The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1854-12-09
Local. ~ TIERS.

TnCAJ, ~ a TIERS.
BuRrtso or THE PErIrErrIaRv = Doubts
ara antertained among many Of the officers Of the
nrisn as 10 the origin of the late destructive nrc
sons Of them believing that Il was the work OF an
incendiarv and others, that Il was produced rom
spone aneous combustion. The fire was hrst as
covered in the room over the machine s9oP, ~.
Meanlsy the Superintendent Of that department.
satisf;ed that no re had been carried there during
the dav or evening. He informed ~ that when ne
ART saw 1t the wool alone vas on Are AND tninss
had efficiency OF wster convenientlAt the time.
A. several efforts have heretofore been made to
burn the shops, Col Morgan, the General Superinr
tendenf, had established rule OF having them care
fnllv searched ~ soon the prisoners were lock.
ed Ia fhe cir cells and then having the search repea-
ed Al 2 o'clock at night On Thursday evening the
usual search was made, after the prisoners were
tak On from work, and the ofhcers and guard were
preparing Tor tne seco0o eAan'naon "ne1 sA'o =.
was discovered.
The workshops were very inlammable, contain
inc AZ they did vast amounts of conbustible mate
riale. and ar the wind was blowing perfect gaze
from the North at the time, It required but few
mioutes to set the entire row of buildings In
blaze All the officers could do then, was to- save
such articles as they could get to In the efforts to DO
which most of the prisoners labored indusfriousiy
as coon az they were unlocked. North OF the
workshops were large amounts OF lumber, which
the flames did not REACH owing to the severity OF
the wind but at one time it was thought the prison
house in which the men were usually confined, was
sure to be destroyed, 1t being continually exposed
not only to the intense heat and myrads OF falling
sparks but to the flames that enshrouded TOR
minutes at Time
On the East side of the prison, beyond the en-
closure sparks fell in such showers, that the grass
along the hill were fired and burned: Indeed, 50
terrific was the confagration, and feeble the re-
sistance against II, owing 10 the impossibilisy OF
procuring water for the engines that oil the build
ings must have been destroyed, had not the main
ones been fire proof.
We visited the scene Yesterday, and were really
surprised to see the workshops so completely
Quilted Scarcely vestige of timber escaped de-
sructon, while many of the base walls SO badly
cracked AZ to be worthless for further use Machl.
merry of all kinds tools and stock, shared the same
fate Most of the prisoners are now locked In their
cells, where they will probably have to remain all
the winter, it viii be impossible to reerect the
buildings before spring. This s particuiariy unior
tunate for them, as they can only keep themselves
comfortable while lying down, there being no
means of heating their rooms
= Our estimate of the less yesterday morning was
possibly double what it should have been-the 81
perintendent having informed Us since, that it
would not exceed $50, 900. fthe Legislature were
in session, or the Governor had the power, and
would order the workshops to be rebuilt immedi-
atey, the State would save q vast amount by en-
ployng her forces upon the buildings; but whether
this will be done or not, remains to be seen.
This 10 the second time the Pententiary has been
burned. On the 9th of August 1928, 1t was set on
fire and completely destroyed, many of the prison
ers then barely escaping with their lives When
the workshops are again erected, they should be
made perfectly freproOf, and as the State has ia1
mense quantities of the best of granite, 1t would be
coed policy to construct the walls of that article.
ENTERING A HoUsE. Some few nights
since, the residence of Mr. Cox, on Marshall street.
between Gath and 25th streets, was entered by q
white man, and daring effort made to plumber II
of all that was valuable but fortunately the thie
was discovered and driven off before he succeeded
Mr. Cox and his lady had retired to bed, and were
sound asleep, when some slight noise awoke Mrs
Cox who saw in her chamber white man. With
out giving any alarm she gently awoke her hus
band who, seeing the intruder, sprang from his
bed and made at him. The fellow instantly fled,
and was holly pursued by Mr.. Cox, who when
about to put his hand upon the fugitive stumbled
over something and fell by which accident the in,
truder effected his escape.
On examining the premises, Mr.. Cox found thai
he had fallen over his cloak, which had been taken
from it's proper place and put the floor ready for
removal. The arrangement of other articles in
the house also showed that the burglar was prepar
Ing for a clean sweep of every movable, and but
for his being discovered 1t is not at all improbable
that every thing of value owned by Mr. Cox would
have been carried away before morning.
As the holidays are rapidly approaching, when
hundreds of strangers are nightly turned loose te
prow about the city, would be good policy In
readers only to lock and bolt their doors before
retiring, but to see that their windows properly
| secured. The extent of territory over which the
night watch have to pass renders timpossible fol
them to guard and protect every man property
and it is therefore the more important that each CT
tzen should zee that his premises are properl5
| secured, and that no intruders are admitted.
From what we have heard of the above case, it il
not at all improbable that Mr. Cox will recognise
the burglar after whom he had a run, and that he
may yet succeed In handing him over to the law.
ESCAPED CoNvIcT.-During the burning
of the Pententary on Thursday night last, EIiaI
years. for burglary, and received in the prison on
the 28th of June last, effected his escape HeIma
is feet inches high, white complexion, black
hair dark eyes, and is shrewed fellow. When
the prisoners were brought from their cells and
put to work in the yard, Helms was amongst them
apparently very busy. 1t Is not known at what
time he got out Of prison. but the presumption H.
that he dressed himself In one of the overcoatS
taken from the taors shop, fell in with the crowd
while taking in and out the fire apparatus passed
the sentinels at the gate, and then made off in the
direction of the canal bank where he changed bis
clothes leaving his prison suit 1t is quite probable
that this fellow has gone in the direction of Lynch
burg. where the police are requested to be on the
alert for him.
DISTRESS WARRANrs.-By reference to
the revised code of 1S49, page 252 the following
law relative to distress warrants aud leyies foI
=
are in many cases more than poor "renters" have
90 that when they once get possession and are moi
disposed to give up the house, the landlord has q
tedious process to go through before he can recov-
er control of his property, much less get pay for
the use of 1t. Every person should read the ex-
tract below and preserve II a. a matter of refer
ence:
In the case of husband or parent there shall
be exempt from distress levy the following arti-
cles, or 30 much or so many thereof as the party
may have: one cow, one bedstead with bed and
necessary bedding for the same; six chairs one
table, six knives six forks, six plates, two Dishes
two basins one pot one oven, six pieces OF wood
or earthenware, one loom and its apPurtenances,
spinning wheel, one pair of cards and one axe,
five barrels Of corn, five barrels of wheat or one
barrel of flour, two hundred pounds Of bacon or
pork, and five dollars in value of forage or hay
FAST DRvEG.-A warrant was issued
By the Mayor, yesterday for the arrest of Gabriel
officer White, with rapid driving In the streets on
the 4th inst He will probably be hauled up to-day
and taught better manners.
BEAUTIFUL WoRKs.-LoungiDg few min
vfaa in 10 RoOk store Of w A RrTr~rppe x.,oro