The star of the north. (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1849-1866, April 26, 1865, Image 1

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IV i if. JACOBf, rubllsher.
Troth and Rigbt Cod and oar Country.
'$2 50 In Advance, per Annas.
VOLUME 16.
BLOOMSBURG. COLUMBIA COUNTY, PA.. WEDNESDAY, APRIL 26, 1865.
NUMBER 27.
J" T
ENORT
14
r
THE STAR OF THE NORTH
II PUBLISH KD EVERY W SDK ESD.tY BT
;rj. . J a co by,
fflee 09 Main St., Sd Square below Market.
XEU'ttS : Two Dollar and Fifty Coi
ia sdvante. tf not paid till the end .of the
year. Three Dollar wilt be chared. .
No subscriptions takeo for a 'period less
than six months ; no discontinuance permit
8d until all arrearjges are paid unlet. at
tbe option of the editor
One square, eight line one time,
Every subsequent insertion, . . .'.
One square, three months, ......
One year, '. . .
31 00
. 25
4 50
10 00
CLEAR THE WAY.
j 'Men cf tLeoaht. be op and stirring,
' ' ' Night antl day l '
. . SawMbe seed, withdraw the curtain, '
Clear the way 1
Men of action,' aid aud.cheer them
Aa we may !
. There's a foant.abouito stream;
Theie's a rightabout to beamk';
There'a a warmth about to glow ;
. There's a flower about io blow;
There's a midnight blackness Changing
Into gray.
. Men of thought and men of a6tioo;
Clear the war !
Ouce ibe welcome light has brokea, '
- - Who shall say
. What the unimagined glories
Of (he day 1
What the evil but shall perish
In i s ray 1
Aid the dawning tongue and pen;
Aid ii, hopes of honest men ;
Aid t. paper, aid it.. type ; 1
Aid it, tor the hour is ripe ;
And oar earnest must not slacken
Into play.
Men of thought and men of action,
Clear the way 1
te ! a cloud's about to vanish
From life day ;
L ! the right's about to conqner
v Clear ihe way !
Aod a brazen wrong to crumble
Into Cay.
; vYi'h that risht shall many more
Enter smiling atthe door ;
' With the gun! wrong shall (all
Man? others, great ard small,
. 1 hat for age long hare held os
For tbeif prey.
M?n of thought and men of action,
Clear the way !
Sketch of John ffiikei Booth.
John Wilkes Booth, who has heretofore
- been familiarly and favorably known to the
theatrical public, and whose name has been
suddenly and onespectedly brought so
prominently before the entire world in con
bectioi with tbe terribly tragic assassina
tion of P'Sideiil Lincoln . is the youngest
en of the la'e eminent tragedian, Lucius
Jjnios Booth,- who was the only successful
- rival of the elder Kan John Wilkes Booth
ha three' brother, Ricbarl, the eldest, an
, accomplished lingnist, now in Europe ;
Junius Brutus, an actor,, lately of San Fran
-ce. California, but now in the west, and
who was about to commence i si)2:e.
merit at PikeV Opera t!oae in Cincinnati,
' end Edwin, the distil gnished tragedian, a
resident of New York City, Out who, the
past week, has been fulfilling a successful
engagement at the Boston Theatre. There
is also a sister. Agnes, who is the wife of
tbe welt koown comedian, Mr. John S.
Clark, of Philadelphia. Mrs. Booth, the
widow of the treat tragedian,- is now quiet
ly residing in Nineteenth street in this city,
where her declining years have been ten
tiered comfortable and happy by ihe kind
MentioVis of her children, bat principally
through tbe fond and' constant care of Ed
win, whose hoase'she has made her home.
John Wilkes, tbe subject of this sketch, was
. ao named by bis father ia honor of tbe fa
mous English actor of that name, he is now
bat in the twenty sixth year of his age, hav-
"ing been bora in Harford County, near Bl
Air, in the State of Maryland, . in the year
. 1A39. He baa been well and carefully rear
ed and educated, receiving part oi his tui
tion at St. Timoihy'a Hall, in Catohsville,
boot six miles from Baltimore, which in
motion, be left ia ' 1854, a"d finished bis
education at the Newton Unierbity, on
Lexington street, near Caber! street, in
Baltimore City, in 1857. He ia a young lion of which, for bis owh reputatiou.be f0ow me whicbr he did, trembling as
' mas of remarkable personal attractions, be- w indifferent. ! he went along, fearing ha was to undergo
ing five feel and between eight and nine i . Wilkes Booth was in this city some eight ' fome part nf the discipline in making a
Inches in bight, with a fine, manly, musco-! dys ago, and met many ol his iriend-, and Mason of which he had heard soch a lerri
lar form, standing erect, with a qoick, elas- vThtn be left, it was sopposed he was go- tie report She leJ him in'o ihe street and
tie step: a bead of good size and shape, well
paised; prominent, regular features ofclas
sic mold; a full, bright, jet black eye, ani
mated by kindness and intelligence; a bUck,
well trimmed mustache, and a wealth of;
soft, dark, corly hair. He dresses with!
