Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1898-04-12
THOMAS j. RICE's HOUSE BURNED.
Loss by Fire In Lexingfon-N"rro"
EScRpe of n Child.

LEXINGTON. VA, April 11.-tSpeciaL)-
Saturday night at II O'Clock the Fire De-
partment was called TO the residence OF
Mr.. Thomas J. Rice. member OF the
firm of the McCrum Drug Company. The
house was situated on the southern SUI
turbs Of the town. and by the time the
dremen reached ii the flames were beyond
control. The alarm was turned IN by
telephone from a neighbors house. MI
and Mrs. Rice were on their way nome
from their respective stores, as Mrs. Rlce
owns q millinery establishment in town.
A. tbov neared their residence, driving
I'm a buggy. Mrs. Rice remarked, Il be-
love orr house is on fire." but her nus
band said it. could not be. Upon turning
into the street on which their residence
was situated her words were found 10 DE
foo true The Fire Department respond
ed nobly. but could do nothing but work
TO save the surrounding houses. The Ca
diets of the Virginia Military Institute
were soon on the ground, after double
nuick run of over a mile from their bar
racks. and with huckets they formed
bucket brigade and rendered efficient ser
vice. as they always do. Much OF the
household property was saved by frlenus.
Tho fire was first discovered by a next
door neighbor. who went into the mousse
and broke out the panels OF the door 10
the room where the fire was. lie fouhd
the flooring around the stove and mantel
afire. and sought water but could only
secure one bucketful, which he USED. lie
then discovered a small negro child lying
on the floor near the stove. the niue
one was very nearly suffocated py the
smoke. but was brought out In safety IL
appears that the mother of the chlld was
employed as domestic, ana leit III
charge of the house during the absence
OF the owners; that she had built fire
in the stove in her room, from when the
fire originated. and left her child there.
She had locked the door and gone down
town. The house was insured for $500,
and the furniture for 1900. The property
wos recently purchased by Mr.. Rice, and
he paid s. 200 for il.
MRS. BETTE MCCLURE DEAD.
Mrs. Bette Mcclure, aged GO years,
died Thursday evening from heart-dls-
ease. at her residence, about three miles
from here. She was the relict of J. W.
Mcclure. a well-known farmer OF THIS
county. and a daughter or Jonathan
residence Saturday morning at IL O'Clock.
Rev. 4. Poe Boude and Rev. r. r. Hut
TON ofFiciated. She was inferred at Fall
ing Spring churchyard at o'clock Sat
urdav afternoon. There was a large out
pouring of the country people TO pay
last tribute of respect to her memory
for she was we'll known and liked. she
was for many years a member Of the FL
liott's Hill Methodist church. She is sur
vived bv one sister. Mrs. Ella Herring,
of DAYTON. Rockingham county, Va, and
four sons-Messrs r. $. Mcclure, Of this
county: W. b. Mcclure, of Chicago; f. W.
Mcclure. of Nashville. and II. y. Nc
CIure. who resided with her until few
months ago. when he was forced to go to
Texas for his health.
Mr. NJ Mney. the well-known photo
grapher Of this place, has donated TO the
Confederate Relief Bazaar, 10 be held i'm
Baltimore. through Mrs. James Mercer
Garrett. three Of his famous photographs.
They are General Robert F.. Lee. on his
famous war horse, "Traveller," from the
only photograph ever taken Of General
Lee on horseback; a full-face view, head
and shoulders. Of General "Stonewall'
Jackson. and Valentines recumbent fig
ure Of General Robert +. Lee, which is in
the Lee Memorial chapel at the WASH
ington and Lee University. These pic
lures will be sold at the Virginia table.