The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1860-02-24

srt insertion, ana = cents for each ecntinuanee
Pyesr~ss;@ A,r,in ? me s,nf..- We under.sand
nat the Commissioners appointed By the Gov
eInor, under the act for aymiDg the State,
nave nave just returned from visit Of q week TO
| WasnihRton and llarper's Ferry, under ,aken
Ut -. ,ne purpose OF collecting information ~ 10
for the MAKING of o. arw, w, snd naeni"eay
ton, they had Repeated conferences with the
ordnance oflicers OF the Army and Navv. In
Mayrsdier, Of the Army. and (l,n; D1hlSr.n'
| OF the Navy, all Of whom interested them.
| selves In the object Of the commission. and ms.
Ts nS We, WIN their All vice.
| convened by the Secretary Of War engaged i'm
| testiDg all kinds of small arms and were ai-
vised by the ordnance officers Of both services
| to refrain from extensive purchases OF breach
| loading arms until further tests had been ap.
| piled.
We believe that it is the intention Of the
Board for the present 20 cOnf3ne their pur.
chases to the Minnie musket and rifle, and sa-
hres aud pistols for cavalry. They Intend put
ting the armory in condition fof the manu-
facture Of arms rs soon as possible, and to
make such purchases Of arms rs are needed for
the immediate use without unnecessary delay.
As the u. $. Government does not sell the
Minnie musket or rife, and no private company
mann factnres them rs a regular business, some
delay will occur in the purchase Of them, espe-
ciallv as great precaution is necessary to avoid
fr2nd and bad workmanship.
The Board also contemplate additional ex-
perimen:s at Lexington with breach loading
arms aid rified cannon.
Gully Statxs.-Hart's superb statue OF Henry
Clay is still at Mechanics Institute, where it
will remain until the committee having the
matter in charge succeed in obtaining a struc-
ture of stone or metal suitable 10 protect it,
when il will be erected on the Capitol Square,
upon the site approved by the Governor OF
Virginia. in pursuance OF the permission
granted by the Gcneral Assembly few weeks
since.
Desperate Nexro.-A negro fellow named
George Banks, Il slave in the employ m nj of
Messrs. Powell a French was arrested last
night about O'Clock, by watchman Blankih-
ship. near 22nd and Main streets. while in y
scufle with white man named John Mcken-
Bey. and making endeavors to stab him with
a bowie knife. The latter had TO i've wrenched
from his hand. The black de- perado WAS
locked up in The cage.
Roof B,o,cn OF.-During the high wind
which prev allied yesterday, n portion of the
roof of the cotton factory (of which +. Is.
Bentley is agant) on the east side OF Mayo's
bridge, on the Manchester side of James River.
was torn off by the gale, and blown long dis
tance before it touched the ground: The root
was covered with tin. The piece blown OF
measured l. by % feet.
iaesndiary Anemps.-An attempt was made
last night, u little before O'Clock. by some
misc reant, 10 barn down the machine shop Of
Morris Il Brother, located on 9th, between
Main and Franklin streets, by setting fire to n
large pile OF shayings in the yard. Luckily 1t
was discovered in time to prevent what WAS
doubtless intended 10 be an extensive contia-
grafton, "a there were large piles Of lumber in
close proximity to the burning mass.
Alleged B.rgtary.-A man named William
w. Hardman Is to be examined beforea called
Court of Hastings At the City Hall at II
O'Clock to-day for burglary in entering the
dwelling house of II. r. Daniel about two
weeks since, and stealing some articles OF
| trifling value. The prisoner will be repre-
sented by Jas. r. Crenshaw, Esq.
Wiady.-The apprc ach of March was her
aided yesterday by strong exhibition Of the
powers of "rude Boreas" The wind served
to dry up the mud, If it did no other good.
A Terrible Tale-Lost and Frozen n Death
Oh the Prairie.
The st. Paul's Mipnesotian and Times, 10th
inst, extracts from the Nor Wester, pu blished
at the Red River settlements, 4 sad narrative.
