Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1855-09-07
WAsRIE5ToN EEws AID GOssIP.

~ AS6laJIjE EkWS AND GUSSlP.
The Portsmouth and Norfolk Sufferers
The details of these feyer-infected localities,
instead Of aEording hope that the plague has
nearly expended lis power, acquaints US Of
increased distress and mortality, arousing the
feelings, already excited, to a more expanded
sympathy In view of these awful, appalling
statements, it becomes the duty of our citizens
to arouse themselves to further effort for the
relief of their truly afflicted neighbors.
Two years ago, when the yellow fever pre-
vailed to such fearful extent in New Orleans,
at the City Hall, and measures adopted for the
relief of the sufferers. A similar movement
say tomorrow evening-has been suggested
to us; and in this recommendation We trust
there will be a general concurrence.
CaEmensd.-The Common Council OF New
York, majority of whom are wise and pa
triot;e Know Nothings Of various degrees, have,
for many months past, had a special commit
tee charged with the GstOundingly important
duty of solving the riddle of the birthplace OF
George Washington Matsell, the welI-known
chief Of the New York CT y police, who is uni
yersally admitted to be a man in ten thousand
FOR the responsible and important position he
fills, his subOrdinates numbering quite nine
hundred. Many hundred dollars were ex-
pended by this committee in the silly work to
which we refer above, without arriving at a
satisfactory cOnelusiOG-Cbief Matsell averrinr
that he had go recollection Of hearing bis pa
rents (who died when he was ycung) say
whether he was born on this or the other side
of the herring-To an eyed witness, friend
Of the family, declaring that she knew of his
birth in New York city, while another old
crone testified that she Rad heard his father
say he was born in England!
Being in q quandary, the committee took
the liberty of sending to England their clerk,
a native-born fool, who we remember we'll as
the laughing stoek of the politicians around
Tammany Hall, rs a confirmed Quincy
in the fall Of 1913; one Stephen II. Branch.
Stephen in his report tells with great gusto
the efect.of his handsome, black Broadway
whiskers, upon the unsophisticated people OF
rural England. His trip cost the city govern
ment more thousands, and resulted in compli-
eating the original quandary; inSomuch as he
found proof Of the birth Of one Gorge MatseII.
In ISL, in Brandon, England. the son of the
parents Of Chief George, but not of the advent
into the world of George Washington Ma.seIl,
which isthe patrOrimic OF the redoubtabIe chief
hisTemaTkabie investigation has cost tho tax
payers Of New York city some $4,000. Cui
t0RO? IL is not alleged that if born abroad
ne may not legally hold his present position,
Ior that be does rot give universal satisfac.
ton in tie discharge of his duties, except to
those classes on whom he Is prone to pounce
with tbs claws Of the law. Verify, if Know
Nothing legislative and administrative wis
dom was ever beautifully illustrated il is in the
rise, progress, and fnality, Of this bootless and
80 chiidish'y silly commission, which, from
first to last, has been Of no more public i'm
Portanee, than would be q similar one to ascer.
tain WHO KILLED Cock ROBIN?
A SuggsstioG.-In view Of the fact that il
Is utterly impossible 10 place Old Point Com.
fort at the disposal Of the people Of NorfoIs
and Portsmouth, it seems 70 US that the Gov
erEmcnt may greatly alleviate their sufferigg
by placing at their service thousand tents
Gf they have them at hand, } to be pitched b,
United States troops from Old Point On the at
lantic shore, back of Norfolk A large mum
Der Of the fugitiveS, from the two cities. ar.
now sheltered in barns, cut-houses, and oil,
Buildings IN that immediate vicinity, anC
have thus escaped the fever. 4 thor and tent
will comfortably shelter from three to fy,
thousand souls, and in a position, too, raucl
mere con, cnicnt for the distressed communi
ties than that cfOld Point Comfort. That III,
change Of situation, from Norfolk and Ports
mouth to the perfectly ncalthy one near by
OF the Atlantic shore-will saw, those who ma,
90 there, is manifest in the fact t.. at CT tb
thousands who have gore there from the inrSst
ed localities, but one or two have died.
The HuRoio Story Aga;n.-Mr Kenneth
Rlyner ne; long since endeavored to justif,
himself for his connection with the " Pope
Nuneio" roOrbaek, in long letter addressed
10 his witness, the Hon. ID. NJ. Barringer
wherein lac insisted on his original charge G
bargain between the President and Catholi
church in this country in which Judge Camp
bell was TO be made the Postmaster General
and earnestly appealed to MIR b. to say tina
what he originally told him went to confirm
that idea. But Mr.. Barringer will do no suel
thing; and in a letter from Sharon Springs
N. T., August %, 1855, he completely OK
Plodes Mr.. Rayner, his story and all the owe