punctilious neatness, and would attract at
tention anywhere. When at school be
v abowed 00 particular fondness for the his
trionic art, seldom, if ever.' giving a recita
tion, bat was qai'a partial to making stamp
tpeeches to the boys, in wbicb he display
ed considerable eloquence, originality and
fewer. His voice, boweverr was mach
gainst bim, which annoyed him exceed
ingly. He seemed to suffer from a natural bron
chial affection, wbicb gave his toaes, at
times, a peculiarly painful baskiness, and
wbicb, no doubt, many will remember Ire
qsently characterizes Edwin Booth's voice.
John Wilkes Booth was not only respected
by bis friends and companions, bat was
elncerely te'oved by them. He was frank
cod brave, and always geatle and winning
In bis manners, and disposition, bat firm
and determined in bis purposes. He was
net remarkable in bis studies, but was con
idersd a fair scholar be, however, excelled
(rt a;hlet;c spers, being strong A body and
i;h of I mb, and ws splendidly fitted for
v!gorasi vxn?i. tnl he hv.l fsw rivl
amwng his companions who could surpass
him in running-, wrestling and horserack
riding. He is sn accomplished swordsman
and a splendid shot alsoin fact being an
adept in all ihe manly sports in which be
always took" great delight. When he grew
to manhood he had no particular employ
meni, and finding fiat his brothers Junius
and Edw-tfi bad succeeded in the theatrical
profession, and believing that his name
woold secure him recognition and success,
without any great stn.y or preparation, he
decifed to make hisdebut on the stage.
He appeared in Phtlidelphia. first playing
subordinate parts, and in 1859 arjd 1860
performed qnite a successful engagement
in Montgomery, AUbama. and since then
he has playsd at tne principal theatres in
the country. He, however, has been re
garded by the best critics as a careless ac
tor, professing, nevertheless, histrionic genius-natural,
of course and with every
prospect of excelling in his art by the prop
er application and study. The advice the
critics gave him he has apparently disre
garded and if seems he determined some
time since to abandon the profession. Hi
first appearance in New York was at Wal
laces old theatre under the management of
Miss Msry Provost He appeared in his
father's greiit role of Richard the Third, but
he met wiib a failure; his engagement ter
minated suddenly and he d;d not appear
again in ihit- city until the twenty third ot
lat Novemfer when the brilliant Both
combination benefit was given at the Win
f ter Garden to the Central Park Shakespeare
I Monument Fund, on which occasion he as
eumed the role of Marc Antony in the great
bard's Roman tragedy of Julius Cec-ar
E twin performing Brutus, and Junius that
ot Cassios. John Wilkes' associations have
principally been with the South, and the
current ot bin sympathies have run that
way, thougb. he was not ran re demonstra
live in giving expresiona to them than
other of iin associates, - and having hosts
of warm friends in the North when in their
society never offended ibeir feeling by un
necessary or bitter reflections, thongh there
were occasions when arguments would ar
ie. and he would take a decided eland in
favor of his sympathies. He has never had
a commission in the Confederal army, nor
doring the rebellion has he been further
South than his native S.ate. This is poi-
lively assened by those who have constant-
I) been wiih him. Some months since he
loaned a joang fnend of his a sunt ol mo-i-
ey, who owned some oil lard in Per.nsyl-
vania. and to secure ihe- loan, his friend
passed to him a tract of land which ia Icea- J
teJr it is said near Oil' City, and being
wonderfully rich in oil deposit, ha yielded
him over S10O 000. For momhs past he '
has devoted his whole attention to the oil ;
business, hiving entirely abandoned the'
stage. He tippeared. however, in the latter;
part of January, at Ford's theatre, in Wash- j
ington,fr the benefit of Miss Avania Jonea,
having prior to that lime pliycd ai ihe Bjs
ton M use tun, and then declared that it
shonM be hi last appearance on the stage.
On tbe occasion ot the benefit of Miss
J nes the honse wa crowded in every part,
even the ais'es teing fi led so that egress
was almost impossible. He proposed to
persona'e Borneo, and those who had seen
the vigor and energy of his portraiture of
the Duke of Glo-ier at the broad way Thea
ter could not fail to police ihe tam and
spiritless representation of Juliet's lover.
