Washington sentinel., 1854-01-08
the non-commissioned staff and band of the regi.

the non-commlssioneu stan ana pahd Oh the regl-
ment.
The shin sailed from New York on the 22d ult,
and is rcported to have been in the critical
condition above described, with her decks swept
and berei of her masts, on the 2ith-I -Iateigencer.
singular Gas Explosion.-For several nights
preceding Wednesday night, the inhabitants Of
Greenwich avenue, Troy and 18th streets, We're
greatly alarmed in consequence OF their dwellings
being filed with gas, which had apparently es-
capped from the main pipe
On Wednesday afternoon, Mr.. Marcy, Of No l.,
18th street, notified the gas company Of the nui-
sance, when two men were SET TO work to ascer-
tain the cause of the gas escaping. After exca-
waiting the earth for some distance, they reached
the main pipe, and one OF the men named Michael
Haher, applied lighted match, when instantly
a terrific explosion followed. Haher was blown
about twelve feet into the air. The gas having
found its way through the earth to the sewer at
the head of 18th street, and lgnng, threw off the
covering of the culverts along the line of the
sewer in Troy street. forcing up the iron plates
leach $50 lbs. in weight that covered the man
holes seven in number. The train of ignited gas
from the avenue TO Hudson street. distance of
500 feet, broke the man hole and culvert covers
into pieces also broke down the iron railing in
front of the house, No. %, Troy street, blew a
grocer's wagon into splinters, and broke number
of windows in the dwelling-houses. The explo-
sion occasioned great alarm and CONSERVATION in
the above neighborhood, but no person was ser-
ousy injured A daughter of Mr.. Taylor was
slightly hurt by some of the missiles thrown by the
explosion. The workmen were engaged up to
late hour in searching for the principal leak, and
finally they discovered that one Of the main pipes
had bursted and caused the gas TO escape. During
the night the gas escaping from the man holes the
crcvices in the sidewalks and streets were lighted,
and brilliantly illuminated the neighborhood.
tConrier and Enquirer.
The Empire City.-We yesterday noticed the
grounding of this vessel 1--WE gave the name Cres-
cent City) off Barnegat We now have a full state
ment from the purser. The United States mail
steamer Empire City, Captain III. Windle, left New
| Orleans at s, A. M, of the Goth utmo, for New
York, via Havana, and arrived off the Moro Castle
early on the evening OF the 2Sth. She sailed for
| this port on the morning of the 30th utimo. On
the night Of the Sd instant, while steering for the
| light off Barnegat the Empire City ran ashore
about five miles south of the lighthouse. Every
possible effort made to back her off into deep
water. but without avail. Her passengers and
their baggage were safely landed at daylight next
| morning, by means of the government surf-boat at
the station. Her mails reached this city in charge
4 of the purser last evening. The Empire City was
| fine vessel, built in New York in ls4o abou.
1,S00 tons burden, and valued at about
She belonged to George Law, Esq, and others.
II is expected she will be got of. We hear there
| was no insurance on the vessel.
| In Havana, there was little of interest occurring.
The sugar crop was coming in splendldly. The
| tobacco and coffee crops were abundant, but to-
bacco was said to be in the hands Of spectators,
! who were reporting scarcity to enhance prices.
| New York Mirror, 9Th.
| The Loss of the Staffordshire Doubted
We learn that the owners of the Slafordshirc
| are inclined to doubt the reported loss of that
ship, for the following reasons: because she was
| not likely to be in the neighborhood of Seal
island in twenty days from Liverpool, at this sea
son Of the year.
Secondly, because gross fabrication about the
Stafordshire was perpetrated by some malicious
person on former occasion, when she was re-
ported lost off the coast Of South America, while
| at the same time she was safely proceeding on her
voyage to California.
Thirdly, because the Halifax telegraph accounts
are too brief for such disaster, and requires the
confirmation of one of the officers Of the ship be-
fore credence can be given TO the story.
Fourthly, the inquiry presents itself: What be-
came of the other four boats of the ship and how
could those who escaped in the two boats know,
in the darkness of the night that the others were
lost
We hope these doubts may be confirmed but
we fear the worst. Efforts have been made to OBJ
tain further particulars from Halifax, but thus far
without success. In the meantime much anxiety
and suspense prevails in the community.
Boston Journal.
Famine on the Bahanfas.-The New York
Herald has received papers from Nassau, N. p. TO
Dec. 2lst, from which the intelligence is culled:
The correspondent of the Bahama Herald, writ
ing from Rum Cay, upon Nov 20, says: To add
TO the horrors of situation, provisions of all
kinds are not to be purchased at the shops. What
remains on the island are only small supplies in
the possession of private families. Many OF the
people are beginning to feel the cravings OF hun
ger, and fearful consequences will be the result
unless timely aid is afforded The quantity of salt
destroyed is estimated at from $4,000 to 100000
bushels, and the crops of corn which were very
promising, had been spoken of previously as like
" to be much larger than had been grown for a
number of years past scarcely a vestige now re-
mains TO show where they once grew.
The Royal Gazette OF the 18th December, thus
alludes 10 the condition Of the suffering people, in
habitants of the Out Islands,
Without help, and that speedily, the most desti-
tute must perish for want of food, Those around
them better off cannot assist them. Provisions
cannot at all times be purchased on an Out Island,
and with some of them communication with this
place is far from frequent.
The same paper OF the 2lst says.
Since our last number OF small Graf, have ar
rived from the districts which have suffered so
severely from the effects of the late gale, and the
accounts brought by them most pitiable.
The Turks Islanders have paid TO the Bahama
treasury the fS,0O0, with interest, the proportion
of the public debt eallotted TO them on their sepa-
ration from the colony.
The executive council met on Monday, 9th ut.
when it was agreed that .f25 worth Of rice should
be sent to Rum Cay for the benefit of the INDECENT
poor.
Army NeWs.-RETURN OF THE SECOND lNFAN-
TRY.-Among the passengers by the Illinois at
New York, were several officers of the Second
Regiment, who, together with the stah and non
commissioned officers of the regiment, were or
dered TO New York.
The Second Infantry was ordered to California
soon after the close the Mexican war, and since
that period goodly portion OF il has been engaged
in active service against the numerous tribes OF
Indians whose hostile demonstrations have spread
alarm among the citizens of the interior.
The officers, we understood, lost most Of their
baggage on the wreck ofthe Winfield Scot.
Among the property saved, however, il is graft
flying to learn, that the colors of the regiment,
whose conquering eagles in the Mexican war
foated triumphantly above the palace of the Mon
tezumas, We're rescued, after several days INNER
sion.
The following are the names of the officers ar
rived The remainder will follow soon as re-