The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1882-02-09

tiict, from whence you came and there be kept
in confinement. and on Friday, the Both day of
June, 1882, you be taken to the place of exc
cution within the walls of said jail, and there
between the hours of 10 m. and p. M, you be
hanged by the neck until you are dead And
may the Lord have mercy on your soul"
An Appalling Disaster.
A dispatch from Coalfield, Chesterfield Co.,
under date OF the Sd, contains the following
particulars of terrible disaster.
An explosion occurred at Grove shaft of the
Midlothian coal mines, about one and a-half
miles from here, about o'clock to-day Thir-
ty-two men were caught in the shaft, and
there is little or no hope that any of them will
be gotten out alive. The gas testers went
down nearly to the bottom OF the pit three
times, but were forced to return on account of
smoke and gas. which were suffocating. They
report the pit afire, but will try again in the
morning to reach the unfortunates. News of
the disaster rapidly spread, and soon a crowd
had gathered at the shaft and the scene was
most distressing as nearly every one had some
relative or friend among the buried miners.
The cause of the disaster is not positively
known. Some attribute it to gas others say
the boiler IN the pit exploded. George NJ
Dodds, the superintendent, states that the gas
testers made an examination this morning
and reported that there was no gas to burn
There is no doubt, however, that those not
killed by the explosion will be suffocated by
black damp and smoke, with which the pit is
choked, and through which no fresh air can
penetrate. The following is a list OF the vic
Tins: Whites-Wm. Fl. Marshall, the bottom
boss James E. Hall, Thomas NJ. Hall, George
Jewett, jr., A. w. Jewett, James Brown Jo-
seph Cournow, John Morris, James Shields,
and Richard Cogbill Colored-Richard Nor
gan, Robert Bnford, Samuel Cox, Pleasant
Stewart, Joseph Cunlupp, Benjamin Brooks,
Alexander Logan, Peter Hopper, Major Pol
lard, Solomon Taylor, Squire Bright, John
Graves, Ed. Ross, Robert Brooks, Thomas
| Summells Albert Hughes, James Mills, JEFF
Coleman and Fred. Anderson. The shaft in
which the explosion occurred is nearly 900
! feet deep, running about three-quarters of a
mile IN a lateral direction. The Midlothian
coal mines belong to the estate of the late H.
Fl. Burrows, of New York, and cost, about
twelve years ago, between $4,000 and
100000.
The Legislature
Little of public importance has transpired
in the Legislature during the past week. The
committee appointed to investigate the charges
preferred by Mr.. Riddleberger has been work
ing with closed doors, and nothing whatever
is known of Its proceedings. Mr.. Riddleberger
appears as the author of the resolution Gre
ating the committee, and Mr.. Massey, who is
supposed to be interested, is allowed to be
present. Dr. Wing, who suddenly disappear
ed from Richmond at the first intimation of
an investigation, is wanted now as witness,
| but cannot be found. He stated that he would
return when summoned but there seems to be
some difficulty in getting summons to reach
him
The Senate during the past week has done
little or nothing. Its members have INDUCED
in great deal of talking and joking, and very
little real work has been accomplished. The
| local option movement seems TO be claiming
prominent attention in this body. Petitions
| have been sent in from nearly every county in
the State, and there seems to be a general
| awakening of interest in the cause. A con-
| siderable breeze was created in the Senate on
Monday when House bill "authorizing the
voters of Roanoke county to vote upon the
| question OF granting license for the sale of
| liquors therein or any magisterial district
| thereof" came up.
The question arose whether the bill should be re-
ferred to the Finance Committee under the Riddle
berger resolution passed few days ago, and Mr.
| Thurman, Mr. Heaton, and Mr. Koiner discussed
The Senate refused to refer by vote of II to IT,
Mr.. Eskridge said that the amendment 1t seemed
| to him, was Intended to kill the BILL and was an
| Outrage"
Mr.. Wood disclaimed all such Intention and stat
ed that he had voted for every local option bill be-
| fore the Senate He was sure that the bill would
not be long delayed in the House. Rather than
pair the bill he would withdraw his amendment.