He was by far more feminine in his utter
ance than ihe pride of the Capulets. In
person he appeared very slender, and bis
suit of sky blue, relieved wi h white satin,
made him indeed, a man of wax.
His
reading was imperfect, aod be frequently
faltered and stumbled in the text, although
he was sell-possessed. It was easy for a
stranger to believe that some female had
assumed the part, and those who had hopes
that he would rise to eminence from the
crude promise ol his New York perform
ances were inclined to think t hat he could
never achieve any great histrionic distinc
tion Everjthingin bis acing of Romeo
betrayed a sell-impot-ed tank, to the execa
102 to Oil Cirv. or some other locality in
Pennsylvania. A gentleman -who knows
bim well, ar..d who has been in Washing
ton, says thiit be had not seen him there,
and hence when the announcement was
made that he was the supposed assassin, I
bis friend were s-ized with sorpise and 1
consternation. Although at times he would
indulge too freely in the intoxicating cup, (
and set somewhat eccentric, be
eccentric, be never .
seemed wickedly disposed or particularly
quarrelsome.. He was rather known for bis
convivial qualities, and was always con
sidered a hail fellow well meet, .and quite
incapable of doing: any one a deliberate
injury. Tbii horrible tragedy, which finds
no parallel is biatory, bas not only plunged
the country i 3 a gloom it has never before
experienced, bnt the report that J. Wilkes
Booth is connected wiih it, has cast a terri
ble pall over tbe - hearts of
bis friends and !
family. Time alone will test his gnili or
innocence, and -to tbe justice of that Oiviu
ity which shapes oar ends, rough bew them
as we may, 111 leave bis fate.
New York Daily Keas.
A doctor op- town, recently gave the fol
lowing prescription for a lady: 'A new
bonnet, a Caibmere shawl and a new pair
ef gaiter boon." 'Tbe lady, it is now used'
less io ssy, his sntirely rseovtred.
flow the Chinene dig Coal.
It is always enrious to kntw bow they do
thing In the Celestial empire, the land ol
pig tails, li'ile feet and almond eyes They
are not a slow people; bat ingenious, foxy,
patient, enduri-ng and . industrious ; they
achieve wonders for an oriental nation, and
a race hampered by iron conventionalities.
The manner of their coal mining is well
tiescribed in the appended article from an
Anglo Chinese paper:
The old coal mines in China of which
we have an account are located about five
mites north of Koh shaukan, and not far
from the cit of Pekin. The editor of the
.'Chinese Mail' recently visited these mines,
and makes tlie following report,' which will
be irterefting, as showing the manner in
which the Chinese carry en mining opera
tions at home: There are but fiueen shafts
open, each of their entrances being enlarg
ed into a room, where the colliers eat and
sleep at times, though more comfortable
dwellings have been built for overseers and
contractors. We engaged a miner to show
us down the Urge shaft, which measured
on the average 4 feet high by five ft wide;
it is cased wiih willow weeds in a secure
manner, and tbe roof is partirotarly well
guarded. The bottom is lined with the same
to form a ladder, op and down which the
miners travel in their daily labor. The
shafi is about 150 feet deep, and ihe ladder
down to tbe diggings is, perhaps, 600 feet
long.
The coal is secured on small wooden
s'edges, and drawn as the miner slowly
crawls op along the narrow and slippery
steps by a sirap passing over his forehead,
each load weighing eighty cattle. One
workman brings op six loads as his day's
work. The sides of this shaft showed the
width of tbe veina of coal, bat -the lop and
bottom were not dug nut. The whole was
very dry owing probably to its elevation op
the hill; but some shafts had been aban
doned from wet and bad air, and their
months closed. The laborers are hired oat
by the contractors, who sell the coal to the
deera from Pekin and elsewhere; it is all
carried away on the barks of camels or
moles, and it ia a painful sight to see ihe
unwieldy camels coming down the rocky,
uneven roads bringing their loads of coal.
" delivered at Pekin M about three p.cuU
for dollar, and a large part of the price is
I ,or carriage. The coal is h-rd, but such
examination as the lime afforded, diclosrd
j n siige of a stomp or leaf to compare
! w'11 ,h foit of other regions; more care-
ful re.earch will doubtless bring to light
some indications of this kind, enabling
scientific men to compare the numerous
deposits of so It and hard coal in this part of
China with the European coal measures.
Seereti of Icsonry.
