davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
New-York tribune., 1883-12-19
NAVIGATION CLOSED ON THE HUDSON.

The navigation of the Hudson River was closed
on Saturday the 10Th instant, for Troy and Albany.
The Troy line stopped receiving freight on Satur-
day morning, having received telegram that Ice
was making fast. The City of Troy, which should
have left Troy regularly on Sunday night, came
down SATURDAY night. No freight was left over.
The Peoples Line had about two-thrds of cargo
Of freight on its hands on Saturday when word was
received that the river was closing 1t was held
over until yesterday morning the chance of
thaw. when II sent to the SiNty-htth-st pier
aud transhippcd to the Hudson River Railroad cars
10 be forwarded. Secretary Clapp SAID that tine
business of the season had been fair though IT had
fallen of u little, in common with other kinds of
business. Tho bojs of this company viii be
BOARDED ont" during the winter and the pier
rented to fruiters aud ocean trampS." 1t is pro
posed to expend about Sl50,00O on the three
steamers, Drow, St. John and Dean Richmond for
The Albany Day Line closed its season on Octo-
Der 20.
The Hudson Steamboat Company, plying to Hud-
son, stopped taking freight yesterday, The last
boat is expected down this morning. The steam
boat Redhed, of the Read Il Powell Transportation
Company left CoXsacklo Monday afternoon and
was compelled TO buck tho ice as far rs hudson be-
fore meeting clear water Captain Powell, OF the
Rcdfeld said that tugboat which started for
Castlcton on Sunday. to get an ice-barge, was I'M
able to get through. and that on Monday the big
ice-bOat Norwich was sent up, but that when he
left she appeared to have become fast in the Ice.
lie said that the river had remained open longer
than usual the average time of closing being about
December >.
York Monday night. Her captain said that tho ice
was making fast. 1t is expected that the boats TO
ROndOut will run all the week. The POughkeepsle
and Ne burg boats are still running aud are the
last to stop They are expected to run until Christ
mas.
The general impression among the captains is
that the winter will be an open one. Last season
navigation closed on December 3, and the season
before not until January o.. The latest date OF
which there is any authentic record was on Jan
uary 80. 1874 aud the earliest on November 23,
1871. The longest period of closure was 1856 days
in the season Of 1923 and tie shortest 81 days in
1874.
New-York tribune., 1883-12-19
BUDDHA ATTACKED And DEFENDED.

The Rev. DR.. J. p. Newman read paper on
"Buddha" last night before the Nineteenth Century
Club which met at the house OF COrtlandt Palmer No
III East Tweuty-arstst He said in part II Buddha
believed in Supreme Being he said nothing about It, He
gave TO mankind not one original thought At the bot
tom OF all he said and did intense selhshness His
was the cOwardy desire to escape existence. Buddha
assumed that existence and misery inseparabe This
is his fundamental error His view of life was sad
Confucius is greater than Buddha He has given per
petua youth TO China which to-day capable Of coping
IN with the most martial nation IN Europe and will
win"
The Rev NJ. X. schermerhorn said "No great religious
teacher is original There Is not original sentence to
be found in the New Testament. In Bnddha We have
presented to perfect example in all the relationships
life Christ is not presented u In OF the
important and trying relationships OF fe such those Of
husband and father. The teachings OF Buddha pro-
duced I'm India higher civilization, and wrought
conversions than the teachings OF Christ did Ia thrice that
time.
Frederick A. Conklng, Dr. W. A. Hammond and o.
Bjerregaagd also participated In the debate.
New-York tribune., 1883-12-19

,shav appear in the contract book. Of the thirty
ssven Michael Finn had seven and John Brady nVe'
uuob Duffy. J. Baird ID. K. Gallagher and James
Rally had two each and the remaining contractors
Rod one apiece glance at the table shows the
startling range in prices for precisely similar
work For rock excavation the variation per
cnbic ward is from $40 to oaequarter Of cent; and
for earth excavation from s. to one cent. An IN
teresting study for taxpayers!
without a comparison Of the estimate and the
final return of each item in contract 1t is mposs-
be TO tell what loss the city suffers or what fraud
NAV be covered up bid may on its face appear
fair. but if in the estimate there Is an item for
which large amount is called for when only a
small amount is required, and 1t is known TO the
contractor In advance that this will be the case and
he bids low price this large item in the estimate,
he has q great advantage over contractors not
eauay well informed But the examination already
made by The TRIBUNE of a few contracts has dls-
closed some extraordinary instances OF that klnd
The total amount paid on O contract may not ex.
ceed the total bid and yet the contract may be
fraudulent one. This will arise from the fact that
the total amount paid may come from the items on
which the contractor bid an excessive price while
of the items on which his bid low,
and for which the estimate may call for large
amount only a small amount may be furnished.
UNBALANCED BIDS IN SEWER CONTRACTS.
In addition to the thrty-seven contracts Tor regu-
lating and grading let by Commissioner thompson
on unbalanced bids in the table below there wlllbe
found 40 sewer contracts of the same kind. Where
no figures are given items of that KIND were
called in the estimate Where no price at quoted
but ciphers are given the contractor agreed TO fur
nish such items without pay, The contracts are as
follows:
New-York tribune., 1883-12-19
WORSE AND WORSE FOR JUSTICE MURRAY
MIR. wALLING PROVES BY THE POLICE RECORDS THAT
lie DKsERTEp-wHAT MURRAY SAYS.

