The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1864-02-24

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Desevaefioa 6y Fire Of the Confederate Co
zee Faetovy.-About one o'clock yesterds
morning the large brick building eituafe;
On bakers alley, between 18th and 18th. an,
Main and Cary Streets, took fire, and was en-
ureIy deetroyed. The building, which wa
very large one, fronting on Cary street ana
Iur"lng oacK the entire depth To the alley
was occupied by Mr.. David Baker. Jr. fl,
the manufacture OF Whist IA COR mcnI,
| known as Confederate Coffee" One mar
oi It was also used by MI. B. as a broom fac
tory. In this building was a large amonn,
OF corr, from which the compound was prin
cipally made, and the machinery which was
employed In its grin ling and drying was OF
the most costly and perfect character, all OF
which was entirely destroyed. '''' y
Dunng the progress of the fire very
large steam boiler, in which had been left
supply OF water, became red hot, and ewing
to the pressure of the steam epeendsred
thereby terrible explosion took piace. The
force Of the explosion was 80 great that
pieces Of the boiler wer6 driven thrnn~h
heavy brick walls, and large portions of It
were thrown from hundred to hundred
and fifty yards from the place at which II
was stationed. One piece, weighing between
throe and four hundred pounds. was lodSe,i
in the prison yard at Castle Thunder. a
square of, and tell within few inches Of
ono OF Ah" gaard, the forca nf which 40
stunning him as to knock linn senseless TOR
few minutes. A tenement< in Huphes's
row, on l1th street, was also struck by a
piece OF iron and hole driven eutire)y
through it. We learn that young man Who
was within range of the flying atoms at the
time of the explosion was struck about his
head with flake of the boiler, in,uring him
so severely that he has since ditd Several
other persons arc reported hurt, but we have
been unable to lind ont who they are.
Mr. George johnson, the clerk Of the es-
tablishment, was asleep at the time the fire
broke out, and had barely time to make his
escape alive
Mr.. Bakers loss will not fall far short Of
100000, on which there was no insurance
The building was owned by Franklin
Stearns, Esq, and his loss will probably
amount to between $50, 600 and $1OO, GOO.
Mr.. s. had a slight Insurance in the Mutual
Insurance office on one end of the buildiny
but, in comparison with the loss he will
sustain, 1t is not worth reporting
The origin of the fire is believed to be ac-
cidental, aud as it ir, quentiy occurs that
the furnaces in the drying room are kept
heated all night il is more than probable that
the floor ignited therefrom.
The Fire Brigade were promptly on the
spot, and did valuable sarvice in ,ving fron
destruction thu surrounding buildings.
Garroting Citixen-A daring attempt
Was made last Monday night by two paroled
Yankees, (of cOurse,) giving their names as
Patrick Henry Custeilo and John Howard
to garrOte and rob Mr.. Peter ID. Bernard, a
most worthy citizen of Henrico county, and
formerly an enterprisiEg conductor Of the
printing business in this city. Mr. Bernard
on his way to the house Of a friend, when, On
reaching the corner of Cary and Virginia
streets, he was dccoyed into vacant lot in
the rear of Mr.. Claiborne Burnett's black.
smith shop by these fellows, who seized
him and bore him to the ground Two of
the city watch, Messrs. Marcellus Hicks and
Cornelius Gardner, happening to be near at
hand heard the alarm, and fastening to the
spot found Mr.. Bernard fat Of his back, with
the prisoners sitting on him, one Of whom
was ri1ing his pockets, while the other was
holding o blanket over his face, thereby
rendering it impossible for him to make any
noise. In fact, Mr.. b. was very near suff0-
eating, and in all probability he is indebted
to the quick arrival of the watchmen for the
preservation OF his life. Upon searching
the robbers there was found about four hun
dred dollars in Confederate money and some
valuable papers which they lrad ad-oce~edsdi In
getting; bnt Mr., Bernard does not know
whether this was all that they had taken
from him, as he had on the morning Of the
robbery about eleven hundred dollars, and
has no recollection of spending anything
like half of that amount. At the conclusion
of the testimony the parties were remanded
for Indictment before the Hastings Court.
Pecaptwrsd-Two more of the twenty two
prisoners who escaped from Palmer's
building, opposite Castle Thunder, on Mon
day afternoon. have been recaptured since our
last Issue. This makes eighteen who have
been brought back.
In connection with this escapade, we
failed to announce that four of tho runaways g
were met in an old field Just be yond Trinity
Church by Mr.. William B. Reed, clerk at the
city post office, and that that gentleman,
suspecting who they were, boldly walked up
and ordered them to turn back. The fellows,
believing him to be Confederate Captain,
and fearing that he was armed, readily
obeyed his command, when all, with the ex.
ception of one who made his escape, were
safely carried to the prison without any
other assistance.
Mayors Cos.rt.-Wegive below summary
of the business transacted by the Mayor yes
terday morning:
The charge preferred against Gervas God
frey, of stealing five hens from Gideon Gar
Der, was called, but upon hearing some OF
the testimony 1t turned out that the offence
was committed beyond the corporate limits,
whereupen His Honor turned the matter
over to Justice Nettles, Of Henricn county.
George Waterman, paroled Yankee,
having in his possession pass from the
Provost Marshal Of StauntOu, was held In
custody for further disposition.
Daniel, Slave of James Burton, charged
with stealing from George z. Nagle $3.50 IN
Confederate notes, was, after an examination
OF witnesses, remanded to the Hastings
Court for further trial.
Peter, slave of George Bagby, was ordered
to receive thirtynine lashes for the offence
of stealing lot OF smoking tobacco from
Marshall ~ Thornton.
Joseph Signiago was held to bail in the
sum of $500 for his. appearance before III,
Hastings Court, to answer the charge Of re
ceiving lOt Of smoking tobacco from ne
gro boy, knowing it to have been stolen.
| Henrietta Moore, quite genteel looking
white girl, apparently about eighteen year
of age, was charged with obtaining from
Mrs. Ann w. Steel. under false representa-
/ tions, one fur victOrinc- and q cloth cloak
| valued at $500. The evidence cl cited be
| fore the Mayor fully proved the chafg
| against Miss Moore, as well as the fact tina
| she had practiced such tricks before
When arrested she had on her person tn
| victorine, but acknowledged that she ha
disposed Of the cloak TO q lady near Col
donsyiiie for $50. The case was continue
till this morning, In order to get pOssesaiO
| OF the cloak, ii it can be found.
| RadfOr(i huckster at the SecOn