Washington sentinel. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1853-1855, 1854-11-30
ITEMS OF NEWS.

lTEMS OF NEWS
ARCTIC ExPLoRATIoNs-The whole body of the
press agrees in expressing the hope that with the
return Of DR.. Kane, the only remaining explorer
in the Arctic seas, explorations in those icy re-
gions will be given over. Not that curiosity is
stated or that science has no further questions 10
put. But the price Of the knowledge of these
ntra-Arctic fields that canbe added to our present
stock, is greater than we can afford to pay for il,
and further sacrifice can be little less than wan
ton waste.
The news of the Collinsons arrival, with his
ship Enterprise, at Fort Clarence, on Behring
Straits, had reached Europe before the sailing Of
the Hermann. The graduation is great on the
announcement; the Times remarks that g their
country will know how TO place proper value
upon the exertions and achievements of both
these gallant officers, Mcclure and CoInson,
who both have discovered the longsought north.
western passage,) without seeking 10 raise or de-
press one at the cost OF the other"-N. y. Times.
MAKING CHILDREN DRuSK.-One Copello, who
keeps a saloon in Fifth street, near Sycamore,
was tried before Judge Spooner, yesterday on the
charge of selling liquor to minors. lady named
Mrs. Crooker testified that on last Saturday night
her little son, about nine years old, came home
very sick, and she smell liquor upon his breath.
She took the boy to Copello's, and he identified
HIM tCopello) as the person who had given him
the liquor. The boy testified that another boy
called him in and treated him 10 whisky. The
other boy called for brandy, but could not get il,
as Copello had none. William Sweetman, an
other boy, not quite thirteen years old testified
that he had several times purchased liquor al this
place, both Of Copello and his partner. The case
being fully made out Judge Spooner very Justly
ia1iciad n FIN nj fffu dollar and r1a IL
TO be imprisoned until fine and costs are paid Such
scoundrel as would plant in children taste for
strong drink, deserves the heaviest penalty the
law can inflict.-Cineinsat Columbian
PERILous SIrrATIos.-ship Rubicon, Captain
Beckett, which sailed from this port on the sth in
slant, for Rio Janeiro, returned on Saturday.
When four days out, seaman discovered smoke
in the iorecastle, and in short time il was per-
ceived throughout the ship. Captain Beckett inn
medaiely had barrel of bread and another of beef
brought on deck, as also the chronometer; but
time could not be allowed 10 get any clothing Of
the officers or crew. Every avenue TO the hold
was then closed up and canlked, 10 stiie the
flames if possible. Holes were cut in the deck,
water poured down, and other means used 10 ex-
linguish The FIRE. The ship was then put about
WI hOuC1 ohu tWO uel OCIOIC ICaCnluH lulb pOFl
the FIRE appeared TO be exiinguhhed.
The officers and crew, seventeen in number,
were on deck for eleven days, ihny clad but all
cheerfully cooperated in the exertions TO save the
vessel. On opening the matches il was found that
the fire was among the saw dusi covering the ice
IN the lower hold, fore and af. The saw dust was
burnt 10 cinders, but the rest ofihe cargo and the
vessel do not appear 10 have received any serious
injury. The origin Of the FIRE Is unknown, but is
believed 10 have been a spark from a cigar or
| pipe, smoked by some person on deck before the
matches were closed. The persons employed in
loading the vessel were strictly forbidden 10 smoke
below.-BoSON Adpsrfiser.
THE SAvrSes' INSTITUTIONS on MAssAcHUsErrs.
About eighty millions Of dollars are invested in
the Banks and Saving Institutions in Massachu-
setts-6fy-four millions being in banks, and
twentysix millions in savings institutions. Over
one-half Of this vast sum Of eighty millions is
probably held by the various Institutions in the
city Of Boston. Nearly two-thirds Of the entire
bankng.capital is in Boston. II will thus be seen
that the Savings Banks, OF whom business men
are almost unaware Of their existence, have nearly
one-half as much capital as Che regular banks
These savings institutions have but $500, 900 de-
pendent upon railroads, while in bank shares they
own SIX millions Of dollars, and have loaned upon
bank stock security nearly one million more.
Seventeen millions are invested in loans on real
estate, TO counties and towns, and on personal Sc
curity. One million Of dollars were earned last
year, and the average annual dividends are about
~ per cent, taking period Of five years together
AUSTRIA HAS NOW three thousand miles of tele.
graph in operation, Prussia has four thousand,
and Switzerland proporiionabIy greater number.
The Swiss have, in fact, more teiegraphc line
than any on the continent, allowing for the differ.
ence in territory. Bot ell Europe together cannot
equal the seventeen thousand miles Of wires In
the United States. The wires in these countries
generally run through leaden tubes under the
ground, and NOT on tall poles, as here. The sub
pete, so that the islands Of Corsica, Sardinia, and
Malta, and the African coast will soon be brought
within the line photographs correspondence.
CHINESE NOT COMPETENT TO GIVE TESTIMONY
AGAINST WmrKs,--The supreme court ofthe State
Of California recently made very important de-
cision upon the sdmissibiliiy Of Chinese testimony
in the courts OF that State white citizen OF
California was indicted for murder and convicted
on the testimony Of Chinese witnesses. He ap-
peaed on the ground that by the State law regu-
lating criminal proceedings, ono black or mulatlo
person, or Indian, shall be allowed 10 give evi-
dence 10 favor Of or against white man." The
question investigated by the court was whether,
under either Of these descriptions, and II any un-
der which natives Of China must be cIassed 10
make them incompetent TO give testimony in
criminal cases against whites. The opinion Of
the court, delivered by Chief Justice Murray, was
that Chinese are not competent TO give testimony
against whites, in the courts Of California, and
accordingly the verdict in the case was set aside
Tn stated that over seven thousand lives have
been lost by shpwreck during the last eighteen
months