MR. wALIING PROVES BY THE POLICE RECORDS THAT
HE DRsERTED-wHAT MURRAY SAYS.
The police captains yesterday decided that they
coutd not take any further steps to mako Justice
Murray answer the questions which they put to
him regarding his recent charges. Several of the
captains said they would gladly hsSe begun suits
against him for sander if he had mentioned any
names. superintendent Walling produced copy
of entries made on the returns of the Twentieth
Precinct IN July, 1868 The riots began on the
18Th of that month. On the 18th the names
of Patrolmcn Henry Murray and Patrick Rush
were written on the return by Sergeant Rooney
NOW dead as absent one-hali day with,
had written the word skedaddlersp On
the 10th and 18th the entries were IN Mr.. Wallngs
handwriting, and he also mad written skedaddlers'
under the same names. Until the 25th the two men
were reported on the returns rs absent without
leave. Rush was the policeman who crawled ont Of
the police station through the scuttle. Mr.. Wallng
said TO n TRIBUNE reporter: IL told you yesterday
that Murray lett us on the third day OF the riots
but he lett Us on the second day. when the trouble
ut the worst. My recollection was at fault to
the extent of giving hlm credit for one day OF
service too much The less Mr. Murray has to say
about his manner of leaving the force. the better
will be for his credit
Justice Murray said, in regard to tho statements
made by lT. Nalliug, as published IN lIE iRiBUNE
yesterday: II am ut loss to account for DlT. wal
Lng's position IN this matter. lie must know that
the statements he has made are untrue, or else tht
circumstances under which left the police force
have entirely slipped out OF his mlnd. Nhen ne
says that absented myaelf from my post on the
laird day of the riots without his permission, lac
says what is fails for was not of duty single
hour during the time OF that disturbance.
partic pated in every row or disturbance which
occurred in our precinct. with one exception. He
says that Sergeant Petty told Lam that soon after
the riot began asked permission 10 60 out and get
something to eat, aud did not return for several
days. Is it possible that Mr.. Walng has forgotten
that none of the men attached 20 LIS precinct were
allowed 10 leave the staton-houso under any pre-
text. except for duty. and that meals were served
to the force in an adjoining buildng under the eye
of sergrantf Has he forgotten that the only
by climbing up through scuttle on the
roof and making their way TO the street through
adjoining buildings. If had deserted and played
I ue coward as he says how did it happen that he
did not prefer charges against ME and have me dis
pTaccd he did every other man who left his post
My record il clean. and am willing TO have it in
spected by everybody"
New-York tribune., 1883-12-19
ALARM IN A PUBLIC SCHOOL.
EXCITEMENT OVER A TEACHER IN A FIT.
GATHERING OF FRIGHTENED PARENTs-oRDER
QUICKLY RESTORED.

