Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1899-09-26
James F. Pritchard Expires on the
Street.
Was 4 NATIVE OF VIRGINIA
For Years, However, a Resident
Of Washington.
S K ETCH OF HIS LIFE

James F. Pritchard. retired real estate
dealer, who lived at No. 1913 18th street
northwest. dropped dead in front of Cats
jewe1ry store. No. 1107 PENNSYLVANIA ave-
nue. about $50 o'clock this morning. Heart
disease had troubled him for some time.
and no longer than last week he remarked
to his intimate friend and neighbor. Mr..
w. C. Balch, that he expected death would
come to him suddenly. At the same time,
he expressed a desire that he should not
suffer pain during his last Illness His
wish was fulfilled, for he died In less than
five minutes after he was stricken
Mr.. Pritchard, or Maj. Pritchard. as he
was known left his home about . o'clock
to go down into the city to transact some
business. Just he left his home he met
Mr. Balch and took for him to The Even
Ing Star office a sum of money to pay a bill.
This errand he had attended to- and. walk
Ing out of the business office of The Star
with the receipt in his hand he started
east on Pennsylvania avenue He had
taken but few steps when he fell to
the sidewalk. crowd gathered about
him, and Mr. Bode, clerk in Cats store,
telephoned for an ambulance. Policeman
Iifbl was among the first to reach the
stricken man, and remained with him until
the arrival of the Emergency Hospital
ambulance.
The surgeon in charge of the ambulance
pronounced the stricken man dead. and his
body was removed to the morgue. Coro-
ner Carr was summoned and gave GER
tificate of death. and subsequently an I'M
dertaker took charge of the body and re-
moved 1T to the late home of the deceased.
His History Interesting.
Mr.. Pritchard was fifty-six years old.
and had an interesting history. He was
born in Fredericksburg, Va, where he
spent his earlier days and received his
education. At the breaking out of the war
he was a Union sympathizer. and on this
account he fell into the hands of
the southern soldiers. and was taken to
Richmond, where he was held as a pris-
oner. He was subsequently removed to
Salisbury, n. c., where he kept in
prison with John Minor Bolts. whose name
figures prominently in the history of
Virginia He and Mr.. Bolts We're always
close personal friends. The Salisbury
prison was unable to hold Mr.. Prtchard.
He escaped and made his way to this city.
and called on President Lincoln Hand in
hand the President and Mr.. Pritchard
walked from the White House to the Treas
ury Department. and the latter was given
a lucrative position. 1t was not long after
this appointment that he joined the Home
Guards and went on duty to defend the city
from a possible attack on the part of the
confederates.
His position in the Treasury Department
held for a number of years. during
which time she was anxious to get an APP
pointment in his native state. During the
term of the late President Arthur he sue
ceeded in getting an appointment as post
master at Fredericksburg. Va, and al
though many years had elapsed since he
left there he found many of his old friends
in the town to welcome him. The few
years that he served in this position he
frequently referred to as among the hap
piest of his life.
Afterward he was made postmaster at
Lynchburg. When his term of office eX-
pred, then he returned to this city and
resumed his business of dealing in real
estate, III which he very successful.
A few years ago he married Miss Newton,
daughter of former commissioner of
agriculture.
Sketch of Prison Experiences.
Only few weeks since the deceased
wrote an interesting sketch of his exper-
fences In prison and his escape from Sal
isbury. This sketch he had intended to
send to one of the magazines, but had ne
elected to do so. The deceased leaves q
widow and one child.