The national Republican., 1867-11-13


punched several holes in the clothing aud flesh
Of tho prisoners because they did not dance to
the tune Of double quick" over portions Of
the road where the bottom had fallen out
The most Of the party were good natured, and
besides tho cracking Of heads by muskots sew.
eral good jokes were cracked Mt the expense Of
the "boys in blue"
Along the road people ran to their doors and
windows, and gazed with amazement on the
passing crowd, while dogs barked and cats fused,
and when passing tho toll.gate about a mile
this side Of Alexandria, the man who ofhoiates
remarked that the crowd might go on, but that
he would charge "Uncle Sam" for the invasion.
Entering ye ancient town, the people turned out
en- masse, and following on, the crowd swelled
to several hundred before tho prisoners reached
the market house, where 1t looked as II they
had been brought up for slaughter; but, upon
inquiry, we learned that several fossilated 'in.
situations presided over the butchers stalls,
and being used to the smell OF blood, had spoiled
full sheet Of fooscap in detailing the grievances
of the Commonwealth, which was directed to
the sheriff (by the way, an excellaut gentlemanl
stating on the oath Of somebody that his belief
was strong that number Of the residents Of
Virginia had confedcrated to disturb the peace
Of the Old Dominion.
After being drawn up In line before the mar.
ket house, and the sheriff pocketing tho afore.
said written grievance, that functionary ad.
dressed the crowd, saying that 1t was his un.
pleasant duty to convey them to jail, where they
would be released from military rule. This an.
nouucement evoked three hearty cheers from the
prisoners for the sheriff, after which they were
marched of to the corner Of Princess and St.
Asaph Streets where double.brosstsd building
stands, denominatod the jail The crowd we're
fled into the yard under the following instruc.
tions from q justice of the peace:
"AierdRdria county, 10 icit! To the keeper OF
the jail it might have kept itself Of said county
Receive in your Jail and custody the number
now In charge Of the sheriff, herewith sent you,
they having been brought before mo, Wm. W.
| White, n justice Of the said county, charged, on
the oath Of james NJ. Stewart, on suspicion Of
an unlawful asSomblage. And these keep in
your Jail md custody for further examination,
1867, when you are hereby required to bring
them before me to be further examined.
"Given under my hand and seal this 18th day
Of November 1867
OWN. W. WHITE, J. p"
While the party were lying around loose in
the yard, sort of advisory board u the sheriff.
apartment OF the jail, consisting of Col. Lee, Of
tho Freedmen's Bureau, and commandant of the
post, and Samuel Beach, John Moore, and VIM.
W. White, three gentlemen that Shak'penro
would dcnominatO "Dogberres," put their heads
together aud came to the humanitarian oonclu.
sion TO release the prisoners.
Sheriff James NJ. Stewart then appeared be.
fore the crowd, and said that he had been com.
PEELED to arrest them by tho laws of tho State,
but that it was concluded not to further punish
| them, and they would be discharged. lie in.
| formed them that If again found violating the
law, they would be handed over to tho tender
mercy Of the military, who would give thom a
| taste of drum. head court.nartial.
This announcement brought forth three cheers
for the sheriff. when Mayor Hugh Latham ad'
dressed the prisoners, saying he was glad to hear
| tho sherif's remarks.
As no prize eight had taken place it was we'll
for them. for had it occurred lie would turn the
party over to the military authorities to execute
the laws. lIo hoped they would not again at.
tempt to violate the laws of tho Commonwealth,
and the purpose of the present arrest was ia
give some wholesome advice, and he hoped all
would return home wiser, II not better, men,
Ho promised the present was the last time such
| lenioncy would be shown, and II they came be-
| fore him again on a similar charge their punish
ment would be long and severe.
| The sheriff then returned his thanks to the
| military for the assistance rendered him In
making the arrest, and particularly complimented
Lieut.. Howe, who commanded the squad Of the
4th artillery.
The boys began to feel easy after listening tc
the remarks of the distinguished Alexandriaus
and nattered themselves that they were to be
released from durauce vile in time to partake oil
an carly dinner but their hopes wore not real
lied, for In the sheriff. g room further advice
was being had on the subject Of the prisoners
release. hu sutiquatsd spsUlrnen or JdsLlce
| with specs on his nose, was diving deep IN the
law, and Magistrate Beach, for the information
of himself and the military officers by his side
| road from book an ordinance adopted In the
year /, d. c., applicable to the case. After the
reading Major Stewart, We suppose, Of the 4th
Artillery, said that he hoped tho whole damned
party" would bo hung, and he would like tC
''put the screws to them" He wanted them
| punished to the full extent Of the law. lie ther
observed a wslLknown representative of the
press taking notes Of his remarks, when the Ma
| ior looked vicious and said "Outsidsrs should
not listen" to what was said
| Tho newspaper gentlemen took somo uMGragt
at the latter remark, and replied rather tartly
but for ourselves, we did not see tho point, fol
We were most assurody "insiders" in every sense
Of the term.
Tho major then retired to an ante.roOm, fol
lowed by tho representative Of the press alluded
to; but not being invited to share in bis good OIL
| bad fortune, We amused Oursolf with taking O
census Of the spiders that were indulging in
slack and tght.ropo exercises and other gymnas
| tic feats in the iar-Of corners Of the room.
| After the lapse Of an hour or more, the pom
derous jaws of the prison gate opened, and the
free born American citizens woro allowed to de
part and sin no moro.
We arc pleased to record the general goot
conduct Of the crowd, who, after visiting severa
points of interest about Alexandria, took passr 60
on the forry boats, arriving here about O'Clock
p. m.
To Sheriff Stewart and his polite and efficient
assistant, George W. Rock, we bow our acknowl
edgments for courtesies shown.
The march from Fort Albany to Alexandra
was about 81 miles, and would hayo been pleas
ant had It not been for the acts Of brutality OF
the part of several of tho squad Of military
Previous to leaving Fort Albany some of tn,
party broke from the ranks, when tho liOutenan
In charge gave chase, firing several loads from
his revolver at the aeeing party, which forum
atsly missed their mark.
Th1s ended the grand prize fEzle, and Its les
sons, 1t is hoped, will have sAlutary effect upoT
all who figured so enyiouSly at its finale, and W,
heartily wish our District and neighboring Stat,
will never again be disgraced by gatherings o
fstiaua candidates within the roped arena.
GRASD ROYAL ARCH CHAPTER.-ThO frs
annual convoeation Of the Grand Royal Arel
Chapter of Masons was held on Monday evening
last, at the Masonic Hail. when there was q yer,
full attendance. The Grand High Priest (Mr
]. Il T. Holmead) delivered his annual address
In which ho reviewed the operations Of the GranC
Chapter, and from which 1t appears that capitula
Masonry is in a high degree prosperous hero
I III F-II-- nla NaI II