The daily exchange. [volume] (Baltimore, Md.) 1858-1861, 1860-01-03
Fire i'm skoyhecan. Me.


Fire i'm SlxOyyhegan. Me.
BosToN, Dec. 30.-The skate factory of Williams,
Morse Co., in Skowhegan, Me-, was destroyed by
fire on Wednesday night. Loss heavy.
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CITY INTELLIGENCE.
MILITARY MATrERs-RE-oRGANIzATI OF THE MI
LITIA OF THE STATE.-On Thursday night meeting
of the Officers of the First Light Division of Mary
land Volunteers held at the rooms of Brig.
Gen. John Wesley Watkins. The meeting was
very iull, every regiment being represented, and
much interest was manifested in the proceedings
The body was organized by calling Gen. Charles
G. Egerton to the chair, and by the appointment of
Col. Saml. 5. Mills as Secretary Upon taking the
chair Gen. Egerton stated that the object of the
meeting was to take into consideration thorough
reorganization of the volunteer system of the State
of Maryland and with that view to present some of
the defects of the present militia laws to the egis-
lature,an ask it to pass such laws would further
the objects contemplated by the officers of the diff
ferent regiments assembled. The last enrolment of
the militia of this State made in the year 1885,
since which time the volunteers of the State have
been drawing their quota of arms and munitions ac-
cordlng to that enrolment, when it is fair to pre-
sumo that the volunteers of the State have almost
doubled in numbers since that PERIOD and are en-
titled to far greater proportion of equipments and
arms from the Federal Government
After the remarks of the Chairman, a motion
was made and carried, for the appointment of a
committee to consist Of the General the Colonel of
each Regiment, and Captain from each Regiment
in the city of Baltimore whose duty it should he
to prepare memorial and bill to be presented to
the House of Delegates for its action looking to a
complete enrolment of the militia Of the State,
and also to remedy any defects in the existing
militia laws.
The commtte selected by the meeting consists
of Cen Charles G. Egerton, I'd Light Brigade: Col
John I. farlow, Artillery Regiment; Col. Jesse T.
Peters, Rifle Regiment; Col Samuel S. Mills, of
the SD Regiment; Col. Augustus p. Shut, of the
9th Regiment; Lieut.. Simpson, Independent Crews;
Capt. Thomas Bowers, Law Greys; and Capt Geo
W. Bowers, Wells and McComas Rihemen.
Col. q. w. Brush was, motion, also added to
the committee.
The meeting then adjourned to meet again on
Wednesday night.
The above committee met last night, and it is
expected, will report to the adjourned meeting on
Wednesday.
The RIvEE AND HARBoR.-The cold of Sunday
night has effectuay closed the harbor The ice
down to the bay is about two inches thick, and is
increasing in thickness hourly. Yesterday morn
ing the steamer Georgia of the Norfolk line started
down for the purpose of opening q channel. She
worked until about three o'clock and succeeded in
getting to within short distance of the new fort,
when she was compelled to return to the city for
the purpose of coalng. In the evening she started
down again, and in her wake were four tug boats
sent down to tow up craft which are lying at the
mouth OF the river. The Georgia is endeavoring to
open channel for the Norfolk boats. The Louisi-
ana did not leave last evening, but it is expected
that by tonight the channel will be open when the
Shore boats left their wharves yesterday. They
would not be able to make their trips even if the
river was open, AS the Eastern Shore rivers are all
frozen up. Much difficulty was also experienced
yesterday morning in opening a way for the Broad
way terry-boat ice having formed during the night
two inches thick During the day the several tug
boats were very busy in the harbor moving various
vessels and breaking the ice. A large number of
vessels are reported below.
PAEDoNED BY THE PREsDENr.-Un States Mar
shal watkins, yesterday morning received from
the President pardon for Captain Thomas Wilson,
of the schooner "Erchange," whohas been confined
since March last in Baltimore city iail Wilson
was tried at the last March term of the United
States District Court for manslaughter- killing a
negro named James Hunt, a seaman on board the
! schooner, while on voyage from Liberia to this
! port. lie was acquitted on this charge, but found
| guilty of nlicting cruel and unusual punishment
| upon Hunt and upon other seaman on boaad the
vessel He was sentenced by Judge Giles to be con-
lined one year in Baltimore city jail and also to be
imprisoned two years in the penitentiary. The de-
| fence set up in his was insanity, caused bv a
severe attack of African fever. Since his incarce-
ration his friends have made an effort to secure a
| pardon, and from certificates from Dr. Stokes DR..
