The daily exchange. [volume] (Baltimore, Md.) 1858-1861, 1861-02-12
CITY INTELLIGENCE.

CITY INIELLIGENC
PATENT TURNOUT FOR Everybody
accustomed to ride upon the City Passenger Rail-
wav cars, has noticed of late the absence of the
swtch-tenders, who were formerly stationed at
those points where the rails diverge from the Bal
timore street track. This is owing TO the ntroduc-
tiOr upon the road of the patent railroad turn out
invented by Mr.. William Wharton, Jr., of Phila.
delphia. contrivance which has been adopted
generally upon the passenger railroads of Phila-
delphia and Boston, and have been in successful
practical use for months in those cities, the
simplicity of arrangement and efficiency of opera
ton being entirely satisfactory. Formerly, where
tracks dverged from the main route, switch-men
were always employed, but Mr.. Whartons nven-
ton dispenses entirely with movable switches.
The cars which run upon the main routes have
only to be supplied with pattern of wheels
to make the arrangement complete. The following
will give an idea of the working of the turnout
BY having one line OF cars using wheels with an
extra tread, in addition to the common tread it is
evident that by means of short inclined supple
mentary rail, so placed that the extra tread shall
run upon it without jar, the wheels will be
gradually raised off their bearing, and running on
the extra tread alone, will pass and above the
ordinary track without touching it, while the line
of cars provided with wheels of the ordinary form
will of course, follow the direction of the ordinary
rail. AS soon as the point of divergence is passed
this short supplementary rail is discontinued, and
the common rail used upon the new route also. The
change of bearing from the common tread to the
extra treau, ana ctce CerSd, Is lmperceptble, the
cars gliding as smoothly at that point as at any
other. The whole arrangement is entirely solid
the frog Is cast in piece, and there is nothing
to get out of repair to freeze up in winter. The
pavement is laid flush with the inclined rail; the
greatest elevation is only enough to raise the ange
OF the double-tread wheel over the common rail,
and there is nothing to interfere with the travel of
vehicles along the street. 1t is claimed that this
Improvement can be successfully applied to steam
roads, and that by providing the express trains
alone with dOuble-tread wheels, they would pro-
coed directly through from station to station, and
entirely disregard all turn-outs and branch roads,
however numerous.
SHIP GRACE GoRDoY.-The ship Grace Gordon
which sailed from this port for Liverpool about
the 18th of November, heretofore reported, was
abandoned at the 18th of December
letter from Capt. BabsOn reports:
Left the Capes Nov. 20; Dec TO- lat A. lon A. in a
gale, washed everything from the decks, filled the ship
half full of water, and threw her her beam ends to-
tally unmanageable, and in sinking condition. away
the masts, when she rghted little but the cargo had
SHIFTED, and it kept her her broadside. The boats
were badly stove, starboard anchor off the bow sails
blown away, pinnacle, poopdeck scuttle and skyght
stove %c the lee were in the WATER the rails
and waist under water from stem stern; expected she
would sink as she settling fast the pumps
~ gong, out the water gaining on u.s. The next
ing the bowsprit was broken off by a heavy sea- and
thumped badly against the bow two boats stove and
the lee buiwarks washed OIL The day following
ced throwing over cargo ct 10 A large ship passed
three or four miles Off but took Of signal
distress. The exhausted having been and
without sleep rest for three days and nights with very
little to eat Up to 18th hard at it tightening ship
Eight of the crew. second and carpenter were now
unable to work, the constantly breaking over us
About A. NJ. bark Katharine, OF Yarmouth N s. hove
in sight launched the long boat but She was stove
alongside nearly losing two men, and left with
out any boat On account of the heavy running the
bark could render assistance; at p NJ the gale had
abaed considerably and boat left the bark but could
not come alongside, Rugged BIZ over the lee quarter
on which four men lone at tiStwen out and low
cred into the boat two Of them nearly drowned In
this manner all hands, excepting the second mate stew
ard and one man, rescued; night on, and
had to leave hem the boat afterwards started go to
Them but partially filled and returned without them
Lay by until morning, when it blowing gale with
thick snow storm lost sight of the wreck but when it
cleared up discovered her and ran down and saved the
rest of the men Capt Babson lost everything and the
crew saved but few articles of clothing.
