The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1873-02-18

Inc olher amendments made in the comm;.too
were cSncarred IN, and the bill was passed i''ee
MT Sprague called up the joint r,soIniio
thorizing the President to have a meda1 aa-
to be given on behalf of Congress 70 oo ,ni,'ee
citizens of Rhode Island who saved the iva IN
twenty persons from the wreck of the Metis i,
Long Island Sound last summer. 1t was pass
ed.
The following bills were passed. To authroize
pre-emptors or settlers upon the homestead to
ALLEVIATE their pre-emption or homesteads for
certain public purposes; to amend the act to
revise, consolidate and amend the copy right
law
Mr.. Morton gave notice he would call up the
report of the Committee on Privileges and Elec-
tions declaring the election of Caldwell void,
on Saturday next Adjourned.
HOUSE.
The bill to amend the act of the Sth OF June,
1872, authorizing the Secretary of war to re-
lease twenty-five acres of land at PlattSburg,
New York. to the New York Canada Railroad,
was passed.
A resolution directing the Secretary OF the
treasury to report whether some general sys-
TEN OF night signals should not be established
ior i,u use IN the merchant marines, was adopted
Inc y, nlll relmbursing the College of William
anu wary or Virginia S65, 900 for the distruc-
tion Oh their property during the war, was pass
Unanimous consent was given Mr.. Banks
that he might offer as an amenement to the
sundry CIVIL appropriation bill when up for con-
sderation, an amendment prhibiting the print
ing of books by the government for free distri
button.
Mr.. Packard of Ind, moved to suspend the
rules and pass bill to encouragement promote
Geographic communication between America
and Asia Agreed to- The bill was passed,
yeas 1876 nays 80. The bill gives the American
and East India Telegraph Co, the right to con-
struct and maintain lines of telegraph or sub
marine cable on the Pacific coast of the United
States to connect the American and Asiatic
coasts, provided that the company shall begin
to lay the cable within two years, and it pro-
vides that one or more government steamers
may be detailed 10 aid in the work
Mr. Maynard of Tenn, moved to suspend the
rulee and adopt the evening sessions of Thurs
day and Friday next to bills to refund taxes
collected on raw cotton. Negatved, yeas 50,
nay 49, No two-thirds in the affirmative
Mr. Pierce moved to suspend the rules and
bring up for consideration the Senate bill for
further endorsement and support of the agr-
cultural college bill. Agreed to, yeaf 13S ma VS.
IS. cs
Mr.. Pierce then moved substitute for the
bill with the provision that for every $500 of
annual Income accruing to any college there
shall be one free scholarship and tat when
the annual income shall reach $4,000 year
all buttons in that college shall be free. The
substitute was agreed to and the bill passed
Yeas 121, nays Co., Adjourned.
Ice Freshcf-Loss of Fife and Property.
PITTsBURG, Feb. 1.-THE recent heavy rains
have caused a rapid rise in the Monongahela
River last night. At two o'clock this morning
the current was so strong that the coal fleet,
consisting of thirty boats and barges. were
broken from their fastenings at Smithfield
bridge and moved off in the current An alarm
was instantly given by the blowing of whistles
and other signals on the river, and every effort
! made to save the lives of the unfortunate men
on board the flats. Some were saved but it is
| reported several were lost One man was seen
! to be carried under the steamer Hercules and
another under the Andes Both were floating
past on barges and cndeavore to jump on
| the wheels OF the steamers named, but fell into
the3 water and were drowned. The tow boat
| Wilson lying opposite Market street. was struck
| by the floating bargeS and turned upon one
| side. the Oil Valley was also cut down. 1t is
| impossible at present to ascertain the damage
| to property on the river and the number OF
lives lost. The river is still rising rapidly and
at 10. 30 o'clock this morning had risen seven.
| teen feet, but no fur Their damage is apprehend
d.
Ldter.-The flood which so unexpectedly COM
menced in MoGccagahela last night continues
without abatement, and is rather increasing in
violence. 1t is impossible to estimate the dam
age but it is considered the heaviest -Siyer dis
aster ever experienced here. Grave rumors arc
current concerning the damage up the river.
Loss OF life is not so great as at first supposed.
hulnOrS prevailed tnat Twelve or nfUeen men
had gone down at the time of the breaking
away of the coal feet, but only two are known
to have persisted. The tow boat H. f. Wilson
sunk this morning. She was valued at SIS, 900:
insured $4,000. The Oil Valley, valued at $15,-
900 and insured $4,000, was also lost. The
loss of GOAL boats and barges is very heavy. At
Elizabeth this morning number of coal boats,
barges and lumber RATS were swept away. Loss
$50 900 OF the barges which broke away from
the Suspension bridge this morning four sunk,
three landed at Shousetown, and four were
landed by steamer. 1t is reported that seve-
raj others were secured at points below. At
$50 p. m. the river was still rising rapidly.
Marks indicate the flow to be 19a feet. 1t is
thought the flood will eliminate by midnight.