Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1896-08-30
A HUGE WOOD FIRE.
TWO HUNDRED AND FIFTY CORDS
BURNED.
A Wcli-RemcmberedL Lady-Old-Tfme
Editors-CampaignL Literaturc--The
Passing of Gee-Personai and GEN
eral Notes.

PETERSBURG. VA, August 29.-(Spe-
cial)-Some 250 cords of seasoned wood,
stacked on the side OF the Norfolk and
Western railroad, in Prince George coun-
ty. were destroyed by fire yesterday. The
wood was the property OF Mr.. Ward, re-
siding irf the vicinity. and, it is said. was
insured for Sl.25 per cord. 1t is not known
how the fire originated. but the supposi-
tion is that II caught from spark from
a passing engine.
PERSONAL NOTES.
Mrs. Mary Cowan Squire. who died a
day or two ago Ia Raleigh. N. c., at
the advanced age Of 81 years, was well
known and most pleasantly remembered
in our city among the older circles Of our
community. She lived here many years.
She was the widow OF John w. Squire
one of the most brilliant and accom-
plished of Virginla's ante-war editors,
who made the old Petersburg Intelligen-
Ger a power in politics and the leader OF
public opinion in Southside Virginia.
Those were the days when A. d. Banks
and others OF equal prominence and abili-
ty were editing rival papers, whose edi-
forcible In argument, and pointed in ap-
plication-are still remembered and talked
about by our older people.
DR.. II. X. Carter. surgeon in the United
States Marine Service, and looking par
ticularly after the enforcement OF quar-
antine regulations, was in the city yes
terday and inspected the Customs Depart
ment.
Chief-of-Police Perkinson. who has re-
Gently been travelling In the North, spend
ing his vacation, returned home to-day
and entered at once on his duties.
POLITICAL NOTES.
Through the office OF the Democratic
District Committee a large quantity or
campaign literature is being distributed.
A citizen of Chesterfield who was IN the
city to-day reports the Bryan and Sewall
sentiment as very strong In that county.
In his section he says there are fully 100
settlers from Pennsylvania. every one OF
whom will vote for Bryan.
Should Mr.. Bryan speak in Richmond
during the campaign hundreds of Demo-
Gratis in this city will go over to hear
him.
No one Of either political party here is
surprised at the withdrawal OF MIR.
Charles Gee, of Prince George. from the
race as a Republican candidate for Con-
gress. II was foretold I'm this correspond
ence soon after the Farmville convention
that he would be the man TO be with
drawn.
Mr.. Thorp. the other Republican candi-
date. was then reported TO be in favor Of
free silver-an element then thought by
many to be one Of strength; he now
stands upon the sngle-gold platform-an
element that is thought to be token Of
weakness.
The Democratic nominee I'm ta!s dis
trict will be an earnest supporter Of the
Chicago ticket and platform, and the
vote will be squarely between him and the
Republican candidate-the sound-money
Democrats to take their choice.
FIRST BALE OF COTTON.
The first bale Of new Virginia cotton
was received in Petersburg on the 9TH
instant by Mr.. J. c. Robinson, commits
sion merchant, Sycamore street. 1t was
shipped by Mr.. S. j. Moseley. one OF the
largest planters and shippers Of Bruns-
wick county. and was classed as strict
middling. But from the fact OF delayed
trains. this cotton would have been re-
ceived several days earlier.