The New York Herald Newspaper, December 19, 1878, Page 8

--TRIPLE SHEET. prepared. The several athletic clubs of the city, the ew York, Harlem, Manhattan, Knickerbocker, &° ; NEW YORK HERALD, THURSDAY, DECEMBER 19, 1878 GENERAL ROBERTS’ VICTORY. whether, under the statute, they have not the right | they ask for, THE SKATING SEASON. FRIGHTENED BY A BURGLAR. GUMBLETON'S DANGER Argument to Compel the County Clerk to Exhibit His Books. WHAT THE STATUTE OF *47 SAYS.) Beach Tries to Block the Bar Asso- | ciation’s Little Game. HAVING NO INTERESTS COMMITTERS HAVE NO RIGHTS | Judge Davis Takes the Papers and Re- | es His Decision. The great interest felt in the proceedings insti- tuted by the Bar Association aga Gumbleton, and in which Judge D: r to show canse why he pointed by the Bar , to inspect the sted in the immense thro: yesterday im Supreme st County Clerk is, of the Su- granted an 0} ot allow the committ: same, was mani ceedings in court Court, Chambers, to wit pursuant to such order. ‘was a large nu among the crowd ~Messrs, Artemus H. Holmes, George word, Henry E. Knox, Charles F, MacLean »mptly on hand. appearance, at- Gambleton put in an equally promp: tended by his m h stating that papers on the Connty Clerk granted the relators had been served in with permission to make the the inspection of these books had been rm pended entirely on the additional affidavits ed by the Court. show that prior to the the mandamus e xamination had bee » gentlemen in ¥ the new affidavits addi- lity for the desi by the County Cle tional time wou! Mr. Lord said it was true that about five o'clock on the afternoon of the day on which the order to show cause was granted, and before it was served, he had minitial letter from Mr. Gumbleton, power to communicate with the other members of the committee until after the ser- They then presented themselves at the County Clerk’s office and were again refused had been made. Mr. Gumbleton at the time was absent. feputy clerk informed him that his powers were the books asked for were among Mr. e papers and locked up in his safe | and that, as the matter was ttled. Subsequently hese facts, and received them that Mr. Gum- lerk, presentin areply from Mr. Meade 1 proceedings. read without oc- contained no new in iditional time to answer, umbleton’s pro: xamination of his books w t his real intention was to pre- easioning any mation reqniring simply showed th dugness to allow an & profession. Vent emy ins i that it was important that it of these gentlemen at their obje scertain whether or not the affairs were conduct r no other p Their statement was » Telators desir: showing want « new application. h shall be entered i an inspection Clerk is such a only by origina art of Appeals, books of that of that this ste al to him that to nud it out yther circums Li will undertake IL not permit t power to ady that statenient olution apyain © notorious official in thelr affidavite say til Your Honor « np that question,” said Jndge THE NEW AFFIDAVITS, “I want first to answer the new affidavits,” said { Mr. s this question is concerned it is not plied Judge Davis. “We don’t want them on the record,” insisted Mr, ach, In passing on that question,” continued Judge vill exclude them, because they are totally s) nto the facts then the question s Your Honor propose to hear this motion by ous?" Mr. Beach inqu‘red. Yes, sir,” answered Judge Davis promptly. fhat is one of the mysterious methods of the r that Teannot comprebend,” said Mr. Beach. “That is originated b; * Judge Davis rejoined; other person is responsible, I'see no embarrass- ment in this course, The astion arises as though you domur pplication, Then you hold the attirmal plying.’ Lam you the advantage of re- grateful for that,” replied Mr. Beach; “but ienly for diseussion of the ques- 1 did not expect it just now in this shape.” sted it,” suid Judge Davis, “because you red to show it. OF THE Cask, no his argument on the merits MERE Mr. Beach now be; of the case. He opened by reading the resolution of wiation, reiting that it was no- unsuthorized and excessive fees had for vast been habitually charged in the ce and appointing @ committee of ve complaints and present charges to the y. He also read a supplementary resolu- tion which directed the committee to make a careful amination of the County Clerk’s office and take ‘tion as should most summarily correct any ¢ they might find. “fnis is an inspection,” each continued, “sought by @ committee ap- by a voluntary association without any au- b over the subje id with denunciation of the Connty Clerk as a crimiual they seek to search his books, not as individuals, but collectively as a com- mittee, for the purpose of satisfying themselves hether they can detect irregularities or wrongs sut- “nt in the office to justify a presentment of the County Clerk to the Grand Jury. I submit that they e no authority of inspection for any statute of 1887 had a specific ob; At that period the County Clerk received a sal- ary of $ He was directed by that statute to use books, which were to be pense of the city and county for ording certain fees which’ were d was required to furnish the unts of the fees received furnished a the purpos ated by statu over into the treasury section that these books to the examination of all per- it. I subinit that that means only 1 be subject to inspection in the 3 any other records. That brings us back hother persons having no indi- interest, no right or title which they no legal necessity which de- mands it, are at liberty to gratify their curiosity or for any other purposes to enter any of the public oMices vf the city and demand an entire and thorough examination of its records. I submit that the means no such thing; that its of | 1847 was to see that the fees received by the County uld be turned over faithfully to the city, These gentlemen don’t pretend pecial or private, have been at all infringed upon or sacrific They don't say they have been charged unlawful fees, yet ask inspection of the records to get evidence to support that propo- sition.” NO RIGHT TO EXAMINE THE BOOKS. After citing authorities to show that a mandamus would only be granted wherea clear and unquestioned | lewal right was established, Mr. Beach insisted that the relators had