Mr.. Thurman said Mr.. Woods amendment should
be the subject of another bill. 1t hardly fair
clog the passage of that bill by any such amend
Wood got him to yield, and withdrew his amend
menI.
Mr.. Riddleberger indicated his purpose to offer an
amendment including Richmond and other cities
in the operations Of the bill.
NO MAKE; NO DRINK.
Mr.. Heaton offered the following amendment
Add at end of section s:
shall be manufactured in the said county of Roam
oake."
Mr.. Heaton said in the course Of the discussion
that before nquor-drinking stopped you
must frs, stop the manufacuring Of It, He want.
into nor manufactured in Roanoke.
stsHALL" OR ssMAY."
Mr.. Glasgow opposed the amendment He thought
that this great cry about local option was largely at
rtbutable to the fact that the county court long
had the power to discriminate in the granting OF
licenses The law now says that the court shall |
grant license &C.; 1t formerly said that the court
may grant, sc. Within four years past that wise |
discretion has been taken from the county court |
and 1t no longer stands as bu1wark between the |
people and these vicious nests for the debasement
of youth.
discretion referred to, and maintained thati afford
ed the people the best protection they could posi-
Then followed legal discussion between Messrs. |
Bailey and Glasgow as to the meaning and effect OF
the words ''may" and "shall."
RICHMOND AND LOCAL OPTION
Mr. Atkinson moved that the bill and all proposed
amendments be referred to the Committee on Gene
raj Laws.
kill the bill.
Mr. Atkinson said we are not yet prepared for this
question in Richmond; the people have not sent up
q
amendment is to be offered including Richmo Id |
the representatives Of Richmond should have ume |
to examine the question and the sentiment of the |
people. Hence his motion to refer.
MI. Lowell called the pending question. Ordered
Mr.. Atkinson's motion to refer to the Committee |
on General Laws was rejected
LOCAL OPTION WITH VENGEANCE.
Mr.. Riddleberger moved to add the following, |
which he said was ''local option with vengeance
''Cities Of Richmond, Alexandria, Lynchburg,
Winchester, staunton, Charlottesville, Petersburg,
Manchester, Fredericksburg, and the counties OF /
Virginia. provided that where local option shall be
adopted in any county or city there shall be no
uous or malt LIQUORS, nor shall any druggist sell |
more than two ounces Of spirituous liquors to any
one person at any time in any such city or county
Riddlebergers was more general.
REVENUE FROM LOCAL OPTION.
Mr.. Riddleberger in the Of his remarks
said that the State derives 100000 revenue from
the liquor traffic. This local option question has
be met, said Mr.. Riddleberger, and this is good
Mr.. Mayo quoting from the Treasurers report,
said that the amount realized by the State from
liquor licenses &C, was only 1914 90.
Mr.. Riddlebereer said that it was more than that.
Mr. Christian said that for the first time this ses-
sion he agreed with Mr.. Riddleberger and he went
on to speak at some length against local option
laws. Temperance was matter that could not be
controlled by laws, but must be controlled by NOR
ais.
Mr.. Riddeberger's amendment was rejected.
EDMUND's AMENDMENT ADOPTED AND THE BILL
PASSED.
Mr. Edmunds moved to amend so as to require
the bill to receive majority of the registered votes
before it shall become operative Result Of vote
ayes, IS; noes, H.
The bill as amended was passed, Messrs. Bliss,
Christian, Elliott, Hurt and Lovenstein voting in
the negative.
Mr. Thurman announced that he was paired with
Mr.. R1ddieberger. He would have voted 'sAye;" Mr..
Riddleberger 'sNo -
The bill now goes to the House for concurrence in
Mr.. Edmund's amendment
THE HOUSE
Seems to be more businesslike and is pushing leg
tslation. During the past week, however, but lit
tie has ranspred Of interest to the readers Of this
section. number Of local option petitions have
been presented, but beyond this the measures in
troduced have been OF a local nature, affecting re-
gions remote from this.
Reply to Max.
EDITORS VIRGINIAN-I ask the privilege of brief |