CHARGED WITH ARsoN.-Y esterday morning a
young man named William Bennett was arragned
before Justice Hiss, charged with setting fire to
the oyster-packing house of E. 7. Thomas at the
lower end of Cross street, the night of the LIST of
December, 1860. COL F. Ii. b. Boyd, Fire Inspec-
tor, represented the State, and o. +. Hack, ESQ.,
the accused. A young man named Getz testified
that he IN company with the accused and young
man named George Rotten, (now in the penten tia.
ry,) lett Johnsons restaurant corner of Cross and
Johnston streets, on the evening of the fire. and
proceeded to point near the oyster house. where
Rotten made known his design to fire the building;
witness and Bennett refused to enter the
building; Rotten, of whom they were both afraid,
compelled Bennett to accompany him: the two
were in-the packing house about fifteen minutes;
short time after they left the alarm was given of
fire, which destroyed the property. Several other
witnesses testified to the fact that Rotten said he
would hre the house on the evening on which it
occurred. Also testimony to show that Bennett
was not aware of Roten's intention until the prem
ises were reached. The Justice discharged the
accused.
SUIClDE.-A woman named Mary McDermott,
who lived in a house in the of No. $50 North
Exeter street, near Hen street, committed suicide
by hanging. About six o'clock yesterday morning
Mrs McDermott awoke her daughter, who is about
nine years of age: and told her to go down stairs
and make fire. The child obeyed, and was gone
about fifteen minutes. On returning to her moth
er's room she found her hanging by leather strap
from the stair bannister The child ran to a neigh
boris and informed them of the fact, when police
man James Darling was called. The officer cut the
woman down. and DR.. Bussey endeavored to resus-
citate the body, but without success. Mrs. Nc
Dermott was forsaken by her husband about one
year since, and has struggled alone for support
for herself and child since the desertion. Within
the past three weeks she commenced drinking, and
on one or two occasions has exhibited symptoms of
insanity Last week she wandered from the city to
Goyanstown where she remained for several DAYS.
On Sunday night she told several of the neiphbors
that she did not intend to live more than one day
longer. She no doubt insane when she com
mitted the suicide.
RUNAwAY.-I esterday morning about 9 o'clock,
pair ofhorses attached to hack, took fright on
Fayette street near Liberty street. and dashed off
at furious rate The driver tried in vain to con-
troll them, but their speed increased until they
reached Monument square, when they direct |
ly across the square into the area in front of GUYS
The iron railing which protects The |
area was broken to pieces and both horses and |
mack were thrown into the pit. Neither of the |
horses was seriously injured and the tongue only |
OF the hack was broken. The driver could give No |
reason for the visit which the horses paid Mr. Guy,
other than on the Saturday night previous he had
a couple of gentlemen who had descanted eloquent
y on the virtue of Guys cocktails.
PETITIONS FOR PARDoN.-Memorials are in cir
nt1l ofin both Ia u-rI.
praying the Governor to grant pardon to Jo-
seph D.. Edwards, convicted at Anne Arundel
county Court of manslaughter, in the killing of
Adam Barklie Kyle, Jr., and sentenced to the pen
Tertiary for the term of five years. A number of
persons have signed the petition in both cities.-
The parties convicted of completely in the Kyle
murder have not yet been brought from Annapo-
is by the Sheriff.
=, RoBBERY.-During Sunday night the house of
near h GSeay butcher, living on Point lane,
lnleSes and robbed of quantity of wearing apparel
ana pau In money. Mr.. Lowery is the Treasurer of
que oatcners Association, and had a considerable
sum OF money in his possession, but fortunately
the thieves missed it in their search The detec
tive police have the matter in hand and will most
probably ferret out the perpetrators
PROPERTY SAIgs.-g; B. Cannon, auctioneer.
,od at the Merchants Exchange salesroom" a 10,
Of ground situated on the south side of Loyelv
lane with front of 20 feet and depth of as feet
Improved BY two-story brick building, occupied
as a restaurant. Purchased by Henry James for
81, 500.
WORKING ON SUNDAY.-James A. Coates who
has a confectionery establishment on Baltimore
street near Gay, was arrested yesterday, charged
with selling fruits and candies on Sunday. Justice
Hiss fined him SIS and costs. John Leakey was ar
rested on the charge of working on Sunday. He
vas hned 50 and costs by Justice Griffin.
SALE OF GROUND RENT.-J. b. Cannon auctioneer
old on yesterday, ground rent of the value of
last side of Pratt street, near Ann. Purchased nv
L. Cate for $685..
The honor nf bain0 the ola.