800 miles of water, with its mirror like surface, presents fower diillculties to conquer than thuse which have succumbed to tue little steamer in the Straits of Norchumveriand, Should this undertaking prove to be successiul it may not be long before the Hudson River and Long Island Sound will be kept open during the winter months, aud so remain the year rouud important factors in the commerce of New York, As the subject may ultimately prove to be important to a large number ot mercuants, shippers and capitalists, as well as those engaged in Arctic inves- tigations, | have procured the following statistical in- formation With reference to construction, power, && :— A MARINE NONDESCRIPT, The Northern Light is a vessel of peculiar model. The steamer is 144 eet long, 25 feet beam, with a draught of water of 17 feet at the stern and about 3 tect at the bow, She has an exceedingly sharp floor aud a high bilge, the Jatter being at the line of flotatioa, thus reducing the ice pressure to a minimum and prevent ing anything like a right angie pressure. The shape of the bottom secures the vessel trom any disastrous pressures when cauglit in the piling floes aud enables the steamer to enter or work out of harbors with facil- ity. Her draught of water being as above stated there is secured four feet of water above the up- per blade of the propeller, which 1 twelve feet in diameter, with a pitch of 18 feet 6 inches. The keel is formed with a gentle sweop or curve resembling sumewhut the iron of askate, which unites with the curve of the stern so gradually that itis difficult to suy whore the latter joins the keel ‘This peculiar shape enables the vessel to ride over and depress the ice, her forward draught 1d feet back of the siem being only 8 Jeet. During summer navigation she is trimmed to p torward. This is to prevent her falling away. The skin of her buil is double, the outer covering being a two and a hall inch thickness of green-heart, a species of wood that is as hard as lig- bum vitw, and for the purpose better than fron, The whole is enciosed so that in the water the steamer re. sembles a metallic collin with ball’s-eyes in the sides to aflord hight and air. The interior is warmed by ex- baust steam, and (hus the greatest comiort in the most inclement weather is sccured. The engmes are of com- pound build, and are of 700 horse power. The cylinders ure side by side, their diameters being 60 and 30 Inches, The boilers, two in number, are circular, 11 fect in diameter and 9 feet long, There are three rarnaces, ‘The test prossure on the steum gauge is 140 pounds, the working pressure about 70 pounds, and the consumption of coal 13 tons per 24 hours, ‘An idea of the power of this vessel may be had trom the fact that she hag steamed into Georgetown harbor through ico twelve inches in thickness at the rate of seven miles an hour for adistanee of four miles and a halt, and bas split field ice thirty-six inches thick as far us the eye could reach with one blow of her fore foot, and hum- mock ice trom ten to fifteen feet thick. Her stem for several fect is solid, The crew consists of twenty men, d there are pleasant accommodations for forty pas sengers, Dry as the foregoing details may appear they are suggestive, and some enterprising man, if not Mr. Sowall himseil, may yet make improvement that will produce an entire revolution in the science of winter navigation, What has already been done was regarded in Canada as an impossibility, but atter twenty-live years of patient work and waiting the inventor hives to enjoy his reward in the commendation voth of the governinent and its public spirited citizens, Suould the effort to apply the principle above described to the navigation of the great St. Lawrence aod other rivers be successiul no ove can foretell what importunt com- mercial resulis may follow in the further development of the power and wealth of this grand Dominion. The same remark wiil apply to New York. wity EXTRADITION ACT FOR CANADA. Orrawa, March 16, 1877, In the House of Commons to-day, Mr, Blake moved the second reading of the bill to make provision for the extradition of fugitive criminals, He explained that the bill was to make general provision for the carrying out of the machinery for the extradition of fngitive criminals between the Kmpire and foreign States and extenaing 11 to Canada, Ho said there had been for many years a measure upon the statute book providing special means for the extradition of crim- inals when the United States were concerned, The law now upon the statute book would cease to be operative in case ww condition was made with the Alderman Howland The resoluti however, was adopted by @ vote of 12 democrats to biieans, nited States they would be thrown back on the imperial act of 1870, The proposed bill has been | founded upon the imperial ‘With some improve: Méeve suited to our circumstances, The procedure has been simplified and « clause inserted thut uo one shall be extradited tor political oflences. BUSINESS SUSPENSION. Moytrxat, March 16, 19%, Henry J. Tiffin, recently of the firm of Tifa Brothers, but lately im business for himself as an operator in leading staple articlos, has suspended, Liabilities $125,000, Tiffin has alsoa controlling interest in the Derastro Syrup Company, which will not be affected by his suspension, HONOR TO A CANADIAN. Toronto, March 15, 1877, Dr, Alexander M. Ross, a Canadian naturalist, bas received the cross of Knight Commander of the Russian Order of St, Anne from the Emperor of Russia, THE KINGAN MYSTERY. MURDER OB SUICIDE?