The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1857-02-17

Uft
upon the train TO converse with friend. ana did
not know il had started until IL was wen under
way. Not wishing TO be carried MP the road be
sprang o and IN doing 30, struck agsinsta pile OF
wood, which threw him backwards under the On r.
where he would have been instantly crushed, b,li
for the circumsta1ce of Capt Gooch being on the
platform. and seizing him by the collar, drew him
rom beneath the wheels Mr. Doswe ell had the
bones OF his left leg fractured and was othsrw ise
bruised His escspe from instant death was
doubtless owing entirely to the presence of mind of
Captain Gooch, the conductor Of the train.
Youthful Hsroism We were told yesterday Of
remarkable instance of presence of mind ON the
part OF little boy about nine or ten years old -
He was seated, with three other children, In an
open carriage, when one of them q little girl,
unthiukingly started the horses. and then alarmed
at what she had done, the children commenced
crying. which frightened the animals, so that they
ran OF at full speed. The reins were Iylpr at the
time over the dashboard and the little boy rs f-rred
TO- who was sitting with bis back to the animals,
cooiiy furned aroand, gathered them up and plant.
Ing his ,ot against the board strained with sl his
might to stop the horses. In this position he held
on to them t after long run, they reached Bel
ievue Hospital, where anumber of gentlemen sue.
ceeded In stopping them When ask ed if be wasn't
scared, the little hero replied, he was scared for
the children but not for himself"
Gas Metres Having heard several complaints
lately IN regard to gas lights going out in public and
private houses, leaving every body In the dark
without warning, and this too in places where but
recently the metre had been frozen but afterwards
shawed out aud reflied it med u. reasonable 10
suppose that such ANNOYANCE should exist and
we have therefore taken the trouble to ascertain
Ito cause, We understand that Ia all cas- es where
metres are retiiled with aiehoto. aud water as is
u'uai alter being frozen, the liquid being more vel.
stiie than water, evaporates quite rapidly, and
soon becomes 80 low In the metre to prevent
Is operating In many stores an other aces u ing
large quantities Of gas this evaporation is equal to
one gallon week. and the metre, therefore, re-
quires filling to this extent at least in six or
eght days Atthe Athep eum on the night of the
meeting of the Virginia Historical Society, the
lights went out during the delivery of Mr. Hoge's
idress and we understand that the metre requir>
ca nearly two gallons of water to be put into be-
fore the gas would burn again.
As usual in all such matters many persons Law
the Diane on the gas works, and think that their
grievances arise from some Encouragement at the
fountain head, when I reality no sort of interrupt
ton mas been experienced at the works during the
whole OF the severe weather of the present winter
ne trouoe complained OF, is owing entirely to the
cause above stated.
Previous to the winter of 1855 and '5f, these
troubles existed to very limited extent, because
very few metres were frozen, owing to the mild
ness OF the weather. Anticipating no such frigd
spells, the metres generally were not provided
with any protection against them, and, as q const
quence, the water In them bt came CONCEALED and
thereby put stop TO their operations for the time.
Ia the Northern cities, where the people are ac-
cusfomed to cold weather the ga metres are care
fully placed where they not liable to Freeze or
are protected by being wrapped in blankets or
carpets before the cold weather sets in, and the
consumers Of gas are thereby saved portion OF
the annoyance incident to froZ IN metres Proba
bly, the experience of the past two winters will
induce our citizens to similar precautions 10
the future, and thus save themselves froa much
vexation.
We have msde the above statement with the
bad ell,
tune to be deprived of light for hight or two that
the evil is not one al pg from Encouragement at
the gas works, but from the same causes which
have stopped the hydrants in our city, closed the
rivers and laid an embargo on the mails for more
than week 1t q time, and consequently is, in q
great degree, beyond all human control.
City Uorkers.-The Mayor has dismissed Mr..
John D. Perrin from the oftce of "Qverseer of
the city convicts," and appointed in his stead Mr.
SAMUEL PEARcE, as principal Overseer, and Mr..
A. w. lambert as Assistant. Before entering npon
the discharge of his duties MIR. Pearce was in.
structed, by the Mayor, to employ the couvic;s
under him on such work the Superinten ndent Of
Streets the Overseer of city hands might direct
and to use the necessary means to keep them
employed, to prevent their escape, and to protect
them from insult and sneers by outsiders; but ia
no instance to punish them unless directed so to
do under the sentence of q court II any of the
convicts are refractory, the Overseer is to re-
turn them to the Jail and report them to the
Mayor. If any Ct them are sick or disabled,
they not to be put to work; and once at leas.
in every week the conduct OF the convicts to
be reported TO the head Of the police. Mr. Mayo
stated, that 10 person had ever been sentenced by
him TO labor On the streets for drunkenness alone.
and referred to the record to prove the assertion
The law pointed out the characters designed for
street labor aud while he held his pre- sent posi-
ton he intended to enforos that law the best of
his abilities
Wife Wkipping William Rowland, charged
with whipping his wifs, discharged by the
Mayor, the complainant failing to appear and tes.
tify when called.
Grabbing If all those persons in Monroe Ward,
who have had their market baskets and contents
taken from their servants within the past two
weeks, will appear at the Mayors Court to day.
with their servants, have very little doubt that
they will be enabled to discover and identify the
rob0er. as the police believe they have now sue
ceeded In capturing him.
Capture Of Fagiti0e.-Jim Ellis alias Rix, the
free negro tnat made his escape from the city Jail
a week or two since, has been arrested, and was
before the Mayor, yesterday, on the charge OF
stealing two watches. The morning of the day Oh
which Jim made bis escape, he was seen In the
street with another prisoner, unaccomparied by
any guard. In order to have witnesses summoned.
the examination WAS postponed till this morning
when some rich developments may be looked for,
rs jim has been q rare bird Of his hind.
Sacred Mnsic.-It will be- seen by an advertise
ment in to days paper that association, for the
study and practice of sacred music, will be organs
lied la the lecture of the United Presbyterian
Church, this evening. The object ef this sssocia-
tion Is good one, and we hope vii receive the
patronage it deserves.
Incendiarism Some short time since an effort
was made to burn Mr. A. Monteirs' 3 residence, ON
the Three Chopped Rood. in Goochland, bnt did
not prove successful. owing to its timely discove
ry. The torch was applied to the front porch
which was partially burned negro girl, sus
pecied Of the crime, has been arrested and i'm
prisoned. She admits the deed, but declared that
she was hired to do It by . white man residing In
the neighborhood The facts have not been proved
upon him. but SO well satisfied Ia MIR. n OF his
guilt that be has given the fellow notice to pun up
stakes and travel.
Run Ocer.- yesterday afternoon, duriog ths
alarm Of fire, MIR. James Gentry, member Of No.
3 Fire Company. was run over by plug snascher
At the corner CT 9th aud Franklin, and had one Of
hts hands and one Of his legs slightly injured.
Disappoiatmenk-Th concert which was 10 have
been given AZ Metropolitan Hall last ght by Mrs.
Dickinson, was postponed on account Of the In
ciemency Of the weather. The large number /
persons who attended, and were disappointed
wouldIndicste that At the concert to be given bv
that deserving lsdy the hall be crowded
Thrsaaaing--Madison Elmore appeared before
the Mayor. yesterday, TO answer ihe charge Of