Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1873-05-23

w. ii. thompson, deputy VaTueu
of the Penitentiary, arrived in Raleigh
on Friday from Marion, S. c., having
in custody the escaped convict Jno. E.
Owens, of whom mention has several
times been made in this paper recently.
The Statesville Intelligencer says -
George Graham, convicted of murder
and sentenced at the late term of
Wilkes Court to be hanged on the Odd
day of this month, was, on last Satur-
day, respited by Governor Caldwell
until the 9th day of June.
The Reidville Record says: The
numerous friends of DR.. n. T. Reid
will learn, with pleasure, that his
health is improving. For some time
past he has been unable to meet his
appointments. The Doctor has moved
temporarily to Wentworth.
The Statesville Intelligencer says
We learn that the Yadkin river during
the recent freshet was two feet four
inches higher than ever known before
A record kept since 1914 shows no
comparison to the high waters of last
week. Much damage has been done.
The Goldsboro' Messenger says -
From friend, who came down on the
North Carolina Railroad last Saturday,
we learn that a young man named Sey-
mour Houston, committed suicide III
Greensboro, on Friday evening, by
shooting himself through the head. -
No cause assigned for the rash deed,
The deceased was about "a years old.
The Charlotte Observer says: We
were shown yesterday by Col. c.. J.
Cowles, of the Branch Mint in this
city, three gold coins, two five dollar
pieces and one one dollar. Two of the
pieces bore the name of A. Bechtler,
the other the name of G. Bechtler. The
men were father and son. The coinage
of this money was first begun long
years before the war in Rutherford
county, in this State, by the elder
Bechtler, and after his death was con-
timed by his son. It was done under
permission of the United States Gov
eminent, and for length Of time this
currency was much used in this sec
ton. 1t has disappeared, however,
almost entirely, and it is quite rare
thing now that one of these coins is
seen. OF those before us, one is 20
carats fine, the other two 81 carats.
The year in which they were coined is
them whereby one can tell.
The Robesonian says: Though we
published last week in these columns
such particulars as we had of the das-
tardly assault upon Mr.. Nathaniel
| McNair, of this county, and the burn
ing of his property, and which were,
in main, correct, we give this week
| the statement Of our reporter in that
neighborhood, which differs in many
Of it's details from that already pub
| lished.
ALFoRDsvILLE, n. c., May II, 1878.
| lI'. EditOr:-On the night OF the
9Th inst. some devil in human shape
visited the residence of Mr. Nathaniel
as there is in the county and demanded
of him $3.50. He was informed by
Mr.. McNair that he could not furnish
| the money, whereupon he (Mr. Me
| Nair) was informed by the villain that
if he did not produce the money he
would burn everything he had Mr..
McNair sent him Il five dollar note by
a negro boy, with message TO his adj
rersary that he had no more money.
| The tiend would not allow the boy tC
approach him near enough to land
him the money (for fear of being rec
! ognized, we SUPPOSE but made him
| lay it on the ground and leave it fol
him to pick up. The dastardly villain
| then went into the yard ana attempted
| to set fire to Mr. McNair's dairy. but
it did not ignite SO readily as he sup
posed It would, when he went
and set fire to an old dwelling
| house near by. The flames
| communicated with other buildings il
the yard, and consumed the smoke
| house. dairy and aloom-EOuse, together
| with their contents. Mr.. McNair'S
| dwelling house narrowly escaped the
! devourinG elements. There is no clue
| to the perpetratDr of this daStardly
| deed. Mr.. McNa:r could not get tho
! freedmen in his employ To assist hin
an his efforts 10 save his property. they
! having been threatened with dea: b | J
| the incendiary if they did anything
| to extinguishthe fire. Mr.. McNair did
! not get but one glimpseof this dastarGl
| y wretch. He came on the porch BE-
! fore lie commenced the burning arc
! demanded Of Mr.. McNaif to lie admit
| ted into the house. When Mr. McNail
went to get his gun he walked ont anG
| got in the dark, and he was only seer
! ny Mr.. MrNair through the sidc-light>
of the door, not Sufficient t. recognize
| him. Mr.. McNair thinks lie was II very
| bright negro or a mulatto, and thinks
! he wore a soldiers jacket with straps
! on the shoulder
Mr.. McAulr uese44eS the Sympathies
| of all honest and law-abiding citizens
| This calamity falls doubly heavy on
| him, as he has very recently suffered
the less Of his dear wife, and he is
| alone, without any one to cheer i'm
and help him in his misfortunes.
| ALFoKDsvI.LE REPoRTEn.
| The Raleigh News SAYS At an early
| hour yesterday morning the streets
were lined with loating bands of col.
| ofed hueclaIiGs and laborers, a scene
somewhat unusual tor Monday morn
| ing, and as consequence much curl
| ositv was manifested by reporters, es-
! pecially, as to the cause 1t was soon
/ ascertulned that 2 general strike of the
mechanics and labor,ng Men If both
| colors was at hand AS matter OF
! course some little excitement was ere
| ated on tie streets and at the varions
workshops, brick-yHru Iuarries, &c.
! the excitement was still greater
An attempt to interview the strikers
proved unava,iing as to their expecta-
tions. They only spoke Of the all day
system as unjust and would not again
go 10 work unless the employers
would agrees to strict tenrhonr rule.
Employers showed no signs OF ett'ectin9
even a compromise, until about II
o'clock, when Il colored man by the
name of Bishop, a boss cellar digger,
who employed about twenty hands,
gave in, called his hands together and,
after awhile, agreed TO their lie
mand for the ten honr system.
The action II bishop spread like
wild-fre over the city, and at Il o clock
all the laborers, (save a few honorable
exceptions,) who had not participated
in the morning strike, joined in and
| work ceased on not less than seventy
five Buildings in process of erection.
At this ho1r, the l-rge number OF
hands engaged ON the work uf The lar
! boro House additions struck, and for
the first time in our hel ssi,t'orhoOd mat
tiers wore gloomy appearance. We
viCitaJ C+ Iar 7,Oints and found no work