shown no right to examine the books; that there was no purpose to be accomplished, good or bad. ‘They simply said they wanted to satisfy themselves whether unlawful fees were charged ornot. In 1853 the Legislature passed an act authorizing the County rk to retain all fees for searches, which constituted the great body of fees «chargeable by the County Clerk, and which was a constructive repeal of the act of 1847 in gard to keeping these books, at least so far as the ‘ces for searches were involved. It could not have he urged, the poliey of the Legislature to re- ntry of fees that were not to be paid o and that the relators were not in a posi- tion, in the characters in which they appeared, to ask for a mandamus. INSPECTION AS INDIVIDUALS. In reply Mr. Lord stated that the committee claimed the rigut of inspection as individuals; that they con- ceded that, under the general law a8 to mandamus, only those having private interests could demand an spection of books, but that their claim was based on the statute of 1447, which explicitly gave the right toall persons. Under that statute, he urged, it was | not forthe County Clerk to demand the purpose for sked permission to inspect the books. h followed with a long reply, after which | passed up the papers to Judge Davis tor The Judge r ‘ved his decision. PARK DEPARTMENT, PROPOSED HARLEM RIVER SUSPENSION THE BRIDGE—MONEY WANTED TO PAY FOR MAPS | employed to clear off the snow and otherwise keep OF THE TWENTY-THIRD AND TWENTY-FOURTH WARDS—A BREEZE AMONG THE COMMIS- SIONERS. There was a prolonged meeting of the Board of | Park Commissioners yesterday. A petition was re- ceived from owners of property situated in the vicin- ity of Manhatten square, requesting that the Board transmit to the Board of Estimate and Apportion- ment, a supplemental estimate with a recommenda- tion to that body to provide for an appropriation for the year 1470 of the sum of $50,000 for the improve- ment of Manhattan square, The improvements most needed were specified to be drainage of the stag- nant pools, and the present deep depressions of the surface of the square, Also the grading, sloping, terracing and turfing of its surface, and for the general regulation thereof, in order to rel nd remove the rough outlines and other unsightly features, which are disfigurements 1 as detrimental to the value of the adjacent rty in its taxable value. The petition was pre- sented by Alfred Wagstaff, John M. Pinkney, Matthew Bird, George F. Betts, Edward Martindsle, John A. C. Charles F. Hunter, Edward A. Clarke, Marshall ts, H. B. Claflin, Amos RB. Eno and F. H. Cossitt. On motion of Commissioner Lane, a solution was passed requesting the Board of Estimate and Ap- portionment to include in the estimates of the De- partment of Public Parks for the year 1879 the sum W0 forthe above improvement ot Manhattan THR BRIDGE OVER THR HARLEM. Commissi: ved the following resolu- which ; mp New York, and that he be re “ jeuwures for isene of bonds on ? the construction of such bridge not excer nant to section 3, chapter 5 of the Laws of 1X71 cuployed in making soundings and on of the piers and the determining until such as Morris and his as Bord, YWENTY-THIRD AND TWENTY-FOURTH WARDS. Con ner Lane subsequently stated that Presi- r, of the Departinent of Taxes, had called the provision of chapter 411 of the Laws requested him (Mr. Lane) to offer ys to urge upon the Board of Estimate and » ined in the estimates for the meet the aire. ‘ore presented the fol- adopte imate and Apportion and ineinde in tu Public Parks for the y work of making maps Twenty third and Ti t the Be Rosolved, T . {to appre rt fr of this Board the said y on the work authorized w the year I TO BE INVESTIGATED, A lively little breeze then sprang up on the quer- tion of audit.ng certuin bilis for repairs pertormed on the Museum of Natural History. It appears that as far back as July 10 the bids were taken for case in the above building. Three bids were pre- the lowest one being from the firm of Brauns Metz, furniture dealers, who offered to do the y work for #1,545, Commissioner Lane, it is being treasurer of the Board, took’ the and three days later notified his colleagi ad received another bid which he hud forgot« ) submit to the Board, He suid that the bid came 2 8 furniture dealer in East Broadway, and it was $13 lower than the bid presented by Braausdort tz. There was considerable demur- ring to receiving this supplemental bid, as it was (to be irregular and tnofficial, but, as claimed, Commissioner L » overruled th bijections an w e furniture dealer in Kast account that when pay anded onditing of th need, and Cot nied Conover was an investigating committ oue to exw the qnestion under dispute and to report his decision at the next meeting of the Board, urd then adjourned, COOPER-MARSHALL AGAIN. The hearing of the Cooper-Marshall divorce case was resmimed yesterday before Referee Barbour. Mr. Caldwell, of coun led several wit. nesses to teatify to his ter in rebuttal of the evidence impesching it put in at recent sessions by 1 to intiff. Mr. John H, Cheever, rot the New Jork Belting and Packing Com- pany; Andrew Stewart and Edward T, Schenck, law= yers, and Chict Justice Alker, of the Marine Court, fied severally that they had known Mr. Caldwell several years und had always considered him an Nathaniel Jarvis, Jr. ; ex-Senator Bixby® Dewey ani Charles K. Dusemberry were ox- wiued ou the same side, | During the ‘previous | man ere ITS ADVENT EAGERLY LOOKED FOR—A VISIT TO THE PARK—PREPARATIONS FOR THE GREAT SPORT. Lovers of skating now look longingly for the happy day on which the announcement shall go forth, “The ball is up!” Where there are so many people fond of skating asin New York there is naturally much solicitude as to whether the skating season will set in early or late; whether the Park Depart- ment have made the proper preparations for it, and whether it will be a good season—#. ¢., whether there willbe many days on which the ponds in the Park shall offer a hard frozen, smooth, glittering surface to skate upon, To the passionate skater jin New York the winter which offers no skating is simply so much time lost in the sum of human enjoyment; but if his heart's desire is to be gratified then every day must