The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1881-12-28
PETERSBURG.

cuptsTuAs oBsERvANcEs-A DEsThooINb
r,pr 1xp NARROW ESCAPE OF FAMILY
,,,sp,xo PROM A sgcoxD-sTony WINDOW
TINS SOUTHAMPTON HORROR; TIE GUILTY
PARTIES not YET CAUGHT.
Correspondence fothe Richmond Dispa'ch'l
DECEMBER ~, 1891.
chrismas falling on Sunday was ODD
.ossad with more than the usual devotion
~, thn christian portion OF the community.
Tho community In general enjoyed their
1r,r;s,mss Yesterday, and among the
younger norton the observance was very
ssnth,,siastlc one. There was more tnah
~ ,,snal amount OF drunkenness ana dis
erder ON the streets, but nothing more Sc
,i,,us resulted than one or two light cutting
."sas and bruised heads and bloody noses.
shortly after 4 o'clock Sunday morning
FIRE broke out in the grocery store occupied
Inv MFR. Richard Covington, on Old-Market
Sauare. which destroyed the entire stock
Of goods and all the furniture and personal
effects of the family. How the fire origi-
mated Is mystery, though 1t Is believed 10
have been accidental. 1t was first observed
In the rear portion Of the store, and quickly
snread through the building. when MI.
C,yinoton and his family on the upper
floors were awakened they found theT
only avenue OF escape cut off, the only starr
way leading down TO the street being aDiaze
and burning rapidly. They were forced 10
hmm from the sccond-stOry windows 10
save themselves. They all escaped INJURY
except Mrs. Covington, who, in jumping
with her infant in her arms, sustained Il
severe sprain Of the back, from the eilecus
Of which she is confined to her bed. me
huilding belonged to the estate OF the late
William Walsh. and was insured for s2,O0O
i'm the Mutual Assurance Company OF hlch-
mond. lis interior was wellnigh ruined.
Mfr. Coyington's stock OF goods, valued NJ
50 coo. was insured for $1,000 in the Lon
don and Lancashire Company, ana MS l'lr-
niture for 5000 in the North German.
There were two other alarms OF fire during
tbe day. but there was little OF no damage
TO report. 4.
The several lodges of Masons meet to-
NIGHT TO celebrate St Johns day, which
they will do as usual around the festive
board.
Rev. III. Melville Jackson, Of Richmond,
will deliver temperance address tonight
at st. Johns Episcopal church, on WINCH
occasion a general parochial branch OF the
Church Temperance Society Will be Of
ganizcd.
Reports were in circulation last evening
and this morning 20 the effect that the par
ties who were guilty OF the murder III
Southampton county, on Friday night last;
of the two young men, John Murrell and
Thomas Glover, and of robbing and burn
ing the store OF Messrs. Joseph ii. d >.
b. Price at the same time, had been caught,
brought back TO the scene OF the crime, ana
! lvnched, after making confession OF Their
guilt. 1t is learned, however, on Informal
ton direct from the vicinity, that these re-
ports are untrue. 1t is now thought that the
| two white men who were at first suspected
of the crime are innocent, and it Is believed
that the perpetrators were negroes living
in the county, though so far there is no
satisfactory evidence TO fix the guilt on any
particular parties. 1t is said that num-
| Der OF arrests have been made, but IN
most instances the parties have been dis
charged The affair has caused intense IN
dignation and excitement all through thai
section, as well as horror at its enormty
everywhere else. ROBIN ADAiR'