The Donaldsonville chief. [volume] (Donaldsonville, La.) 1871-current, 1873-06-14

the contract-Oct. l, 1672,-and the
18th Of May there had been five fail
ures. By the terms Of the coatract
the Postmaster General iempowered
to cancel the agreement at any time
after the failure of the company to
perform their part. Since the loss OF
the Atlantic this company has been
in somewhat crippled condition and
really unable to carry the mails as
frequently as is required. Their
steamers IRE the fastest vessels afoat,
but they have not enough of them.
1t is proposed, however, to put in for
the present two Of their steamers now
in South America. Two new steamers
are being built for this line, the Ger
manic and Brittanic, and it is claimed
that they will be faster than any YES
sells ever before launched.
The Inman Line and the North
German Lloyd are competitors for
this service in case it should be taken
from the White Star. But Mr.. Cress-
we'll has decided to let the contract
! stand for the present. It expires by
limitation on the 3lst of next Deem
Der. All other contracts for the Eu-
ropean mail service expire at the same
time, and Mr.. Cresswell is anxious to
SO arrange the mails after that time
that there will be four mails sent out
from New York each week on four
different days Of the week.
The steamer Frolic, the vessel that
was despatched by the Secretary of
the Navy to convey that portion of
the crew of the Polaris who we're res
cued from the ice foe on the Goth of
April, arrived off the Navy Yard the
evening before last with her charge on
board. The survivors, nineteen in
number, were interviewed yesterday
by Secretary Robson, Commander
Reynolds, Professors Henry and Baird
of the Smithsonian Institute, and Cap
tain Brown of the United States Sig
nal Service, but no other persons are
permitted to communicate with them.
The investigation had not, up to yes
terday afternoon, progressed farther
than the direct and cross-examination
of Mr.. Frederick Myer, meteorological,
and John Herne, steward. The other
survivors are Captain II. C. Tyson,
assistant navigator; w. C. Kruger,
Fred. Jamka, William Nindemann,
Fred. Antinig, G. F. Linguist and
Peter johnson, seaman; William
jackson, cook Esquimaux, Joe, inter
prefer; Hannad and child, Esqui-
maux Hans Christian, wife and four
children.
Mr.. Robson is not at all satisfied
with the statements published in the
papers, and proposes to get at the
facts concerning the condition of the
expedition by means of thorough
investigation. Each one of the sur
viyors will be examined separately
their evidence taken down in writing
and when completed turned over to
Professors Henry and Baird, who will
make an early report upon the same.
1t was amusing to witness the eff
forts of the representatives of the
daily newspapers to obtain some infor-
nation from these survivors. Secre-
tary Robson had, previous to their
arrival, ordered that a strict guard be
kept over the vessel and all approach
es to her, in order that no one might
question these persons. Men belong
ing to the crew of the Frolic had to
come on shore, but no sooner were
they on terra firma than they were
beset with eager questions as to what
they had learned from the Polaris
folks. 1t was evident that they too
had their orders and that they knew
how to obey them, for to every ques
ton the answer was, ~ don't know
any thing about it,
The report of the National Com
missioner of Education will be dis
tributed during the present month.
1t is a volume of about one thousand
pages, and is a compendium of the
educational progress of each State
during the past year.