Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1897-04-25
DROWNED HIMSELF.
SUICIDE OF A wELL-KHowN Cyxs-
ZEN OF CmEsTERFIELD.
JUMPED INTO SWIFT CREEK.
Mental Depression and an Incurablo
Disease the Causc-suddcn Death %
Lady In Pctersburs-Thc picycls
Races-Notcs.

PETERSBURG. VA. April 2L-Cspe-
ciaL)--Mr. Peter Dance. aged about g
years, a well-known citizen OF Chester.
heid county. committed suicide yesterday
afternoon by drowning. He lived out on
the Woodpecker road. rome four or Ave
miles from this city. About six months
ago Mr.. Dance lost his wife. and bis
grief bore heavily upon him. He had long
peen IN bad health, was great sufferer
from cancer In the face, ard this fact.
1t Is said, greatly displrited him. About
2 o'clock yesterday hc was a visitor at
the residence Of Captain Dick Wilson. q
neighbor. by whom 1t was noticed that
he appeared very despondent. subse-
quently he went home. where he changed
his clothes without attracting attention.
1t appears that he went TO Brander's
bridge over Swift creek. deliberately
Jumped thercfrom into the stream. and
was drowned. He was missed at homo
during the afternoon, but nothing was
known of his fate until about O'clock.
when his body was found in the creek by
some boys, who reported the fact. Jus
tice Tucker, OF Ettrick. and a jury held
an inquest, and, after hearing all the
evidence, rendered a verdict OF suicide
There Is no doubt that Mr.. Dance took
his life while I'm a state OF great de-
spondency. He leaves two grown children.
Mr.. Dance was a Confederate soldier,
and served In the army with great credit.
He had recently made application for
admission to the Soldiers Home, at
Richmond and the papers for his adrnis-
sion had just been received by him.
BICYCLE RACES.
The Goth of May has been fixed upon
as the day for the bicycle races at tho
New Market course. under the auspices
of the Cockade City Club. The races
will be open to the State. and II Is cx-
pected that there will be some fine ex-
hlbitions of speed. The distances will
cover half "A mile. one mile. and. proba-
bly,, three or five miles. with some at
tractive prizes for the winners.
GENERAL NEWS.
Rev. DR.. IL. w. Battle, OF the First
Baptist church. will preach a special SER
mon Tomorrow Sunday night before
the Petersburg Grays and the A. p. Hill
Rifles.
Rev. Luclen Lee Kinsolving Episcopal
missionary to Brazil will preach at Grace
church Sunday morning and at st. Paups
at night
Mr.. and Mrs. J. w. Phillips left this
morning for New York to attend the
dedication OF the Grant monument
Mr.. Joseph W. Hawks, a well-kuown
young citizen, has gone to Newport News
to live.
SUDDEN DEATH.
Mrs. Elizabeth Fuller McQuesten. aged
81 years. died very suddenly to-day Al the
residence os her nephew, Mr. Edgar yIr-
rier. on High street. During the FORE
noon she was feeling 30 well that she
went down town and attended to some
business, and while so doing met and
conversed with several friends. When she
returned homo she retired 10 her room,
and that was the last seen OF her alive.
When a messenger was sent to cal! her.
she was found dead on the floor. She
had been stricken with apoplexy, and her
death had evidently followed quick. Mrs.
McQuesten was born in Milford. n. H..
March 81, 1915. She married Dr. Isaac
McQuesten in 1853, and removed TO Hamil-
ton. Canada, where he became interested
In large manufactures and accumulated
wealth, and gave much OF Il to benevolent
and charitable objects. After the death
OF her husband Mrs. McQuesten resided
for some years In California. and came
to Petersburg three years ago. She was
a woman OF lovely character and charm-
ing manners remarkable for benevolenco
and charities, and active In good works
to the last. She was a model IN Chris
tian faith and duty. Her funeral will
Street Presbyterian church.