The day book. [volume] (Norfolk, Va.) 1857-1867, 1866-02-05
LATEST NEWS.

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PETERSBURG, February 4.-The works of
the Mechanics Cotton Manufacturing Com
pany, situated on Swift Creek, in the county
Of Chesterfield, about two miles from Peters
burg, was the scene of terrible and heart
rending disaster.
From some cause, not yet ascertained, the
| boiler attached to the machinery exploded,
tearing the building to pieces, instantly kill
ing four men and wounding twelve other per-
sons, five Of whom were females.
The scene was one of the most appalling
character, and beggars any attempt at de-
scription.
| This Company was under the management
of Joseph B. Dunn, Esq, aud manufactured
| large quantities of cotton cloths 1t was Que
of the oldest establishments of the kind in
this section, and employed large number of
operatives, all of whom will be thrown out of
work, which, to say nothing of the destruction
of the machinery, the deaths and wounding
of so many unfortunate human beings, is at
this season of the year, real calamity to the
poor.-Nortoik Nrginion
WASHINGTON, Feb 2.-In quarters that /
have almost invariably found to be well post
ed it is stated confidently that jeff. Davis will
Secretary McCulloch has been constantly
wedding corrupt men out of offices under his
control, without respect to politics. A plea of
partizan device will not answer to charge OF
corruption and malfeasance. Investigations
are not pretermitted on his head. Power can
be safely granted him in respect to the man
agement Of the finances for be is not politi-
clan by trade.
The Treasury Department received $4,000
to-day from conscience stricken person who
got it wrongfully
An order has been given for abolshing the
military department of Mississippi, though
troops will yet be stationed at jackson,
Natchez, Meridian and Vicksburg,
1t is currently reported in good quarters to-
day, that Messrs. Bowen and Penny have
been removed from the board of police COM
missoners of this city, and that Messrs. Eng
lsh and Bacon are to take their places.
WAsHINaToN, Feb. 2-The President has
transmitted toCopgress the report of General
Sherman on the condition OF affairs in the
Southern States. He says that be found
everywhere in the South large number of
our officers and soldiers looking out for land
and employment and doubted not that during
the next year all the land which is cleared
will be under cultivation a large part of it
under the direction of energetic young men.
The President to-day ordered a warrant to
be issued for the pardon of 800 North Ala
bamians,
LOUISVILLE, Feb. COLLECTOR Speed, in
accordance with instructions from Washing
ton, is requiring coal and dray tickets to be
stamped. The Coal merchants have almost
without exception made report of the number
of tickets taken by them for the delivery of
coal since the LIST of November, and in the
presence of the collector destroyed stamps
equivalent to the. Mt. Der of tickets not
stamped, since which settlement they hold
themselves liable for all such transactions
Cincinnati, Feb Especial dispatches to
the Gazette state that the small pox prevails
to an alarming extent throughout many parts
Of the South. The Huntsville (Ala indie
pendent says that unless some organized effort
Is made to arrest its progress it will become
atmospheric, and sweep over the whole
land
The Southern papers are filed with ac-
counts of murders and robberies
Louisville, Feb. 1.-The steamer Charmer-
went to the wreck of the Missouri on Tues
day morning and succeeded in getting the
BOAT SAFE ana books. The remains Of Capt
Hards were recovered. No other bodys have
yet been discovered.
NeaC York, Feb 1.-The steamship New
bern, from Pensacola aud Key West arrived
here tonight. The United States gunboat
Narcissus, from Pensacola for New York, was
totally lost at the mouth of Tampa Bay, with
all on board-about thirty souls.
: PHILADELPHIA, Feb 2.-Christian Berger.
who was arrested for killing Miss Watts, an
aged lady, at Germantown, on the 9th of Jan
uary, was to-day convicted of murder in the
first degree. The prisoner received the YER
dict with no apparent emotion.
NLw ORLEANS, Feb. Am engine explo-
ded on the jackson railroad, near Amite city.
killing three persons, including Col. Forney,
ex-chief of police, and woundDg four. The
engine is total wreck
HAMILTON, c. W., Feb. 2.-Gen. Sweeney
aud Col. Roberts passed through the city last
night on an express train The mayor, with
the chief of police, passed through the train,
and took observation of them in the sleeping
car.
IA TCaMEDv,S