The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1873-01-29

when the tne4tre Wa9 ii Iull ola1e, bhs
flames rolling upward in great volumes
above the surrounding buildings, an
impression seemed to prevail that the
fire epidemic had reached Washington,
and in short time immense crowds Of
men and women gathered from oil
parts Of the city. The employees OF the
Treasury, War, Navy, Postofice and
Interior Departments rushed out think
Ing the whole city was in danger. Hose
was laid across Pennsyl ylva,is avenue
and car travel entirely blocksded.
Nearly the entire stock OF cars on the
avenue lines were gathered on one side
or the other OF the hose. No casual
ties are 90 far reported.
LATER.
lP. M.-The fire 10 now nearly out.
The railroad track is cleared and cara
are running as usual. The great crowds
which gathered in the vicinity have
nearly dispersed. The theatre is .
total wreck, With all the fixtures and
quite q lot Of private property. The
imperial Hotel is very much damaged, ,
ono corner being badly burned and
nearly the entire house flooded with
water running the furniture, etc The
guests will all have to seek quarters
elsewhere until the hotel can be re-
paired. There are many theories as to
the origin Of the fire, but that
most accepted it that it started
among some shaviNgs in the carpenter
shop attached to the theatre. 1t 10 q
subject Of congratulation that the fire
occurred iu the dav time when the
theatre was empty. II it had occurred
at night the loss OF life might have been
frighttul. The Oates troupe was re-
hearsing in the theatre at the time it
caught, but lost nothing. This theatre
was destroyed March 8, ls45, and after.
wards in 1858, being burned to the
ground on both occasions. The prop
erty belongs to W. R. Rapley, and was
under lease to ]. G. Ssville.
The damage to the Imperial Hotel,
caused by the burning of the National
Theatre, is not as serious as wac at first
There will be no interrup.
ton to the business of the house, which
will be kept open for the sccommods.
ton OF the public as usual.
The Louisiana InveatigaiIon
was resumed to day. Mcmillan, the
fusion Senator elect, was crossexam-
ined at great length with reference to
the corruption of the two Legislatures.
He testified that the Kellogg Legisla'
ture had never a legal quorum OF the
House DOR Of the Senate since the seces.
sion OF seven Senators, who went over
to the fusion Legislature. The princi-
pal facts elected by this examination
are already known.
LegisIatiOn approved.
The President has approved the act
OF Congress making an appropriation
for the erection OF Marine Hospital
at San Francisco.
The Secretary Of the Navy has de-
cided to allow cadets to participate in
the Inauguration ceremonies on the 4th
OF March next.
rhe New PostoflIce At Philadelphia.
Supervising Architect Mullett and
Representative Myers were before the
House Committee OH Appropriations
to-day to urge that the limit in appro-
priation for the new Postoffice building
at Philadelphia be taken of The Com
mittee on Public Buildings and Grounds
have recommended that this be done,
and although the Appropriation Com
mittee take no action to-day, it is
thought they will agree to increase the
limit to 81, 100000.
The Case OF Phelps, Dodge & Co.
1t is reported at the Treasury De-
partment that the case of !. Phelps,
Dodge & Co. has not been compromised
or settled, except the fact that the firm
have submitted q new proposition,
which has not yet been acted upon.
Larger Appropriation Wanted.
Mr.. Archibald Campbell, Of the
Northern Boundary Surveying Expedi-
ton, appeared before the Committee on
Appropriations, and urged that the ap-
propriation for the survey be Increased
90 as to furnish the employment Of
about forty additional men. The COM
mittee took no action on the case.
Suits Discontinued.
Some time since Federal officers in
Alabama brought a suit against certain
merchants in Mobile to recover certain
dues paid to the Confederate authors
ties on goods imported into Mobile dur
ing the war, claiming that ssid dues
should be paid to the Federal Govern
ment. The Attorney General yester.
day instructed the District Attorney for
the Southern District Of Alabama to
discontinue all such suits on the ground
that when the dues were paid the Con.
federate Government was . government
a. faeto, and the Federal Government
could not at the time collect said dues.
Resurar ". Volunteer On1cers.
Several weeks ago the Secretary Of the
Navy referred to the Attorney General,
for examination and decision, the ques-
ton Of rank at issue between the vol
unteer officers OF the navy admitted into
the regular service st the close Of the
war, and the class Of regulars who
graduated at Annapolis in 1862. Ex-
Secretary Cox, a. counsel for the volun.
teers, has filed his argument with the
Attorney General. and ex.Attorney
General Bvsrts, counsel Tor the regu-
lars, will to morrow Ale his argument.
The Attorney General will not be able
to render his decision for a week or
two but there seems to be but little
doubt but what be will decide against