Evening star., 1901-09-28
AFFAIRS IN ALEXANDRIA
LARGE FACTORY COMPLETELY DE-
sTROYED BY FIRE.
Loss Estimated to Be $50, ,OOO-BuiId-
ing Partially Insured--General
and Personal News.
Evening Star Bureau,
No. 701 King Street.
Reu Telephone No 1B.

Bell IeiepnOne NO. lVo.
ALEXANDRIA, Va, September 2S 1901
Fire completely destroyed the two-story
brick factory building of the Carson Spoke
and Handle Company, situated in New
Alexandria, about o'clock last night. The
estimated loss is $4,000, which is only
partly covered by insurance. The origin
of the fire is unknown. In two hours after
the flames started the building was con-
sumed Owing to the fact that there are
no fre-fghting facilities in New Alexan-
dria the flames pursued an uninterrupted
course of destruction. When the fire start
ed Mr.. A McNiel, manager and part owner
of the plant, was on the ground with
night force of men, who were about to be-
gin work. Mr.. Carson, also of the firm
was at his home in Front Royal. Mr.. Nc
Mel thought that the fire had started about
the center of the building. 1t spread so
rapidly that there was no chance of stop
ping it without the use of fire engines. In
the factory was a large quantity of raw
material, together with much valuable ma
chinery. All this was destroyed, as well as
the books of the company in the office.
An unfortunate incident of the fire for
the company was the delay in entering
papers with a local insurance company foI
an increased insurance. Mr.. Mcneil said
that he had seen an agent yesterday morn
ing for the purpose of taking out an extra
policy for 5000 He did not consummate
the TRANSACTION ana naQ the III MS
pocket at the time of the fire.
About sixty men and boys will be thrown
out of employment by the disaster. 1t is
not yet known what arrangements Will be
made by the company for continuing opera
tions.
Suffered From Fire Once Before.
The building was constructed by the Dies
Company of Canal Dover, Ohio, several
years ago. During the boom in New Alex
aDdria II fTSe6 az a factory
partially destroyed by fire. 1t was rebuilt
and about two years ago was engaged by
the Carson Company for the manufacture
of spokes and handles. 1t is said that a
thriving business was built up, and that
large proportion Of the products of the
factory was disposed of in foreign mar
ketS.
The flames from the burning building il
Illuminated the whole southern sky, but
owing to the brightness of the night did
not attract any. people from this city. The
Washington, Alexandria and Mt. Vernon
railroad sent a special car to the town,
one of the power houses of the company
being situated near the factory. No other
buildings, however, were in danger.
Death of Judge Critcher.
Funeral services over the remains of
Judge John Critcher, whose death occurred
about noon yesterday at his home
North Alfred street, will take place from
the TtSluellCe lOTlOrTOW dlleTnOOn
at o'clock. Interment will be made in
Ivy Hill cemetery. The deceased was
eighty-one years of age. His wife and
four children-one son and three daughters
survive him. He had been in feeble
health for some time and his death was
not unexpected.
Judge Critcher was for many years a
prominent figure in state politics. He was
born in Westmoreland county, Va, and
after attending the schools in that neigh
hnr ant To hl I Univ Of pia
where he studied law. After spending
time in Europe he returned to this country
and married Miss Lizzie Whiting of Hamp-
ton, Va Before the civil war Judge
Critcher represented his section in the
state senate. He was one of the minority
in the state, being opposed to secession,
but when 1t became apparent that hostili-
ties must come he enlisted his services in
behalf of his native state. Entering the
confederate army as a private he rose to
the rank of colonel before the final sur
render.
After the war Judge Critcher materially
assisted in the reformation of the state
government. Subsequently he was elected
judge Of the sth judicial district In No
Vember, 1870, he was elected to the house
Of representatives from the first Virginia
district Since 1884 Judge Critcher lived in
this city and has been engaged in MANY
cases of Importance before the higher
courts. He was distinguished for sterling
character and his kindly manner won him
hosts of friends.
General Matters.
A party of about twenty members of Fitz-
gerald Council, Knights of Columbus will
leave here this evening for Lynchburg to
attend the organization of a council there
tomorrow. They will be accompanied by a
large number of members from Washing
ton.
Mrs. Ogden, the venerable mother of Alex
ander and Thomas Ogden, died last evening
at her home near Pohick, in Fairfax county
She was ninety-two years of age and was
well known here. The funeral will take
place tomorrow afternoon.
In the Alexandria county court Yesterday
afternoon Ralph Elsey, indicted for house
breaking, was sentenced to four years in
the pententiary.