Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1875-05-21
NEWS OF THE DAE
ITO sho,o the very age and body Of the 1smes''

Osceola, Pa, was nearly destroyed by hre
YESTERDAY, Nearly all the public buildings and
two hundred dwellings were burned, rendering
twelve hundred people houseless. Inc loss IS
estimated at two millions Of dollars, with com,
raratively light insurance. The lire originated
in a saw mill, and millions of feet OF lumber IN
the vicinity were destroyed. No lives were
lost up to the last report. The people are 10
destitute circumstances, they having lost prop
erty and everything else. Reports are also re.
ceived of large and destructive fires 10 other
parts of Pennsylvania, notably in the mining
regions, and evidently the work of lncendlarlas.
Much alarm prevails.
The Secretary of State gives notice that the
pamphlet edition of the laws of the second SEES
sion Of the Forty-third Congress prepared pur-
suaut 10 law, is ready for sale at the Depart
ment Of State. The price as fixed by law IS
sixty.fve cents. The volume can be forwarded
bv mail on the receipt of the price and SIX
cents 1.-THE legal p~ostage) additional, or by ex-
press. as the purchaser may direct, IN either
case at his own risk.
The Postmaster General will in a few days
issue an order regulating the Transmission OF
registered mail matter between the principal
cities OF the country. Under the new system
all registered matter will be put up 10 separate
pouches, with keys only at the points OF de-
parture and destination, thus obV'atlng the ne
ccssity of handling such mail matter 10 transit.
The General Assembly of the Presbyterian
Church in the Uuitod States met in St. Louis
yesterday morning. Tho assembly represents
ali the Southern States and Illinois, Ohio and
Missouri. A large number of delegates were
present. DIR. NJ. D. Hogc, of Richmond, Va,
was elected Moderator. No other business was
transacted.
The Fifteenth Anniversary of the American
Tract Society was held 10 Chicago on Wednes'
day night. During the year the total receipts
| we're S652 S72;; expenses, $G5O, lS7. During
the last half century the society has printed
$3.50, 397, 1888 copies of publications: LIS total
receipts have been Sl3, 597 ,5S9. Very salts
| factory progress was reported.
A party of colored people hired Wizards
Hall, Washington, yesterday, for the purpose
| Ct having a party and dance, but Mr.. Cake,
the proprietor, refused to permit its use tor
the latter purpose aud turned OFT the gas,
whereupon the party procured lamps and can
dies and again lit up the ball. The police
finally cleared the building.
Abraham jackson, one of the most proml-
nent lawyers of Boston, and a former president
of a safe manufacturing company, disappeared
from that city last Friday, aDd Investigation OF
his affairs since then develops most astounding
dishonesty CD his part, involving a loss OF over
$50. 600 to many persons for whose tuods he
acted as custodian.
The Democratic Conservative Convention OF
Baltimore city last evening elected Charles u.
! Kerr, esd, President Of the Convention, and
VIM. +. McKewen, esq Chairman OF the City
| Executive Committee. Primary meetings tor
| the election of delegates to a convention to
nominate a candidate for Mayor take place on
the I'd OF June.
A distressing accident occurred to a party OF
fremeu engagedin blasting in Frederick county,
Md, yesterday. They had returned to a charge
which had from some cause failed to explode
AT the expected time, and on their ARRIVAL the
blast occurred, ~ipjuring them all seriously, and
som probably fatally.
The Postmaster General has issued an order
for the re.letting Of those postal contracts in
which frauds we're recently discovered. No
bids will be received from the parties who were
guilty of frauds iu connection with the previous
contracts.
The laborers in the Roscndale, n. y, cement
o~uarries have struck for higher wages, and
from twelve to fifteen mills have shut down,
throwing about one thousand men out OF en-
ploymcnt.
A committee on bill Of rights has reported
to the Missouri constitutional convention in
favor of taxing church property. 1t is said
that the new constitution will prohibit clergy
men from holding political Offices.
At Fleetwood Park, New York, races yester-
day, G. H. Mitchell took the last three of seven
heats over Lothian aud Haviland, winning the
81. 500 purse. Havilapd took the first heat
aud made the best time 10 2::29l.