The evening Argus. [volume] (Rock Island, Ill.) 1861-1871, 1862-01-02

winds, currents, storms &C.
The institution was formerly under the con-
troll of Lieut. NJ. F. Maury, the recipient Of
various public honors, one Of the govern
ment's special pets, now a traitor donbly dyed
with treason and ingratitude.
The Observatory at present is in charge OF
Superintendent ellis.
Strollng by the White House yesterday,
observed number Of soldiers and civilians
crowding into its handsome entrance. Led
by an idle curiosity went with the multitude
not to do evil---but to witness folly, as 1t
afterwards proved. On entering found the
president. was about giving reception to
some captains company Il did not learn whQ)
and that his excellency was momentariy ex-
pected to make his debut. The company was
stationed in the east room, in no particular
order some standing, some lounging, and
some sitting on the floor. They were a sorry
looking set Of fellows too, in their big blue
over coats, dirty and unbrushed, some with
regulation hats, some with fatigue caps some
in unblacked boots, some in muddy leggins
their whole appearance was mostly ont of
place, and anything but soldierly in dress or
bearing.
| After few moments, the president enter !
ed was introduced to the officers, and shook |
| the dirty fist of half dozen score of men,
after which he made his bow and exit. The
whole affair was awkward and NAL appropos,
though believe they occur two or three times
q week TIL. president has no time for such
fooleries-it is more than occupied by mat
tiers of more importance--he cannot give
reception to one company without doing in
Justice t. others not thus favored. Should he
attempt reception Of all the companie. and
regiments arriving in the city, he could at
tend to nothing else If the men had been
distinguished in any respect for discipline,
for drill, for meritorlous service, if they had
borne any honorable scars, were heroes of
some desperate conflict, it would have been
highly proper to bestow some mark Of dis
tinction upon them As it was half Of them
should have been putunder guard for neglect
Of dress As passed out u French officer
remarked to me, that might be Democratic,
mais certGinmem ne rest pas mtlitare but
certainly it was not military A very just
comment on the farce we had just witnessed
A terrible fire occurred last night in the
First ward at the government stables, form.
ing part of the "corrnp which covers a large
80, ,,,t ~ a., r
city The corral consisted of ten sheds, three
or four of which were destroyed by the
flames When the fire commenced there was
r said to be one thousand or fifteen hundred
horses in these structures OF these it is es-
timated that one or two hundred persisted,
, though think the number was not 50 largo
i The remainder escaped through the active in.
U terpositon Of the spectators, for when it was
II secu that the flames threatened all the sheds.
IA an order was given to cut the halters and let
u the horses loose, Accordingly men and boys,
soldiers and civilians rushed into the stalls,
y knives in hand, and soon the animals were
charging through the streets at n wild run,
endangering the lives of all who were 30 un
fortunate az to fall into their way. Owing
ly to the darkness of the night. the suddennes,
h. Of the movement, the uncertain glare Of the
~ flames many barely escaped being run down
Some Of the horses ran into gullies Or holes
es and were either killed or broke their limbs
Y, 80 az to render them useless At one spot q
or dozen or more were collected burnt to great
he er or less extent The suaerings of the poor
le creatures were terrible to kicking,
t. jumping, and shaking their heads, az if en-
4 during the intensest torture. One poor ami
Re nal thus horribly injured, whined 50 piteous
TT y that gentleman standing by drew his re
volver, and put an end to his misery. 9th
70 crs were shut under similar circumstances b,
ed the soldiers, OF whom number of compnn
gs les were on the spot, rendering efficient ser
it vice in restraining the fire, and preserving
- the large amount of property scattered abou
in | passed over the burnt district as soon n
CHI the burnt cinders permitted The sight wa
is too horrible to allow description. In many
he cases found the bodies of the unfortunat
Il creatures strewed along the passageway be
he tween the sheds, showing that those who al
of tempted to release them had succeeded in get
n. ting them thus far, when terrified by tn
IN wall Of fire on either side, seized with tina
* peculiar Stupor that it is impossible to over
nd come, they were left to their sad fate. Tn
ng whole scene was of the widest character
ole the darkness OF the night the glare of tn
eat flames from an acre Of burning structures
at the yells Of the poor brutes confined in tn
nd blazing sheds the wild stampede, the ma
er, rush Of those which had escaped all cor
me spired to render it the most feastully terrih
&c. scene had ever witnessed
u Much dissatisfaction is beginning to be fe
ne and expressed by congressman at the nor
Vi advance of our army Of the Potomac
Vi heard one prominent member remark thu
or Mcclellan must be superseded, il he di
ID not attempt an advance this winter Con
Tic plant at the inactivity Of our troops is get
~ eral among the politicians. We might pr
, pare ourselves for another Bull Run disaste
,"' il Mcclellan had the weakness to listen to tn
advice or give way to the lncessant urging
'"' of these wlseacres il military matters. b.
' he is made Of different stuff, and sooner tina
y, attempt movement OF manoeuvre that h
Judgment dIsapproycd, he would hand in hi
,'' resignation. Patience, forbearance, conf
I -. 4