The New York herald., 1862-03-05
Excitement at the Battery.
HUMAN FIGURE HANGING FROM TIE YARDARM OF
THE FRENCH STEAMER CATINAT.


THE FRENCH STEAMER CATINAT.
quite an excitement was created yesterday in the
io"er part OF the city, especially In the vicinity OF
castle Garden, caused by report which became very
general in the latter part Of the day that was
hanging from the main yardarm Of the French steamer
Catina, now lying off the Battery. The report be-
camo generally KNOWN drew hundreds Of people, young
and DID, to the Battery satisfy themselves such
the case All sorts and sizes Of Telescopes spygasses
ana opera glasses were brought into requsition, and
groups OF tens and twenes could be gathered around
thoso VINO were so fortunate TO possess these optical
Instruments to hear what their opinions regard
to the distant figure, many supposed that had
really been hanged board the vessel. person
would say, eyes, 1t is real man; can see his face"
whiie another would express his Indignation at such
cruelty beng imposed on poor sailors for trivial
offence One man gave it his opinion that tho culprit
must nave committed murder, or they would not hang
him so publicly While these opinions concctures
were going the rounds 70 The cause OF the hanging and
Us brutality son OF Erin stepped up 20 our reporter,
aud exclaimed, very indignantly at is burning shame
they don't take the poor fellow down. he had
time enough TO bc well dead sunrise Oh these
Frirch awful bastosv This created roars of laugh
ter The excitement grew during the day until il at
fever heat The attention the crowd was at time
drawn To n. company OF soldiers who marching
down the Battery in the direction OF the multitude,
the beach, The military than every
person scemed to have made up his mind that the troops
wero ordered down to investigate natter but upon
inquiry 1t found that they q company Of the
now stationed nj lalk Bar
racks, who marched down by their Captain
TO see what was supposed 10 be rather inhuman sight
Occasionally the Of tho Catinat could be pass
irg the portfolios of the vessel formed procession
all dressed in whte and every time thoy passed tho
gas on shore would be turned towards them and the
supposed sailor who was dangling in the arthe idea
being that they about to take him down.
Al the time reporter LETT the figure still hang
fng, and crowds OF people continued to come and
pressing their strange and sometimes ridiculous opinions
as to what must have been tho OF 80 brutal a
punishment one gentleman said he had heard the cuI
prt had shot Of tho officers Monday night, for
which crime he sentenced to be strung up yesterday
mornia ag from the yardarm
II Is scarcely necessary to inform cur readers
that in all Catholic countries this custom OF
hanging in ofigy tho Tuesday mme-
diateiy preceding Ash day Is very common.
IN places the figure meant represent Judas tho
apostate who, after having betrayed his Divine Master
went out in and hanged himself On the present
occasion the Of the Catinat only under due
permission, enjoying tho last day before Lent; and
and pork il is wonder that they making the best
Of their time Mdrd gras, fat Tuesday (taken in op-
position to the joirS naes meagre days OF Lent) Is
generally observed in this in French countries The
hanging of tguro in efIgy, like that Of yesterday,
always accompanies the celebration and sometimes the
stuffed cloth Is not cut down till tho Saturday before
Easter Sunday.
first Tuesday after Quinquagcssima Sunday. When Eng
land Roman Catholic country this day well OBJ
served by the people being compelled to their
sins their parish priests after which they dned SPAR
ngy frers. Tho men Of the Catina, however, were
allowed full scope to cat drink, masks, dance
make themselves mcrry in every way, and this is the
cause OF the excitement on the Battery yesterday.