be freezing cold, or at least sufficiently so to send up the ball. ‘Thus far the winter has been very mild and the skaters have been naturally getting res- tive and impatient at the tardiness with which the skating season appears to set in, EXPENSIVE SPORT. Somehow the impression has generally got abroad by means of this mildness of the temperature thus far that there will be altogether very little thoroughly cold weather, and, consequently, but little, if any, skating. In the minds of many this impression is confirmed by the experience of last winter, when, after much anxious waiting and full preparation on the part of the Park Department, there were only two ana a half days of good skating. ‘Yhe sport, though thoroughly enjoyed by hundreds, was certainly brief, and, according to the statement of one of the Park Commissioners, this two and a half days’ fun cost the city in the neighborhood of | $5,000. winter the skating was excellent, and there was plenty of it; so much so that many skaters are now peatnsrtn gt. think that they got so much skating from a kindly weather clerk because it was to last them fora good long time. In the winter of 1875 the appropriation for the parks was insufficient to provide the rather ex- peusive pastime, and though the weather was fayora- bly frigid there was no skating at all. HOPE YET POR SKATERS, Past experience shows that skaters need not as yet despair as to the advent of the froliesome season ‘on the ice. As arule the skating season has begun later than now, and frequently it has continued good tor a piumber of days after beginning at a time when most of the lovers of the pastime feared that the season was irretrievably gone. It will be. consoling, in this view, to learn that the first day of skating last season was not until January 7. Im the preceding season the ball was hoisted on December 24, and in 1474 on December 26. he ter perature necessary to give fair skating is 30 degrees, and this should last at least twenty-four hours, Yes- terday morning 2t six o'clock the thermometer stood at 29 and a tew days before it was even at 2%, but during the aiternoon it has thus tar always been a number of degrees above 30. ‘The cold, however, was quite sufficient to cover considerable portions of the Park lakes with thin ice, and cert parts of them with ice sufficiently strong to bear the small stones and pieces of wood which passers-by aud spectators threw upon it by way of amusement. SCENES IN THE PARK. ‘There seems to be no more fascinating sight for sportive people than to watch the half-frozen surface oft a pond, and to tempt danger by testing the so- lidity of the newly formed, thin, drifting ice, such as covered the iake partially yesterday. The venture- some schoolboy was there with his skate, casting longing eyes ut the ice, and tapping it boldly with one foot while he kept the other securely on terra firma. ‘The rosy schoolgirls that go trooping through the Park on fine afternoons like yesterday (presumably to deepen the lovely carmine of their cheeks), laughed and giggled under the scurrying flakes of snow, each trying to put the other ahead upon the trail margin of the ice by the way of tun and being repulsed in her turn by her playmate, who was discreetly unwilling to be made the victim of such rude fun, It was fortunate that the Park keepers were on the lookout for these rollicking youngsters and tripping girls, and thus prevent their inad. vertently plunging into an ice cold bath. It was ev dent that these lively young people had gone up to the Park in the hope of catching the very first glide upon the ice before the official aunouncement suould have gone forth, and were rudely disappointed at finding that the ice was not yet y for them, PREPARATIONS THIS WINTER. At the Park Department the reporter was assured yesterday that men had been at work for some time in the Purk putting up the skating house at the lake and that it would be ready in a day or two. All that would then be necessary to have skating was the ice. Mr. Irwin, the secretary, said it cost about $1,000 to put up the skate house, but if there was a good sea- son a considerable number of men would have to be the ice clean, and in that case the total cost of the sport for the coming season would not fall much short of $5,000, The reporter's visit to the lake showed that the water had been run off to the extent of about four feet, aud that the large two story wooden building aud re8taurant which had stood on the southern shore of the lake, near the iron bridge leading to the Ramble, in past winters had already been partially erected. Aiong the loungers who had come to witness the freezing of the \ake and the prepara- tions for the sport there was naturally much discus- | skating. If | sion as to whether there would soon the cold wave from the West, which is reported as travelling hither, reaches New York within the next few days, a8 Gp aaa og gd meteorological au- thorities, New York may vorite sport of skating even before Christus, but then probably only for a short time. SKATING IN BROOKLYN TO-DAY. ‘The Capitoline Lake, Brooklyn, will be open for skating to-day. About the close of the baseball sea- son the proprietors of the Capitoline Ground had an embankment run across the upper end of the field, cutting off about an acre and a half of ground, where they intended dumping the surplus snow this winter. When the ground was flooded some weeks ago this portion remained dry, but the heavy rains during the early rt of last week swelled the lake 80 imuc! that it overflowed the embankment, and some six or seven inches of water got into their dumping grounds. Ice formed on this small surface on Friday last and has been steadily increasing in thickness until it is now nearly three inehes thick. On Monday night ice formed on the main lake and it is now about an inch and a half thick, the main lake will be opened on Saturday. Hundreds of school children were gathered around the en- closure yesterday afternoon, looking through every « erevice in the fence, and some of the UW y stones on the ice, none of which. ever, were heavy enough to break it was stperintending some repairs in ing, was besieged by the children and made quite hoarse by the repetition of the assurance that