At an inn in the west of England, several
persons were sitting around the fire in a
large kitchen, throngh which was a passage
to ihe other apartments of the honse. and
amongst whom was a female traveler and a
tailor. At this inn a Lodge of Free and
Acc,pj Ma-sons was held, it being night
several of their members paed th'e com
pany in the way to the meeting room This
circoms'ance introduced observations on
the occnlt signs by which Masons could be
known to each o-her; when Ihe female ob
served, that there was not so much mystery
in maonry as imagined, and that sh her
self could how any pprson a Mason's sign.'
"What," said the tailor, "that of a Free and
Accepted Mon1" "Yes" she replied,
''and I'll bet yoa a half crown bol of
punch, to be decided by any of the mem
bers you may please to appoint thar I per
form ray promise " "Why," says the tail
or, "a woman was never admitted, then
how i is possible yoa can procore the se
cret V No matter for that," says hef
I will readily forleit the money I lay if
do not prove the fact." The company ur
ged the tailor to accept the challenge, and
the amount of the bet was deposi'ed The
woman immediately started op and took
the tailor by the coTar. 'Tome ' says she,
pointing 10 the sign of the Lion and Larnb,
askmg him whose sign that was. The tail
or answered, ' Mr. Lodge,' as the name of
the inn keeper. "Is he a Free Mason? '
Yes" said the taihr. "Then I have
,hown yoa the sign of a Free and Accepted
Mason." The laugh was so much against
lae tailor, that it"was with rrocb difficulty
ne could be prevailed opon 10 take some of
tns liquor which was forthwith produced
at bis expense.
One More Rkbcl In bis speech at
Washington on Monday, Bethel Fisher Bat
ler said : In the future the danger to our
liberties can come only from the arabitoos
of lboe in the army, who may conspire
against the life of the nation." Doe Ben
But er reler to himsell ? He is the only
officer in oar army guilty of insubordina-
Uo Dd hd belonged to any other
army, he would have been coori-rcarnaied
and shot for his runfmous harangue at
Lowell N. Y. Herald,
Pbofits or the Oil Trade. The aggre
gate yield of oil per day in all the oil re
gions of tbe United States, is 6 000 barrels.
On rbis, in its crude state, the average pro
fit is about five dollars perbarrel, so that
the net profit on all tbe erode petroleum
produced, is $30,000 par day, or nearly
$11 000,000 yearly.PirYjImrg Diyatck.
The Great Calamity.
It is as if a pall overhang Ihe land, and in
the shado ol it dwelled a chilled and awe
struck people. A brotherhood of sorrow
sorrow so poignant that it makes strong men
weep and veteran soldiers shndder, has
brought all classes and all parties to the
drear level of comrsnions in misfortune.
Our city looks like a vast burial ground,
whose monuments ure hung wiih the symbols
ot wo and along whose avenues a million
mourners pace silently in the solemn con
sciousness of bereavement. It is not only
the flags flapping at half masi in the driz
zling rain, or ibe gloomy vistas of craped
facades that leave ihsMmpression of univer
sarmourning, for in' Ihe somber lioks and
thoughtful fadness of our citizsns, their
downcast eves, their subdued tones, we find
the most impressive tokens of the popular
distress.
And, indeed, it has really happened that
a peeple h e been viiiel with a ich a
cause for lamentation Had it pleaed God,
by disease or accident, to take from ns our
Cnief Magistrate, the shock would have
been less. But to see bim stricken down
by the brutal rage ol an assassin, murdered
at the very gates oi peace he was about to
open, abru ptly hurled from bis sphere of
usefulness at the crifcis of ihe Repuolic's
fate, in such a misfortune all that is hornb'e.
and pitiable, ar.d caUmitous has been con
centrated into one fatal moment to over
whelm tbe country with affliction For tbe
first lime in our history assassination has
thrown its dagser imo the political scale
Oh ! the disgrace of it, ibe shame of it, the
peril, if ever that crime should be identified
with ihe American characier ! Let ns not
believe, for the honor of the American name,
that it was . promp ed by partisan malev
olence. Let it not be a.sociated with the
record of civil atrife, further lhaq the act of
a murder whoe criminalitygoea not be
yond his own individuality. We will not
insult any section of our country by pleading
for its people, or their leaders, exculpation
from complicity in thi fiendish deed ; for,
in behalf of Americanism, we asen that
ihey will loathe and denounce i. For sol
diers have no sympathy with assassins.
Be their cause right or wrng, Ihey strike
for it on Ihe embattled ptain. against an
armed and rea.lv foe.
The full extent of the mifonune involved
in Mr. Lincoln's dsath cainoi yet be meas
ured. It depends upon whether his succes
sor will take np the policy of consideration
that we know the late Presi lent had de
termined to porsue. Mr. Lincoln, of those
in power, was the best friend 10 the Sonih.
