The Farmville herald. [volume] (Farmville, Va.) 1890-1934, 1909-11-26
De ARMOND met
. DEATH IN FIRE
CONGRESSMAN P3.iS5sd With
Grandson Ia Burning Home,
DAUGHTER SAVES MOTHER

Democratic Leader Sacrificed His Life
In Effort to Save ersndson-The'r
Bodies Found Lying Side by Side
In Ruins.
rntlor Mo. Noy. 24-Represenla
tive David DeAmond. one OF the most
widely known Democratic congress
men and bis grandson. David A. DE
Almond IT,. aged six years were
burned TO death 'n fire that destroy
eli the DeArmonl homestead here
TIE DeArmond home was a large
swostory frame structure set Wen
hack from The street On two sides oil
the house and equal with the second
eoor four rooms. OF outdoor sleeping
apartments. had been constructed ana
al che time tho Gre broke out the oc
0pants of The house occupied these
rooms.
CONGRESSMAN DeArmond and his
ysung grandson occupied one room on
the south side Of the building. while
Mrs. DeArmond and Mrs Hattie Clark
z married daughter. were in separate
rooms on Che opposite side of the
house Nettie BOlos. twentysix years
old. q maid. had a room on the west
end ~ the house.
Mrs. Clark was awakened by cry
end On going to the door of her room
saw smoke issuing from the part OF
the house where the congressman and
"Waddie." as the grandson was called,
silent
Get me out Of here" she heard
Waddie cry
Never mind. son; I'll save you
CONGRESSMAN DeArmond answered
Those we're the last words either OF
me victims uttered. a moment later
the smoke Increased in volume and
Mrs. Clark was forced TO fee down
stairs to the telephone. Within a min
ute's time she had given the alarm to
the telephone Office and hurried back
10 the room of her mother.
Barely Saves Mrs. DeArmond.
By this time the entire second hooI
was clouded with smoke and flames
were leaping from the windows Crop
Ing her way 20 Mrs Diamonds bed
side she literally dragged her from
the room There was no time TO think
Of aiding those In the other part of
the house. Urging her mother down
the stairway. the Younger woman. with
difficulty. succeeded in reaching and
opening the street door
Nettie Boies. the maid. it developed
later. had been one Of the first TO es
cape She reached the street from the
rear door after The first cry of fire.
She was unhurt but too frightened
10 comprehend the situation and had
ned from the scene.
The heme OF James A. DeArmond
son of Congressman DeArmond. and
father of the boy who lost his life. is
near the burned house James De
Almond rushed to the scene when the
alarm was given and tried TO enter
the burning building. but was restrain.
e. ny neishbors
The financial loss IS placed az 500,
ON and Included ono OF the best II
braI.es ia the state The cause Of
the 6re IS not known The two bodies
were found lying side by side where
death hal ovcr'akon Inc congressman
In tis effort 90 save his grandson
"Waldle" DcArm0nd was Congress.
wan y trmond's favoritc grandchild.
The boy frequently remained az the
home of his grandparents always oc-
cupYiug a bed with the congressman
Nyi1 A DcArmOnd was a Pennsyl
vanian p, birth having first seen the
ligh, Of d3r on a farm i'm Blair county,
March u.s. 1874 He was educated in
- public schools and Dickinson semi
norT ,'f'iamspori Pa.
Rcmoeas 10 Missouri ne selected
Butler az his future home studied law,
was admitted to- the bar and engaged
m practice A fluent speaker. Doe soon
attracted attention and was elected a
presidential clect0r for Cleveland and
Hendrc' in 1854 He subsequently
Wa cho "a state senator ON the Dem.
ccratic urret. and was also made a
circuit Judge and a commissioner for
tho supreme court of Missouri
Tie became member of congress
m 1892 being elected to represent the