Correspondence of the Richmond Dispatch.
fire — compliment to the colored population — Rain, &c.
Christiansburg, Montgomery Co., Va., February 14th, 1861.
Last Friday night our citizens were roused from their slumbers with the cry of fire, caused by burning, by accident, of Mr. J. W. Hickok's dwelling, a worthy young citizen, who and by his industry built and furnished a beautiful dwelling, and his loss is heavy to him, as he had no insurance on it. By super human efforts of the towns-folk, the dwelling, twelve feet on the east, was saved with slight damage, which was covered by insurance.--The black people did so well in this fire that our citizens could not reward them as they deserved, but by a liberal contribution from the housekeepers; a splendid supper was gotten up, and the slaves of the town and vicinity enjoyed themselves to their heart's content with good things; and a further compliment was granted them, in the way of a dance, at the Masonic Hall on Tuesday night. A more orderly set I never saw, and a happier people does not live in this land.
We have no fears of our slaves.
They will work and fight for their masters, in any emergency.
Rain, rain is the order of the day here.
One of the heaviest slides that ever occurred on the Virginia and Tennessee Railroad, came down on Sunday night last, near the Big Tunnel, and if this rain continues, more rock and earth will fall in the road, and it will not be open before Sunday night. The cut where this slide fell in is 92 feet deep and 80 feet long.
This being St. Valentine's day, our young ents have invested heavy in the Valentine made Many very pretty and expensive ones were sent around to ladies fair.
Montgomery.