The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1873-01-03
New-Year,s Day i'm Wasl,Inrto,...

lions and ceremonies of New-Year's Day.
The Star says
The STREETS aid AVENUES Of the nation,,
capital presented their everyday appearance
OF Dustle and activity, increased somewhat
ny an unusual number Of carriages and gem
tlenen properly attired In their best. But
little drunkenness was observable, and TO all
| appearances Washington preserved its So
| briefly rs well as on any other day of the
| year. Receiving was general, and many re-
framed from offering their guests either
wines or any other liquids stronger tia n
lemonade, coffee. or chocolate. Some kent I'D
the old practice, and included in their hospi-
iallties not only wine, but stronger iquors
out III Difference to Il deep-scated conviction
Oh tie religious and temperance community,
there were fewer persons who offered spirit
uous liquors to their guests than on the same
occasion last year.
The reception at the White House was ey.
| ceptlonaly brilliant. The carpets in all the
draWlng-rooms were covered with white
linen. The vases were filled with choice
flowers, and each room was brilliant from
the numerous gas.jets in the handsome cut
glass chandeliers. Soon the cabinet and liplo-
| matte corps began to assemble in the red par
Tor, from whence Immediately issued the hum
OF merry voices. Promptly at II O'Clock the
President and Mrs. Grant came down stairs,
and the Marine Band was signallcd to strike
up "Hail to the Chief" The President and
his wife passed through the rcd into the blue
lmrlor, and immediately the presentations
began, the Secretary of State presenting the
| different members of foreign legations,
All were presented in order of rank.
Blacqnc Bcy, lis dean of the corps, took pre-
| ccdcnce, and was accompanied by his wife.
ana General Mott. whose rank in Egypt and
turkey SURPRISES that Of any other but the
Si,ltan himself. The Uniforms of these GEN
tlcmcn were respondent with gold and scar
| let; they wore on the head the fez and
swords ut their sides. Sir Edward Thorn
ton not only wore superb court dress, but
his breast glittercd with different orders and
a collar Of jewels. The Minister from Ecua-
| dor, with his fair young bride, attracted not
| only attention but elected admiration. His
dress and orders were among the most beau.
ti!ul. Mrs. Grants dress was II rich silk of
| pearl gray, with trimmings of darker shade.
Which, perhaps, comes under the head of
Pars-in-ashcs, if not London smoke. Miss
Nellie Grant wore Il delicate shade of green
Xix, which was very handsome and appro-
PIRATE. There was quite a bevy of young
girls. which added interest to the OCCASION.
Miss Lizzie Porter and Miss Barnes were
among tic most prominent. Mrs. Fish
WAS accompanied by her daughter, Miss
Edith.
At halt-lmst II o'clock the judges of the
United States Supreme Court and ladies
senators and Representatives, many of whom
were accompanied by their wives and daugh-
tiers; Governor Cooke, Of this District. and
suite: judges of the District Supreme Court
and United states Court of Claims. and men,
bcrs of the Board of Public Works and
Board OF Healtl OF the District of Columbia,
were received.
At l., o'clock the officers of the army en-
tered in fIll uniform, headed by General
SHERMAN; then the officers of the navy,
headed by Admira! Porter then the heads
Of Bureaus i'll the SEVERAL Departments,
headed by Chief Clerk Savillc and General
Spinner; followed By the Associated Sol
;iiierS OF ttc war Of tSt2 atd the Ulast In.
imhi;ants' Association Of this District, headed
BY Or. J. i. Di;ifc. Edward ScnmeS, John
Carroll Brent, and Jhmfs Gaurelison
The rcd, blue and green parlUfs were bril-
iantly illuminated, and the atmosphere was
laden with the perfume of fragrant plants
and flowers from the conservatory, which
were distributed throughout the apartment.
The President occupied bis usual position
on such OCCASIONS. In tho blue paror near
the entrance from the red paflos. He was
supported on his left by General Dent, by
whom tho guests were presented after the
official reception bad terminated. On his
right. and Immediately in front of the central
sofa; stood Mrs. Grant. with General Bah.
| rock on her left, who presented the guests
to hcr.
The full Marine Band, in uniform. occll-
pied the hall between the main entrance and
! The east room. TnG attendants ut the house
were al on duty. attircd in full dress suits
with white gloves. An ample police force
OF >iAtt-one men. under lieutenant Greer.
prevented any unnecessary cro;yding in the
uuorWay>. and several members of the dctec-
| tive corps were on duty to look out for New
York There's, several Of whom arrived here
yesterday 10 oImrat at the reccjiti0n.
The members Of the Cabinet present were
Secretary Fish and lady Secretary Bout.
well, with Mrs. and Miss Boutwell,: Secre.
fairy R"lknap, with Miss Worthngton; Sec.
Rotary Robson Acknowledgement Williams
with Mrs. Williams. Postmaster-Gcneral
! CrrSSWeli was not present, being detained
| by the Illness Of his wife.
\ FEARFUL EXrLOSIOH.-IFrom the San
Francisco Enquirer, December %. On Sat.
urday afternoon, just before our forms went
TO press, Il terrific explosion startled the
! jewellers III the southwestern part OF the city
callsin" fears that some great accident haG
| happcnrd 1t WAS not the shock of an earth.
Quake, but tic dull thud and subsequent
| culver with accompanies the firing of heavy
| ordnance. our reporter soon ascertaned that
an explosion had taken place at the Hercules
| Powder Works, located OH the Central road
! one mile west OF the Golden Gate Park. 1t
appears that on Friday afternoon the work
men, who fortunately, are principally China
men. put about 800 pounds Of nitro-gIycerine
| into one Of the large tanks preparatory to it.
| being used in the manufacture of the powder
| Friday night, it will he recollectcd, was eX
| ccSSiyely cold, and, aS u consequence, the
glycerinc frcze up hard. The Cinnamon,
WHO were in Il hurry to work it all Oft by
Saturday evening, did not handle it with
proper caution. 1t is even said that one OF
| them ran u crowbar into the Vat, and that
| this was the ttllse of the explosion. The
| building, Il large onc-story frame, was torn
| to atoms, two Cinnamon killed instantly, aud
| two others were badly injured. 4 young
man named Cook, about eighteen years OF
age, was some distance away from the eX-
plosion wien it occurred, haStencd to the
| place 10 turn of some of the acids that were
running, and was seriously burned on both
| les. Pieces OF the lumber were scattered
| for mile around the hills. The body of one
| Chinaman was hurled six hundred feet from
where the house stood, and torn to pieces,
only II piece of one leg, part of his skull and
small pieces of the body being picked up in
different places. Another dead Chinaman
was found about sixty feet OF, witha cut be-
| hind his ear and oil his back. Two China