The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1907-02-04
The eVeteran Chief ofFire
Department SuCCumbs
to Long Illness.
HE WAS FAITHFUL
IN WAR AND PEACE
His Career as a Confederate Sol
dicr and as Fireman from the
Ranks to Head OF the Depart
rnent Was Manly and Hon
orable One-Illness Fol-
lowed Hard Service.

lowed Hard Service.
After an illness OF about six weeks,
CAPTAIN W. g. Fuller. for many years
chief of the fire department, and one OF
Richmond's best known citizens, died at
noon yesterday at his residence, NO. IL
East Clay Street. He was sixty three
years Of age, and had spent mucn OF mo
life in the service OF his city and state.
and had made a record Of fidelity to duty
ard uprightness OF conduct OF which
man might well be proud.
Captain Pulcr was taken III just after
his return from the fire at the Hawkins
Produce Conpanys place on the night OF
December 18th. and had not been able to
leave his home since that date. Ills W
ness developed into All attack OF such
E serious nature that his family and friends
weeks ngo became alarmed. and his death
I seemed imminent. He rallied SO perccp-
tib!y about ten days ago, however, that
they began to take hope and even to
anticipate that he might be fully restored
to health. bnt on last Monday his condl-
tion suddenly became worse. and since
that time he had been slowly sinking. He
did net lose consciousness, however, until
last Friday. after which time he did not
materially rally.
Funeral To-Day.
The funeral services OF this brave SOL
der and official will take place this after
neon at Q o'clock from the Seventh Street
Christian Church. and VIII be conducted
by Rev. Henry Pearce Atkins and Rev
i. III. Melton. who will ofticIate In the
absence OF Rev. Mr.. Haley, the pastor,
The services VII! be attended by Ne
Board Of Fire Commissioners and the
fire department as bodies, and by nearly
every city official. as we'll as by hun
dreds OF hiE fricnds A detail from Lee
Camp "ill pny their tribute Of respect
mt the bier of an honored comrade, and
the commissioners and fremen will go III
the procession to Hollywood. where the
interment viii be made
tss65 The following list Of pail bearers has
been selected:
Honorary--President John II. Friscn-
korn and the following members or she
4 hoard OF Fire Commissioners: Messrs.
J. L. Levy, Jenkins. Charles f. Taylor.
!. G. Watt Taylor Il. Moncurc Perkins
and Robert Lccky; Assistant Chief
George G. Shaw. OF the Fire Depart
rncnt; Secretary l.. 8. Jones, OF the Fire
Board: Superintendent W. Fl. Thompson,
OF the Fire Alarm Telegraph service;
Messrs. James n. Boyd. John S. Elicit,
William N. Hill, r. T. Hunter, j. r.
Shepherd, j. w. Rothert T. Archibald
Cary. Major Charles Q. Saville and I,r.
Moses p Hoge.
Actire--Mcssrs. W. 6. 3Iaury, W. IT,
fydnor Q. A. Hawkins. T. ~. HundIey,
ton and r. r. Webster.
The horse and buggy used by the late
fre6chief IN his official duty VIII be icd
In the procession to tile cemetery.
The following detail appointed by r.
y. Lee Camp. No. l, Confederate Vet
q Grams. will assemble at the camp hall
y 49,, AZ ftx,,, to- 90.
TO attend the obsequies: Commander w.
y. Freeman. Comrades L. letter Boshsr.
z George T.. Dean, Gcrvas Storrs, w. e.
Moore I)r. T. Il, Stratton. ]. J. IT,.
Brewer and Alexander Jennings.
Faithful Officer.
William G. Fuller was not only one of
the most faithful of&all of Richmond $
public officials. but was at the same time
one OF her most widely known and popu-
lar citizens. He was an integral part Of
Richmond. and had brought Ills deport-
,nent up to Il standard SO high that It
not only appealed to the peoae of his
own city. but challenged tho admiration
of the big fire insurance companies and
of civic authorities in other citcs
The chief WAS born in lIng Willam
county. Va. IN 1si3 and entered the Con-
fcderatc Army when only seventeen years
OF age. He was severely wounded at the
battle OF Mechanicsville on June %, 1862,
and after a short while returned to his
command. Later he was taken prisoner
In the Gettysburg campaign and spent
nineteen mouths In prison. He was finally
exchanged, and returned to duty fight
ing in tito field and surrendering with
General Lee at Apnomattoy.
4 He came from the ground up in the
Fire Department, and Knew the business
Of lighting fire IN all its intricate rami-
fications.
Tho young soldier came to Richmond
shortly after the war With nothing left
but stout heart and a good name, and
started the battle Of life over again. He
embarked In the business of builder
md was fairly successful. making com
s Portable living for himself and family.
Made Foreman.
Meanwhile, In 1ST5, Captain Puller
toined the Fire Department as q mem
hcr OF Steamer Company No 5, and
later became ts foreman
lle showed great interest in his
work, and IN 1883 was elected as.
sistant chief. In 1883 he was mad,
chief, and had served continuously
since that time, never having encoun-
tered opposition for election
lie was indeedHa man of the people
and had the Office been one upon whicl
the rank and file had to pass his cleo
5 tion would always have been MS Ger,
tain as WAS by the Council II,
came into the office of chief at the on,
oftle famous labor fight which rage,
here in tho sos, and through 1t an
was a strong leader for law and on
der lie took charge of the depart
ment when It was disorganized an,
chaotic and through his fine executiy,
ability and uniform fidelity to duty
lie brought It to 4 point where to -da,
1t IS looked upon as one of the hes
managed of all the municipal depart
ments. p
Active in Politics.
Captain Fuller had from his earlies