the suiali lake would certainly be opened this morning. ZOLLEGE OARSMEN. Boston, Mass., Dec, 18, 1878. At a meeting of the freshman class of Harvard College last evening it was voted that an informal letter be sent to the Yale freshmen to row the fresh- ys of the two colleges during the summer. If no such arrangement be made it will probably be attempted to arrange a race with the freshman crew of Columbia Colleg: HORSE ‘The thoroughbred horse Great Tom is at Stoddart’s stables, No. 600 Greenwich street, where he can bye seen until late this afternoon, when he will take his departure for his future home in Tennessee. He will yo direct to Belle Meade, near Nashville, the home of his owner, General Harding. Great Tom is agrand horse, and will be a great acquisition to the thorough- NOTE! bred stock of the Southern part of the country, A | mistake has been made in the published height of Great Tom, which made him sixteen hands. He was measured at the stable and was tound to be within a qnarter of an inch of sixteen hands, two inch “ under the standard. He is a noble horse, and resembles Harry Passett very much as the latter appeared at the iast sale of Colonel MeDaniel at Trenton iast «pring, in shape, color and marks, only Tom is more massive in the shoulders, and hocks. He is badly blemished with ldic of both sides, which are so large ill take a saddle with inrge skirts to cover 1 tempered horse, and gives no tr his groom. His legs are remark- ably fine, considering the amonut of training and raving that he has had daring the past three It ie well worth a viait to Stoddart’s to see this great and grand son of King Tom before he leaves for the South, PEDESTRIANISM, Tammerown, N.¥., Deo, 18, 1878, Since the 100-mile walking match last week, between Miss May Marshall, of Ch » and Dan Carroll, of Warre the judges have decided against Mise Marshall On account of a foul and have given the teh to Carroll, althongh they found ne had not s, being one lap behind wad having on Miss Marshall aid, trial will | le, conimencing Frida 20, when two tracks will be weet. left the track w Anoth| evening, Decenbe THE O'LEARY CAMPANA MATCH, ‘The six days’ pedestrian match for $2,000 and the | gate money, between the cl Napoleon Campana, will commen the morning on Monday next. choice of which they will toss, are now being laid, pion, OF at onc ry, and yelock in | and Hoffmire’s portable cottages will be put up, wherein the contestants will rest have their food happily enjoying its fa- | If the present weather continues | Junior Warde A. Aver} ‘Thompso G, Kelley; Marshal, Thales 3. Bli F. Usiey; Two tracks, for the American and Scottish-American will be represented in the jndges’ stand; and as the race appears to be the predominating topic among yey it is looked upon as an event unexcelled in interest, PIGEON SHOOTING. The members of the Fountain Gun Club met at the Brooklyn Driving Park, Parkville, Long Island, yesterday, to compete in their monthly handicap con- test for a breech loading shotgun given by Mr. A. I’. Weaver, and which was made by the Clabourgh Brothers, of London, England. Fifteen members came to the score, and each shot at seven birds, The gun was won by Mr. J. T, Slane by killing seven siraight birds. The following are the details :-— BROOKLYN Darving Park, PARKVILLE, L, L—PrGKnon December 18, 1875,—Tho monthly handicap contest of the Fountain Gun Cob for a shotgun given by Mr. A. F. Weaver; shot for at T birds each, handicap distance; 80 yards boundary; 14, ounces ‘of shot; from five ground traps, and the club rules to govern. fds. Rise. Killed, Missed, . i 0 Stowe, Wednesday, 2 21111121 P1iii0e.L 6 1 Loriilil 6 1 1iltil1ods 5 2 1101110 a 2 1i*ori.y 5 2 O1lit08eld 5 2 1001111 5 2 *Lo01LL 4 3 o101101 4 3 1001101 4 C 1110010 4 3 *011100 8 4 1000000 1 6 0000000 v i * Fell dead out of bounds, Referee, Mr. William Walton, of the Long Island Gun Club, DR. CARVER'S ELKS, Dr. Carver and wife, his buffalo horse Winnemucka and his two trained elks are now at New Haven, Conn. It was at St. Paul, Minn., that the Doctor received his two elks, which had been raised tor him on a Dakota ranch by a friend who began the training which their present owner has sinco finished, They cost 2,500, Since receiving them the Doctor has been offered $5,000 for them, but he refused, saying that money could not induce him to part with his wite’s buggy team, Attached toa carriage they can draw with all the strength of a pair of hi and are so kind and gentle that Mrs, Carver can drive them without fear or trouble. BOGARDUS, Captain Bogardus will give an exhibition of his skill in glass ball shooting, at the Arcade Theatre, y City, this afternoon at half-past two o'clock, r the benelit of M. Bubser, a brother sportsman of that city. An interesting programme is offered, SPORTING EVENTS ABROAD. Cwsarion, by Julius, out of Quality, after winning @ selling hurdle race at Sandown Park on the 4th inst., was purchased by Mr. Gibson for 500 guineas. ‘The entered selling price was 50 sovereigns. Hestia, six years old, by Asteroid, out of Mermaid, was sold at Sandown Park on the 4th inst., to Mr. Herbert Rymill, for 190 guineas, Huntingfield, after winning the selling Hunters’ Race at Sandown Park, for which he was entered to be sold for 50 sovereigns, was bought in for 240 guineas, “YE GREAT CITY DOCK.” A RELIC OF ANTE-REVOLUTIONARY DAYS UN- EARTHED AT STREET, For some time past the New York Elevated Railway THE FOOT OF WHITEHALL Company has been inaking excavations at the foot of Whitehall street for the purpose of driving spiles in order to secure a support on which to construct a general depot. ber of holes, twelve feet square and sunk to a depth of about fifteen feet below the surface level. men engaged in the work found it easy enough for the first seven or eight feet, but were, several days ago, surprised at finding the way obstructed by a number of heavy timbers, places these massive beams and logs were discovered along the edge of the sidewalk that bounds the Bat- tery Park. The timbers ure red and black oak and white pine. logs heavy supporting cross beams were met with, These excavations consist of a num- The In four different After cutting through the upper row of and had to be hewn apart with axes. All the