QUICKLY RESTORED.
Commissioner fraud. of the Board of Educa-
ton, had opportunity yesterday to Judge of the
discipline of Grammar School No. 53, Seventy
ninth,st., east of Thirdave. He paid visit to the
school at o. M, aud fifteen minutes after panic
occurred in the Primary Department, on the nrst
floor of the building. The tumult was checked be-,
fore any person had been injured, and Dir. Iraud
witnessed display of self-contrOl and hrmness on
the part of the teachers which he afterward spoke
of IN terms of praise: About 1000 pupils had as
sembled in the building On the rst SoE tne pT
class-rooms, when Miss Matilda Young, teacher OF
class of fifty small girls, fell in fit. AS she lay on
door aud tried to get out The door opened inward
and the press against it kept it shut fast, One girl
ran to window, which was between that ciass- class
room and larger one, and cried out My teacher
is dying" Thus the alarm was communicated to
the next room from which the regular teacher was
temporarily absent. A substitute was unable 10
down rear stairway. Fifty of them reached the
yard, when Miss Wilhelmina NJ. BOnesteel principal
OF the Primary Department, reached the cass;ro room.
She quickly closed the doors and restored order on
the primary floor Commissioner Traud was on the
third floor where Miss Sal0me PurrOy, prlnclpal or
the Grammar Department was conducting the
morning services. They heard Miss Ioungs shrleks,
and Ar fraud went down stairs in time towitnesS the
restoration of order. He helped the janltOr 10 ltt
mp Miss Young and to subdue the excitement IN her
room. There was some alarm but no disorder IN
the Grammar Department. In about ten minutes
the children who had escaped from the first fioor
were brought back TO their room. Miss Young re-
covered from her fit, but she was not permitted TO
resume her duties. 1t was said that she recently
had fit in the yard of the school.
After quiet was restored an exaggerated report of
the panic was spread In the neighbOrhOOd, and
many parents of pupils went to the school TO make
inquiries. There was more excitement out
side than there had been within,
aud the services of several policemen were
required to keep order. One woman, Mrs. Klen-
nann of No 325 East Seventy y-ninth-st., managed
to get mp rear stairway and into classroom,
where Miss Julia Geraghty had sway over abodt
sixty little girls
"Where is Louisa Kemmannf" the woman de-
manded in great excitement and in loud tone.
- In some other room" the teacher replied.
"What is the matter here 7"
Nothing is the matter that know Of"
That's queer, " Mrs. Klemmann went on; when
everybody in the neighborhOod knows that the
school il on fire."
Another panic might have ensucd had not Miss
GeTaghty exhibited both nerve and tact She led
the excited woman to the door and sent for the
assistant principal, who quieted the mothers fears.
New-York tribune., 1883-12-19
MR.. THoMpsoN,s ExTRAvAGANT DEMANDS.

TRYING TO PERSUADE THE BOARD OF ESTIMATE TO
MAKE EXCESSIVE APPROPRIATIONS.
The Board of Estimate and Appointments
yesterday received a request from the Police De-
partment for transfer of $3,O93. Mr. Asten said
he was opposed to this transfer until he knew
more about 1t. The Park Department asked for a
transfer of $7,620 from various unexpended bal
ances for maintenance and supplies i'll Central Park.
Mr. Asten said this transfer from the appro-
priations for the present year. and he would not OBJ
ject. The Department of Charities and Correction
asked that SO, 800 of various unexpended balances
for the present year be transferred to the appropr
alton for supplies. This was done.
The budget of the Department of Public Works
was then taken up. Commissioner Thompson said
that, while the expenditures of the department
were great, the receipts were large. For 1882 the
receipts 81 647, 900, and for the present year
to date 81, ,S45.000.
Mr.. Asten-Was not this increase for the present
year largely due to the erection of buildingsf
Mir. Thompson replied that building was not so
great the present year as in 1882. The increased
receipts were due TO energy in collections
The receipts last year were within $s50O00 of the
amount expended. For maintaining the boule-
yards, roads and avenues, $4,000 was
asked. The Board cut this down to $77,-
900. The boulevards could not be kept
tn frst-olass order for less than the amount
New-York tribune., 1883-12-19
cHRIsrMls rRIDE ~ DRY GOODS STORES.

OF late years the increase of what Is generally
called holiday busgcs, has been noticeable amons
many dry goods firms of this city For months before
hand preparations made, and when Chrsmastde ac
tnay arrives help Il engaged the counters are sup
pcmcncd 10y huge tables hoaped up with fancy ARTICLE,
and bric-a-brac the stores kept open long
after their usual hour OF closing, and all day
and evening they are crowded with throng IS
Of shoppers TO get idea OF the amount OF business
done in a single day in New York TRIBUNE reporter
yesterday called several OF the leading dry goods nrs
In nearly every hc had literally TO fight his way by
slow degrees through the mass of purchasers VINO lined
the counters and blocked up the passagcways Curousy
enough there was found ) be unwilling gness on the
part OF each TO give any figures concerning the pre-
ous day sales but in nearly every case an optimistic
view was taken of the Of this seasons trade US CON-
pared with the corresponding date Of last year.
lam doing an innnitiy larger business than I did
last year" said Mr. ONcil but that attribute to the
legitimate growth or trade"
JN &. Johnston claim 10 have done larger buslneSs'
than I'm any former year "A week yesterday said
member Of the trm we took IN cash over the counters
ers This Is absolutely unprecedented sale We nave
not been Obliged either to resort 10 any such melhOds as
EP4g 0f SSl of Ro Constable on the other hand
sad that his nrm did little moro during Christmas week
than at any other time. Perhaps Few more pieces Oi
sHoa' sii. were cut Up '"'I' ',, '''' '
mlsIeading thing 10 give statement OF one days cash
receipts. matter Of fact, received yesterday
does not represent the amount or business We dld
Speaking generally hardly think the business houses OF
New York have found that this business has al
vanccd very much nat Of last year. AS to special
holiday trade, do not think IL amounts TO very much
after an and | would rather have NOvembeTs receipts
than Deccmbers. There more people about and the
rush ia greater to-day than 1t was a month ago, but
doubt N much more money changes hands -
James Simpson. of simpson Crawford simpson said
eve did 25 per cent more business Yesterday than on
the orrespOndng day last year What that amounts to
can hardly say exactly but fancy S25OOO somewhere
near This represents the actual cash receipts
We make special efforts at holiday mc ana In face OF tue
me rush for patronage Our plan of keeping open late at
night during holiday week has resulted we expected,
in a large increase Of business
Mr. Webster, OF the f1n OF Macy Co., said: For
months ahead make preparations for our Christmas
tide business the result Is that store is
than crowded day and night. have noticed peTcepu
bic Increase IN the number OF people who buy Ch1at
mas presents late years, and convinced that the
custom II much generally observed than In FORMER
years our business yesterday was some twenty per
r1nf nhnnn of lnsI aelsln"
New-York tribune., 1883-12-19
WASHINGTON NOTES.

