The national Republican. [volume] (Washington City [D.C.]) 1866-1870, 1869-07-30

denim II as an unprovoked outrage, and as
far as the circumstances occurred, under my
observation, think all good citizens will also
deem 1t.
Yours, &C., R.R. RILEY.
TO Hon. Judge william >. Purcell.
NAvr-YAnD AFrAIRs.-A permanent room
for the holding Of naval courts-martlal has
been set apart In the building used as the Of
fee Of General stratton, civil engineer Of the
yard. The Joincrs' department has been for |
some time past engaged In making suitable |
furniture for the room, and It is now nearly |
completed, comprising desks, chairs, tables, |
book cases, and wardrobe, ali elegantly con- !
structed Of oak wood, highly polished.
A large force Of painters are busily en-
gagged in painting the two ship houses Of the |
yard, and have nearly finished their labors, |
the result of which is handsome improve
ment.
The old paint-shop In the northwestern |
corner Of the yard Is now being elegantly
fitted up for the purposes Of an ordnance
'museum," In which will be displayed every
variety Of projcctiles, firearms, swords, cut
lnsses, &C., used In the navy. When COM
pletcd (Which will be In about month, the
museum will DO really desirable point to
the visitor at the yard.
Charles r. Watson, q resident OF Union
town and well aud fayorably known Re-
publican, entered on his duty yesterday as
superintendent OF the laborers, filling po-
sition which has been vacant since the de-
parturc Of Boatswain Bell about one year ago.
Henry Martin, the quarterman In charge
Of the laborers, was dismissed from his po-
sition three or four days ago. The appoint
mont Of Mr.. Watson as superintendent was
made directly by the Secretary Of the Navy,
and gives general satisfaction. The new
appointce was an officer In tho volunteer
navy during the war.
SIX colored caulkers were yesterday at
work In the navy yard, and are to be en-
ployed In repairing the steamer Nlpsic. They
arc the first colorcd workmen In this branch
OF mechanics ever employed In the yard.
The caulkers are from Baltimore, brought
hero especially, and arc said to be able
mechanics, being considered In Baltimore
hrst-class workmen.
The Government steamer Nipsic, Just
from tho Gulf squadron, is lying at the
wharf, and force Of workmen is engaged
In taking out her masts prior to being hauled
up on the ways for caulking. She Ia to be
thoroughly repaired, and Is to receive q new
propeller OF the Porter patent, which Is said
to be an improvement on those now In use,
which have to be hauled up out OF the water
when the ship Is under sal only. The new
style can be turned In one position so that 1t
will cut through the water without being
lifted.
There has Just been shipped to PhIladei-
phla from the yard q propeller cast In the
moulding shop for the steamer Cambridge,
now being repaired at the Philadelphia navy
yard. This propeller Il OF the French pat
tern, with double blades on the hub instead
Of single as now used. 1t is Of composition
metal, weighs over $1,000 pounds, and was
cast under the superintendent OF Mr..
Bland, foreman Of the moulders. The work
Of casting 1t was one which required great
labor and skill, aud Its successful "run''
, was witnessed by nearly all the officers OF
: the yard.
! The ExANiSATIoS OF APPRENTICES ron
THE GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE
. Mcssrs. Schell, Swaun, and Coffin, the three
i compositors at the Government printing Of
! fee selected by Mr.. Clapp, the Congressional
. Printer, to examine the applicants for tn,
positions OF apprentices at the Government
J printing Office, will commence their work
to-day. The examination will be held at the
public school-housc near the printing office
, There are 100 applicants to be examined, oil
whom five are colored boys. The committee
= have prepared a series Of questions in ortho.
: graphy, punctuation, and tho construction
;, OF sentences, which the applicants will b,
y. required to answer. When the examination
y Is concluded the committee will consider the
!, relative merits Of each boy, and report to the
% Congressional Printer those whom they deem
Z worthy and competent. As there are only
:, nine apprentices needed, this will no doubt
y be O delicate task.
= Mr.. Clapp has instructed the committee
II that the appointment Of the boys will be
T. based entirely upon their qualifications fol
IL the work, and no question OF influence will
~ be allowed to weigh In favor Of or agains
= q meritorious candidate. When the boy
- are appointed they will DO placed in charg,
of Mr.. Schell as Instructor, and that gentle
| hat hall IA.
" provided with some good and complete worl
"a on the theory and practice Of Typography ii
~ - order that their evenings may DO devoted /,
- familiarizlng themselves with the Theoretical
- part of the art. Tho appointments will
~ probably DO made on Monday next.
TIE FIRE IN VIRGINIA WEDNESDAY, NIGHT
n The bright light In the west noticed In oul
!, issue OF yesterday as having been seen abou
n mencement Of the thunder storm, proves L
!, have been caused by the burning Of the stor
y of Mr.. W. d. Shepherd, at Falls Church
!. Virginia. Mr.. Shepherds son had close
: the store and leit 1t a short time before, an
n y, the first discovery Of the fire was made b
"a Elder Reed, who lives nearly opposite. Whs
in FIRST discovered by him, the flames wer
~, ~, bursting through the roof There had bee
* no fire In the store during the day, OF I,
al some time past, and although no shock WI
nd felt or particularly heavy thunder noticed |
u" Elder Reed or his family, the suppositic
Is that the store was struck by ligh
ming. This suppostion Ia confirmed by
gentleman residing on Seventh street, wi
had gone onto his roof to watch the grande
on OF the approaching storm, and saw bolt
m lightning descend and noticed the reflection
n the light from the clouds almost immediate
lea after In the precise direction In which d
to bolt descended. Mr.. Shepherds loss is abo
40, o., 900 upon the stock, and 81 800 to $40
&c upon the building, fully covered by inst
ret ance.
he A meeting Of the citizens was held short
. after the storm, at the residence OF Ed
IN. Reed, at which resolutions of sympathy wi
In Mr.. Shepherd were adopted.
lty Too BROADLY APPLIED.-The remarks
our paper OF yesterday In regard to certi
. Justices who refuse to furnish news to
representatives Of the REPUBLICAN have,
regret to see, been applied to gentlemen
Ate whom they were not intended. The renal
are were intended to apply solely to certain
no worthy wearers Of the ermlne, whose ind
+. gences In certain little peccadlllos not roc,
cry nized by the law II became our duty, as
I ! dependent Journalists, to chronicle. I
cen public need have no fear Of a great loss
wv news, as the business transacted by til,
18th WORTHLESS Is not sufficient to enable them
M meet the light lines Imposed upon them
i'm. the police magistrates for tho above IN,
!. TONED indulgences.
nv A NEW WISE.-We were shown yesterd
al a sample of wine, manufactured by DR..
,ich b. Keasby, and denominatcd "Amerc
sth Burgundy" 1t is very palatablc, liG
summer drink, possessing many medlcil
NO. qualities, and regarded far superior TO
/, 70 California wines. DR.. Keasby manuf
and tured this wine from grape grown in
ard vicinity OF Plerce's mills, within the
The trlct limits, and he has now on hand alb,
Nv 1000 gallons, which, we hear, he desil
bee disposlng Of to our principal hotel keep,
IN druggists, &c. As the article Ia free fr
ere. adulteratlon, wo doubt not but 1t will
lain come at once a popular temperance beS
on age.
torv COOPERATION IN THE DEPARTMENTS
erly The example Of the cooperative assocat
wy OF the Government printing office, which
dod suited so successfully last season, is alb
H. to be followed by the clerks In the paym
,tno ter generals Office. Lists for subseript
I'hb arc beinp Circnlatad for tho nurnnsa NJ