The Hawaiian gazette. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1865-1918, 1873-11-12
Correspondence of the Gazette.I

PlTTsFIELDi MASS, Sept. 70, 1873.
The past month has been one of varied inter-
est as we have had fires, storms, and politics TO
keep us aroused, not to mention railway and
steamboat disasters, numerous defalcations and
failures.
Belfast, Maine, and Gloucester, Mass, have
both been visited by disastrous fires and the loss
in the former place exceeds that of either Chica-
go or Boston relatively. On the Oath of August,
just after the bells had finished ringing for after
noon worship, the fire commenced and ragged un-
til one-eghth of the city's area and onefourth Of
the business portion of the city we're consumed,
and the loss is equal to one-tenth of the entire
valuation. Some of the finest residences and
shipyards we're burned, one hundred and fifty
buildings consumed, and one hundred and
thirty families were rendered homeless. A
popularity of the fire was the speed of its
march, 1t would leap over four or FIVE buildings
and inhame one far to leeward. Women and
children sat beside the ruins of their houses
weeping, or wandered about the city seeking
shelter. The loss is estimated TO be S5O0.000,
on which there is an insurance Of Sl3l.200 The
work Of rebuilding will commence at once. This
is the second great fire that has visited Belfast
within eight years. In the autumn Of 1865 one
hundred and twenty-five buildings were burned
with loss of S5OOOOO.
Gloucester, Mass, has also had FIRE, and has
lost $4,000; but this does not fall so heavily on
her as
THE LOSS OF THE MACKEREL FISHING FLEET.
Not only Gloucester. but the whole of those
towns which have vessels engaged in fishing off
Nova Scotia and New Foundland have received
a heavy blow. On the coasts of New Brunswick,
Nova Scotia and Cape Breton one hundred and
twenty-six vessels we're lost, and from a feet of
over three hundred vessels only twenty remained.
Several of the fishermen have lost in fish and
gear over thousand dollars EACH Halifax un-
derwriters lose 100000 by the gale. The steam
er Commerce has been sent from Gloucester, sup
piled with railways, wrecking apparatus, ship
wrights and sails, to Cape Breton to assist in
reIauncbing the feet that was blown ashore there,
and it is hoped many of the vessels will be saved
Nor was the storm less disastrous on Shore and
II is feared there will be starvation not only
among the fishermen, but also among the farmers,
some Of whom have sustained heavy losses
Nothing equal to this gale has been known for
years. It manifested itself in Massachusetts in
the shape of tornado which swept over North
ampton and some smaller towns, unroo6ng build
ings and damaging crops.
POLITICS.
Nothing in this part of the country has aroused
80 much interest this year, as the attempt of
General Butler to secure the nomination of the
Republican party as their candidate for Governor
OF Massachusetts. Butler claimed the support
of the Federal Government and with some rea-
son for though Grant has not acted vigorously
in his behalf, yet inaction and well understood
desire at Washington that be should succeed
have aided him considerably. And some assert
that government officials have been notified, that
unless caucuses wherein they were supposed to
WELD influence, did not elect Butler delegates TO
the State Convention they would be removed.
That Butler exerts an immense influence is due
TO his own unscrupulousness and bis constant ex-
ertions. | overheard a prominent member Of
Congress say. few days since, ip reply u the
question Why Butler was SO powerful at WASH
ington, that it was because he was not reluctant
70 enter upon any scheme from which many
shrank, and by chicanery be obtained the nomi-
nation Of many TO Office, thereby strengthening
himself. l know it to be q fact that Butler en-
ploys a number Of spies who keep him informed
as 10 the movements Of his opponents at WASH
ington when Congress is in session. During the
campaign Butler made profnse promises TO prom
ineut men. Early in the contest it was evident
ly Buffers design TO secure the nomination OF dele
gates favorable 10 him at the caucuses. For this
purpose he caused his friends TO crowd In and defeat
every attempt at order In many places, and by Sc
curing votes Of the mob, and IN some cases Demo-
cratic votes, be carried many cnucuses. Notably |
was this true In some wards in Boston, Lynn, |
CharlestOwn, Lowell and Springfield The Eastern /
portion OF the State elected majority of delegates
10 favor Of Butler but in The Western he developed
little strength The Convention WAS held at Wor- |
cesier, Sept. TO- Ex Governor Bullock presided and /
made an earnest appeal for reform In politics. Ear
ly in the Convention Butler moved that those dele
gates who would not consider themselves bound by /
the action Of the Convention should be excluded.