In his kindheartedness, he wi ihsiooJ and
baffled th6 vindictiveneis and fanaticism of
Ihe radicals of his party. It is known that
he had prepared and was about to publish a
proclamation of general amnes y, so con
ciliatory in its tone and so honorable in its
conditions, that it would have been accept
able to a large portion of the South as well
as to tbe conservative people of the North.
What of that proclamation ? Will it be ig
nored now that its author lies cold in death ?
we trust not. It is among the legacies he
leaves ibe Republic. Those who have pow
er cannot pay a better tribute to his mem
ory than to folfill his wishes. His voice
will be no more heard in the Cabinet, but
in the hearts ol those that echoing the
words nf peace and forgiveness, that he
nttered so brief a while before he pmsed
into eternaty. The living do honor to the
dead in completing the unfinished labor of
love, fin fitter requiem to Abranam Lin
coln than the song of peace s-e!lijr from
tie greatful hearts ot his countrymen.
He atks on hecatombs let his grave be
nnpolated by the blood of .Americans
slaughtered for revenge. Let the law deal
with the murderer ; but, for atMesmanship
and lor the influence ol popular opinion,
the mission of the hour is peace. Shall the
deed of a single min," prompted by his own
onnaturil instincts, affect the policy of a
s:rong Government, and blast the hopes
that have so recently dawned npon the
land? Shall the legitimate sorrow of the peo
ple for the loss of one who they trusted and
honored degenerated into a savage v'mdic
liveness towards a race guiltle-, and, at
this day, unconscious of the crime thai bas
teen perpetrated ? It would be a slander to
our enlightenment to believe it. No ; let our
statesmen and our people resume ihe con
ciliatory temper that prevailed before
the-e dreadful tidings came 10 check the
current of popular opinion. Let it be said
that the germ of peace was planted by the
band of Abraham Lincoln. Lei it live and
flourish and became a monument to bis
fame.
Alabaster from the Mammoth Cave
'The Louisville Journal says thai large qn un
titles of pure white alabaster, of the finest
quality, are being taken from tbe Mammoth
Cave, and manufactured into ornaments" ot
various kinds, such aa necklaces, breast
pins, ear-rings, crosses, charrns, fee. Thi
subbtance is susceptible of the highest pol
ish, and the ornaments into which it is con
verted are greatly admired ' for their bril
liancy and beauty.
- I S - I '
The "colored people" of Rhode Island
have nominated. Edward Harris, of Woon
socket, as their" can did ate for Governor
Hope be may be elected.
Adah was food of his jokes and when
be saw bis sons and daughters marrying
one another, be drily remarked to Eve, that
if there bad been no apple, there would
have been no pairing.
A sister of Gen. Grant ' died at the resi
dence of bar father in Covisgton, Ky., last
week, -
Details of the Capture of Richmond. j
; A correspondent of Jhe World, writing
from Spots wood Hotel, Rrchmond, 6ih int.,
gives many imereMing facts. Beginning
with an account ol the last battle at Peters- ;
burg, he says : ' j
"The various devices, inventions, and la
bors which could economize men had all
been tried Earthworks, forts, abatis cAe
twtix defrise, mine, canals and so on, bad
all been applied on our tide, and to these
the rebels added torpedoes for the purpose
of relieving as many men as p.issible for
the decisive struggle, whenever it should ,
take place. j
Thus began' the con'est. The bad roads
prevemed much fighting beyond heavy t
skirmishing on Wednesday and Thursday.
Sheridan was confronted by the whole of.
Wade Hirmpton (cavalry,) and a division 1
nriJer Mahone (infantry.) The result was
thst on Fricfay, Sheridan, after some oppo !
i;ion, had col his way to the railroad and
the Appomat ox. On Thursday night, during
a storm and' intense darkness, the rebel
pickets, urged, no doubt, by the immi
nence of a struggle, ran into their forts re
porting an attack, which, spreading along
the line, soon extended along both lines j
around Petersburg. Ihe cannonading was j
torious, and seen in the rflif of the black
storm, was one of the tst awfjlly grand
scenes imaginab'e. The fire was kept op
from the forts for some hours, when I oth
sides, finding that the imaginary foe made
no impression, concluding iheir enemy re-
spectively rrpnlse-1. No very great injury
or loss was sustained ; but it gave rife to
an impression in Richmond, and also in i
New York, we judge, that there had been '
a great battle with terrible slaughter.