WAsHISGrnS, Tuesday, Dec. 1s, 1888.
THE Duty oS AIEUM,.-rhc Acting Secretary OF the
Treasury has decided that the duty albums Imported
into This country shall be assessed on the component part
OF the greatest value.
GUILTY oy TlCHNIcAL EgEoRs.-Thc local inspector Of
steam vessels NJ Newport hrs made report to the super
yi-nry nspcctoI general In rcEtd 10 tue collision
between 49, EouH and the naval steam launch
Iow IN Newport hurbpr the 23l Of November, which
SAWS that Captain Nghtman, Of tho EOIs was guilty or
technical errors hut such 10 render him SUBJECT 10
gs'cu-On or To cause the revocation OF his license.
INCREASED Postal sERyIcE--Sccond Assistant Post
macrcncr,l Elmer reports that postal service has been
lIlcrd ON 900 miles Ofncw railroads from july llsS To
December l5 1~S3. The incieac has Occurred manly IN
the southern southwestern ana western PORTIONS ol 'ho
country
TUB BIRTnrIAcE Oh WAsnINGroN-At the request or
the Secretary of state Colonel Thomas L. Casey Corps of
Engineers has been detailed to supcrucnd the erection
OF the proposed monument TO mark the birthplace OF
MI. .nngInn.
New-York tribune., 1883-12-19
THE EAST RIVER IMPROVEMENT.

The Sinking Fund Commissioners yesterday
received an opinion from Corporation Counsel
Andrews relative TO the proposed Improvement of
the East River water front lie stated that the pro-
cct if carried ont as proposed would cost the city
nearly $40 600 000 and II would be unwise for the
city to engage in "a work of this magnitude unless
tine law relatIng to the matter was clear and cer-
tam. He added that the omission from the ConsOll-
dation act of the provision as to submission, of
another plan in of the rejection of the first
proposed rendered it doubtful whether the power
to act in the premises vas still possessed by the
Commissioners of the Sinking Fund.
A report was received from the Dock Commission
ers adverse TO the leasing for long term of years
of the easterly half Of Pier No. 22 and the westerly
half OF Pier No. %, East River, to the Fulton Mar
New-York tribune., 1883-12-19
CoNrIRMATIONs BY NM sENATE.

WASHINGTON, Dee. 1s.-Thc Senate to-day
confirmed a., following nominations: Lawrence
Weldon OF Illinois, 10 be judge Of the Court
of Claims. John B. Tanner. Of Illinois. to be
United states Mlr,bal for the Southern District Of
Illinois Nathaniel T.. Banhs. To he United states Marshal
f,r the District OF Massachusetts; Aonzo Gesncr, Of
1~rror IN be Indian Agent ~ tho Warm Spring Agency
ip Oregon JOAN W scott of Kansas, 70 be- Indian Agent
the ponc1, Pavncc and Otor agency In lndiah lcTl
tc-r: Coonr. samuel Is. Hnlahrd, Assistant quarter
master General De Quartcrmlscr General with the
rank o. B-Cldcr General John D. TOokcr of Ncbiyhn
~ ro SECRETARY of the Territory ot Montana Robinson
Locke OF ohio 10 be- United states Consul at Newcastle
New-York tribune., 1883-12-19
TIE CHIC1GO MARKETS Dull.
WHEAT AND CORN LowEE-PRovIsIoNs STEADY
IN PRICE.
fpr TELEGRAPH TO THE TRIBrNE.l


