The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1854-05-30
G EN- ERAL NEWS.


STEAMBOAT or rHE--A despatch from Philadelphia, on
Sunday states that the steamboat Star returning from Red
Bank few miles below that city, with nearly one thou
sand passengers on board the of terrible
sernaon that afternoon. The deck around her smoke
stack took fire when abont mile below the city and be-
fore water could be applied to it, it blazing spread
ing with fearful rapidly causing great excitement among
the passengers large portion of whom women and
children.
The boat Immediately steered for a wharf near at
hand, but in the mean time number Of women were with
difficulty prevented from jumping overheard with their
children in their She finally reached the wharf
however and most of the passengers landed whilst
large body of men were engaged in exnguishing the
flames in which they finally succeeded and they were all
finally brought in safety to the city.
ACCIDENT HoBoKEs-On Sunday afternoon a terrible
accident occurred at Hoboken An immense eoncoure Of
persons assembled the drop bridge at the ferry
landing waiting for the arrival Of the o'clock boat when
the bridge broke down, prccpitatng hundreds Of men,
women and children into the water number of whom
il is feared, drowned though bodies have yet been
found Many of those saved seriously injured The
Of the most appalling character there
no doubt that number Of lives were lost
MELANCHOLY accommodating the thunderstorm on
Tuesday evening last Mrs Sarah Price Of this place was
stricken by lightning and instantly killed Medical aid was
Immediately called in but found Of avail the vital spark
had fed The deceased had stepped few feet from her
door watch the operations Of the cloud which fast
gathering when the fatal stroke came demoshng small
shade in the yard which she standing The
fluid seemed have struck the left side Of her head sing
ing her hair and aeerating her and arm and literally
tearing her clothes and shoes to pieces and what very
remarkable her little grandchd, about years old
standing by her and escaped unnured while number Of
persons in the vicinity less affected by the
aash.-Dahionegd Go) Signal 2Oh inst
ARREsr or , SUPPOSED uposrER-A man calling him
self George Smith and claiming be secret agent OF
the Post Office Department called the post Office in this
city yesterday forenoon and presented to Mr.. As the
postmaster, letter Of appointment dated at the Post
Office Department at Washington, and bearing the sigma
ure of the late Assistant Postmaster General Major s. r.
Hobbe stating the time that he had been visiting
many Of the principal post Offices in the West as secret
agent for the purpose Of ascertanng their condition and
the popularity OF the postmascrs among the people in the
immediate vicinity Of the different Offices
Mr. Holbrook for many years agent Of that depart
ment happened 10 be present. and recognising Smith
employee OF that branch Of the government privately
expressed his suspicious that all right in which
Mr. Alis fully concurrcd Smith, after talking over Off
cal matters awhile, and carefully inspecting the Office
withdrew remnrking that be would call again the after
noon when he came, according appointment and the
result Of this interview application for the loan Of
Of money, which the postmaster advanced him An
officer was now sent for and Smith arrested and il
in jail awaiting reply to Geographic message
from Mr.. Holbrook TO the Post Office Department
There be doubt that many postmasters at the
West have been swndled Of their money by this
The letter purporting be from Major Hobbie is for
gerry,
r. S-Snce the above written, have heard Of one
postmaster not far Off who done out Of Of
money by this same imposter.
Rochester Adrsrtiser, Noy 20.
VELOCITY OF TW wISns-Professor Soddard, in n lee
ture recently delivered upon the hurricane in Knox
W Ohio stated that in town grove Of oak
almost entirely blown down The trunk of one Of these
about three feet in diameter Assuming how
ever It's diameter TO be but and half feet Of
l47o0o pounds would be required break IT, The
face Of the tree exposed TO the action Of the wind about
1000 feet which would give pressure by the wind Of lat
pounds per square foot velocity Of not less than II
miles per hour which Is nearly one-fourth the initial
locy Of cannon-ball Allowing the height of the hur
ricane or whirfwnd to have been sixty feet the whole
force exered at time along its track FIVE thousand
millions pounds or working power equal to than
half the steam power Of the globe
/ young man named James Larkn, in . scpffie with
Thomas Scott At st Louis the 18th inst thrown
over balnstrade the pavement and much injured
Il Al L.. IN.Is