The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1854-12-08
LOCAL MAxxzzM.'
TraarsIs CorrLAoaAfio1 WI,

LOCAL ~ f.
TxaRrnIx CorrLAoRATic1e xFfrxn-
rrARY ON Ffa2-GnxAf DRsTnuc1lox ~ Pnupn1-
thu hours ri ana sNock lost
night the alarm bells wefe sounded, news fisw
through the city that the Penitcufiary vns on fire.
apparatus were hurrying 10 the sseneoi coafia.
grafton. When We reached the groend the north
bu5dlBgs usrd - workshops wero esvss0ped In
flames, and the wind blowing stin Ge1e from the
were confined. were literally covered Ia one con
tinued shower Of falling sparks Added 70 this ~.
full scene, could be heard tho screanm Of the pri.
pitoously crying to be saved from the horrid
death which seemed TO await them
In short time hundreds Of citizens gathered
around the walls Of the enclosure, and the 6remeu
appeared with their machines, but y seemed Inn
possible to get water. All was hustle and confu.
sion, and no one knew what was best 70 be done
In the meantime, Capt Dimmock arrived with the
State Guard the fremen, BY joining their hose,
succeeded Ia getting two streams from tho opposite
hill, the prison yard was entersd and the convicts
being released from their cells and put to work. the
cracking fames after destroying all the work.
shops began gradually to yield to the untiring a..
sauts upon them until the main building was re-
leased from it, peril and placed beyond danger.
We have never seen fremen work more zeal
ousy nor to better purpose, for without their aid
the entire buildings must have been destroyed. Az
itis there are no houses left In which to employ
the prisoners at labor.
During the height of the fire, when all hopes of
saving the main building had fled, the friends of
Col. Morgan hastened into his apartments and re.
moved his furniture, much of which was broken
to pieces and otherwise damaged Ia the efforts to
save 1t. Hisloss will be heavy.
We understand that the fire began In the "weave.
room," where the torah was doubtless applied by
Of the prisoners who had ecarcely been locked
up before the a ,mss burst ont Last night was the
frat night In which the convicts have been made to
State What the amount Of loss viii be, IL Is impos-
sibe at this time to estimate; but it cannot fall
The volunteer companies we're ordered out by
Governor Johnson and at the time of going to press
several OF them are on duty
This Is the second time the Penitentiary has been
burned.
Run OvER.-During the burning of the
Penitentary. last night four person: were run over
by the fire apparatus-three men and one boy-one
of his fractured and another, John Wilson, had
his right arm badly bruised and his face injured -
The injuries of the other two were slight. These
accidents occurred while the hose carriages were
running down the hill from the Penitentary through
a dense body Of smoke.
FIRE.-The roof of house on Marshall
street, between 4th and 5th, occupied by Mrs Cox,
took fire about oclock yesterday afternoon, and
the alarm bells were rnng, but before the tiremen
with their machines reached the scere. the flames
were extinguished with buckets of water. No. 6
company was on hand in a very short time, but
found it unnecessary to put on stream.
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ACCIDENTAL Young man named Robert
l. johnson, resident of Heurico county. not far
from the Charles City line, seriously injured
last Wednesday morning by the premature dis
charge OF fowlng pice. Mr. as we understand,
was out in the fields hunting BIRDS and 10 crossing
fence, the trigger caught on twig, threw down
the hammer, and caused the gun to explode, por.
ton of the lead entering his left foot severing two
OF his toes. He was Immediately taken home and
placed under the hands of physician. When our
ing well. and expected 10 be about again In short
time
Huptsman when in tbe field sbopld alwsvs car
nv their Guns at half cock and thereby avoid acct
dents When the hammer is down mon the can
sudden lar from fall. or strik;ng IL AGAINST
limb of a tree. NAV easily uraduce an exnIosion.
and when fuI Cooked The sIsbtest canse NAV
throw the hammer: but when half cooked M ordi.
nary accident can produce an explosion. IF the
hammer is canghf hv twig and nn1ed back II viii
falls the lar cannot throw II down Atten,;on ~
this matter by those who use fowlipg pieces would
prevent MANY accidents and save many lives. NOW
lost by the careless handling of fire arms
-S-
YOUNG MECHANICs.-We invite the at
tention of the Young mechanics of the civ tn the
School of Design to be opened bv the Viroinia Me-
chanics Institute, and urge them to enter their
names as pupils and at once avail themselves of all
the advantages that must flow to them. in their
vocations from a proper knowledge of DESIGNING
and drawing. When the Maryland Institute frst
Of pupils reached i've hundred and that msnv Oe of
them soon gained the necessary Information 10 en-