The Sun.
London, England, 1854-09-26 00:00:00

BUBNIIVG OF BOULOGNE THEATRE.

BOULOGNE, Sunday Evening.—The return of the Em-
peror on Saturday evening to the Hotel Brighton put all
Boulogne on the qui vine for a new round of festivities,
especially as it was for some time thought that he had
brought the Empress with him. The people, however,
were again disappointed, as her Majesty had postponed
her visit until Tuesday. As on this day week, the
solemnisation of a grand high mass at the camp at Am-
bleteuse drew to that locality an immense number of
visite' s. Meanwhile another scene was taking place in
the low town, the result of which has been to throw more
than 100 persons out of employment, and materially to
curtail the programme of the public amusements in
honour of the visit of the Empress. This was nothing
else than the total' destruction of the Theatre by fire.
About half•past twelve o'clock the bells of the Hotel
Ville, St. Joseph's, and St. Nicholas rang the alarm of
fire, and the rappel summoned the military to duty.
Every one was soon o►l the alert, and a general rush
took place in the direction of the Rue Neuve Chaussee,
whence the smoke and flames seemed to proceed, which
circumstance gave rise to the opinion that it was the
Hotel Windsor which was on fire, for the theatre being
at the top of the Rue Monsigny almost faces that cele-
brated establishment. As they arrived on the ground
they were, however, made aware of the real state of the
case, and were called on to form the chain and pass the
buckets of water from hand to hand to be thrown on the
blazing pile by the firemen, who were mounted on lad-
ders placed against its aides. The alarm no sooner
reached the Emperor than he ordered his carriage, and,
accompanied by his staff, drove to the scene of destruc-
tion. The moment he discovered what structure it was that
was in flames, he alighted, and leaving his carriage in the
Rue Neuve Chausde, walked up the Rue Monsigny, and
directed the efforts of those who were struggling to extin-
guish the conflagration, and was as active as any other
man there in forwarding the water-buckets to the fire-
men, in which service he was zealously aided by the
officers of his staff. There is a law in France that all
persons present on such an occasion should aid in extin-
guishing the flames ; but an ignorance of its existence
was well nigh bringing a few of our countrymen into
trouble, as they crowded the ground merely in the cha-
racter of spectators, and did not understand the lan-
guage or brook the manner in which the military called
on them to help. Indeed, one of them who, in attempt-
ing to pass onward, was preirented by a soldier, imme-
diately wrested the musket front his grasp, and to pre-
vent any injury being inflicted in the scuffle, unscrewed
the bayonet. This latter manoeuvre was altogether mis•
understand by the bystanders, who, under the impres-
sion that he was going to use the bayonet for the pur-
pose of stabbing his antagonist, became fearfully excited
against him. He was immediately surrounded and
placed in the hands of two of the police, who unceremo-
niously dragged him to prison, one holding by the
necktie and the collar of his coat, and the other
impelling him with his hand pressed against the back of
his neck. This was an episode to the main act, which
might have been avoided by a little forbearance. The
fire still raged in despite of all the efforts made to ex-
tinguish it, and, indeed, it would have been a miracle
if they had succeeded, for the scanty supply of water,
scanty when compared with the magnitude of the con-
flagration, must have bad the effect of increasing rather
than of allaying the flames, and the fire engines would
have brought a broad grin on the face of Superintendent
Braidwood. All soon became convinced of the futility
of trying to subdue such a body of fire by means so in-
adequate, and accordingly the building was left to its
fate. The fire, it is said, originated in an actor having
incautiously brought a lighted cigar into the costume
room, the burning ashes of which having fallen on a dry
portion of the properties ignited them, and they spread
the flames to the scenery and stage, where the company
were at the time rehearsing. It is said that the loss is
amply covered by insurance.

HORSE RACE IN THE SANDWICH

ISLANDS.

