The New York Herald Newspaper, November 23, 1878, Page 8

NEW YORK HERALD, SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 23, 1878—TRIPLE SHEET. DARK DOINGS. Wandering Among the Stalactites and Stalagmites at Luray. EXPLORING THE GALLERIES. Formations and an Investiga- tion of Their Growth. Beautiful A “BRIDAL CHAMBER.” Human Bones and Additional Caverns Discovered. Luray Nov. 19, 1878. In exploring such an extensive cavern as this one at ‘Luray there is scarcely a turn in a corridor or 2 Bhelving of the lofty galleries that does not reveal Some novelty worth examining each time the first is ‘traversed or the second is viewed. To me the cave | exhibits stranger beauties in some of its sections the more familiar it becomes, and if one could avoid see- ing the ugly slopes of mnd that here and there mark where the surface soil has been washed into the eavern by heavy rains no disagreeable memory of the place would survive the impressions produced by imposing and beautiful objects to be seen on side where the mud has not overwhelmed them. Being anxious to closely examine the galleries that overhang a v large chamber, at a height of about sixty feet from the floor, Mr. Campbell procured one of his largest Jadders amd set it against an immence stalactite that had dropped from the root, but still reared its butt fifty feet from the muddy level of the lower cave. Climbing up this substantial footway into the dark- ness of the vault, and using the stalactite as a step- ping stome te the gallery, we reached a kind of nar- Yow platform studded with short, round and snow ‘white stalagmites. As the platform narrowed in places toa ridge, on each side of which a deep gulf yawned threateningly, the stumpy stalagmites served @n excelieut purpose for the climbers, affording us pretty secure foot and hand holds when progress wonld be impossible without both inabundance. Clinging to these we crept along the slippery way to a part where the ridge was lost in a sloping wall or rock, covered ‘with dark brown, corrugated deposit, damp to the ‘touch and with a surface as smooth as glass. Along this the advance was slow and guarded, as a slip Imight furnish another example of the influence of terrestrial gravity on unsupported bodies. I don't ‘Pare to contemplase on what condition the body guight reach the bottom, but I am sure the individual Dwning it would be rendered permanently oblivious ¥o all things mundane. Finally, however, the gallery platform was reached, ani we found ourselves in a }egion wherz Dame Nature had prepared for us a new wandering amu Beries of surprises im carbonate of lime. Before ws @ forest of stalagmites apparently barred the away. Lily white festoonings hung from the foot like decorated curtains suspended to | grip and dry on an_ invisible clothes line. Brown blanket like foldings of stone, appar- ently growing out of black bars of shadow, extended eros the lofty vault, while inramerabie smaller Yendants of every shade, from black to cream color, filled the spaces between them and threw their little lines of shadow into the increasing gloom beyond. Our reftecting candle holders gave a very fair illumi- Wation for fifty feet around, but beyond that limit Objects became indistinct and merged in murty dark- mass. Here and there a tall, white stalagmite would Jook like a ghostly form silently gazing at the in- Yruders in this hall of silence. But as our business @here was not a search after the picturesque, but an Jnapection of a mare practical character, we delayed ‘Dut alittle time in contemplating a scene that would “tax the pencil of a Doré to.give even a faint idea of its molemn grandevr. THE GALLERY SIRUCTURES. The floor of this gallery apartment is double basin Bhaped—that is to say, is formed of two depressions, “with one intervening ridge of earth washed from the ‘Upper surface, but whose own surface is now partly covered with a thick crust thickly studded with small talagmites, many of which are milk white. The smaller depression is altogether in earth and lies next fto the corner where the soil came down through a Thidden opening with torrents of rain water. I crept foward this opening as far as I could go and found ‘@he unvarying earth slope to the very roof. The wriginal floor of the gallery at-this place is completely Bovered and obliterated with its inerustations. The oof is almost bare of large stalagtites, but the spaces Bhey once occupied thereare very distinctly marked by pecttar bare patchesfrom which embryo growths are dropping their lime impregnated waters and help- Ming to harden the earth crust below. I descended to Abe lowest level of the depression and into a gully cut Ain the earth mass by the run of water direct from the yopening. There I found the filling in section, and ex- Bibiting the character of a breccia, or mixture of small mnrounded stones of different kinds and earth, washed Vrom the surface stratum. This, if permitted to re- main undisturbed by water washings, would harden In time into a conglomerate rock, frequent in cave formations, and classed emong the mechan’ y formed rocks. Asa breccia may be formed of stones )beid in a matrix of sand, or one of carbonate of lime, Mt is interesting to observe in this cave a com- pound matrix of sand and of lime eementing it solid mass particles of many kinds wof rock, the sand and lime forming # natural mortar, fn which the foreign and native pieces of rock are im- Pedded. But the crust is, in many parts, only a few Anches thick, and there are abundant signs that the quantity of earth at one time accumulated by wash- Ing in the cave hae considerably decreased, and that Wanless another supply is brought by the same agency from the surface what remains will, in a little time, be swept downwards to the lowest levels of the sys- ‘em of caverns that evidently underlie this particular chamber. In pilaces the softer earth has been washed from under the nard surface shell, and the latter de- pends on its welf-sastaining rigidity for the main- tenance of its present position. Where, however, the undercutting has been extensive the weight of the unsupported crust has broken it off, and has Given freer scope to the action of the water, Feel- ing certain that in such @ mass of earth some femains of animals or plants must exist, I exam- dned the exposed section with care. 1 found Mot the slightest vegetable trace in any of the lumps of earth broken vp, although 1 looked for them with # microscope. ‘I uid indicate that the earth game from below the line of vegetation, or that it had Bain 80 long in the cave as to permit of the entire ae- romporition of « matter 80 delicate and perish- Bdlo ae crasses oF ma. I found, however, the bones of bats in groups, but without any arrange- ment corresponding with their original relation. @hese lite fivre-like osseous rv Becompanied by the maggots that were developed by the decomposition of the bate’ bodies. The maggots ‘were white and very rigid, but under sro: scope thait forms were perfect, even to the short } and ringed bodies. It must be remembered that these ‘were fownd