Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-11-30
ALEXANDRIA AFFAIRS
BAPTIST CHURCH DAMAGED BY
FIRE LAST NIGHT.
Citizens Likely to Lose Votes Through
Neglect - Woman Narrowly
Escapes Fatal Injuries.

Special Correspondence Of The Evening Star.
ALEXANDRIA, Va. November 80. 1904
Pedestrians on South Washington street
last night about o'clock observed fire and
smoke issuing from the belfry of the First
Baptist Church. situated on Washington
street between Prince and Duke streets, and
an alarm was made, which was transmitted
to the fire department over the telephone by
Judge ]. K. NJ. Norton, who resides near
the church. The engines promptly respond
ed and the efficient work of the f1remen
saved the house of worship from destruc-
ton. Damage to the extent of several hun
dred dollars was caused by fire and water.
The church is insured in the sum of $500.
The origin of the fire is not known. 1t is
stated that there had been no fire in the
furnace of the building since Sunday even
ing, and so far Is known there had been
no one In the belfry since the sexton rang
the bell for the services then. James Tay-
Tor, the colored janitor, was in the building
several times yesterday but IL any one else
was there after the last visit of the janitor
II Is not known.
The fire started in the tower. which rises
to a considerable height from the north
west corner of the structure. The flames
were rapidly spreading when the depart
ment arrived, but had. not extended to
the handsome organ which is situated near
the entrance Of the belfry. The church
is substantial brick building, but there
was sufficient woodwork to have furnished
the means for big fire had there been any
delay in auenching the flames.
Rev. John A. Wray, the pastor, has been
rendered the use of Trinity Methodist Epis-
copaI Church and the Washington Street
Southern Methodist Church, during what
ever time it may be necessary to repair the
damages.
Payment Of Tax Requisite to Voting.
Under the suffrage provision of the new
state constitution voters who have not paid
their poll tax of $3.50 by this evening will
not be eligible TO vote in elections occur
ring in 1905. 1t Is expected that several
citizens who have not yet attended to this
matter will make Use of the last oppor-
tupity offered today. Last year the time
for the payment of the poll tax a pre-
requisite to voting was extended by special
legislation, but no such provision has been
made this year.
General Matters.
Mrs. NJ Laupheimer. who resides on
Royal street between King and Cameron
streets, had a narrow escape from being
fatally burned yesterday. While lighting
a fire the fame caught in her hair. Mrs
Laupheimer at once seized piece of car
pet with which she smothered the blaze
She was painfully injured
A man giving his name as Patrick O'Neal
was called IN the police court this morning
on the charge of stealing three bed COM
forts from in front of the store of Swan
Bros. on King street Monday night. The
prisoner entered a denial, but as he had
been seen in front of the store before the
hour of closing and had been apprehended
attempting to sell bed clothes Justice Ca
ton imposed a fine of So In default Of
this amount O'Neal will spend twenty days
in Jail.
Mr.. and Mrs. Louis 7. Hanckel of Char
lottesville are visiting their daughter, Mrs
| Marshall L. King, at her home on Duke
street.
Large reductions are being frequently
| made in the force of men employed in the
shops Of the Southern railway in this city.
1t is said to be the purpose of the company
to remove the shops to a point further
south