davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1878-12-26

her best to run the Hoboken ferryboat
down. AT all events, it was not the fault
of the pilot Of the Erie that terrible cal
amity did not ensue.
There will, of course, ba an attempt
to prove that the Erie was not to blame,
but the case, if correctly reported, is too
clear to admit of doubt. The pilot OF
the Erie was criminally reckless in rush
ing past the Lawrence, instead Of waiting
until that steamer had passed by. 1t tit Tor
his position he must have known that the
Hoboken boat lay just beyond the Law
renee, besides which he only escaped by a
hairs breadth, as it were, a collision with
the latter boat. A man who would take
such risk needlessly ought not to be in
trusted for an hour with the lives of passen-
gers. A thorough investigation should be
promptly made, for it is evident from
former occurrences, as well as from this,
that the Pavonia ferry is fast becoming a
danger to life and property on the North
River
The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1878-12-26

TIE WEAIHER.-1he snow storm and heavy
gales have moderated somewhat in the vicinity
Of Buffalo, but the baromctric gradients con-
tinue to be steep in the Upper St. Lawrence
Valley and the wind directions from southwest
TO west remain unchanged. The low pleasures
over Canada have been moving to the coast and
Will probably develop into storm OIL Nova
Scotia. A very marked decrease is percept-
'ble in the area OF the high pressure from
the Rocky Mountains eastward to the
South Atlantic coast. The volume Of air
represented by this area is being exhausted very
rapidly, and we may look for depressions in the
West and Southwest to follow during tomorrow
and the following days. The disturbance in
ahe Southern or Gulf region is slowly moving
toward and over Florida, attended by light
fains and unusually low temperatures. Indeed,
fhe Gulf coast States now experiencing cold
Is sharp as we have in the North during win
Aer. Beyond the Rocky Mountains the baron
eter is low, as we announced yesterday. AL
ready indications that an important weather
change is mt hand in the West are presenting
themselves. Temperatures continue low over
AL the districts, being lowest in the Northwest
THE weather in New York and its vicinity to-
day will be cold and fair, or partly cloudy,
followed BY slowly rising temperature. To-
morrow 1t will be warmer andfair.
The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1878-12-26
The Christmas Celebration.

The almost universal observance Of Christ
mas yesterday by all ranks and classes of
society, by churchmen of nearly every shade
Of belief and by the representatives of the
many peoples who go to make up the mosaic
of our metropolitan population, shows that
the oldest festival of the Christian year is as
sweet and sacred and precious to the world
as ever In this Western continent we
have not, as rule, taken kindly to the holi-
days Of the Eastern Hemisphere I; but Christ
mas was naturalized among us almost from
the very beginning, and it has never lost
its place in our affection and reverence.
New England for long time blotted it
from its calendar, but the Puritan heart has
at last opened TO it and learned to love it
for the inspiration to good will and kind
illness it infuses and for the thousand sweet
and tender associations that cluster around
it, Although it's observance is now only
limited BY civilization ITSELF in no part OF
the world, perhaps, is the day more honored
than within our own municipal metes
and bounds Our reports on another
page tell of the right royal well
come we gave to it this year. of the
severely simple services of one branch
of the Christian Church and of the splen-
did ceremonial Of the other with which it
was ushered in OF the burst of music and
praise that went up from hundred differ
ent churches, sweet as the song Of the
angels nineteen centuries ago, and, better
than all, Of the good deeds that were done
in the name Of the little Child. Santa Claus
was, indeed, abroad in our avenues and
streets, and his richest gifts are perhaps
not 50 much with those who received as
with those who gave.
The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1878-12-26

The Pavonia ferryboats must be either
very unfortunate or very incapably man
aged. They are constantly coming into
collision with other vessels and are gener-
ally in fault. On Tuesday evening last,
about six o'clock, one Of them, the Erie,
ran into the Hoboken ferryboat Hacken-
sack, and it seems miracle that number
Of lives were not lost. 1t appears that the
Hackensack was lying in midstream waiting
for her companion boat to leave the Barclay
street slip, when the Norwich line steamer
City Of Lawrence came down stream from
her pier. At the same time the Erie left the
Chambers street slip, on her way
to the Jersey side. When nearly OPP
posite the spot where the Hackensack
lay the Erie gave the signal to the City of
Lawrence to slacken her speed, the object
being to pass in front Of the latter's bow.
The Lawrence reversed her engines, but it
was still necessary for the Erie to increase
her speed in order to prevent q collision
with the Lawrence, which was only mar
rowly escaped. As matter of course, how
ever, although she just missed the Law
renee, the Erie ran into the Hackensack,
which lay beyond the Lawrence. and did
The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1878-12-26
Through to Harlem.

