Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1896-02-25

that nothing further could be done Tor
them .i,ey were covered with sheets ana
iaiA out on the floor OF the physician
parlor 10 await the coming OF the UNDER
taker.
The Ere. though fierce one, was
confined to the Armiger residence. when
was completely Quilted No estimate has
vet been made Of the loss. but II Is
thought the contents were worth at least
$1,000 The house was insured In the Ger
mania Insurance Company. OF New YORK.
for $500, which fully covers the dam
age
The news of the disaster spread with
wonderful rapidty all over the city ana
IN an hour tremendous crowd hau
gathered In front OF the house. Prayers
FOR the dead and for the afflicted werr
lifted Up IN almost every church IN tne
city, and expressions OF sincere sym
patty and regret were uttered from every
pulpit, and repeated in the Households 0.
the many friends and acquaintanees "
the unfortunate family.
TERRIBLE SCENES.
The scenes in the pariors OF Dr
Bachelors residence, 1901 nortn ChaiIes
street, where the charred ana pfuiseu
UOLlHS were CAflltNf WH'
Even the undertakcrs and their assist
ants. used to scenes Of death, turned
away AT times half sickened. Mr.. Ar
niger was burned TO a crisp around the
upper part Of his body.
Mr.. Riley died from burns and su1oca'
ton. lie was a rather stout ana mus.
cular man. The burns were chieny aDou'
his face. neck, and shoulders.
Mr.. Manuel was terribly burned and
in startling contrast with the burned ana
hlockened fingers OF his left hand, there
pilsteued a handsome diamond ring,
shaped like q serpent with the glittering
gem in the centre of the head.
Strong men who were standing IN the
parlor turned their heads, when two UNI
dertakers brought in the body OF little
James Champlln, grandson OF Mr.. AT
niger a woman standing near the par.
Tor door in the hall tainted. The child
was a blackened cinder.
The two Riley children were killed by
the suffocating emoke. They were Loi
as badly burned as the others.
Mrs Riley, who is so cruelty bereaYed.
Is lying at the home Of DIR. Batchelor in
a semi-stupor, seemingly unconscious OF
her irreparable loss and suffering great
physical agony. The physician says,
however, that her wounds are more pain
ful than serious. and that the only OBJ
stacle 10 her complete and speedy re-
covery will be the awful shock she has
sustained, and will again experience when
the fun knowledge of the dreadful thing
that has come TO her makes itself clear
TO her mind. Mrs. Armiger and her
other surviving daughters are at the
home Of James West. No. west North
avenue, all completely Frustrated by
their terrible experiences No one has
yet told the suffering wife and mother
of the death Of those dear to her, though
she suspects that her husband lost his
life.
James r. Armiger had been in bust
ness in Baltimore for a quarter OF CEN
turyy. His place of business was at 81
east Baltimore street. Up to three years
ago the firm name was Justice * Armiger
Al that time. however. Mr.. Justice re-
tired. and MIR. Armiger has since conduct
cd the business alone. lie was an en-
thusastic collector of antiques. especially
In jewels, and his house was hlled with
rare curiosities. which cannot be replaced
He took but little part in public matters,
but was widely known and universally
esteemed.
Sundays tragedy is the third Of a SINH
lar character in Baltimore during the
past year. The first was that i'm which
MT. anu MIS-. lnOindS NuitIluSe Wtic
killed by falling from a ladder, down
which Mr.. Whitridge was endeavorlng
to carry his wife. after having refused
the services of the firemen. This fre oc-
CURED on January 10, 1895. at - west
Biddle street. The other resulted in the
death of Mrs. Roscoe b. Heath. a daugh-
ter Of the late Commodore" Kittson, of
Minneapolis. and occurred at 20 west
Mount Royal avenue, on March q. 1850
Deputy Fire-Chief McAfee, to-day $
hero. was presented with a medal at
that time, for heroism in endeaVoring
10 rescue Mrs. Heath. A more recent dis
aster was that at the old Front-Slreet
Theatre. on December 26th. of last year,
i'm which five men, three women. and
fifteen children lost their lives during
a panic, caused by false alarm Of fire.
THE VISITING VICTIM.
Horace Manuel was well known in New
York lie was a widower. and lived with
his daughter. He was about 80 years old,
and a member of the firm of Turner,
Manuel d Co. brokers. He was 4 MEM
Der OF the New York Stock Exchange
treasurer OF the Home for the Destitute
Blind. and a trustee Of the New York
Infant Asylum. Precious TO 1881 he was
a member Of the firm Of Dean, Robinson
g. Co.