Election of Aldermen by their respective Wards, &c.

The city election of this year was held in accordance with the provisions of an act then pending in the Legislature, authorizing the election of two Aldermen for each Ward by the voters of their respective wards alone. After the election, an act was passed making it legitimate. The election was held, as usual, on the first Saturday in January, and the most influential question at issue was the ratification of the city's second subscription to the stock of the Mobile and Girard Railroad. Dr. John B. Bacon, the successful candidate for Mayor, had published a card in which he announced that he would not sign the bonds until satisfied that a majority of the people approved the subscription. The vote for Mayor stood, Bacon 469, Morton 303. The following gentlemen were elected
Aldermen: 1st Ward, Harvey Hall, E. H. Musgrove
2d, J. T. Coleman, Wm. Perry
3d, T. M. Hogan, Thos. K. Wynne
4th, George I. Pitts, Wm. Daniel
5th, Joseph Thomas, John Quin
6th, J. A. Vrooman, H. J. Devon
Marshal, George Gullen
Deputy Marshal, John F. Cleghorn
Clerk, Calvin Stratton
Treasurer, J. L. Howell
Sexton, Thos. Nix

Council elected
Ephraim C. Bandy, Bridge-keeper;
R. T. Simons, Clerk of the Market;
Edgar G. Dawson, City Attorney;
Richard H. Lockhart, City Physician;
Mrs. Isabella McGee, Hospital-keeper;
Port Wardens, Peter Preer, John C. Calhoun, J. L. Hill, Willis. P. Baker, J. M. Everett.
Health Officers, J. J. McKendree, J. B. Wright, Daniel McArthur, C. B. Teasdale, E. Dudley, S. Ogletree, Geo. W. Martin, N. J. Peabody, John Durkin, Wm. Matheson.
Magazine-keeper� John Whitesides.

Messrs. Bethune & Reynolds, of the Corner Stone, were City Printers this year.

A. J. Welsh was in January elected an Alderman of the 1st Ward, vice Ald. Musgrove resigned; and in February J. L. Morton was elected an Alderman of the 5th Ward, vice Ald. Thomas, resigned.

The Treasurer's report showed the total receipts of 1853, $27,096.69, disbursements $24,442.15.

Wm. Holly was in February elected Magazine-keeper, vice John Whitesides, resigned.

The assessors reported the value of real estate in the city this year, $1,894,200.

A tragedy, which caused great excitement in the city, occurred on the 27th of February. Alex. M. Robinson, Deputy Sheriff, attempted to arrest David Wright, Jr., and Jack Boyd for disorderly conduct, and Wright, as soon as the officer tapped him on the shoulder, turned quickly and shot Robinson with a pistol. Robinson was conveyed into the Times office, and died in a few minutes. Wright and Boyd ran, and were pursued by the city watch and citizens, the watch firing at them several times. Wright was quickly overtaken and brought back; and Boyd was arrested the next day. They were committed to jail. The citizens held an indignation meeting, but did not attempt to take the execution of the law into their own hands. At the August term of the Superior Court, Boyd was found guilty as principal in the second degree in the murder of Robinson, but recommended to the mercy of the Court. The Court, however, sentenced him to be hung on the 27th of September, and his counsel took an appeal. The case of Wright was continued. On the 24th of October Wright escaped from jail, in company with a Negro prisoner. The escape was effected by means of a file or saw furnished from without, with which Wright first released himself from his shackles. With a false key he opened the door of his cell, and emerged into the passage. Here the Negro man was confined. The two took off the cell door, and with it as a lever the bars of the window were forced apart so as to allow them to escape from the building. A reward of $500 was offered by the Sheriff, and $100 by the Governor, for the recapture of Wright. He was rearrested in December in the neighborhood of St. Andrews Bay, Fla., but not without a determined resistance. Mr. Robt. T. Simons ascertained his whereabouts and under took his arrest. He was accompanied by the Sheriff of Walton County, Florida. Wright fired at both Simons and the Sheriff, wounding the latter in the thigh. Wright was slightly wounded in the face. After several shots had been exchanged Wright surrendered, and was brought back and recommitted to jail on the 30th of December. He was found guilty of murder and sentenced to be hung in September, 1855; but on the night of the 4th of August he set fire to his cell and perished by suffocation. It was supposed that his intention was to escape while the citizens were extinguishing the fire. The flames were extinguished without much damage to the building.

Boyd was first respited by the Governor, and afterwards pardoned by act of the Legislature.

