Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1888-01-22
NORFOLK.
DEATH or CAPTAIN spooNYR. AN OLD
sAIL-MAKER.
Reaching Out for mprovsmsnts-Railrosd
Eotss-Eaval Mattsrs-Psr-
sonsls and Briefs.
Correspondence Of the Richmond Disps,ch.l

/ Correspondence OF the Richmond Dspatch.l
NORFOLK. Va, January II, 1888.
Captain William II. Spooner, who was
for over fifty years a sail-maker in the
maynard and a greater portion OF the
time master workman, died this morn
ing at his home in Portsmouth after
several days severe illness. He was
eighty.one years of age and greatly re-
spected in naval circles, especially among
the older officers. He was one of the
landmarks of Portsmouth.
The twin cities are stirred up just now
on the subject OF new Government build
ings. Norfolk wants new post-office
building, and so does Portsmouth, and
the Joint delegation of councilmen and
members of the Cotton Exchange, Board
of Trade. and Merchants and Manufac-
turers' Exchange that leaves here next
week for Washington in the interest of
the harbor appropriation is also instructed
to appear before the proper committees
of Congress and urge the expediency of
erecting new pOst-otfice buildings in both
cities. The Portsmouth delegation is also
instructed to look after another appro-
priation of Sl5, 600 for improving the
Naval Hospital Park.
There is some talk here of important
changes in the Atlantic and Danville
management.
Mr.. Thomas Breene, OF Philadelphia,
who is here with big railroad schemes on
his hands, left for Richmond this after
noon to 60 before the Legislature.
Rev. George T.. Truett. the newly
called pastor of Fourth-Street Baptist
church, Portsmouth, arrived to-day from
Georgetown and takes charge to-mor-
row.
The grading gangs ar work on the At
lautic aud Danville railroad have passed
Jerusalem. The heaviest and slowest
work on the line is the construction of
the bridges caused by the delay of the
contractors in delivering lumber. Trat-
flc trains are now running four miles
beyond Suffolk from West Norfolk, the
station at the mouth of the Western
branch.
The orders of Naval Constructor
Bowles 20 so TO London to look aiterthe
plans Of the new hattle-ship to be built
here have been revoked.
The flagship Pensacola will reach
Hampton Roads from Europe about the
lst of the month.
The receipts OF cotton at Norfolk since
the season opened are yet considerably
short of last year, though the staple is
yet coming in at the rate Of thousand
bales day.
The detectives arrested parties yester-
day for stealing several hundred dollars
worth of wrecking material from a wreck
on the coast.
White shad from the Carolina sounds
are now in market at 20 ana - cents
each. They will cheaper nextmonth.
The steamboat inspectors % to West
Point next Monday to inquire into an
alleged violation OF the steamboat laws.
A large wreckiny organization Of New
York have just established headquarters
at this port for operations along the
coast
The physicians of this city have or
qanized tho Norfolk Academy Of Medi-
cine for the purpose OF discussing medi-
cal questions.
The brig Belle of the Bay, which came
in from Richmond leaking badly, has
been repaired and is now loading
coal. G..