On Saturday morning the lires having j
been closed up, the preparations for a
ganeral bombardment and storming having
been made, ihe Second, Fifth Sixth. Ninth
and Twenty fourth corps were held in rea- j
diness to force their way throngb any por- '
tion of their lines which might 'develop a !
promising weakness. The attack was or- j
dered and gal'antly met, and af'er varying 1
fortunes, our success seemed to be doubtful
on the left, until Sheridan's cavalry, climb
ing over three successive lines of newly
thrown up intrenenmenf, were enabled to 1
surround a divi-ion or more of the ene- j
my, and lha- enable tbe troops in the vi- j
cinity of Hatcher's Run to bag abcut two
thousand prisoners, who surrendered with- I
out unusual resistance. 1
Petersburg presents a wretched appear- !
anre The wri'er followed into the city a
few bonrs alter its oi-eupaticn, to find al
mo! every house closed, many of them
shot through by shells, many others in ru- J
ins. The stores were empty and c'osed. j
The s reets were crowded with the inhab
itants and our soldiers, now streaming in at
all points. The inhabitants consisted prin
cipally of negroes, of whom there were .
vast numbers a few able bodied blacks
and a great many decrepit and aged.
The works around Petersburg are very
strong, and show a beaver-like industry,
combined with great skill and daring On
the west and sooth of the town the yellow
sand has a colossal worm ea rn appearance. 1
Each tort has very commodious bomb '
proofs, and little caves for the gunners.
The space intervening between the two
lines, which in some places is not more j
than two hundred feet, is doited with lutle
circular pits with a curtain of ear'.h, in 1
which the pickets on either side kept op
a Constant fusilade. The chevaux de fiue of
the rebels is of the old s- rt a pine log '
twenty or thirty feet long, into which at
right angles sharpened stakes about eight '
feet long, which, when in tittle or double
rows, are a terrible obstruction to a charge.
In the city t here are caves also, it) imitation
of those in Vicksburg. In tny judgment
tf.e defenses ot Petersburg are not as strong
as those o! Vicksburg, but of course ihey
have been defended by a tar larger army.
We captured about thirty heavy guns, un
billed, in the forts, many of them rifled
and of great calibre.
A great many ol the Confederate wound-
ed are still in tne houses and hospitals of:
Petersburg, and but tew surgeons to attend
them. The railroad which had been torn
op for a few miles was immediately put in
repair and oy Thursday it was expecied to
be running into the city. The few small :
schooners and boats which were at the;
docks were all scuttled. In fart, it was;
very evident that the rebels had carried off j
t
or destroyed everything which could be of !
any value to os.
Tbe enemy had blown up ibe famous i
Virginia at Drury's Bluff, and her iron sides
are now visible. The Fredericksburg lies
near her and ihe new iron clad, the Chick
ahominy, is above. A new ram on the
stocks below Richmond was also fired, and
is burning to this hour. The rebels had a
powertul stone blockade at Fort Darling, in
front ot which are numbers ot torpedoes,
some ot them already filled np, containing
1,900 pounds of powder. We captured also
tne David Currier, Wm. Allison, Banner,
and another smail transport. Thus perishes
the last of Ihe formidable iron dads which
the Confederates have built, but which
have had singular fatality of ill luck.
- With this, of course, followed the aban
donment of the Howletl House battery (also
strong) and tbe line of works between the
Appomattox. .
BTCHMONS.
The three tremendous explosions before
dajljght. on Monday morning, bad prepared
every one for the evacuation of Richmond.
Some of Kaotz's cavalry first entered the
city, being moonted; and were met by a
deputation of citizens with Mayor Mayo,
who begged that the city might be honnra
bly surrendered, as the retreating rebels
were more to be feared than the open foe.
The guidons of Ihe cavalry were placed
on the Capitol about 8 o'clock. Aboot
half past 6 o'clock the last train of tbe re- t
..K.i- .1 . u . rt :i 1 - 1
road bridge as our troops were sighting the
citj from the bills. John C. Breckinridge,
who had remained behind to superintend
the work of destruction, was among the
last to leave. His assistants in this work
were General Ewell and Major Dick Turner,
of Libby prison notoriety. Governor Smith
left an hour earlier on a canal boat, tbe
transportation borse vehicles having been
exhausted.
The labratory and the freight depot of the
Danville road were fired about six o'clock
several of the citizens protesting at Ihe
time thai it would cause immense loss to
private individuals. An appeal was made
to Breckinridge, by the suggestion of Ewell,
who ordered the torch to be applied and
then left. The rattle of the locomotive
could be heard on the bridge as our troops
entered the heart of the ciljv.
iWfCL CONFLlCRATIOIf.