débris was hoisted to the surface, and found to be very much decayed. The appearance of the wood proved that it belonged to a dock which had been built prior to Revolutionary times. Underneath this old pier were found heaps of rocks, which had evidently been. placed there to weigh down the pier and prevent the tides from carrying it away. A few of these rocks were removed, and, although the spot is fully two hundred feet from the water line, the tide began to flow into the trench so rapidly that steam pumps had to be called into requisition. ‘This discovery proves, in the minds of many, that the dock brovight to light was the original site of the old Dutch water front, and that the sinkage, which has destroyed part of the beautiful Battery stone pier for government boats, ia due to the imperfect filling in of the new site. A reference to several old histories and maps shows that the pier must have been either the first dock of the city, built the seventeenth century, or the “Whitehall Battery.” HISTORY OF THE DOCK. ‘The original Battery ground was occupied by Fort James, afterward called Fort George. During th seventeenth century the Common Council of N York built a large wharf, connec with which we number of piers. This wharf, which was known as great city dock,”""an from Coenties slip to the foot of the present Whitehall street, ending at the old Whitehall Street Battery of fifteen guns, It was used as a@ general city harbor and was leased to shipowners at a stated dockage, As the ground on_ the water front be- longed to the State of New York at the termination of the Revolution, the Dutch City Fathers were obliged to pay a certain percentage of ull profits to the State. On the 17th day of March, 1790, an act was assed by the State Legislature giving all the excepted Heads and water front at the Battery to the city. The direct southerly portion of this land was then converted into a public park. A fine sea wall was built, appropriate shade trees were planted and the whole was surrounded by a massive but tasteful iron fence, As the park was small application was made to the ‘State Leyislature to have it enlarged and the result was that on the 27th of March, 1821, an act was passed giving permission to extend the Bat- tery into the Bay and the East and North rivers a dis- tance not exceeding 600 feet. This act, by provision, took away all right of the city to sell any part of it, or to use it for any other purpose than that of a pub- le park, on which to erect Page buildings. It was at this time that the old dock, just discovered, was buried out of sight. The act also authorized the ra} ing of a sum of money by tax, not exceeding $150,000, for defraying the expense of the extension. Although the htt | over of the old dock is men- tioned in the city records, no acconnt is given of the | fate of the old Whitehall Battery, whose fifteen can- non hud so often thundered out a salute of welcome to ships carrying the British colors. it is believed that the timbers resurrected by the workmen must be that part of “ye great city dock” which joined the Whitenall Battery, und that, if holes were dug a few fect southwest, the men would reach the historical ruins, MASONIC ELECTION. At a regular communication of John D, Willard Lodge, No. 250, F. & A. M,, held at their rooms, No. 33 Union square, on Tuesday evening, the following officers were elected for the ensuing year:—Master, William M. White; Senior Warden, William Reynolds; , John Widder; Treasurer, William H. Hawks; Secretary, Thomas Drew; Trustees, William , John M. Moffit, Robert Smith; Sénior Deacon, Jacob B. Sirith; Junior Deacon, Abraham D. Wortendyke; Mas of Ceremonies, Samuel M. William P. McPherson ; Chaplain, Thomas 3 Organ’ a ‘yler, Edward White, HEAVY DECLINE IN COAL, One hundred thousand tons of Scranton coal were sold yesterday at auction by John H. Draper on be- haif of the Delaware, Lackawauna and Western Rail- road Company. The sale took place at N exchange place, at noon, aud the agreement with the buyers was that al should be deliverable at Hoboken daving th of dunuary, 1479, There was a Jarye att nd prices riled low from the be gitning, the cause beg the uncertainty of a re- moval of the combination for the coming year, ‘he following table will show the difference be- tween yesterday's prices and those obtained at last month’s sale: Yesterday's Sole, Last Month, a . PHILADELYUIA, Dec. 18, 1878, the average decline of about Notwithstanding seventy cents per ton in the prices realized at the Delaware, Lackawanua and Western coal sale in New York to-day trom those of last month the Philadel- phia and Reading Coal and Iron Company state through their officials that they will make no imme- diate change in prices. It ix probable that the circ: Jar for January will not be issued tor # fortnight, | the coutracts on hand will cover that period, Mr. Aligust Rutten, a broker, residing at No. 99 West Fitty-eighth street, accompanied by bis wife, attended the opera last Tuesday evening. ‘They left three female servants in charge of the house, and be- fore their departure saw that the doors were properly secured, They were not long gone, however, when one of the servants, having oceasion to go to the parlor floor, there @iscovered a man crouching in a corner between the cabinet and the wall. The timid servant beat a precipitate retreat and locked herself securely in the dining room, when she fainted on a convenient sofa, Her two fellow servants aroused the neighborhood with their screams of ‘Murder’ aud “Police,"* which startled Mr. W. B. Brown, who resides in the adjoining house, No. 41. That gentle- juan, fearing that the servants were being » sent out an alarm, which was soon responde patrolman of the American District Telegraph Com- pany. ‘They effected an entrance into Mr. Kutten’s ouse, and their presence calmed the frightened ser- vauts. The latter explained the canse of the tur- moil, and an investigation of the premises fol- lowed, but the mysterious masculine visitor had disappeared. His late presence, howeve was apparent in the general confusion of the room, Closets and bureans had been ransacked and a portion of their contents strewn on the carpet. Boxes and drawers were broken into and articles of value abstracted