Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1858-08-05
by Yesterday Evenings Mails.
I.,,., from orkney Springs.

ORKNEY SPRINGS, Aug. 2.-Siuce | last
wrote to you, we have had some stirring
| times at Orkney. One day last week, t@o
large rattlesnakes were captured--one OF
seven, and the other of thirteen rattles The
thirteen year old snake, made his appear
ance among a parcel of children, playing
within the enclosure near one Of the Springs,
and The little chaps when discovered by a
lady, were throwing stones at him as they
said, to make him whistle. The other was
captured alive by one OF the proprietors,
who, in company With friend, was riding
short distance below the Springs. They
made very Ingenious cOntrivance Of horse
hair fastened to the end of pole aud thus
captured, they brought him in, and sucn
rafting and preparing to strike, proved a
greater curiosity than the snake himself, es-
pecially 10 those who bad never met with
these yencmous reptiles in their wanderings.
But enough Of snakes. And just here, let
me say, the same day, We dlued on a spleu-
did saddle of yenson, far superior to those
Shenaudaie sausages you boosted so about. J
Our company continues to increase, aDd Il
pleasanter party Of ladies aud gentlemen |
never remcmb Der 70 have met with ATTY where.
Yesterday, the Sabbath day, and 10 those
who like solitude, there's 90 place like
Orkney; tits here the Sabbath is strictly OBJ
served aud all noise and confusion hushei.
We had religious services 10 tie large Ball
room, with au audience oil about one hun
dred persons.
After this season, we hope to hare neat
Chapel here, the proprietors having generous
ly given u lot OF land for the purpose, and also
timber for the frame work OF the Chapel.
This lot they have given in trust to Board
of Trustees; two of them reside in Alexaa-
dria. By.tue-bye our little city is fairly rep
resented here, there being now several Ct our
business men and others present, al OF whom
appear to erjoy themselves to their hearts
content. The wheat crop OF this county,
will not be more than half a gooi crop
The white wheat will be almost a total fail
ure. The red will yield far return.
think, however, lrom ali that l can learn,
there will be fully as much flour sent from
this county this year as last. From the very
fa,tering prospect here two weeks before
harvest, the farmers made large calculations,
and thus having failed to realize what they
thought almost certain, they arc now dis
posed to make things worse than they really
are. am pleased to fnd the D.liy Ga
zette at Orkney, aud find it quite tavorite
with the visitors. A SUBSCRIBER.
DECLINES TIE PRESIDENCY OF WILLIAM
AND MARY CuLLEGE.-The Rev. Robert W.
Barnwell, Of South Carolina, lately elected
to the Presidency of William and Mary
College, has written to Elk President Tyler,
the Rector of the COLLEGE, declining the ap-
pontmcnt which has been rendered him.
Mr.. Barnwel declines, with much regret,
the position offered him. His position at
Columbia, South Carolina, atiJrds him everV
opportunity which be desires Tor the elevation
| of the standard of scholarship IN his native
State, and he feels unwilling TO reinqulsh
task which be has lately assumed, aud sui
| regards as Incomplete.
DESPERATE ATTEMPT To MuRDER.--Pieas'
ant Hill, n. c., Aug. 81 have to announce
another sad occurrence, which happened AT
| Pleasant Grove, in this county, on yesterday,
the 2nd inst. Littleberry ). Parker, went
| 70 the store of VIM NJ Croker, esq., a re-
spectable merchant 10 this couuty, and en-
deayored to murder him without any provo
cation, and in cold blood. AZ p rker ap'
| proached the store, Mr.. Croker, in his ueuaI
manner, went out 10 meet him, when ldTkeI
! fred the contents OF a horseman'S pistol at
him, which fortunately did no' take effect
Parker instantly drew another pistol, and
| fred again, which shot took effect, seriously
wounding Mr. Crocler. After Mr.. Crocke!
had fallen, Parker approached nearer HIM
for the purpose OF shooting him third time
and thus perfect his dia bohcal design IN muir
dering his best friend: but as he came heal
over him, Mr.. Croker seized his band ard
pulled him down, and thus saved himself
from being instantly murdered.
| | have not learned the luil extent Of MIR
Crocker's INJURIES, as medical aid had not az
rived when my informant lett the scene oi
action.
There is no cause assigned for this rash
act.
ELECTION OF FIELD OrFICERs.--At an cleo
ton for Field Officers Of the 3lst Regiment
of Virginia Militia, held at the Court House
Hall, on Monday last, Major L. L. Moore
was unanimously elected Colonel OF the Reg
iment, and VIM. r Denny, esq, Lieut. Colo,
mel. Capt. b. B. Washington was elected
Major on the first ballet, when, on motion,
| it was declared unanimous: }. Chap Rely
was also unanimously elected "a Major
| The election was held under the supernten,
! dence of the Commissioners, Il. l.. Baker and
Nathan Sherer, esqs.-- Winchester I"y.
SUSPECTED BURGLARS Two young men,
hailiug from Baltimore, and stopping at
private boarding b,use near the corner OF
Main and S;h streets, we're last evening ar
rested and locked ny on suspicion OF BEN
bur glsriously inclined. a quantity OF 10
strumepts, skeleton keys, &c, were found on
them. The implements had been made IN
Richmond to the Young mems ordcrs, but the
police got wind of the matter before any opc-
rations bad been attempted Eng.
The Stanton Spectator says: The ira
vel over the Central Railroad still continues
yery great. Ga Friday last, hine coaches
behind the Locomotive, carried three hundred
and seventy two through passengers from
Richmond to Oakland, besides al unusual
number Of way passengers.
receiving mr.