The women and girls are decidedly the best riders.
With them, not as with the ladies of our Atlantic cities,
side-saddles are out of the question. In their loose, flow-
ing drapery, hair streaming in the wind, their beautifully
erect position, and their horses careering along like the
march of the whirlwind, they look majestically dangerous,
and yet they are never thrown from the saddle. There is
many a lady in civilised nations who would envy the eques-
trian skill of these Hawaiian women. There is many a
finished artist that would be glad to have one of them as
a subject for his pencil. It may be owing to this mode of
exercise that they, in part, acquire such an exquisite de-
velopment of form. I wish I could fully portray these
Saturday afternoon sports. Yonder, on the plain, some
forty or fifty women are speeding almost with the ra-
pidity of light toward some well-selected goal. Every
nerve and muscle of both horses and riders is stretched
to the utmost tension—the former from sheer instinct
to gain the victory, the latter from a spirit of almost
matchless daring, mirthfulness, and excitement. Now
comes along a party of men and boys, many of them
clinging, with their naked limbs, like leeches to the
flanks of their foaming steeds, while their restless hands
and arms are describing all sorts of circles in the
air, as if under pain of dismemberment, but, in reality,
to cheer along their animals to a swifter speed. Clouds
of choking dust follow their wake. Here and there may
be seen a mounted foreigner, quietly looking on, or
sharing in their mirth and sports. But yonder is a
scene that defies all attempts at description. . A few
horses and donkeys, not under immediate use, but
which, a few minutes since, were quietly feeding on
the ever-living pasture, have caught the spirit
of that fiery locomotion by which their compeers
are impelled over the plain. Unable any longer
to control their nature, away they speed, in the utmost
confusion, as though their powers of a life-endurance
were all concentrated in this single moment. Now they
have mingled with the mounted animals, sharing their
foam, and madly plunging through the clouds of dust,
and endangering the life and limbs of any pedestrian who
fails to get out of the way in time. On, on they speed,
like fiery Arabians over their native sands, all and each
one struggling for the mastery in the well-contested race
for glory.—Sandwich Island Notes.

NEW YORK. The specie brought by the New York
steamers yesterday amounts to 180,0001., of which a por-
tion is for the continent. The accounts on this occasion
show that the anticipated reaction in the stock-market,
which had partially commenced a week previously,
is likely to be sustained. Erie Railroad shares have
advanced from about 3216 to 44, and there has likewise
been a decided improvement in almost all other specu-
lative descriptions. Commercial matters generally pre-
sented a more healthy appearance than for months past,
and the dealers in the interior were making their pay-
ments to the New York importers with unexpected
promptitude. The pressure for money, however, was
still considerable, and 12 percent. was the ordinary rate
for good bills. With regard to the supply of breadstuffs
the opinion now was that in the absence of any foreign
demand the quantity in the country would be sufficient
to remove all apprehensions of scarcity, and that the
prices which farm produce had recently attained during
the panic in relation to the Indian corn crop would
not!be permanent. The shares of the Nicaragua Transit
Company had risen in consequence of an ange-
ment with the rival line via Panama by which the
steamers of each • company, instead' of running in .
opposition, will depart from their respective -ports
every alternate week. News from California will
consequently be received for the future at naera-reguldv,
and frequent intervals. According to the last accounts
from that State, the production of gold continues with'
undiminished steadiness, and will be fully equal this year
to that of 1853. At the port of San Francisco'an extra- A
ordinary decision had just been arrived at in atfaction
against the Customs' authorities which requirekto be ~
mentioned as a caution to foreign merchants
shicOmg to .- that port. A bonded warehouse was so inseeuret/ built;
or overloaded that it fell and destroyed a quantity ef.:
goods, but the claim of the owners for indemnity.lvasle
sisted, and upon a trial judgment was given for the Go-
vernment.
AMSTERDAM AND ROTTERDAM
PRODUCE MARKETS.—
and Rotter-
dam weekly reviews from the Amsterdam and
of
dam produce-markets allude to a slight 1
acti-
vity. Purchases of tea had been made at rather better
prices, black descriptions especially
mand. Sugar, raw and refined,,
dency to further improvemn
alteration. Indigo was on the average well supported.l
The transactions in rice had been
having been in de-
also exhibited a ten-
t but coffee was without
e
at former quotations.

TERRIBLE ILYCOUNTER WITII A BEAR.

The following terrible encounter with a bear occurred
in Lower Canada ; the particulars are translated from
the Canadian :
" A most painful occurrence has spread a panic in the
parish of St. Raymond. A man has been torn to pieces
by a bear. The bear killed and carried off, over night,
a cow belonging to a man of the name of Michael Can-
tin. On the morrow an experienced hunter in that re-
gion, named James Cantin, whose aim for 40 years had
brought down bears, moose, and other large game of the
forest without number, prepared means to put an end
to this ferocious brute. It was sundown before these
were completed, and he had not time to go for his son to
assist him in the hunt. The bear came, according to
custom, to feed upon the prey he had secreted ; and
the inhabitants' of the village heard the firing of a gun.
Fifteen minutes later another gun was heard, the report
sounding as if near the woods ; and ae the night was
closing a third report was heard, coming from within
the forest ; then all was silent.

