The New York Herald Newspaper, March 28, 1877, Page 3

4 ~SHORMP AND. RSH. Old Story of a Huge Reservoir and a Weak Dam. A) THRIVING © VILLAGE» DEVASTATED. Mills, Factories, Banks, Freight Houses and Residences Swept Away. ONLY ONE LIFE SACRIFICED. An Barly Warning and Consequent Escape of the People VARIOUS ESTIMATES OF THE LOSS. Damage to the Shipping Off Shore from the Gale, [BY TELEGRAPH TO THE HERALD.) Starvorp Spaixas, Coun., March 27, 1877. ‘The terrible Mill River disaster in 1874, resulting from the bursting of a reservoir, was fairly rivalled to- day in the beautifal little town of Stafford, in the Borthern central part of Connecticut. Yet while the destruction of property is enormous the loss of life “ts, fortunately, confined to a single instance, so far as can be ascertained by your correspondent to night Four miles of the valley of Fur- Race Stream, from the village of Stafford- walle and through Furnaco Hollow and Hydevilie, are Swept clear of dams and all buildings within reach of the rashing water down to the central part of the (village of Stafford Springs, this morning covered with stores, @ bank, church aud public hall, and to-night swept by threo, feet of torrent, with every building except two overthrown and their fragments gone down doward the gen. It is the old story of a huge reservoir and a miserably constructed dam. ; THR SCENE OF DISASTER. ‘Stafford is a township of Tolland county, Conn., and is intersected by the New London Railroad, and is situ- atod twenty-eight miles northeast of Hartfora, it contains four villages, viz, :—Stafford, Staffordville, Stafford Springs (celebrated for their mineral proper- ties) and Wost Stafford. Stafford Springs is fifty miles north by west of New London, and two miles from Btaflord. Stafford has two churches, several iron foundries and machine shops, and three cotton and woollen factories. Tho population is over 4,000, nace Stream and Squire’s Creek are two small dranches which unite at Stafford springs and form the svurce of the Willimantic River. The excellent water privileges of both bave attracted manufacturing enter- prise, and several woollen and other mulls wero erccted at various points along their banks. THR RRSERVOIR DAM. Furnace Stream is a small rivulet ordinarily, and to _Busband its Fegouroes tho mill owners early in the ‘winter completed a dam fora large reservoir at Stal- fordville, tour miles above Stafford Springs. The Feservoir covered nearly three hundred acres and was situated in a gorge, at tho foot of which a horseshoe dam, about one hundred and fiity feet long, was con- strocted, This was faced with stone thirty feet wide &t tho base, eighteen at the top and twenty feet high, or two feet higher than the estimated level of the water. Fifteen feet above this was an old, partly ,Fuined dam, and tho intervening space was earth Hilled. This dam was sufficiently solid in the centre, but the weak points were the wings at either side, thirty feet at the base and fifteen at the top, constructed only of carth banked up during the froezing weather of early winter and how scantily the whole work was finished may be inierrod from the fact that tho entire cost was but $7,000, The expense was defrayed by the mil) owners benefited, and the contract was executed by Jordan & Son, of Wilnmantic, A better dam had been projected, but Bcarcity of money led to the substitution of a stracture ‘4a which few had confidence. INDICATIONS OF TROUBLE. During the heavy rains of last night unpleasant rumors wore circulated in the little settiements along Fornace Stroam, and laylight this morning parties ro- siding near the dam discovered indications of 1t weak- ening. Warnings were promptly sent to the mill owners and others along the course of the stream and to tho villagers of Staffora Springs to prepare for scrious trouble, and none too soon, for a few minutes alter sovon o’clock the entire west wing of earth was forced outward and millions of gallons of water rushed ina Fesistiess flood down the narrow gorge, ‘THE DISASTER, Close to the reservoir was the Hopo Company’s fatinet mills, owned by E. A. Converse, and while the main buildings escaped the engine house and other | Structures were crushed like eggshells and swept down ‘with the torrent, A similar loss resulted to the Staffordvilie Woollen Company’s mill, owned by J. Basch & Co, Just below this the foundry of S, B, Amidon’s Stafford Loom Works was destroyed and three tone- Meut houses, from which the occupants had escaped ‘With some of their furniture, The torrent then struck the Phenix Woollen Com- pany’s dam in Hydeville, which went down In a flasb. A REVOLUTIONARY RELIC, Next followed in quick succession the dams of the Valley Company’s mill in Stafford Hollow, tho old | Byde & Converse dam in Furnace Hollow, which | had stood the trials of inuumerable freshets Ince «it ) =6wag) «(erected $=for oa grist mill in Revolutionary times, The old mill building was wrecked, and, going down stream, crushed another dum just below, and swept off two large buildings owned by ex-Governor E. H. Hyde, which wero filled with agricultural implements, fertilizers, &c. E. C. Pioney’s Glyn Mill, in Staffora Springs, was Bext Im line, and lost its dam and its outbuildings; while, next below, the Oonverseville Mills escaped with the loss of the dam. THR FLOOD IS THE VILLAGE, Only in a short haifehour the torrent had wrought this destruction, aod then swopt its flood into the busi- bess centre of Stafford Springs, located in the angle formed by the junction of Furnace Stream and Squire’s Creek, triangular-shaped space, nicely Jaid out and improved with valuablo butidings, At the Upper end of this was Mr. George M. Ives’ Granite Woollen Mills, The dam melted away and the flood then swept through the basement of the mill, ruining Machinery and coutenis, and carried off a block of four tenement houses near’ by, occupied by employéa of the establishment. In thelee of the great Grarite Mill, which served as a convenient break water, a large double tenement house kept its place, but it ts warped and broken and {ts doors and windows shat tered by the timbers amd trees thrown against it DESTRUCTION IN THE VILLAGR Alter reaching the village the flood in ashort ive minutes devasted the business centre and swept everything into the Willimantic The ‘Church, a large wooden edifice, was lifted trom foundations, turned around, Pitched forward ang crumbled into fragments. In this building several merebanis bad