—A BELIEF THAT HE ‘WAS MURDERED AND ROBBED—TWENTY-FIVE THOUSAND DOULARS IN COUPON BONDS— SOME FACTS RELATIVE TO THE DEAD MaN— WHAT HIS DOCTOR BAYS, The suicide or murder of Mr, James Kingan, which- ever it may prove to be, was the principal topic of con- versation among the members of the New York Pro- duce Exchaage yesterday. However they were di- vided as to the cause of death, on the question of the integrity, business qualifications and honorable deal- ings asa merchant of the missing man an undivided sentiment prevailed. He was known lung and favorably as a cool, calculating operator and a shrewd man of business. Quiet, silent and uupretentious in his man- ner, even his most intimate friends can come to no do cided opinion regarding the extent of the operations ia which ho was interosted, Since last Friday Mr, Kingan has not been seen on ’Change, and the frst announcement that # body answering to the descrip. tion of that of Mr, Kingan, with cards bearing the name of that gentleman, had beon found on the track near Welford station, on the Inter-Colonial Railway, caused considerable anxiety in the minds 0/4 bis buile ness iriends, MURDER OR SUICIDE? sit Various surmises are afloat in rogard to the matter, and opinions are almost equally divided as to the causa of death, Those who knew Mr, Kingan intimately ure of opinion that he was murdered, They think that whatever ideas ho had of suicide, if he entertained any tall, were luid aside as soon as he determined to take passage for Europe, It is thought that he carried a large amount of money, and this becoming known to some evil disposed perzous, always on the watch for such desperate chances, they ‘shadowed’? the unfortunate gentieman until an opportunity presented itself for currying their terrible designs imto execution. The nature and peculiarity of the wounds inflicted, the manner of death, posi- tion of the body on the track and other cir- cumstances also suggest the belief that there has been foul play. The empty pocketbooks, too, they claim, are indications that murder, net suicide, blotted out the life of the unfortunate man, Those who believe in the suicide theory can assign no reason why he should commit suc an act. Possessed of aa ample fortune, having the conlidence aud respect ot all with whom he bad business relations, no reason can be accepted for such w terrible course beyond that of insanity, ‘THK BONDS HR TOOK AWAY, In conversation with Superintendent Walling at Police Headquarters yesterday 1 was learned that no further facts concerning the death of Mr, Kingan had been ascertained. The Superintendent, however, ro. ceived the information in the forenoon that on Friday last at noon $26,000 in coupon bonds of the United States and the District of Coiumbia were delivered to Mr. Kingan. The District of Columbia bonds were of the following denomination aud numbers:—$a00 eac! numbering irom 26,670 to 26,675, inclusive, and froi 13,000 to 13,003, inclusive. The others were United States five per cent bonds of 1881 of $1,000 ry numbering Irom 219,610 to 219,613, luclusive; 306,390 to 306,399, inclusive; 220,284 ‘to 220,285, inclusive; 255,189, 284,411, 246,612 and 270,478 What dir. position Mr, Kiugan made of this amount of money—whether he carried it with bim or disposed of it in some way before leaving the city, or whether it was ‘on bis person up to a short tume betore or immediately after death is sull a mys tery. The numbers and description of the bonds were at once sent by Superintendent Walling to the princi- pal cities of the country and detectives were set at work to learn the circumstances attending Kingan’s departuro from the city. 118 the provatiiug opinion 1n public circies that the merchant was the victim of foul play. tas pretty certain, should this thoory be borne out, that the bonds of which the dead merchant was despoiled bave not been disposed of and they may yet be found serviceable in fixing his murder upon whoever perpetrated it, 1t wus learned that J, D, Moore, the naine under which Mr. Kingan wok passage tor Kurope 1s tuat of an old clerg of bis, ANOTHKR KINGAN REPORTED MISHING, Arumor was current yesterday ‘on the street that other man, bearing the same name and resembling Kingau in personal appearance, and a native of Chicago, was also missing. For a short time iriends clung to the hope that the body found might prove to be tuat of some person other than he whom