The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1855-04-21
LOCAL MATTERS.

-
DESTRUCTIVE FIRE IN HESRIco.-on
Thursday afternoon last, between the hours Of
end o clock. very destructive FIRE ccourred u
Henrico county, along the line OF the Richmond
and Fredsrickshurg railroad by which about two
thousand cords of wood were destroyed, and .
large amount ofiencing burned. The fire was first
discovered near the Hermitage. about one mile
from this city, and the general impression Il. that
Yves caused by sparks from the = down train loco
motive" the spark catcher, It 10 supposed, havs
Ing been misplaced, and thereby allowing the en-.
CINE TO throw eff 40 unusual amount OF burning
sparks, which, falling on the dry leaves, soon kin.
died Into blaze. This. however, we are assured,
Is mistake, az the woods near the Hermitage was
burning at IL o'clock In the morning
friend OF ours, who visited the scene OF con
fagrsion yesterday morning, has furnished us with
the following list Of persons. and their losses py
this are:
Mr. Charles R. Allen had $50 cords OF wood,
stacked near the road, all of which was burnt.
Messrs Glenn & Davis had 500 cords OF wood
destroyed, which was valued al $1,000.
Messrs, Williams g. Ragland bad 500 cords Of
wood burned the value OF which was $4,000.
Mr. Biigewater lost 100 cords OF wood by the
| fire. and had his new fence entirely consumed.
Mr. Daniel E. Gardner had a quansity OF wood
cut and stacked near the road, 50 cords OF which
was destroyed. ~.
DR.. TAYLOR also lost 90 cords of wood, and por-
| ton of bis fencing.
| The nsirhbors on discovering the copfseratfon,
l imn ediNtGtY aGsemOiSO, anu lhpUftu
and untiringly to check the devouring element but
| everything was SO dry, that they found 1t almost
| impos sble to do 80, until It had consumed nearly
| everything within its reach. Two negro men, who
were most zealouslv engaged In striving to stop
the progress of the flames, became surrounded De-
fore they we're aware OF 1t, and was nigh being SUI
| located and burned. a.,
We unders and that the Railroad Company will
be called on to pay these lossea, which are quite
heavy and ifthey refuse to do So then suits Will De
l ipesi OF damages.
Iif as has been asserted the FIRE was caused by the
/ carelessness OF any of the Companys agents. or
| the incompleteness of Its machinery and the TACT
Ia made known to the Board of Directors, tnere Is
yery little doubt that Justice will be done to the
sufferers without the necessity OF law suis. put
| on the other hand. If the woods took nre rom
some other cause, as an officer OF the railroad com
pany assures Us they did, and were burning In the
| nornino. then the blame should be thrown where
il rightly belongs and not on the shoulders OF in
| nocert parties We have given the statements OF
both sides, from which our readers may ara" tneir
| own conclusions.
Woons ON FiRE.-Last Thursday morn
ing the sparks from the down train cars from Acqua
Creek to this city. set the woods on hrs bstween
4 Fredericksburg and Guinea Station, and the wind
blowing perfect gale at the time, the flames soon
spread to the railroad and burned one hundred feet
OF the sils before the ire could be sxtnguishe =
| Rstweep .Polecat" and "CbesteIfed" Ststious the
woods were again fred from the same GAUGE, aud q
| " OGDEN culvett burned; and at the Junction the
/ woods also nfeu DGtEES track was ROT
gndaed tnrouahout the .'run" from Acquia Crsek to
| this city, the wood. seem to have been regularly
fired, at various aess. BY sparks frcr the engine;
| but we gratifed to learn that no houses were
burned and no lives lost The track also fred
| at various points. but no serious damage done.
As soon that night as Superintendent Bragg heard
of the fires the read, he summoned all his avaa-
BILE force. and started for the Of cona grafton
and gratihed to state that he not only sue.
the road before day light that but one train was
delayed by the accident. We learn from Mr.. Bragg,
that SMALL hole had burned in the stack" fro u,
which inDumerable sparks escaped. and that the
woods being very dry. and this wind higt, tn, de sd
leaves and grass were fired by them.
How far the fire has extended irto the country, has
not been ascertain but the impression yesterday
afternoon that 1t had been conquered Of
course estimate yet be made of the loss caus.
ca By this unfortunate and unavoidable accident.
CIRCUIT G. OF T-JUDGE MEREDITH,
PRESIDING This Court met at the appointed hour
yesterday morning, and proceeded to the trial of
BARNEY THoLE, white man, charged with stab
bling with intent to KILL Frederick Misel, on the 23d
of March last These two men, with some OF their
friends metin house in the Valley, both of them
being somewhat under the Influence of ardent spi-
rits where they had Misunderstanding about a
trivial matter, when Thoie drew large knife and
plunged itinto his adversary several times but tor.
tunateIy struck no vital part.
When the evidence and arguments of coun-
sci were concluded, the cause was given to
the jury, who retired for consultation, and on
their return reported that they found the prisoner
guilty, and assessed his punshment at nine months
imprisonment in the city jail.
Stabbing.-Moses Garrison. indicted for stabbing
with intent to kill Joseph Ramie, on the 29th of
November last, was next set to the bar for trial
These men got into difficulty at dance house in
Rockets the prisoner being the aggressor, and in
the melee Ramle was dangerously stabbed. After
hearing the evidence and argument of counsel the
cause was given to the jury, who retired and held
consultation for several hours, when they return
ed and reported as their vereict that they found
the prisoner euilT of unlawful stabbiog ascertain
ing bis punishment to be nine months mprison-
ment In the city JAIL and to pay fine of $50. The
adjourned.