The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1875-01-15
Letter, from Pesersbure.
lCorrespondence OF The Richmond Dttpasch.l
PETERSBURG, January IL, 1875.

QUITE DESTRUCTIVE FihE
occurred last night between III and II
O'Clock near the corner Of Harrison and bal
flax streets. The fire originated in the
frame tenement occupied by James Jackson
fcotorpd) as grocery store; and consumed
Chat structure, as also two adjoining frame
tenements-ene occupied by Mr.. warner
| Russell as q sboestore, and the other by o
colored woman as kind Of restaurant. fhe
stocks of the last-named stores were saved
| from the flames. The houses belonged to Mr.
Hanrahau. Jackson was insured for S350 IN
one of Messrs. Paul & Sons companies; Rus
aell had an insurance Of $1,000, and the
woman one of $500 in one of the companies
of W. F. Morton. The fire created intense
excitement, as the neighborhood Is nest OF
wooden houses, ard at one time 1t was appre-
hended that oaks warehouse would eaten
fire. 4 great crowd collected, and the nre
brigade had every available inch OF nose IN
| requisition.
it was at first given out that the fire was
occasioned by the accidental explosion OF a
kerosene-lamp, but the circumstance mat
Jackson was seen to jump from one OF ms
! windows and run away when the fire broke
out-that he had been talking about duh
times, and the likelihood Of realizing on his
insurance, and other suspicious circum-
| stances-Ied to his arrest to-day, and after
! an examination before the Mayor ne was
sent on to be indicted by the grand jury OF
the Hastings Court on the charge OF arsoD.
THE PoRrY.sINTB ANNIVERSARY OF THE PETERS
BURG BENEVOLENT MECHANICS ASSOCIATION
was celebrated last night by splendid ban
uuet in the reading.room OF Mechanics,
Hall. The president, Dir. A. s. Archer, sat
at the head of the boardr and there were ID
attendance besides the members number
of invited guests. The Association Is
really one of the most honored in
stitutions of the city, and includes
among its members many Of our most SUB.
stantial and respectable citizens. The object
Of it's organization is beneyolence, and it has
nothing whatever in common with assocIa'
tions of mechanics in other cities, which aim
at quite other objects. 1t is the owner OF
valuable property, including an extensive
library, TO which the public has free access,
and on its lists there are widows and orphans
of deceased members, which derive from It's
charity their sole support. Last night
speeches were made by Mr. j. H. Lehmeyer;
Hon. W. F. G. Gregory, Mayor of the city;
MIR. William 81. Tappey, Major Daniel Lyon,
D. A. Lyon, Esq, Mr.. L. a. st. Clair, MIR.
E. S. Gregory, Mr. j. j. Campbell, and
others. The exercises were Interrupted at
their height by the alarm of fire, but were OF
the most agreeable character.
VIOLATION OF THE GAAE.LAw.
A number of sportsmen who were duck
shooting in the James river were arrested
Yesterday and carried before Justice A. 4.
Stands, of Prince George, for violation of the
game-law. 1t appeared that not being resi-
dents they had no right to the game. They
were discharged by the Justice on the mo.
ton of the parties who caused their arrest,
aud 80 betook themselves off in their hunt
ng-yacht.
Yesterday the Ice was sufficiently thick on
the ponds near the city that some Of the ar
tice was cut and housed; but to-day the
weather became warmer, and theice has al
most disappeared.
PERSONAL.
Rev. DR.. Wingfed, Bishop of Northern
California, leaves for his future field OF duty
in few days.
Mr.. Chsres Edwards, who was so des-
perately wounded in Norfolk some weeks
ago, arrived at bis home, in this city, to-day,
and appears to be none the worse of for his
recent illness. ROBIN ADA1R.