The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1906-02-19
JAMES 2. WOOD
PASSES AWAY
Old Richmond Newspaper Man
Dies iii Alexandria Aftcr
Brief Illness.
HAD INTERESTING CAREER
Reporter for Years OIL, Richmond
Papers Friendship With unclc
George G. Wilde.

4
Mr.. JanIes =. Wood. an old newspaper
man. who was Known by every middle
aged citizen of Richmond, and WHO for
thirty years hnd been u familiar hgufe on
the streets Of tile city died Yesterday
morning at the residence 81 Mr. White.
in Alcxandria, Va.
Mr.. Wood ieft Ric.mond very ,inex-
pectedly about n month ago, and few. II
any one ut all IN the city knew where
he was. He had not been well, and 1t
is quite possible that. feeling tho on
coming OF the great change. he went to
Alexandria. where lie lad friends and rel
atives. to be cared for bN them in his
last Illness.
Washington Telegram.
This very meagre telegram came from
Washington last night:
James +. Wood. Richmond news
paper man of two decades ago, died
ut the residence of Mr. Thomas White
this morning, after an illness OF sew
eral weeks. caused by a general break
down and advancing years
The factis Mr.. Wood was not more than
fifty three years or age, but he seemed
much older. and as nc had not groltly
tdIeu IOT himself. WIS -l1ttle prepared
to stand the strain of any considerable
illness.
To hundreds of Richmond people lie
was known Pudding Wood. Where
he got the name no one knows. but In
innate friends always called him 'Pud-
ding" IT was possibly a nick name. II
relic of the good old days of the Dis
patch, Enquirer, Wing and State. All
who recall him as of recent years mus,
Journalist OF the old school Jim Wood
and Uncle" George Canning Wilde will
ever be as inseparablc In the newspaper
traditions of Richmond rs they were
In the past twenty years. To see one was
TO think of. and look for the other.
Uncle George now in his cightic.h
year. remains and is probably ignorant
OF the fate of his lifc-partncr. as he could
not be found last night.
''Puddin" Left Him.
month ago in deep concern lie said
| to n friend:
"Puddin. has left me and don't know
| where he has gone.
Tor years they have lived together III
| the little two by four watchman's house
at the Manchester end of the Free Bridge.
! They did not have much and they did
| not need much and to all appearances
they were happy; doubtless they were.
! When a, reported called at the intcrur.
| night he was not there. Either he had
| become lonely without "Puddin" and had
| sought other quarters, or he had not yet
| George IL no less a late sitter now than
| when in active newspaper work.
Was a Boy Soldier.
/ Mr.. Wood was born in Alexandria early
in the hfties- and as lad saw something M ~
| or's Creek. and though not more than u
| child at that time. ever remembered with
pride the part he took, in that conflict.
| He came to Richmond soon after the
war, and was one of the brightest and
most promising young reporters of that
writer did id he slime a but few Young men
OF the city could boast the distinction of
voice SO musical and sweet as his.
| No social club was complete without
| him, as many older residents now re-
| call, and he had love for smart dress
| which never deserted him. even when
| the days of misfortune. not to say want,
overlook him. His high and brightly
| polished silk hat Is familiar in minds
of Richmond people as his own slender
| and erect figure.
Served Many Papers.
He was at various times reporter OF, on
| on The Times in its earliest days.
| In the early days he was Democrat.
but was caught UP by the Readjustel.
wave. whipped up by Malone and by it
| was swept finally into the Republican
party. He became prominently identified
| with the Republican organization. even
being clothed with the position of State
| secretary.
This was TO his undoing, and with pos
sibly one exception, this was the last
! he and "Uncle George" haye kept house
| together Earring and sharing" alike.
| In his active newspaper career he repre-
scented as Richmond correspondent some
| of the largest papers of the country.
| Tho top-knot.eh of his newspaper career
| was reached when in the eighties he was
made telegraph editor of the old Dis
patch.
He will probably be buried in Alcxan-
dlaa.