The Empire County argus., 1854-03-11

The Nicaragua steamer Cortes, T. B. Cropper
Esq, commander, arrived at San Francisco ON Sat-
urday last in 13 days from San Juan, and brought
dates from New York to the 4th February, from
New Orleans to the 7th, and from Europe to Janu.
airy 2lst.
FIRES IN New YoRK.-A fire broke out on the
night of jan 29th in the Columbian Iron Foundry
in New FORK, which destroyed the building and
number Of dwellings in the neighborhood The
fumes spread rapidly, giving the occupants of the
houses barely time to escape. Many were without
clothes and were in the streets naked The wealth.
er was severely cold and the distress was great
Another fire broke out on the morning of Jan. 80
In Pearl street. near the Battery, and DESTROYED a
block Of dwellings occupied by fifty poor families,
who suffered dreadfuly from exposure.
EXPLOSION cartridge manufactory. at
Ravenswood or Long Island was on the 3lst Jan.
destroyed by an explosion of the materials used.
and all the persons inside except two lost their lives
They were mostly boys and girls, and their number
is varousy stated at from twenty to thirty The
shock of the explosion tremendous, buildings at
II long distance being shaken and the windows bro.
ken.
FIRE.--Hayward's extensive India Rubber works.
at Colchester, Conn, caught fire on the night of
Jan 30. and were destroyed, The works consisted
of five large buildings. MIR. Stark, the overseer of
the factoiy, perished in the flames The loss is
very heavy, but it is mostly covered by insurance
Five hundred persons are thrown out of employment
10y the fire.
Capt. Beaver, of the ship Sea Foam has been
arrested at Newcastle Delaware, for the murder of
two persons on board his ship.
Two negroes employed on board the San Francis
CO have been arrested in New York, for having sto.
len vauablcs from passengers on board that vessel
They have confessed their guilt
A terrible tragedy occurred at Southington.
'r1,p tha Il
Anon Finch, SO years of age, went to his dauqb.
ter's chamber and cut her throat while she was
asleep in bed he then cut his own throat and both
are dead. The daughter, who was 20 wears of age
was an IDIOT and MIR. Finch it is also thought was
insane.
New York, Feb. A board of officers. of which
Gen. Scott is president will assemble here on the
9TH INST, to inquire into the conduct of the officers
III command OF the troops on hoard the steamer San
Francisco Col Lee tile Judge Advocate General
OF the Army Will conduct the inquiry.
TERRIFIC CoNFLAGRATIoN IN New ORLEANS.
One OF the most terribly destructive conlagrations
which ever occurred i'll the South, took place at
New Orleans on the night of February 5th, It
commenced on board the steamboat Charles Belch-
er, at about three o'clock and ceased only with the
destruction OF property, amounting to something
like million Of dollars Six steamboats, and q
large freight barge, with their cargoes were all de-
stroyed, and we regret to add that the loss of life
cannot be computed at less than thirty five or forty,
mostly negroes The fire broke out towards tbn
stern of the Charles Becher, and spread with
amazing rapidity. Of the white passcng gers, it il
known that several were lost how many cannot nt
the present time be ascertaned.
DISASTER ON LAKE PoNTcHARTRAIN-The steam.
boat Georgia was burnt about midnight of Jan o.
at the terminus of the railroad at Lake Pontcbar.
train. The loss of life was heart-rending The
Georgla had loO passengers board and was
n ~ yU IaIp O,,tka L
made fast to the wharf and two of the deck hands
were engaged in drawing in the stern when the fire
was discovered bursting out with amazing rapiditv
above the boilers The flames spread with uncon
trollable fury, and minute had scarcely clapsed
before general conhagraton prevailed in every
portion OF the lll-tated vessel The Georgia was
burnt to the waters edge, with all she contained
and at least sixty persons were burnt or drowned
lhe loss OF property is estimated at $l2OO0O
EuRoPE.-Europe is now said to be awaiting
with trembling anxiety further accounts from the
East and the general impression in both London
and Paris, IS that there must be general war
Austria is said to be quite disatfscted to Russia.
Spain remains exceedingly unsettled
France is represented as being very much a.ta-
ted
The latest accounts confirm the report Of an in.
among the peasants of Lesser Wallachia
The insurrection was extending and may cause the
Russians serious trouble.
A Polish regiment of 1900 men has been organ.
lied by Schamyl the great Circassian leader, who
is also authorizing an army in Daa aahcstan.
The Russ.an' nave erected strong Notifications at
Sebastopol and along the coast of Crimea and have
extinguished the lights in all the lighthouses
The Sultan has issued orders for hostlities to be
carried on in Europe and in Asia with renewed
vigor. 1t is stated that the Turks purpose landing
on the Crimca. If this proves true, it would indi.
cate nothing less than that Sebastopo is to be at
tackled by land aud sea-
Fifteen thousand Turks have been sent to Bato
um, and Schamyi has received stores, ammunition.
sc.
violcn, storm had done much damage along the
coast near Smyrna. The Custom House at SMYRNA
was nearl' destroyed.
On the 9th of January an important battle was
fought at Ctale, in which the Russians were utter.
y routed. The conflict lasted five days, ending
with the entire rou of the Russians who lost 1000
killed. Two of the Russian Generals were wound.
ed. On the last day the Turks attacked the Rus.
sian Reserve and drove it in confusion upon Kriio.
va, with the loss of its artillery The Turks after.
ward destroyed the Russian fertilization. and
returned in triumph to Kalafat
The Sultan has essentially modified the last note
Of the four powers which was declared satisfactory
and has been forwarded to the Emperor of Russia
at st. Petersburg. No answer had vet been receiv-
ed from the latter, but there was little doubt enter.
tahed that he would reject it. and it was expected
that he would at once recall his Ambassadors from
Paris and London, and formally declare war
In the French navy-yards the greatest activity