Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1868-09-09


TIE Launching Yesferday-Yssterdsy
afternoon the boating fraternity Of Mem
phis were on the ienierbood Of eager ex-
pectation, as Il was announced that the
recently organized boat cub, the Desoto,
would launch their new and handsome
six-oared gig, and Il was generally be-
lieved, with an the pomp and Formally
which attends christening new adven-
turer upon the waters. At least five or
six hsndred people congregaIed on the
levee and bluff TO witness her debut upon
the Mississippi, which was made at 8
o'clock pm, near the foot Of Union
street The boat was built by Mr.. Single
ton, Of this city, aud is ffiy-six feet in
length and thirty inches wide, and is ad'
mirably adapted in her general construc-
ton for rapid speed. The river was dot
ted with boats 10 few minutes after the
launching Of the Desoto, and oil seemed
to vie with one another in skipping along
the waters and endeavoring to manipu-
late their oars with the greatest skill aud
regularity. The Memphis Boat Club,
with their splendid boat, the Ivanhoe I;
the Cbickasaw Club, the Waverly; the
Essex Club, the Magnolia; besides any
number of dugouts and skiffs moved
around and about with commendable
agility, to the great delight Of the spec
tators. We wish this club the greatest
success with their oew boat.
FIRE THIS MoRYISa-Probable incen-
diary Attempt on Poplar street-About
four o'clock this morning flames were
discovered in the rear of the double tene
ment $50 Poplar street, owned and occu-
pied by Ernest Levy, and an alarm
promptly sounded and as promptly re-
sponded to by the steamers. Notwith-
standing every exertion, however, the
buildings, with much of the furniture Of
the occupants, we're destroyed, or SO
nearly as to prove almost total loss. The
origin Of the flames is unknown, but there
are strong reasons to believe it to have
been the work of an incendiary. Mr.. Levy
being absent from the city, had left the
building in charge Of negro man, who
states that when wakened by the smoke
in the room in which he was sleeping,
the flames seemed to be springing from
under the house. The loss by the fire,
in buildings and furniture, will probably
not exceed $4,000, upon which there was
insurance to the amount of $4,000 in the
Enterprise, of Cincinnati, and $500 in
the Home, of New Haven.
TIE LATE OvERroS STREET INFANTI-
cIDE.-A white girl named Violet Dowda'l
was arrested by Officer Sauerman, of the
northern district, yesterday and lodged
in the Adams street station, to await a
hearing upon the grave accusation OF
having caused the death of an infant OF
Mrs. Mcdowell, found dead in building
on Overton street one day last week.
The negro woman, Martha Harris, ar.
rested on suspicion of committing the
crime, having been released after hear.
ing, in which no evidence was adduced
to establish her guilt, suspicion was
next directed to the white girl, Dow
dali, between whom and the moth
err of the deceased infant there
has for some time past existed a
Misunderstanding Two negro women
allege that some time during the middle
of last month the girl Dowdall carried the
infant into a vacant room Of the house,
and mu.ilating its person in most fiend-
ish manner, injected poisonous acid,
from the effects of which it subsequently,
died. The case will probably be thor
oughly investigated before a magistrate
this evening.
Why COMMISSIONERS ARE OPPOSED TO
WoRKHoUsE.-As much as wcrkhouse
is needed in Memphis, we very much
fear the chances of our getting such an
institution are only damaged by the re-
ference of the matter to the County
Commissioners by the Council, for their
cooperation. A couple of vagrant and
suspicious looking negroes dropped into
leading Front street house on yester-
day, evidently to see what they could pick
up lying around loose. Being rather
closely watched, they finally sauntered
off, and few moments after our mer-
camille friend received a visit from a
certain well known Radical politician.
"why is it," inquired our friend of his
visitor, "that the Commissioners, on
their own hook, do not have the vagrant
and suspicious negroes, idling about the
city, properly provided for with a work
house or correl o. why, the fact is,
you see," replied the Rad, 1.-THE matter
has, as / learn, already been up before
the Board, but they are afraid to act on
it, for fear it would break up the party.
TIE CENTRAL PARK PIcSIc. = The
public will bear in mind that the grounds
of the Central Park will be opened free
Of admission throughout Tomorrow
Tho nnnas;nn heinn that of the grand pic.