Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1871-08-04
VIRGINIA NEWS.

hail storms which has ever occurred in this sec
tiop of country, within the recollection OF the
coolest inhabitant." Among the singular oc-
curreuces was that after the waters OF Llnvlll
and Smiths Greek had rccedet,a great number
of fish were found upon both banks OF these
streams One gentleman gathered UP as many
as two bushels Another incident which Illus
trates the fury of the storm, is the fact that
large numbers of birds turkeys, chickens, shoats,
and rabbits were killed by the hail. One gen
tleman, Mr.. David Shank, living in the Brush,
had three calves beaten to death by the hail
stones One gentleman saw as many, perhaps,
az two hundred dead birds in one field In
some sections the trees were completely strip
ned of their leaves, while the grass, NC. in the
fields was beaten down into common mass, rs
though trampled by herd Of bufaloes."
The Fredericksburg News says :-"Mr. Hor
ace Greeley, having stopped at Aqua Creek on
Tuesday to examine the granite and marble
ouarries said to have been discovered there,
came over to Fredericksburg about ia p: m.
that day. Several gentlemen called on him,
and he conversed pleasantly. On Wednesday
he rode up to see the Water Power Gompanys
dam, &C., and lett town for Alexandria. We
hear company is to be formed to develop and
| work the auarries Mr. Greeley was accom-
| panied by Mr.. J. n Harper, of Alexandria,
| who is Interested in the Stafford quarrlcs. aud
by Col, Hoxwell, Of New York who has leased
| the granite quarry on DR.. John Il. Taylor
estate at Fall HILL and considers it far superior
to the Richmond quarries.
At a meeting of the Conservatives Of Freder-
lex county, held in Winchester en- Monday last,
resolution declaring that eve were not re-
stricted in the selection of candidates for the
Legislature by the fourteenth ndment,
was adopted by unanimous, rising and enthu,
siastic vote a resolution was also adopted
without discussion, expressive OF the hope that
the State Convention will mot attempt an eX
preston Of opinion upon Federal or National
politics.
Hunter, the young man who, being discard
ed by young woman, shot down her father
and mother in the attempt to reach aud kill
her, has been convicted of murder in the first
degree by jury of Summit county, Ohio.
where the crime was committed. The defense
was that the deed was committed in an uDcon-
trollabe frenzy produced By unwarrantable III
reference with the murderer 5 love affairs, but
the jury declined to accept this theory OF the
case.
The sixth annual report Of the Freedmen 5
Savings and Trust Company proves that the
colored people are not badly off at the South.
In the thirty-two branches Of that institution
now existing in the Southern States the total
balance due dcpositors at the end Of the fiscal
wear was s., Asa. S36ll The total in 1866,
when most of the branches were in operation,
was on " $l99, 2S3.42.
\ large deposit Of Plumbago has been dis
covered near Lynchbnrg. The deposits about
four hundred yards from the James River Ca
nal. and few miles below Lynchburg. Though
only partial and very superficial examination
has yet been made, the mine is found toe&tend
over an area of one mile in length, and quar-
ter OF mile in breadth.
\ young married lady Of Richmond sent word
to one of the newspaper Offices that she would
commit suicide last night, exactly at . clock k.
This proceeding was thought necessary IN
order that the distressing affair should be
correctly written out by 4 ''rtportcron the SPOT.
Richmond is excited over the clopcment Of
young and wealthy heiress, with well known
prominent citizen. They left for Washing
; ton city Monday afternoon. where they propoa
ed to become one instead OF two
The Norfolk Virginian understands that the
Baltimore and Ohio Railroad Company ha:
secured the charter for road from Petersburg
to Greensboro n. Z.
WEATHER Prophets AT VARIANCE. The
Providence Journal says Last Wednesday
we made our usual morning study OF the wealth
err reports. Among the probabilities We
found the following announcement; ~ 1all'
> ing barometer, with threatening anu rainy
weather, will probably prevail very ge,nerally
Wednesday, in the Middle and Eastern States.
The threatening part Of the prophecy was al
ready in process Of fulhlment, Tor heavy clouds
covered the sky, and everything looked as II
the long-wished- for rain might soon descend.
While We watched the coming storm, We
CHANGED to cast our eyes upon nelghb0rlng!
hank and there we saw countless lady mantles
covering the grass with their gauzy tissue
When these tiny spiders put out their webs 1t
is sign that there will be no rain, is an adage
which has come to rs, sanctioned by the au-
thority of ages Of observation. Now: we have
faith in the Washington War Department, and
in the reports that come from the Office
OF the Chief Signal Officer. But We have
greater faith in the spider, for they pos
scss that wonderful hereditary instinct, which!
rarnering up the experience of untold
generations of preceding spiders, teaches them
', the times and seasons when they may safely
build their gossamcr habltatons, without tear OF
destruction from the strife OF the elements;
AN dav We watched the contending forces, and
when the first umbrella was opened, aud the
gentle rain drops seemed the torerunners OF the
heavy shower that must follow, we thought our ~
friends, the spiders, had made wrong calcua
ton for once But We reckoned without oul
host, for only little sprinkng came before the
clouds broke away, and sunshine and starlight
gained the victory. The last thing We noted as
the twilight faded into the gray of evening was
the lady mantlcs still stretched upon the green
sward. There they hung like fairy palaces. sil
YER grey in tint, gossamer in texture, and light
and airy enough Still for the dwelling place OF
: the mortal maiden Arachne,. WHO, daring to
oom' as al punishment for her temerity, was
Changed chang BY the indignant gcddcssinto nspider
still retaining and transmitting her power . Of
weaving web as fragile, delicate and graceful
as any product of human skill has ever been
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