their anx- ety centred upon, but close upon the heels of this rumor followed the news that the numbers fuund upoa coats, mentioned in the despatch irom St. John, cor- responded with the figures in the tailoring establish- ment wuere Mr, Kingao had his clothing made. This is regarded as strong proot that the body tound is thas of James Kingaa, 4 BROTHER'S BAD ION, On Wednesday evening, on receiving the first intel- ligence of tbe sad event, Mr, Thomas D, Kingan, brother of the missing man, left this city for the scene of the bloody episode, to’ take charge ot tho re- mains in case his worst fears should ve realized. It ‘was ascertained from a friend of that gentleman yester- day that be also believed that murder not suicide was the cause of death. A LARGE AMOUNT OF MONEY. A general feeling prevailed on the street that Mr, Kingan had a large amount of money on bis person, Some people figured 1 as high as $200,000, but tuis amount is deemed extravagant by those who knew the man and his habits best. They are, however, stroug in the conviction that he must have had a considera. ble sum with him, The theory that 1 a murder has been committed those engaged in the deed would nut have left venind the $8,000 found on the person of the dead nan is dissipated by the fact that the money was in the pistol pocket, where it would bo supposed no man would carry so large a sum, When the bottom facts of the whole transaction are known Kingun's Iriends {cel confident that their theory of murder lor the sake of plunder will be sustained, HIS LOSSES. To what extent his business difficulties embarrassed him could not be definitely learned Even if nw lusses had been large it 18 thought the means he por essed would be more that sufficient to avert anything like ruin, For some time past he acted strangely, and his fricnds thought that “all was not right with bim,’? but the idea of suicide nevor for a moment entered their minda, KINGAN & CO, Mr, James Kingan was in years gone by one of the firm of Kingan & Uo,, pork packers, Indianapolis, ‘rhere were three brothers, and eacb of the brothers was at the head of the houses established in England, Indianapolis and New York, James wus the New York epresentative, ‘The firm of Kingan & Co,, Indiun- apolis, was well known throughout the country, and tho enterprise and energy displayed in its mavagement made the firm’s name a household word in that city, About two years since tho firm dissolved and James received, it is said, about $600,000 as hia share at the dissolution of the partnership. Since that time Mr, Kingan has been alone in bis business undertakings, UE WAS INSANE, Dr. Hammond satd yesterday that he was Kingan’s Physicun fora time, and that he believed Kingan was undoubtedly insane and therefore @ ready prey to designing persons when he met his tragic death. Some two years ago Kingan came to him sutlering trom ner- vous exhaustion, brought on by mental excitement and overwork in his hazardous speculations, Dr, Hammond treated him for a short while and Kingan recovered completely, Avout a month ago Kingaa returned. The mental over-excitement of the two years that had passed had again shattered bis delicate Dervous system, and he gave unmistakable indicatious of a disordered brain, Dr, Hammond — strenu- ously urged him to cease all work, to stop going down town, to travel “and himself, and thus, through @ period of complete rest, restore his body and mind to their healthy, nor equilibrium, But it was of no avail, and the inevitable consequences ued, “1 have no doubt,’ said the Doctor, “that he was under the !niluence of mental ab- erration, and you wiil see, therefore, that he may eusiiy have committed euicide.”” The Doctor added, reflectively, **Very few people die from physical ovor- work, but a great many are killed by mental over- excitement, and Kingan was one of this large class.’? Kingan’s insanity, while it would account for the theory of suicide, Would, howover, at the same time facilitate the designs of a murderous robber who dis- covered that he carried bonds of great value upon his person, THE CONTINENTAL AGAIN, Au order to show cause why an injunction should not issue directing the Continental Lite Insurance Company or William R. Grace, its receiver, to surrene der to Elizabeth Holmes a number of bonds of the Terre Haute, Alton and St, Louis Ratlroad which t! mpany now holds was granted yesterday by Judge Wt, in the Kings County Supreme Court, INSURANCE BROKERS, The Now York Board of Fire Insurance Brokers held itsannual meeting yesteraay at No. 164 Broadway and elected the following officers for the ensuing year:— President, Robert ©. Rathbone; Vice President, James M. Bates; Treasurer, Horatio 8, Brown, Secretary Alfred K Lewis. Kxecutive Committee—Herman Mot senthal, J, B, Falk, Theodore Wehle, J. 8. Smith, Ay Whitney, A, L. Shaw, A. O. Wilcox, Finance Com- mittee—Heury Horin; mas Blogden, Chark jawes A Moriord, Committers on Mempbersh; Charles B. Bostwick, a iH. Daskau, a pane