The firemen and soldiers (negroes) who
were prompted and urged by the few
white officers made ineffectual endeavors
lo check ihe fire, but their efforts seemed
as impotent as if directed against Vesuvius.
Th-i large ml! of Haxall & Crenshaw
went as well as all the warehouses on and
near the canal Main sireet was reached,
and for a time it seemed as if the Spoils
wood would go. People were afraid to en
ter it, but its proprietor by strenuous efforts
caved it. Down Main street, and up the
west side of tbe Capitol square, it caught
ihe War Department buildings and Qjar
ermaster's offices, though it is supposed
this may have been, fired independently,
as loads on loads of papers ware hauled
out into the street and bsrned on Sunday
The Treasury building strangely enough es
caped, being a stone structure with metallic
roof, though on the three sides of it for
blocks, is a vast mass of black reins. The
fire bwept down six blocks on Main street
from the Capitol square. On the river Muk
everything was burned for a full mile. In
fact, tbe fire died out for the want of con
tiguous fuel. The sight on Monday night
from the heights above was terrific and
glowing. The falling ot walls' and crack
Itn of flames gave every hour fresh impe
las to the burning mats.
On Tuesday and Wednesday evenings
the view from Gamble's Hill, looking over
the river, we could see nearly a square
mile of black and smoking ruins. The
three bridges across the Jumes, one of them
a costly and magnificent structure, tbe Pe
tersburg bridge said to have cost over a
million of dollars, were burned. Two or
three large mills in Manchester, opposite
the navy yard, and the navy yard, and the
whole of the heart of the city was destroy
ed. The loss most amount to thirty-millions
of dollars in gold. The Ballard House
and Exchange Hotel were saved The
most ol the banks and one church were
cousumed, though there was probably little
specie ir. the vao!ts. It is compated thai
one thousand five hundred building were
destroyed and forty blocks.
SCFKKS OF TUMULT.'
In the spread of the fire there was mnch
pillaging The poorer classes, including
women. who had long telt tbe pangs of fam
ine, now found their opportunity of wreak
ing a suppressed vengeance against ihe
speculators and extorioners. The negroes
caught the infection, and stores were bro
ken into, and for a few hours the wildest
scenes of disorder prevailed. It shou'd be
mentioned that on Sunday evening a com
mittee of citizens, headed by 'he civil au
thorities, seeing the la e before them, vety
wisely concluded to destroy all the liqnor
before the entry of our troops. Accordingly,
all the depositaries were visited aud the
liquors were emptied into the goiters.
THE FLIGHT OF JRTT DAVIS.
The despatch ent by Lee en Sunday
from Petersburg, and wh'ch reached Presi
dent Davis while in church on Sunday, was
the signal for a grand exodus. His wife
led on Wednesday previous, it is said, for
Galvesion. He sent over to Dr. Huge,
whose sermon he had been listening to, a
small note by the black sexton. The latter
on receiving it changed the coarse of his
remarks, and said ii was probably the last
time he should address ihem.and hastily
concluded the services. Tbe rest ot the
day be spent with his secretaries in pack
ing op his papers. His house was left
otherwise in the usual order, a white
housekeeper being found in charge by our
people. He took the train at half past six
in the evening.
Governor Smith (Extra Billy) left his
wife (a very excellent lady, by the way)
behind. Mrs. Gen. Lee bas been an invalid
for some time, and occupied a very modest
mansion beyond that of the Vice President.
A giard was immediately plactrd at the
house for her protection, and she was
treated with becoming courtesy. Stephens
occupied a house oc tbe opposite corner
from Davis, but has not been living in it
lor some lime. Edward A . Pollard, whom
General Butler says is nol exchanged, was
at the Spottiwood Honse on Wednesday
evening. The only two foreign ftags which
we saw exibited- were the French Iri color
and the Spanish. Mr Edmund A. Paul, the
French Consul, took occasion to call upon
Gen. Weitfsl early to expreis bis bone that
protection woold be extended to bis person
and property. Judge Campbell, once of
the United States Supreme bench, and mora
recently of the peace commissioners,' was
one of the most important personages 'left
behind. A nnmber of the more prominent
and wealthy citizens have left for Europe,
including Judge Bledsoe and J. K- Thomp
son. " ' '
Next (Wednesday) morning Jodge Camp
bell paid a visit to Gen. Weitzel while we
were present. After some conversation be
expressed a desire to see President Lincoln
to ask him if some way could not be found,
in the present alidade of affair, to conclude
a peace. Gen. Weitzel promptly waited 03
ihe President with hinrf. . The result is cot
officially made known; bull express its
substance when I say that the President re
ceived him kindly, and informed bim that
he had no objection lo allowing him to go
to Davis, so soon as it was safe lo do so ;
but that he had no message to send on the
subject nntil he received one from Davis or
Lee. The judge returned, and it is said
among the citizens that he will endeavor
to reach Davis when the intermediate . let
ritory is safe to travel through. ' i
THE WCWSPAFXas.
