New Orleans daily crescent. [volume] ([New Orleans, La.]) 1851-1866, 1854-05-04


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l. FROM WASHINGTON.
spstfaI gorrtsponnsnss of tbs MIN orItans gr.st.nt
WasHrsoror, April 27, 1854.
At the instance of Mr. Slidell the Senate took
up bill to confirm the title ofFrancois Cruzan,
OF La, to certain lands in that State now in his
possession, and the same was passed.
Several Senators presented petitions in favor
OF cheap ocean postage; and the rest of the day
was again given to the Indian appropriation
bill. An amendment was proposed by which
| the offices of Governor and Indian Superinten-
dent in any territory of the United States were
to be henceforth separated, and the salary Of
the Governors was to be raised to $500 per
annum. Atpresent the Governor receives 81 500
as such and $500 as Superintendent of the In
dams This administration, which every now
and then heralds its own praises through its own
organ, on the score of frugality, ETC., at the
same time drawing invidious distinctions be-
tween itself and it's predecessor, is at bay for
want Of Offices The President is getting bank
rupt, and if new offices are not created for him
to fill, his promises will be discredited New
offices and higher salaries are the pressing need
Of the party-with them they may manage TO
them they must fall in pieces.
The House had one speech, by Mr. Disney, of
Ohio, against Bennet's Land bill, and two or
three upon Nebraska. &c Extra Billy" being
the sobriquet of ex- Gov. VIM Smith, of Va,
(who received large extra pay from the Govern
| ment as mail contractor) was one Of the speak
ers, and he attempted to reply to Mr.. Benton's
argument. Extra Billy succeeded in convicting
MIR. B. of some inconsistencies, which rather ag-
grayated the old warehouse, but the scene was
only ludicrous-both the gentlemen being Of
the order of politicians to which the term crafty
will properly apply. Extra Billy will vote for
some enormity which is to fill his own or
friends pocket, and then, by way of offset, and
to keep up good show for himself and the
party, make long speech against the wicked
extravaganza of raising the pay of the fencing
master at West Point from $3.50 to $1,000 per
annum. He and Benton are par mobile fra
trun.
The Homestead bill will probably come up
next week again in the Senate, and it will NO
doubt give rise to lively debate 1t is fer
tile theme. The graduation bill which the
House has passed is equally Objectionable with
the Homestead, and. indeed, was partof another
bill which also proposed to give land to the
landless. Mr.. Webster, among the erratic pol
itcal acts of his closing years, gave the sanction
Of his name to this measure, whose paternity
rests either with the present Governor Of Ten
nessee, or the deceased Felix G. Mcdonnell, of
Ala. Nothing certain is yet known of the Pre-
sident's purpose with regard to the Insane Land
bill, but those who may be expected to know
best believe that he will either retain or veto
the bill CHRoNIcLER.
THE FIRE IN New YoRk.-Sirteen FEremen
Rilfed.-The New York Herald of the 9th
brings us additional particulars Of the fire and
| loss of life in Broadway, of which we made men
ton yesterday. Gloss of life was much greater
| than was first calculated. Sixteen persons have
been taken dead from the ruins or died shortly
after being extracted. All of these were fire.
men. About twenty more were seriously inj jured.
The Herald gives the following incidents
Among the melancholy incidents of this dis.
aster, is the case of John B. O'Donnell. one of
the members of Engine Company AZ, and son
of Coroner 0'DonnelI. O'Donnells about twen-
ty-two years of age, and has but lately Joined
the Fire Department, in which he soon became
remarkable for intrepidity and daring. He was,
we are informed, among the first at the fire on
Tuesday night, and was engaged in saving the
property, with his brother fremen, when the
rear wall fell and buried him under its ruins
This occurred about 8 o'clock, and it was not
till the following morning when he was extri-
Gated For eight long and painful hours was he
lying under large beam of timber, while the
flames threatened every moment to consume him.
He was nearly an hour in this position before
his cries for assistance were heard, and during
that time each minute appeared an age in du-
ration. His first intimation that his friends
were near, was slight knocking over his head
and never did noise sound more sweet to human
ears.
els that near you'' said brother fireman.
"No," replied the poor sufferer; ss q little
further on; and for heavens sake make haste,
or | will be sufocated.''
care we near you :" said several voices,
as another knock was given.
"Not yet" --
aNow?"
Yes; you are directly over me. Quick,
quick. | can't stand this much longer.o
A hole was soon cut in the floor over his head,
and through it he could be seen enveloped in
smoke, while the flames had approached so close
to him as to scorch his Clothes The pipe, give
me the pipe at once, or he will be burned to death
before our eyes, said one of the fremen, seeing
his imminent danger. A stream Of water was
soon directed upon the advancing flames, and
they were driven back at the very moment they
threatened to destroy him As it was impossi-
BILE to extingu'sh the fire, on account of its po-
sltlon, 1t was necessary to play upon it about
once in every ten minutes. But during the
whole time of his fearful Imprisonment the brave
fellow never lost his courage and not word Of
pain escaped his lips. AS ID was feared, how
eNeI' uhstb MS sVrengtn Would give way before
he could be rescued, a hole was broken through
the wall near where he lay, and some stimulants
handed to him. His friends could now converse
with him without any difficulty, and they
learned that there were four or five dead bodies
lying near him.
$ Is there any one else in there beside your
self" they asked.
"Yes, four or fve, he replied, GO and they are
all dead. | can see them from where am
While he was lying here his father and brother
hearing of the disaster, hastened to the scene,
and found their worst fears realized. They ar
rived about two hours after the falling Of the
wall, and never left the spot till he was extri-
Gated. We will not attempt to describe their
feelings as they saw him, after the most unre-
mitting exertions on the part of the firemen,
taken from the ruins horribly crushed and
mangled. He was conveyed Immediately 10 the
City Hospital, where he is lying at present in a
most critical condition. His face and head are
dreadfully burned, and one hand is almost sew
cred from his arm.
We ereceivedinformation at o'clock this morn
ing that poor O'Donnell expired about two hours
before at the City Hospital. His father, mother,
and other relatives were with him when he died.
The following is list of those killed. Mi
chael Finn, aged 10; Alex Mckay, aged %;
Daniel Mckay, brother of the above, William
]. Diegon, John A. Keyser, Andrew T. Schenck,
John McNulty, Dewitt L. Allston, Mr.. Wilson
and John p 0'Donnell. Five other unrecog-
nized bodies were also taken from the ruins
In an afray at Thomasville, (Ga.) on the
21st ult., DR.. William Holland killed Peyton
Y-1l L L Il rrt