therefrom, ‘The front parlor win- dow was partially raised, but the Venetian blinds were secured, A large, handsomely carved mahogany closet. in the back parlor was damaged considerably in the efforts of the burglar to get at its valuable contents of silver service. Articles of jewelry valued at $1,000 were taken, Ths burglar was traced from the parlor to the sec- ond floor, where he had looked into a few bureaus, but finding nothing there to interest him he seemed to have concentrated his efforts in the front aud back parlors, e the most plunder was to be found. ‘The police haye no clew to the robber, but Super- intendent Walling, to whom the burglary was re- ported yesterday, instructed Captain Mount, ot the East Fiity-first street station house, in whose pre- cinct the dwelling is located, to put his special men and ward detectives on the cast CITY NEWS ITEMS, ‘The Hrraxp yesterday received $5 from “Potomac” for Mile, Venturoli. Archibald Seott & Co., wholesale dealers in coffee, have suspended, with liabilities of $48,000, Ash & Leidesdorf, manufacturers of caps, made an assignment yesterday to Henry 8. Eisler, giving their preierences for $6,207. Draper & Co. yesterday sold on the Real Estate Ex- change, by order of Appleton Sturgis, administra: the Conrad Hill Gold and Copper Mining Company’ s property, consisting of 150 acres in North Carolina, to Bernard Whitman for $6,000, Herman Hirsch was aceused by Raphacl Lttinge of No. Bowery, with haying passed a forge check on Siegel Bernhard last ‘September. Judge Wandeil, at Fsxex Market Polico Court, yesterday re- manded Hirsch until this morning. Michael J. Daly, of No, 152 West strect, ,was admiited to bail in Judge Otterbourg at Jefferson Ma Daly shot William Murray while the latter was “tap- ping the till” in his store on Monday night. Francis Smith, William Henry Vincent and Emelia Whitney were each held in 31,000 bail at the Tombs Court yesterday on complaint of Frank Mallon, who charges that he was robbed of $19 by them while in a saloon on Chstham square on Tuesday evening. Superintendent Walling yesterday received a despatch from City Marshal De Rochemont, of Ni buryport, Mass., notitying him that Horace Elliott, a boy'ot fifteen, had run away from his home there aud gone from Boston to this city. The boy is dark com- plexioned, his right side is paralyzed and he wears a steel spring on his right ankle. Four steamships are being built for the Hamburg line, each of which wMll carry 3,000 tons, The names of the new vessels will be the Teutonia, Bavaria, Saxonia and Borussia. The Westphalia is to take the place of the ill-fated Pommerania, and will be com- jmanded by Captain Schwensen. She is at present undergoing extensive repairs. At the annual meeting of the Eureka Lake and Yuba Qunal Company yesterday, at the office of Laz- ard Fréres, in Pine street, the following officers were elected:—President, H. Woodleaf; Treasurer and Managing Agent, Alexandre Weill; Secretary, J. Beer, The old Board of Trustees was re-elected. A dividend of $2 per share was declared. The managers of the Colored Mission ask for con- tributions of any kind which will enable them to supply the destitute under their care with clothing tor Christmas gifts. Presents of money or clothing are received by J. B, Wray, Treasurer, No, 237 East Sixty-first street; M. Brown, Secretary, No. 131 Bast ‘Thirty-sixth street, or at the Mission building, No. 135 West Thirtieth stroct. “Billy” McGlory’s counsel yesterday presented a cer- tificate to Judge Wandell, ‘at Essex Market Court, from Dr. Clay, of Roosevelt Hospital, stating that Marx, who claimed to have been beaten #0 budly at No. 103 Bowery a few weeks. ago, was much im- proved. ‘This was done with a view to having his Client's bail fixed; but Judge Wandell refused to ad- mit MeGlory to bail at all Until Marx is entirely out of danger. Courtney J. Best, of No. 47 Wall street, while walk- ing along Park row yesterday felt some one tugying at his clothing, and, loo! down, saw a hand just departing from the fob pocket of his overcoat w.th $2 it had contained. The only person near enough to be the owner of the hand, Best alleges, was Thomas Rice, a youth of eighteen’ years, and’ a painter by trade. Rice was held by Judge Murray, in default of $1,000 bail, for trial. At the annual meeting of the New York Institution for the Blind held at the institution, Ninth avenue and Thirty-fourth street, yesterday afternoon, the following gentlemen were elected a Board of Man- agers for the ensuing year:—Augustus Schell, Robert 8. Hone, D, Lydig Suydam, Theodorus Bailey Myers, John Treat Irving, James M. McLean, Smith Clift, William Whitewright, William C. Schermerhorn, Charles De Rham, Francis A. Stout, Wilham B, Hott- man, F’, A, Schermerhorn, Peter Marié, Frederick Rhinelander, Frederick Sheldon, Chandler Robbins, Charies E, Strong, Philip Schuyler and Temple Prime. SUBURBAN NOTES. The Queens County Board of Supervisors met at the Asylum at Mineola, yesterday. Sixty ballots were taken without electing # Superintendent of the Poor. Acall has been issued by leading manufacturers of Newark for amass meeting of citizens to encoura; the free road movement between Newark and New York. It will be held at Park Hall next Saturday night. ‘The church people of Belleville, N.J., whose places of worship were visited by miscreants on Saturda: night and desecrated, as réported in Tnesday’s Henatp, have offered $100 reward for the arrest and conviction of the vandals. John O'Neil, a convict in the Sing Sing Prison, who recently stabbed the principal keeper, Biglin, was in- dicted on Monday, and yesterday pleaded guilty, and was sentenced to an additional imprisonment of three years, to begin at the expiration of his present term, Peter Maglin, the Italian who was so severely burned on the 25th of November last by the explosion of a lamp filled with naphtha, at his avple staugl, near Fulton ferry, Brooklyn, died at his residence, in H ard’s court, that city, at an early hour yesterday morning. Louis Grupp, 4 brakeman, while standing on top of a treight car signalling the engineer, at Lawren last evening, was thrown under the moving cars the jostling of the train and instantly killed. ided in Philadelphia, where be leaves a