Monmonler and other physicians relative to his
condition after returning from sea, the President
concluded that the mind of Captain Wilson had be-
come impaired from his severe illness, and was i'm
paired at the time of the commission of the acts for
which he had been indicted.
ARREST OF AN ASCENDING WITNESS. On Christ
mas Day man named James Gorman killed. by
| stabbing, man known Scottie Anderson, in
Pine alley, near Shipper street, in the city of Phila
delphla. The only witness to the deed was young
| man named Patrick Conner, who, after the arrest
| OF Gorman, fled to this city. For the last four
nights Conner has been lodging in the Eastern dis
| trict police station, and on Sunday night Capt.
Morris questioned him closely, when he acknowl-
edged that he the witness to the murder of
Anderson. He stated further, that Germans friends
had paid his fare the to this city, and given
him four dollars and fifty cents in money, with
oft h. .,,n1l
He had not received any money from them, and he
was consequently compelled to seek lodgings in the
| statlon-house. Justice Griffin committed him to
Jail to await the action of the Philadelphia authori-
ties.
BURGLARY FRusrRATED.-As Sergeant Gordon, of
the Western district police, was passing along Ger
man street, on the corner of Eutaw street, at I2%
| O'Clock Sunday night, he tried the door of the
warehouse of Bayly Keys d Son, and found it
open Upon an examination of the premises he
found the bar with which the door is usually fast
| ened, taken out and set up against the wall. He
secured the door, and put an officer in charge to
| watch the place. About two O'Clock, the officer OBJ
| served man accommodating through the window
but before he could get out to capture him he fed
and escaped The thief had evidently been con-
cealed in the store the day before, and was making
arrangements to remove his plunder, but the timely
discovery by the police frustrated his design as
! nothing missing.
Summary PROCEEDING AGAINST A DEBroR.-
Thomas Whalen was arrested yesterday by consta-
| beating Patrick Custus. Whalen keeps a grocery
store on Alice Anna street, near w ashington, and
Custus had contracted bill to the amount of
| Sl.S1%. Whalen went to Custus' house. on Wash
payment Custus told him he was not able to pay
the amount, when Whalen made an assault upon
him and beat him severely Justice Duncan held
him for Court.
SEVERE AssAULT.-George Mckay, John
Mckay, George Patzer, Jacob Mix, and Andrew
Gutzler were arrested yesterday, on the charge of
beating Jeremiah Biggen The assault took place
at Abbotts Rolling Mill, Canton. Biggen threw
snOw-balls at the party, one of whom was struck,
when the five men made an attack on him. knocked
him down, kicked him, and struck him with wood
en- mallet. They were taken before Justice Dun
can, who held them for an examination.
ELECTION OF OFFICERs.-At meeting of the In
: dependent Fire Company, held last evening, the
following gentlemen were elected officers for the
current year President, Samuel Hanna; Vice
President, VIM. II. II. Turner; Secretary, John 5.
Fusselbaugh; Treasurer, Hugh Bolton; Engineer,
Robt Holloway; Delegates to the Baltimore United
Fire Department, Hugh Bolton, Samuel Hanna,
VIM. II. B. Fusselbaugh, JAS. Ii. Stone John S.
Fusselbaugh, VIM. II. Powell, J. A. Steigelman
THE WEATHER.-The intense cold which prevail
ed yesterday, had tendency materially to inter,
fere with outdoor operations. 1t is said to be the
coolest weather we have had for three years past
:, The thermometer at Elkridge Landing, yesterday
: I morning, marked two degrees below zero, and in
, many exposed situations in this city it was but
y few degrees higher.
New MILITARY CoMPANY.-A new military com
l. pany has recently been organized at Towsontown
L. Baltimore county, and already numbers over forty
five members, including of the most substantial
: men in the county. The company will be com
y manded by Capt. Shaw, and will be mustered into
the 53d Regiment of Baltimore city by Lieut.. Col
l, Mills, on Wednesday, the eleventh instant.
IS SALE THE SCHOONER ROBERT MoRRIs.-The
:. schooner Robert Norris, which was abandoned
some days since in in the river, sold public
; sale on Saturday. She was the property of Mr.
# James Parker, of Philadelphia, and was purchased
a by Caleb b. Hynes, for $225. There no com
petition in the bidding.
MEETING THE LEGIsLATURE.-A large number
of Delegates passed through the city yesterday, c,
route to Annapolis, in anticipation of the meeting
It of the Legislature tomorrow. The contestins
e members from this city busily engaged in tax
inrrt tasiirnnn,r To hola laid haio 4hnu