The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1854-06-26
rHE DISPATCH.
RG IN la

VIRG INA.
TIE LATE JosrAu IIoLBaoox-A correspondent
otthe Lynchburg vireinian furnishes that paper
with an interesting sketch of the scientific opera
tons of Mr. Josiah Holbrook In and around Lynch
burg, together with an account of his death We
have heretofore given our readers some particulars
relative 10 the melancholy event which terminated
his useful career vet the following will be perused
With much interest
Alnos, every dsy when his health and the state
of the weather would permit. Mr. IIolhrook made
a visit ~ come locality in the neiehborhood OF
Lynchbcrg for the purpose of collecting minerals
and examining the rocky strata and formations eX
posed to view on the bluffs and PRESCRIPTIONS sleeps
along the Black. water Greek, aud the James River
He had made frequent visits 10 the TRRaef, on the
Rsiltosd. just on the Northwestern suburbs OF the
city Here he found much to engage his attention
He frequently spoke of il one of the most inter
ring localities he had ever seen. To this spot he
often conducted his pupils. and watched over them
with peculiar pleasure, as the little fellows, one al
ter another, came bounding to him with some new
aud curious mineral to ask its name. and learn
something of Its history. Here especially, he found
immense and inexhaustible deposit of garnets
Embedded In gneiss and mica slate. His pupils col
lecsed large quantities Of these crystals OF various
sizes from the biguess of small pin head to the
size partridge egg Here he entertained his youth
tu disciples with his simple, but beautiful and in.
structve discourses on the subjects that occupied
cults In this life-ceasing at once to work and
i've
There is high bluff or point of rock near the
Tunnel that rises nearly perpendcularly above the
Black water creek, on which Mr.. Holbrook spent
portions of his time, breaking the rocks and collect
ing specimens At the foot of this bluff Ia an eddy
OF deep water, his body was found floating in anup.
light position, on Monday afternoon, June 10th -
He left his Hotel on Saturday morning, and was
seen walking up the Railroad, by his usual route
toward the Tunnel. This was the last time be was
seen, until his body was found as described above
He was, no doubt engaged on the high point of
rock, when he slipped and fell, striking the bank
jus, at the waters edge-where some foot.marks
were seen-snd VAS thus plunged into deep water.
stunned and disabled, where be sank and was
drowned HE pockets were filled with large spe-
cimens of minerals, some of which were very
heavy, and served, no doubt, to keep his body un-
der the water until decomposition took place. when
he rose to the surface and the body discovered.
Il was known at the Hotel oh Saturday night that
Mr.. Eolbrook was absent, but il was supposed he
had gone into the country TO spend few days.
No search WAC made for him. therefore, and the
discovery accidental. His hat still on his
head. small sum OF money was found in his peck.
ct His name WAS found written a small slip OF
paper, and his body easily identified. though
swollen and discoiored. The Coroner held iurv
of inquest over his body, and verdict Of death by
accidental drowning was rendered His remains
were deceDily placed in a neat, plain coffin and
carried 70 the "Oid Methodist buryng srodnG as
il ia called Ia Lyncbhurg, followed by a few bows
who had been in his classes, and who by mere
chance, heard that his body had been discovered,
and was about 10 be Inferred They left their sports
and followed the cnrpse-the only mourners that
attended him from the creek to the burying ground
Just De The sinking away behind the blue
mountains amid ggrceousy iuniined clouds in
the presence OF few triends, and group of little
boys-teaEful and sad-his funeral services were
conducted By the writer OF this brief tribute to bis
memory. and his body committed to the ast
in the west end of the buryirg ground, against
the wall
1t il proper 70 ssy that his interment could not be
deferred or ns funeral rites would nave been di.-
ie-enty observed Very few persons Knew that he
TO be buried at the time he was consigned to
lis last resting place in the ground
This 10 the last OF Mr.. Josiah HolbrOok; man
whose life has been spent for the benefit OF Others
aud whose memory viii be fresh in many hearts
when his grave is forgotten.
GREAT RESULT FROM SMALL BEGrSs1NG
The Clarksville Tobacco Plant relates the follow.
ing:
4 gentleman Of our county observed last spring
spire OF wheat growing solitary ara alone in
his garden. CURIOSITY TO see what would come of
il induced him 10 direct his gardner 10 suffer it to
remain and cultivate it. This spire when upon
examination was found to have sprung from sin
gle grain braRched into tp0 hundred and eight
stalks each beGriHg good heed a0e filed aoi grain
We have one OF the heads which the gentle-
man says about equal to 100 others Of the bunch
and it measured fre inches. The remainder of the
neans We're smaller Than this specimen. He cOun-
ted the grains OF one head which was about ave.
rage OF the whole and found it to contain fifty five
But putting at an average Of fifty grains per head.
and it gives ten thousand four hundred grains as
the product Of one.
This story il vouched for by Col Geo. Rogers,
Of Mechjeaburg county.
SINGULAR CAsE.-A singular case came IN be
fore the court of Rockingham on Tuesday last,
which Is thus reported in the Register:
most respectable citizen of the county, some
Is or Is years ago, had an Legitimate child sworn
to him by its mother, AID was compelled to pay
the amount in that case made and provided for tbe
maintenance of the child. He declared his limo
ceace, but nevertheless footed the bill" which the
law and the action Of the court charged TO his ac.
count. Ii turned out, however, as the child grew
up, that it exhibited unequivOca proof that liz IA
ther was negro! While, matter of course
every one acquainted with the case, knew the cen
tlelnan was innocent of the paternity of TIE child
yet as matter OF justice to himself and family he
asked that he should be relieved OF the imlutatiop
winch the action OF a former court had cas- upon
MN. The court at once relieved him of the DO
stion Ia which he had been placed, and made an
order for retunding the money which he mad maid
Tor the support OF the child
EXTENSIVE RoBBERY-Tke ieweIrv estah,;.b
ment OF T. V. Moss, in Portsmouth, was burcla.
r!ously entered on Wednesday night last. and
roeoed OF some $4,000. worth of iewelry consist;nc
OF gold and silver watches, bracelets, rings, neck
lsces, etc. The Norfolk Beacon SAWS.
The burglars made their entrance from the front
door by boring through the lower mart of ~ Iont
win an anger, until they had made hoIa IT,
enough for man to enter. The whole ioh "a ~.
neatly aud well executed-and the night being dark
and rainy was well suited for their purposes IT.
loss falls heavily upon Mr. Moss he had ius, start
ed some twelve months ago in life, and was doing
cafe and good business. wing
HospIrALIrIEs.-Ihe councils of Norfolk have
appointed committees to wait upon the Presiden,
al Old Point and tender him the hospalities of the
city.
PROGRESS Bedford Sentinel thus illustrate,
the simple word-progress:
On Wednesday evening last, several gentlemen
passed through this place, at A o'clock, on tn.
care. who bad taken breakfast that morning in the
city OF Richmond. By The end of this year we
shall almost be sole TO go TO the Capital. shake
hands with our friends there and return the same
day. Hurrah for the Old Dominion.
FOUND DEAp-Wm GILLESPIE residing on Zane