Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1859-04-15
BY YESTERDAY EVENINGS MAILS.

Dreadful EXPLOSION AT THE BRIGHT Horn
Coal PITs.-NINE PERsoNs SUPrusED TO 81
KILLED.-A terrible explosion occurred at
the Bright Hope Coal Pits, Chesterfield CO.,
yesterday morning. about halt-past eight %
clock. The Bright Hope" coal pits have
been but recently opened. and form part Of
the Clover Hill Section about Is miles from
the junction with the Richmond Railroad,
and are owned by the Clover Hill Railroad
Company There were nine men i'll the shaft
ut the time, four whites and five negroes, all
of whom must have been instantly killed
1t was impossible to render them any relief
whatever, owing to the impcnetrabe condi-
ton of the mine from the fetid and intolera-
bic dissemination of fatal gas which prevail
ed. Among the nine persons in the mine at
the time were known to be two white men,
named Isaac Farmer and George Smith. A
man and mule employed in drawing the
coal up the inclined plane of the shaft, were
found at the mouth of the shaft, PROSTATE,
and nearly dead The accident produced
great excitement about the mines, and the
managers were using every exertion to pene-
trate the shaft of the Bright Hope" Up to
the arrival of the Northern train last even
ing no success was reported aud it was Civ
en- up beyond doubt that not IL single soul Ut
the employees within the shaft can ever be
recovered alive.-ieteTsbuy Etp.
HORRIBLE MrRpER-BrRNINGo OF TIE BODY.
We have just heard the particulars of IL
most atrociOus murder of a valuable negro
man, the property of our townsman, Robert
Y. Jones, esq, near Hog Island. Cicero
the murdered negro, had short time since
run away from Hog Island, TO escape pun
ishment for an act Of disobedience, and, it
seems, found employment at some oyster
sheds ON the river, not far off On Friday
last, a man by tie name of Mathews told
Mr.. jones oversecr that the body OF ne
gro. burned to death, was at these sheds.
The uvprSecr Went at once to the spot, and
found the body of Cicero, horribly burned
about the head and arms, in the ashes OF one
of the sheds \ close examination dlscOv-
cred that the negro had been shot, and the
spot ut which the murder was committed
was clearly traced by trail Of blood. 1t
seemed, therefore, that the shed was burned
over the body. From certain circumstances.
Mathews. and another man, named Lyon,
testimony against them was of such q nature
that Mathews was discharged by the magis-
tratc before whom in investigation was held
His supposed confederate has disappeared
The deed is thus >hroudcd in mystery, which
it Is hoped may bc diSpclled, and its Perpc-
TRAITORS brought to Justice. Press.
TRIAL CoNMENCED.-ln the Richmond
City Circuit Court yesterday afternoon, Wm
f. Deneale lad charged with feloniously
taking from Robert G. Brooks 81 600 in mo-
ney, at the Exchange Hotel, in January last,
was set to the bar for trial, and alter the
procurement OF an acceptable Jury, the case
was adjourned over until 10 o'clock this
morning. The painful circumstances at
tending the arrest of this lad are already
known to most of our readers
The prisoner is respectfully connected in
Rockingham county has q rich and indul-
gent grandfather, and expects to prove that
the money i'll his possession, and which he
was spending was furnished Ia him. II
h" succeeds in doing this ia the satisfaction
al the Jury. he will be acquitted. and ut the
same tim" remove from the hearts OF his IN
dulgrnt parents crushing welght.-H'ch-
mond Dispa/ch.
WAEREN County lTEMS.-At the election
held on Saturday last for field officers, l49th
Regiment. Virginia Militia. the following
named gentlemen were elected Colonel,
NJ. 7. Wheatley, esq; LIT. Colonel. Capt.
John ". Payton: Majors. Captains &.
II. Chapman and Middleton Jordan. Mr..
Wheatcy is graduate of the Virginia Mil
i;ary Institute, and will no doubt make an
excellent officer.
The wheat crop throughout the county is
looking finely, and from present indications,
bids fair to reward the farmer with IL better
Weld than for several years past.
We ar. pleased to observe that the Episco-
ral Church, now in course OF erection in this
place, is being rapidly pushed forward to com
plction 4 Spire has been placed on the bel
iry. which adds greatly to its appearance
1t all be handsome cdiicr, IN ornament to
cur town.-FroH Royal Gas,tic.
CONVICTED Fox FoRGERY.-In the Circuit
Court OF this city, Judge Meredith presiding,
Fitzwilliam Roster was arraigned and tried,
Yesterday, on the charge Of forging the name
Of j. Robin Mcdaniel L. Il negotiable note,
and passing it as u genuine piece OF paper
The evidence Of guilt was too conclusive t"
leave q single peg on which the jury could
hang Il doubt. and he was therefore found
guilty and at once sentenced to the pcnitcn-
tiary for two years. Roster is now quitean
old man. He has resided in this city for
many wears. and as "a schoolmastcr was high