wite and eral children ¢ trial of William Morris, alias Porter, for com- plicity in the robbery of the safe in Ibert's flour store, Graham avenue, Brooklyn, was concluded in the Kings County Court of ions yesterday. ‘The usel will sui up to-day, when the case will be given to the jury. In the Board of Supervisors of Westchester County on Tuesday, the special committee appointed to in- vestigate certain irregularities alleged to exist in the accounts of the keeper of the County Poorhouse re- ported that “the charges or insinuations are not only not proved, but are unfounded.” Suit was brought in the Brooklyn City Court, be- fore Judge Reynolds, yesterday, by Augustus Mave ainst Demas Barnes to recover $201, a balance of salary claimed as editor of the Argus. He alxo sues for $1,000 damages for having been discharged wit! out due notice, The trial will be resumed to-day. ‘The inquest held by Coroner Baylis on the remains of Williatn Rhodes, ‘the fish pedler who was found dead in the culvert at Hicksville, L. 1, on Tuesday, resulted in a verdict of accidental death. It is pretty ie believed that his horse ran away with hiv put there are some Who hold to the theory of murder’ The Home Insurance Company yesterday bonght in under foreclosure proceedings the homestead of the late Luther Redfield, formerly President of the First National Bank, of Tarrytown, now in the hands of a receiver. The company held a mortgage of $10,000 against it. Interest and costs adc their claim amounted to about $11,300, The purchase price was $11,200, Farly on Monday morning three small frame tene- meut houses in Sing Sing, two of them owned by Nicholas O'Brien and the other by a colored maint named Brady, were set on fire and completely de- stroyed. They were all oecnpied by families, who were reseued from the burning buildings, On the following night a barn owned by Mr. G. P. stroyed by fire; the work of an incen- examine Hoboken, have the m ah Mrs, Greuwe said yesterday i her $400 to go quietly to ti wid y State Lunatic Asylum and hoard there for a few weeks, and leave to him the of the children, She says she replied she would not leave him the children for $400,000, The Hudson County (New Jersey) Circuit Court is engaged in hearing th f Patrick Malone against David Joyce, to compel the latter, who was declared clected at the last spring election as Police Commis: sioner, to vueate hiv seat. William T. Dorgan was the most important witness. He testified that he had repeated, and furnished other repeaters to yote for Joyce. Counsel tor Joyce objected to the admission of the evidence, but the Conrt admitted the testimony and the defendant's couusel took au exception, tion. had o | day, from daybreak till two P. M., when they A GREAT VICTORY FoR THE ANGLO-INDIAM ARMS—TEN KILLED AND FIGHTY WOUNDED, [From the London Standard.} Priwar Koren, Dee. 5, 1878, Avery complete and brilliant victory was gained yesterday by the coluinn of, Major General Roberts over the Ameer’s troops. Three days had been spent in revonnoitring the yround, but the enemy's posi- tion was found to be impregnable to a front attack, expecially with so small a force as that at General Roberts’ disposal, and the only chance of success was to turn it by a long, hazardous and very difficult night march of nine miles up a past leading to the extreme left of their position. On Sunday preparations were made for our advance by this line, and after nightfall the regiments told off for the service—viz., the Seventy-second Highlanders, the Fifth Ghoorkas and the Twenty: ninth nativé infantry started from the camp. The movement was a complete success, and the enemy's pickets on this flank were surprised and attacked, just as the dawn was breaking, by the Fifth Ghoorkas, who fought splendidly, gallantly led by Major Fitzhughe and Captain Cooke, supported by a company of the Seventy-second Highlanders, led by Colonel Brownlow, and followed by the re- mainder of the wing of the Seventy-second and by the Twenty-ninth native infantry, As soon as the attack was developed Captain Kelso brought up his mountain guns in splendid style. They did excellent service, but he himsclf was shot dead while fighting them. Lieutenant Munro, of the Seventy-second, was slightly wounded. The attack was led in person by General Roberts. After hard fighting, lasting for three hours, the enemy's left wing was rolled up, and broke in confusion. ‘The regiments in reserve, viz., the Second Punjab in- fantry, the Twenty-third Pioneers, and four Royal Artillery guns on elephants, now arrived on the scene, General Roberts at once directed the attack toward the centre of the position; the Twenty-uinth native in- fantry, leading, found the enemy very strongly posted, and a most obstinate fight ensucd in the thick pine woods which cross the heights, and to which the Afghans clung most obstinately. Here Major Ander- son, of the Twenty-third pioneers, was killed. It was sonic hours hetore the enemy was cislodged from this point, bringing up fresh troops continually, and at times assuming the offensive, and for a while the more adyanced of onr troops were hard pressed until relieved by the Fitth Ghoorkas and the Seventy-second Highlander: RETREAT OF THE ENEMY. Meanwhiie the Fifth Punjab infantry advanced : fire up the heights rather to the left of th centre, and the Second Punjab infantry the Twenty-third pioneers, with the Royal Artiliery guns, had joined the General. Two mountain guns, admirably placed, now threw their shell straight into the enemy's camp on the top of the pass (rom acommanding knoll and rendered it unten- able, But still we were unable to advance upon Peiwar itself. General Roberts then led a second turning move- ment in the direction of the enemy's line of retreat, behind their centre. This movement, combined with the admirably directed tire of Major Parry's three field guns from below the heights, together with the hot fire kept up by the regiments who had now captured the woods in the heart of the enemy’s position, caused the enemy at last to retreat in haste trom their extremely strong position, leaving behind them all their guns, a quantity of ammunition and all their stores. THE ROUT, ‘The retreat soon becamea perfect rout. The Eighth King’s regiment second