The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1856-12-16
LOCAL MATrHHa


The Midlothian Disaster when we heard from
the Midlothian Coal PIT yesterday afternoon. the
mining agant and his assistants were usinr everv
effort to ascertain the fate Of the miners suppose
TO be lost and to rescue them If alive or recover
their bodies dead. At late hour last evening
received letter from friend at "Coaleld stating
that Messrs THOMAS LESTER and JAMES FARLEY
nad been rescued alive, and though very weak
from their long copfnement were able to walk to
tnelr homes The recovery of these two men has
Injured new hope in the bosoms of the friends of
others, and extraordinary efforts will now be made
70 learn the fate of the Others and to succor them
If alive.
TIE City Council held an adjourned meeting
yesterday afternoon to dispose Of business on the
table, Messrs. Dove. Saunders Quaries, Roddy
STOKES, Scott, Richards, Epps, Morrias, Crutch-
ned, Robinson, Gretter, Talbot and Richardson
oeins present During the meeting several bills
msae presented and appropriately referred Other
BUSINESS OF public importance, which we have
by the reader
uaugrs Fees At meeting of the Council
yesterday afternoon, Mr QuaIles presented an
ordnance, concerning the fees Of the City Gauper
"Dicn Was read and referred 10 . special commit
.te'conslsfinE Of Messrs. Quaries Stokes and Gret
ter. The ordinance referred to proposes to ir.
crease the fee for gaueing . cask of sixty gallons
or more to ten CENTS and for barrels holding less
AMOUNT screen cents each. When tn. ordinance
| UNDERSTANDING
that the fees should be increased when the aeers
gate amount did not reach $2500 per annum. The
present Gauger employs deputy but we do not
know what his receipts have been since he came
into Office.
Oakrood Cenaeery-The Committee on Oskwood
cemetery reported to the Council yesterday, that
they had examined into the charges m ade aeains.
the Keeper and on hearing bis statemen. .nd
viewing the ground. were satisfied that he was
willing to put up the dividing fence between Mr.
Johnston and the city, whenever Mr. J. was
prepared to do his proportion of fencing The
Committee asking for an appropriation of $50 to
establish a nursery for ornamental trees and
500 for putting up dividing fence, which appro.
pristions were made by the Council.
Chicken Stealing For some months past a reg.
ular system of robbing hen roosts has been car
ried on In the city, and with such success that
despite the efforts of the police no trace could be
discovered of the old chanticiers the variety of
feminine bipeds that made up their harems On
Oregon Hill scarce Shanghai has been left to
announce by his cultural crow the approach of
day Shockoe Hill has had its nocturnal visitors
and suffered from their depredations; whilst the
denizens of the valley have bled so freely by
similar process, that they have lost all rel
| ish for chickens, and so far from attempting to
rear them, have almost determined not to eat
them when cooked. Even on Church Hill where
rogues usually fare badly, whole neiehborhoods
have been swept of their favorite birds in single
| night, without the owners knowing a word of
course they had taken. Fortunately for our read
ers, watchmen Jenkins and Freeman discovered
the grand repository of stolen bpeds last Sunday,
| and not only succeeded in capturing the rngiead
er of the thieves and several of his subalterns but
| in discovriaS a mound of feathers of sufficient
magnitude to make sundry beds and pillows of -
As these two officers were standing In Pink al.
| ley last Sunday morning, they arrested q slave
named Dabney, with pair OF undressed fowls,
and learning Of him that he had purchased them
| from Allen, slave to William Anderson, went to
| Aliens house and there found twenty eight
fowls, which were being prepared for market
Allen had gone into the poultry trade extensively
| and as a means Of eusuring easy access into all
hen houses, had prepared himself with a short
iron handspike to use in drawing staples, and large
file for cutting rivets. Allen and his confederates
were taken before the Mayor yesterday, by whom
they were tried, found guilty, and ordered to be
punished by the lash. His master would do well
| to send him South very soon, some one may
give him dose Of indigestibis pills that will add
| nothing to his value.
| Stabbine.-The two free negroes, Coleman and
Jim Harris arrested last Sunday for asssultng ard
| stabbipg George, slave to Peter d. Glenn, were
| before the Mayor yesterday morning for examina
| tiop, but as the wounded man was too badly in
| jured to appear, the investigation postponed
| until Monday next and the prisoners were reman.
ded to jail
Sentence of dustin The United States Court
met yesterday morniog, when Judge HalybuIton
passed sentence on Octavus Austin, convicted in
three cases of forgery during the present term
The judgment of the Court is that the prisoner be
confined in the penitentiary for two years on one
verdict three years on the second aud two years
on the third-making bis whole term of coDfine
ment in the Virginia State Prison seren years
The Court commenced its civil docket, which
will be resumed to day at ii o'clock. Witnesses
and others should attend promptly.
The Drawing School of the Virginia Mechanics
Institute will commence to night, and be continued
until the spring opens. Pupils will be given ev, I.
ry opportunity of learning, and as every mechanic
should desire to become a competent craftsman
we hope to see the school well filled.
The l.. /. Blues. under the command of Captsi in
Fry, paraded yesterday afternoon, aud made a
most imposing appearance. as they marched aIol G
the streets, preceded by the famous Armory Band
On reaching the United States Hotel, the comps
nv halted and partook of admirable collation.,
| given by Serg'ts Bridgford and Carter, and pre-
| pared in luxurious style by Private Jeter
Lafayette Hau.--Mr. Ssunders from the Com
mttee to whom was referred the joint petition OF
the Virginia Mechanics Institute, State Agricuiiu
raj Society and Virginia Historical Society. asking
for the ground on which Lafayette Hall stands Tor
erecting Hail upon, has reported to the Council,
in substance, that it is inexpedent to give to tue
three Societies the of that lot but recommend
| ed an appropriation of $4,000 in city bonds, IL,
stead OF the lo, The report was received and laid
| on the table
| Increasing q Sdt2Ty Ia LGe Couucii, yesterday
| on motion ef Col Quares, q committee q y
pointed to bring in sn ordinance TO increase the
| salary of the Assistant Chamberlain from $3.50 10
$1,000 per year, 10 go into effect from and after tie
| ist OF January, 1857. The committee reported all
| ordinance ia accordance with Mr.. Q1arles resolu
tion which was laid on the table, to be acted upon
| at the Bext meeting.
| Increasing the Police-The large amount Of pet
| ty thefts going III the city, and the arrogance
to which citizens have been subjected by Sre
| rows among themselves and unlawful ASSEMBLE s
/ have Induced the City Council to- increase ihe
| Night Police by the addition of twenty men, AND
to keep them employed until the 18th of January
| BY this enlargement the Mayor will be enabled ts
| enforce the ordinances, and TO prevent imprope
| gatherings both night and day.
| Ad,uaed-James O'Conners had q light will
| Michael Grace. and besides getting his righ. ey'
| blsckensd received sundry scratches on his lef
| cheek from Mikes finger nails. How Mike fare,
| 10 the scuffie are unable TO say, but one thin
| is certain that he had Jim arrested and taken be
fore the Mayor for assaultiug and beating him -
| When the case was called, Mike failed to answe,
| and his honor theredpon ordered the accused Il
ramoss which he speedily did
The Ualartid assembly Of twelve negroes, 81
| rested by officer Morris. in Screamersville, las
Sunday, was speedily disposed of by the Mayo
yesterday morning Every fellow In the crow
received twenty stripes, well laid on, for bfin
In such . meas, and spending the day in drinkiu
and carousiDg.
| d. L.. -. hn ar