ley TELEGRAPH TO THE TRIBrNE.l
Chicago, Dee. 1S.-ProvisiOns are tonight
almost exactly where they last night They scored
considerable advance it during the day. Wheat
and corn are b about lower than twcnyOur hours
ago II was dull day but not exactly weak one. Not
much over million bushels OF grain Of all kinds were
traded In on the call. There trades in oates
at all the call. Things tonight on the curb are
higher and the feeling stronger All the signs tonight
point higher prices tomorrow. The railroad men
ise smaller receipts, and word from
the country that the loadings Of wheat by
farmers have wonderfully fallen of One Of
the most ndonitabe wheat bears in this market says to
night II looks if wheat going higher There is
such steady and confident buying all the breaks and
the are going n the wheat pit with such
vim" or course being bear" he predicted day Of
evil and promised that although there be tenn
porary advance, there would be wOeiul break after
ward.
The receipts were littelarger than generally
ticpated to-day, and the private cables said the foreign
markets were duller January wheat got down TO 9s,
ana May TO 81 06As. On the curb January 90 and
NAV 81 O7ls On the call tonight LindblOm took nearly
all the that there bought He kept buving from
6O up 1 II IL said he wanted to get million bushels
He got about half this amount. As he has been great
bear on cOn aud indeed everything else OF late it Is
II Il not that everybody believes that Messrs
schwartz & Dupec are planning January deal, corn
manipulation in this Is often the case Is really
daIOptr upon the market. Tho strong men who would
II the field clear enter the market unwilling 10
boom prices for the other people to unload on There
is really. however general feeling here that corn IA
going TO 20 cents before it down much The evil
dence of manipulation I'm the January option
is becoming palmer and palmer every day II sold up
to-day very nearly 10 May. On the curb the close
December 59os, January 59@ May6l
The big packers were evidently all free sellers Of pro-
visions to-day there had advance OF 20d25
in pork It's not believed however, that Armour
Is really much OF seller; Cudahy stevens the
biggest buyers in the market and must have
load and the thoughtful certain that IL belongs
In reality TO the Honest Butcher" Testers crowd
still certain that their holdings OF hog products will
out good investment Pork and lard closed
iust about where they did last night, ribs 20
cents lower. II is said that Mccormack Adams e. Co.
sold a great lot OF wheat yesterday for New-Yorkers
which had been carried for months Baker, who
ported the street yesterday seller, he bought
ten times much wheat he soid and believes II will
bring large profit. Hogs were higher at the yards
New-York tribune., 1883-12-19
Tho Juror Was II $500

The Juror-Was II $500
DUNNO. -
The final questions in relation to his intimacy with
Miss Keiser Dunn refused to answer conLsas himself
by repeating: She had no claim upon Ma
THE VERDICT.
Deputy Coroner Jenkins read the results OF his exam
ination OF her wound The Coroner then charged the
jury saying:
I confident that you understand the condition OF
affairs in this IL Is the duty OF the jury TO decne
the OF death and all the circumstances attending IT,
After an absence of five minutes the jury brought In
the following verdict
We find that Rose J.. Keser came TO her death by
OF pistolshOt wound inflicted by her own hand
"The finding Of the jury" said prominent criminal
lawyer the inquest Was mainly due to the fact that
the jurors had in their seats for seven hours
with only half hours recess and were starved into an
verdict"
New-York tribune., 1883-12-19
SETTING FIRE TO A PUBLIC BUILDING.

An unsuccessful attempt made early yester-
day morning to set tire to the Municipal Department
went into the building ami inquired for man for
mery employed there engineer. lie received
permission TO go into the basement, and inquired
for the same man of the engineer in charge and was
told ne had not been there for two years A little
later the engineer discovered a pile of rubbish IN
one corner of an unused in the basement To be
on lire and he saw the stranger run up the stairs
The fire WAS easily put out, but the strange man
cuuld not he found
New-York tribune., 1883-12-19
PRACTICAL JOKERs ENT ERTAINED.

Moses w. Taylor, Supervisor of the town of Mount
Pleasant whose home is at Pleasantve. having
been told by some of his friends that his barn
needed coat OF paint, replied that if they desTed
to see il painted they had better do it themselves
A number of his friends determined thereupon to
give portions of the barn coat of many Golors
Mr. Taylor enlisted the services OF several con:
stables who arrested the party, when consisted OF
officials, who were marched TO the house of Mr.:
Taylor and entertained with an abundance OF
good things. They were then permitted to return
To tLei