Gallipolis journal. [volume] (Gallipolis, Ohio) 1837-1919, 1866-06-21
From Cincinnati.
crscrsxATr, June II, 90

.
The extremely hot weather that
has been trying our patience and en-
durance for the last week or two, has
given place to-day to cold rains, and
with this change of weather, we
again take refuge in thick clothing.
We came very near loosing another
of the beautiful ornaments OF our
city last Friday afternoon. The Ma
sonic temple, q magnificent building
standing on Third and Walnut streets,
occupied by the various lodges of
this venerable order, and on the first
and second floors b.. banks and law
yers' offices, was discovered to be on
fire. 1t has recently been most elab-
orstely refitted in the main rooms
with delicate frescoing, and ornamen-
tai work; all of which was ruined by
the immense foods of water poured
upon the building to extinguish the
fire. Fortunately this was done be-
fore the flames had made much head
way; so that externally the building
bears no mark of the fiery element
1t is remarkable, however, what q
number of fires have occurred of late
right in the centre of business
This afternoon another building on
the corner of Fourth and Main, has
just undergone q thorough drench-
ing, owing to the discovery of fire
in the attic.
Our steam engines pour such tor
rents of water on burning building,
that what the fire spares water de-
stroys or ruins.
The Numerous fires in the city and
on the rivers will undoubtedly give
quite a start to the Insurance CON-
panies, as almost every property
holder begins to feel as if his may
be the next to go. The efficiency of
our fire department is source Of
continual comfort to our citizens, and
q never-failing theme for discourse.
A week or SO ago few patriotically
benevolent individuals, went around
and obtained subscriptions sufficient
to pay for a policy of Insurance in
the Accident Insurance Company of
/ Columbus, for each member Of the
Department in the city, so that the
numerous accidents which threaten,
and sometimes overwhelm these men,
are not without their alleviating &C
compartments of security from want
and poverty.
The Opera House movement still
is under way, although each week
seems to give it some new element.
Pike has yielded the field to Handy,
who, with the aid of the citizens, is
going to erect IN Opera House and
Art Gallery, with artists studios.
Pike, it is thought, and said, will
commence Immediately the erection
of his long talked of Opera House
in New York. A short time ago it
was announced all through town that
Handy had failed quite heavily; and
although the mere rumor was attend
ed by circumstances that seemed
somewhat to confirm it, yet his pres
ent scheme seems to set at rest all
doubts of his solvency ard pecunia'
nv resources. For while every
body was sympathizing with him rs
an unfortunate business man; where
as, now we find him farther than ever
advanced on the highway of wealth
and enterprise.
You will see by the papers that one
of our banks-the Sd National-has
has been taken in and done for, by
the same old dodge of the respecta-
BILE man in accidental need of loan,
who deposites what appears exter
nally to be sufficient security. In
this case, the latter was trunk said
to contain $4,000 in gold, which,
on opening, proved to be ordinary
buck shot. How often do these city
people talk quite condescendingly OF
the amazing stupidity of their coun-
trv visitors. who yield to the blan.
dishments of the confidence men,
and yet every few weeks we read OF
instances where the very sharpest
business men, bank cashiers, etc, fall
victims to their over. weening conf
dence in smooth tongued, reverend
appearing swindlers.
Much excitement and disgust has
been created here of late by the rev.
elatlons our Board of Health has
been making. of the peculiar nature
and deleterious influence of score
or so of soap boiling establishments,
that carry on their business far with
in the city limits. The descriptions
they give remind one of the horrible
orgies of Macbeth's witches, or OF
King James counterblast to tobacco,
wherein he applied such energetic
language to the ''vile, horrible odors
of the accursed weed" We have
hopes shat ere long the nuisance will
be happily abated. Think Of it! In
many instances the family of the
soap boiler lives in the same build
ing with his apparatus, and pass
their days and nights in the midst OF
the vile odors and effiuvia continual
ly arising from decayed animal mat
ter-a home in a charnel house-a
residence in q dissecting room,
To morrow we have special cleo
ton, TO decide whether our citizens
will ratify an act passed by our late
Legislature, authorizing the erection
of new Hospital in our midst. The
present Commercial Hospital is de-
scribed by all who have any thing
to do with it, as miserably insufficient
for the wants of great city like
Cincinnati. Should the cholera come
this year, it will find US but poorly
prepared in this all important item of
Hospital accommodations. 1t is irm-
ly believed, however, that the vote
of tomorrow will be IN the affirma-
tive, and that we shall soon thereaf-
ter be relieved for the present OF the