The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1856-08-14

win natter, 70 Unread needle, to ascend and
descend ladder, to uncork bottle with n cork
screw,to load fowling piece and kill anything
cesgnaied, or put out . candle with q simple wad
quite wonders enough for man without either
legs or arms.
FIREMEHs CELEBRATfoN.--Tbef fire den.rtmer,
OF Nsw Haven, CT, has its triennial celebration on
tne 4th, 9th, and 9th of September, in which the
hremen from all parts of the United States are in.
yiIed 70 participate. There is to be . playing
matcn, Tor which three prises are offered-one Of
I'VE hundred dollars. one of two hundred and one
"f one hundred dollars-ali of which will be
awarded to the suecessfu competitors from abroad
10 the company that shall throw the highest
stream OF water on pole erected for that pur-
| pose, dsa wing their own water, playinR through
fonr hundred and fifty feet of hose and through
such pipes as the company may prefer, will be
awarded the first premium. To the company that
snaii throw the second highest stream, the second
prize, and the third highest stream the last
Prize. The companies will each be allowed fif.
teen minutes to arrange their apparatus and play
| the match.
AN EXPERIMENT IN WOOD SAVING FOR STEAM
ENGINES Mr. William Wiggins, an eneineman
on the Pacific railroad has been for some time ex.
perimepting to see how far he could reduce the
cost OF running his engine, and has at last found
mat he can run one hundred and TWENTY-FIVE
miles with 0ae cord Of wood This statement be.
ing ridiculed by those who thought themselves ex.
perts, Mr VIM NJ. Mcpherson, the President of the
o,
| statement, having had the wood measured and put
on the tank, and rode the engine himself to see
that the experiment was fairly tested He says:
The train stopped at all the way stations to put
ON the mails and passengers, and arriving in JEFF
ferson City in seven hours Irregular time) and
burning one cord of wood, distance one hundred
and twenty five miles. The train consisted of
three passenger cars and one baggage and express
cars carrying one hundred and six passengers the
mails. Adams & Co.'S express freight and passen-
gers baggage
In the first forty five miles the maximum grade
is forty five feet to the mile, and there are two
long grades to ascend, the remaining eighty miles
varies from ten to twenty feet per mile, but is all
on an ascending grade and the great amount of
curvature on this road requires additional power
to overcome the friction.
The wood used was ordinary oak wood and the
engine was the Mississippi No. 9, built by Rogers
ketchum IL Governor, of Patterson, New Jersey
Weight Of engine twenty eight tons size of driving
wheels, i've feet six inches.
SURPRISE PARTIEs-Of late yery novel and
questionable sort of amusement has become fash
ionabe. Several friends and acqu aintances inform
each other that they atend to drop in and take
tea with Mr. and Mrs B. The family are
surprisd and astonished to find fifteen or tw enty
friends and acquaintances 10 the house who hay 6
called to take tea. The tea chest is just exhaust.
ed-nOt bit Of cake in the pantry-not loaf of
bread In the grocery. and not enough cups and
saucers and teaspoons to 90 round What a pack
OF trouble the poor woman is in She'd give her
wedding gown if she had only known of th cir com.
ing. There is mighty deal of fun in these sur
prise parties, and great deal of annoyance and
hard feelings. The day before yesterday q very
unpleasant incident occurred at one of these par
| ties merchant who has heretofore held re.
spectacle position In society selected by some
friends to call on. 1t a surprise party indeed
to all concerned They found the husband insen-
sibe from the effects Of liquor laying on the hall
stairs, and his wife with bruised face and black
eye, bathing his temples with ice water. How
many such scenes occur unknown to the world
Albany Kaickerboeker
THE STORM EAsT-The storm of Friday and
Friday night last proved very DISASTROUS in its ef
fects at the East. The Springfield Republican has
| the record of some fifty of the lightning
striking, mostly in Eastern Massachusetts,; while
in other States especially in Connecticut instances
are quite as numerous. Damage by wind is also
considerable.
ARTIFICIAL GRANITE-The Rochester Union
Eve have seen some specimens of this article
for building purposes which have durable ap.
pearance, besides being handsome. The granite
10 made of q composition Of sand and lime. Tho
rough chemical tests have proven its indestructi-
bility. Itis moulded in blocks of FIVE times the
size OF common bricks. and in admirable shape for
building Each block has 4 mortice through it, so
as to pass current Of air through the centre of
the entire wall of the building, and thxs prevent
frost from entering. The cost of the article even
in New York. is said to be far less than bricks and
it can be laid more rapidly"
COLLEGE EMEUTE.-There is misunderstand.
ing between the faculty and students of Trinity
College Hartford, growing ont of the burning of
the Euclid 1t seems there has been an agree.
ment here tofore that the burning should be con-
sidered 4 regular college custom but that the
speeches prepared for the occasion should be first
submitted to the faculty, and this has been the
custom until now, when the students refuse a
longer compliance with the rule.
NOT TRUE-The report Of a spiritual marriage
of young lady at Bordentown, New Jersey, with
the corpse of young man to whom she had been
engaged, Is said to be totally without foundation
TEXAS CoTToN-Texas papers mention the
receipt of additional bales of new cotton of ex.
cellent quality and staple, which is selling at l2
cents. There is promise of very fair crop this
year. se
ToURNAMENT-At Burners White Sulphur
Springs, Virginia, on the 10th inst. tournament
took place, at which Mr. G Parrish of Culpeper,
under title of knight of the Lone Star" bore
off the ring. Miss George Rust, of baltimore,
was the recipient of the crown. J. =. Kavenagh.
knight of Richmond" the next successful
one, and chose Miss Fossstt, of Baltimore, first
Maid of Honor.
STEAMER SUSK-T steamer Daniel s. Tay-
lor, with cargo of hemp and tobacco, &c was
sunk In the Missouri river on Saturday. A small
portion of the cargo was saved. Loss estimated
at $250, 600, mostly insured III
THE LATE THUNDER STORMS have been very
severe throughout the New England States. Dams,
mills and bridges have been swept away by sud
den fre.hets; dwellings, barns. churches, vessels,
fagstaffs, &c, have been burned dawn or shatter
ed by the lightning and several persons have been
stunned or temporarily injured from the same
cause but no fatal cases have been recorded. 10
other sections the effects of the storm have been
similar.
WONDERFUL PRESENTATIONS -0n Saturday,
% mat, a young man, named Wm Symington,
while cleaning out well near Toronto. Canada
West, was buried at depth of forty feet. by the
caving in of the sides Of the well. After 30 hours
Of incessant exerton, he was rescued with but
little injury, and soon as well as ever Some
large stones had formed an arch over his head, to
which he owed his preservation.
ExTRIvA6ANCE.-Ata hop at Newport, r. L, .
few evenings since. . lady from New Orleans. La /,
were . bouqust Of diamond. pearis, and precious
stones said to be worth S20.000t s4ass
The Postmaster General has established An Of
fce ut Jordans Syringe, Rockbridgs county, Va.
and appointed William Jordan postmaster. VIII
receive regular supplies from Cedar Grove Miils.
81 miles distaut