Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1895-07-14
MET TERRIBLE DEATH
STORE IN CONVICTION DESTROYED
BY INCENDIARY FIRE.
The Owner Found Dead ana Ter
ribIy Burned-ThOught She Had
Other Attempts at Incendiarism.

CLIFTON FORGE, VA, July B.-(Spe-
clal.)-The J. A. Ford two-story iron-front
brick building on Main street was Quilted
by fire this morning, and the owner, VINO
slept on the second fioor lost his life
The fire, which was OF incendiary origin,
broke out a few minutes past o'clock
on the first floor which was the grocery
store of X. NJ. Motley. The store con-
tanned a stock Of goods worth 400, on
which there was no insurance. On the
second floor were the dental rooms OF
DIR. w. ii. Savage.
Mr.. Motley was awakened from his sleep
by dense smoke that f1lled his room. lie
Jumped from his window 10 the ground,
fully 20 feet, after firing his revolver sew
eral times to attract the attention OF MIR.
Ford, whose room was on the same hoor.
FOUND DEAD.
The fremen had been at work nearly
half an hour when they discovered the
dead body of Mr. Ford beneath the WIN
dow OF his room. 1t was terribly burned,
the flesh being burned OH or the ieeI
hands, and shoulders.
on the first floor in rear or the grocery
was 4. A. Snead's cigar factory. OF which
the stock is practically total loss, IL De-
ing ruined by water.
North Of the Ford building Is a frame
dwelling, which was occupied by Jonn
Glass, a matchmaker. whose place OF busi-
ness was in Motley's grocery, and the
family of Mrs. Plottz. This family had
moved into the building only yesterday.
Mrs. Plottz placed her purse, containing
llllu tn gfrff -
which she hung beside the head or her
bed, and in the excitement forgot IL, ana IL
was for a time lost.
A PATHETIC SIGHT.
The woman. half clad. mingled in the
crowd loudly bemoaning her loss. 1t was
a most pathetic sight. At a later hour 1t
was found that some person had placed
the grip-sack in trunk removed from
the building and her treasure was re-
covered. The poor woman was greatly
Frustrated by her thrilling experience.
The wife OF Mr.. Glass. an invalid. Is
also suffering from the sudden breaking
up of her home.
THE DEAD MAN.
Mr. Ford was a bachelor. about 90 years
OF age, and was one OF the most useful
men in our town. He was a most effi-
cient member OF the Town Council that
went out OF office on the LIST OF July, and
was a ruling elder in the Presbyterian
church. His death. so sudden and I'M
timely. Is greatly lamented by all our
citizens. He had intended to go to Old
Point Comfort this morning for two or
three weeks, and would have left on
train No. 2. which passes this point at
midnight. but for his great dislike for
night travel
Yesterday he deposited 500 or more in
the Allegheny Bank. but In the pockets Of
his unburned clothing In his room were
found SIG in money and a check for $40.
INCENDIARISM RAMPANT.
An attempt was also made last night
between IL and IL o'clock to burn the
McCurdy House. a large frame hotel
south Of the railroad track. This Is the
second attempt of the kind within a
month. In this case. as In at least three
other recent incendiary attempts. engine
waste soaked with oil was employed for
setting fire Evidently some one wants
to burn our town. II the. incendiary IN
caught be will receive rough usage from
our indignant populace. We have an ex-