Mr.. Cyrus W. Field gave the public
on Tuesday by running o train of cars
through to Harlem Bridge over the Third
avenue elevated road before Christmas Day.
The trip was only an experimental one, 1T
is true, but tho construction OF the road has
been pushed with commendable vigor, and
Mr.. Field has kept his word Nothing less
was expected OF the man whose untiring per-
severance gave us the Atlantic cable, and no
doubt before many days have passed we
shall have regular trains running over the
Third avenue line from the Battery to the
Harlem River. Another excursion trip was
made over the road yesterday, the time
from Whitehall street to One Hundred and
Twenty ninth street being forty-five min
utes.
This is an excellent time for Mr.. Field to
strike boldly out in the direction Of cheap
fares. Now that he has given the people OF
New York their first through rapid transit
route let him also be the first to enable them
to use the road at all hours Of the day for five
cents fare. This will at once more than
double the traffic and increase the receipts
Of the company, while greatly benefting
the poorer classes Of our citizens. MIR.
Field has truthfully said that the Third
avenue road, with its present facilities, finds
it diffcu to accommodate the number of
passengers it already carries. But this re-
mark refers only to the hours during which
the fare is five cents At other hours there
is seldom, if ever, crowd at a depot. Ii
the regular fare should be placed at five
cents there would be no such pressure at
any time of the day as now experienced
during the cheap hours, and the simple dis
continuance Of the short Forty-second street
trains, with the starting of few special
trains from way stations during the busiest
hours Of the morning and evening would
enable the road to accommodate without in
convenience more than double the NUM- Der
of passengers it now carries. Mr.. Field is
just the sort of person to make this grand
experiment. and his business instinct ought
to assure him that it must be success. We
owe to him more than to any other indi-
vidual the privilege of being able to send
kilograms across the Atlantic Ocean, and it
would be pleasant to also owe to him the
boon of rapid transit at q rate of fare that
would bring it within the reach OF all our
citizens.
The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1878-12-26
An Ex.Conxict,s Complaint.

1t is now nearly two years since the flrst
leaf of "Our Complaint Book" was pub
lished and the entire volume now consists
Of over six hundred pages. Unlike most
books it deals with facts as they are, and no
words are wasted. Though it occupies but,
a modest corner Of the paper there is
, no doubt that it has done great deal OF
good and in variety Of ways. People
having grievances Of general public interest
in nearly every instance find the
matter remedied. Dirty streets are
promptly swept. garbage boxes are
emptied, dangerous pavements are re-
paired, annoyances on the cars and
ferryboats receive attention, insolent ruff
fans are subdued, innocent people are pro-
tected, impostors are exposed. delayed
mails are qnickened, railroads are regu-
lated, indolent policemen are disciplined
in fact, a thousand and one trihing evils are
corrected by the magic of ''Our Complaint
Book" No wonder it is popular with all
classes of society. It has been well said
that the lesser trials Of life are the hardest
TO bear, and many people find an appeal to
the complaint column Of the HERALD
safety valve as we'll as a means Of relief
from the special grievance in question.
To-day we print the longest contribution
to the book that has ever appeared in its
pages, but it is one that deserves special
attention. The case of Charles Fisher, the
ex-convict, whose experiences while en-
deavoring to gain an honest livelihood
formed thrilling chapter of real life, as
published in these columns few days ago,
proves how hard it is for o man to win back
the reputation he has lost by crime. The
letter printed to-day is from another ex-
convict, and the writer endeavors to show
the degree of responsibility resting upon the
Prison Association. If he is correct in his
facts neither the association nor its executive
officer is pursuing the course most con-
ducive to success, and it behooves the off,
GERS Of the society to see that all stumbling
blocks are removed from the path Of repent
ant criminals. We trust that this Christmas
addition to ''Our Complaint Book" will
be as successful as any Of the six hundred
that has preceded it, tor the question is one
that affects large and, unhappily, grow
ing class in our community. If George
Henderson's story is true the path of the
repentant thief is indeed harder than that
OF the confirmed law breaker.
The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1878-12-26
The south Carolina Eiections-Demo-
cratic Statements.

