The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1893-12-26
PETERSBURG BELT LINE.
a PRELIMINARY sURyEY rs NOW
BEING MADE ron ONE.
To start From swift Creek in Chesierfield
County--If the Line IL Buiit II VIII
He Used for Through Freights.

PETERSBURG, VA, Dec. Especial
Christmas-Day. a bright and beautiful
one was ushered in some hours before
light. By the firing OF pop-crackers and
blowing Of tin-horns. which was kept up
almost necessarily until after midnight
Business was generally suspended. and
the day being a legal holiday. the banks
were closed. and at the post-ofice Sunday
hours were observed.
Appropriate services were held at the
Episcopal and Catholic churches. Ser
vices were also held at Washington Street
NJ. 4. church. conducted by the pastor.
Rev. W. q. Starr. ID. d., and also at
the Market-Street church, wnere ser
mon was delivered by Rev. II. w. Battle,
ID. d.. pastor OF the First Baptist church.
A preliminary survey is now being made
by Major w. j. Gordon. Of Fredericks-
burg, fer the Atlantic Coast Line. for a
belt line around Petersburg. The sur
Ney starts at Swift Creek. in Chester
field county. and strikes the Petersburg
railroad al the four-mlle post. near
AGREES siding. The proposed line viii |
cross the Appomattox river near the old |
Battersea dam. II this line is built II is
understood that IL will be used for !
through freight.
This morning. about 10 o'clock. while the
prisoners IN the city Jail, who had been
arrested on Saturday and Sunday, were
being brought from the Jail into the
Mayors Courtroom, one Of them, named
Edward Johnson. broke from the officers
and ran of at a rapid gait through some
Of the principal streets pursued by over
one hundred persons, holering Catch
him.! catch him. The fugitive was
captured AT the Norfolk and Western
depot by Chief Of Police Parkinson, after
a most exciting chase There were three ,
charges against Johnson. the principal
one OF which was for assaulting and beat ,
ing Police officer Webb. He was sent !
on 20 the Hastings Court for trial. !
There was a free fight between several =
negroes in Pocahontas. just across the !,
river, to-day, during which one Of them, r
Maud Knox. was quite badly beaten. The /
parties were arrested.
The Oriental order Society Degree. a
knights OF Pythias had Christmas q
banquet tonight at their hall, on Syca- o
more street The occasion was a delight !,
ul one. y
Rev w. A. r. Goodwin. rector Of ST. T,
Johns Episcopal church, announced 10 81
IFS congregation this morning that he IL
lad received a check for $500 from
Madame Octo. of New York. for the | o,
ew church building fund. This makes n
he fund about $500 As soon as the is
ecessary money can be raised the con-
regation viii have a handsome church IN
uilt, TO cost between $4,000 and $4,000. NJ
Rev. Floyd l.. Kurtz, the retiring pas co
'r Of Old-Street Presbyterian church. be
reached his farewell sermon before m
rye congregation last night. Mr. Kurtz
as not yet decided where he will locate tn
e Will spend the winter in Norfolk. pa
coll a,
z on Brown street. while under the in mi
fence Of liquor. fell into the fire at her
'me yesterday morning and was burned st
death frc
Mr. Luther T.. Inge, OF the clerical de- pc
rtment Of the Norfolk and Western TO
abroad Company at Roanoke, is here on me
visit 10 relatives and friends. pr
Mr.. W. Gary Bragg, of Norfolk, is in all
e city. lar
Mr.. c. r. johnson, of SOUTHAMPTON do
unity. is in the city. This is Mr.. John be
ms first visit TO Petersburg
Captain John +. Day, yardmaster for
c Norfolk and Western Railroad Com ,
my in this city was presented to-day ca
Ith a handsome gold watch, which cost de
the neighborhood OF 500, n gift from IN,
: railroad and other friends here. Ia
lew Walden and Peter Crowder got q
% a scufie I'm a bar-room on old Market ~,
uare tonight during which Walden "a,
and struck his head against the fau- 90
or whskey barrel. receiving a dan 49,
'Ous wound. Crowder was arrested -
no charges have yet been preferred ,,p
INST him. An witness says Crow On
did not cause Naiden's injury i"'