placed their goods ior safety and lost everything, aud Thompson & Whiton, whose store was in the basement, suffered heavily. The buildings of the Home Mutua! Fire Insurance Company and the Stafford National and Stafford Savings Banks went next, the books and papers, however, having been previously removed. The stone vault of the banks was crushed and some of the funds may be lost, but both institutions kept the greater part of their securities in Hartiord, Mr. Butterfield, purehasing agent of the New Londen and Northern Railroad, occupied the roome over the bank, and his family barely escaped with their lives, leaving their juraitare to its fate. awarr away. The following bulidings, all of which wore located !n the angle between the two streams, were swept of in Jess time than the story ef their fate can be told:— ‘The new public ball owned by the berough and in which the fire engine was kept. L, W. Crane’s grocery store, belonging to the Granite Millis Company. Levi Geary & Son’s livery stabies. Heald & Smith’s clothingand drug store, ¥. J. Chandler’s news depos, W. W. Burwell’s jewélry store, George 0, Cleveland’¢ grain store. Two buildings occugled by William Smith & Co., dealers In manufacturet™’ supplies. Chester J. Holmes’ lumber and coal yards, RAILKOAD PROPKRTY DESTROYED. The great body of water produced a set back into Squire's Creek, upsetting the railroad freight house over the bank and tearing up the railroad platforms ip front of the passenger depot. ight loaded cars standing in the freight house were swept with the fragments of the building up the stream, tearing away an iron bridge in thelr éourse, and wero left stranded at intervals by the reflux of the waters, BRIDGR® DESFROXED. This bridge was recently erected by the town at heavy cost, and in sumé@ing up the losses there may be noted a fine irom bekige.at Furnace Hollow and a dozen smaller ones along #&é'courae of the flood, ‘The New London Northerm Railroad track ran ina long curve through the aevestated part of the village of Stafford Springe, and ite quarter of a milo of de- molisbed track cannot be replaced until Furnace Stream is turned into its old channel, the current bav- ing broken through the bank near the Granite min dam and eaten outa now channel through what was this morning the business centre of the village. South toward Willimantic it is reported that two Howe truss bridges are gone, and not only has the road suffered heavy dumage, bat travel will be suspended for several days. THE LOSS OF 11FE. To the early warnings received this morning the poos ple of sho devastated section can alone attribute the preservation of their lives, Yet, while so many cs- caped, the ood fount “\gwiage and possibly ta, ‘The unfortunate man is Richard Spodding, long a resi- dent of, and highly respected in Staffora village, where he had accumulated a moderate property. Just as tne flood strack the fated village he was assisting in re- moving goods from a store, and, failing to hear the warning cries of his neighbors, went down with the butiding. His body has not been recovered, Is 1s reported to-night that Mr. W. W. Burwell, a Jewellor, 1s missing, but itcannot be remembered that he was seen in apy place of danger when the flood came, and hopes are entertained that he ts safe, THE AMOUNT OF DAMAGE. Without going into details of individual losses, the damages resulting from the flood are estimated roughly as follows :— ‘The reservoir dam......-+++s++++ Dams and building on Furnace Stream Granite Mill and tenements.. : Copgregational church, bank and other build- ings, with the stocks of merchanaise e+ 250,000 + $7,000 + 25,000 25,000 Bridges on Furnace Stream and Squire’s Creek. 20,000 + 25,000 Ratroad track and Ireight house. Railroad cars and cosily ireight. Total.....++ + +0+$882,000 LAMENTABLE PEATURES® ‘ A lamentable feature of these losses is that they are totally onlike losses by fire when insuranco is a beal- tog balm to the sufferers, It is stated to-night that several of the merchants will be seriously crippled. Another trouble is that the stricken viliago may soon be called upon to make large provision for the relief of its poor, the mill operatives, over three hundred heads of famtiles being thrown out of employment by the mills being deprived of water power heretofore fur- nished by the dams, RELIEF REQUIRED, Is will be remembered that the Connecticut Legisia- ture appropriated $10,000 from the State Treasury for the relief of the Mill River sufferers in 1874, and it welcomo relief to town authorities if the would be Massachusetts Legislature, now in session, would fol- low this excellent precedent, Money is needed now, or willbe in a very few days, and contributions for- warded to A, Howard, Warden of the borough, at ‘Stafford Springs, will be properly applied. LATER RSTIMATE OF LOSSES. Among the individual losses given to-night aro the following IN STAVFORDVILLE, Hope Satinot Company’s dain and buildings. ... $2,000 J. Basch’s Stafloraviile Woollen Company's dam, a Phoonix Woollen Company's dam..... AT STAVFORD HOLLOW, Valley Company's dam AT FURNACE HOLLOW, The Old Converse and Hyde daw., Smaller dam belOW.....+.+-+ 64+ ‘Two baildings and contents owned by ex-Gover- nor EB. H. Hyde... teeeeee Meadows ruined by debris, gravel und rocks... AT GLYNNVILLE, E. C, Pinney’s Glynn Mill Company’s dam and sinall building: STAP The Converseville Mill dam....... Granite Milss, buildit Stock in L. W. Crane’s store... + £2 Home Mutual Firo Insurance Company's build: Bank building... Congregational Church, Geary’s livery stables... Heald & Sinitn’s clothing aud drag store, W, W. Barweil’s jewelry store. Strong & Wentou’s su George U, Cleveland, building William Smith & Co.'s store and large stock of manalactorers’ supplies.,..... Chester J. Holmes’ lumber and coal yarc MOVEMENT OF TUR YLOOD. The disasters along tho firét part of the course of tho flood were not heavy, but ag dam after dam broke and added the contents of their ponds the volume grew to magnificent dimensions and rolled jn upon the villago of Staflord Springs a great wave twenty or thirty foet im height, Glied with huge beams and trees, which shattered everything in their course, Had this wave Feached the Granite Mills or other tenement houses be- fore the occupants had received their timely warning ‘the logs of life would have been dreadful. THE FAMED BIDBR. Mr. EC, Pinney, of the Glynn Mills, repeated tn part the performance of the tamed rider of Mill River, and by bis exertions and those of the mounted couriers he despatched down the bauks was instrumen- tal in saving many lives and a large amount of property. OTHER ESTIMATES OF TH LOSS. Hartronp, Coun., March 27, 1877. The losses by the Converseville disaster are estimated Ab from $500,000 :0 $1,000,000, Among the losses are the Granite Mill, $60,000; the town of Siaflord, $50,000; ten dams, about $35,000; Smith & Co., $30,000 to $40,000; J, O. Cleveland, $10,000; Tpompson & Whiton, $10,000; 1. W. Crane, $10,000; Congregatioual Church, $25,000 Most of the others lose trom $10,000 down, The damage below Stafford Springs, 11 apy, is Dot included in the estimate of this despatch. THE LATEST ESTIMATE. 