Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1857-05-07
MAY 4, 1857


Petersburg, Va clear: pleasant.
Wilmington, n. C....... cloudy, cool.
Columbia, 5. c. ......... clear, warm.
charleston, -. C......... clear, warm.
augusta Od. clear, pleasant
savannah, Ga. cloudy, cool.
Mdcoh I'D. clear, pleasant.
The following reports have also been furnished
from the Ma ional Telegraph Line to the West:
FROM THE WEST.
Frederick, Md. ......... clear, pleasant
Cumberland. Md clear pleasant
Hagerstown. Md. ....... clear, pleasant
w heellng, Va. clear, beautiful.
U1dltOn, va clear, warm.
River falling at Wheeling.
Yesterday there was a sevee storm south Of
Macon Ga; but from the fact that il is still clear
this morning at that place and at Wheeling, il is
probable that the storm was of a local character
AT the Smithsonian Institution at p. IN. last
evening the Barometer was 30 CS at this morn
ing IT was 30 1876, and rising. Wind v w. Their
mometer at Q P. III. S. deg; at : this morning,
50 deg.
The LETTINGs.-At noon, ball time to-day,
Capt. Meigs commenced opening and reading off
the bids for work, &c, on the Water Works in
the presence of some fifty contractors and bid
ders interested. They were mostly from dis
lance, and comprise some of the most noted and
successful public work contractors, from all
sections of the Union.
Judging from the pile, we suppose that sixty
or seventy bids in all were received As the
names of the bidders were announced only as
each was opened, and as the recommendation.
guarantees, &c, accompanying each, as we'll as
the details of the bids, were read, the process
was slow one, indeed, bidding fair to occupy
some days before even the names of all the
bidders can be known, and the complicated de-
tails of their several offers can be so tabled or
systematized as to be understood by the public
or even by the War Department
HE NAVAL Courts OF lNQUIRY-In Court
No. /, no business was transacted to-day, as ex-
1t. Bartlett, whose case was next to be tried.
cannot have his witnesses ready until Monday
morning, when it will come on. The case of
Mr.. b. was taken out of its order, which ac-
counts for the failure of his witnesses to be
present to-day. The case of Passed Midship-
man E. c. Grattan Qurloughed) is to be taken
up tomorrow before this Court
In Court No. 2, the examination of Captain
Buchanan was concluded yesterday afternoon,
and to-day testimony has been given before it
on Lieut. Chambers behalf by Lieut. VAIN
wright and Engineer-in-chief Martin.
Before Court No. 3, the case of Capt Voorhees,
being still before them, documentary testimony
on the part of the government has been adduc-
ed since our last, and their time has been occu
pied in its reading.
The KIDNAPPING CAsE.-The authorities
here have news of the end of the Beames' case in
Arkansas. The history of this case is as 70,
lows: A family of free negroes named Beames,
reSldInO tho Chocf oxu nd
kidnapped and run into Arkansas, where
they were sold, one Of them passing through
several hands. Through the perseverance Of
Col. Cooper, agent for the ChOctaws and Chick
asaws, with the consent of the Indian Bureau
here, suits were commenced for their recovery
and freedom in the Arkansas courts, which were
vigorously resisted by the parties who had pur-
chased them. These suits have all been decided
in favor of the negroes, who have regaIned free
dom under the DEGREES of the courts. As the
termination of these cases puts stop to such
kidnapping in the Indian Territory, it is OF
public importance.
The RoANoKE's OFFIcERs-The following
compose the complement of the officers of the
new United States steam-frigate Roanoke. soon
to leave Norfolk on her trial trip. Viz: Capt.
John B. Montgomery, commanding; Pur or, J
n. Hambleton Lieutenants, Edward Donald
son, Francis Key Murray, j. NJ Wainwright.
Joseph B. Smith, NJ Patterson Jones, J. w.
Huntington Passed Assistant Surgeon, James
I. Harrison Assistant Surgeon, Edwin X. Den
by; Passed Midshipman, Chas. C. Carpenter
Midshipmen, j. W. Harris, Robert T. Bradford.
~
David NJ. Cohen.
The DALE's OFFIcERs.-As some changes
were made in the complement of officers of the
sloop-of-war Dale, which sailed from Norfolk
Va, on the 9Th instant, for the west coast of
Africa, we publish corrected list of them. as
follows: Commander, VIM. McBlair; First LIT
and Executive Officer, j. S. Kenhard; Second
Lieutenant, I. Lee Walker; Third do, Hunter
davidson; Fourth do, A. Boyd Cummings;
rnth do. and Master, T. p. Pelot Purser, John
Q, cunningham; Passed Assistant Surgeon, w.
SHERMAN; Assistant Surgeon, R. C. Dean.
"'RF AT BAKERS IsLANp.-It seems
enA' ne schooner that lately brought the puano
rum BAKERS Island was loaded with remorko
oie ease. This fact is worthy of note on ac-
count VI commodore Mervine's memorable re-.
port explaining the impossibility of LOADING the
guano mere The boat in which the stanle
was brought OF to the vessel made her ,rins
loaded until within three inches Of her CUR.
wales. Bun
ORDERED.-Surgeon George Blacknau IN.
been ordered to the Cumberland, now a, ,bo
Boston Navy Yard, as Fleet Surgeon of the
African Coast Squadron.
The U. S. BRIG-oF-wAR PERRY is now upon
+" the ways" at the Gosport (yirginia) Navy
Yard, undergoing a thorough overhauling and
repair.
hEsIGNED.-Mr. VIM. B. Waugh, q 81, 800