Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1903-01-24
lIII OF PETERSBURG,
Dxarn Or TIMOTHY n. GRIFFITH,
sevvrne or THE sscaAnEA FAlEa.,'
FINE MUSEUM OF WAR REL cs.
Deceased Has Been cor,ecting Them
for Many rear.--well Posted on
History-Imr,ortant DamaEe snit.
Decided.

+
PETERSBURG. VA. January 2s-tspe-
ciai.3-Ms. Timothy r. Griffin. owner OF
.he famous Crater farm, Ia Prince
George county. died last night at his
residence. 81 the Crater, aged 81 years.
He had been ill about two weeks OF
Bright disease. He leaves n widow
and Is survived by two Sisters beth mar
ried. one residing in Prince George, Tue
other In Portsmouth. BY reason OF his
ownership OF ons Of the blopdiest and
most historic battie-Iteids of the great
m ar between the States. Mr.. Griffith be-
came known oyer wide section of corn
try. Its estimated that fully $1,000 PEG
pie, coming from all portions Of the coun-
Try, have visited the Crater since the
VAL and charge for seeing ne great
mtne" being enacted OF all visitors. il
became source of profit to the owner.
A REMARKABLE MUSEUM.
Mr.. Griffith was well up In the history
nf the battle-feJds in front Of Peters
burg, and could always entertain his
sisl.ors with descriptive accounts Of the
battles, the localities Of the contendins
forces. and had all the statistics at his
tongues end. In connection with the
Crater he established q museum. in which
s. he collected vast number of war relics
Of all kinds, picked up and plougned
up from the battle-felds. These were
carefully arranged and washed and kept
in a house for exiu nition. These relics
embrace shells and shot of all kinds and
sizes, guns, sTords. bayonets, etc, etc,
End even money that was found From
his selections many relics were at times
disposed of. but a large and rare collec-
ton s;ill remains.
Among some of; the most noted OF his
relics that he was wont to show we're
Two bullets that had been fred stimuli
faneously from the opposing lines that
had met In 1nid-aiI and become Embedded
! In each ctil@r. and an old Confederate
oauxket, into the nuzzle of which a Yam
kss" ball had entered. meeting the out
gong bullet and exploding the gun bar
rel. The Yankee bullet can still be seen
in the gun, but the Confederate BAH was
driven out Of the side of the barrel.
The Crater farm covers about ninety.
four acres. and has been brought to a
high state Of cultivation. It has long
been owned by the Griffith family. but
she Crater itself is but the shadow of its
former self.
OFFICIAL VISIT.
District Deputy Grand Exalted Ruler
Phillips. Of Richmond, Of the Order IF
Virginia Elks, paid an official visit to
Petersburg Lodge last night, and was
royalty received and entertained. He
made speech TO the lodge, and witness.
ed several Invitations. It was a late
ilyhL seG1OlS Lie lUce5S ELL LII OQ6t. WILL
business and pleasure
DAMAGE SUIT DECIDED.
In the Corporation Court this after
noon, in the suit Of Livingston VS.. the
Petersburg Hosiery Company. Judge haul
len rendered decision for the defendant
company. This was a suit to recover
$1,000 for alleged VIC alton Of an employ
rnent contract. the plaintiff being an en-
rloyee Of the company. The case was
tried several days ago and fully argued,
by agreement Of both sides a jury being
dispensed with. The Judge reserved de-
oision until to-day.
The case of R. O. Egerton against the
city Of Petersburg vas tried before q
jury to-day. The suit was brought to
for tbs Joss Of horst and damage to a
buggy, alleged to have he.n due to Gull
pable negligence on the part of the city.
Some time ago. while e=ing driven on
Madison street. the horse stepped into a
hole In the street and was SO badly in
sured that it ..ad to BIS killed. One or
The animals legs was broken in several
Faces. An effort was made to get the
eiry to settle the ma tier. but unsuc-
cessfuly. and suit was brought The Jury
rendered a verdict OF sl3O75 for the plain
tiff. Hon. w. 3. Mcllwaine appeared for
rhs plaintiff and City Attorney George
Mason for the city.
MESSENGER DELIVERY SYSTEM
The Western Union Company is arrang-
ing to establish the American district
telegraph delivery system in this city
for the accommodation OF its patrons
and the public
In this connection II may be stated
that the Postal Telegraph Company. un-
der its own name. established a deliver,
system in the city ten years ago. and
has always had delivery nlesssi, gers at
~s..Al
that might be needed Its call bells and
registers are placed in every business
house and residence wheI. requested.
THE PENSION BOARD.
Tie Petersburg Confederate pension
board will meet on Monday night to re-
cetve and consider such applications for
pensions as may re presented under me
law granting an extension of time Tor
that purpose.
Mr.. Landon Payne. an employee in the |
box department Of Dunlop.s tobacco fac.
tory. yesterday suffered the loss of sew |
sral fingers from one Of his hands by !
coming against saw.
4 Two large barges freighted with lum-
Der. from this City for Baltimore. are
committee OF the Common Council has |
under consideration a petition for the app
preparation OF $1,000 to supplement the |
government appropriation of $3.50 for
dredging and deepening the river channel
to twelve feet Action may be taken at
the next council meeting.
SALE OF "A VENERABLE CHURCH.
Under decree of court the Eninn-street |
Methodist Episcopal church is to be sold !
at auction next Thursday. Since the war
this church has been used by the colored |
Methodists. and latterly has been strug-
Cling forsexistence.
The Unton-street church. leaving oul |
old Blandford, is the oldest church IN /
the city. II was built n 1875 and within |
Its walls the first general conference as