The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1856-12-17
LOCAL MATrHRs

Late from the Midlothian Pits We learned "a.
| terdsy afternoon. that Mr. Averick. the M;n;r.
Agent ~ these Pits, was sparng no efforts to res
cue the missing miners, or ascertain their fate =
His force is working night and day to effect . com
muuication to the various drifts in which the me,
were employed and since the rescue of Nessrs
Farley and Lester. strong hopes are eptertainef
that most if not all the other miners are vet a. fa
Yesterday morning the pickmen were sausuin.
that they heard knocking, and were doing an II
their power to effect passage to It.
We understand that both Farley and Lester
were quite well yesterday morning. and with the
exception OF some light bruises suffered but II.
tie by the accident. Mr. Farley states that he
was mining coal just before the acciden, occurred
last Friday morning, and observing that the water
appeared to be coming more rapid than usual re.
marked to the mau by him that he did not ike n
and started TO the shaft but after getting about
one hundred feet, remembered that he had Ief. his
pipe and returned to get it. but before he coud do
so, the ater burst iI upon him As soon a possible
ne seized an upright and held to it, despite the
violent rushing of the water. which stripped him
OF MS pants, shoes and socks, leaving him not a
vestige of clothing save his shirt After getting
on an uprising, he took care to remain there and
was shortly afterwards joined by Pringie. who re
fnsed to remain, and wandered off in the dark
He afterwards met with Lester and they remained
together On Monday afternoon Farley saws he
was in the act of getting water to wash his mouth
when be heard the picks of the EXPLORING partv
ana oy way OF encouraging them TO per severe be
got lump OF coal or slate and knocked heavily 10
attract their attention. He knows that some of
the colored hands were less exposed than him
SELF and thinks they will be rescued if not crushed
by tumblne coal.
Yesterday morning William Barnes, one of the
men who was rescued on Saturday. was anxious TO
descend the pit to aid in the search for his com
rades, but was persuaded not to do SO, because of
his cuts and bruises received by the floating tim
bers and falling coal when the accident occurred-
The after damp" is yet bad in the pit but does
not deter the miners from prosecuting their labos
In search OF those whose condi'ion is yet unknown
We understand from Mr. Standard that the ws
ter CONTINUES TO rise slowly in the pitt but that tw
engines are now employed in pumping it out, and
that hopes are entertained of reducing it sufficient
~ 80 as 10 enable the company to go on with their
works in short time
Agricultural Fair Grounds-It is now generally
conceded that new grounds will have to be Sc
ected for the annual fairs of the State Agricultu
raj Society," because of the fact that that portion of
the present grounds known as the Horse Lot"
cannot be permanently secured, it being the pro
perty of Individuals and because the fair will be
Fhorn of its most attractive feature If the trnttng
course is broken up, and the owners of fast stock
are not allowed the opportunity of exhibiting the
style and speed of their beautiful horses We
have already heard two three locations spo-
ken of as being well edapted to the purposes of
the Fair and if all of them equally acces ST.
bic, the Agricultural Society would have very lit.
tie trouble in making selection, provided its
members ard friends would plank down the dust
to secure the purchase and make the required i'm
provements That our readers may know the
location suggested and the advantages and obiec-
tions urged tor and against eacn, we will here
name them.
First, then, is the beautiful piece of table land
near Hospital Hill, and in direct line with the
eastern continuation of Main street This site ID
eligible one, near the corporation line, and can
be improved at small cost; but the objections
urged to it are, that it is too far from the business
parts of the city-that the price per is toe
much, and that thousands of persons would be de
TERED from visiting it, because of the difficulties
to be encountered in getting to it in vehicles o
any kind,
The next place in view is the pretty field o.
twenty five acres adjoining Fairfield race course
which is rendered the Society, free of charge, by
Mrs. James Tally. ALI who know anything of thi
tract admit that the grounds are admirable adapt
ed to the purpose of the Society, and If they were
located nearer the principal hotels there wert
any means by which the thousands of visitors
could ge. to them. save by long walk, the liberia
offer OF Mr.. t. would be jumped at. But notwith
standing the distance, which is not more than oDt
mile and half from the post Office, these ground
would receive more favor with many, if fears were
| not entertained, that vehicles could not be pro
cured 10 carry the people to and fro, even at ex
h1rbtant charges.
The third location is that of Buchanan Spring,
short distance west of the city, where al sbund
ance of land can be obtained, and those who pre-
fer this site, give many reasons why it should bt
selected They say that this land lies equally a.
well for Improvement either OF the other places
that it is now in high state of cultivation, anc
would therefore need less artificial means o ensure
the growth of trees and shrnboery necessary al
ornament--that the bold spring upon 1t of cocl
delightful water, would, by the aid Of reservoir
furnish an abundance of water for all the stock
that could be got together in the enclOsure-tha
; IF PXrpitpnt
ed on the land for gravelling the waiks-tbat the
Richmond and Fredericksburg Railroad Company
would run trains to and from the grounds every
hour in the day, carrying passengers much cheap
than they are now taken to the present grounds
in cabs-and that all stock cow brought down bJ
the Central Railroad, could take the Fredericks
burg road at the Junction, and be laBded at ths
Fair Grounds, with little or trouble and a
small cost TO the owners The objections urged Il
this location are First that it is far west fol
citizens and others who do not wish TO incur any
expense of getting TO the grounds-and second
That the price asked for the land $1,000 per acre
is entirely too much to pay tor it. as the Society
will need eighteen acres, and SlS 600 is no smal
sum to raise for the naked land
We have no doubt In our own mind that two o.
three active business meR can raise handsome
sum- by subscription, to aid in purchasing suitable
grounds aud making the necessary Improvement
ou them for holding Il Fsis. but until some ioca
ton Is decided upon by the Executive Board Oft
Agricultural Society, it will DE impossible 10 d.
auy Il i 6. If one of the locations east of fh'
city is seiee ed, business men and properly holder
| In that direction will subscribe Iberally, whis
they would not give one dollar if the Western sit
is chosen, and cica with Western bushes
mea and property holders. 1t is useless there
fore to hope for action until the sci ion is made
The Ndiad Queen Is the card for to night, ar
every body and family will be at the theatre 10 se
Ii. This magnificent spectacle has now been rnn
ming for eight nights. drawing crowded house-
and yet the desire to see ii has not abated par
iicle Mr. Getz, the artist, deserves great cred
for this admirable show piece, which has addet
not little to his high reputation as scenic
painter
Noisy Bur well Daley, vender OF fruits, In
dulged rather freely in apple juice last Monday
night aud mounting high horse, kicked al
sundry shines in Pink Alley. for which he wa
caiaboosed. Yesterday morning the old man wa
as cool as an iceberg, and promising to Keep 30 II
future, was discharged.
Put Apay Henry williams, free negro, wa
arraigned before the Mayor yesterday for smoking
in the street, having no papers aud reastipg shs
wa,ehmen the night before. After Deing pu
through course Of trouncing he was locked vi
for further consideration.
Mocking Bird and cage were found 10 tne aer
of a chicken thief last Sunday, by Watchmar
N t., "a ,sk an care of by that officer, VINO ma