Of ihe five newspapers of Richmonl
ihree have been destroyed by the fire. The
Whig and Sentinel alone remain.' The latter
haa been confiscated by the government.
and the Whig is issued as an evenins Danar!
by the former proprietor, William Ira Smith,'
who announces in bia salutatory of Toes
day that it will be devoted to the cause (1
the Union, and will bring te its coatrol ozc
of Virginia's noblest sous, by which W
oppose John Miner Botts is meant. Tht
Whi was the last paper to succumb te ths
er A a linn f n p. rm .ml ftf C-.:iL .l '..I j iJ
. , DM-i uti u . ii 1 1 n iijsjii seia
rather than continue its pabheatioa.
RICHMOND AFTER ITS CASTORS.
Spottwood HoCbE. Richmond. VirefaU
Thursday. A nnl K Th mnr I .. )
J - - ' . ft ivu ItfHBfl
here, the more I am satisfied that the Con!
federac is finally and effectually burst op.
Both tbe news from the front and tbe ee
tiges left behind here bear indicatient lha
the blow which has iist fallec bas bee
expecied to come for some time, bat cam
at last in a way more sodden . and embar
raesing than anr dreamed of. A irreat man
" j
circumMances come to light which show'
that both tbe government officials an
shrew t parties outside have been convert
mg property and conveying effects to saf
distances for a longtime. Manv of th
most wealthy people of Richmond aa
irgtnia bave been going to Europe.
The government archives ha h
shipped sooth, and are now scattered anc
hid in various places lhrooghout Georgia
North Carolina, Sou h Carolina, and Vir
ginia. Two months ago, the Sentinel, lb,
official organ of the government, had re
moved its back files and spare material t
South Carolina, where we believe part ol i
was captured by Sherman. The Treasury'
recorns have beeo sent for a month back
Further, it appears that tbe policy of lb
government in permitting trade through on
lines waa very strict, but within two month
haa been suddenly changed. In a sing
day, 2d February, I th'.nk, fresh orders war
issued tc accept all offers and sell all cotto
belonging lo the government for tbe coin o
sterling exchange. The law passed b
Congress to raise supplies for the army b
coin, was also made tbe; means of g sit in
large advances from the State banks.
Dais' family has been sent off, aai
though it is spreid about thai his boose an
effects are left in usual order, it is only s
to the eye of the casual observer. The ut
most scrutiny fails lo find any of those val
uable papers, records and souvenirs, whict
must naturally belong to such a place, and!
which are portable in their nature. PianosJ
statuettes, carpets, mirrors, furniture, are
there, of course, but nothing of much valas
which could have been taken off.
A'ex. H. Stephens stripped his honse tw
months since, and left for the far Sooth
Governor B.lly Smi:h is about the on!
prominent official who has beea left in the'
dark, and he hail time to carry off or hide
his most valuable goods.
I may add that certain ill natarei eeess
sionists are questioning tbe taste and ih
propriety of the expected visit ot Mrs. Lin
coin, Mrs General Grant ar.d Mrs. Genera
Weitzel, in hastening to occupy the execa
tive mansion, as some thing too petty foi
the representative of a great nation sop'
pressing an insurrection. There is a grant
rush of dignitaries from tbe North anc
conspicooas anions tbem are many ladies
Our soldiers particularly appreciate and del
light in these junketing parties, who oomejic
at the heels of a great slaughter as partial
of pleasure.'7
. Eg
Blown Oct. No less than sixer ei;a4-
fornace "stacks" have been "blown oet'S-!
at the different furnaces between MaacL
Chonk and Easton ; the managers no doofc
being -earful, since the late decline in role!
that iron woold decline in soch an exten
that it would be unprofitable to manufss
tore it. Carbon Democrat.
Baptists in Pennsylvania. There ar
seventeen Baptist Associations in this State
embracing 391 churches, with an aggregate
membership of 39.326. Of English Bapislj
noi connected with association in iVis State
there are eleven churches with a member
ship of 313 ; of Welsh, eighteen chsrehec
j with 966 members ; of German, fiv
i churches, with 235 members ; making I
! iM.I il .Ik U . . r.t. in nil '
total tf 424 charcbas, with 49,946 mete
bers.
J