Much correspondence passed this year between the Council and the officers of the Montgomery and West Point Rail road Company on the subject of a location within the city of a depot for that road, and the bringing of it into the city by a bridge across the river. Propositions were made and rejected on both sides. In July, a committee of Council reported a proposition and an unsigned contract for the location of the depot on the North common, north of the square between Oglethorpe and Troup streets, the city also granting the right of way and the privilege to build a railroad bridge, but prohibiting a close connection with any other railroad in the city. This contract was approved by Council, but the Railroad Company declined to accept it unless the city would subscribe $50,000 to the stock of the company.

In October, the Mobile and Girard Railroad Company, through its President, Judge Iverson, again asked the city for an additional subscription of $150,000 to the capital stock of that company. Council resolved to submit the question to a vote of the people; also, at the same time, the question of subscribing $50,000 to the stock of the Montgomery and West Point Railroad Company, so as to secure the bringing of that road and its depot into the city. The subscription to the Mobile and Girard road to be in lieu of the subscription of the same amount voted by the Council of 1853. This election was held on the 4th of December, and resulted as follows: For the Opelika Branch Road subscription, 411, no subscription, 24; for the Mobile and Girard Railroad subscription, 397, no subscription, 35. Council adopted ordinances authorizing these subscriptions on the same day.

A large public meeting of citizens, held on the 13th of September, requested Council to subscribe $100,000 to aid in the construction of a branch of the Mobile and Girard Rail road to Eufaula, if joined by a sufficient subscription from Eufaula and along the line of the proposed road. The Intendant of Eufaula replied to the Columbus committee who addressed him on this subject, that the people of Eufaula were intent on a more direct communication with Savannah (only quite recently obtained,) and therefore "received with no favor whatever" the Columbus overture. Pretty plain language, but no doubt true.

Ex-President Fillmore and Hon. John P. Kennedy, his Secretary of the Navy, visited Columbus in April, and received a cordial reception, with the hospitalities of the city. The bill of expense was $1,007.10, of which $728.10 was paid by Council, the balance by the sale of tickets to a soiree. The extensive "Variety Works" of Wm. H. Brooks & Co., on the river near the Palace Mills, were destroyed by fire on the 24th of July. The Palace Mills and Eagle Factory were in great danger, but were saved without material damage. The loss by the destruction of the "Variety Works" was estimated at $30,000, no insurance. The next week the Eagle Factory was damaged to the amount of near $1,500 by a stroke of lightning, which fired a large quantity of cotton in the Picking room.

Incidents

A fire company of Negroes, organized this year, was voted $200 by Council for equipment, and the members promised fifty cents each for attending and serving at any fire. The fire engine "Columbus" was turned over to them.

The office of Wharfinger was created in May, and Jacob Barrow elected, at a salary of $700 per annum. Mr. Barrow died in July, and Jos. E. Webster was elected.

Richard Jones, who had been appointed by Council to take the city census, reported in August: Number of heads of families in the city, 820; dwellings, 526; stores. 151; Number of white females, 2,232; Number of white males under 21 years of age, 1,127; white males 21 years and over, 1,176; free Negroes, 64; slaves, 2,541; total, 7,140.

Permission was this year given to John C. Ruse and others to build a plank road along Randolph Street, from its intersection with Front street to the Muscogee Railroad depot on East common. Council also voted to extend to Stewart, Gray & Co., Ruse, Patten & Co., and others, the lease of the plank road from the wharf along the river to Randolph St.

Cotton receipts up to the 1st of June, about 72,000 bales. Prices in January, 8� to 8� c.; in May, 7 to 8c.; in October, 7� to 8�c.; in December, 6� to 7c.

The yellow fever was distressingly severe in Savannah this year, many people falling victims to it and much sympathy felt and expressed in Columbus, by public meetings, by resolutions of Council, and by liberal subscriptions of material aid. One young man, named John Martin, who contracted the disease in Savannah, was sick of it in Columbus in October, but recovered.

The Methodist Episcopal General Conference held its session in Columbus in May. At this meeting, Drs. George F. Pierce, H. H. Kavanaugh and J. Early were elected Bishops, and the Book Concern located at Nashville.

Winter's Palace Mills were sold in March to a company of gentlemen, Messrs. Mustian & Mott, George W. Winter, Richard Patten and Thomas W. Tallman, for the sum of $50,000.

The Columbus Building and Loan Association organized this year, by the election of Wm. C. Gray, President; Sterling F. Grimes, Treasurer; Jordan L. Howell, Secretary; and J. C. Ruse, J. R. Daggers, James Vernoy, M. Barringer, Wm. Daniel and E. Greenwood, Directors.

The first bale of new cotton was received on the 11th of August, from the plantation of David Bussey of Stewart County, and sold at auction at 13� cents.