"The people gathered together to meet the hunter on
his way home, and hear from Ins own lips the story of
his encounter with the be:tr. But- the night has begun,
and he does not come. The. hopes of his friends turn to
fear, and they resolve to fly to his assistance. They
F.tart with lanterns, and pro.7:eed to the edge of the
forest, where their cries mil discharge of firearms re-
main unanswered. They enter the wood, and scour it
in all directions, without s•,eing or hearing anything.
Then they return homeward, sad and dispirited, to re-
sume the search at dawn the next day.
" More than forty person, who bad been summoned
. .

in the course of the night, met at daybreak on the mor-
row at the spot whence the r'port of the hunter's firs
shot proceeded. A. bloody track led them on through
the forest • and many who 'sere following it came to th
bear, which they found lying dead in a clump of bushes
near a swamp. But no bunter was to be found. They
continued on their way, stilt keeping to the traces of
blood on the ground which extended beyond the spot
where lay the animal, until in the middle of a dense
thicket they stumbled on to the unfortunate Cantin.
The soil trampled and torn lip, the bushes broken and
down trodden, 'the trunk of the trees hard by, the leaves
on the bushes, and the face of the earth gory with the
blood that had been shed, and the mutilated limbs of the
deceased ; everything told of a long and desperate con-
flict waged hand to hand between the unfortunate hunter
and his terrible adversary.
" From all that could be gathered on the subject, it
is surmised that the horrible tragedy took place in the
following manner :—Cantin's first shot had wounded the
bear severely, and driven him to the wood. The hunter
followed
.pursuit, and fired a second time, but from the
rear, as in the first instance. Still this could not have
been a mortal wound. Then it is supposed that the bear
finding that he was followed up closely, and urged on
by fear and rage, plunged deeper into the forest, where
at length he laid down to recruit his strength/or per-
haps to die after the custom of his species, the members
of which usually seek some retired spot to breath their
last. Accordingly, the monster•selected the densest
thicket to be found in the wood.
"Animated by the noble ambition of the hunter who
thinks he is sure of his game, and is desirous of adding
another to his numerous exploits, Cantin persevered in
the chase, notwithstanding the increasing darkness
around him. Still it must have been sufficiently light
for him to distinguish the gory track of the bear ; but
it is highly probable that he stumbled suddenly upon
him in his secure retreat ; and then in his rage the ani-
mal regained his strength for a while, and rising con•
fronted his pursuer before he could escape. Still Cantin
must have had time to fire a third shot, but so hurriedly
that his aim could not have told effectually, the ball
being found in the neck. Then he undoubtedly clubbed
his gun and beat the animal on his head until the
weapon fell shattered from his grasp to the ground,
where he was discovered by his friends. The man and
the brute must have closed then in the last fearful con-
flict which terminated so fatally ; but disarmed, with-
out a knife, and having nothing but his stout arm to
oppose the fury of the bear, the brave fellow's courage
could not save him from the tragic end he met with.
" When a bear engages in a fight he rises, and sitting
on his haunches strikes his paws like a monkey, but
uses his claws in addition like a cat, while his enormous
muscles indicate a strength that is almost inconceivable.
His claws, projected with a terrible power, tear and
carry away everything they fall upon. From these
poor Cantin received several terrible blows before he
succumbed, the marks of which made the blood run
cold in those who looked upon his corpse. His
hands were torn by the claws, and partly devoured
by the animals teeth. The hair of his head and
the scalp hung in pieces about his face, and his
right thigh was mangled into mince meat. Ho
must have been still contending against the bear,
when the brute, with a fearful instinct, directing his
blows against the man's face, fixed his murderous claws
in his face, for, by a blow of his right paw, he literally
stripped off the hunter's left cheek. One of the claws
had penetrated immediately beneath the left eye and
torn away the cartilage of the nose, without, however,
injuring the eye itself. This terrific blow doubtlessly
threw Cantin to the ground, when the bear left him and
retreated to die a few rods from the scene of conflict.
" That wound was not mortal, and Cantin survived it
several hours. The blood which deluged his knees
showed that he had sat down to let it flow. It may be
that at that very moment he heard, without being able
' to reply to them the cries of the party who sallied in
quest of him at night. Exhausted at length by thehe-
morrhage, he laid himself down gently on his right side,
perhaps to make his face and limbs less painful. Pos-
sessing. his consciousness still, he consecrated his last
moments to God in prayer. He was found with clasped
hands, and holding his blue bonnet. Honest and strictly
pious, the last 'thoughts of that unfortunate 'man were
worthy his whole life. He leaves a disconsolate widow
and four children to lament his untimely and awful end."

DEPARTURES FROM TEE PORT OF LONDON.—The de-
partures for the Australian• colonies during the week have
comprised seven vessels-411-ce for Port-Philip, with an
aggregate burden of 2,545 tuns; two for Sydney, with an
aggregate burden of 1,274 tons ; and two for Adelaide,
with an aggregate burdea of 7G2 tons. Their total capa-
city was consequently 4,58:1 tons. The rates of freight
exhibit no material alteratic.n.

