Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1888-02-01
left of the regiment and the Howitzers
IN fla off ~ tho RIrao

left of the regiment and the Howitzers
on the eft Of the Blues.
The colored troops were formed out
side the prison walls by Major johnson:
As soon as the companies we're formed
the Walker Light Guard was detailed for
dnty inside the penitentiary and the
kearney Guard (colored) on the outside.
The rest Of the troops were ordered back
to the barracks about q quarter to y
o'clock.
At l0:1j Captain Jones ordered all the
men to their quarters,
1t was apparent during the fire that
the militia are not properly provided Tor
by the State. Some had no overcoats at
all. aud the appropriation which the
State makes per man is scarcely sufficient
to buy pair OF pants, much less the
other clothing. During the past three
years the appropriation has been In
1888, 50 per man in 1886, 81 to the in
fantry and $40 to the cavalry and artil-
lery 4; in 1887, $3.50 to the infantry and
s. to the cavalry and artillery.
Captain Lorraine, Of the Howitzers,
heard the military call at his home In
Hennco county and, mounting horse,
rode to town as rapidly rs possible.
Lieutenant Bowie, of the Stuart Horse
Guards. says he was the first uniformed
man on the scene. He arrived at $40
A. NJ. About half an hour afterwards
twenty-five of his company in uniform
reported to him for duty. Lieutenant
Fnker arrived some time after the men
reported, and the company was turned
over to him, he being the senior leu
tenant. The company remained until
shortly after s, when they left, their SER
vices not being longer needed.
To he Investigated.
Mr.. Echols yesterday introduced the
following in the House, which was
adopted by that body and concurred in
by the Senate
RcsOiUCd (the Senate concurring), That
the Committee on Asylums aud Prisons
of the House of Delegates and the Com
mittee on Public Institutions of the SEN
ate be, and they are hereby, instructed to
investigate and report to the General AS
sembly the cause of the recent fire at the
State penitentiary, the extent of the
damage done by said fire, the loss to the
State occasioned thereby, and to make
such recommendation as they may deem
proper in order to repair the damage
done. In nmaking such investigation said
committee shall have power to send for
persons and papers.
Penitentiary Cornerstone Laid.
The following account of the laying
of the cornerstone of the Virginia
penitentiary is taken from the history of
Richmond Randolph Lodge, No. 10,
prepared by Charles 2. Rady, past mas
ter and historian of the lodge. This is
Uerbatim copy of the record:
FIRST PEN1TENrIARY-HoUsEI IN VIRGINIA
CORNERSTONE LAID BY no. 19 AND NO.
10.
Saturday morning, August II, 1897,
the worshipful master informed the
lodges called in meeting, at Masons'
Hall, that they were convened by po-
lite request from the Honorable Execu-
tive for the purpose of laying the cor
ner-stone of the Penitentiary House. "
The two lodges % and 10) formed in
procession and marched to the founda-
ton under the direction OF Brother
Leighton Wood, marshal-viz. Music,
two Tylers with swords, the cornerstone
carried by four brethren, hods, &c, car
ried by brethren, stewards carrying corn,
wine. and oil, an apprentice with Holy
Writing and plate, brethren two and
4 annrakat.tac - ln1rrou
treasurers, junior wardens. past masters,
masters of lodges, with architect on the
left.
The stone being laid with the usual
ancient formalities by the worship
full masters assisted by his Ex-
cellency the Governor, a plate with
the following inscription, was de-
posted therein "The Legislature OF
Virginia Having Abolished the Ancient
Sanguinary Criminal Code, the first
Stone Of Building, the Monument of
that Wisdom, which, while it Furnishes,
Would Reform the Criminal, was Laid
on the 18th day of August, in the Year
1897, And of American Independence
the XXII., BY the Wor. Nathaniel
W. Price, Richmond Lodge No. 10; The
Wor. James Strange. Manchester
Lodge No. IA The Wor. VIM. II. Fitz-
whylson, Richmond Randolph Lodge
No. 10 The Wor. Jas. Mcmillan, st.
Johns Lodge No. &c; With the Officers
and Members of the respective Lodges,
The Most Wor. Robert Brooke being G.
NJ, a. l.. 5797; His Exc'y James Wood,
Governor of Va. Hon. Harden Burn
ley, Lieut.. Gov. Carter Braxton, Meri-
weather Jones, John Pendleton, John
Mayo, John Guerrant, and Alexander
McCrea, of the Council of State Bro.
Benjamin Fl. Latrobe Bennavelle, Ar
chitect." The procession then returned
to the hall in the most perfect harmony
and good order, where the Lodge was
closed in course, or during the pleasure
! of the Worshipful master.