The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1860-02-03
. 3 =
LOCAL AATxRH0.

LOCAL MATTERS 81,
p.s,,x.,ir. Fir. Aboui the hour Of O'Clock.
yesterday morning, the large three story brick
building. on the North margin Of James River,
near Haxal1 Co.'S large Touring mill, occu-
pied by Mr.. Stephen Chtldsey ~ turner's
shop. and BY Mesers. Belviu T. Atkinson ~ q
furniture factory, was discovered 10 be on
fire. and the alarm heing given, the Fire Bri-
gadc were promptly n the scene with their
apparatus: but owing 10 the rApid progress
made by the flames, the entire edtice, with its
contents, were consumed. Mr.. Childrey oc-
cupied the first IfoOr rs q lumber room. and
the second IS workshop, Messrs 3e'sfn
Atkinson occupying the third. The fire or1Gi.
bustib!e materials with which it was filled,
was soon in 4 sheet Of flames. An employee
OF Messrs II. Il A., on seeing the fire, rushed
into the third story to save his tools, but ow-
dered, and would doubtless have suiEocated
but for the aid rendered him by those who
heard his cries for help.
Mr.. Childrey lost all his machinery and
tools, as we'll ~ his stock of lumber, and
large amount Of unfinished work. He had An
insurance Of $1,000 in the Virginia Fire and
Marine Office, which will cover about one-half
his actual loss. In his employ were ten
workmen, all OF whom lost their toOl.chests
and tools, thus leaving them in destitute cir
cumst tances.
Messrs. Beivin Il Atkinson lost a stock Of
valuable materials, their machinery. and a
insurance in the Merch ,nts' Office Of el,as',
which will probably cover one-half their
Losses. In this factory were nine journey men,
all Of whom lost their tools. aud several Of
them their labor on unfinished work.
The building was owned by the Messrs.
H2xall. and insured in the Fire Association
for $1,000. II was leased to Mr.. Joseph p.
Jones, who occupied 1t as n furniture factory
for some time, and afterward ''re.iet" ii. Mr..
Jones lest about S2oi', upon which he had no
insurance.
The fire was the work Of an incendiary.
The building had been fired on two occasions
finguished before doing serious injury. And,
what is a little singular, Mr.. Childrey had
been burned out three times previous to this
and Mr. Kelvin two or three times.
Dangers IF Finid-A resident of Church
Hill was scared out OF 1T least three years
growth. few nights since. by an aceiden. 30 -
fuid lamp, which he WAS holding in his hand
1T the time. lie says he was alone, and in
der to pass away the weary hours. picked up
his lamp and started across the room TO pro.
cure a book. Whilst walking along his eyes
were dazzled by sudden ligh!, which was In
staniiy followed by 4 report as loud az that
made by the discharge OF u pistol. Instantly
ne eX!inguished the flame and on procuring
another lamp, discovered that the tube Of the
one Ike had in his hand had suddenly disaj,-
p6ared. neither ii WAS blown Cat nv the
plcsion of the accN.n uli.ed eas il the lamp,
or had melted OIL he could iiot ieil. hut AS he
escaped All injury at tlat time, lie tanks lie
VIII nave very lii:,e "a do with fluid in the iu
lure. All families who nae fluid should pre-
vent their servants and children from handling
the lighted lamps, as they are generally care
less, and are most likely TO be injured by il.
Many la 10 raid of John Brown
and his followers. has opened the eyes o! the
people of this section of the South 10 the i'm
porrance OF supplying their own wants. and
has put on foot good plans for the establish
Inent OF the following factories: For making
oil clOth-shOes and boOts-hats--read made
clothng-sewing machines-straw brooms-
buckets, tubs. clothes pins, ,etc.-wiIlow- ware
-fnrnitnre-braes castings-iron castings-
steam fire engines-umbrellas and parasols-
stoves and CRATES, and other articles less costly
bnt equally as necessary to the general com.
fort. The factories noticed will give employ
menf to hundreds Of persons, and will tnke
from New England tens of thousands OF
dollars that would otherwise go there.
Frozen to Deafh.-On Wednesday night last
a free negro fellow, known rs SAMUEL VAN.
DERVALL. WAS fonnd lying in the street, near
2eth and Main, stiff frozen and dead. He was
of very Incorporate habits, never sober when
he could get liquor 10 make him drunk, and
tor several wears past has spent the grpu ter
portion of his time in the Jail, or at work in
the chain-gang. On Tuesday night he was
seen staggering abon. the streets, drinking
water from the cutters. and driven into a
house where he remained all night. Renew
ing his frolc early Wednesday morning. be
kept j. up until he became helpless, then lying
down on the side of the street, fell asleep, and
perished from cold before he was discovered.
Aleu,pt.o KiU.-On Sunday morning last a
negro man named Jordan Morris, who lives
in this city, was wayiaid by two other ne
grOes. when on his wav to Hanover county,
and IN oil probability would have been beaten
TO death, bnt for the interpostion of two gen.
tlemen who heard his cries for help and has
tened to his assistance. The attacking parties
had had II difficulty with Jordan, and know
to catch him near Chickahominy Swamp and
give him something to remember them by
The affair is one that ought 10 be inq uirpd in
to, and the guilty party should be punished.
Hnst-ning to Comprehensive are assured
from good authority, that the York River
Railroad will be completed to West Point by
the 1st of MAY. Mr. Ward, the con tractor for
tresseliBg aud bridging and wharfing at the
Point, is increasing his force as rapidly IA cir
cumstances will admit, and ii the weather
proves favorable, will probably get through
his contract by the 18th o fApril. He ia said
to I've an energetic and skillful contractor, and
will therefore do the work in good style
Good Wha,f-The Richmond and Danyilie
Railroad Company have not only built them
q good wharf ON the south side of James river
opposite Rockets, but have had the river
dredged cut, so that vessels drawing ten fee,
Of water can run up 10 their landing and load
and unload, without the least trouble. This
improvement is u great saving Of time and
money TO the Company. in the way Of haul.
ing for they can now receive their iron lum.
ber. etc. and take IL to their depot with but q
single handling.
Writing Paper can be made as cheap here n
at any other point in the Union, and a good
mill properly managed would pay hand.
same per cent. upon the capital invested L.
Will the capitalists of the South continue fu
rely upon the North for the paper upon which
they Write their patriotic resolutions and
speeches or, will they 20 to work and make
their own paper! Resolutions by themselves
are OF little value, and unless they are To be
carried out, had as we'll not be made.
Fair of the Virginia Mechanics Institute, are
now readv for delivery, At the hall of the In.
stitute. The highest awards made were the
certificates Of gold medals, showing, as they
do, superiority in the particular class, over
all competitors, for two or more years. Me.
dals, Of course, show superiority for bat . in.
gle year.
Seeking Lodgings.-Whenever the weather
turns cold, and Jack Frost begins to insinuate
himself into local habitations of iilers and
10 the wing in search Of warmer quarters
The cold snap Of the past two days has brought
into the city scores OF vagrants, ali anxiOu,
for lodgings in the Jail or poor house.
Prof. Lore. the celebrated ventriloq uis. aHt
Magician, has arrived in this city, aud viii
give a series Of interesting entertainments =