The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1898-11-08

broad an Acquaintance. and no one hhe"
him but TO speak well Of him
The funeral will take place to-moIro"
afternoon at o'clock from ~. Johh
Episcopal church. and the intermeht VIII
be made I'm lakewood cemetery.
The pail-bearers VIII be:
Active-John r. Mayer. Gilmer Minor,
Henry Tvicr. Charles w Antrim, W. T.
Harvey. Jr John :. Harwood. W. L.
Read. W r.. Quarles.
Honorarv-C. c. walker. W. H. Tyler
Di>. &. W. =. Brock. r. b. Parrott c.
Oh. Cowardin. George W. Taylor John
NJ. Higgins. X. Edgar Shine.
SKETCH OF HIS LIFE
James Edgar Fitz was native OF Al
bemarle county, having been born near
Keswick Depot. He came Of good old
Virginia stock. Ills father had the honor
of being i'm the escort when General
Lafayette visited MI Jefferson at Mon
ticello. His great uncle was made sur
yeyor general of Mississippi by Jefferson.
The Captain was forty years a railroad
conductor and was the best known and.
perhaps. the most popular man In that
businc. in Virginia
lie was twice married. lie leaves but
two children. "a boy and a girl. who re-
suited nom the first union. His first
wife was q descendant Of Lord Lindsay.
Of ENGLAND. His second wife. who was
Miss Alice COchlau. a daughter OF the
late T. O. Coghlan is very accom-
plished and talented. being both
AN artist and musician Her father was
from Ireland and was educated at Trim
itv College. Dublin. lie could speak
seven languages Her mother was a
Virginia lady. highly educated, accom-
piished handsome and of a splendid
family
HIS RICHMOND HOME.
The veteran trainmaster resided in the
suburbs Of Richmond near ChmbOrazo
Park. and has a nice little home sur
rounded by overgreens and beautiful
flowers His home ne named Pilgrims
Rest" lie was the pilgrim who whiled
away his lay-over time i'm the rural re-
treat away from the heart and noise of
the city with cool water from "a spring
and a devoted wife, a happy home. le-
gi0ns of friends. and all that man could
desire 10 make lie happy
Captain FItz commenced railrOading
very early i'm life and at first was an
assistant in the depot work and after
wards agent at MiIlboro Depot. where
nc remained three years Becoming
tired OF the confinement he asked to be
put I'm the main service. as il was more
Of an active life. and one which he
fanciod he would like. Accordingly the
superintendent granted his request and
In November, 1861. he was placed with
q veteran freight conductor 10 learn TO
handle trains. by strict application he
soon became qualified. and was made
freight train conductor. which position
BE nled with satisfaction for four years.
During this time war having been de-
olared between the North and South. he
had some very narrow escapes from he
ing captured by raiding parties of the
northern army.
HUNTING THE ENEMY.
on one occasion ne was sent out from
Richmond on a reconnoiterlng trip on
one Of the small locomotives. with only
himself. engineer and coored fireman,
I'm the direction of Atlce's station TO as
certain. II he could discover the where
ebOuts Of the Dahlgreen raiding party.
Telegraph communication was broken I'm
that direction. and 1t was reported that
the party was I'm the neighborhood of
Hanover Courthouse. lie was told to
find II the report was actually true 1t
was possible ne might meet with some
one on the route that could give him
the desired information. This WAS done
as precaution by the superintendent
before starting out some supply trains
for the Confederate army mich were
ready 10 be sent from Richmond for
Gordonsville Captain fitz succeeded
a. getting as far as Atlee's station and
learned there that Federal cavalry
company had not long passed there go
ing I'm the direction Of Richmond lie
concluded he had better return as quick.
ly as possible 10 prevent being captured
or cut of from the city by the track
being tempered with ~ this farty
When I'm sight Of Chickahominy awamp
his suspicious were verified as tho enemy
were then destroying the trestles Of the
railroad over the swamp.
THE ENGINE CAPTURED.
The Captain and the engineer aban-
doncd the locomotive at once. leaving
the fireman and struck across the field
TO the left OF the railroad for the swamp
which they succeeded in making without
being noticed 10y the party ia question,
who were too busy destroying the tres
ties lie and the engineer hid them
selves In the thick weeds and awaited
developments and soon heard the engine
going full speed towards the trostes
and then there was a heavy crash and
q terrible escape az steam This was af-
forwards explained by the fireman, who
said the Federals pulled the throttle
valve wide open and turned the engine
Dose. and she went Ike lightning and
dumped herself over on the south ride
Of the last trestie that they succeeded
in destroying. This caused the awful
escape OF steam and the spinning round
Of the driving-wheels. After doing this
samage the raiding party left going in
me direction OF Atlee. and when ell was
puist tho captain and engineer left their