The free lance. (Fredericksburg, Va.) 1885-1926, 1900-07-26
VIRGINIA NEWS.

|
failing loss If $l5 900 or $50, 600
The torpedo boat Dale was successfully
launched at the. rrigg shipyard IN Rich
mond Tuesday.
Mr.. Mosby Wilson. Of Prince william
| County, died suddenly Monday. He was
about thirty years old and unmarried.
Mrs. w. p. BELL, Of Accomac. only
daughter of ex. County Clerk j. j Black
stone, and sister Of Judge j. W. q.
Blackstone, is dead
The Standard Trust Company, Of New
York has purchased for $40, 600 a
tract Of water front property IN Ports
mouth.
DR.. W. S. Drewry. author OF the his
| tory OF the Southampton lnsurreotlon,
has been elected professor Of history OF
| the University OF Missouri.
The Grand Camp Of Confederate Vet.
Grams Of Virginia will meet IN Stannton
Wednesday October 10th. It will last
three days.
Among the fourth.olass postmasters
commissioned this week are Edward +
Grigsby, Grigsby. Va. Thomas G.
Bland, kehoboth Church, Va. e-,
Mr. W. d. Bristow, Of Gloucester,
died at the Old Dominion Hospital, in
Richmond, Saturday afternoon. His
remains were taken to Gloucester and
inferred at Olive Branch church.
There are now seven new national
banks in this State. banks having been
established at Fredericksburg, Orange,
Culpeper, OovingtOn, Harrisonburg,
Woodstock and Irvington.
The Board Of Public Works has just
completed its assessment Of the rail
roads OF the State. This shows an
increased valuation for this year over
1899 Of 81 1872, S9l The total State tax
for 1900 is 1858. l20 90.
Five hundred colored men in Norfolk
and Portsmouth, under their leader,
| James BidgoOd, have volunteered to
fight the Boxers, in case volunteers are
needed These are the first colored voiun-
teers.
The Department OF Education has
issued q circular letter calling upon
coInty superintendents TO reduce the
number OF public schools in each
county. This. the department insists
is necessary 10 add TO the efficiency Of
the service and the length Of the
school sessions. This applies only TO
country districts
The case Of John W. Mountjoy.
charged with maliciously assaulting
Robert Mitchell. July 2. was sent on TO
the grand jury at WarTenton. Mon.
day. A true bill was found as charged
in the indictment The trial is set for
the I'd day Of the August term OF the
county court The commonwealth will
be represented by r K Campbell and
the defense by + S Turner.
B Frank Cook died Of paralysis
Sunday, at his home Ia Richmond. in
the sixtieth year Of his age lie was
native OF King aud Queen county. and
was gallant Confederate soldier. Mr.
Cooks mother was sister 20 the Rev.
Richard Hugh Rsgby. George BaRby
and Alfred Bagby. His father was
Pendleton Cook, of Gloucester county,
who died when Mr.. Cook was q child.
During q terrific electrical storm that
visited Gloucester county, numerous
trees and houses were struck, and at
Providence church. where a large con.
gregation had assembled, lightning
struck a tree where three valuable
horses were tied TO a barb.wire fence.
that was nailed TO the tree, killing
them instantaneously and knocking
down several others. but not seriously
injuring them.
During a storm Of thunder and light
ming Tuesday night frame dwelling
owned and occupied by the Misses
Schooley, near Round Hill, Loudoun
county, was struck by lightning and
burned to the ground. The three elderly
ladies who owned IL were not at home
at the time. Everything in the house,
including wearing apparel, was con-
sumed. The house was about all the
worldly possessions Of the ladies, and its
loss is a serious blow 70 them.
Prof. J. Howard Gore Of Frederick
county, professor Of mathematics at
Columbian University. Washington, ,
has been appointed juror.in chief Of
| the court of appeals If the Paris ex-
position, which is the court Of final
resort for the protection Of exhibitors
who have not been awarded premiums
on exhibits. The appointment was
made by President Loubet, Of the
French republic. and this is the first
time such an honor has been conferred
on an American. Prof. Gore is now
at the exposition as Juror-in.ohief of
the international congress for the
commissioner general IN the United
States.
O. E Sturgis. young unmarried
man Of AccomaO county, dropped dead
while at work on the battleship illinois
at Newport News Monday. He was
sitting on his box and was seen to
yawn, lifting his hand above his head.
In this position the hand came in con-
tact with live electric wire, which
furnishes light for the men at work on
the ship. Sturgis sprang forward and
dropped dead AS there were only 2l0
volts Of electricity in the wire. the
| doctors who were called 10 decided
that death could not have been caused
by the electric shock and pronounced
1t heart disease.
DR.. Oswald B Finney, one Of the
most noted and interesting men Of
that section, died at Onancock. Acco.
mao county. Sunday. He had never
married, and celebrated his eighty -first
birthday the previous Wednesday. DR..
Finney fought duel shortly before the
war with Gen., now Judge Roger A
Pryor, of New York. FInney was a
Wing. and was serving in the legisla'
ture at that time Pryor was a Demo
orat, and was editor Of q newspaper in
Richmond. Some editorial criticism
led to a challenge The men met Oh
the Manchester side Of James River,
and the doctor was wounded in the hip.
Dr. Finuey was very fond Of politics,
and after the war there was no more