The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1884-08-16
News of the Week.
GENERAL. NEWS.

A fire in Northeast, Pennsylvania, Wednes-
day morning, destroyed over two thirds ofthe
business portion of the town.
There was severe frost in Northern Mich
igan on Thursday night of last week. At
East Tamas the potato and buckwheat crops
were ruined
Thunder storms swept over the north OF
ENGLAND and Scotland on Tuesday, the light
ming doing great damage. The Earl OF Laud-
erdaIe was Killed by lightning.
Three children under ten years of age were
burned to death by the burning of barn near
South Perry, Ohio, on Monday. They had
gone into the barn to smoke.
While the family of james Higgs were re-
turning from Church in wagon, near Mount
Vernon, Georgia, last Friday night, they were
fired at by David ii. Conner, and Alice Hlggs,
aged IL years, was MORALLY wounded by
charge of buckshot. Conner was a rejected
sutton of Miss Higgs, and had threatened her
life.
Myrads of locusts have appeared IN the
Mexican state of Vera Cruz, and done great
damage to the crops. The pests have also
devastated Yucatun and Southern Mexico,
and it is said that thousands OF families de-
pendent upon small crops will have to be
supported by the Government during the next
six months.
The Postmaster-G General has decided to
adopt recommendations recently made by
special agents who investigated the Chicago
postoffice, and to drop from the rolls three
of its employees, on the ground that they held
sinecures. The three drew annual salaries
aggregating 81 800, and they were very active
in political management.
The number of immigrants who arrived in
the principal customs districts of the United
States during July was 35, $50, against 46, 220
during the corresponding month of 1888.
The total number of immigrants who arrived
during the seven months ending July 3lst,
1884, was 307 ,435, against 36S, 065 during the
corresponding period of last year.
A colored woman named Chloe Ashby died
in Washington, d. c., on Monday, who is
Said to have been 116 years old. Her Ia
tives say that she was born in 176S on the
farm of Gen. Henderson, at Dumfries, Va,
and that she lived as slave until 1851, when
she purchased her freedom. She was mother
of seven children, two of whom survive her,
sons, aged 70 and II, respectively.
A Greco- Roman wrestling match took
place in San Francisco on Monday night, be-
tween Tom Cannon, champion of England,
and Pietro Delmos, champion of France.
Ten thousand people were present at the be-
ginning of the match. The conditions were
the best two in three falls, for $500 a side.
The contest, which began at 0 o'clock in the
evening, did not end until 4 o clock Tuesday
morning, and resulted in a draw. The wrest-
ling on the third round lasted three hours.
Cannon won the first and Delmos the seco. I'D
fall
For the burial of Mr.. John b. Dawson, at
Washington, d. c., on Sunday, mammoth
coffin was necessary, the dimensions being
feet inches in length, 3 feet wide and 2 feet
deep. 1t was of plain black walnut, with
silver handles and trimmings, and weighed,
exclusive of these, 270 pounds, making the
entire weight of the casket and body $50
pounds, deceased weighing at the time of his
death $50 pounds. While laid out previous
to being placed in the coffin two cooling
boards, placed side by side, were necessary
to hold the body, which, in direct line
through the shoulders and hips, without ell
bows spread, measured 2 feet 3 inches.
The Virginia Legislature met in extra ses-
sion at Richmond on Wednesday. A caucus
on Thursday decided to limit the business of
the executive session first, to the passage of a
law apportioning the State into electoral dis
tricts for presidential electors; second, to the
enactment of law dividing the State into
congressional districts, if deemed necessary;
third, to the enactment of laws concerning
the election machinery of the State as it ex-
listed prior to the session of 1888 1884, if nee
essary; fourth, to such legislation touching
the State debt and finances as may be neces
sary; fifth, to the correction of such mistakes
clerical or typographical, as may exist in the
acts of 1888 and 1884; sixth to the amendment
of any act of 1888 and 1884, not political,
which affects any county, city or town direct
ly and not indirectly, and through any body
or corporation; seventh to such matters as may
be recommended by the Executive; eight, to
the election of judges and the passage of such
laws as may be necessary to fill vacancies in
office; ninth, to the cnactmant of law for
the reassment of the lands of the Common
wealth. W. J. Vim, member from Lunen-
burg county, heretofore a readiuster, WAS in
the caucus and will hereafter cooperate
with the Democrats.