Peter Lynn was shot dead by W. A. Shofner, on the out-skirts of the city, on the 5th of October.

A large frame building on Front street, owned by the Eagle Factory and occupied by a number of its operatives, was destroyed by fire on the 30th of October. Loss $1,200, insured.

The fine residence of Col R. L. Mott, in the upper part of the city, was burned on the 4th of December. The loss was estimated at $5,000.

The location of the powder magazine was this year changed to the East Commons, a new building having been erected there.

P. Gittinger, H. P. Robinson, C. H. Smith, P. Duffy, J. D. Arnold, and R. Robinson rented stalls in the market this year. Their aggregate rents amounted to $279.

The county officers this year were�
Sheriff, F. M. Brooks
Clerk Superior Court, David J. Barber
Clerk Inferior Court, A. P. Jones
Tax Collector, Thomas Chaffin
Tax Receiver, D. J. Reese
Surveyor, Philip Lamar
Coroner, J. B. Hicks
Fire Wardens, John C. Ruse, H. T. Hall, Thos. P. Larris, R. R. Goetchius, Charles Wise and E. D. Davis.

The Enquirer of April 4th was in mourning for the death of Mr. John B. Ragland, one of its proprietors.

Seaborn Ogletree was in March elected an Alderman of the 4th Ward, in the place of Ald. Pitts, resigned.

William Matheson was elected, in June, an Alderman of the 6th Ward, in the place of Ald. Devon, deceased.

A. G. Foster was in August elected an Alderman of the 3d Ward, vice Ald. Hogan, resigned.

Marriages

January 1, John W. H. Latham and Mary A. M. Thomas
Jan. 3, Perry A. Browning and Epsy A. Everage
Jan. 5, William W. Frazer and Frances J. Kelly
Jan. 5, John M. Williams and Elizabeth E. Bailey
Jan. 6, William S. Johnson and Louisa M. Durham
Jan. 11, Archibald B. Thomas and Frances L. Robinson
Jan. 13, Edmund Jones and Amelia C. Cobb
Jan. 18, Dred Carraway and Nancy F. Robinson
Jan. 19, Thomas Cummings and Martha E. Pool
Jan. 22, Benj. Sanborn and Mary E. Dicken
Jan. 23, Littlebery Eubanks and Margaret M. Dickson
Jan. 26, John Tarver and Charity I. Alston
k Jan. 28, Charles E. McCardle and Eliza I. Parker
Jan. 30, James W. Cartins and Julia F. Lorimer

February 3, Thomas Pate and Mary Ann Higden
Feb. 9, William I. Moss and Margaret A. E. Pry
Feb. 10, John T. Rowlin and Mary L. Edwards
Feb. 13, John W. Goslin and Sarah A. M. Owens
Feb. 15, Wm. G. Andrews and Julia W. Shotwell
Feb. 16, Elbert Presley and Susan Smith
Feb. 16, William T. Sanders and Eliza S. Morton
Feb. 16, Benjamin Simpson and Sarah J. Stafford
Feb. 23, Calvin Williams and Jane O. Pry
Feb. 28, Jacob W. Shoup and Adaline Hawes

March 2, Peyton H. Rogers and Mary Alexander
March 4, Myrick C. Lunsford and Josaphine Scott
March 4, Jasper Hicks and Barthena Bagley
March 10, Ransom Covington and Parmelia Dillard
March 19, Lafayette Gordy and Henrietta Bray
March 26, William T. Holliday and Mary Gammell
March 31, Micajah Briley and Mary E. Phillips

April 4, Robert M. Aldworth and Lucy C. Wheeler
April 10, William R. King and Elizabeth Stewart
April 10, Lafayette Parkman and Isabella Tillman
April 12, Geo. H. Waddell and Celestia Wynne
April 12, William Halley and Mary Harris
April 15, Jno. Alien and Amanda Tinnent
April 15, Joseph D. Norwood and Margaret A. Cook
April 18, George Y. Banks and Susan C. Mitchell
April 19, Thomas Kennady and Eliza Towns
April 20, John Saltmarsh and Caroline J. Luker
April 20, William H. Long and Ann Louisa Tarver
April 23, Pickard A. Pike and Eliza A. Brannon
April 27, William F. Williams and Julia F. Flewellen

May 1, Thomas M. Sanford and Amanda V. Wynne
May 2, Chas. A. Brooks and Angelina P. Cobb
May 9, Littleton Pike and Julia A. Brannon
May 14, Nathaniel H. Slaughter and Leaey W. Lamb
May 22, I. E. Dickens and Nancy Davenport
May 30, David C. Wood and Martha Barton

