Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1885-12-30
PETERSBURG AND vTcINIT
ywo FATAL ACCIDENTS.

A. ma Man Killed nv n rraia- sessencsa
, Th,er-S safes or Factories Cenfrmed- &
NV Census for sutry County. &c.
rcorespondence ofthe Richmond D,spatch. &
PETERSBURG, Dec. 90, 1885.
An accident occurred on the Norfolk
and Western railroad, in this city. at
an carly hour this morning. which
caused the death of Edward Charles,
aged upwards of sixty years, anda man
OF family. The city has wood-yafd
on the side Of the road, in the lower
part Of the Fourth ward. from with
wood for the poor is distributed. Mr.
Charles was employed to guard this
wood last night to protect it from the
depredations Of rogues. lie built fire
to keep himself comfortable. and it is
supposed sat down on the side of the
railroad track. where eventually he fell
asleep. He was struck by the east
bound freight train, which came in
about o'clock this morning, aud re-
ceiyed injuries about the head which
caused death in about half ali hour. He
was not sufficiently conscious after the
accident to be able to tell how it oc-
Cured.
A bright little twenty-two-months-
old daughter of Captain ). o. Wilburn,
an employee Of the Norfolk and West
ern Railroad Company IN this city,
while at play in her fathers residence.
on BolliDgbrook street, yesterday, fell
over the stairway a distance of about
fifteen feet and fractured her skull.
She died this morning from the effects
of the injuries.
David Williams. the Richmond ne
gro who was arrested n this city yes
terdav on several charges of larceny,
had an examination in the Mayor
Court. this morning. lie was sent to
Jail for sixty days for stealing peanuts
from one of the Norfolk and Western
Railroad Company's cars; was sent on
for indictment by the grand jury for
breaking into the room OF a guest at
Jarratt's Hotel and stealing sundry arti-
cles. and was held to be tried for steal
ing other property found in his possess
sion believed TO have been stolen.
The Methodists Of this city, as is
usual, will have their churches open on
Thursday night to watch the old year
ont and the new year in. The occasion
will be marked by interesting services
and addresses. They are always large
ly attended.
1t is probable that at no Christmas
season of recent date has more care been
given to the poor in our city than at the
one Just past. If the wants of any of
this class were not relieved it was sim.
ply because they were not known.
Liberal donations Of provisions, fuel,
and clothing were made through all the
churches and carefully distributed by
and more private system
of charity reached hundreds Of fami-
lies.
Judge French, Of Manchester, pre-
sided at the SESSION of our Hastings
Court to-day, and confirmed the sale Of
the Petersburg Cotton-Mills and the |
BlandlOrd Co;tOn-Mills, which he some
time ago decreed to be sold. lie pre-
sided at the trial of these suits at the |
request Of Judge Budd, who had be- |
fore his appointment as judge been
counsel in them. Judge French also
entered several DEGREES in the suits con-
nected with these cases.
One of the first duties Of Judge Ber-
nard on ascending the bench in January |
will be the appointment of physician |
to the jail. 1t is understood that the
gentleman who has so capably filled
the position for the past fifteen years
will have opposition in the person Of an
equally prominent and popular member
Of the faculty.
The question Of superintendent Of
the public schools in this city is also
exciting considerable interest. There
will be one or more applicants for tk'
place in opposition to the present ill.,
cumbent.
The supervisors Of Surry county have
decided to take a census of the county,
beginning the work as soon after New
Years day as possible. The people Of
the county believe that they are entitled
to Judge instead Of, as now, being in
cluded in the Prince George Judicial
district. To enable the county to have
a Judge Of its own it will be necessary
for the census to show population of
eight thousand. Since the general CEN
sus in 1850 there has been, so it is
claimed q considerable increase in the
population-nore than enough to make
the required eight thousand.
There is very steep grade on the
and Danville railroad at Clare
mont, the northern terminus of the rail-
road, and to avoid casualties a switch
was arranged to throw a train off the
main track leading into the river onto
sand excavation near by. Once or
twice this plan has been successfully
operated, and several valuable freight
trains have been kept from rushing into
The river; but on Saturday night very
heayily-loaded freight train rushed down
the steep grade and over the switch,
sinking in the river with all the con-
tents Of the cars-peanuts and cotton.
The loss has not been aScertained.
a gentleman who is in e position TO
know says that the proper committee
Of the Legislature has agreed to report
in favor Of Incorporating the town Of
ClaremOnt. Telegraph lines have nearly
been completed to this thriving little
village. and it has ample railroad facili-
ties. The plan Of incorporation will
give the town considerable dimensions.
about five miles long by three miles
vide. Town lots are high and in good
demand. ROBIN ADAIR.