The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1866-07-12
NEW YORK LETTER.
(FRoh OUR OWN CORRESPONDENT. ]

49,
NEW York, July THE accounts that have
reached us Of the terrible conflsgration which, on
the 4th inst, destroyed q large portion Of the
city Of Portland, Maine, have stirred up the gym
pathes OF the masses here, especially Of tho
wealthy, who are nobly responding to the call OF
charity and humanity. Mayor HoEFMAN has is
sued proclamation appealing for succor for the
unfortunate sufferers, and public meeting will
be held to-day at the Astor House in behalf of the
same good cause. Brooklyn, too, has moved
promptly in the matter, and similar meetings will
be held in that city. The terrible calamity which
has rendered two thouBand families houseless and
destitute, was caused by the thoughtlessness Of
little boy, who threw fire-oracker amidst some
shavings, where it exploded, kindling spark
that soon spread into an immense sea OF living
flame, that wrapt almost an entire oity in it's all
deyouring and all.oonsumipg fiery embrace Your
readers who have witnessed similar scene in
Charleston or in Columbia, osn the better appre-
ciate the nature OF the calamity and sympathize
with the poor sufferers. A subscription list had
hardly been opened ct o banking house In this
city, before three thousand five hundred dollars
were promptly subscribed. The work Of charity
goes brayely on.
Yesterday morning, between the hours Of nine
and ten o'clock, q tragedy was enacted in the
broad light Of day in front OF q house on Second
Avenue, and in the presence of large number Of
persons who were passing by at the time. A
young and lovely woman, Of graceful carriage
and respectable appearance, remarkable too for
her personal beauty, was seen to ring the bell OF
the house No. AT, to converse; and, apparently,
to demonstrate with a person who opened the
door, and yet refused to admit her; then, as the
door was slammed in her face to turn from the
house with a look Of frenzied despair. The lovely
woman--loYely in the superabundant wealth of
her golden hair, in the sad and pensive expression
of her deep Blue eyes-as she turned from the
door drew small pistol, placed it to her breast,
and fired. A moment after she lay on tho pave
ment still and dead, her blue eyes looking upward
to tho sky. The poor girl belonged to one of the
wealthiest and most aristocratic families of Bos-
ton. 1t was the old story-a young and pure
creature deceived by q false marriage by base
and treaoherous villain, and subsequently aban-
doned. The Villains name In this case is DR..
August Won FRENCH, German physician of stand
ing here. It was at his house the poor victim
had called, and endesvored in vain to gain admit
tance 30 long as suoh mon are allowed to per-
petrae such villainies and yet hold up their heads
in society 40 long will society be, as it were,
pest house Of Generalization and crime.
Wo are w bpeu OI not W6htQ-
er here. Yesterday the mercury ran up to nine
ty-hve degrees In the shade; it must be come.
where in that neighborhood to-day, but it is 80
meltingly hot that dare not go out for the pur.
pose Of consulting thermometer, lest should
be entirely baked or stewed ere find one I
have no hesitation in asserting boldly that last
night was beyond all doubt the hottest night
have ever experienced in my life. My bed was,
during the entire night, about the temperature of
hot brick, while the perspiration poured 40 pro.
fusely from my heated tenement Of clay, that
dreamt that had died, and going to the naughty
place, had been metempsyohosed into the body Of
OTHELIo, whose modest request to be bathed in
deep down CULTS of liquid fire had been granted.
awoke to and myself like 0rHELLo again in the
melting mood, lying on the hot brick bed some-
thing hotter than before. It was really o hot
night, tho air did NOT bite shrewdly, and It was
very hot.
The New York Museum will soon be numbered
among our public institutions. The site Of the
Museum building is on Broadway near to the cor
ner Of Thirtieth street. The work Is going on
with great rapidty, and will be completed in due
time.
The Board of Councilmen, in spite Of the veto OF
Mayor HoyyMAN, have adopted the resolution
giving authority to the Street Comm issioner TO
make contract for lighting the streets Of New