4 Haxtvorp, Copa., March 27, 1677. ‘The disastor at Staflordviile is not 60 destructive as at first reported, The latest estimate puts the actual Present loss at $350,000, THR DAMAGE TO THE BAILROAD. Hartrorn, Conn,, March 27, 187% The following trom the Superintendent of the New London Northern Railroad isthe tullest account re- ceived: — Nuw Loxpox, March 27, 1877. My advices to this bour, three o’clock P, M., are that the track {s nll gone from the Stafford passebger depot, half a mile south, aad with the track went treight cars and {reight house. Two of the owe trus# bridges are cone—one two miles south of Stafford, ninety leet jong; another halt ® wile bdslow that, feet long,’ Two miles south of Tolland the track is washed away and toe South Willington bridge ts probavly undermined, South of that another piece of the track is washed out, and still another oridge endangered. ‘Two at South Coventry aro in groat dan; being now upto the floo! lhe washout between Lebanon which occurred lust night and which detained our hus been repaired, If I recetve turthor Iwilladvise you. G. W. BENTLEY, ww London Nortberu Railroad, No damage is reported on the other rajiroads in this State NUMBER OP CARD3 AND SPINDLES, Provipexce, R 1, March 27, 1877. ‘The loss at Staffordville is very heavy, the mills suffering more or less damage, aud work will have to be suspended in them until the reservoir can be re- built K. W. Converse & Co.'s mills hayo four sets of cards and 1,000 spindles, and employ alargo number of hands. The Home Company, the Home Manufacturing Com- pavy and (he Home Woollen Company are also situ- ated there, The latter runs 3,360 spindles, The Staffordville Woollen Company has three sots of cards ‘The exact loss of these companies is not known. in Stafford Springs are the mills of Cnarles Fox & Co., six'sets of cards, Tho Converse Company, with seven sete of cards and 1,800 spindios. =n Ellis, Con- verse & Uo., the Mineral #prings Manutacturing Com- pany, six sets of cards and 1,740 spindles, In Stafford are the Valley Company’s mills, the Glyun Mills, 2.000 spindles; the Granite Milis, 5,500 spindles; the Valley Manutacturmg Company, the Phonix Woollen Mills and the Rossiter Company, each with four sets of cards, THE WRECKED ROCKAWAY. THE VESSEL CLOSE IN SHORE-—-WRECKERS AT WoRK. AtLantic City, N. J., March 27, 1877. ‘The steamer Kockaway bas come so far inland that you can walk aboard, Shois broken in the middla A flog on board ts marked “For Rockaway.’’ Wreck are saving whav can be saved. The iron work is branded ‘*Beach & Co., Norfolk.’? EFFECT OF DISREGARDING STORM SIGNALS, Wasursatox, March 27, 1877. ‘Tho steamer Rockaway, lost peur Atlintic City, left ‘Nortoik during the display odthe storm signal, and is tho first vessel of the kind that ever loft port during a display of cautionary signals and without consulting tho office regarding the weather, CONFLICTING THEORIES AS TO THE CAUSE OF HER LOSS—INTERVILW WITH HER OWNER. Later intelligence confirms the report in the Hxxatp of yesterday of the total wreck of the new steamer Rockaway. Her trame has been entirely broken up, and the scattered timbers strew the beach at Atlantic City. A despatch received at the office of the Coast Wrecking Company yesterday morning from Captain ‘Wilson states that the vossel was completely broken dn two on the bar, and that people could walk out to the wreck at low water. The planks and other tim- vers which have drifted ashore aro tukeu possession of by the wreckers, though most of the fragments are too chated and splintered to be of any appreciable value. The boat is undoubtedly a hopeless wreck, and it is apparent that nothing of value can be saved tothe owners, WHO 18 ACCOUNTARLK? ‘The question, who 18 accountable for the loss of the Rockaway is discussed by tho uiflerent partiee con- cerned with considerable beat. Captain Couch, of the Wyanoke, affirms that it was practically impossible for him to have returned under the lee of the Delaware Breakwater wheo requested to do so by Mr, White and Captain Holton. He considers that he did all that lay jn.b1s power to save the vessel which he bad tn tow, and imputes the logs of the boat to the imperfect state of her construction and the severity of the gale, puperintondent Bourne, of the Old Dominion line, takes the ground that the company is under bo obligation to make good the joss and accepts ‘as final the report of Captain Couch, He considers that | the builder, Mr. George Beach, of Norfolk, must as. sume the responsivility for the joss of the boat, as it was stipulated in the contract with Mr. White that the Rockaway should be delivered ut New York in good condition. He understands, bowever, that the boat ‘was insured by the builder, and that the joss to him will probably be covered by bis insurauce, AM OPPOSITE THEORY. Mr. White, op the other band, takes a decidedly dif. ferent view Of the question at issue, as will be seon by the subjoimed report of an interview with a HeRaLD roportor :— wno 18 TO PAY FoR nun? umors were current in this city yesterday R, Cornell White of No, 116 South street, own great excursion boat, was about libeliing the stea Wyanoke, of thy Uld Dominion Steamship Company. A Hirao reporter called upoo Mr, White in hig office at the above-mentioned addrgss, bat which should more correctly be called his aviary, considering the number of canaries it contained in gilt cages, all tn full song, Tue following conversation ensued between Mr. White and the reporter. Revoxrkn—lt is reported, Mr. White, that you are going to have the Wyanoke libelled to-day for having caused the loss of your excursion boat, Mr, Witite—!bat 1s not possible, for she sailed tor Norfolk this aiternoon, Captain ‘Couch, her com- 1 look upon him as an u and weil able to take care