Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1886-03-22
VIRGINIA NEWS.

Mr.. r. S. Barrett, the Oldest citizen OF
Portsmouth, died last Saturday morning.
DR.. Robert Burbage Coleman, promising
young physician of Richmond, died Satur-
day of meningitis.
Six prisoners broke jail at Roanoke on
Saturday night by boring hole through the
wall. They have not been captured.
The County Court of Amherst has issued
writs for an election on local option for the
oath of April proximo, but only in the court
house district.
Earl Russell, son of the distinguished
English statesman, Lord John Russell, is IN
Richmond, accompanied by his friend, MIR.
G. Balfour The Earl is about twenty-thrce
or twenty four years ofage.
w. w. Corcoran has notified the Virginia
Historical Society that he has made form
al assignment to it of the stereotyped plates
of The Madison State Papers" which Mr..
Corc1ran purchased forty or more years ago.
James DsWitt, who was present. at the
surrender Of CORVALLIS, and who married
into the Markham family. of Botetourt, who
was noted as the fighting soldier and reviv-
alist, died in Bedford county recently, at
the age of hundred and one years.
Col. Geo. W. Carter, once a famous Meth
odist minister in this State, is now resi-
dent of Washington city, and makes his
living by writing speeches for members OF
Congress and sermons for ministers. He
ia said to have quite an extensive patronage.
The Old Dominion Creosoting Works near
Portsmouth, which were destroyed by fire,
are being rebuilt, and will be completed in
about four weeks. The works have a ca
pacity of % 900 square feet day. and can
be doubled within month should business
require it.
DR.. ]. L. Willis, of Lovingston, Nelson
county, last week completed his eighty
fourth year. He and Mr.. Seton Loving,
aged eighty-six, are the oldest inhabitants
of the village, but there are several ladies
in the county who were born more than
ninety years ago.
The incorporators of the Danrile and
Northwestern Railroad met in Danville on
Saturday and passed resolutions to meet
again on April l, for organization. This
road, if built, will connect with the Shenan-
doah Valley aud Richmond and Alleghan y
Roads at Balcony Falls.
1t is reported that the syndicate that pur.
chased the GAINESVILLE and Washington IN.
C.) Railroad have also gotten control of the
Norfolk and Southern Railroad, which ex-
tends from Norfolk to Edenton, and that at
no distant day the syndicate will have a
through coast line from Norfolk to Whining
ton, N. c.
A conference Of prominent officials Of The
Richmond and Danville and connecting
roads South was held in Richmond on Sat-
urday to discuss the details for changing the
gauge Of these roads on the 31st of May.
President Buford says that nothing import.
ant was considered outside of these details.
The change of gauge, whilst it may not at
FIRST largely increase the traffic business of
their lines, will, it is thought, greatly expe'
dite it.
On Friday night last, son of Mr.. ]. Van
Harrell, about seventeen years of age, living
near Sleepy Hole, Nansemond county, shot
man named Thomas Bidgood. The youth
tits claimed, discovered that his mother and
Bidgood were criminally intimate. He ex-
postuated with his mother. and begged her
to have nothing to do with Bidgood. Fri
day Mr.. Harrell went away from home
and young Harrell in the afternoon discov.
cred Bidgood in his mothers room. He
procured shotgun, and rs Bidgood emerged
from the house young Harrell met him and
fred on him, making fearful wound from
which the man is expected to die. The
shooting is very generally approved. No
arrests have been made.