Evening star., 1902-02-27
ALEXANDRIA AFFAIRS
DISTRESSING HATALITY RESULTS
FROM A LAMuEXPLoSION.
House Destroyed ~ Fire and Two
Children Bornd to Death
General II News.
Evening" Star Bureau,
No, YO1 King street.
Dill x.>1o~hnrn No 1(R


No. IO1 King street.
Bell telephone No. lO6.
ALEXANDRIA, Va! February a. 1902
While Shadrach Jackson colored, ana MS
wife were attending church last night hre
broke out at their house. No. 72s South
Fairfax street. and burned to death jack
sons two sons, one aged four and the other
seven years. The building was practically
consumed, and the adjoining house, No.
73O. occupied by colored man named
Silas Jackson was also destroyed. The
fire spread to the house of Meredith Gard
ner, colored, No. 726, which was considera-
bly, damaged. 1t is supposed that the flames
started from the explosion of an oil lamp.
Jackson and his wife placed their chill
dren in bed last evening, locked the house
and went to attend services at Zion
Church. on Lee street, short distance
away. shortly before 10 o'clock Mr.. George
Wood, who conducts a store just across
from the tenement houses, noticed smoke
issuing from No. 72S He hastened across
the street and tried to open the front door.
put, hndfng 1t locked, endeavored to effect
an entrance from the rear. But by that
time the smoke had become SO dense that
1t was next to impossible to enter the burn
ing building.
An alarm Of fire had been turned in in
the meantime. but the speed Of the en-
glnes was much retarded by muddy road
ways. by the time they reached the scene
OF the nre the flames had gained much
beyond human aid. The grief Of the par
ents when they learned the terrible fate
or their children was heartrending. Coro-
ner Purvis decided that an inquest was
unnecessary.
RunawayALad Detained.
Ward Respess, runaway lad about four
teen years Of age. is detained at the sta
tion house awaiting the arrival Of his
father, Mr.. H. H. Respess of Norfolk, Va.
whose home the little fellow left few days
ago on sightseeing expedition. He was
found In this city last night, and being un-
able to give satisfactory account of him
self, the police took him in charge. Ascer-
tanning the name of his father, Lieut.. Smith
teiegraphed to Mr. Respess, who replied
asking that his son be held until he was
called for. 1t is expected that the father
will arrive here this afternoon. The youth
ful tourist stated that he had spent very
pleasant time in visiting the public places
Of interest in Washington. He had made
the trip from his home on the Norfolk
steamer.
General Matters.
Judge J. NJ. Love of the Alexandria coun-
ty court has confirmed the recommendation
OF the county board of supervisors for the
appointment of Louis Peverill as road over
seer for Jefferson district and c. B. Gra-
ham for Arlington district. The judge de-
clined to confirm the appointment of r. L.
Marcy for Washington district 1t Is ex-
pected that the supervisors will recommend
another man at the next meeting Of the
board.
The basket ball team of the Alexandria
Light Infantry suffered defeat at the hands
OF the Morton Cadets team of Washington
last evening. at Armory Hall. by score of
IA to l. The game was witnessed by a
large crowd.
The schedule Of the base ball team of the
Episcopal High School near this city will
soon be completed. and will include games
with several strong teams. The team will
play the University of Virginia at Char
lottesville Saturday, March %
A literary meeting of the Epworth
League. M. E. Church South. will be held
in the lecture room of the church tomorrow
evening at 1880 o'clock. A special musical
and literary program has been prepared.