Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1899-12-26
WAS THEIR ONLY SISTER.
Mrs. Fitch the sister of uessrs. W. VI.
mud u. y. nickers. Of nIchmOnh.

aud T.. y. BickeFs, of i,ichmOnd.
Mrs. w. w. Fitch. who was SO horribly
burned to death as the result of heroic
though inenccual efforts to save her
little daughter from the flames IN Char
lottcsvilc Friday evening. was the only
sister Of Mr.. W. NJ. Bickers. dispatcher of
the Chesapeake ana Ohio. and Mr.. Il. J..
Bickors. manager Of the general telegraph
office of the Chesapeake and Ohio mere.
The hrst-named gentleman and his wife
had Just gotten uptown Friday nights %
little misunderstanding eXpediu ln.
when they were arrested hy messenger,
who had been sent I'm pursm. of them,
bearing the sad Udings of the little girls
death and of the accident to Mrs. Fitch.
Fearing that his sister, To- whom he WAS
devoted. would not live until ne could
reach her. Mr.. Bickers dispatched spc-
cial messenger from the Charlottesville
office. being "a message of love and hope
of meeting in the bright beyond. if ne
did not reach her bedside before she pass
ed away. Mr.. Bickcrs caught the night
express and was met at the CharlOttes-
Vile station by q hack. which was inter
ccptcd before reaching the house by a
sympathetic friend. who gently told him
his devoted sister was no more. Mr.. H..
=. Bickers. Mrs. w. H. Bickers. and
others of the family caught the next
train
The remains were brought 10 Louisa
Saturday evening. accompanied by num-
BIER of relatives and friends and We're
conveyed 90 the residence of Mr.. j. p
Bickcrs. also "a brother of Mrs. Fitchs
and the double funeral took place from
the Methodist church at u o'clock sun
day morning. being conducted 10y Rev. j
%. Moss. of Charlottesville. pastor of Mrs
Fitch's. and Rev. j. o. RhOelcr. of Lore
isl, former pastor and the minister who
united her in marriage about nine yeII-
ago at the spot upon which now rested her
cucoflined remains. AS the Baskets we..
borne into the building and mp the aislcs
chat of the little one being carried by
little boy pall-bOarers) the Sunday school.
of which Mrs Fitch was for $50 many
years am active member and Leader in the
singing, sang with much feeling and ten-
dcruess. "Neu Never Suy Cood-Bv in
Heaven There was not dry eye in
the crowded church, and many gave way
Co their feelings in sobs. for Mrs Fitch.
as Miss OWE Bckcrs. was universally
beloved I'm her native town Zach of thu
ministers spoke with much feeling of
the deceased. giving beautiful testimony
to her pure. noble. and useful life from
her earliest girih0od days To the hour of
her death. and AIR. Moss who was with
her in her last hours spoke of her sublime
resignation and uucloudel faith in tie
hour of death. The Baskets were convey
cd from the church To- OakWOOd Cemetery.
whore they We're tonderly lowered in
double grave boy the side of the resting
place of Mrs. Fitch's parents. Mr. and
Mrs. j. B. Bickors. This was probably the
saddest funeral occasion in I.ouisas his
tory. and yet none has ever had q hrlshtor
background Of solid Christian consolation
and comfort The universal expression
of genuine sorrow and sympathy We're
very marked ana were gratifying and
comforting 90 the family The heart-bro-
ken husband and the bright little children
We're specially deserving Of he tenderest
sympathy