The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1858-11-30
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A COlOred Hero.

late Issue Of the Clarksvills (va.1 Tobacco
Piane contains . written communication FROM
Richmond, relative to Gilbert Hunt, Of Richmond
IL occupies moro than column Of that paper Al
stated bT the writer, and known By most Of our
city readers Gilbert IL - very old negro Of high
respectability, who has been pursuing his humble
calling Of blacksmith Ia onr city for three score
years" He is very courteous, and evincss to-
ward the whites true humility aud poiiseness
The old man IL perfectly at home on topics oil
by-gone days, "and dwslls with that pecufiar de
light which has always characterized the aged.
on scenes of his early boyhood aud youth. His
memory 10 very, very vivid, his illustrations 90
happy and his manner 20 impressive, that you
could listen to him for hours. He is one Of the
very few of the connecting links which bind the
Richmond Of the present With Richmond Of half a
century ago."
"That which clothes the head of this hoery-
headed old man with peculiar interest, is the uoI
bic part which be bore in the memorable burning
OF tne Richmond Theatre, in 1oil. His brawny
arm was tho means of reecuing many soul from
the jaws OF the devourihg element, aud some of
the nrst families Of city now point to Gilbert
Hunt with mingled pride and gratitude for his self.
eacrtnciug conduct on that awful night which
shrouded 50 many happy hearts with gloom. Long
may he live in the enjoyment OF the most precious
booa earth can afford-the remembrance Of those
for whom one has endangered even life itself
Nay his last days be his best days. But we are
Let US be silent for 4 moment and lis
ten to the scenes Of that heart-rendiug occasion.
as 1t comes from the lips of this noble hearted ne.
gro. He begins:
1T was on the nishtof Christmas, 1911. had
just returned from worshipa at the Baptist Church,
ahd was about sitting down to my supper when
was startled by the cry that the theatre was on
hre. My w!fe's mistress called me, and begged me
10 hasten 10 the theatre, andf possible, save her
only daughfer-a young lady who had been teach.
ing me my book every night, and one whom 7
loved very much. Tho wind was quite high. And
the Kissing and cracking flames soon swept the
entire building in their embrace. The house Was
built OF wood, and therefore the work of dsstruc.
tion was very short.
''When / reached the building, I Immediately
went to the house of coiored fiddler, named
Gileat who lived close by, and begged him TO
lend me a bed on which tbs poor frightened crea.
lures might fall, as they leaped from the vim
dows. This he positively refused to do then
procured step-Iadder, and placed it against the
wall Of ths burning building. The door was too
small to permit the crowd, pushed forward by the
scorchins flames, to get cut, and numbers of
them were madly leapiDg from the windows, only
to be crushed to death By the fall. l looked up
and saw DR.. - standing ut one of the top win
dows, and calling to me to catch the ladies as he
handed them down.
Il was then young and strong, and the roor
screaming ladies felt as light as feathers. BY this
the house. The flames we're rapidly approaching
the Doctor. They were beginning to take hold
OF his clothing, and o nae. thought that good
Klan, who had saved many precious lives, was
going to be burned up. lie jumped from the
window, and whea he touched the ground
thought he was dead He could not move an
inch. No one was near that portion of the house;
tor the wall was tottering like q drunken man,
and expected to see it every moment crush the
Doctor 10 death. heard him screaca Gus, Hal
ntnyyn y,.zSn -
rushed to him and bore him away TO u place of
safety. Tho scene surpassed any thing ever saw.
The Wild shriek5 OF hopeless agony, the piercing
cry, Lord save Oh perish the upifted hands,
earnest prayer for mercy, FOR pardon, for saliva
ton. L think SEQ il now-ail-all Just as it hap.
pened." And the old regro stopped 10 wipe away
asear which was tricklirs down his wriLkled
cheek"
THE NORFOLK AND ST NAz.IRE LsE.-The City
Council CT Memphis, Tenn, at its session of the
23i inst, adopted set Of resolutions of which
the following are two:
Resolved, That the estabiish hment of direct trade
from the different Southern ports 10 q matter de-
serving tho consideration and support of the
Southern people; that such cities as Savannah
Charleston and Mobile ccud not more effectually y
subserve their own aud the general Interest of the
SOUTH than by the esta bishment 0f lines of ocean
steamers; but the project of line from NorioI
to st. Nazaire, at the mouth of tho Loire, espe-
cially commends itself to the favorable considera-
tion aud support Of the South aud West--furnish-
Ing as 1t does, promise of benefit to every por-
tion CT the country. The city of Memphis, as we'll
as other Southern towns, has q deep interest in
the consummation OF this great project OF opening
another and valuable outlet to Southern trade.