SO little has been heard from the demo-
cratic side concerning the recent election
in South Carolina, and so much from the
republicans, that.we have thought it due to
justice and gratifying to the American love
of fair play 10 print the letters from promi-
nent South Carolina democrats which APP
pear elsewhere. They concern mainly the
counties of the First Congressional district
(Rainey's), and perusal of them will con-
vince candid readers ut least that there
are two sides to the story Of the election.
The reasons given for Mr.. Rainoy's un-
popularity among the colored people are
quite sufficient to account for his defeat,
and the fact that the republican party
was so disorganized that it ran no
State ticket and no complete county
tickets in many of the counties, that
in some counties It ran two Congress
sional tickets, that Mr.. Rainey did not
The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1878-12-26
A Good Time for Charity.

The .'cold snap" has come upon us sud-
denly, and although the clear, sharp
weather Of the present week is seasonable
and enjoyable. it is TO be hoped that our
citizens will not lose sight of the fact that
to some it brings nothing but suffering
Many thousands of our citizens are without
the means Of procuring sufficient clothing
or firing to protect them from the cold, and
by these the Christmas frosts are dreaded
as an enemy whose coming makes their
ordinary sufferings harder to bear. Chill
dren who sat shivering yesterday in cold,
comfortless rooms, without fire, without
covering enough to give warmth to their
limbs, probably without food-and there
were many such in New York-must have
wondered what made the world outside so
gay, and frightened so many faces as they
passed by 1t is to be hoped that the gay
cites Of the season will not prevent q
Christian people from recalling these
we'll known and constantly repeated facts,
or from aiding in such degree as their
means may warrant to relieve the misery
Of the poor during the winter months. The
HERALD calls attention from time to time
to individual cases Of suffering that come
within the knowledge OF its busy reporters,
and these are all worthy Of relief, as the
facts are thoroughly investigated before
they are made public. But there are sew
eral excellent mediums through which
charity is dispensed to the destitute with
out formalities or delay, and to these dona-
tions may safely be confided by those who
are too busy to distribute their gifts in per-
son. The season of merriment and rejoic-
ing is an excellent time to bear the poor in
mind. and it is to be hoped that our citi-
zens generally will contribute as literally
as their circumstances will allow to the relief
of those to whom cold winter brings only
additional sorrow and suffering.
The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1878-12-26
PERSONAL INTELLIGENCE.

Jones wife wanted point lace. but he denied her
point blank.
The man who didn't get much in his stocking put
his foot in it.
The Chicago Times says that Anthony Comstock
goes to bed in the dark.
Hoyty-toity, how is this? There are three Governor
Hoyts holding Office in the United States.
Ex-Governor Cooke, OF the District of Columbia is
said to have made fortune recently from Colorado
mine.
As lady goes down the aisle of the opera her silver
bangles make ones blood tinge as dreams she is
out sleigh riding
General Jack Logan is trying to work for the
socialist votes of the Illinois Legislature in his favor
for the Senatorship.
A Missouri cynic says that Ex-Governor Seymour's
head has virtually turned to cheese. Well is there
no virtue in head cheese
Bronson Acott is in his cightieth year. He is ar
ranging for summer school Of philosophy" in his
orchard house at Concord.
Josh Billings-"Thare IL kind ov proprety in all
things; the nnosent vanity Of the peakok would
make goose look ridikilus."
Circumstances alter all things. man with gum
boil has frequently been robbed Of the enjoyment Of
displaying new watch chain
Jersey boy, whose father threatened to pound
him for laughing during grace. suggested that an
ounce of prevention better than pound Of
The ex-rebel guerilla chief John s. Mosby left
Washington last night for San Francisco. route
to his duties United States Consul at Hong
Kong.
In Iowa o couple aged 104 and 101 years. and
they going to revisit the East before they die.
Let them 60 to the minstrels and hear Of the
good old jokes of their childhood.
General Sherman says that the why Secre-
ary Evarts does not have ladies at Cabinet dinners is
because he wishes introduce the English style Of
discussing affairs Of State at dinners. There 10
another blow at women
1t is three days since the last newly discovered
American prima donna has been cablcd about. We
can't do without our regular fortyeight hour prima
donna. especially there have been planets Of
the nineteth magnitude discovered for fortnight
If you too poor to get telescope that will dis
planets invisible to the naked eye buy pair Of
club skates. strike ont boldly the ice. and when
your blood is up and your heels also up, look
right into the blue sky and the planets will come
right down and play tag around the tip Of your
Mrs. A., of Bergen. is known for the thinness and
weakness of her apple whiskey toddies. which she
urges her gentlemen callers to take to keep them
warm. Sunday cold day. and Mr. B. was vainly
trying swallow the hot water and sugar toddy when
he said, Madam, the hesn is willing, but the spirit il
weak
The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1878-12-26

