Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1859-09-03

w iiiuoy CNcuiiiS heeh, u hioos ui"Doii
cal attempt was made to fire St. Lukes
Episcopal Church, at Buffalo. 1t appears
that the church was entered by the vcstry
door. The rails in front of the altar, with
the reading desk were torn down, and con-
siderable quantity of Sunday School books
were strewn about the floor and then ignited;
the gas was also turned on full from every
burner, with design to increase the COM
tustion. The parties placed over the incl
| pient fire, the minister's surplice, which. be-
ing of thick linen texture. providentally
prevented the ignition. 1t was well that
it was late in the morning when it was ne
cessary to enter the church, the gas being
turned on and every window closed, an aw-
full explosion must have resulted.
"Father James Stevens" venerable
Methodist minister, died recently at Will
lamsDurg, Pa. The Tyrone Star says
ale died Oh Saturday, the 18th ult., and
Sabbath, the 18th ult., at 2 o'clock, was
fixed for the funeral. Ministers and people
attending the camp, and ministers and peo-
pie Of all the other denominations of Chris
making a procession of 1000 persons, at
tended the funeral of the venerable and be-
loved Father Stevens. Eight ministers
among them Presbyterian and Lutheran
were appointed pall-bearcrs.
Twenty-six clergymen of Philadelphia,
Episcopal, Presbyterian, Baptist, Methodist,
German Reformed, and Dutch Reformed)
have united in an address to "ChriStians of
all denominations" i'll which they propose
that the first Monday in October next be
set apart rs day of special prayer that God
would grant that his believing children
may be made perfect in one and that by
the operation of the Holy Ghost all Chris
tans may be be so joined together in unity
of spirit and in the bond of peace, that they
may be holy temple, acceptable unto
Him.
One of the most remarkable cases of swind-
ing which has ever been perpetrated for
long time, came to light in New York on
Wednesday evening, in which it appears that
~ alleged, fifteen young ladies OF PhlIadel-
pha were duped by u person named John
son. alias Williams, who under the pretence
of hiring them as teachers Of music in South
ern families, managed to get them to New
York, and then decamped with about one
hundred and fifty dollars of their money, aud
much of their baggage, amounting in value
to between four and five thousand dollars.
A singular accident took place in Lynch
burg, Va, on Saturday last, BY which Il dro-
ver from Kentucky, had Il portion of one of
his fore fingers torn from his right hand
While leading horse with rope, which
was looped over his wrist, the animal became
frightened, and attempted to break loose,
when the loop was slipped over his hand
until it reached the middle finger, where it
drew close, and the horse making sudden
jerk completely tore away the finger from
the first joint.
A horrible affair took place at Scarboro,'
Me-, on Sunday night. Mrs. Wilson, white
woman, wife of Samuel Wilson, colored, who
is now absent at sea, murdered her adopted
son, Frank Wilson, a Cuban mulatto boy,
about Is years of age, and then endeavored
to conceal her crime by cutting up the body,
placing portion of it in the oven and anoth-
er portion in the fireplace, and then setting
fire to the house, having previously removed
all the furniture.
The reconstruction of the Shenandoah
Bridge, at Harpers-F Ferry, is rapidly progress
ing. By the middle of this month travel
will be resumed. Mr. French, the enterpriz-
ing Contractor, is pushing it with commend
able expedition.