of his ship. Rerotkx—Y ou seer to infer by thut statement that he takes better care of bis own vessel than those he may have in tow ¥ 4 Mr, Wiita—1 do, I asked him on Sunday, white on his ship, im view of the threatening weather, at ten minutes before noon, to proceed to the Delaware Dreak- water With tuo Rockaway for refuge trom the cowing storm, He told me subsequently he was sorry he did not do a Alter my rst request to bin tw care for the Kockaway’s safety I repeatedly renewed my request to him to ron there for sheitel Tho Captain, however, appeared to be ander an baltu- cimetion that the weather would clear up every minute, He affected to bo wonvertully ranguine in this re Meunwhile the weuiber grew worse und worse, aud the Capiain’s attention wus needed for his own vessel, and the Rockaway waa straining herself to pieces 10 the heavy teu Uli she vroke In two and had to be cut adrift after the rescue of those on board, THK QUESTION OF INSURANCE. Rerorter—Can you tell mo about the question of Insurance ¥ Mr. Wiuire—Yea to acortain extent, Let me pre- mise my statement by saying thas the vessel, accurd- ing to my contract with Mr. G. W. Beach, of Nortoik, the butider, was not my property tli \6 arrived in this port. Agaimst ber cost 1 have already paid $26,000, “While being towed up here she was still tho property of Mr. Beuch, I bave taiegraphed that zen- Uueman 10 come on here, and I expect Lin in this city to-tnorrow, when we will agree upon w course of action. Ruvonrex—L suppose that the Wyavoko will be libelied when she returns. Mr, Wiitk—I do not think such a procedure should prevall uimong shipping men uniess absolutely neces. sury, Bonds for trial can easily be furnished by tho Oid Domimion Steamship Company whea served with the legal documents. . COMPETITION THE SOUL OF HUSINESS. Revorten—liow it that a passenger veesel, In- stead of a tug, was selected to tow her here, Mr. Whiet Mr. Wirrr—Tne owners of the tug North America oflered ww tow her here, and insured her for $30,000 tor the sum of $1,000, The Uid Dominion Steunship Company made the same offer to Sir, Beach for $750, aud it was accepted. Mr, Beach will give me tull par Hienlare as to tne afair to-morrow, 1 nold that no in- surance ays should sach a loss—only the old Dominien | Limit Compas’: Another year will be necessary to cougiruct another similar vessel, THK ROCKAWAY'S CONSTRUCTION. The constractiou of the vessel is considered by ex- Pert# ty have been good, It ta said, however, that her guards were unasually wide, ang, being decked over, Opposed a broad suriuce to the sweep of the seas, 50 at the boat was racked by every wave Ouring the night, while the Wyanoke was und only, Rockaway was most of the time broa to the sea, which, pouring over the deeks, shook the boat to her centre. If the cuards had not been decked over and the waves had been allowed to break over th deck with little impediment tt was possible that b “hog frame” might not have been broken under the diminished strain. THE RUSLAND AND L’AMERIQUE. TUB STRENGTH OF THEIR HULLS DEMON- BIRATED—SUCCESSYUL COMBAT WITH OLD OCEAN—DAMAGE IN THE VICINITY FROM THE s10RM, {BY TELEGRAPH 1O THE HERALD.] Loxe Baraxcu, N. J., March 27, 1877, The day opened with the wind strong northeast and no perceptible change in the severity of the storm or the movosonous roaring of the tempestuous ocean, whose waves are rolling mountains bigh and break tm all their majesty on the foam-covered shores, often carrying with thom large portions of the blu and of the summer houses that he within reach of their un- controlable power, TUM RUSLAXD, The Rusland would at umes be tnvisible, being engulied as if by an avalanche, the white capped bil- lows sweeping over her decks, entirely covering her smoke stack, ‘Ihe decks have been cleared ot every- thing excepting hor rigging, the bridge, midehip cabin and chart.reom, they bemg greatly broken on the star- board side, a9 they were not of suilicient strength to withstapd the many tons of pressure that were con- centrated in the seas that have been breaking over the unfortunate ship during the storm that prevailed this woek. A portion o/ the saloon cabin remains standing, Dut 16 te thougus it will be washed overboard to-night GOING ON BOARD, Captain DeHorsey, with the chief oMvcers, went out in two und boarded tho steamer, The Captain Bays ov ing appears to be about the same as beiore the storm, With the exception of the Joiner’s work above deck and the fore and aft hutchos “being carriod away. The ship's engine, boilers und machinery are not disturbed, and he does not think there has’ been any damage dono to them.” #rom what could ve seen tho freight cau be taken out Just na woll us last week 4M the sea should resume its former quietude, There is how no perishable freight in bor, ali the rags and paper Raving Deen vent away with the lighters The cargo batts in Ber now consist chiefly of iron wiro and 1“ ‘conéliiding bis report the Captain said:— “The water 1 the ve-sel i# as bigh as the upper between docks. That ship won't break up very easy, and I believe if she is not floated away you will see her bgil and decks there just the samo in a year trom now as you do to-day.” RUVORT OP ThE WRECKERS, Some of the coast wrecking men when asked about the condition of the steamer say trom appearance the Dull remasg8 intact. The sbip has pot settied apy, aud 1 1m aboUk the same position as day before yesterday. Bald une; “Wo cap enve that ship If the hull remains unbroken, even it there is huies 1u her bottom, We can pull ber out and put false bottoin in her inside.”