, 1859-02-21

CHICAGO, MON
| SINGULAR Acc1DEST-FEARRuL EPLosIoN or
| Gas 1T RUSH SraEEr BRlDdE-A EToNE SIDE
WALK BLOWN uP-THREG MEN lsJUREo.-A
singular accident occurred at the south end Of
Rush street bridge on Saturday evening about
dusk, Which came near being fatal in its results,
aud illustrated The immense force OF our bril-
liant evening companion gas when allowed too
large liberty with Itself. As the lamp
lighter was 1ightiDg the gas st The east side OF
the south abntment, he wAa startled at results
not contemplated, in an explosion, which in vio-
1euce and noise would have done credit to 4
boiler explosion.
The gas had escaped from a leak In the pipe,
and had filed the space, some thirty feet long,
in depth increasing from six to twelve fact, and
about sig feet in width between the outer and
inner wall Of the abutmeut, and covered BY
strong. stone dag9ing, sig inches in thickusss,
inc1osiug thus in masonry volume Of over one
Thousand feet of gns, which wns ignited at the
top Of the iron column Of the lamp post
The effects Of the explosion we're terrific, the
heavy aagstones being thrown into the air like
shingles, and in their deacent breaking them
asunder By the force of the fklL Fortunately,
but few persons Vi in that immediate vicinity,
though three chsnGed 10 be passing on that part
Of the sidewalk at the time. Nj. Mott, em-
ployed at the Car Repair Shop Of tho illinois
Central RaiIroad, YVES hurled from the sidewalk
nearly acrcss the street, and severely bruised.
l. bricklayer named James Reynolds, residing
On South Clark strees, WAS taken into the air
and fell into ishe chasm thus opened among the
rubbish and broken stones, falling distance of
over twenty feet. He recelred severe, but it
was not thought dangerous bruises, and WAS
taken home in a wagon. A third mho, IN en-
p'oyee in the fremont House, was also injured
slightly.
| THE STEAM FIRE ENGINES IN CoCNcIL,-The
presence of the Board of Lake Underwriters in
our city, furnished the hint followed up for other
mud varied rfasons, of Grand Review Of the
Steam Fire Engines OF our city Oh Saturday last,
at the Court House Square. 1t lid not amuunt to
4 complete trial and test Of the fsur machines
compared among themselge. and ne trust 1t may
lead to none. The exhibition WAS dne one and
| admirably we'll showed oa the capacity and power
/ Of these splendid and powerful m rchines. The
Lang Jaan took wafer from tile hydra1t at the
corner Of Madison aud Clark streets, and threw
her iuch aud d nalf strcau through six hundred
.;ect Of hose.
The Atlanttc was posted on Clark, corner OF
Washington, the Eattrpriss At the corner Of
Washington and L,zsile, and the Isl1nd Qneen
at the corner Of Randolph and Lssalle. and
these three latter through about three hundred
teet of hose each were joining with the Long
John in four magnificent streams, kept up for
houra, at sste that would have hoated of the
Court House itself in time hrd that structure q
Qat bottom.
Each mac hine had its favorites on the ground
All the mac hines did well, and won high enco.
mlums and fresh laurels for the principle they
represent. AZ for more special details Of exc
cution we care to present no figures. We shall
strongly depr.,cate anything that snsll lend or
look to any matches OF test trials between these
machipes Sut'h as they IRE The city hns them,
and is proud of them, and they are costly. too.
costly for plaYthings. Lat the only rivalry in
their manag ement bs in actua! service at fires,
and either will do well enough.
Let us have no parade day exercises which
will call for weeks tinkering to repair damag-
es. Keep the stesm fire engines for fires. They
can neither tight nor vote; they b:lopg to the
city. They need no couciliasing by parade |
days aud matches Of skill aud capacity. We
trust they may never be thus used.
TnH Co4ya 22yD AND CADEfs' BALL.-Tbe |
approaching glorious anniversary Of the birth |
Ia ~ w.
more spirited and patriotic celebration hero on |
Tuesday next, than our citizens have ever be-
lore witnessed. |
t Prominent among the general preparations |
for the observance Of the day. Ne notice the pro-
gsamme ofthe National Gaard Cadets, published |
in another column, for their dress parade, and |
full dress military sud civic bail in the evening,
al their hall, corner OF Market and Randolph |
streets' This Joupg company has always hon.
orably sustained itself by it's own exertions and |
resources since it was organized in 1856. mud hes
attained military discipline and mein which |
would do credit to the regular service.
In tue morning OF shat day. this corps will turn
out tcir full force in parlde, and in the evening |
will gise the hall as mentioned. They hare made |
Their arrangements grand and liberal eca1e, |
| aud design making it one OF the most brilliant {
entertainments Of the se1son. All the three upper
stories Of Linds spac'ous bul1liag will BE- thrown
open to tic Company guests, On tue third floor |
will he the supper room, and tbs ladies' aud gen
tlenen's dressing rooms; The fourth floor, which |
covers nearly half the area Of The building, will !
he appropriated to quadtille dances, and the afth
| loor-cr armory room to fancy dances. all the |
rooms will be tastcfulY decorated with many fne |
paintings and portraits belonging to the Cadets;
also with various flags, trapcry, aud the national |
colors, whilst cuunle,s lights will lend a magic
| illumination to the scene.
There will he ample accommodation for several |
hundred sets tic floor, and The whole exterior
Of The building will be covered with lights, and |
! large bust portrait Of Washington will be dis |
played from the East f,oat.
Ne particularly commend this magnificent ball |
to the ladies aud gentlemen OF our city as promis
ing to be one Of the most delightful events Of The
| day. !
CHICAGO DsrkC1TvEs At TIE CAP1rAL.-0n !
Wednesday night at Springfield bold and dar-
| ing robbery IVES committed there, nt d private |
boarding houae. The room in which Senator |
O'kean, F. D. Preston, Esq, aud other gentle |
men were sleeping ~as entered, and three valu. |
| able watches and about six hundred dollars In
money taken. Tho Iozs WAS soon discovered,
and Ci!y Marshal J4eob Rshm, and Whitney
Frank, d detective of this city, who happened "a
be there. being applied to, ferreted out the
&hief, aud recovered the watches and the mouey
in q few hours. These two officers were very
highly complimented for thei1 skill ani DE- teri.
! ty in this Atl4ir, The guilty party was young
nun named Thomas Jeve.t, who boarded at lhe
sams house. He 10 very respectably connected,
and occupies prominent responsible po ition.
Whether this had anr,hiug to do With bis escape
from the Springfield officers has not been fully
settled; bat at all events he got away in the
| pnhlic streets At midday. and ere this may b.
far on his wsy to Pixies feak.
Tak 1sA11ts OFERA.--The grand 1ta1i2n 0p-
| e.s Troupe Of Maurice Ssrakoseh open 4 bril-.
liant operate season in Chicago, this evening 1t
the Madison Street Theatre, known as McVict-
ers, whose best capacities will b. tesssd doubt
less, rarely if eTer before. By the faahion and
intelligence Of our city. Many who nersr fol-
lowed the drama thither will thers b. won By