The Norfolk Virginian. [volume] (Norfolk, Va.) 186?-189?, 1897-02-24
GENERAL AYERS NOW
Is Talked Of As a Possible Candidate
for GuhernatOTIal HonorS.
THE CONVENTION GAINS FRIENDS.
The inncs Eivcr Is Causing Consid-
cradle Damage TO fhc Whnryes ana
Property on tho River Front
Dcnih. Of Il. W. Strnttom Invesfi-
Sntcd-Eoy Accidentally shot.


Satcd-Hoy Accidentally shot.
I:ithmond. Va, Feb. 2s-(spcciaD :
n leading lawyer OF this ci:y will in !,
fcW days In an Interview advocate the
calling OF q constitutional convention
lie Will give rs the principal reason
WHY he wants Il convention that suf-
fraSe should be confined to those able
to read and write. The gentleman will
ar2uc that the time has como Cor Vir-
Glnia 10 follow the example of South
Carolina. He believes one OF ths. great
est dangers that threatens ou" govern
nicnt can he avoided by the restriction
or Suffrage to those able to use The bal
let intelligcntly. The gentleman CON
tends that With ample free schools. if
any one is unable 10 read and write it
is his own fault
some Of the advocates Of the conven-
ton think they see improved prospects
Of IL favorable vote on the proposition.
The agitation OF the question. it. is
claimed, is making votes for the con-
rention. Most of the country ncwspu-
pcrs have taken the subject up, and
nearly all Of them favor the conventions
FARMERS as Il rule. are said to be in
clinen 10 vote for it.
- VIII not pc very long before the
CITY Democratic Committee will have to
meet 70 iiX the rate and make Il plan for
The nomination Of Il candidate for City
treasurer. provided any one wishes to
oppose Mr.. Phillips, the incumbent
Whenever this matter has to be acted
upon there will be Il fight made to re-
strict the right u vote TO only those
Democrats who supported Mr.. Bryan
last fall. 1T is said {; majority Of the
committee are favorable TO such a plan,
put there Will he great pressure from
inc outside to all persons to vote who
VIII SaasfeH TO support the nominee. Dan
vile only recently decided 10 make no
distinction between Bryan and anti
Democrats.
There is some talk OF ex-Attorncy-
General Rufus y. Ayers entering the
race Tor the GoVernorship His friends
understood a ycnr or two ago that he
would run. but at the Staunton conycn-
lion last year he feared the fact that
ne was an anti-silvcr man would hurt
his chances. M, Ayers supported Bry-
an and did work for the ticket. He has
not been saying very much about poll
ties OF late, but Il friend of his saws he
may run if the field appears inviting
later on.
Richmond was visited to-day by an
after midnight, ana early this morning
swept over the steamship wharves and
dld considerable damage in the districts
along the river. The Bay Line steamer
did not come In the city, but landed her
cargo ut Newport News. Hundreds Of
cellars in Rocketts were flooded The
river has now reached its highest point,
and 20 more damage will be done
Coroner Taylor spent nearly all day
investigating the death of Mr. T. M.
Stratton. whose dying body was found
last night lying beside the Richmond,
Fredericksburg x Potomac track, Just
outside of the city. 1t was thought that
there might have been foul play but
Coroner Taylor could find no evidence
OF anything Of the sort. and he decided
that an inquest was unnecessary Mr..
Stratton will be buried IN the morning
Alex. Wiley and Floyd Jackson, two
colored boys. We're playing with n pist al
about 4 O'clock this afternoon. Wiley
had the weapon, and pointing it at
Jackson told him to lookout for he way
going to shoot. The weapon did go off,
accitently. ii is believed. and Jackson
was painfully shot in the leg He is not
seriously hurt
Benjamin Ladd, colored, 40 years old,
fell from the roof Of one OF the outbuild-
ings of the Richmond Chemical Works
and was fatally injured. The accident
occurred just about the noon hour yes
terday. With several other laborers,
Ladd was assisting the carpenters and
pipe settlers in the work Of connecting Il
line Of lead pipe with one Of the new
buildings recently erected by the com
pany. Losing his balance, he fell dis
tance OF 80 feet. striking his head on
the ground The unfortunate man was
taken to the home OF his mother. Liz
Zie Gordon, at the extreme end or Gra-
ham street, Fulton. Dr.. Crenshaw, the
regular physician Of the chemical works.
attended the sufferer. Ladd died last
night about . o'clock. and it is thought
that death resulted from a fracture of
the skull.
Governor OFcrrall to-day Issued a
commission to Capt. Clcm Shafer rs
Commandent Of Company B OF the
Blues. Capt Shafer was elected last
night.
CEMETERY IMPROVEMENTS.