The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1861-02-22

aroused from its repose AT o,c,och yss ,e-,,ay
morning by an alarm which was found to he
caused Ss ny the burning Of the large brick to-
Daceo factory occupied by J. H. f. Mayo
Esq on the South side of the Basin Thongb
the nremen repaired in all hast. 20 the scene
OF the conflagration, such was the combus ii.
Die nature OF the materials it had TO operate
on, that the flames We're not subdued before
| the building occupied by Mr. Mayo, and one
adjoining. also tobacco factory used bv
Messrs. Mason 6 Timberlake were entireIv
| consumed, together with their re spectiye con-
tents.
| The building used by Mr.. Mayo, was built
| many years since by Mr.. Edm und Brown tone
| of the most famous tobacco manufacturers
"Browns best well known to all lovers of
the weed,l at cost of $4,000. 1t was finished
| in 1888. Before being occupied, the Whig par
! ty gave their great leader, Hon. Henry CLAW
| Il dinner within its walls that famous orator
making on the occasion one of his most hap
| py forensic displays the memory of which is
extant even TO this day.
Mr Mayos loss Is very heavy, only por
| ton being covered by ins surance. Every thing
| was burnt, books, fixtures and stock, including
about 120 boxes of manufactured tobacco that
was to have been shipped yesterday. He had
| an insurance of only "a, 900, half the amount
| IN the Valley Office, and half in the Office of
| the Insurance Company of Alexandria. Ma
| son d Timberlake had an insurance on their
| stock of S2, 900, which, we presume will not
cover their loss by great deal. Both build
| lngs were owned by Mr.. Abraham Warwick
VINO mad an insurance on them of $ll 600 in
the Mutual Office. The fire was no doubt the
WORK or an lncendiary, as all that was used
| In the daytime was extinguished before the
hands left work the previous night. Had the
wind blown in the direction of the Petersburg
depot, that building would have been also con-
sumed. 1t is probable that the in terror of the
houses We're nearly burned before the alarm
was given. The steam fire-engine was on
hand and demonstrated its claim as a great
institution. The above is the most con nsidera-
fOr he
The Virginia Model husket.-The Commits
sloners appointed for arIning the State found
1t necessary, before ordering the machinery for
the armory, 10 prepare Il model of the arm to
be manufactured at the Virginia works.
After consulting the principal ordnance ofi-
GERS OF the army, and learning from the War
Department, through the Hon. James M. Ma
son, the usage of European armies, and after
a course of experiments with muzzle and
breech- loading arms at the Virginia Military
Institute, conducted by Major Colston the
commissioners determined to adhere TO the
muzZle- loading rified musket for infantry OF
| The line In this conclusion, they follow the
example OF the American and European arm
| les, and the advice of all the mill tary men
whom they consulted
| Having determined the character of the arm
and its general conformity to the British and
American regulation muskets il became ne
cessary to settle its details. In doing this.
| the Commissioners consulted the Mas ter AR,
| morer, Mr.. Salmon Adams, and requested Mr.
Burtons opinion of the relative merits of the
British and American muskets. After care
ful examination and comparison Of an Enfield
musket brought over by himself, and Uni
ted States rified musket made at Harper's Fer
~, he made a report to the Commissioners
containing numerous valuable sugges tions
which, with the approba tion of Mr. Adams
We're adopted. The res ult was mus sket con
forming in its nterior to the United States
musket, and in its exterior to the Enfield
lnusket. with some changes for the better
| from both.
| by permission of those in authority, the
model musket was made at the Government
works at Springfield by Mr.. Adams who ar
rived in Richmond with the arm a few days
| since, and on Tuesday last exhibited it to the
Sena te and House Committee on Military At
| fairs, who were highly pleased with it a a wea-
| pom OF offence and defence. We saw the mus ket
| ourselves, and regard il i'm a respects AS the
most perfect weapon of the kind in existence
TO show the extreme sensitiveness of our
Northern neighbors, we may mention a fact
| that we CLEANED at the tme-viZ that after
the musket was made, by permission as a
model, they were unwilling TO let it go. and
would have laid IN embarso on its tranship-
ment thither il position of the kind would
have been at all tenable. Mr.. Adams the
Master Armorer here, has made himself oh
noxions to the Black Republicans by aiding
the shipment Of arms South by parties desiring
them, an operation which he performed to such
an extent that it raised the Republican ire
The following description of the model mus
ket Will give some idea Of its superiority as
| fre-arm
| Stock-Conforms very nearly to the Enfield
STOCK. An alteration Is made in the shape of the
butt, at the point where the toe of the butt plate
rests.
Barrel-Length 10 inches, same as the s'U s. -
Exterior form same as the Enfield barrel 10
weigh OF. more than the Enfield this additional
weight to be distributed from the lower band 10
the muzzle barrel to be Drowned.
Tip for Stock-Material, brass, same as the En-
| field
Rod Spring-Same the Enfield
Lock-same a. the Enfield, except the comb OF
the hammer, which viii be less, both vertically
aud horizontally.
Bands-Convex adjustable screw bands, after
the style of the Enfield.
Butt Plste--Material, brass. Lateral and longi-
tudna eurvatures will vary slightly from the
Enfield. One curve from the heel to the toe will
be observed, in order TO facilitate the manufae-
ture.
Butt Scrcws-Same as the ''J So
| side and Tang >erews-Will vary little from
| the Eahcld
| Ramrod-Same length as the az $" Diameter
of brdy - inches head countersunk 50 a. to ac-
| commodate the shape OF the ~ s." bullet a
| end Of the head.
| Bayonet-Form OF blade same as tho Enfield
socket same a. the III. ).
Leaf Sight-Same as the ''U. s."