The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1871-11-16

BUFFALO GAP IRON AND-SYEEI~ CosaDANs.-
Judge Mclaughlin has granted charter to this
company, which has been filed in the office of
he Secretary of the Commonwealth for record
,he business of the Company will be the manu-
acture Of Iron and Steel in allits FORMS and also
he mining of iron and other minerals. The cap
tai stock Of the company shall not be less than
$50, 600, nor more than 81 ,000,O 900. The gentle
men who compose the Iron Manufacturing Com
,any operating at Buffalo Gap, in this county,
lave been elected officers for the coming year.
President-Henry Moore, of Baltimore.
Direetors-S r. Smoot, Hiram Wood, of Ma
.yland, and H. ]. Rogers, of New York.
Secretary Terney, of Buffalo Gap
The operations of the old company have been
suspended for some time past, in consequence OF
he exhaustion of the iron ore from the beds
heretofore worked. Other sources for ore
having been secured, it is the purpose OF the
company to push forward their new enterprise
with renewed energy. The President has had
large experience in the iron business and the
having considerable interest at stake,
will be stimulated to enlarged operations to make
secure what they have heretofore and now have
invested
We are glad to record this assurance that the
Buffalo Gap Works are not to langulsh IN IDLE
ness. When in active operation before, they
a large amount of money, much OF
which found its way to this city, and all OF 1t
was scattered among our people. Su.h enter
prises constitute the mamma Of our people: They
are real sources of benefit and throw new 4 1e anq
activity into every branch OF trade.
40
byterian church, in this city, when completed,
will be one of the handsomest, most capacious and
attractive edifces of the kind in the State. Were
it located on more prominent site, 1t would be
quite an ornament to the city. But as the ground
was a present to the congregation from Miss
Juliet Baldwin, Principal of the Augusta Female
Seminary, there could not be choice as TO To-
caliies 1t is situated opposite the old Presby-
terrain church, and very convenient of access to
the business portion of city.
To give some idea to the distant reader Of the
building, we have taken the trouble to ascertain
its dimensions, &c. The Lecture room, or base
ment story is SIS by Sc feet; with private entrance
to the Pulpit and Pastors study; the church is 81
by 81 feet, with a gallery across the front end,
sufficient to seat 300 persons besides room for the
choir and organ. The architecture of the build
ing is modernized Norman, and will comfortably
seat 900 persons. There is tower either
corner of the front of the house. The one on the
left of the entrance will be built as high as the
roof of the main building, and neatly finished,
with scroll work on top. The one on the right
is built up SO feet, with brick, neatly ornamented
with stone coping and fancy brick work, on top
of which will be the spire, 70 feet in height oc-
agon shaped, slated and topped out with carved
final 6 feet high There will be geometrical
stairways in both towers, leading to the gallery.
The ceiling is arched to within IL feet of the
walls, supported by carved brackets, and will be
panneled with poplar PANELS and walnut mould
ings, with yellow pine bars between the pannels
vanished The whole of the side walls, and
ceiling of the Lecture Room, will be succeed
with coloring in the cement.
The Roof, which when slated will weigh 60 tons
is supported by six trusses, each of which
is estimated to hold with safety So TONS These
trusses are the invention of Mr.. NJ L. Bobbitt
The plan of a truss, submitted by the architec!
of the building, was deemed unsafe, whereupon
Mr. Bobbitt put his head to work, and coined
out this one, which has been pronouncedby com
petent judges admirably adapted TO the structure
AIessrs Boogher s. Bobbitt are the contractors
for the wood work VIM. Jordan the brick work
and S. H. Lushbaugh the plastering. The cos
of the building, when completed, will be abou
S25 900.
The Lecture Room will be ready for use in the
course of ten days, and the entire church in about
six weeks or two months.
EXTRAORDINARY ESCAPE OF A DESPERATE AMI
THIEF.-On last Friday night about o'clock
George Henderson, arrested for horse stealing
and confined in the Jail of this city, made his es
cape under extraordinary circumstances. FL
had been confined about six weeks. Shortly af
ter being placed in jail, lit noticed by Jailol
Harlan, that board had been removed from
certain locality, indicating that Henderson wa
not satisfied with his quarters, and intended t.
escape if possible. Therefore he had hobble
placed on his limbs. By the of small wire
which he had taken off BROOM he managed t.
unlock his chains every night, and placed then
on again in the morning He in room
with young Carson, whose life he threatened Il
take if he opened his mouth. The night befor
his escape, he managed to cut through the parti
ton which separated him from a negro boy, con
fined in Jail on u charge of setting fire to Mr.
Patterson barn. Occasionally, young Carsol
would have oysters brought to him during tn
day, the door having to be opened to get them il
on waiter. On Friday evening, Henderson
asked Carson to send for oysters, which he refus
ed to do. Fl. then called the colored boy, West
who waits at the Jail. and sent for some himself
In the meantime, the negro boy in the adjoinil
cell had come into Henderson's cell through tn
aperture made, and took his position, in sittin
posture near the door. AS West returned ap
opened the door, the negro prisoner sprang to
wards him. He seized by West. Henderso
had slipped off his hobbies, and came 10 the res
cue of his negro comrade, armed with piece Q
shoe knife. West seized him. but he struggles
away from the embrace, cutting West severe
across the left breast. Henderson and the negro
made for the front door, and they reached til
street, commenced crying ''6re! fire !! p whic
created considerable commotion on the street
and the light being dark and clustering, in tn
confusion, they made their escape.
Henderson is Penitentiary convict, sent Their
for seven years from Prince William, for house
| breaking
He had made several attempts to cut his wa,
out of that institution, but was detected, and of
forwards heavily ironed. He was subsequent
hired, with a number of other cpnvicts, to Burn
ham and Gordon, contractors on the Coyingtol
and Ohio Railroad. With two others he was EN-
ployed in sinking shaft The guard would lie
them down, and leave them, feeling satisfied tina
they could not get out without help from above
One evening about dark, the large wooden buck
l