Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1884-03-10

WEATHER PROBABILITIES, Mar. ~, 1904.
FIR the M.dale Atlantic states tar weather,
rortherly winds, veerng 10 >outheasteriy,
sight lover. followed by rising teulpera-
tule, diminishing preceded IN east part 'y
Increasing pressure.
JAIL BURNED. AT = o'clock Sunday
morning the julI at Fairfax Court House
was set on fire By colored prisoners confined
therein, and, together with the adjoining
dwelling, occupied by. the keeper, was to-
tally DESTROYED. Mr. John Petit, the jaiier
and his family hal a narrow escape from
being burned To death. Two of the prison.
ers, ]. w. Wheeler and Richard Lane, both
coored, attemp:c 10 escape during the t&
element L,ue Succeeded, but wheeler
was seized by the aler aud h;nd-cuiled 20
= tree Wneeler was brought To this city
Yesterday noraius and lodged IN jail here,
and IA sruali ,."ured hoy. who WAS serving
short sentence, Vas released. The lormer
stated that they fired the building with pa
per ard sticks which were placed against
wooden door and ignited, aud rather boasts
of the affair.
A letter from Fairfax, c. H., TO this oihce
gives the following particulars OF the ALTAR
sometime in December, 1885, Johh
Wheeler and Dick Lane, both color.d, stoiea
y. Walton. living near Lewin,ri:le, Ill this
county. They ATTEMPTED 10 sell the COW In
Georgetown, when they were captured anu
admitted the theft and were brought here
and confined in be Jail. Subsequently they
made their escape b. cutting through the
roof Of the j,il aud were recently rccaptnr-
ed in Montgomery county, Maryland, ~
Sheriff George t. Sang-ter, aud put BACK III
their old quarters. About Two 9 clock sun
day morning the iailor, Mr.. john /. felti',
was awakened by noise and on rushing
into the Jail yard discovered that the jail
was on fire He then, accompanied by Mr..
Matthews Davis. opened the outer door,
when they were set upon by Wheeler ana
Lane and so hercely assaulted that Lane
succeeded in escaping. Wheeler was, now
ever, not SO fortunate and was at once sent
to Alexandria for safe Keeping. The jail
was set on fire by Lane and Wheeler, who
occupied the dungeon cell. The Jail ANA
dwelling ad ioiuing were burnt to the ground.
Loss over 81. 600 Lane is an ex-ienltenti-
tary bird, having served two years for forrg-
ing the late Chas Pottcr's name to an order
for goods, and Wheeler is an ex.jaii subject
for minor of noes The feeling against
them is strong aud as the Jail dwelling was
occupied ami as the crime Was committed at
night, the charge is arson and IS punishable
with death. Lane is still at large.
PuRIM.-Annually on the l4th of Adar,
corresponding with the month OF March,
the festival of Purm awakens within the
hearts of all israelites Joyful! feelings, 10
which they give vent by festive gatherings,
merry makings and dispensing charity to
the needy. 1t is the anniversary Of the day
on which the evil plans and Vaccinations
,ba IN parsiop coprtipr Hnmau
were frustrated, and the lsraelities in all
the realm OF Ahasuerus of Persia almost
miraculously delivered. Purim is II Persian
word meaning lots" and refers to the
drawing of lots, by which Hannah sought to
ascertain the day for the Intended masSi
ere. The book of Esther contains the full
account of this event and will be read to-
night at o'clock at the Synagogues, in the
different cities.
THE CLOUDY WEATHER Of Saturday night
had in no wise changed at day break yester-
day, and By niue o'clock the sky darkeneI
and as the rain fell heavily an occasional
flash of lightning could he seen, followed III
u few seconds by the rumblinS SOUND OF
thunder. The electric storm continued TN
about twelve clock, when the thunder ana
lightning ceased and a steady rain set IN.
Between three and four o'clock, however,
the wind, which had been blowing steadily
from the northeast for AT least twenty ionr
hours, veered to the northwest, scattering
the rain clouds, and by night the heavens
were clear The temperature fell rapidly,
and this morning ice could he seen In the
cutters The churches had small congrega'
tons.
VESSEL. Subtitle schooner f. G. Scran.
ton. which was lowed to this city during
the late gorge, and which was libeled by
the crew for wages, but afterwards re-
leased, the owners paying all claims against
her was sold on Saturday last, at private
sale by Mr.. Fitz Buckheimer, Of Baltimore,
to Mr.. Harry Kirk, OF this city, Tor 5000.
The schooner. which sunk at Queen street
dock shortly after being toWcd TO inns Guy
will be put in order and run during the
season as fish boat.
THE COURTS -Ths was regular day Tor
holding the March term of the Corporation
Court, but as Judge Meade declines to SIT
AS Judge during the investigation OF the
charges now pending against him IN the
LEGISLATURE, no Court will be held tor this
term.
Bya special act Of the Legislature, Judge
Keith will hold a special term of the Circuit
Court for this city on Tuesday, the 18th IN
slant.
DRAWING OFF THE WATER IN THE CANAL
The water was drawn oil the Georgetown
level of the Chesapeake and Ohio canal on
Saturday night for the purpose of cleaning
it out. A great many men and boys were
indrstriously engaged yesterday in picking
IN coal and other articles dropped from the
boats during last season, aud some OF them
secured considerable quantities OF coal.
THE JAlL.-There are now seventeen
prisoners confined in the Jail Of this city,
among which number three are charged
with horse stealing, one for murder. one Tor
house burning and two, women, who have
been adjudged lunatics. The murderer !, from rom
Fauquier and the house burner and morse
&C, hal6 hnra for "a fn