battalion, which had hitherto watched the struggle from below, now advanced up to the top of the pass on Kotul. “The enemy at this point stood for a while, but the Eighth were not tobe denied, although General Cobbe tell wounded, and pressed upward until the defenders broke and joined im the, general flighz, pressed for some distance by the Eighth. nu the enemy's camp were found all sorts of stores and ammunition. The other troops were too much fatigued to pursue, All those who had secompanied General Roberts in the long turning movement had marched from camp at ten 2. M. the previous night; had had a most wearisome struggle tor miles in the dark, along the dry bed of the mountain torrent, now covered with boulders; were fighting more or less cn ain had to march round behind the enemy’ ntre. Here they bivouacked for the night at a height of 9,000 fect, under a bitterly cold sky. THE LOSSES. The loss on our side was two officers killed and eight men; two officers, and about ninety rank and file, Europeans and natives, wounded, The enemy's loss is ut present uncertain. His complete demorali- vation is shown by the fact that, although no less than four fresh regiments from Cabul, with guns, joined them the day before, not a single body of men remained “nbroken at the end of the day. The Gen- eral had to put every man into the first line to storm @ position which is naturally so strong that 20,000 men would rather appear to be an appropriate number wherewith to undertake such a formid. able assault than the very small force ot barely 3,000 of ail ranks which the General had ‘at ‘his disposul, He showed an intimate knowledge of native character when he determined at avy risk to turn a flank and get behind the centre t the enemy’s position. This once accomplished, it is invariably found that the natives lose heart ard slacken in their resistance. _Had the flank march ag been accurately timed, placed and carried out, them can be no doubt that's very serious disaster to ou side might have occurred. “The Twelfth Bengal cay. alry, nnder Colonel Gough, advauced up the centml road of the pass to try and pursue the enemy, but tie road for cavalry is execrable, and. they arrived so lite that they were able to do little damage to the eneny in the pursnit, except that they caused them to abab don a mountain battery in their flight, ‘ TENNESSEE'S MINERAL WEALTH, CHARCOAL IRON MANUFACTURED AT A COST ELEVEN DOLLARS PER TON-—MINES OF PAINT, Nasnvite, Dec, 11, 18 Some two months since the Browneport Furnace, in Decatur county, Tenn., situated about three mies from the Tennessee River, was again put into active operation after a suspension of some months, and is now making a handsome yield. At the rates ¢ which iron is manufactured at that place no othe point probably in the world can compete with it fo cheapness. Commissioner Killebrew is of opinio: that this furnace and one other—the Zitni Furnance, in Tennessee—turns out iron a prices that cannot be reduced .in any other region, ‘The ore is found below the black shale or devonian formation, not at all common in the western iron belt of Tennessee, The matrix is of putty, grading in color from a dark red to a putty white. The ore is found in solid beds and the pro- cess of mining is carried on in @ manner similar to that used for coal—that is, by entries. No money is paid out either for labor or material, but all transac- tions are on a basis of goods. The cost of manufac. turing is comparatively small, Mr. Charles Young, the owner of the mines, says that for eight years past the engine in use has not cost one cent for re- pairs. No interest is paid on the capital invested, the profit on da sold more than amply compensating for the want of it. CORT OF PRODUCTION. An estimate made of the actual cost of manufactur- ing ore into pig iron is as follows:— Two tons ore, half raw and fine, at $1 25 per tons + $2.60 135 bushels charcoal at 640 Quarter ton limestone at (0c 06 srintendence and labor. . 275 ontals and repairs. 02 After the ore is converted into the pig iron it is eon- veyed to the river at a cost of cial ity cents per ton and then shipped to Cincinnati a . Louis for $2 perton. Once in the market, it sells without trouble at $17 50 and $18 50 per ton. The other furnace mentioned by Commissioner Killebrew as turning ont remarkably cheap iron is the old #tna Furnace, located in Hickman county. Heke the ore piles itself up in immense heights of two nnndred feet and more, The beds are in some por- tions 120 feet in thickness. The ore can be mined with as little difficulty as limestone, All it needs to become a vast industry is the proper management old of it. It has and some skilful hand to take bh been that it can be mined at fifty cents or less To add to the facilities of del & narrow gange railroad is now being construc throngh Hickman county, which will very materially increase the value of the iron banks, PAINT MINE. Commissioner Killebrew also alludes to an immense tract of paint land lying near Clifton, Wayne county, also situated on the Tennessee River. It is the anhy- drous red oxide of fron, and as a mineral paint has been pronounced by competent judges to be of the imost desirable kind, ‘The paint bed is sitnated in two hills, each covering some six or eight acres, and vary ing in thickness from ten to fifteen feet, Some ex vations have already been made, and the deposit shows itself very soft, and quantities of it entirel; free from grit and impurities. It is an unctuous, dari rod. powder, working up well in oil, and by mixin with white lead any tints desired can be obtained, It is said to possess even more body. than the Lehigh paint. From working in the furnace the deposit yielded about sixty-five per cent of iron, and was for a long time the only ore used, y. furnace called the Marion Fi “The Wayne county bank is the only one of its kind in Tennessee, and is considered very valnable. It is entirely acces eat Bake ee ee the year around. The ies in the lower carboniferous above the devonian black shal, eine Not far distant from this rich paint bed are situated numerous hilis containing the finest hydranlie cement, equal to any ever discovered, which has lain intact for want of enterpris a du ite terprise and capital sufficient to