The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1896-02-25

windows. Apparently they went back TOT
clothing. or perhaps for some treasured
valuable possession. II was fatal move,
ana In most instances cost a life.
Policeman Cerlos and Grove, In an at
tempt to rescue those whose lives were III
danger, broke In the front door. IL was
a mistake. for IL only gave the fire. which
had begun In the basement, the draught
1t needed, and IL roared through the hall
ways and up the stairs with greater fierce
ness. The policemen could not reach the
Imperiled people. for the stairs we're then
q mass OF flames, and the smoke binding.
The nremen mad by this time thrown up
ladders In the front OF the house, and
District Chief McAfee climbed up 10 the
second story window. where Mrs Armiger
was crying for help. The lad
der did not quite reach the
window, and there was the Wild
est excitement in the crowd below as Nc
Afee stood on the upper round OF the
ladder and grasped the window sill for
support.
The Chief encouraged Mrs. Armiger to
swing herself out Of the window. As the
Chief grasped ler with one arm. ne stead
led himself with the other, and had taken
one step down the ladder, when II slipped,
and McAfee. with the woman in one arm
and with the other holding TO the win
dow frame, dangled i'm the air. Fortunate
ly for them, McAfee caught the top round
Of the ladder on his toe. and, pulling it
back into its place. released his hold upon
the window and quickly descended with
the woman to the sidewalk. a great cheer
went up as rescued and rescuer reached
terra firma.
Meantime the smoke poured from the
open windows and the crowd around the
.tIf1itnV had fpnFaacgs a. a
one Of the third-story windows appeared
The face Of a man. He raised the window.
and reaching out his hands, shouted IL
the multitude below. 1t sent him back
an encouraging shout, and a moment Ia
ter, before a ladder could be run up. dis
appeared. When the firemen reached the
window the body of the man was found
lying beneath il. suffocated and badly
burned. IL was Harold Manuel. a New
York stock broker and banker In his
arms was little Richard Riley a grand
son OF Mr.. Armiger, also dead.
Alice J. Williams. one of the colorcd
servants, appeared at enc OF the fourth
story window, shrieking. She leaned far
out over the pavement.
Don't jump! Don't jump yelled
hundred voices. She stepped back wiring
ing her hands. Then she leaned out again
and appeared 10 be trying 10 cali some
thing to those below Again the cry went
up, Don't jump"
The terrorized woman drew half back
IN the window. and with a Shrek threw
herself out into the air. Down she shot
her body turning over several times, and
struck the marble steps of the residence
She was tenderly carried TO DR.. Batche-
lor's office, opposite where her life is de.
SPARED Of Another cOlored servant.
AfuVn
by the hremen in a semi-conscious condi-
ton.
While these scenes We're going on i'm the
front OF the residence other ects Of brave
~ We're being performed In the rear. Mr.
Armigers two daughters. Virginia, aged
p, and Eleanor, IL. were In the secOnu-
story back room. Miss Virginia, assisted
by her young sister, made rope OF their
bed linen. and With this Eleanor was low
cred 20 the ground. Fearing 10 trust her
weight upon the slender cord, Miss Viz
ginla dashed back 10 the bed. grasped
the mattress, pushed II through the win
dow 10 the ground, twenty feet below
She then jumped and landed thereon UNI
injured with tho exception of u slight
phock.
At the third-story window Mr.. Riley an
pearcd. aud Immediately behind him were
Mrs. Riley and The three children. The
crowd called 10 them not TO jump, ana
they went back. Mr.. Rley's inr.ntion
was to let his family TO the ground by
a life line. that was. however the last
seen OF Mr.. Riley and his children alive
Mrs. Riley agan appeared at the window
ladder was quickly raised and the
fremen caught the woman as she was
falling unconscious in the smoke. She
was carried 10 the home Of a neighbor
D.. Hr.r ,.-t.
their mouths groDed on hands and knees
about the rooms. Mr.. Riley was found
lying ON the floor with child in each
arm. All three were dead. About his
vast was the life rope.
In the room above were found the
bodies OF Dir. Armiger and Mr. Manuel
Mr. Manuel was completely dressed and
was clasping In ms arms the child Of
Mrs. Champlain. showing that he had
gone down through the smoke and fire
TO the widows room In a heroic effort
TO save life. In the rear room Of the
third story was found the dead body
Of the unfortunate widow herself, attired
in her night robe.
The coroner held an inquest tonight. at
which Chief McAfee. Of the fire depart
ment. testified that the fire was caused
by the pipe leading from the furnace be-
coming Ovcrheafcd ami setting fire to the
woodwork which was dry as finder.
The colored nurse. Alice Williams. who
jumped from the third story Of the burn
ing Armiger house yesterday. died to-
day. Hers Is the eighth death No
others are likely to occur. Mrs. Armi-
ger and her daughter, Mrs. Riley. are
slowly recovering The remains of Broker
Manuel were taken 10 New York to-day.
Those of the dead members OF the Ar
niger family have been prepared for
burial bur all are enclosed I'm tightly
sealed caskets, their condition being too
terrible 10 permit OF view.