Year: 1873

The HERALD AND The P0LhRlS SEARCH.


WASHINGTON. Sept. is, 1873.
The Champion swenrist OF the District
Z The ''Boys OF the Row. Instructed to


Arcadian Shepherd.


Alexander II. Shepherd the Governor OF the
District OF Columbia, was sworn into office to-day
by Judge Macarthur, OF the District Supreme
Court Both before and after this solemn event
there was multitude OF swearing by the people
OF the District, but nothing compared with the
amount OF swearing the new Governor has been
pousy obliged to suppress on account OF his meek
relations with the citizens. But when the Cover
nor swears everybody else swearingly inclined
devoutly INDUCES in a multiplicity of words, which,
properly arranged In the form Of prayer. might be
regarded by one Of the orthodox school as purely
evangelical The administration of solemn
oath 1by Scotchman TO an Englishman is
an extraordinary event in the District OF
Columbia. Cursng Is so common here
that solemn swearing has no attraction for
the ordinary herd. On this occasion, however, 1t
meant magnificent lunch and the hospitality of
Ex-Governor Cooke, whose name has always been
honored among the people of Washington and
Georgetown. There was nothing wanting to make
1t an occasion OF merrymaking After the crackers
and cheese had been dispensed with the new Gov
ernor proposed the health OF the old Governor and
with an astrologer's eye, he implored the zeal of
heaven on his behalf and commended him
and all his sins to the supreme
mercy Of an Almighty Being; that He
would watch over him wherever he might be
and protect him from the charges OF an lndepen-
dent press. The new Governor then repaired TO
the executive ONCE, place perfectly familiar to
him, and entered upon his duties Shortly after
the Board Of Health fumigated the premises, and,
after paying their respects were followed by
citizens OF the District, principally colOred.


The organ of the new Governor this afternoon
says


Dispatches were received last night by some of
the correspondents ofindependent and democrat
papers from their chiefs, iDstructng them to abuse
President Grant for appointing Mr.. A. X. Shepherd
Governor. This serves TO illustrate the manner in
which the sO-caed independent papers are now
write facts from their own observation on the
ground, but they are instructed from headquarters
to doctor their dispatches and letters, and man
ufacture abuse of this and tnat person for political
or private ends. This accounts for the shameless
and laundering misrepresent tations sent away
from Washington IN regard to District affairs by
correspondents, who are supposed to be men of
some character and intelligence. 1t is we'll un-
derstood that this does not apply to the HERALD.


A prominent official, who values integrity above
onlce said to-day FL wonder there Is so much





The Chief Magistrate OF nation that could pardon
an army paymaster out OF the Albany Penitentiary
for stealing nearly half q million Of dollars and
welcome him back to the city where the crime was
committed, see him associated with the leading
District contractors should not be censured for
appointing Ale xander r Shepherd Governor Of the
District"


Comments i'm Naval Circles on the Hera Id


Dispatches About tho Search for the


Polaris-Sergcant Meyers Expla alton.


The HERALD's report OF the cruise of the Tigress
in search Of the Polaris, and the important part
taken by the Juniata In conjunction with the move
ments Of the Ttgress, has attracted more than
ordinary attention among naval officers In Wash
ington. Until the season for safe cruising in the
colder waters has passed, no effort will be spared
by the Navy Department to ferret out the Polaris
wanderers. The statement Of Sergeant Frederick
Meyer, Of the Signal Service, who accompanied the
North Pole expedition, and was one of the party
rescued from the ice foe, has already been pub.
lished In these dispatches As doubt has been ex-
pressed concerning the accuracy OF his Ice noe ac-
count, he says In explanation


"Undoubtedly it appears strange to many to find
by the HERALD's report that the famous disaster OF
the Polaris crew, on the 18th OF October 1872 did
not take place at Northumberland Island, stated
in the report of the Secretary Of the Navy to the
PreSldenC, DuL aL LltLlcJOu l5lanu, more IMAM
degree further north. 1t finds ready explanation
In the narrative OF the few days preceding and fol-
lowing the terrible catastrophe. On the 10th
OF October took the last observation for position,
not by sights OF sun or the stars, but by the
bearing of Capes Ingerheld and IngersolI the
fog being too thick for any other observations. on
the 18th OF October we passed Cape Alexander be-
low Litteton Island, which forms an unmistakablc
landmark by its glacier discharges, and Moraine
Island. On the 14th we sighted, through the fog
large island bearing southeast, and when on the
16th after the separation we found ourselves an
island which apparently was OF large dimensions,
we naturally supposed the same to be Northumber
land Island. The recognition OF land was entirely
dependent upon my memory, inasmuch we were
without chart, and as the weather did not permit
me to make any astronomical observation until the
Arctic night had set In. Summing up the confusion
and excitement Of the disaster, the deficiency OF
astronomical observations before and after separa
tion OF the want Of chart, think the mistake
may readily be excused"


Appeal for Relief TO the Sufferers from


the Yellow Fever I'm Shreveport, La.


Senator West, of Louisiana. who is now in Wash
ington, In order to secure the application OF imme
date relief to the sufferers from yellow fellow has
obtained from President Orton, OF the Western
Union Telegraph Company, the following order ad-
dressed to the superintendents OF the company
throughout the country


Instruct all the managers TO send free mes
sages relating to the relief the citizens OF Shreve
port and at the request OF the Governor or United
States Senators OF Louisiana direct contributions
OF money to be received and transferred by tele-
graph without charge.


BY this action on the part Of the telegraph COM
pany money can be forwarded instantly to the su-
ferers whereas by the course Of the mails 1t would
require some ten daysto get there, by which time
the needy might be past relief. Any one feeling
inclined to contribute something to the aid of the
stricken community OF Shreveport can send 1t
without expense by paying it in at any western
Union Telegraph station. Contributions are
already going forward from this point. This morn
inc Senator West in the course OF fe hours col