The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1870-12-12
How an UnenterpriSing Correspondent
Missed an Item.
HE DECLINES TO FIGHT A DUEL
Senator Drake Lying in Wait for
Carl SchurZ.

1ooP0 "a washington anu Ge0rget0Wn are agl-
tating the question Of mixed schools. At present
tney receive their pro rata OF the school
fund, have their own schools. superintendents
and teachers, as wen as q separate Board Of
Trustees. consisting Of two colored men and one
white man, but affairs are o good deal mixed in
themselves and the more intelligent OF the colored
cizens insist upon the Board OF Trustees being In
creased to nine. bill to that effect has already
been introduced into Congress. which has exclusive
control over the subject In order to secure the CO.
operation OF the champion OF the enfranchised, a
committee, consisting Of the colored members OF
the Board Of Common Council OF this CITY, called on
Senator sumner to-day for the purpose OF confer
ring with him on the subject. They were courte-
ousy received by the Senator, the object OF the
visit was explained, and Mr.. sumner informed the
delegation that he expected very to report the
bill which was presented by him during the last
session. general School BILL or. In other words
mixed schools-and at the same time expressed his
doubts as to his being able to get 1t passed, being
compelled to admit there were republic ans who
were perfectly willing to vote for any measure con-
ferrlng equality before the law ON men, but who
were not willing to accord the same justice 10
their ofrspnng. He also referred to the trOu-
BILE he experienced In getting the word ''white''
struck out In the charters OF passenger
rail cars, and cited 1t as what he should
expect when he presented his School bill. In reply
TO the question that should he fail to secure the pas
sage or his Dll would he lend his influence to have
the bill which had been presented by Senator Pat
terson passed he said tnat in the Of running
against a post, he would cheerfully confer with
Senator Patterson and render whatever
assistance lay in his power to have
the bill passed to reorganze the lored
schools, but deEred TO be understood as
being determined n possible to have one general
school BILL he considered IL the surcst and safest
way OF breaking down the prejudice now existing.
After some general conversation In relation TO the
NATTER the committee retired expressing them
selves highly pleased with their reception and the
courtesy shown them by the Senator from Massa-
chussets.
A Sansuinary Counsellor Threatening a
Peaceful Correspondent.
On Thursday last q challenge was sent by Clinton
Rice, the Counsellor OF the haytien Legation, TO
Dom Piatt, a correspondent OF Western paper.
The cause Of Mr.. Rices dlspleasure was the publ
cation of letter by Plat, alleging that the CORE
spondent had basely msrepresented MIN in relation
to the McGarrahan claim, the full particulars
OF which were published In the HERALD OF
the 18th OF November last. The issue was ques-
ton OF veracity, and Rice concluded thai the only
way to decide 1t was to challenge the offending
party The time set FOR the affair OF honor was yes
terday morning at SIX O'Clock, and the place In the
neighDorhood OF the historic dueng grounds Of
B)adensburg, but Piatt could not be induced
to risk his life or even his reputation
by accepting the challenge, and so the duel
could not take place. The matter, however, was
Kept profound secret on the part or Piatt, Rice
disclosing his intentions and thereby putting the
police on their guard. plan was laid for the ar
rest OF the parties had they attempted to leave the
District. but the services Of tine guardians OF the
peace were not required. The Superintendent OF
Police, however, yesterday morning sent for
Rice, and quietly informed him that he must
consider himself under arrest the charge OF hav-
ing sent challenge. In vain Clinton protested
that he had done no sucn thing. The Major was
obdurate and would hear no denial. Finally, after
the chivalrous gentleman had been seated in the
Office about an hour, the Major informed him that
he would release him upon his parole not to leave
the District to participate in hostile meeting Thus
ends the unpleasantness between the counsellor and
correspondent, at least for the present.
Drake and Schurz.
Senator Drake, OF Missouri, having accepted the
position OF Chief Justice OF the Court OF Claims it IS
stated as reason for his not promptly resgning
HIS seat In the Senate that ne desires reply to the
remarks OF Senator Schurz, who expects to
get the door this week and expatlate on
hts opinions relative to the integrity OF the repubi-
can party in its national aspect and at the same
time allude to the course which was pursued in his
own State at the last election. 1t Is expected when
he gets the floor he will take occasion to explain his
views on the subject OF revenue reform.
The Council of the Union League.
the session OF the National Grand Council
of the Union League OF America, TO
be held In Philadelphia on Wednesday next,
will draw together prominent members OF the
republican party from all sections OF the Union
Many Of these are In Washington and vicinity, hav-
ing arrived from the South and West during the past
few days. Exciting times are anticipated In the
contested seats from Arkansas and Missouri
New Marine Drag.
Captain j. G. Baker, OF the revenue marine
steamer Moccasin, has forwarded to the Treasury
Department report OF the recent test made of
marine drag invented by Captain John Faunce, OF
the same service. The experiment was made on the
morning OF the Sth inst in Narragansert Bay, or
Newport, Rhode Island He says:--'Whcn l left
port the wind was strong eastsoutheast. BY the
time arrived where wanted to test 1t the wind
died out some, but blowing about good whole sail
breeze, but there was heavy swell rolling in from
the southeast. We were In eighteen fathoms Of
water. Here we let the drag 90 and tried 1t with
thirty, forty and fifty fathoms OF hawser The wind
however, was not strong enough to test 1t thor
oughly. The tide was strong. setting from about
north-northeast. or course, the wind not
being very strong the tide would have
some influence on the vessel. But under these cir
cumstances / found she would lay about seven or
eight points from the wind and ride the sea like
gull. Nothing could be more satisfactory.
am convinced that in any gale Of wind she
would lay head to it and ride it out. shall give it
another trial as as the wind IS strong enough.
This vessel Is very hard to keep head to the wind.
Her mast and she has but one) is well forward with
a good sized square sail yard. Her pilot house Is
high, and this makes her pay OF when lying a,
anchor about seven points each way from the wind.
AS regards the principle OF the dra, 1t Is all you
could expecf. A. drag Weighing not more than
four hundred pounds this one weighs seven hun
dred pounds) would answer every purpose for a
vessel OF the size OF the Moccasin. Further tests
severe weather will no doubt be quite as SATISFACTORY