The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1873-01-07

uhfinB Defn ann0uDCeu yesterday That The
| schooner Ashland, with the load of coal for
the City-Gas Works, would arrive mt the
dock some time during the day, our enter
priSlng and energetic marine reporter took
his nrSest spy-slass and proceeded at once
TO the hills below the city and Immediately
| overlooking the river, where, by dint of no
| small amount Of exertion, he ensconced him
self among the topmost branches of one Of
| the tallest trees i'll that vicinity, and looked
| with anxious gaze for the first sight of the
| expected vessel. He had not long to wait,
for soon his eagle eye discovered
spiral column of smoke 10 the dim distance,
and shortly thereafter, from behind one of
those dense clumps of trees which gracefully
wave their foiuge over thu: mcandering
James, shove in sight" the gallant little tug
| Olive Branch with the long-expected vessel
in tow. Awaiting only long enough to
satisfy himself of the identity of the vessel,
our reporter descended from his lofty perch,
as the sailors say, by the rum" and reached
terra ttrn,a in safety, with the trifling dam
ages of barked shinS, bruised hands, and
minus portion of his lower garments. He
hastened with that usual alacrity and courtesy
which has ever characterized the employees
| of this paper to inform the Committee on
Light of the gratifying intelligence.
| Scarcely had the information been given
ere there was hurrying to and fro oi mes
sengers to scatter the news through the city.
Soon thereafter the Capitol Square was
| densely packed with those who preferred
| ltgit To darkness. After few preiminarics
a procession was formed, and, headed 10y
| MeCarn's land in full regimentals with the
exception of their dark pillmes which were
| taken down in honor of the occasi0n), wended
its way to Rockets in the following order:
l. The Committee on Light, each bearing
Il miniature lamp-post.
J. Members Of the City Council who voted
against the resolution to purchase coal from
our o,rn dealers.
| 3. The Chief Magistrate of Richmond, the
Police Justice, and otlIer city officials. (The
| Executive couldn't stand the dark Christ
mas, and had gone North to be nearer the
"Northern Lights.)
| 4. The Superintendent and employees OF
| the City Gas Works. bearing 4 banner upon
which was inscribed Bread or Work.
S. The city carts, guarded by strong
force of policemen.
| G. Coal contractors, with a large placard
bearing the words "We offered coal at SC
per ton"
| 7. "The man with the. lantern," who on
Christmas night was searching for the Com
mittee on Light. '
s. Citizens generally, most of whom car
ried In their hands the remnants of tall0W
candles.
Among the latter we noticed many who
wore bandageS around their heads, and many
upon crutchcs. On inquiring, we were H.
formed that they had injured themselves by
falling into cellars, cutters, doorway$, &c.,
and 6utting against lamp-posts during the
dark week. As the procession reached The
foot of Main street, and came within sight OF
the vessel, at signal from the Committee on
Light the band struck up 81 saw from the
beach >. bark o'cr the waters move glo.
riollSly on" aud rs The strains hoated melo'
diousIy on the evening breeze cheer after
cheer went up from the immense throns,
which made the welkin ring. The Commit
tee on Light shook their lamps with frantic
ioy, and the "man with the lantern y was SO
overcome that he had to be taken in charge
by two policemen.
The wharf was soon reached, and the vast
multitude having arranged themselves around
4 temporary platform which had been hastily
erected, one of the Committee on Light arose
and addressed them rs follows:
"Fellow- -Ctizens,-Th sacred historian
tells us that before the eternal fiat went forth
this world was wrapped in impenetrablc
darkness. IT is unnecessary to tell you how
dense that darkness was, for during the past
week or two We have experienced it within
the limits Of our own city.
"For iitaTiy long nights the shade OF Ere
bus fingered over our beautiful city but
let mc congratulate You now, ,trllow-ciliZcnS
llron the prospect of his final departure
The PURPOSE for which we have met on this
OCCASION is not to chaslisc an insOlent Zoe,
nor rcwarda faithful friend nor Is 1t to deck
the brrw Of solne conIucrihS l*ro WIN TIT
laurel-wrcath of victory, or entWlnc the cy
press and myrtle around the bier OF some
departed sage. Neither have we met to eN'
tend the limits of our own city, or render
it proudcr or more enduring; for the world
has never seen city so f1ourishing in i'm
provements of all kinds [u,de statistics IN
Dispatch of January 1stl, so decorated with
the virtues OF her living citizens; so noble in
the memories of her dead heroes. The sur
has never shone upon city whose munlcl,
pal government is so solidly established
with the exception, aS some say, OF one de
partmentl No, tellow-citizens, it is moi
to stablish, to augment our city, but to give
Hght and life to our citizens, that we have
assembled on this momcntouS OCCASION. You
see before you the cause Of all our woes
this vessel, containing our long looked-fol
lold of coal, was delayed by causes beyond
our control. Who, then, can lie censured
Why have we suffered this inconvenience
Was it because the City Fathers
neglected their duties? No. Was 1t be
cause bur Gas.W WorkS were out of order
No. Il know the great gdsometer in the
capitol was not in working order, owing to
the Christmas holidays.) Was it because we
the committcc) refused to purchase the pro.
Der material from those who offered to sell
| / deny the base charge. Why was it, then
| will explain to you, fellow-citizens. Ii
was"- Here there was disturbance on
the outskirts of the crowd, and our reporter
in his efforts to "gct an item " lost the eN.
planation, though he is perfectly satisfied
that it was entirely satisfactory TO all fair.
minded citizens.]
THE speaker concluded with hearty con-
rrat,Iation to all upon the arrival of the YES
sell. and the prospect of IN abundant supply
/ of koht in the future. At the close OF this
address, which was frequently applauded,
the speaker remarked, as our reporter thought
rather sarcasticay, that he was surprised
that the "grumblers in this whole affair
should have been much Inconvenience by
the darkness, as their own heads were hghl
enough to subscrye their purposes.
The crowd then quietly dispersed, and the
ci;y carts began to transfer the coal TO the
GaS-Works.
RgL1G1ous.-Rev. G. r. Vaughan, recently
called TO the pastorate of the Third Pre>by'
trrian church (Church HilD. commenced his
| .:,.,,. an Si,nday prpDchinF both morn