June 7, Lewis S. Graves and Georgia Pride
June 16, William Corradan and Rosannah Knight
June 20, John D. Atkins and Adaline V. Cleve
June 29, John C. Kavenaugh and Mary A. A. Naglin
June 29, Crawford Coleman and Mary A. Davie

July 4, Robert R. Owens and Sarah C. Williams
July 6, Edward W. Seabrook and Emma C. Dawson
July 6, Zachariah Batson and Sarah J. E. Alfred
July 13, Riley S. Callaway and Mary Peel
July 16, DeWitt C. Daukins and Fannie I. Jones
July 19, James Harrill and Ann White
July 19, George E. Gager and Virginia B. Salisbury
July 19, Calvin E. Johnson and Mary L. Redd

August 2, Wiley Pollard and Rachel I. Glenn
August 4, Wm. Greer and Elizabeth A. Champion
August 8, John A. Duke and Epsy A. Bray

September 7, Alfred A. Livingston and Mary E. Doles
Sept. 9, John Ward and Mary McDaniel
Sept. 10, Robert Fulford and Catharine Baggett
Sept. 15, Archibald I. Smith and Caroline R. Hicks
Sept. 17, Benjamin Doles and Martha F. Graybill
Sept. 28, Lewis Laury and Emily Conner

October 5, James A. Witter and Susan Johnson
Oct. 5, George Whitten and Elizabeth W. Hunter
Oct. 5, Joseph Skinner and Sarah Weed
Oct. 10, Thomas G. Wood and Zilphy Cannon
Oct. 10, John Peabody and Josaphine L. Chaffin
Oct. 12, George W. Crouch and Joanna Rentfroe
Oct. 15, Parham D. Bedding and Martha Wheelis
Oct. 18, Wm. H. Rorie and Susan Stripling
Oct. 19, John Hill and Mariah S. Dalton
Oct. 19, Alfred Prescott and Emma I. Slade
Oct. 31, John H. Davis and Georgia C. Mustian

November 6, Henry J. King and Mary E. McCook
Nov. 7, James M. Bivins and Mary F. Drumright
Nov. 7, John H. Bass and Frances E. McGruder
Nov. 9, Archibald Cook and Frances A. Lowe
Nov. 9, Meredith Hill and Elizabeth W. Dalton
Nov. 12, Charles H. Lynch and Martha J. Hudson
Nov. 14, James W. Bruner and Melissa A. Decker
Nov. 15, Wm. Kirkland and Mary A. Schates
Nov. 16, Alfred Munson and Ann Cannon
Nov. 21, Bartlett W. Green and Sarah Odom
Nov. 21, Edwin R. Goulding and Jane E. Bryan
Nov. 23, Lemuel P. Warner and Charlotte F. Matthews
Nov. 23, Edmund H. Rees and Sarah Palmer
Nov. 23, Andrew I. Putnam and Elizabeth A. Faulkenbury
Nov. 26, Stillman Davidson and Nancy A. Decker
Nov. 26, Henry Eady and Salina L. Jones
Nov. 27, Vincent H. Tennon and Harriet McGehee
Nov. 30, Joseph H. Yarborough and Jane E. Thrower

December 1, James N. Battson and Frances F. Wiseman
Dec. 3, John W. Cogbill and Sarah A. Ellison
Dec. 5, William Davis and Rebecca Walker
Dec. 6, Byrd B. Forsyth and Mary A. Lloyd
Dec. 7, James H. Stagg and Elizabeth R. Simpson
Dec. 8, Abner Howard and Sarah Glaze
Dec. 10, Thomas Sells and Matilda Simmons
Dec. 12, Nathaniel C. Ferguson and Mary E. Roberts
Dec. 14, James N. Morgan and Margaret J. Rodgers
Dec. 16, William T. Jenkins and Nancy Glaze
Dec. 18, James Kelly and Mary Dunn
Dec. 19, George W. Turner and Amanda C. Key
Dec. 20, Henry D. Cropp and Alice R. Croft
Dec. 21, Robert E. Dixon and Mary A. McDougald
Dec. 22, Charles Shannon and Caroline Hoxey
Dec. 27, Joel Junman and Rebecca Murphy
Dec. 28, Henry R. Narramore and Louisa W. Huckaba
Dec. 28, Wm. P. Holmes and Lurana Watts

Deaths

(From The Sexton's Reports)

January 23, Child of A. K. Ayer
Jan. 26, Mrs. Scroggins
Jan. 29, child of J. A. Bradford
Jan. 31, child of Mrs. Starns