? _ The diver is ready to go down in her ag soon ag the ‘Wweater perinits, L/AMERIQUE, ’ Tho L’Amerique lays in about the same position as twenty-lour hours During the day the seas would break acro: decks without doing any damage, with the exception of completely drenching any oo Who might have occasion (o remain there, Toa persou in her saloon the breaking of tne moun- tains of Water would have the resembiauce of aistunt thunder OF the uring of @ battalion of heavy ur- tillery. A rotary pump has been taken on board aod put in working order. Captain Merritt said he could pomp ail the water that was iu her out in about three bours, wad if the storm abated he would get the pump to work to-night and heave on her in the morning at high tide, which is bosween hall-past seven aud eight o'clock. He would have pumped the ship out aud heaved on her to-day, but did not think he could hold her ia the tuce of this storm if she had the weight taken out, He thinks he will move teamer off this next weok, There will bea tail tide on Thursday, it that day te not too stormy he will try hard to flowt her, If bephould not succeed in doing It be will have to wale tl fuir weather, DAMAG& YROM THK STORM, ‘The storm bas done considerable vicinity, blowing off the roofs of houses, tearing down fences, Wprooting trees, &e. The passengers on the in irom New York via New Jersoy South- trad te be trausierred at a distance of 160 ys Abrough the breakers, the track besmyg covered with sapd and the sea washing over at high tide, It iw thought it will be cleared in the mourning, us there 18 a gung of men Onthe ground to repair the wash when the tide falls, The storm is still raging with great ferocity a It revenging the continuous mild weather that has favored this portion of tho treacherous coast of Now Jeraey tor several mouths past. MARINE DISASTERS, Wasaixatox, March 27, 1877. ‘Tho signal service observer at Cape Henry reports, at half-past eight A, M., tho Norwegian bark Pautser in bad condition and full of water; she will probably go to pieces, Her crow, eleven all told, were all saved, Attwonty minates to ten A. M., tho skip Winchester at last hign water was moved about a length, They continue to heave the ballast overboard at the rate of one hundrea to one hundred and fifty tons per day. The sea and wind 18 very high and untavorable fo speedy work, bot the ship remains in good condition and position, At halt-past eleven A. M., I am informed that tho Italian bark Franceschino, so far, declines ihe the as- sistance offered hy the life-saving crew. There 18 no | immediate danger of loss of life or the breaking up of the vessel. At two P, M., there is no hope for tho Norwegian bark Pautzor, She 1s breaking up rapidly, SOUND STEAMERS DETAINED. Proviprxor, R, 1, March 27, 1877. In consequence of the storm both the Fall River and the New York boats lose one trip. A DRIPPING CITY. TAE ICE ON THE HUDSON. ‘The second dey of ceuseless ruin aud drizzle matchos the first. For nearly forty houra the floougatos have been opened, aud the rain bas descended to drench the city. Miniature torrents bave coursed down the gut. ters and swept the mad through the sowers, Portions of tho dirtier streets bave been flooded, and the rising pools have decanted their surplus into the neighboring basements, Generally bow- ever, the wator has flowed off with little impedi- ment, and has supplemented the exhausted energies of the Street Cleaning Department — Still a more wash of water down the gutters cannot accomplish miracles, Some of the strects east of Broadway ure as foul as the Augean stables, and a department which cannot Onda spare horse and cart caunot be expected to seta river Mowing down these Glshy lanes, for they have ceased to be thoroughlures, Like Lady Macbeth, those who live on the filthy streets may exclaim tn vain, with tho qnoen, “Out, damned spots!” but they seem likely to exclaim a long time bofore their desires will be realized. “All the periumes of Arabia’? would not sweeten one little street as numbers of them ure at present. Mea aad animals looked even more uncomfortable yesterday than ou Monday, Tue wind blew less gastily, but the rain fell\ even more steadily, and everything was wetter thau ever, Shippers and consignees wero apparently tired of waiting Lor a break tu the continual pour, tor trucks aud express wagous wore much more vusily employed than on Monday, Aiung the line of wharves froning on West street beuvy drays were coutmually passing, and tbe entrances to the shipping depois were bivckod by lines of waiting teame, The Lorses wore wot and spiritiess aud the drivers wero dripping and cross. Ibe only place tn the city where the rain seems thoroughly welcome 18 at the Battery, where the thin Sprouts of grass bindes eageriy drink ‘In the moistu i aro rapidly Covering the ground with u tresh, ve dant carpet. There alone aro the signs of spring and she promise of brigoter days to come, THK ICK BLOCK. News was received yesterday aiternoon, at the tow boat ollice of scbuyler & Co., No, 16 South street, that the Ice on the Iiudson, from below Albany to Kinder+ hook, was beginning to browk up. The heavy flues woich nad grounded were at last aflout, abd ibe sure fuco of the Lroud sheet was cracking in all direc- tions Broad fissures were opening in Many pluci and the durk water could be seen in straggling lan through the sce crust, be continuance of tho preseut cakes of Hove, aud ft Is credibly reported that the ico beiow Kinderhook bus already begun to move, Above | Vanwies Pout the force of the current bas sensibly | Increused, and haze bh of ico are being broken off and carried alony wader the surtace ice till #ome Weak spot breaks up with the upward pressure of a biock, and the heavy cake risos again to the aie with a loud roport. Tho whole ice field ts moving up and down with the swelling of the current, and crossing tho river on oot is no longer practicable, At Albany the | Tver rose eighteen inches on Monday night, and the water i still rising, With the prospect Of an overilow as the docks The fresbet trom the upper river will be full one, and either tho 1c must yield to the force of the down coming torrent or lower Albany will be swamped, a8 1b has been a number of times belore in past years, STARTING OF ‘The passengor boats of ¥ bly stare for the teil trt the venture, [t 1s possible that the river may be choar enough by the end of the week to admit of their star ing, and the management intend to begin the season at the ost practicable period. The boats have been shoruughiy redtted and repaired, The coances of the IVER BOATS, Poople’s line will proba. fore any towbout wukes mage in this | wealber promises «speedy disintegration of the ice | NEW YORK HERALD, WEDNESDAY, MARCH 28, 1877.