at a depth of about eighteen inches Delow the level of the under part of eurtben crust that must have taken very many years 0 harden, and, also, that the deporit in which they were embedded may have been accumulating for enturics. On the slope of the larger doproasion, also formed of earth encrusted on the surfaee, and stud ded with stalagmites, stands one of the latter which 4s teally the most beautiful object of its kind I ever wow. It ie about four feet in height, and at the base twenty-four inches or #0 in diameter, gradually de- creasing toward the top to about fifteen inches, Beveral shorter ones stand around it on the fame general base, its top is flat and smooth and auilk white, hut as tho edge of the table curves euarply over, wiinute, bead like inerustations cover the sides, arranged in concentric rings. These grow Jarger downward nati) they develop into seal not unlike pearly white teeth set edge upward around the pedestal, the lower lapping over the roots of the upper pows, Then, by the most wonderiul gradation in sian, carbonate ome ia w ne « ue were invariably | these teethlike seales increase to others as large aa rose leaves, and the white surfaces a little below dges become tinted with a pale p whieh, aaj the tase in-ponshad, Kendmnes a inchioh tis. Agent 2 the and forming it, are most evtriordtaury kinds of deposit, that look like opaque soap babbles 5 resting close together on a surfsee of water that bad been suddenly fixed while heaving in ebuilition, ‘The bubbles are flattened on their tops, and as they grow | from the central column they become rounder end | darker in hue, until they assume, at distance of | three or four feet from the pedestal, the appearance of white and black batts and beads sct on a surface of i white china and polished perfectly, Some pieces resemble in color and shape the bovine kidney, others \ groups of small potatoes and othars yet brown | their base grapes just forming in clusters. Further away from the main stalagmite is a formstion so siosely re- sembling brown moss that one must look closely at it “to be convinced that it is not vegetation, Altogether the group cannot be surpassed in beauty. Similar bead, egg and grape like formations occur in other parts of this apartment, but none of them are so perfect as those I describe, HOW ARE THEY FORMED ? | TI watched these marvels of nature’s handiwork long and earnestly, striving to discover the process of their formation. There were no large stalactites over- head, they having been buried long ago beneath the earth on which I stood, when the roof of the chamber was partly denuded of its pendant ornaments. As I stooped over this stalagmite, which I found to rest on afoundation of earth crust, a large drop of water | strack its flat top surface and was atomized by the impact, after falling over fifty feet. The | almost imperceptible spray scattered over the whole of the area so strangely encrusted, Each minute particle of that drop of water carried with it atoms of carbonate of lime in solution to build up the fairy structure before me. ‘The mystery was solved. The curious ornamentations were the work of this spray and grew within the circumference of its influence. The orifice overhead delivered the water drop through some crystal tube with a regularity as to time and quantity that the finest instruments could not accom- plish. In the perfectly still atmosphere of the cave the drop fell every time exactly on the same spot, scat- tering in little globules of spray the atoms of lime to the same points. This process went on until on the place where each atom of lime fell so regularly an in- dependent form was gradually built up, s6 that one may assume with absolute certainty that by counting (if such were possible) these forms as they are spread under the eye the subdivision of that single drop of water that falls from the roof by impact with the top of the stalagmite might be correctly ascertained. The larger forms receive the greater quantity of lime in their portions of spray, and the smaller ones lesser quantities in proportion to their size and position. The latter condition is an important one, because it is evident from the nature of the chemical agency in operation that while the tiny globule of spray, containing lime in solution by the influence of carbonic acid gas, is in motion from the stalagmite to its destination, it loses a proportion of the carbonic acid gas by evaporation, and must necessarily be changed in condition during its flight. For this reason I assume, and I believe correctly, that the small formations on the outer circumference of the area over which the spray falls are as long in process of growth as the larger ones near the centre of spray fall, and that the little beads lying between are built up by the finer particles of spray which lose proportionately in a short flight with the larger particles in the long flight from where the parent drop strikes and be- comes atomized. Ihad no sooner satisfied myself that this process was in operation than I proceeded to verify the opinion by a close inspection of all similar formations within the cavern chamber. In every case the conditions bore out my deduction, and I found the drop, the surface of impact, the spray and | the peculiar formation above described. At one point, however, and almost without the circle of pos- sible spray fall, I noticed a, to me, very curious devel- opment on the surface of the bead-like forms attached to astalactite that hung from a projection on the cave wall. In moving my light I saw a number of extremely delicate spicuim projecting up- ward from the bead head. These were so fine that ouly by a peculiar placing of the light could they be seen with the naked eye. Under the microscope they appeared to be delicate, transparent, needle-like crys- tallizations about a quarter of an inch in length and thickened at the attachment to the bead. On the point of each was s minute globule of water, held, possibly, in a translacent crystal shell. Betwoen the point and the attachment were three smaller globules, as if transfixed by the tiny crystal shaft, the whole forming a remarkable evidence of the delicacy of the process. Whether these spicul# projected under the influence of electrical action developed by chemical activity I cannot say, but that they ure in some way connected with the development of the forme covering some of these walls lamcertain. The subject is sach an interesting one that it will induce me to visit this part of the cave again for the purpose of making @ closer examination of these beautiful deposits and investiga- ting the phenomena of their growth. SELECT SHOW ROOMS. Behind a fine screen of stalactites and under the wall of the lower chamber under the gallery is an entrance leading to ‘‘The Bridal Chamber.” The im- maculate purity of the crystal walls and floor of this beautiful grotto suggested its name, but 1 am sorry to say muddy footprints of visitors have for the present made it yellow and dingy. The walls remain white as syow and the little crystal basins filled with