The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1904-01-27
TO SETTLE /:
old, |, .C||.,L!.,. AIMS
seamcn's Friend Society, 81 Nor
folk, (. be Finally Re-
itnburscd.
BUILDING , BURNED BY TROOPS /
Court of Claims, However, Al
lows Only About Half What +
the Edihce Cost.
Z I
(From our Regular cerrespondent-)

From Our Regular Ccrrespondent) ~
Il WASHINGTON, D. c. Jan. 2e.-It
would seem as Il the seanen's Friend
Society. OF Norfolk, were at last to re-
ceiye payment from the government for
damage done the Bethel, as all the
schapels. Of such societies are called, dur
Ing the war between the States. It 10
an old claim, and has been pressed for
years, but to no avail. But the Court Of
Claims has decided that the government
should reimburse the society for tho
occupancy OF the chapel as barracks for
soldiers. and for damage done the
property while It was SO occupied. Away
back yonder In 1874 a bill was introduced
in Congress providing for the reimburse
ment Of the society and 1t failed OF pas
sage. That same bill has been offered at
every succeeding session. and has always
{ met the same fate. Finally. the claim
was ordered adjudicated by the Court OF
!. clai.ns. The court has found the facts
ana IL Is almost certain that bill will
be passed sappropriatlng the sum decided
to be due. $. 061. S 5y
The Norfolk seamen's Friend Society
was formed in 184a, and chartered under
the laws OF Virginia. Its object was to
provide place Of worship for the benefit
OF sailors In port. The society strug gled
along until 1856, when It erected brick
Bethel Church. at a, cost OF over s. oO.3 {
was handsomely furnished. and the main
audience room was apaole OF seating
about coo persons.
TURNED INTO BARRACKS.
In May, 1862, when Norfolk was in
possession, OF the Federal troops, the ON.
ccrs OF the army made application to the
society for the use OF church as a
place OF worship for the soldiers. and
the board OF mana gers promptly accedeu
to the request. The building was taken
possession OF by the troops, but It Is
+ not known that 1t was much used as
place OF worship by them At any ra te
It was turned into barracks for the pro-
vost guard, and later was used as
guardhouse for prisoners and deserters.
The pulpit and pews were removed. the
wind ows were broken out, the walls de-
faced, stovepipeS holes were cut In the
tin root, and finally. while the troops
u were still In possession. the building
caught fire and burned to the ground
on August IA, 1885,. General o. L. Mann.
who was then in command OF the troOns
|. in and about Norfolk, turned the ruins
I over to the society Application was made
( to General Mann to repair the building,
h and he had an examination made fOr
the purpose OF learning the cost OF ac-
Fceding to the request. The carpenters VINO
made the examination reported that ths
cost OF putting the building In as good
repair as II was xken turned over to
the troops would be between IS 900 and
I $4,000
General Mann, properly, perhaps, said
E ne would not feel justified In expanding
so great sum without special authority
though recognizing tho justice OF the
4 claim, hut offered to forward the report 20
Il General Terry commander Of the DO
h partment, with headquarters at Rich
mond, The report went to General Terry,
and finally to the department In s wa sh-
ington., Thence an. order was ] sent 10
. Colonel Blunt. quartermasttrf Mt Fort
Monroe to make q survey OF tho ruins
them, sls
RECOMMENDED NEW buildings.
The post carpenter from Fort Monroe
examined the ruins and reported that
they had suffered 80 much from tile
weather since the fire that their repair
was impossible, and recommended that
a new building be erected y Nothing Wac
again heard from the government OF an
Intention or willingness TO restore the
chapel, and nine years !ateF OH Was
introduced in the House TO appropriate
a sum suflic!entg to restore the chapel 70
what II was at the time It was taken
possesslontof by the troops, twelve year
before. Repeated efforts were maze r.
secure the passage et the bill !, bur they
always failed, Finally, tho whole m4ttsr
WAS referred TO the Court Of Claims.
and q thorough investigation was made,
The court; has certified ths case 70 tils
president Of thu Senate, Finding that the
government Is indebted to tho soclety in
tho sum :,0f 4s,QEl. The cuurt finds that
the government is NOT lilble for the
burning OF tho building. no SUM found
TO pc due lis for the use and occupation
OF the building by the troap. " Tho
United States. The payment OF the sum
is but a matter oi aashMt t'ms
No Woman Lawyers in England.
The House 81, Lords ha is. finally decided
thsE Eemsa aS g Their r Sc.
land. The question arose on the appeal
81 a Londoner Miss Bertha Cayo. against
the decision OF the RenCherS OF Gray 8