The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1882-02-25
REVIEW OF THE WEEK.

IT Is an old adage that misfortunes never come
singly and it has frequently been observed that
remarkable crimes and accidents occur in groups.
The astrolOgers have turned this coincidence of
similar events to good account by ascribng 1t to
the effect of planetary phenomena upon terrestrial
affairs but we fancy they will have some difficulty
In explaining the calamites that betel the thriving
little town of Chester, Pennsylvania, (where Mr..
Roachs big ship-yards are situated,) on Thursday
night and Friday morning of last week. On the
former date Col. Hyatt's famous military academy
building caught fire and was totally destroyed
The flames spread so rapidly that the cadets scarcely
had time to throw their effects out of the windows,
and in the midst of fierce winter storm they were
forced to seek shelter in the private houses of the
town. The session of the academy has of course
been suspended and the cadets sent to their homes
The losses are in the eighborhOod of S15OOOO but
fortunately there sacrifice of hum al life, as
occurred early next morning in the same town, when
the iremen were again called out by an alarm Of
fire from Prof. ,ackson's fireworks factory in the
old family mansion of Admiral Porter. At the out
break of the confa grafton several slight explosions
occurred and the fremen hesltated to approach the
building, but on being assured by one Of the work
men that the danger was passed. since nothing was
left to exp ode, they returned to begin work on it.
AS they did so another explosion took place which
completely demolished the factory, wrecked the
surrounding lOuseS, and of the crowd that the fire
had attracted to the spot killed and injured nearly
hundred persons. Sixteen seventeen people
were killed outright and many have since died of
their wounds the death roll footing up more than
twenty The cause of the explosion has not been
fully ascertained. The proprietor of the factory
maintains that 1t contained no material capable of
producing such havoc and among the stories circu-
lated is that manufacturer Of Greek fire, who
formerly occupied the building, left the explosives
stored away in an attic. 1t is much against Prof
Jackson. however that similar explosion occurred
at mis- factory in Philadelphia, some years ago, and
seventeen lives were lost by the fatality. A good
sized moral concerning the location of fireworks fac
tories in the heart of city might evidently be
drawn from the accident.
THE prosperous city of Haverhill, Mass. was Wis
tied on the night of Friday, the 18th instant, by
confagration which destroyed the greater part of
its business centre and caused loss of between two
and three million dollars The princip pal industry
of the place the manufacture of boots AM shoes
over eighty firms being engaged in that business,
and the fire throws 1000 people out Of employment.
VIRGINIA, the principal theatre of the late war,
has Just had little rebellion Of her to suppress.
For some time past the famous oyster beds at the
mouth of the Rappahannock river have been in
tested with oyster pirates, who drove off the local
dredgers by force. Their vessels well armed
with cannon and several occasions they fired
upon passing boats. The local authorities being
powerless TO deal with the marauders appealed to
Governor Cameron, who straghtway called out the
Norfolk militia chartered and armed couple OF
steamboats, and proceeded TO the scene Of the re-
belliOn. He arrived there just before daybreak on
the morning OF the 18th inst and after hot chase
succeeded III capturing the whole Of the pirate fleet
to the number OF seven vessels and lodged the
captains and crews snugly III jail. And then he
went back to Richmond to look after the fight in
the Legislature between his Readiuster friends and
the Democrats.
THE railway kings have locked crowns again
Presidents Garrett. Vanderbilt. and GOwen, are
diSputing the purchase of the New jersey Central
Railroad with Jay Gould. Mr.. Garrett wants it
in order to secure New York connections Gowen
and Vanderbilt want it in order to preserve the
independence Of the Reading Railroad; and Jay
Gould wants it in the interest of the Pennsylvania
Railroad, TO head of dangerous rivalry Evi-
IDENTIFY somebody is going to be disappointed.
FRESH light has been shed on the Peruvian diplO-
matte imbrogliO, by the publication of the Ship
herd correspondence, which shows that Mr. Blaine
instructed Minister Hurlbut to have nothing to do
with Shpherd and his guanO company, and that
General Hurlbut notified Shipherd accordingly
Shipherd seems to have used the names of some of
the most prominent men III the cOuntry-nOtably
General Grant-withOut their authority, as hackers
of his scheme, and without regard TO their politics
Congressman Hewitt, cast-rOn Democrat, is out
in a card denying all connection with the swindle.
Mrs. SCovILLE, the sister of Guiteau, has written
letter Mrs. Garfield, imploring her to take pity
on the assassin but has received no answer. Mrs.
Garfield said to friend that she entertained no
malice toward him, while for his relatives she
cherished but feelings of pity; but she added,
that for his great crime Guiteau must answer to
God and the American people.
THE Earl of Granville's reply to Mr.. Blaines
Interpretation of the Clayton Bulwer treaty, as
affecting American interests in the Panama Canal
has been given to the public In letter to the
British Minister at Washington, dated January :,
1892 he lays down the proposition, that not merely
the American continent but the whole civilized
worl1 is interested in the construction of water
way between the two oceans, and that all nations
should be permitted to enjoy their proper shares in
the benefits to be expected from so great an enter
prise.
ONE Of the most interesting incidents political
affairs that has recently been brought to public
attention the introduction. in the Virginia
Legislature, last week. of a resolution censuring
Senator Malone for absenting himself from Con-
gress in order look after Read uster interests at
Richmond The resolution was supported by the
Democrats and the Readjuster friends of State
Auditor Massey, who wants to be his own successor
contrary to the wishes OF Malone. The resolution
created great sensation, but failed to pass, and
the General will, doubtless, win his fight.
The Sprague divorce suit is in fair way of being
settled at last Governor and Mrs. Sprague with
draw all the charges contained in their bills,
and the former assents to the granting of divorce
ing custody of his son Willie and she retaining
control of her three daughters.
The grand jury have at last indicted the alleged
star route plundererS, including General Brady and
OK Senator Dorsey and Colonel RliSS can