Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1880-01-16
Sudden Death Of a Prominent citizen Of
HIGHLAND.


Last Thursday evening Mr.. W. W.
Flemming, an old and prominent citizen
of Highland county, an Elder of the Pres
byterian church. and former representa-
tive in the State legislature from that
county, came to Stanton with his daugh-
ter, Miss Clara Fleming. who was on her
way to st. Louis, and Miss Matte Camp
bell, who was on her way to Massachu-
sets. He spent the night with Prof.
Lindsay, and the next day paid lengthy
and pleasant visit to this office. seeming to
be in his usual good health. In the
morning he called at DR.. Wayt's
drug store, and complaining of pain in
his left side and sickness which he said
Was unlike anything he ever felt before,
DR.. w. gave him a simple medicine, which
temporarily relieved him. DR.. Wayt ask
ed him If he had ever had any disease OF
the heart, and Mr.. Fleming SAID not
that he knew Of. Later in the day he left in
his carriage for Churchville to spend the
night with his old friend, Mr.. Christian
Bear. He there spoke of his sickness of the
morning, but said he was better. at the
supper table he reached to cut the butter
when he fell over in his chair, dead. A
physician and Rev. a. s. Moffett were
sent for at once. but could only view the
corpse. His daughter, who was on the
western train, was notified by telegraph at
Hinton station, and returned, and his son,
Rev. R. II. Flemming, Presbyterian pas
tor at Woodstock, was also summoned by
telegraph. Upon their arrival they start
ed with the remains for HightOwn, High
land, at midnight, Saturday night
Mr.. Fleming was over sixty years of age
aud for forty years had been a man Of
great influence in his county-an influence
gained by strong practical sense and high
integrity of character. He was of the class
Of citizens which it is the.h honor of state
to possess and his loss will be generally Ia
mented.
FRAME TENEMENT BURNED.-The
loud cries of fire from the premises of the
Virginia Female Institute, about half-past
three Sunday morning, and the loud ring
ing of the fire bell soon brought large
crowd to the Institute. The 6rst who
reached the fire (which. was caused by the
burning of frame clubhouse, very near
the main building) found MrJas. Pulliam.
who stays about the premises, doing
good work with small private hose,
which he had attached to a hydrant near.
Rev. r. H. Phillips, the Principal, had
first seen the fire, and reused up Mr.. Pull
liam, who was sleeping in basement room.
He ran at once to the house, which was a
double one. a part of it being occupied by
two servant women and the other part
used as a smoke-house. The women had
gone out and left fire in the stove. which,
it seems, caused the accident. When Mr..
Pulliam broke open the window volume
of fame burst out, scorching his face and
burning his hat. Little could be saved
from the room, but all the meat was got
ten out of the smoke-house, few pieces
being injured by the fire.
The fire companies were soon upon the
ground and the fire extinguished and the
adjoining buildings protected, but the
house was almost entirely consumed. 1t
was an old one however and not of much
value; but burnt fiercely, Illuminating all
that quarter of the city and it was at first
thought by many that the institution was
itself in flames. 1t was fortunate indeed
that there was no air stirring and that the
adjacent roofs were wet with the rain that
had fallen few hours previously.