Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1859-12-17
GENERAL NEWS SUMMARY.
BOSTON AND VICINITY.

BOSTON AND VICINITY.
The Massachusetts Historical Society held
meeting Thursday evening, at which a
special testimony of respect was paid to the
memory Of Washington Irving. Brief eulo-
gies were pronounced by Prof Longtellow and
Edward Everett, and the customary memorial
resolutions were adopted
The City Council of Boston has voted to
subscribe $4,000 to the erection of an eques-
trian statue of Washington on Boston Com
mon; and an additional sum not exceeding
$4,000 sufficient to defray the expenses of erect
ing pedestal.
In Roxbury, Wednesday evening, young
woman set fire to her clothes while in the ago
MES of fit, and was burned to death. Her
cries alarmed her neighbors, who found her
soon atterward sitting in her chair at distance
from the stove, burned from head to foot.
MIDDLEsEx COUNTY.
In Lowell, early Thursday morning, Par
ker's Block, corner OF Bridge and River streets,
was nearly destroyed by fire. The building
was owned by Perley Parker, was valued at
$1,000, and was insured for about $4,000. Part
of it was occupied as an apothecary store, and
part as place of living by eight or ten poor
families.
The examination of Jefferson Burns, charg-
ed with firing the buildings of George p
Burnham of Melrose, was concluded Thurs
day at Melrose. The respondent was held for
trial on the second Monday in February, in
$4,000.
Capt. M. c. Kenney of East Cambridge,
who came to a violent death by his own hand,
Thursday night, was one Of the Aldermen of
that city, as well as an active member of many
social and charitable organizations. He was
engaged in an extensive and paying business,
but through some mental disorder labored un-
der the impression that he was constantly
losing.
ESSEX COUNTY.
throe-story house and land has been offer
ed to those interested in the establishment of a
Home for Aged INDECENT Females, in Salem.
1t is to be presented as soon as funds are sub
scribed and arrangements are made to put
such an institution in operation.
Mr.. William Swasey Of Haverhil, and four
others, started last week with raft of oak
timber, for Newburyport, and when near
Amesbury encountered jam of ice. The
raft, instead OF forcing passage through the
ice, shot under, and in twinkling, not a stick
was to be seen. The whole party had to
crawl ashore as they could, the ice not being
strong enough to walk upon. The raft, valued
at $500, was total loss.
HAMPDEN COUNTY.
Measures have been taken by prominent cit
liens in Springfield to establish a Museum of
Natural History, Antiquities, and general Gu
riosties, in connection with the City Library.
The result of medical examination of the
condition OF Mrs. Hocomb eff Southwick was
that she is still more likely to die than to sur
viye the injuries received in her husbands as
sault lfshe does live, she is likely to be in.
sane. The Republican says that SO far as any
further revelations of the affair come to the
public, they tend to aggravate, rather than soft
ten, the enormity of the assault.
BERKSHIRE COUNTY.
Another fire occurred in Williamstown
| Tuesday night, destroying the barns of Eber
Sherman and Prof. Albert Hopkins. The
loss of both gentlemen is about $1,000, on
which there is no insurance. The uneasiness
and suspicious Of incendiarism are increased
by this last fire, and the seectmen of the
town have offered $1,000 for the detection of
the guilty parties.
RHODE ISLAND.
The Providence Post thinks it probable that
at least two hundred ladies have had dresses
and shawls ruined or injured in that city with.
in the last three months by having lamp oil
poured upon them while walking the streets.
One lady had shawl ruined that was worth
| $780, In some neighborhoods not a family
has escaped these outrages.
CONNECTICUT.
John T. Warren of Wellington, Conn, plead
| guilty to murder in the second degree-hayinp
drowned his wife in brook-and was sen.
fenced to the State Prison for life.
The Bridgeport, CT. Farmer is informed that
large mandatory in that city has been
obliged to cut down the working time of their
hands within the past few days, simply be.
cause they have failed to receive southern
orders since the Harpers Ferry Instruction
PERSONAL.
The manuscripts and correspondence o,
| Washington Irving were left in the hands Of
Pierre M. Irving, who will write memoir Of
the deceased, for which he is said to be admir-
ably adapted. Mr.. Irving made his will about
year ago, during some leisure weeks passed
III New York.
The man Tempest, who was arrested II
Alexandria several days since, on suspicion O
being Richard Realf, the Secretary of Stat,
under Browns provisional government ha,
been discharged. His real name is supposed
to be Charles Finney, son Of Samuel Finney
who resides upon neutrality-suspicious. Eng
and. He left for Philadelphia en- route fol
England
| MISCELLANEOUS.
From the manual Of the public libraries il
the United States, published by Mr.. Rhees
the Smithsonian Institution, we learn that o
4OOo,Ool volumes in tue public libraries of al
the States (0mittlng the District of Columbia
which contains 272,835,) there are 3,104 ,O8i
in those of the free states, and S05,946 il
| fhOga of fha froa eiatoa