February 11, Thomas Rheua
Feb. 15, Deborah Paraden
Feb. 22, Mrs. McCall
Feb. 25, child of Mr. Bowers

March 1, A. M. Robinson
March 3, child of John Clark
March 10, child of Mr. Meredith
March 10, child of Mr. Epping
March 10, child of Mr. Pike
March 21, child of Samuel Rutherford
March 21, Mrs. J. T. Thompson
March 28, Mrs. S. A. Billing
March 30, P. R. Ragland
March 31, child of Mrs. Davenport

April 3, Mrs. Branham
April 6, child of T. R. Herrendine
April 6, Miss Hooper
April 9, Miss Andrews
April 11, T. R. Grossbeak
April 13, child of Mrs. Baggett
April 18, E. B. Fishburn
April 19, Laura Kelton
April 24, Miss Murdock
April 30, Elizabeth Inman

May 1, Mr. Jackson
May 2, Mrs. Douglass
May 2, Barcena Lewis
May 2, Mrs. Foley
May 2, Mrs. Mary Betz
May 3, Mr. Moat
May 4, child of Mr. Stewart
May 9, Mrs. Adams
May 11, Nancy Piggott
May 13, Anna Mattheson
May 17, Mrs. Elizabeth Thompson
May 17, child of Robt. Johnson
May 18, child of George Meredith
May 19, child of Mr. Allen
May 22, child of Clara West
May 23, Catherine Thomas
May 25, child of Mr. Courtney
May 27, child of Mrs. Rich
May 30, child of Thomas Hall

June 2, John Vinson
June 5, child of John Lewis
June 6, H. J. Devon (Alderman)
June 7, child of John Lewis
June 8, child of Mr. Holland
June 10, child of Mr. Flewellen
June 10, Mary Sergeant
June 14. Mrs. Mary A. Ayer
June 16, Mrs. Stephens
June 16, A. Lammerson
June 16, child of Mr. Thompson
June 19, child of John N. Barnett
June 20, Mrs. Brumby
June 22, Miss Sawyer
June 24, Mrs. Moon
June 24, Mrs. Mary L. Bonner
June 26, child of Thos. J. Butler
June 26, Frederick Miller
June 26, child of Mr. King
June 27, Gibson Tillman
June 28, Fredonia Turner
June 30, Mrs. Catherine Sullivan
June 30, Mary Tillman

July 3, Thomas W. Bowen
July 4, infant of Wesley Barden
July 6, Micajah Anthony
July 7, infant of John Allen
July 7, infant of Mr. Davis
July 16, John A. Morton
July 18, Mrs. Jackson
July 24, Mrs. W. H. Grace
July 25, Jacob Barrow
July 38, child of Wm. H. Grace

August 1, Miss Anthony
Aug. 3, Elizabeth Coursey
Aug. 4, Mrs. Morn
Aug. 4, infant child of E. Dudley
Aug. 7, John Bowers' child
Aug. 8, child of Mrs. Dukes
Aug. 11, Mary Jane Richardson
Aug. 14, daughter of Mr. Meredith
Aug. 14, Mrs. Vandenburg
Aug. 14, Mr. Stephens
Aug. 21, child of A. McDougald
Aug. 22, Mrs. Draton
Aug. 24, Jackson Kelly
Aug. 27, Miss Meredith
Aug. 31, P. H. Mahone's child

September 3, Child of Mr. William Garrett
Sept. 4, Miss Lesterjette
Sept. 5, Augustus Thompson
Sept. 9, Miss Brown
Sept. 10, son of Mrs. Chambers
Sept. 10, child of Mr. Stephens
Sept. 11, child of John McCarty
Sept. 14, Mary McKenzie
Sept. 14, Emma Teal
Sept. 16, Richard Jones
Sept. 18, Mr. Curry
Sept. 19, Miss Cook
Sept. 19, child of William Carlisle
Sept. 22, child of S. R. Bonner
Sept. 23, Mr. Lawrence
Sept. 26, child of Elizabeth Brazil

Five Negroes died in July, five in August, and ten in September.

Deaths From The Newspapers

September 11, Sarah Gertrude, daughter of Dr. Jacob Fogle
October 13, (in Atlanta,) John L. Barringer, of Columbus
October 27, Mrs. Harriet Jefferson
October 31, John Jay, son of John Lloyd
November 6, Winfield Scott, son of Enoch Willett
November 9, Mrs. Flora McKennell
November 21, Robert Dawson, son of E. G. Thornton
November 23, Susan Jane, daughter of Wm. H. Grace
December 24, Mansfield Torrance

There were 25 interments of whites and 11 of Negroes during the month of November, but we cannot find the names.