The national Republican. [volume] (Washington City [D.C.]) 1866-1870, 1869-08-28
LOCAL DEPARTMENT.

W hkNpOLTh SoLrbt
terday afternoon the many warm friends OF
Mr.. Randolph Coyle, OF this city, were
deeply pained to hear the announcement OF
his death, which occurred suddenly yestcr-
day morning at Warrenton Springs, Va,
whittier he had gone In quest OF rest and
health.
Mr.. Coyle was known all over this Dis.
trict as q man Of warm and generous heart,
strict integrity and courtly manners. Edu :.
Gated as a civil engineer, he had studied
hard, and was acknowledged by all with
whom he was brought into business relations
rs possessing talents which Justly entitled
him to the high rank In his profession which
he had obtained.
Mr.. Coyle was a native Of this city, and
was one OF numerous family, who are
loved and respected In this community as
among our most valued citizens. He at one
time held the position Of city surveyor, which
office he held with credit to himself, his con.
stituents, and to the benefit Of the corpora.
ton. When the Potomac water was placed
at the disposal Of the corporation, Mayor
Wallach, from a personal know ledge OF Mr..
Coyle's ability, selected him to all the posi-.
ton Of water registrar, and TO his skill and
practical experience Is the city indebted for
the admirable plan by which the main cup.
ply pipes are distributed. Mr.. Coyle some
years ago made the necessary survey and
was the author Of a map Of Washington
city, which Is the standard now In use, and
has been pronounced the most complete and
explicit that has yet been produced.
The deceased was a prominent member oil
the Masonic fraternity, being an lated with
Dawson Lodge, No. 10, OF this city. He was
also a member of the Society Of Oldest In.
habltants Of the District, In the success oil
which organization he has always expressed
a deep interest. His loss will be long aud
deeply felt In this city, among whose resi-
dents he has for so long lived and moved, be-
loved and respected by all. His remains will
be brought here for interment. The shock
Of his sudden death has greatly affected his
widow, whose health, We understand, Is In q
very precarious state, doubts being expressed
Us to her recovery.
THE FIRE IN BALrINoRE.-An examine
sion Of witnesses as TO the cause OF the late
disastrous conaagration at Baltimore shows
that the fire was caused BY screw getting
loose In a portion Of the machinery In the
oakum factory and striking fire by coming
In contact with other portions OF machinery,
causing ignition, by which the thin fbres OF
oakum took fire. The total loss Is estimated
at sl26, 900, on which there was t49, 900 In.
surance. The buildings destroyed were
mostly very old, some OF them being partly
frame, and others built OF bricks originally
imported from England. Some OF the DWELL
ings were in long years gone by the resi-
dences OF the wealthy merchants and me-
chanics of the city.
The Randolph Methodist Episcopal church
will be repaired and ready for service within
two weeks. The burnt district will be i'm,
proved at once, with more modern struc-
lures.
RoBBRRY.-Betweer IL and l o'clock yes
tcrday mo- n'ng, Officer kenna, while patrol
ing his beat, discovered two colored men
making their exit from the store Of George
W. Dunn X Son, on the corner Of Eighth
ard II streets, each one carrying q large
bundle on their shoulders. The officers APP
preached the men to question them regard
ing their business and what the bundles con-
tanned, when they started of at a $40 rate
Of speed. Mr.. kenna pursued them up Eighth
street to i, and down ! street to an alley be-
tween Sixth and Seventh streets, when they
dropped their plumber and made good their
escape. Upon examining the bundles, the
officer discovered that they contained dry
goods to the value Of about $3.50, which was
returned to the owners.
THE RIVER FRoST.-The following are
the arrivals at and departures from the
wharves yesterday
Sailed; ste-ner Arrow, Stackpole, Tor
Marshsn's Landing and Mount Vernon.
S's-mer Wrwaset, for Cone river and In
termedlate points. Schrs. b. Bradley, for
Georgetown, to load for Philadelphia; Mary
and Precilla, for Eastern Shore; East New
Market, light, for Havre-de-G Grace; Me-
chanic, Union, and John Franklin, light,
down the river.
Arrived: schrs Benjamin stokeley, from
Havre-de-Grace, with coal for Harvey,
Clark * Given.
Quite a number Of small craft arrived yes
terday with melons, fruit and vegetables for
market.
RELIEF OF FAMILIES or FESIAs Prison.
ERs.-A meeting for the relief Of the fami.
lies Of the Fenian prisoners was held last
evening at the office OF ID. A. Brosnau, G
street, between Ninth and Tent, Mr.. Bros
nan in the chair, and James RI q Secretary.
'i-. Brosnan briefly explained the object Of
the meeting, as stated above, depicting the
sufferlngs aud pfivations to which the hmi-
lies Of brave and patriotic men are subjected,
and reminding his hearers OF the obligation
which all true Irishmen were under to sup
port ard encourage them. He stated that he
had some money on hand, but as II was not
sufficiently large, he hoped that 1t would be
considerably augmented by q picnic. Com
mittees were appointed, and the meeting ad-
journed subject TO the call Of the chairman.
FIRE.-About o'clock yesterday morn
ing an alarm of fire was sounded from box
G3, caused by the Burning OF the carpenter
shop Of Mr.. James W. Barker, In the rear Of
Miller's school-house, In Hog alley, between
Sixth and Sc, enth and II aud streets. The
flames extended to the adjoining wood sheds
and to a row OF two-story frame dwellings,
two OF which, and a one-story brick build-
ing, were destroyed. The houses were the
property of Mr.. Theodore Wheeler, and &C.
cupled by colored families. The fire depart.
mcnt and police were prompt In attendance
and did good service In saving the adjoln-
ING property. 1t is estimated that the loss
will reach 1900, and no doubt the fire was
the act Of an incendiary.
Mr.. II. s. BENSON, of the National Hotel,
has purchased several hundred acres of land
on Chesapeake Bay, near Berlin, Worcester
county, Nd, at point the most eligible for
a hotel, with n view to the erection Of one for
the next season. The energetic managers
Of the Wilmington and Philadelphia rail-
road are completing arrangements for the
extension OF the road to the property OF Mr..
Benson, u distance Of seven miles from Ber-
lin. The bay will be bridged at a point
where 1t Is but about three hundred yards in
width, and passengers will be landed at the
doors Of the hotel.
ARREST ON SUSPICION OF ARsoS.-Detect-
ives Coomes and Miller yesterday arrested a
young man named Thomas J. McSpelden,
charged by Charles B. Wexford with having
set fire to dIstillery In Fredericksburg, Va,
some six months since, known as the BRO
ply dlstlllery." The accused was taken be-
fore Justice Walter, where he was delivered
over to Officer Ellington, Of Fredericksburg,
who took the prisoner on the Aqua Creek
boat, en- route for Fredericksburg, to answer
the charge of arson. McSpeiden denied the
charge, and expressed his willingness to ac-
company the officer.
Public SCHOOL BooKs.-The creation OF
new board Of school trustees In any city
Is sure to he followed by the Influx Of a
horde OF agents, each having the only best
book that should be used In the public
schools, and with certificates as long as the
moral law to back up their assertions. Our
new board has not been exempt from this
infection; In fact, SO clamorous have been
I he book agents that some Of the new mem
bers who at 1rst were disposed to see some
reasons IN their arguments, have become dis
gusted, and now favor the retention of the
old books. There Is but little probability Of
any change Of school books being made this
year.
POLICE lSTELLIGESCE.-Alfred Williams