A party, Including Mr.. Mackenzie, started
from Georgetown, at the mouth Of the Buffalo
River, 10 cross the prairie to Fort Larry. They
started December %, taking mules. The lat
ter gave out in three days, distance only half
done, and provisions getting short. Here they
were hopeless, In the heart OF vast, dreary,
unknown prairie, in u cold, bleak month far
beyond the reach Of all sympathy and aid
with starvation staring them in the face On
r.
reach Penbina, and send back succor. The en-
g:nper accom- panied him. The day was cold and
stormy, and bitter blast from the North drove
them back. They all camped together that
night near Pine River. abont 10 miles from
Pembina. In the morning Mackenzie started
again alone. He had presentiment that he
would not get through He wore but one thin
coat and was lightly clad hroughout wishing
10 tpe rs little burdened with clothes as posi-
BILE, as he intended to run most Of the way. A
| bit of pemican, the size OF his fit, was all his
! food. On Monday morning David TAFT pushed
| ahead, and reached Pembina the same evening.
| Mr.. NJ. had not been there.
The men were sent and they fell in with the
| remnant Of the party shortly alter midnight
on Tuesday, and after supplying their urgent
needs, went Off in search OF Mackenzie We'd
ncsday they came upon traces which brought
them to his corpse. After leaving his eom-
panions, he seemed TO have followed the trail
for 4 considerable distance, and then to have
lost his way. Night came upon him, and, be-
wiidered by the growing darkness and the
drifting snow. he made towards n clump Of
trees, with the intention, probably, OF kindling
| a fire. If such was his object, lie seemed to be
unable to accomplish it; and his beaten track
| showed that TO keep himself from freezing, hs
| running round in circle. With the break Of
! day, he again started across the trackless
| waste, every step that he took carrying him
further and further from the spot which hs
| was straiNing every nerve to reach. Another
| weary day Of frnitless travel was followed by
a second night even more dreary than the first.
| Again he managed TO stave on what he must
| have felt TO have been the hour of his dissolu-
! ZION by long hours Of ceaseless activity.
| third days Journey brought him towards Lac
| des Roseaux. Here ne attempted TO run round
| as before But the strength and courage which
| had heretofore sustained him, now forsook
| him.
| He dragged his tired footsteps through the
| loose snow towards a tree, from which he
| pIucked n branch and hunR thereon shred OF
his tattered coat as n signal tO maxi MS dismal
resting place he next tore of another branch
| OF the same tree, w hlch he plared rs pillow
| for his cold bed, and then laid upou u his
| weary head and died. His righ. hand was on
| his heart and his left hung by his side. firmly
| holding q compass. The body gave Indications
| of having undergone great suffering. Some
portions of il had been frozen ana tnaweo
| many times In succession. before death inter-
| yened aud released 1t from further anguish.
Convicted op MCRpER.--Wm. Rector, In
| dicted for m ordering Michael u Nell. NJ Erie.
| Pa on the 2ist Of last December, was tried
| last week. and con victed vi murder In The drst
degree. George Smith, witness for the de-
| telce. wns arrested On 4 charge OF having
| sworn E,ifeiy,in HE endeavor 10 sxeulpate
| the prisener l1a ss e-a5
| NEogo KILLED --Oa Saturday last a negro
| man belonging TO Mr.. M.J. CTute, OF Buck
| ingham county, Va. and hired ~ Mr. 4.
| Vaughan, was shot aud almost INSTANTLY kill
Or IA years Of age. The Farnviiis Journal
learns that 1t WAS justifiable act Oh The part
| Of young Vaughan.
lNPRisoxED IOR LirE.-J~rry. the slavs
convicted in Clarke county, Va, OF incitinS In
| surrectiop, and sentenced 70 b hung, but
! whose sentence has been commuled " impri-
sonmens for life, has been taken 70 the penitsp-
| tiary NJ Richuaond.
/ pAr.ror,c The .tuden,. Of the (:ollewe as