THE TEA TRADE.—Messr.. James Goddard and Co.,
in their circular say :—ln the tea market business has
been quiet during the pa st fortnight, and prices re-
mained unchanged until the arrival of the telegraph on
the 15th instant, advising threatened disturbances in
the neighbourhood of Cant on, and considerable alarm
and interference with business there. Importers upon
this, determined to wait tht arrival of their letters, and
declined to sell, excepting a t an advance ; exporters, who
had generally orders on ban d unexecuted, showed a dis-
position to purchase, and cemmon congou was done at
id. per lb. advance. Sales were also made to a mode-
rate extent on speculative: account. The trade, how-
ever, have not shown any if clination to get into stock,
so that, with the exceptiont of some 4,000 or 5,000 chests
of common congou that have changed hands at the ad-
vance, the business done hats not been large.
VENTILATION OF SEWER s.—Complaints of the gully-
hole emanations are now ; .eneral, and though I should
be sorry to defend the bar barons practice of ventilating
the sewers through slits in ti le streets orthrough the gully-
holes, yet there is one view • of the subject which has es-
caped the notice of the pub lie, though, of course, scien-
tific men are aware of it. It is this : —lf the foul air can-
not get away through these street openings it will make
its way through the house drains into the interior of
houses, and woe be to the+ tenant whose drain is un-
trapped. The flap-traps aye never air tight, even the
syphon-traps are frequently insufficient. In a county town
a few years ago, the borough surveyor was afflicted with
a vehement spasm of gully-trapping. There was immedi-
ately a rapid increase of disease, and in the higher parts
of the town, clearly attributable to the fact of the
foul air entering the houses through the untrapped
drains. What are we to do between the two fires
At any rate, the liberty of the subject should be so
far trespassed upon as to make it compulsory on the
landlords to have the house-drains trapped, whether they
like it or not. Next, if by ,some means the sewers could
he relieved of the air-pressu re inside tending outwards,
we should get rid of the discharge through the outlets in
the streets. I would suggest that the commissioners
might make an experiment to ascertain if this Could not
be done by means of chimney-shafts divided from top to
bottom into two unequal flues. It would not cost much
to make the experiment on a small scale first. The
etgnhnbretaete.: inupTior
approximatelyihwt
nhegeerdnrwoa
fftouue frictionlmliagbnif
difference in area making
amount
experiment.
this
sieuffr
continual,tiemi
mtr ei
the two columns of air, up and down, and create a draft
lrwa
rhtbohaemet
tonbefeossbaol etomtw een,
determined
b ascertainedbut
nwtgtltrteo;w
by.noouuimber of ventilating-shafts for a given
district.—The Builder.
held Et
FAIR OF NOV GOROD. The fair annually
held at Nijn9 ,Novgorod, upon the right bank of the
Volga, is the great mart of Russian commerce between
Europe and Asia. In the coarse of the last twenty
years, however, it has become more and more a market
for the interchange of the products of the national in-
dustry, owing to the establishment of Armenian houses
of business at Moscow. On the other hand, up to 1853,
British manufactures were gradually supplanting those
of Russia, notwithstanding the protective system
adopted by the Emperor. An official account has
recently been published
of the business done at this
fair
were e in
n
which it appears that there
w
5. fonl
_3Rurssian merchandise, valued at
tahkee la y e a t
o r liBt
42, 28
8, European and colonial, 7,404,825
50 roubles—making a total of
63,459,275 roubles. This amount was less by 1,806,004
roubles
at the fair of 1852. The sales produced a
roubles 1
'y
AO s
ioaut
cl s
766, 3
r,
nof 34,417,705 roubles, being considerably
amount in 1851, when the value sold
was returned at 53,690,400 roubles. The receipts
of the restaurants, cafds, and shops—most of which
ore mere stalls, but of which a regular account is kept
. show a corresponding diminution in 1853 compared
!with 1852. Among the Asiatic articles brought to the
lgerssosstr2:. the
hair was tea from China, to the value of 5,374,500 roubles.
And in speaking of those produced by Russia, the report
'vayslhat the ordinary cotton fabrics made by the native
' rpsedfacturers continue to hold the first rank in compe.
tion with those of foreign production. Their value
the greatest of all the articles enumerated among the
duce of Russia, with the exception of wrought ir pro-
on,
it is put down at 8,189,100 roubles, or one-sixth of thefr
whole. The common and average qualities of
these fa-
brics suit exactly the taste and circumstances
of e eo-*
ple, and some credit is taken for the diminution the
of p
the
business in 1853 compared with that of the preceding
year, in the goods sent by foreign traders. But it added
that the aggregate diminution was mainly caused by
cholera or the fear of it. 1t is a significant fact that the
circulation of coin, both gold and silver, 108 leo in
1863 than in 1852.