generation bids fair to be greater in promise
and less in performance than the last, un-
less physic culture is made obligatory and
systematic. With this end in view, every
new athletic game, and particularly those
in which the greatest number of boys can
participate, should be welcomed and studied
by teachers and given place in the regular
cchool oourSa
The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1878-12-26
EDWARD BROOKE.

Edward Brooke senior member Of the firm Of Z. &
g. Brooke died yesterday afternoon. after lingering
Illness of pneumonia. at Brdsboro', Pa nine miles
west Of pottstown. The deceased man was promi.
nent and wealthy citizen of Eastern Pennsylvania.
and his death will prove sad loss to the comrnu-
nifty in which he resided. He was about sixty years
old Il il a sing lar and sad coincidence that two of
the leading iron men of Pennsylvana-Samue J.
Reeves, president OF the Phoenix Iron Company.
Phnnixville, aud Mr.. Brooke, living twenty miles
apart-should die within fortnight of the same
disease and about the same age. Mr.. Brooke was q
brothernaw of Congressman Clymer, of Berks
county. Pa.
The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1878-12-26

AT MIDNIGHT last night OLcary was about
fifteen miles ahead Of Campana; but the latter
does not seem 10 be very much discouraged, and
he is confident, if his condition is favorable to-
day, that he will DO able to make up the differ
ence between himself and his competitor. The
great interest felt in the match was shown by
the presence Of upward of twelve thousand
Spectators.
The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1878-12-26

ACCORDING TO OUR REPORTS inland naviga-
tion has come to an end North and West. In
Missouri the rivers frozen, and four feet Of
snow has fallen in the northern portion of this
State. Very severe weather has been ex-
perienccd ON the Sound during the past forty
eight hours; steamers are generally detained
and one or two disasters have occurred.
The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1878-12-26

IT Is REPORTED from New Orleans that band
Of political roughs stopped river steamer few
evenings ago, at the muzzlcs of their rifles, com
PEELED the pilot to land seized two election wit
nesses, and, it is supposed, lynched them. II
the story is not mere political campaign litcra-
ture there is evidently need Of good stout
gallows and some good hemp in that State.
The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1878-12-26

The BUSINESS Of king killing appears to be
growing rapidly in Europe, the King Of Den
mark being the latest addition to the long list
of intended royal victims. According to o
despatch from Copenhagen hotel keeper has
been arrested in that city for having threatened
TO shoot His Majesty.
The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1878-12-26
OBITUARY.
REAR ADMIRAL HENRY X. HoFF, UNITED STATES

