Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1885-10-14
NORFOLK AND PORTSMOUTH.
THE POLITICAL CALDRON.

Republican Cenventisn-The storm Mon
oar rishs-A FIRE. Telegraph Wires Down.
[Correspondenceo fthe Richmond Dsspatch.l
NORFOLK, October IL, 1885.
This morning about 3 O'Clock fire
broke out in the Jordan House (hotel),
on Market Square, owned and occupied
by A. j. Smith, and in q short time one
halfofthe establishment was destroyed.
The fire originated in one Of the cham
bers on the top floor. The loss was
el.500, and fully insured.
The Republican Nominating Conven-
ton, to nominate candidates for the
Legislature, was held at Union Hall at
noon. Five delegates were present from
each ward. Ex-Collector George z.
Bowden called the meeting to order,
and Captain E. Vance presided. After
organization the Convention proceeded
with their business promptly, and
Messrs. r. G.. Banks and Henry Par
ker, the present representatives from
this city, were unanimously renomi-
mated. A row was predicted, but the
whole work Of the body proceeded
smoothly. Banks is the superintendent
Of public schools of this city. The
Democrats claim that the ticket is as
easy to beat as any other the Republic
cans might have put up.
The Republican Convention closed
its proceedings to-day by nominating
ex-Postmaster ii. b. Nichols as candi-
date for the Senate. Joseph E. Kilgore
was nominated as candidat, for the
House Of Delegates at the Mahoneite
Republican Convention held at Princess
Anne Courthouse yesterday.
The Democrats Of Portsmouth hold
ward meetings tomorrow night to elect
delegates to convention to be held on
Friday to nominate a candidate for the
House of Delegates.
No steamers from Baltimore, Wash
iDgton, or the Eastern Shore arrived
this morning, and those which should
have gone out Of this harbor yesterday
afternoon and last night did not get
away from their wharves until nearly
daybreak. Even the fine ocean-going
Boston and Providence steamers were
tied up for the night. The bay steamers
are expected in this afternoon. The
storm last night was one Of the heaviest
for some time, and the tattered awnings
and dislocated signs show on the streets
the evidence Of its strength in the city.
AT Cape Henry the wind reached We
locity Of sixty miles an hour. The
lines Of the Southern Telegraph Company
were thrown down, and the Western
Union business was greatly INSTRUCTED.
The signal-seryice wires between Cape
Henry and Cape Hatteras went down
early in the day, and those between
Norfolk and Cape Henry fell about 0
o'clock last night. A gang of men are
now at work restoring the Government
lines.
The Dismal Swamp Canal Company
are expecting a party OF capitalists
from the North in day or two, who
will make tour of the canal property
in Virginia and North Carolina for the
purpose of inspecting the condition Of
the same. If everything is found as
represented to them, they will invest
sufficiently in the canal to improve and
enlarge it and put it in first-class work.
ing order. Should this inland water
route have its capacity increased as
contemplated, the improvement will do
great deal for the section of country
through which it passes.
Isaiah Arlington. an old and highly
respected citizen Of Norfolk, died to-
day.
The tug Hattie, sunk by collision at
Old Point on Sunday night, was raised
and towed into the harbor to-day by
the Baker Wrecking Company. &.