The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1911-11-04
FlAME-WRAPPEO,
WOMAN TRIES IN
Vain TO ESCAPE
Meets Death by Incinera-
ton While Locked in
Her Room
UNABLE
TO GIVE HER AID
Mrs. Yates Sets Fire to Her
Bed and in Trying to
Put 1t Out Clothes
Are lgnited

Shortly after seven O'Clock las,
might. Mrs. Mary Elizabeth Yates. Of
No. al North Monroe street. was
burned to death. and the three-roon
TAme house at that number was
oadly damaged inside
whfie there II no definite fnforma-
ton as to the start or cause OF the
IRE. II 10 presumed by those who saw
the woman earlier in the night and
who saw her while the flames were
ralnk the life from her. as she rush
|eu madly about the upper room. In
VAN eHorfs to escape the hor-
rible pains which must have con
snised her. that she had attempted
90 make Il light in her little back
room. when In some manner ii caugh,
the bed. and in her efforts to ex-
tfnguish the flames her dress was
lighted, and in few moments the
room was mass OF fire.
Men Rush to Help
Policeman Schlief was the first tn
reach @ fire alarm box. He saw the
iames through the windows of the
eecond floor. and ran To Broad and
monroe streets, where he turned In
No. rs. Others in the netghhorhood
had. in the meantime, seen the re-
Election Among them was Mr.. Ell
more Redwood, attached TO the post
nffce department who was passing
Broad at that corner In a street car.
ie jumped off and ran to the scene,
end was Joined by several others, In
.luding Ernest Smith and T. NJ Rab~
Hail. the latter colored
They ran to the rear OF the house
where they were told there was a
Hight Of stairs leading to the upper
1oor- They found that the steps were
On the inside and that in order TO
reach the scene Of the fire entrance
must BIZ had through tina lower front
room.
screams AVIAN Nothing.
In the meantime the woman =
Dcreams could be heard piercing the
smoky atmosphere. while the flames
gradually crept over her and she
ell In the corner Of the front room
Just outside the room in which the
IRE started, and where. when the room
vas broken into. she lay, The body
was not recognizable.
Mrs Yates has been living in Rich
mond number OF years. She came
here long time ago from King Will
lam county. She married ". L.
Snee1nAker. an aftacne OF the street
cleaning department He died about
rf-ht years ago. They had two sons
w. A. Shoemaker. aged sixteen, and
r. L. Shoemaker, aged thirteen years.
These two hoys have been employed
For some time. and with their little
Incomes have helped take care Of their
mother. They were not at home when
khe fire started. but soon reached the
ecene and were taken in by Mrs.
Boxeile, Of No. 313 North Monroe
utreet. where they will be entertain
ID until other arrangements can be
made.
Graves Small Estate.
When Mr.. Shoemaker died he left
Nh estate of $1,000, and his wife was
appointed guardian of the children in
The Chancery Court. Mr.. Conway r.
Sands was retained as custodian of
the estate. and as q sort OF protec-
FOR ct the children.
Last night after the coroner had
siewed the body. Mr.. Sands turned
t-o~er 20 Undertaken BenHett,-who
prepared It for burial In lakewood
By the side Of her first husband.
It II likely that the two children
will he sent to the home OF the uncle
Ind aunt. in King william, where
younger sister now lives. Mrs Fam
|nie R. Edwards, of King William
Courthouse. the aunt. was commune
'cated with last night.