Richmond Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1862-1865, 1865-02-14


| and men out of about 4tO00 who went into tue ae-
| ton. No doubt large proportion OF these pun
down as missing will appear IN few days, as Is
usually the case, the stragglcrs Always heePhs
out OF the way rs long possible. The heavy TOSS
in the division indicates the manner III when INC
men acquit themselves, and they have been hlsny
complimcntcd for IOer bravery by then connhaiiu-
ing officers. H..
| The loss in the Sixth Corps is not reported, but
is very Slight, they acting as supporting coiulih
| rather than. as an attacking force.
LiNCuLN's JOKE At THE PEACE CONFERENCE
A good deal has been said of a story that Lincoln
delivered himself of in the interview with ourpeace
deputation at Fortress Monroe. We give the eng
| matical anecdote as We find 1t IN the hsf"d
ONE or OLD ABE's STORIES.
After the formal interview was over there was a
lengthy general conversation elG ~ seems ,"st ~
was during this informal talk that the Rebel Am
bassadors first heard of the passage OF the cohsttu-
tonal amendment by the lower house OF congress.
one OF the number remarked that thls action "eht
complicate affairs little with the south Inc hcdSy
Dlanters insisted upon maintaining that institution
and defending IT, and asked Mr.. Lincoln It he
thoupht he could get around that TACT. Od Abe was
ready for them with one OF his stories, and SAID
There is an old farmer out in Illinois who had
made his arrangements 10 raise large heru OF
hoQ>; he informed his ncghbOrs that lie. had found
a way TO raise cheap pork. This excited The curl
ositv Of his neigllbOis, and they asked nm how he
wn. going 10 do it. Tie old farmer replied that he
should plant a large field OF potatoes, and when they
had Got their growth would turn the hogs IN and let
them dig and eat, thus saving the expense OF dig
ging the potatoes and feeding them.
Bur 4" said his neighborS, 1.-the frost will come
before they are iattened aud IN all probability the
ground will be frozen foot deep. How do You
propose TO get around that p
"Ob, +" replied the farmer, 'they will root some
where anyway, aud may well root away there,
nvp,, If n il hard work"
GREAT FIRE IL PHILADELPHIA.
from tue Philadelphia Press of the 9thl
A coudaVration the most terrible in its cOnSc-
ouences of any that has occurred IN our city since
the ire OF July, $780, broke out yesterday Snorning
about hslt-pa o'clock, among iargea4uantty OF
coal oil which had been stored ON an open lot on the
south side OF ashIngtOn street, above 9Th. On the
southwest corner of 9Th and Washington streets
there Is coal yard belonging to Daily Porter, and
To the west OF this the lot on which the coal oil
had been stored to the amount OF two thousand
seven hundred barrels. The flames spread through
the greater part of this oil with almost the rapdy
of gunpowder. The property in the immediate
neigAbOrhood consists of three-story brick dwell
ing houses winch are occupied by respectable
families OF limited means, and are worth about
two thousand dollars each. The families in the
neighborhood sprang fl ON their beds, and, without
attempting e secure even their clothes, rushed into
the streets glad 10 escape from the terrible death
that threatened them. The streets were deep with
sluSh and the rain was pouring in torrents. Such
stormy night, il is said, was never known before
in this CITY, Some who lived in the closest proxmi-
tv to the fire were unable 10 escape and persisted in
the flames The blazing oil ran from the burning
barrels in streams, down Ninth street TO Federal,
and fred the houses on both sides Of Ninth ST., de-
srcyng them and their contents, as ifthey had feen
Of straw The flames, at the caprice Of the wind,
went Hp the street and down again and into Ellsworth
WashingtOn and Federal streets. Fully five squares
of houses had they been placed in a row, were on
fire al once, and the scene was one to make The
stoutest heart quail. There were people escaping
from their blazing homes, which contained in many
instances their little ali in the world with no COW
ering but their night clothes. There were parents
seeking their children aud little ones mourning the
loss OF their parents; but, worse than all these
heart-rendIng scenes, there were men, women and
children literally roasted alive IN the streets. Jos.
H. Ware and his family, consisting of his wife, five
daughters and two sons, occupied the dwelling No.
u2S Ninth street the second house yellow the coal
ward They all got into the street Just they left
their beds, and there they found themselves in a
river OF flre. The family became scattered. Mrs.
Ware had her youngest child, glrl oil about
four years OF age, in her arms. She Tell, and
Lewis C. Williams a membef OF the MoysmenSing
Hose Company, made desperate effort to save
them lie had hold Ofthe unfortunate woman, but
he was compelled by the ierc sncsS OF the fiery blast
to leave her to her fate aud seek safety for himself
in flight Mrs. Ware, her child, and daughter
about fifteen or sixteen wears of age, were burned
10 death in the street, and horribly mutilated
that their remains can only be identified by the pc
culiar circumstances surrounding them. Captain
W are and his two sons escaped, bnt three of the
daughters are missing. Captain Ware aud his TWO
sons were all badly burned.
There were five bodies in all recovered; they
were taken to the Second District Station House.
Three ol the bodies have been recognized rs be-
longing to the Ware family. One, the body Of a
maTr supposed to be Mr.. James Gibbons, the pro
prietor Of cry goods store, 4l33 South Ninth
street There is also boy not yet recognized, and
a man whose body was found in Ninth street,
short distance below Washington street. A trag
ment of red cloth, resembling the lining OF fire.
mans coat leads the belief that the victim was
fireman. The remains are believed TO be those OF
Samuel McMenamin, amember ofthe Moyamensing
Hose Company.
\ general alarm struck upon the State House
bell and the tremen from ali parts of the city hHr-
ried to the scene OF the cOnhagration. The entire
number of buildings burned is about forty seven.-
Nearly every house from Washington street TO
Federal, distance OF two squares, is burned, with
all their contents, nothing bur the bare walls re-
manning Yesterday Thorniug, The same seeneN of
ruin il presented on Washington, Ellsworth and
Federal streets, both above and below 9th street,