transparent water still adorn the place. In such a chamber Cupid could not swing a cat, not to say, use his bow, for the stataclites hang- ing from a low roof would spoil his aim and shield lis victim. A sentimental young lady visitor re- marked the other day that she saw nothing about the place to warrant the word “bridal” being tacked on to distinguish this apartment from any other quite as handsome. Truly, is would be pretty rough quarters for a bride of any complexion, but as a show room in this Luray Cave it is very attractive. Perhaps at no distant day it will be the established temple in Vir- ginia where the momentous question will be popped and the unbreakable bonds tied, Such an arrangement would be an admirable one in several ways—in one at least, the girl would always “cave in” if hard pressed. ‘The list of names for chambers being nearly exhausted, the proprietors are economixing them carefally, That accounts for the fact that several beantiful cham- bers on the galleries are unnamed. Being somewhat out of the way, I suppose, they are as well nameless ; but if any deserves to be distinguished from the rest, it ia that which forms a deep recess in the large gallery chamber in which the fine formations are found as described. ‘The foot of the explorer has not yet sullied the purity of that exquisite crystal floor. There are no broken stalactites or stalagmites lying abont. The chamber is @ gem in its way and is not likely to be visited by the public fora considerable tirwe, or at least until precaations ere taken to guard against tujury. As in ail places, the track of the vandal can be followed in Luray Cave. Wretehes to whom the appearance of a beautiful white surface ix m teraptation they cannot resist, scribble their names in pencil and red chalk over the best formations in the cavern, and weuld break and destroy every beautiful form in the gratification of their wanton mischief if they were not closely watched. To admit such people to this crystal floored room would be inviting its destruction, so I understan? it these choice showrooms will not bo exhibited to the public until they are fenced in care fully. NEW CHAMBERS DISCOVERED. | During our explorations to-day and yesterday we found seversl new chambers which promise to “pan out’ well, One in particular is apparently very largo and deep, belug under the floor of ® cervidor lead- ing back from “the organ.” In opening @ passagaway | to adiait Mr. Campbell, who exatnines every aperture carefully, we coald see down a grest depth into s | large apartment, Letting down ® light by ® long | string gave us a view of the ledge thas rans imme:ti- y wider the opening at a depth of nearly twenty feet. Reyond the ledge there is s dark void which may extend laterally an linmense distance, I have | snggested to the proprietors w fire Ruman candles » it before venturing down, and this will be done to-morrow. Holes, such aa I refor to, mark the chief lines of drainage of the cavern and probably lead to a subterrancan water way connecting with river at Luray, I found in the depths of a cave we entered for the first time to-day several bones and some teeth. | ‘The latter are considered by Dr. Miller, a local physi | cian, to be those of » young person, possibly of an Jadian boy or girl, 4 AN OLD MAN SLAIN. FERDINAND DIRCME PUY ON TRIAL, CHARGED WITH THE MURDER OF WOLF ADAMS. In the forenoon of the 17th of September last Wolf Adains, & man advanced to the age of sixty-three years and an old merchant, left his son’s store in Canal street in perfect health. In the afternoox of the same day he returned dazed and his head covered with wounds, and that same night expired, having ven only able before his death to answer simply “Yes” to @ question put by his son as to whether any person tad burthim. The mystery surrounding the case was soon solved by « number of witnesses pre- sented before the Coroner and who testified to the tact of the deceased having bean beaten by Ferdinand | Bleutjo in the rooms of the latter, in the rear building of No, 16 Stanton street, and Bleutje, having been arrested, did not deny the fact. ‘Vhe tstier’s theory of the difficulty was that his wife had advertised to take in washing, that Adams lad made one cail in response to the advertisement, had made improper overtures to the woman and said he would call again; that the wife informed her hus- band of the circumstances, and when the old man made his second visit the husband, who was in a beer saloon in the front building, saw him ass in, followed him to hia rooms and at him for the insult to his wife. on the part of the dead man’s friends it was asserted that he was enticed there by the advertisement for the purpose of blackmail or robbery, and was beaten to his in the attempt to extort money from him. On this latter theory Bleutje was indicted for the crime of murder, and on this indictment was brought to trial in the Court of Oyer and Verminer | yesterday, before Judge Noah Davis and a jury. \s- sistant District Attorneys Rollins and Lyons appeared in the case for the prosecution and ar. Willian F, Howe for the prisoner. i THE TESTIMONY. ‘The testimony of the witnesses for the prosecution varied in but few respects from that which they gave before the Coroner, which, at the time, was published fully in the HenaLp. ‘The principal witness was Mar- garet Duffy, who said she was looking through her window, on a higher floor, and saw the old man and Bleutje’s wife goin and Bleutje follow but afew steps behind; Bleutje came to the floor above his own reg spoke to a woman who lived theret the woman then went down stairs and the witness saw her speak with Bleutje’s wife and come up again; then Bleutje went down and into the room, and immediately thereafter she heard blows and cries of “Oh, oh!” then came the roundsman, and she heard the Bleutjes tell him the old man had tallen down stairs, and also heard children in the yard,‘who had seen the beating through Bleutje’s window, say it was a lie; repeat- edly during the beating, she said, she heard the voice of Bleutje say, in German, “Give me your money or I will kill you:” when the roundsman had gone this same witness saw Bleutje’s wife go out for a pail of water, and soon the old man staggered ont of the yard; then the wife gave a loud laugh and the hus- band went out for beer. ‘The cross-examination of this witness by Mr. Howe resulted in no material variation of her direct testi- mony, but brought out the additional facts that tho witness was not well up in her German and was at one time of doubtful moral rectitude. Mary Merkle, who lived in the front house, testified to seving an old gentleman go into the rear house in the morning and saw him return in the afternoon; the children said there was something the matter down in the yard, and witness, looking into the window of the Bleutjes, saw the prisoner standing in the middle of the room with a knife, of which he and the old gentleman had a hold; the prisoner said, “Let go of the knife or 1 will kill you!” then she saw the prisoner knocking with club on the bureau and Tpaiy to the old man, “Put out all the money or I'll kill you!” then -‘Police!’”’ was called, and when the roundsman came the pris- oner said the old man fell down stairs; then the blood was washed off the old man and the witness saw him go away. On cross-exaimination this witness suid the deceased held the knife by the blade and had no gloyes on. She did not see the prisoner strike Mr. Adams, but heard him say in relation to the money to “put it down.” WHAT CHILDREN SAW. Betty Parker and Rachel Parker, two little girls who had been playing in the yard, corroborated the most essential points of the witnosses who had pre- ceded them. The former testified that she saw the prisoner stand over the deceased with a large knife, and say to him in German, ‘Put down all the money you have on the bureau or I will have your life;" anil also that he beat the deceased on the head with a policeman’s club several times. GETTING THE CLUB, Carl Muth testified that Bleutje was in the beer saloon of his (witness’) father at three o'clock P. M., and some one said to him, ‘There goes the old man in now to see your wife;”’ Bleutjc then got up and asked the bartender for a club, which he received, at the same time remarking that he would “give it to him this time;” the prisoner then went to his rooms and witness heard him say to the old man, “Tl teach you to come hereto make a prostitute of my wife;” then blows were heard, and witness, going into the yard, saw the prisoner standing in his room over the deceased with alarge knife in his hand and saying, “Put down ail the money you have or I will kill you!” On cross examination this witness admitted that Bleutje asked for the club and made his remark in a tone of voice loud enough to be heard by those in the saloon, and also the further fact that the prisoner opened the window of his own room and shouted, “I'll iet everybody see what I ain doing to you.”” The prosecution hud not yet closed their side of the case when an adjournment was taken until Mon- day next. MRS. BROGAN'S DEATH. . Deputy Coroner Cushman made an investigation yesterday into the cause of the death of Mrs. Bridget Brogan, who died last Thursday at the advanced age of ninety-four years, inasqualid rear basement at No, 528 East Eleventh street. The deceased was born in the county Roscommon, Ireland, in the year 1784, and came to this country while comparatively @ young woman. She was the mother of a large tamily and her children and grandchildren still survive her, many of them having attained a green old age. Her children were devoted to her, and they, through industrial pursuits, having raised themselves above the mere wants and necessaries of life, took good care of their venerable parent and re- lieved her from all responsibility of earning her own living. She, however, did not appreciate this kind- ness, and through habits of intemperance, contracted in her old age, became estranged from her children and lived apart from them for several years, Durin these years she has mainly relied on charity, a what she refused from her own flesh and blood she did not hesitate to accept from strangers. in great poverty and amid the Little Tommy Hallissey, twelve years old, sat anxiously in the Coroner’s office yesterday afternoon awaiting the inquest that was to be eld in the case of his stepmother, whose death he was charged with having caused. The witnesses, however, failed to put in an appearance, and the inquest was adjourned un- til next Monday. “I didn't do it, sir,” said the little fellow after- ward, tearfully, to Coroner Flanagan. “My step- mother used to beat me. My stopbrother (her son) and I got fighting over 4 necktie. A brother of mine, eighteen years of age, died two weeks ago, and the tie belonged to him. I wanted the tie as # keepsake, because it belonged to my dead brother, and my little stepbrother, who is younger than Iam, took it from me and wore it about his neck. My stepmother beat me because I wanted to take it from him, She slapped me hard and 1 ran away. There was a flour barrel in the kitchen in the middle of the floor and upon the barrel was placed the knife box. One of the knives was thrown in carolessly and the blade #1 upright. Iran away and iy stepinother strove to catch me. She tripped on the carpet and fell against the point of the blade, Ididn’t «tab her or throw a knife at her; but she was down upon me and often licked me."" ‘The above ocearreuce took place on the 16th inat., and Mrs. Halliasey died oa the 19h. Previous to since her death an unmarried sister of deceased has asserted that Tominy was the assassin of his #1 mother; that he had stabbed her with a knife in breast, She and the boy’s father aad theson of de ceased are the only wiinesses in the case, KILLED BY TRAINS. Mr. N. W. Rutan, for many years » member of the Board of Chosen Freeholders of Essex county, N. J., ‘was killed yesterday in Newark, at the Market street depot of the Pennsylvania Railroad. With his um- brella over his eves he was pushing along up Market street against the wind and rain and failed to sce an approaching train. Jast as he touched the track he was struck, carried into the depot and both legs run over. He was picked up alive and removed to St. Michael's Hos pital, but died during the afternoon. The body was removed to the late residence uf deceased at loseville. Mr. Aaron Mixsell, who was etruck and almost in- etantly killed on Thursday, on the Harlem Railroad track, by the Pawling local express train, was sixty- nine y old. He was one of the pioneers in the manuf re of planos in this country, and was @ highly respected citizen of Mount Vernon. After the close of his ctaties for the day in the Dunham Piano Factory at Melrose, on Thurslay, he started om foot ‘up the railroad track to Morrisenia for the purpose of taking the Pawling express train, which does not stop at Mclrose, and while on his way he was overtaken by the train on which he expected to ride to West Mount Vernon station, acoording to hie usual custom, He was removed to the depot at Morrixania, where he died trom the effects of Lis injuries im the course of an bour, during whieh time he rei unconseious. Le wee recognized by Mr. samuel word, who conveyed the rad ne to his family. Mr, Mixseil waa a brother-a-iaw of Mr. Dunham, the iuyoforte mauntacturer, aod had lately come Into poomeasion of a $60,000 legacy, The funcral wilh take Pimwe on Moneay, THE EAST SIDE 3 SO SUMMON SINNERS REVIVAL, MRS, VAN COIT CONT: DO REVENTANCE, About a hundred persons assembled in the Eleventh Street Methodist Episcopal Church to scek salvation under the leadership of Mrs. Van Cott. Before the close of the meeting more than half of thein had gathered around the altar, and, with tears and excla- mations of sorrow for their sins, declared that for the future they would be “on the side of Christ.” “What do you intend to do?” asked the lady missionary of one rough looking man. “1 will give up iny will to Christ.."” he replied, “and Iwill shun the liquid damuation that has been my ruin.'’ He went on to explain how he had signed the plodge two years ago and kept it as long as the spirit of religion filled his soul. But he grew vain and relied on bis own strength and soon fell back into drink, but was | determined now to avoid it, and felt confident of suc- ceeding, a8 he put his whole trast in God. ‘Whoso ; cometh to me, | will in nowise cast out,’’ exclaimed Mrs. Van Cott, and the whole congregation joined in singing “Rock of Ages.”” ‘The congregation consisted chiefly of men, not more than half a dozen of the fair sex being present. ‘These few, however, compensated heir zeal tor the lack of numbers. They joined th yreat fervor both in the singing and prayers, and one of them led the meeting in « passionate appeal to the Alnighty for immediate help to sinners. She prayed that grace might come to the hard hearts, not next week nor the next day, but just at that moment, Among the men were several assistants of the lady who conducts the revival, They constantly moved around among the others trying to induce them to join the crowd of penitents who knelt around the platform, It was not a little curious to mark the varied demeanor of those who came forward in this way, Some looked sheepish, some stepped up rapidly as if th 2 their courage would evaporate before th m ned the front of the church, some seemed quiet, confident, while a few seemed liy overwhelm: with sorrow and yaiuly tried to keep back tears t sprang to their eyes. At the conclusion of the meet- ing Mrs. Van Cott declared herself much encouraged by the fruits that her mission bh already borne, THE EVENT ‘The congregation that took part in the evening meeting was large, completely filling the charch, ‘The exercises were similar to those of the two pre- ceding nights. The congregation sang several hymu from the Moody and Sankey Hymn Boo: was offered by Rev. G. Woodruff and other workers.” Mrs. Yan Cott preached an effe #8 | | course on the text, ‘Chen Simon Poter an- i awered and said, ‘Lord, to whom shall we go?” The speaker asked, “Shall we go to Judaism? shall we go to nature? or shall we take morality or the law of the land as our standards?” She then pointed out that none of these can give satisfaction or peave to the soul, and showed, while infidelity blots out all on which we might rely, it sets up no brighter light. “‘But,”” she said, ‘from Cal- vary comes out the voice of mercy, erying, ‘Come unto me and I will rescue.’ After the sermon a col- lection was made, aud seemed to be pretty generally responded to by those present. The rest of the even- ing was devoted to bringing forward neophytes, many of whom gave a few words of experience and promised to cling to God in the future, Meetings will be held this afternoon and evening, at half-past two and half-past en o'clock. Mr Van Cott will assist at all the services in this church to-morrow. They have been arranged as follows Morning service at half-past ten o'clock; anniversary services at two P. M., commemorating the complé- tion of the eleventh year since the foundation of the church; and prayer meeting at half-past seven o'clock under the leadership of the lady missionary. Mrs. Vau Cott will also speak at Masonic Hall at three o'clock in the afternoon, and one hour later at the Cooper Union meeting. ABUSES OF THE PULPIT. LECTURE BY REY. T. H. PATTISON, OF NEW HAVEN, ON ‘‘COWARD’S CASTLE.” “No preacher,” said the Rey. T. H. Pattison, of New Haven, last evening, “can be charged with dis. honesty because his text is a borrowed one; but his sermon, according to @ popu- lur superstition, must be entirely original. I appear before you with a title which makes no pre- tence to novelty. The late Frederick W. Robertson said:—‘Coward’s castle is that pulpit or platform from which # man, surrounded by his friends in the absence of his opponents, secure of applause and safe from a reply, denounces those who differ from him.’ Thus defined and applied the phrase seems to be no unsuitable text for a lecture on the abuse of the pulpit, the disposition on the one hand to limit it ih the grandeur of its prerogative, and on the other to exceed the cominission to preach the Gospel the whole world over. The most obvious coward is he who is a mere pulpit thief, Some famous divines are said to be in special request with experienced appropriutors.” ‘The lecturer told a couple of comical anecdotes about the stealing of some of Dr. Guthrie's sermons and then continued:—How long a pulpit thief can pursue his miserable calling without detection depends, of course, on his own skill as well as upon the intel. ligence and culture of his audience. A popu ir London preacher had ounce finished his thi sen- tence when a stranger, sitting in front of him, ex-’ claimed, ‘That's Sherlock!’’ Atter the next sentence he muttered loud enough to be heard, “That's 'Tillot- son!” The preacher bit his lips, but pursued his discourse. A third comment, “That's Blair!” was, however, too much for his patience, and he cried, “Fellow, if you don’t hold your tongue you shall be turned out!” The interrupter, looking him, full in the face, retorted, ‘And that's his own.” Next Mr. Pattison described the trade in sermons, which ure lithographed and supplied to clergymen at so much a year. He then depicted the controversial preacher as “the noisest occupant of coward’s castle.” When Lord Brougham was condemned to listen to one of these windbags, who spent considerable time in proving that the sun shone at noonday, forgetful that he was not on the judicial h, he looked up and said, “Go on, sir; the Court is with you so far. Dean Swift warned young clergymen against preaching against atheism and also against pounding imto Plato, Socrates and the other philosophers. “For my part,” said Mr, Pattison, “1 never listen to these valiant divines exterminating the mummies of dead errors without feeling that Whately spoke with admirable common sense when said that there was no use in sweeping a chamber if all the dust came out of the broom. Just now the pulpit pugilist distinguishes hiinself by tilting against what he calls the scientist. Once a year, however, the ground of battle is shifted. ‘Che weary one, the mourner, the anxious, the ignorant who come to chareh for spiritual light, are rewarded with diatribes against the republican or the democratic arty. I admire the old negro who, when asked luring the days of slavery whether there was any trath fa the report that he had been preaching insnr- rection, said, ‘I don't know what means, Mussa; I preach de resurrection.’ Unless I am very much mistaken, that is what the congregation wants to lear about, avd what alone will satisfy the sinful and sorrowiny soul in God's house.” Several witty anecdotes were repeated con- corning preachers who have prided themselves on being personal in the puipit—anong others, Whit- field, Latimer, South ana He is a cowm ‘ho is afraid to trust in his ministry to the simple Goepel. We have lived to seo what is called sensational- ism in the pulpit. in justice it onght to be said that it ix only the tuevitable swing of the ndulum back from the dulness which Rowland Hill Meelared to be the anpardonable sin. Ch ystom's: him, and he repeatedly re- preachers li net been 60 anditors used to appla' proved them. Ot modest. Like actors, of their audiences, In a sermon preached in the four- teenth century, and still preserved in # European library, are marginal notes (stage directions) for guid ance in delivering certain emphatic passayes:-—"Sit down—stand up-tnop yourself-—now shriek like a devil!” ‘The lecturer ran on thar, with weaith of anecdote and suggestion for the Mlustration of his subject, aud clored with an apt poetic quotation, descriptive of the model preach tas Poul wid hear, approve and own, Mr. Talmage lectured last night in the Brooklyn ‘Tabernaclo§ on the secular events of tho week, looked at from a religions standpoint. Tho first event was the Mwight insuranco case. People should not blame Colonel Dwight’s friends for being affronted at the suggestion of suicide, nor should they blame the insurance companies for doing their duty in having the case investigated, Edison's electric light was next spoken of, How much brighter the world would look under it, it consisted in burning the lightuing out of @ simall thunderbolt set on end for a candle stick. Edison's invention was only the echo of the divine mandate, “Lot thore be Light.” “Another event,” said Mr. ‘Talmage, “is tho protest of Philadolphia clergymen against the publication of their sermons in the secular newspapers. They say that this publication is damaging to the pulpit and to Christianity. So far from being a cause of complaint it ought to be « matter of thanksgiving to God that in this country the secular press has become the me of Goxpel proclamation. Suppose all the mona reported were dull and useless the text woud be there; and who can tell what the publication of twenty Soriptural es per week among the millions aecosted by the American printing press may do for the world's evungeliztion. Ministers must not be nervous about occasional reportorial mistakes, There is no perfec- tion in this world—not even in the pulpit. fact is that sume people are of death a4 of reporters. the pulpit have their miasion as certainly a6 the mau who stands in the pulpit. The pastor ongbt not to fay anything on the Sabbath that he would be ad tw seo in yrimt vext morning, It the insurrection | they have angled for the smiles | ‘They don’t realize that the men who write in tront of | | | people pick mp the game. | wings of the « j man saw him deliberately swallow a large dose of Gospel you preach is not fit for 50,000 readers then if is not fit for your 560 auditors, Tput the gun tommy shoulder and shoot. Let othor ‘The gospel of rot O° ¥ week on the a milions whe this lite and the nest is carried e ular press to uneoi would otherwise never see the way. The preas is the telephone sot up by the Lord which makes all the Church and all tae — world one audience. ‘The cylinder of the printing press is the front wheel of the Lord's chariot. Join the sec- ular and religious presses of Christendom and at the command of God's Providence rush these battering rains against the wall of ignorance and sin till they fall flat us the wall of Jericho.” PLYMOUTH PRAYER MEETING. “My visit to the frontier States and the Territories of this country during the last summer was to me an education,” said Mr, Beecher, last night, at the Plymouth Church prayer meeting. He was urging upon the ladies of his audience the desirability of attending the weekly’ meetings in the parlors of the church, where the material for garments are cut out, then given to the poor to be sewn, and when completed are sent ont in box loads throngh the Home Missionary Society to ministers who are laboring for little or nothing i populated regions of the coun then proceeded to describe the charac of the population in these trontier States, and Ido not think the people in those Statcs are Very favorably disposed to the churches, ‘They look, it seemed to me, with a sort of compassion upon the churches, partly because their mothers and fathers were connected with them. nearly all big boned and fin and seem to have a deal of hard Sap want any little whippersnapper of a clergyman to pipe sentiment to them. ‘Toa man who deals with them ina inanly spirit and who appears to be en- dowed with a high and lofty purpose they will pay an carnext and respectful attention. There is an enthusiasm, especially in Kansas, tor education, and some of the neat Duitdings Teaw in that State were the public schools. Now, cduca- tion is a good foundation to lay the superstructure of religion Upon, and it is in this direction these people must be moved, There are men out there as pastors of churches who have consecrated their youth, their lives and their education to that work, They ave in nee lof almost the necessaries of life, and they are doing « work that we, who sit at home in easy places, know nothing about. It is those men that I want the ladies of this congregation to help through these sewing meetin, THE MURPHY MEETINGS. TEMPERANCE CHAMPIONS STILL WAGING STURDY WAR ON THE LIQUOR EVIL--ADDRESSES AND EXPERIENCES. In the morning Mr. Francis Murphy appeared, in the church, and when he appeared the congregation of supposed intemperate sinners greeted him with applause. There were a great many prominent per- sons present, among whom were Captain Sturtevant, Rey. Dr. King, Rev. Dr. Moorhouse, Rey. Dr. Kenyon, Rev. Dr. Woodruff, Mr. Thomas Price, Dr, Searles and Eceles Robinson, Mrs. Wilson sang her hymns, and they seemed to be appreciated. Mr. Murphy read a portion of the Scriptures and called upon the recent converts to relate their experiences. Captain Sturtevant made a short and touching ad- dress, after which Rev. Mr. Moorhouse led in prayer, One of the noticeable events in this revival is this— that many of the drinking saloons around Tompkins ‘Market are nearly deserted while the services in the Seventh Strect Ghurch are being held. THE EVENING At the evening m was literally overflowing, and many weut away, being unable to obtain even standing room. ‘The people were packed in the pews, in the body of the edifice and in the galleries, and scores of men stood in the aisles, from the doors up to the altar. Many venera- ble and gray haired men were scattered through the audience. Seated on the platform were the Rey. Dr. Gilder, Rey. E. B. Taylor, of Cincinnati; Dr, Searles, of ‘Troy pputy Comptroller Storrs, Chauncey Shafter aud others, Mr. and Mrs, Wilson opened the services by sing- Are Yout Windows Open Toward Jerusalem ?” Mr. Murphy read a few words from the hé Rev. Dr. Gilder here fervently invoked eof grace and then Brother Murphy {tessed the congregation, and, in. the of his remarks, suid that the Bap- ‘the Methodists, ‘the Congregationalists, lians, the Jews and the course tists, the Catholics, the Eptscopal Gentiles all claimed that they had an express train to the kingdom beyond; but he was not there to-night to invite any one’ present to take any par- ticular highway to the {Kingdom of God. To make life a success every one should be true to themselves, and in — fighting dissipation