The times., 1899-02-18
NEWS FROM ALEXANDRIA.

Alexandria. Va. Feb. 17-Jane Mon
tague, aged fifty, and Sophia Darling, aged
twenty, were found dead in bed at the Bal
lard and Exchange Hotel this morning,
anG Minnie Winfield, aged sixteen, who oc-
cupied the same room, was found in an un-
conscious condition. The three, all colored
were employed at the hotel, and during the
recent storm had been permitted to occupy
a room on the third floor in the rear build
ing. They retired about 10 O'Clock last
night, but before doing SO, started a fire
in an open Franklin stove, which they
| filled with coal. Shortly before o'clock
this morning the proprietor directed a por-
ter to arouse the women but the door was
found to be locked. Finding it impossible
I to awaken the inmates, the man was di-
rected to force the lock. The Montague
and Darling women were found lying on
bed dead, while the apparently lifeless
| body of the Wingfeld girl was on the
! floor Drs. Mcclure and Jones were sum-
moned, and succeeded in saving her life
Coroner Purvis decided that an inquest
was unnecessary, and directed that the
bodies OF the two women be turned over
to Mr.. Demaine. and subsequently they
were removed to his establishment in King
Street
The Norfolk steamer Newport News ar
rived here from Washington this evening
and left at T:30 o'clock on her regular run
for Norfolk. The transfer tug has kent
open a track between this city and Shep-
! herds, and when the steamer Estelle Ram
dall, followed by several tugs, reached this
port this afternoon from Washington but
little difficulty was experienced in forcing
through the ice. The tug Minerva, which
had been docked at the foot of Prince
Street, Joined Harbormaster Sutton's fleet
on its return to Washington The ice is
reported as having been somewhat soft
ened by the recent rains and mild weather
The telephone and telegraph companies
have had gangs of men at work today re-
placing wires broken by the recent storm
Several frame structures fell in today
owing to the weight of snow on the roofs,
but the loss is comparatively small At the
works of the Hydraulic Press Brick Com
pany, in Alexandria County. the storm
has caused a loss of about $1,000, several
structures having fallen in, damaging ma
chinery, etc.
| Pursuant to the report of a special
| committee. adopted at a meeting of the
| city council last night Health officer Mil
| Ter met the board of health in the Market
| building this afternoon, and took under
consideration the smallpox matter. There
| were present the health officer and
Messrs. Worth, Hulfish, ]. w. Summers.
/ y. II. Fisher, l.. GenZberger, and X. H
| Atkinson. After an interchange OF views,
| DR.. Miller was requested to formulate
I plans for combating the disease, and the
! board adjourned until tomorrow.
! One suspected case OF smallpox was re-
! ported today at 5li GibbOn Street. There
! is no material change in the general small
/ poX situation, although il is stated that
the patients continue to improve.
| John w. Avery has accepted a position
as general agent for the State of Virginia
of the United States Casualty Company
OF New York.
Mrs. Henry l.. Simpson, the mother OF
Mayor Simpson. is seriously i'll.
/ Alderman Theodore Ballenger slipped
and fell last night, badly spraining his
left arm.
Mrs Ada Lee Benzette- Ryan died at her
/ home in South Alfred Street last night
She had been married but a few weeks to
| jeremiah Ryan. The deceased was 23
years of age. The funeral will take place
| from st. Mary's Church Monday morning
! at 8 o'clock.
| Mrs. Jane Lawrence, widow of Capt
! John Lawrence. former well-known river
man, died in the Infirmary last night
! The funeral of the late French r. Simp-
/ son will take place from PA North Roya!
/ Street tomorrow afternoon at O'CLOCK
VIM. Gait, of Washington, has sent TO
| Rev H. J. Cutler, pastor of St. Mary's
! Church. $25 to be used in relieving the
| poor of this city Mr.. Galt's parents resid-
| ed Alexandria for many years.