-TRIPLE _ SHEET. towboate attempting the trip up the river on Satur. day, a3 19 designed, appear more favoravle thay oo Moi a vowN THE BAT, In pemng ome of the deuse fog yesterday morning, the Staten Island ferryboats found i dificult to make their accustomed trips regalarly. The st er D. R. Martin, whien left ber landing at the Club House dock, Stapleton, at seven o'clock, did not arrive on ver re- turn trip antileleven. The railroud bouts omitted the Sandy Hook line, did not leave her dock, pier No. 9 North River, unsil eleven o’ciock, she being detamed ere over night by the storm on Monday evening. AMUSEMENTS, EAGLE THEATRE, The now opera bouile, ‘La Bello Poule,”” was pro- duced at this bouse last night to @ jurge aud brilliant audience, notwithstanding tho severe storm The Russian Grand Dukes Alexis and Constantine honored the performance with their preseace, and seemed to enjoy the brightand sparkling music of the piece, The story of the “Belle Poule’’ deais with the adven- tures of a pair of rural lovers, who are used by @ grand seignour and a great lady to avenge suspecied mutual infidelities, The resultiog situations of- fer splendid opportunity for good acting company. Thére 1s of course the usual flavor of gal- ts nothing done specially naughty we are left to infer that it 18 merely want of opportunity. However, u# this moral or tmmoral persiflage is in the very nature of opera bouffe, there is bo particular reason to quarel with the small dose administered in M. Hervé’s work, Is 18 certainly a very innocent performance when compared with such works as the Timbale d’Argent” Tt has the additional merit of being infinitely more interesting and jollier, The quality of the music i@ remarkably good, but there are quite anuinber of passages which are reminiscences of other works, M. Herv6 soems to have acted a good deal uiter the man- ber of those literary pirates who take a good thing wherever they find it, and appropriate it, without re- mark, {or pure love of art, It must bo said, however, that the appropriation of passages and motives has boen so very cleverly accomplished that they euter into the spirit of the composer’s work and are lost therein. ‘The music of *+La Belle Poule’”’ ts full of charm and Sparkie and cannot fail to become popular. it was cely board to advantage Iast night, and it will, we doubt not, improve on acquaintance Thera are'a number of charming songs well distributed among the various characters, aud the chorure: spirited und enilvening, Among the songs which are lkely to become popular are Savez vous c'que clest qu'un dragon du rol” aud the little song, ‘Sa belie Poul’, faut que J? Vecrive,” and a very sweot lie song, “Mudume, tout doit vous sourire,”? all of which fall to Aiméo im her character of Poulette, The tenor songs, *Y’a des gens qui wont “fu jut dita que j’veux your uo Raoalt ample opportunity to jon on the au homme,” gave BS ceive several en chict weight, however, rested on Aimée, who. played and sang with her usual dash aud abandun, She was in excelent voice, and she iniused so much spirit und expression into the character of Poulette that she has established a new character on the stage which Is likely to hold its own, ‘The audience, without being enthusiastic, were very much amused, and received the new work warmly. The minor réles were woll Oiled, but Mme. Desiree’s woice Was notin very good condition, but with this drawback the picce went off very satisfactorily. “JACK AND JILL" AT THE OLYMPIC. Pantomime ts always acceptable to the lovers of true fan, and it is presented im first rate manner at the Olympic Theatre. ‘Jack and Jill’? is the only enter- tainment of the kind that we have, and is the most successful pantomime recorded since George Fox uppeared as Humpty Dumpty. ‘this capitul play ts full of exciting situations, amusing surprises and clever effects of mechanisin, The scenery is also very good, and i's remarkable popuiarity may be rightly attrib: uted to its exceptional merit, TONY PASTOR'S THEATRE, One of those immense variety billa for which Tony Pastor is famous is presented again this week, ang as ‘usual the theatre has boen crowded every night, The Bennetts, in their protean performances; Miss Lou Vavasonr, in hor baliads; Delehanty and lienglor, in “The Rival Darkies,” aud many others; Mr, Tony Pas. tor, last uot loast, Inake a programme full of lite aud fun, The public evidently appreciate the amusement which this theatre supplies. M. AND-MME, PICARD. HOW THE HUSBAND ACCOUNTS FOR THE DIS- FIGUREMENT OF HIS WIFL's FACR—HER DE- NIAL OF HIS STATEMENTS, Tho police ure still looking for Alfred Picard, the Frenchman who 18 obarged by his wife Helowe with having, on Sunday last, bound her while she slept, and thea cruelly burned and distigured her fuce with oil of vitriol or some similar subsiauce, That Monsiwur Picard 18 not very far beyond the end of the police force’s nose 1s evidenced from the following letter re co:ved lust night at the oflice of the Courrier des Etats Unis :— I seo that you havo been misinformed in regard to occurrence between myself and Mme. Picard, 1 was on very good terms with my wile when I lest her about nine months ago to ty to tind a means of livelinood in Europe, for alfiirs bud gono very badly with us al the hard times set in here, It was then arranged between us that I[ should go to Brussels, and that if 1 found work there she should Join me imtnediately. Finding steady employ- ment woon alter reaching Brussels, | wrote to my wile to sell what furnituro she had and come to me; but instead of doing as | asked her, she did not evon write to ine, and for seven months 1 wrote letters after letters’ without receiving any resporne. — Then, suspecting the truth, 1 returne! to take her by sur- priae, und saw her entering the house accompanied vy ‘a big. clumsy German, who ran awoy when he perceived me. I[ intended to go away aguin without making any scaudal, buc I found that the bud conduct of my wile was a matier of public notoriety. She had inthe house akiad of pencil ot some caustic substance with which to make “beauty gpots” upon her face. On Sunday I atnused myssif b marking upon my hand with the pencil moistened with sativa, and I saw that the spots it touched turned black Without causing the shgltest pain, Then, while she was asleep, I purverized alittic end of the pencil, mixed it with spittle, and, taking 1 upon two fingors, applied it to her lett cheek, ‘Tho cold touch awakeoed her and she tried to wipe it off hor face, and in doing 80 spread the little spot which I had made, Then sie rushed out of the room, saying that she would obtain a policeman and have mo rot (erever) in prison. As You oun fearn my true churacter from— val names Which it !3 useless to reler all the rest. (here follow to). THR WIvB’S CONTRADICTION. Areporter of Tue Hekatp last night, with a copy of the above lettér in hand, made his way to a front room on the etxth floor of No. 146 East Housion street, where “the woman in the case”’ is domiciled. Madame Picard was found suffering great agony from the wound, which covers the entire left cheek, and