they should burn the bridges behind them and fight ever Onward and onward. (Applause.) He announced that there would be a grand meeting on Sunday night at the Cooper Institute and that on Sun- day afternoon a temperance and PP sass rn meeting would be held in the Seventh Street Church, “I want my good Brother Knight to come up and say a few words,” said Brother Murphy. “His name is Knight, to be sure, but there's lots of daylight in him yet.” Mr. Knight, a pole-faced _gentle- man, here took the platform and told” how he ‘had fought two engagements at the battle of Chancellorsville, One was with the enem; of our gountsy and ie hey bees the pee iankind. During the battle he stopped a couple of bullets with his leg, and as he lay wounded that same night a pail of whiskey was brought round and he was asked to/| take adrihk; but he then and there resolved and’ made aplative never again to touch spirituous or in- toxic Jiquors, and he had ever kept his resolve. Gtory be to God!” and “amen!” resounded from ell ‘patty Gf the house. ‘Dr. Searles, of Troy, also made some romarks in advocacy of the cause of temperance, and then another young man waa introduced, who refuted in forcible langnage the charges that were made against Brother Murphy by a man named Mundy in regard to his giving away a coat. He wound up by saying, ‘This story of Mundy’s is an infamouslic.” “God bless him!’". khonted Murphy. Whereupon the andicnce roared with laughter, and then ke shouted ayain, God bless that man!” and heartily laughed self, THE LEVINE SUICIDE. A NOTE FROM DR. WILSON. To tux Eprror or ray Heranp:— In common justice I ‘claim the floor” to answer some points advanced in your editorial of to-day (Fri- day) in reference to the Levine suicide. You seem to have the impression that the friends of the young lwudanum without making any effort to hinder or prevent. You also say, “Even the doctor is reported as believing that hix course was — proper one.” ‘The Henaiv’s reputation for imparticlity and fuirness forbids my supposing that it would wilfally give the community # wrong impression in reference to what ia, to all concerned, « anficiently painful case, even when freed from the extranoous matter which fancy or misconception has attached to it. No one was really to blame—the ladies and gentlemen in the house having do: 1 that was possible to avert the fatal result, What are the facts? Brictly these. A young man was suspected of having taken poison, and, when charged with it, seemed to admit the fact, No one had seen it taken, hence uo opportunity for prevention, So far the friends were innoc Lnmediately one of the gentlemen ran out into the cold night to seek 4 pliysicin, So earnest is he ou his errand of merey that he omits the clothing necessary to his own satety. Through the chilly night he sped until lie found a doctor who would re- turn with his, So fur Lhold these friends had done | whut they « . ease was now in the plhiysi- | eian’s charge, and if blame must fall let it fail on him | widone the best they knew. e. Now, us regards al man, what was his duty? Obviously to save » patient's life if possible, Imagine the conditions of the Instead of | finding the patient in a state of he! the physician is met by ama awake, who ex) mands ¢: tal poison? Oursory showed he had taken some preparation of opium, but that no more effects were produced than ordinarily results from @ medicinal dose of the drug. hours or more | since swallowing a poisonous dose of a drug | which usally acts so promptly, and little or no effect produced and ‘such effect not apparently increasing, but rather the reverse, naturally suggested the idea that all parties, including the patient himesedf, had been mistaken in the «ize of the dose or that (he young man was trying to get “up a sensation, as, indeed, his levity seemed to indi- cate. However, treatment or orperative interference was peremptorily declined. Two alternatives were | left—snmmon force and tompel submission to an- tidotal treatment to a possibly fatal dose, taking all contingent and objective evi- y onelude the case was = nota seri one, and that the patient had not carried out his bouat. In adopting the latter view subsequent ents showed Lerred, bat it was an error caused by uliar conditions aud surroundings which might ceived any physician, The effects of thearng— poixonons effects—came all at once, and 60 ingly as to set all salvatory attempts at although these were continued through two ly ye ae this explanation you will who is willing to face any reeponsibility in bis professional life, fh. WILSON, M. D., No, 9 West Twenty-second street, hours. oblige one which justly fails upoa him HENRY BOTH WANT THE ORPHAN, ‘The Hudson county (N. J.) Orphans’ Court was en- gayed yesterday in hearing the evidence for the pos- session of Lena Miller, whose guardianship is claimed by Mrs, Kleanor npaon, of Jersey City, and The Female Guardian Society, of this city. The soclety endeavored to prove that Mrs. Thompson had repre- sented herself to be the wife of different men on cif. ferent oveasions, while Mra, Thompson's witnesses testified that she was a woman of unimpearhable morality, The case will be concluded on Wedmesdav | next, $$$, OUR COMPLAINT BOOK. 3 intended for this column nyust be accompanied by the writer's (ul! name and address to insure attention, Complainants who are nnwilling to comply with this rule simply waste time in writings Write only on one side of the paper.—Ep. Heraup.) (Nerz.— Leite: MORE INSTRUCTION DESIRED, To ruz Eprrox or Tae Heray:— Would it not be a good plan for the public evening schools to teach telegraphing? ‘The prices charged for instruction at the private telegraph schools are s@ high that no poor boy can afford to learn. QU.ERE, BEWARE OF THE GANG. To THe Eprtor or Trax Heraty I would like to inform young girlsand women com- pelled to travel alone of a certain fact. ‘The neighbor- hood of Forty-second street, between Croton Market and Lexington avenue, is infested with young loufers, besides there is no lamp in that place, A CONSTANT READER. R THE BOARD OF HEALTA, ov THE HeraLp:— Will you allow me, on behatt of @ house full of sufs ferers, to complain of the wretched and fou) condi- tion of our closets in No, 116 East Eighth street? Not having been cleaned for some time they are sim- ply dangerous, especially to our little ones, and, fail- ing to yet redress by an appeal to our agent aud land- lord, we trust you will help us out by inserting thie appeal to the sanitary authorities. ‘TENANT. ‘TOO MUCH DIRT FOR THE MONEY, To vie Eprror or tHY Heratp:— I would like to cull the attention of the super intendent of the Harlem Railroad to the eondition of the wooden bars the unfortunate passengers have to hang on to when there are no seats to be had. They are always dusty and dirty. nds are soiled and gloves ruined daily by them. ‘The bars, to be conven- ient, should have straps attached to them, as they are ontirely too high, Yours truly, A COMMUTER. ‘HARD ON BUSINESS MEN, To var Eprror or tHE HeraLp:— Why do not the managers of the Hudson River *Railroad offer yreater inducements to their patrons? Ihave been a commuter. on the road for eighteen years, and the accommodations are not as good aq they were when I first commuted. For instance, there is no train leaving New York between the hours of a quarier-past six P: M. and five minutes past cight P. M., and employes leaving down town at six or even before cannot reach their homes till near nine o'clock, YONKERS, WHERE IS THE MONEY? To tur Eprror or THE HERALD :— Do you not think that it is time that the Superin- tendent of Insurance sees that the receiver of the de- funct Continental Life Insurance Company pays a dividend? It is over two years since @ receiver was appointed and we policy holders have heard nothin, from him. The receiver has handsomely furniahed offices and ever so many clerks and all the comforts in the world, which are paid for by the money of tha policy holders, ‘The longer he waits the more it costa und the less we get. A POLICY HOLDER, ATTENTION, PARK POLICE! ‘To rar Eprror or THE HerauD:— Why is it that, in spite of the law which restricts velocipede riding in the streets to certain hours of the day or morning and makes it a misde- meanor to practise it at other times, it is still done, especially in and around our parks, by the children of the rich, to the imminent peril of the many children who play in these parka. By inserting the above in your valuable “Complaint Book" you may arouse the “Sparrow Police” to a sense of their duty, and you will oblige many of your readers, SAFETY. SIDEWALK OBSTRUCTIONS. To THe Epitor oF THE HERALD:— The New York City Flour Mills, situated on the corner of Lewis and Broome streets, monopolize both sidewalks on Lewis and Broome streets from early morning until six o'clock P.M. with trucks and grain and coal carts, so that any resident of the SeighborhoaatGr lier pedketan’ “Mar 40 walk in the middle of the street (which, the way, has not been visited by th cleaning authorities in four months). that may result in death is likely to occur any even- ing at the above premises by the breaking of, the old rope which holds the swinging shute through which grain, is deliveusd.to.tenska.cp fipwiaateest,- ~. Be A POISONOUS COURT ROOM, To tae Eprror oy Tue HxERALp:. The present sanitary condition of the District Court room, corner of Twenty-second street and Seventh avenue, is such as to call for the prompt intervention of the proper authority. The atmosphere on the days that Court is held there is such as to produce the most injurious effects upon judge, attorneys and suitors. The room is usually crowded, and bei without any ventilation the odor can ot compared to most noxious sewer es. In to, the perfume arising from the stable beneath and ex- halatious from uncleanly persons, there comes from. the lurge stove a continnons stream of coal gas. Con- ceive these odors in combination and you have an ate mosphere whieh for noxiousness cannot be excelled, The effect on Judge Beare who is the pre-e siding jnstiee here, is such that he is under medical treament for mularial poison, and is bliged to leaye the Bench trom the effects of the foul atmosphere. Will the Commissioner of Public Works look into this matter? If he could spend an hour there some morning and live to be able to get out he would be convinced that the court room is a breeder of disease and a disgrace tothe city. On be- half of those whose business brings them there, please protest against this nuisance, LEX. A MISSING PHYSICIAN. Superintendent of Police Campbell, of Brooklyn, was notified yesterday of the Gisappearance of Dr, C. H. Terry, formerly a police surgeon, whose place of residence is No, 540 Washington avenue. Dr, ‘Terry, who was very highly respected and of excele lent standing in hix profession, left his home on tast Wednesday cvening and hax not since been seen. His friends are of the opinion that he is slightly deranged, Dr, Terry is feet ten inches in height, about thisty years of age, weighs 180 pounds and has light hair and full sandy beard, At the time of his disap- pearance he had in his possession @ hunting case yold watch, with shell chain; three stone stads and a plain old ring on the third’ finger of hix left hand, ie dressed in a brown snit, with soft brown hat, Superintendent Campbell has tel & descrip- tion of the missing physician to all the large cities of the country, and every effort will be made to trace his whereabouts. A FURIOUS RUNAWAY, A team of horses attached to one of the wagons of the Knickerbocker Ice Company, while standing on Sixth avenue, near Twenty-third strect, yesterday morning, were frightened by a train on the elevated railway and dashed away down Twenty-third street towerd Seventh avenue. The huge wagon was par- tially filled with ice, and made & terrible racket as it swayed from side to side. The driver, William Knox, endeavored to check the mad career of his horses, but hi efforts were unavailing. Carriages and wagons were driven up on the sidewalks to escape the certain destruction which a mecting would bring upon thei, Several street passing at the time arrowly escaped collision, and their frightened inmutes'ran to the sidewalk for protection. When h was reached t horses made if to f° down — the avenue, was thrown violently to the pavement, but inckily was not seriously injured, Freed from all restraint now the team dashed on down Twenty-third street, creating the wildest excite- In front of No. 361 West Twenty-third street a wagon, owned by William Jackson, was struck and Datly smashed and the horse was thrown down. At No, 430 a coupé of Mr, C. H. Reed was col- lided with and also Lyf smashed, Between Eighth and Ninth avenues the horses were stopped. ACCIDENTALLY RUN OVER, While Mr. William H. Vanderbilt was driving bis team along Central avenue, at a fair gait, on the after noon of November 17, 1877, he saw Just ahead of him, when within 100 yards of Judge Smith's hotel, @ man named Matthew Reilly, a contractor, who re- sided at 169th strect and Central avenue. Reilly at- tempted to cros#, despite the warning shouts of the driver. It would seom, indeed, that Reilly made no ex ertion to get out of the way, and with no small effort ‘Mr. Vanderbilt sucecedod soumowhut in reining up his jorees. Despite this fact, however, one of the horses struck Reilly and throw him to the ground, where, although the wagon did not puss over him, be re- mutined toeonscfous, Ths unfortunate man was pleked up ud taken to Judye Simith’s hotel Mr. Vanderbilt dismounted, and, on going to the hotel, guve instructions to do everything that was posuble for the injured He was subsequontly removed to his hom e he died, Jonuary 10, 1878, At the ‘The Coroner's jury found that id wet his death by injuries evoiiieatally fe yi a horse and wagon driven by W. H. Van- ‘The papers in the case were laid before the trand Jury yesterday, Judge Sinith, Michel Reilly sui of the deceased, and Join W. Briggs, of No. ish Woot Forty-ninta street, were examined, and, after hearing thetr testimony, the ‘Grand Jury dinzaissed the complaint, illness by Dr. Keene, Reilly