The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1859-08-30
LOCAL MATTERS.

FIse.--About4 4 o'e srday morning the
alarm of fire was Civ he First Ward, and
soon thereafter dense tO1dfnes of smoke were
seen ascending from the east tenement Of the
frame building corner Of :5fh and south Main
street occupied by Mrs. Ann RnfFner The
neighbors, as soon as they were aroused, hur-
ried to the scene, but found that the flames
We're spreading from room to room, and that
Der, nearly suffocated with smoke, and with
out being able 10 save even her wearing appa-
rel. The fire next fastened upon the adjoin-
ing tenement occupied by Mr.. Charles Hard
man. and had made such progress. when Mr.
III. ,awoke, that he had great difficulty in res.
cuing his wife and child from the conflarra-
tion. Mrs. Rnffner had with her two children
and small servant. and all were so complete
ly stified with smoke, that they were barely
able to get out of the house. Both tenements
were oecupied--ihe front rooms rs groceries.
and the remainder as dwellings, and were
completely gutted, neither Of the tenants be-
ing able to save their bedding or wearing ap-
parel.
Mrs. Ruffner's loss is estimated at $1,000 on
which she had an insurance of $500 Mr..
HardInan's loss was about S7te, on which he
had an insurance of S400. The house was
owned by Mr.. Chas. Howell, and was not in
sured.
The fire was doubtless the work of an incen-
diary, and was kindled under the steps in the
rear of the house, azd jus in the place of all
others TO ensure the suffecation aud destruc--
tion of the occuCants.
Immediately west of the burnt building are
a number of small tenements, which were
saved from destruction by the timely arrival
OF the fire brigade, aided by the winds blow
ing from the north, which carried the burning
Goals in the direction of the deck Had a
south wind prevailed at that time the entire
square might have been swept of its buildings
A Virtue in Whisksg.-No other discovery of
man has caused one thousandth part the trou-
Bile to the human family as that of alcoholic
drinks. Not only has ii beggared families
made widows and orphans, filled poor-h houses
and prisons, and supplied the hangman with
subjects on which to test his skill, but 1t has
hurried into the grave and eternity millions
OF human beings, many of whom possessed the
rarest inteiiects and at one time occupied ex-
alted stations among their fellows. Such
monster, one would suppose. had no virtues.
and would be Stunned by all, and yet it is
said to be a certain cure Tor snake bites, when
taken internally. One day last week Mr.. w.
H. POLLARD, of Ches sterfield county, was Bit
ten by a "copper-head mockasin," and of
course became very much alarmed at his sit
uation. After dispatching the yenomous rep
tile, he hurried off to the nearest place at
which he could obtain strong drink and call
ing for pint of whiskey emptied it into his
stomach. Finding that the 'corn juice did
not have the desired effect at once, Mr.. p. re-
peated the dose, and after a brief space of time
took the third cup, which laid him out rs
| timber a rag. His friends seeing that he
was helpless and unconscious, sent for q ply
sician, and remedies Were applied 10 relieve
| the patients stomach of the large amount of
| alcohol it contained. The next day Mr.. =.
was rather feeble from the effects of his deep
| potations; but the poison of the snake had
| been neutraliZed by the poison of the whiskey,
| and he was free from danger. SO much for
! whiskey,