REAR ADMIRAL HENRY X. HoFF, UNITED STATES
A despatch from Washington announces the death
in that city yesterday afternoon Of Rear Admiral
Henry X Hon United States Navy, from congestion
of the BRAIN Admiral Hof was born in Pennsyl-
vania in 1909. His parents moving to South Caro-.
lima when he was quite child, he was appointed
from that State to the naval service and the 18th Of
October, 1923. he was commissioned a midshpman.
and after assigned to the West India squadron.
serving in the Brandywine. Constitution and other
vessels until March s. 1881. when he was promoted
to the rank of lieutenant and such served
board the frigate Potomac until 1885. when he was
placed waiting orders for time and afterward
dcred to duty recruiting officer for the Brazilian
squadron. to which he was subsequently assigned
board the Independence lineof-battle ship.
of ffty-four guns. On being detached from
this vessel he leave and waiting
orders" for months. when he was
ordered to the frigate Savannah uSa2). the store
ship Relief Qs44,. and the frigate st. Lawrence
Qs49). On November 20, 1853 he was promoted to
the rank of commander and az such commanded the
frigate Independence sloop John Adams and the ro-
ceiving ship philadelphia. In 1850 he was commis-
caster. then attached to the Pacific squadron. On
July IL. 1862. he was promoted to commodore, and
during the war was on shore duty at Philadelphia.
On April Is. 1867. he received the commission Of
admiral and 1868 placed in
mand of the North Atlantic squadron. It will be
from the foregoing that Admiral Hon did not
participate in any of the numerous naval engage
mcnts of the rebellion. Admiral Hof gained much
credit by his energetic and prompt to pro-
tect American citizens residing in Cuba when, in
1868 60 he was ut Havana on board the Contocook.
He retired in 1870. having served forty-seven
years. seventeen years of which time had been spent
at He died ut the residence of his Lieutenant
Commander w. b. Hof His widow is the youngest
United States Navy. The body will be taken to Phil.
adelphia for nterment.
The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1878-12-26

The INVESTIGATION into the charges Of mis-
management and cruelty in the Onondaga In
sane Asylum has established the fact that the
utmost brutality was practised in that institu-
zion. Have we any more Onondagas in the
Sfafa2
The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1878-12-26

Boston sends the story of terrible Christmas
Eve tragedy-the murder of a young wife by her
aged husband, who completed his bloody work
by suicide. Jealousy was, of course, the
motive Of the crime.
The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1878-12-26

The DECISION Of the Missouri Court Of APP
peals that divorce cases cannot be sent to .
referee is likely to ruin one of Missouri's thriv
ing industries.
The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1878-12-26

THERE Is No MONEY for the Blaine Commit
tee. As the Maine statesman is the only one
likely to be benefited by the thing he ought to
foot the bill himself.
The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1878-12-26

The INTELLIGENCE that there is no prospect
of an Indian war in Washington Territory
makes the New Years outlook for the Indian
contractor pretty blue.
The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1878-12-26

THREE CASES OF STABBISc, one possibly fatal
probable murder and an attempted suicide,
all in this city, form a rather heavy criminal
calendar for Christmas Day and night.
The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1878-12-26

The probabilities are that the weather ia NeD
York and its cicinify to-day ,ciH be cold and fair
DR. Partly cloudy, followed BY slo,cly rising ten.-
peratttre. Tomorrow il uiH be scaymer and fair.
The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1878-12-26
REV. URrAH SCOTT, d. d.

Tho Rev. Urah Scott. d. D.. pastor Of the
Church OF the Redemption, died yesterday Of
his late residence. the Ashland House. He
was a native Of the cathedral city Of Lin
coin, England, the son Of o jealous men,
Der of the Wesleyan Church. On completing
his studies in ls45 he admitted to the ministry.
His last appointment in England was to the city Of
Oxford. He inherited competency from his father.
and in 1855 came to this country and took his
position local elder in the Quarterly
Conference Of the Methodist Episcopal Union Church,
Of Philadelphia. In 1857 he was received into
the Episcopal Church by the late Bishop Pot
ter OF Pennsylvania. and immediately APP
pointed to the rectorship of Milford and Great
Bend. During the ensuing year he re-
ceivcd several calls, among others one 70
Grace Church. Honesdale. of Wayne county, Pa.
which he accepted. During his settlement there no
married the daughter of Daniel Bartlett of Towsnda
His wife's health requiring change to less
climate, he resigned his rectorship and
came TO New York In 1861 On Trinity Sunday, 1862
he preached for the first time in the Church or the
Redemption, in place of Rev. Robert Dixon. The
death OF the latter in 1866 led to Mr. SCOTS appoint
ment as rector of that church.
The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1878-12-26

FoR CRACK RsoTs the scores made in the con-
test on Long A4land yesterday for the cham
ponship OF America were surprisingly low,
but it was doubtless owing to the severity of the
weather.