extends some distance down upon the neck. She indigaanily re- peliod the insinuations made in tho jctwor against her character aud pronounced the story of the pencil an utter jalsohood, She deciared that she mver had any such pencil, and that tho substance with wh.cu she was burned’ was a liquid which sbe, beiure failing asleep, bad without suspocting unything scen her hus- Duna ix in the hollow boctou of an averted tambler, ‘Theo she explained with rapid utwerauce in ber native tongue and with vivacious gestures, how sb awakened vy aterrivic burning pain, and ttaud.ng over ner with the empued 10 wis band; how Bho strove rise, but found ber bands vound together with 4 strong cord; how in attempting to brash off the murderous liquid she only succeeded in buruing her hands (which bore the marks), and how, when her husband then approached hor with @ pair of scissors aud attempted to cut off her bair, sho foally, with a strength gained from the maddening pain, broke the cords, aud, rush- ing down into the strest, evcaped. Mme. 'Picurd also stated that witer ber wound bad been dressed by an her apartment anu was ollowed by her husband, who waved a knife tu the ar aod throutesed vo kill her it she told the pohee of the affuir, JOSEPH STAHL'S DEATH, Tho fatal burning of Joseph Stabl at the Guttenburg brewery has caused a carefal scrutiny of bis anie- codents, and itis thought some new facts will be pre- sented when the inquost 1s resumed, It has been dednitely ascertained that he had beon under the inila- ver amoog bis fellow workines, Mr. Kohler, ono of the proprietors of the brewery, stuted yes- terduy that Stahl was cross and surly, and for that reason w: passed several days 4 hot a favorite. He trequentiy 4 tino without eating, drinking mough of beer to support him. fie ulways carried w urderous knife, and & short time ago be sharpened it with a good deal of ostentation, putting a keen cago on it. A few days betore his death one of the men was talking to bim avout banging around the place after bis discharge, and he turned ou him saddenly, saying, “If any one comes pear me, of gives me away, I'l kill iim’? Last Monday "a week agua ‘now cook was hired at the brewery, and she proved to be an quainuines ' of Stahl’s Ww New York. Atter sho liad beeo in the ho & few days, sho evidently quarrelled with Stabil, as she did not speek to him. Lt ts alleged that she has an ad+ mirer among the employés, and that this was the cause of her quarrel. several persons who have ree ported evidences of wey ou we partof Stahl have been subpanaed to attend the inquest, and Dr, Raro thinks that the story Stan! told wih so mach detail will prove to have been the result of wn ingame per- matance in an imaginary occurrence. carly moroing trip, The steamer Jesse Hoyt, of the | whieh is made the most of by the meinbers of tho | Jantry running throagh all tho acts, and though there } the story that 1 took our child away, that isa lie like | Apothecary, whose shop sie entered, sto returned to | ence of Liquor for our days and he bore a bad charac | SALE OF CURIOUS BOOKS. The salo of the Hoffman-Sabin collection of works at Bangs & Co’s, was not very well attended yesterday, the buyers preferring to leave their bids rasher thas to brave the storm. The most attractive books to the collector were, perhaps, those connected with the late Rebellion, which sold for very good prices, The sale was fished last evening, having occupied Just eight days, and covering leas than 6,000 lois The Hasties- ‘Tracy library, covering 9,000 lots, was disposed of im less than aix days, Tho lesson is obvious. At yes- terday’s salo a reprint of tho Tribune Almanac, from 1833 to 1863, two volumes, brought $8 87; ‘Trumbull’s Funeral Discourse on the Death of George Washington, 1800, $2 Tuckerman’s Character and VPortraite of Washington, $22 60; The Turner Gallery $17 50; Turner's Liber Fluvioram, $11; Twelfth Night ag the Century Club, two cents; a biack Jetter volume, by Pope Grogory L, $76; the Dialogues of Gregorii, $14; another copy of Grogoril, printed by Schator in 1465, $14 60; lurge paper copy of Wilkes’ Narration of th United States Expioring Expedition, $18; Records of the Voil Famity, Singular Lives of Van Bi o Jesse Hoyt and B. FP, butler, suppressed edition, $1 30; tho Royal Contemporuries' of Peru, $8 50; Didov’s kaition of Virgil, stnall copy, $10 60; six volumes of the Virginia Historical Register, $24 75; Sketch of the Life of James W, Wallack, sen., large paper eony, oniy fifty printed, twenty-five cents; Horace Walpole’s Avecdoies of Painting in Eugland, Ore volum $22 50; Walpole’s Royal ond Noble Authors of Grea! Britain, $16 25; Walpole’s Memories of the Reign of k ge 11,. $1050; Littie, Brown & Co, "s large paper ¥ of Walton's Complete Angier, $10 75; Piekering’s iow of Walton’s Complete Angier, two volumes, $42; asetot illustrations for above, $16; Watworth’s Cobler, sinat respondence $21 60; Washington's Farewell Address, 1808, $1; A Selection of Orations, Kulogies, &c., in Commemoration of the Late of Washington, $17; this iotof Washingtoniana sold from one cent to $21 cach; Watson’s Annais of Poile- delphia, $6 Vorks of Dante! Webster, six volumes, 21; Webster's Dictionary, enlarged by Obauncey Good- rich and Noah Porter, turee volumes, $18; W. D. Wille inmsou’s History of the State of Matne, two volumes, $14 60; W. 1s Wood's Personal Recollections of tho Stage, filty cents; Wordsworth’ Poows, 19 seven vol- umes, haf calf, $4 90. ‘The publications of Lincolniaua and rebellion Iiterature brought'fair but not vooy largo toes. round pum the rosult of this sale has beem somewhere betwoen $15,000 and $20,000, THE SEDGWICK LIBRARY, There was a tine attendance at thi je of the Williams Ellery Sedgwick library at Leavitt’s last evening, but the prices fetched were not very large, Archatea, edited by Sir Egerton Brydges, printed at Longman’s private press, $8; copy of the Bradford Club publicae tions sold very cheap, with the exception of the paperi concerning the attack upon Hatileld and Deerfield vy « party of Indians, $15, and Hallock and Drak Croukers, $4; Mr, Bouton hus a set of these Papers for which he paid $10.8 volume; Anne 3 Sireet’s Works, in prose acd verse, $5; Charles Astot Bristed’s Pieces of u Broken Down Criti 26; Mra, Browning's pooms, in five vol inorosco, odited by Theadure Tilton, $1 06 Tho hargo, of Seeiches of the’ Times, a satire by William Culien Bryant, printed for the author by E. G, House, $4; Edmund