Resolved. That We ask the attention Of Southern
Representatives in Congress to the importance OF
encouraging direct trade from Southern seaports,
aud especially of the proposed line to France and
suggest that they should seek TO obtain from the
next Congress tender of the ssme amount for
transporting the foreign mails and mail service on
that line as is now granted to the Northern lire
Of steamers running from New York and Boston
MoRPAY, THE CAESS CaAMPIoN.-The great Anne.
rican champion, Mr.. Gorphy, has been measuring
himself In Europe against a new series of an:ag.
onists, belonging TO the highest rank of Parsian
society, assembled at the palace Of Prince Murat.
Twelve games were played, with the following
result:-With the Duke of Brunswick and Count
lsonsrd DIR. Morphy won flve games; with the
above reinforced by the Count Casabianca MIR.
Morphy won i've successive games, and one drawn;
with the Princess Murat and Count Casabianca
Mr.. Morphy won the one game.
lie has also played twenty-nine even games
with other individuals, of which Mr.. Merphy won
twenty-five. Mr.. Journoud aud NJ Reviere (bro
ther Of the notorious gallant Zonave"l won one
game and had one drawn, Mr.. Morphy winning
six games. With NJ. Lsreche Morphy won five
games, and two drawn; with NJ. BaueiIer Morphy
won two games, and with n. Journoud, singly,
Morpby won twelve games.
Posr OFFICE AFRAIRs.- Virginia Establishments.
Establish HartmonsvilIe, Hampshire county, Va,
and appoint j. Arch Trout postmaster directly en-
the route from Mount Storm to Wardsviile. Wa
verly Station, Sussex county, Va, Robert A. Chap
pell postmaster, between Wakefield Station and
Dispuranta. Hannahsyiile, Tucker county, Va,
NJ. A. Bowman postmaster, on route from Rawles-
burg 10 ST. George. Appointments-Johu Maxs
we'll, postmaster at Peel Tree, Barbour county, Va,
vice j. IL. Shutteworth, resigned. A. IL. Moor
man, postmaster at Callands, Pitfsylvanis county,
Va, vice s. f. Candoza, resigned.
SHARP PRAcrIcE.-Arrest Of La,cyer.-Charlss
Breton Leslie, an attorney at law, was on Friday
brought before Justice Osborne, charged with prac.
tising deception upon Miss Laura j. Curtis, re-
siding in Brooklyn, with Eiew of defeating . suit
In winch she was-interested, and in which Leslie
was retained by the party opposed to her. The
attorney represented that he was sent to Mis-. C.
by her counsel to get all the facts of the CASE
he very successfully did, but for which ne was ar
rested on charge OF miedemeanor.
AHALaAMArioS IN WIsCossIN.-Th following mar
riage notice appears in Ripon, Wis, paper:
MARRIED.-In this city on the 10th, by the Rev
b. B. Parsons, Mr. Moses Murray Of Pittsburg,
Penn, to Miss L. Story, Of Ripon, Wis.
And letter 10 tho Milwaukie News explains -
mir. Moses Murray,of fittsburg, Penn.," is a
great six foot negro, biack othellc the OF
spades, and 'Miss l.. Story, of Ripon, white girl
OF sixteenl Her parents reside here, and knew
nothing of the shameful affair until too late TO
save their child from disgrsoefui connection and
the nerce indignation they poured upon the REV.
b. D. Parsons" the next day, could not undo the
raeh decd he had done without license.
MISS MoLLrs AND Mrss Preers are two eieters.
Miss Moliie is the eldest. she Ii not member
of any church; brt, like all we'll bred young ladies'
says her prayers before retiring. One night she