Daily American organ., 1856-08-18
1T'TY INTELLIliENCE.

CITY INTELLIGENCE
A fire broke out about O'Clock on SATURDAY
evening in the large carpenters shop on Connect.
cut avenue, between and streets, First Ward,
belonging to w. w. Corcoran, ESQ, which, with
Its contents, was entirely consuIaed. The fire was
of incendary origin. In attempting to save some
tools and other property within, Mr.. John Wilson,
carpenter, who resides IA the immediate neighbor-
hood, came near sacr hcing his life. He entered
the burning shop fro' n a window In the rear for
the purpose OF cper ing the front door, but besides
the inner bar, II sems there was q strong paddock
90 the outside, TIot thought Of by Mr.. W., which
tor conside' able time resisted the efforts OF
Messrs. john Potts father and son, who had gone
TO assist Var. Wilson. When the door was at
length TO- Iced Mr.. Wilson was lying on his back
on the ground, his face End hands much burnt
he y.as quickly attended by DR.. Miller who re-
m.dned with him the greater part of the night He
Is not considered in any serious danger, though the
injury was very severe.
As the Perseverance and Anacostia Companies
were peaceably and quietly returning to their
homes from the above fire, when In the nefghbor-
hood OF Fourteenth st. and Pennsylvania avenue,
they were attacked by members of the Franklin,
who had stationed themselves on each side OF the
Avenue, evidently for the purpose. A severe tight
.ensued, In which some of the members were much
cut and bruised by blows from bricks, cudges, DC,
The above facts we're given to us by an eye wit
ness, who also states that the police were present
in force, and did not make an effort to arrest any
of the parties.
About four hours after this, fire was discovered
in small tenement, formerly stable, but recent
'iy fitted up as dwelling, in Georgetown, close to
the last lock on the canal. The family inhabiting
1t got off without personal injury, but with the loss
of good part of their household goods. The house
md hxM NJ su 4FH nWn
LoNAcoNIE9 Coal WORKS AT GRoKGErows.--
We are gratfed in being able at length to report
successful issue to the enterprise ingenuity, and
patience displayed by the President and Directors
of the Homecoming Coal Company in reference to
their works at Georgetown. A test was made on
Friday last which suffced to convince even the
skeptica OF tile entire feasibility Of the plan pro-
posed for cap and speedy transhipment of coal
from the canal level to the river level. This plan
is the second of two that have been entertained by
or on behalf of the COMPANY, The first we believe
to be due to Alexander Ray, Esq, the President of
the Company, and may be described thus: An
aqueduct leads from the canal to the river, in
which loaded coal boat floats close to- although
thirty feet above the level of Underwater. When
the canal boat has reached this point the lock
gates communicating with the canal are closed,
and on Withdrawing the water the loaded boat
gradually sinks upon a cradle prepared for it.
lrap-doors are now opened in the aqueduct and
In the bottom of the boat, and the coal descends
through them either into rail.cars or chutes pre-
pared to receive and distribute it, doing away at
once with the vast labor of unloading cenal boat
by hand. The second plan, which is due to the
ingenious Mr. Duval Of Georgetown, and is
of which successful trial has been made, supplies
a means whereby the coal can be taken from the
boats without craving off the water. The plan is
simple and beautiful and since it has proved practi
cally succeSsfnl, cannot fall to be an immense i'm.
provement Upon the aforementioned plan 1t is
expected tF,at from eight to twelve boats can be
unloaded daily and that the total charges for un-
loading, wharfage, and reloading will fall SO far
short CT the present rates elsewhere to render
1t an object to the coal owners TO bring their coal
to Georgetown. At all events the contrivancs
thus perfected by Mr.. Duval solves problem of
hrst-rate Importance, which cannot fail to have
favorable effect upon the great and growing coal
business, and upon the District as principal en-.
trepot thereof--Nat Int.
FIRE IN GEoRaETowN,-About one o'clock yes
terdsy morning, fire broke out in Georgetown,
in n small frame dwelling on the corner of Wash
ington street and the canal. The building be-
longed to Mr.. Henry Thecker. 1t is believed to
be the work Of an incepdiary. There was no In
surance on the building.
THAT SrILE.--We should like to know 1--WE ask
for Information why the stle or steps have been
remove from the south side of the Smithsonian
grounds, near Ninth str eets For the accommoda-
tion OF the city, bridge erected at great ex-
pense, and plank walk laid down from tn bridge
to the entrance of the Institution. This stie was
great accommodation to the people of the Island.
IL saved them many steps in going to and return
ing froEi market, and was convenient at all times
for all the people of the leland and the rest of man.
kina> There are something like seven thousand
Inhabitants or the Island already, and we expect,
some OF these days, they will be represented in
Congress 1t may happen that this Representa-
tive, who cannot be other than a smart fellow,
might be named one of the Regents of the Insti-
tuition, In which case, his voice would be potential
In all matters of interest to that concern. 1t costs
nothing to be polite AMI accommodating and even
II it did cost trie in view of the important issues
which the future may present it would be well to
expend few dollars for the accommodation Of so
influential people
FIRE.-The poudrette factory, in the rear of
Pearces Nursery, on Fourteenth street, was totally
destroyed last night. 1t was the work of an in
cendsry, We are informed Insured for $780,
RosBERY.--Mr. Yates, living on Seventh street,
Island, was, one evening last week, robbed of sew
eral hundred dollars.
"The Officer il informed that we got the stat.
ment from of his personal and political friends,
who thought 1t Odd hard" that he should be so
strict upon one Of the same party. We have no
desire to do the officer any Injustice, but we be-
leve 1t to be contrary to law for an officer to re-
csive fine. If the statement be false, how did it
,appen to hit so hard-heyf
The steamer Powhatan arrived this morning,
from her trip to Old Point. She took large COM
panv down and up.