Burke’s Works and Correspondence, eight volumes, $4 75 per volume; Byron's poctical works, — letters and Thomas Carlyle’s works, fine edition, four volumes, 0a volume; this ‘edition retails for $3 50 w volume; Don Quixote, in Spanish. volumes, sheep, ten cents a volume; Chosteriie Letters,’ in four volumes (the fifth 18 seldom seen’ $3 10 per voluio; the completo works of Cicero, thi first edition printed in America, twenty volame: $1 20a volume; Pickering & Moxon’ ition of Cole- ridge’s Works, in nineteen volumes, were cheap at $325 4volume, The saic, which grows in interest, will be continued this evening. THE FEMALE LB FACULTY. The eighth annual commencement of the Woman’s Medical College took place last ovening at the Union League Hall, Twenty-sixth street and Lexington aves nue, Quite a large and respectable audience was im attendance, and durimg the ovening a brass band dig courred sweet music. Mr, Samuel Willets presided, Tho graduates received their diplomas from Mrs, Emily Blackwell, M, D, The valedictory was read by Mass Kate Johnson Jackson. The Rev. Howard Crosby read an address, in which he eulogized the medical faculty, lauded the adinission of women to the scsence of materia medica, and dweit npon the fact as a stop of enlightened progression, Dr. Mary Putnam-Jacobi de- livered a loug#ecture on the science of medicine, thera- pevtics and patbolozy, 11 which sho combatted the id Of Moiiere, tuat Luman disenses wore beyond tho con- trol of mortal knowledge, and oluimed that modera observation and inquiry had dono mucb, and would do more, to solve the provlem conaccted with the ills and ailments of flesh. ‘The names of the young ladies who received their dipiomas as physicians are Miss Julia Koox Cary, Mas suchusetts; Saly Marcy Crawford, Massachusetts; Mise jot, Michigan; Miss Klzabeth i rk; Mary Dudley Hussey, New “ey; Kate Johuson Jackson, New York; Jennie ‘Tower Leonurd, Massachusetts; Mary Jane MeCleery, Ohio; Surah Jane Mowut, New York; Annie Mary Reid, Connecticut; Julia Eastman Wallace and V. A, White, UNPERMITTED SUGAR, Inspector N. Davis, of tho Surveyor’s staf seisee five barreis of sugar on the 20th fost. on the Union Dock, Brooklyn, Which was landed, without a permit, fromm the bark Covenanter, Captain Whitehead, from Matanzas, im violation of section 2,873 Revised State utes, and sold by the Captain to @ speculator, Oa being informed of the violation the Captain endeavored to bribe the inspector, but the latter reported the case at once to the Collector, who ordcred Deputy Collector! Pheips, of the Seizure 100, 10 Institute procende {ngs ugainet the vi once. This was done, and the reporton the seized sugar showed that the five barrels contatved 1,432 pounds gro nd 1,289 pounds net weight, Tho yalue thereof i be, {n foreign value, $45 12; Honolulu value, $86 20; dury, two conts per pound, and twenty-five per cont ad valorem, gold at 105, Under section 2,872 of the Ro vised Stutuies a fino of $400 wae inflicied upon the captain, as the amount of the goods smuguled did not exceed that sam, Had the Vaiue been over that ammount proceedings for the confiscation of the vexsol would have vecn begun, and, under the law, secured, DUDLEY'S GROVE DESTROYED, About eight o’clock last evening the picnic resort om the east bank of the Hudson River, a short distane@ south of Hastings, and known as Dudiey’s Grove, was completely destroyed by fire, Tho buildings consumed were of Wood, and consisted of a large dancing platfor dining rooms, barroom and kitchen, 16 is belle that the fire was the work of ao incendt The lose , and is understood to be | is estimated at about $1 fully covered by insurane PASSOVER. ‘The Jewish teast of Passover begins at sundown thig evening and continues for a poriod of eight daya, THE LATEST CHARLEY Ross, The Madison (Wis.) Journal gives an interesting ace H count of tue new Chariey Koss discovered among the balfe | breed Ind:aus on the Upper Mississipp!, Mr, Ross wae | so much impressed with tho descriptions of the boy that he sent for him to be brought on to Philadelphia, at his own expense, The Journal says: They are | rived in Madison, and a@ reporter of the Journal intere viewed them there, from which the follows 1s tukea:—A spare, fair-featured child was the reputed Charley, evidently seven or eight years of age, though having @ care-worn expression that indicated years of hard usage and made him look older than a closer ex, amination would indicate Heavy, brown, curh ing locks encircled a found, almost girlish luco, in which a regalar, nose aod larg pressive = blu wight once ha en darker, wer tu tll accord, however, with an ugly su right ebeck. Tho reporter had & photograph of the AvGueted Obarley In his pockel; Hartord having ag- other, from a different view; placed in attitudes similar, to those assuined by the original of the photograp! and the resvimblance Was really starting, This not bo Charley Russ, bat it certainly is the cl parents of culture and worth, and one whose years have boen passed in luxury, Couversath ihe boy elicited but little tu addition to what has been given, Tho reporter usked tho lad it he ry 4 car Lelore, and bo answe! ‘Yea; ob, you, sits Cry car, a lovely ear; oh, sosweet! 1 was one & care Fiuge, sit; long, long ago—oh, very long be a was takes away io tbe Indians 1a'a ea ” "The hile tellow bas a sweet, pratting voice ‘after the mo- mentary bashtulness ol first acquaintance, is wonder- fully communicative for one so, wy He coastantly harley. fh aillrms that his name ts C on asked 1 he wasn’t called Peter by some folks, ho said, ‘Yos, sir; but Petor ain't my name, Mbain’ta pretty name, My name is Charley.’ °C what?’ asked the re porter, "ls “Charley Hartord now. was ooco Charley and onco Charley Lindermana,’ sn bamo Rosey’ ‘it may Be once, ‘m CI bow; taat’s my Dame,” ‘Wh: yor pretty cag?’ “Going back to my lit wir; and toy Mttle brother: I had» brother ouce, Jong time ago; an uncle, toa’ He did not remember the name Ot Philadelphia, Dot was quite ready to telling, of bis experienes among the Lodiaus: he says that be, was whipped a great deat; and ove time an old wi bad him aud ‘two naughty, bad men’ In moment the Eastern passenger was — on the start’ tngh tn the eleepor was ralsed, a Ii cariy head wi Retns out, & ntte hand was waving a handk and then in an instant the locom was pli Into the gloom with its precious ki destined, in another Wirt rowing hearts of many wlok those boarts into bod diretui trivalatiog. Sl Brivnaiiia: