Washington sentinel. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1853-1855, 1855-01-16

biap contains the following very in eresiing sta
tistcs Of the last year:
The entire loss from fires in the United States
for the year, is estimated al about tiventy,aps mil
lion dollars There were also eigh ty-three fires,
in which loss of life ensued, the number of VIC
inns being one hundred and seventy one.
The number of railroad accidents was one hun-
drsd and niaety-three, killing one hundred and
elghty-six persons, and wounding five hundred
and eighiy-nine. In 1853 there Were only one
hundred and thirty eight similar accidents; but
attended with the loss of Two hundred and thirty
four lives, besides four hundred and nnety-six
wounded s4#
The steamboat accidents Of the yea%ha alarm
ingly increased, the total number reaching forty
eighf, with the loss Of fire hundred and eighty-
sepen sonis, and Two hundred and twenty-five
wounded, against forty. one accidents, three hum
dred and nlneteen killed, and one hundred and
hhyeight wounded in 1883.
Crime, too, of every grade, ioots up fearful
catalogue. There were SIR hnndre,2 and eighty
fico murders, and eighiy-iour executions during
the year.
The list OF mortality for the year includes the
demise of no less than eighteen men, and twenty.
seven women who had attained the age OF one
hundred gears and upward. One Ia colored
woman) was said 10 be one hundred and forty
six, and another ian Indian woman) one hundred
and torty-two years of age. The Oldest white
man was one hundred and seven, al nd the Oldest
white woman onehundred and taceaaty-Oae gears.
YOUTHFUL DEPRAvITY.-The Baltimore Ameri-
can, Of the 10Th inst, contains the following &C.
count Of two young female thieves:
1t has frequently fallen to our lot TO notice the
deinquencies of small boys in our city, and the
prospective disgrace which awaited continuance
l,...r d.. x1fs. l. i'll
under our notice on Friday night, which for dis
honesty and depravity excelled anything we have
ever known. The names ofthe girls are Catharne
Courthouse, whose parents reside in Spring street
near Jefferson, and Mary Gels, whose parents
reside in Josephine street. The last named girl
is thirteen years old, and the daughter of re-
spectacle and worthy German tailor. She left her
home about three weeks since and made applica-
ton AT the house of Mrs. Conway, No. III Hollins
street, for place, at the same time stating that
where 10 stay. Her appearance Indicated no per-
nicious habits, and the plausibility of her story
prompted the lady TO employ her. She remained
in the house for three days, after which she left,
carrying of gold watch and chain, and a rose
diamond breastpin, and 81 so in money, belonging
to Mr.. Benjamin Elder. The watch and chain
| alone were worth $40. From this place she
went into old town, where she met with Caiharine
Courthouse, aged fourteen years, and they formed
partnership 10 live by robbery Having staid al
tHc mousse Ol the later LOT TWO OF three OH
Monday last they disappeared, but il does not
appear where they stad that night On Tuesday
night they visited the Museum, where they re-
NAMED until the performances We're concluded,
and when they came out having no place TO stay,
the elder girl said she could find place, and
went in front of the city hotel and began 10 cry.
This attracted the attention OF some one con-
nected with the house, who on learning they were
from the country, pltied their condition and took
them into the house, where they were comfortable
for the night, their youth robbng their protector OF
all suspicion
On that or the subsequent day. they took seats
in one Of the Madison street stages, when the
elder succeeded in picking the pocket Of Mrs
William X. Boyle OF purse containing $l35. As
soon as the robbery was effected, they left the
stage and proceeded to the William Tell House,
al Pratt street bridge, told the proprietor they
were sisters, had COME from the country 10 learn
trades in The city, and had procured places in Pratt
street. The proprietor told them that he would
board them, If their father would come and say it
was all right, and they appointed Saturday as the
day for the arrival OF the father Every night
during the week they visited the Museum or Hol-
liday street theatre, generally going 10 the family
circle at the last named place. The police had
been notified of both the robberies noticed, and
were on the lookout for them until the sine OF the
arrest. On Friday night they called hack at the
corner OF Baltimore and Calvert streets, and or
dered the driver to take them to tho Holiday
street theatre, when they, through the hickman,
procured tickets to the dress circle, asking the
driver 10 call for them in half hour. AT this time
the High Constable was in the upper part OF the
house in search Of them. As soon he came
down Mr.. Joseph Mitchell, the officer Of the thea
ire, informed him that the girls whom he sought
were in the dress circle, and pointed them out.
II was al once determined not TO arrest them but
wall until they left the theatre, lest the audience
should be disturbed by the confusion which it
would probably create. As soon they started
out, they were followed by Mr.. Joseph Hiichell,
under the pretence of procuring hack for them.
As soon as they got upon the sidewalk, Deputy
High Constable Wright stepped up, told them that
they were charged with robbery, and would have
10 GO 10 the police station, TO which they were at
once Conducted.
On sea, ching the persons and trunks Of these
girls, some Of the articles and money they had
stolen were found. Some Of the articles, includ-
ing the watch, had been deposited by them with
man named 'Vallee, who was arrested. It is
likely that thes e young girls will be used as wit
nesses against lhe more experienced thief, who
received what they stole, and that they will thus
escape prosecution.
VrcTrMs oP SluRITuA1isM.--There have been
three victims Of Si,ritualism brought 10 the Ham
ilton County Lunatic Asylum within the past
three weeks. The physician Of the asylum, Dr. J.
8. Quinn, has been astonished at some Of the rev.
ela,ion. made from the world Of spirits. One Of
the three patients alluded 10, says he has had in
struc,ions from some of the spirits 10 engage in
the Hercuean labor OF preparing three works on
Theology, Demonology, and Sorcery.
[Cineinuoti Commercial Of THnrsday
A SAD MlsTAKE.-Two years ago, young Eng
lishman was arrested in Boston for passing coun-
terfei, money, tried, convicted, and sentenced 10
the States prison. The money which he passed
was a five dollar bill on the Wenthem Bank, which
was taken by the person receiving it to the Suf.
folk for deposit. The teller Of the Suffolk pro-