The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1873-08-06
NEW YORK..


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NEW YORK, Aug. 5.-Commissoner Van
Mort thinks that the person who forced open
the safe in his department was familiar with
the Office hut in search Of something else than
it contained. The safe contained vouchers OF
bills paid by the department. but as these are
made out in triplicate no harm would have
been done the city had all been found taken
The only papers in the safe of importance to
Commissioner Van Mort were records of Robert
Jardines connection with the department, the
gentleman whom the Mayor and Comptroller
had been using recently in their fight with the
department of public works.
The Coal Question.
The coal merchants deny that combination
has been formed to raise the price of coal, but
admit that the companies have come to an I'M
Outstanding to gradually but steadily raise the
price of coal ten cents per month until Novem
Der or December
Larceny on Board Steamboat.
Charles Morrison and Henry Blackman were
arrested to-day on the arrival of the G. A.
Northam from New Haven. on the charge of
entering a state room and stealing $151 from
the pockets of one of the passengers. The
money was found ON their person. Justice
Dowlery ordered them sent back to New
Hampshire ~
Oil Explosion-Great Destruction of Oil
Works-Reported Loss of Life.
Two tank boats filled with oil and moored to
the dock of Rockafellow's oil works at Hunters
Point, Long Island, exploded this afternoon
and set fire to barrels and tanks of oil in the
yard. The fire spread almost instantaneously
and enveloped some three squares occupied by
oil works of various parties There was a very
light wind, and volumes of smoke assembled to
an immense hight and of density such as new
er before was seen here. covering Brooklyn
completely from the sunlight and extending
for miles over the bay and out to sea- Fire
men, who were promptly on hand. were I'M
able to approach the yard or docks owing to
the intense heat and suffocating smoke. Pratt's
oil works, the Long Island City oil works,
Lowensteen's varnish factory and other oil
works were consumed and several buildings in
the vicinity. Capt. Meyer of one of the tank
boats is reported killed by the explosion, and
large number of b0atmen jumped into the
water to escape roasting alive. The fire burned
from 8 o'clock in the afternoon, and is still
burning tonight. Various rumors of large loss
of life are current.
The location of the fire was in the LIST ward
of Long Island City, adjacent to the ship canal
and in the vicinity of the Long Island oil
works. Capt. Meyer of an empty oil tank boat
ignited a match for the purpose it is supposed
of lighting cigar and threw it carelessly upon
the deck. An explosion followed and the
flames communicated to the oil shed on the
wharf.
Various Matters -i.a
An unknown man was found on the corner
of Spring and Prince streets with cut on the
left cheek from which the blood was flowing
profusely. He was removed to the station
house, but died before reaching it. Klaus
Meyer, a bartender, who was accused of strk-
ing the stranger, was arrested.
The steamer Easily. drawing twenty-one feet
of water, struck snnken rock at the foot of
Nineteenth street, East River, and stove a hole
in her bow. She was brought into the dock
with great difficulty. The rcck was unknown
to mariners.
The Wall street reports of Commodore Van
derbilt being seriously ill were not confirmed up
to a late hour in the night. i'i.N
Sixteen peasons are still in the Tombs charg-
ed with homicide.
Numerous families were reduced to penury
by the recent Long Island fires, and one family
was forced to go to the poor house.
The President of the Atlantic and Pacific
Railroad stated yesterday that a junction with.
the Texas and Pacific road was not improbable
There were three cases of sunstroke yester-
day. ta
Philip Lindler and John Wiegnall were fatal
ly injured by falling from scatfold yesterday
Yesterday, Mrs. Murphy an indignant elder
ly woman. chased her lawyer named Oyerton,
from his Broadway office, through the City
Hall Park to the Court House, where she over
hauled and had him arrested ON the charge OF
attempting to swindle her.
A. Z Fonda, formerly Auditor of the Hud-
son River Railroad and the Oldest Free Mason
in New Jersey, died at Patterson, Sunday, aged
76 years.
A meeting of cigar manufacturers Yesterday
adopted protest, addressed to the Commits
sioner of Internal Revenue, against the use OF
the patent cigar box.
Gov. Dix has committed the sentence of Da-
vid Murphy convicted of the murder of David
Barry, and sentenced to be hanged Friday next
to imprisonment for life.
A grand ball will be given at Long Branch
on Saturday evening, for the benefit of the
Portland, Oregon, sufferers. Extra boats will
be run for the occasion from New York. s-
The Court of Oyer and Terminer held spec
ial session to-day to receive the bill of excep-
tions from the counsel for Walworth, but the
bill not being furnished no action was taken
The bill comprises every exception made during
the late trial. fl9l'.tar
The Board of Health have ordered the seizure
and destruction of all unripe fruit and vegeta-
bles found in the city. ,-e