The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1854-02-14
R1cHMoNp.

VINO recently visited our city urges upon his read
era, In view of the advantages possessed by Rich
mond as produce market, the propriety Of deal
ing here In preference to any other place. He
speaks of the present condition and future pros
poets Of Richmond as follows:
Richmond is rapidly improving On every
square, you see some evidence Of progress and re
| form. In a few years, If our Legislators do no,
adjourn with their thumbs in their mouths, she
| will be in direct connection with the ocean on one
side and the Ohio river on the other, by line oil
improvements through the heart Of the State. She
will then become the great receptacle into which
the vast trade OF the West seeking an Eastern
outlet to market, will be deposited Truly her fu-
ture is bright one, and glad are we. that the en-
terprise and lberality of the capital are about to
be crowned with glorious fruition.
We may here very properly renew the sugve.
ton heretofore made, that our merchants every
means in their power to extend their acquaintance
with the people of the Valley. There is no better
way of doing this than by advertising literally
Advertising is the great secret of success in busi
siness, after all. n
Walkers ExPEDrTIos.-We have heretofore
given full summary Of events in Lower Califor-
mia, embracing the proclamation of president
Walker. We find in papers more recently re
ceived, memorials from various residents of Lower
q fornia, asking the protection of Walker, of
which the following is specimen:
To Col Don HIM. Walker, Santa Tomas:
| SIR-The undersigned Mexican citizens settled
on this frontier of Lower California most respect
| fully address themselves to you saying
| That considering our lives our families and our
interests endangered by the present critical state OF
this frontier, we solicit you the commander of
frontier, to grant us full protection and guarantee
for our persons and properties. binding ourselves
to in return not to take any part in the present
political affairs of this Territory.
| The bearer of this memorial, Don Augustin
Horn, is empowered by us.
| Santiago Domingo Arce; at the request OF Fran
| cisco Zazueta, A. Horn Francisco Zapata; at the
| request of Manuel Malencia, A. Horn; Manuel
Diaz for Dona Marina Vidal, Manuel Diaz; Jose
Maria Lugo Miguel Oslo.
We make the following extract from the San
Francisco Picayune:
The Filibusters will doubtless hold on to their
present isitions until by reinIorcements they
feel themselves competent to essay the consumma-
ton of their Interior objects when they will enter
upon the real theatre OF war and danger, by ma
| King descent on Sonora. Meantime squads OF
| adventurers constantly leaving this port for
the new Republic, and we hear Tunors OF the in
| tended embarcation of large reinforcements within
| few days. The presence of Col. Watkins in this
city, and other officers OF the little army. indicates
that efforts being made to facilitate the designs
| OF the invading forces. What may be the ultimate
result of the adventure is, of course, purely mat
| ter of speculation.
| The New ORLEANS FIRE-We copy from the N
o. Delta the following additional particulars of the
| late destructive fire in that city.
| Shortly after her arrival, the Belcher was dis
| covered to be on fire, and the flames communica
ted so rapidly, that it was quite dicultfo the pas
| sengels who were spending the night board to
escape Mrs. Carlisle, the wife of the captain, who
was confined to her bed from sickness leaped with
| great heroism from the hurricane deck with her
child in her arms, and fortunately suffered no in
| jury All the passengers lost their baggage
There were nearly forty slaves on board who were
thelower deck in the after part of the boat who
must have experienced great difficulty in escaping
owing to the smoke and the heavy piles of pro-
| duce.
The fire spread thence to other boats, as hereto
fore stated The Delta proceeds
The commoiion and excitement among the
crowded and closely-wedged boats was prodiQious
all of them getting up steam at the same time
Those that were nearest to the boats on fire drop.
ped out with the current and drew up in the rear of
the boats further down. A short distance from the
| scene of the fire, the Floating Palace of Van Am
burgh, filled with his various and rare collection of
| animals, moored. The tumult and noise
aroused the wild beasts from the lairs, and caused
them to lend their to that ofthe multitude
We could not bnt think what an awful scene would
have been presented, if the flames, which were
4
| this prison of SO many ferocious brutes
l The Fire Department were promptly on the
spot and contributed largely to prevent the flames
spreading either upon the wharves, where there is
a vast amount of produce heapad up. or to the ad-
joining boats. Their exertions were continued to
| the very last until about 10 o'clock to-day, when
the wreck of the last of the burned boats after issu-
| ing thick volume of smoke with q low rumbling
bubbiing sound, as if some inflanmable materials
| were exploding, went slowly down out OF sight,
| and left on the smooth, quiet waters, scarcely
momento of the splendid new boats which but
few hours before. had occupied the space.
SHOOTING CHALLENGE ExTRAoRDrNARY.-John
Travis, the well known professor of the pistol over
the Shades in Perdido street has, says the New Or.
leans Picayune, accepted the following remarkable
challenge from Mr.. Bertin L. Rhodes: =
Rhodes bets Travis 81 900 to $500 that he Travis,
| cannot, within ninety days, produce living man
who, standing thirty six feet from the said Travis
will allow him (Travs) to shoot with pistol (off
hand) an apple placed on the said living mans
head-the apple not to exceed four inches in cir
cumference. The said Travis is to have three
shots at the apple, and must hit the apple once tn
win the match. IT he does not hit the apple or II
ne hits the man, Rhodes wins. The match il to
come of within ninety days. and within five rn;ss
of the city of New Orleans.
The San Joaquin (CaL,) Republican announces
the death of J. II. Carson, native efW arren conn
~, Va He was one of the earlier pioneers to a,;.
fornia, and gave name TO the stream known as Car.
sons creek, which has became famous Tor the gold
gathered in and around it, Mr.. c. was member
elect from the county of Calaveras.
project forthe sale OF all the right of the city of
Petersburg in the Appomatox Railroand, with all
the fixtures, to the Southside Railroad COMPANY.
has been adopted by the Common Council of Pet
tersburg. The sum Is fixed at s1750OO. Possession
to be given on the first OF May next.