The Washington times., 1911-04-16
FIRE CHIEF MEETS
SUDDEN DEATH ON
WAY TO SMALL FIRE
Head of Alexandria Depart
ment in Service Forty
eight Years.
wAsHINGroN TIMES BUREAU.

WAEHINGTON TIMES BUREAU.
ALEXANDRIA. VA, APRIL 1s.
The sudden death of George W. Pet.
tey, chief OF the Alexan ndria fire de-
partment, while responding to an alarm
of fire on South Henry street, shortly
after 8 o'clock last evening, comes as a
distinct shock to Alexandrians. The
fire was between Wilkes and Gibbon
streets, and as a number of railroad
tracks interlace at this point, and II is
believed that with the intention OF
avoiding these, that the chief alighted
from his buggy two blocksI below and
ian the rest of the way. Just as he
came to the corner of Wilkes street he
was seen to suddenly collapse and fall
10 the ground. Without the delay of an
instant, members OF the Columbia Fire
Engine Company picked phis body,
and, finding that he was in an apparent
ly Unconscious condition, placed him In
teh hose wagon and made record run
to the Alexandria Hospital. where he
was at once placed upon the operating
table. and it was discovered that life
was extinct.
Long in the Service.
The chief was about seventy years Of
age, and for forty-eight years had been
attached to the Alexandria fire depart
ment, fourteen years as chief. He took
great interest in his work, and in
spite Of his age was just as active as
the youngest volunteer fireman. He
was a well-known and popular char
acter about town.
As the city allows the chief OF the
fire department only an amount suf-
ficient for the care of his horse, Pettey
depended upon his saloon on North
Royal street, across from the city mar
g ket, for support. Just a few minutes
before the fire he was in his place, with
his little granddaughter on yhis knee,
chatting gapIy with his friends, ap-
parently in the best Of health. he nad,
however. been a sufferer from heart
disease for several years, and had often
been warned by his physicians that the
excitement entailed by his attention to
his duties might result 1ifa fata,iy' Ill his wifi.
Sarah Pettey. and the following chill
dren: Mrs. ]. Christopher Gill, Mrs.
Frank Dixon, George w. Pettey, Jr.,
and four step-children.
The body was last evening removed
10 Wheatleys undertaking establish
ment. and will this afternoon be taken
to the home of his son-in-lanw, ]. Chris
topher Gill. lis South Lee street, where
IL is expected hundreds of his friends
and acquaintances will view 1t for the
last time. Arrangements for the fu-
neral have not been completed, pend
ing the ARRIVAL OF relatives.
List of Pallbearers.
The following pallhearers were this
morning named for the funeral, which
will probably be held Tuesday: Active,
"A. D. Deaton and Frank Downhans.
order Of Bed Men; Hydr9Iisn Steam
and r. Z. Gronau; City Fire Depart
1nent, John Leadbeater, Columbia Co.,
and Frank c. Sphinx, Reliance Co.
Honorary: George Robinson, Thomas
as Gibson. Albert Aitcheson. DIR. Arthur
m. Snowden, Frank F. Marbury and
~. A. Smoot, ST.
Fire Department, will attefd the fu-
neral with a delegation. o.
The body will be borne TO the ceme-
tery on a fire truck.
The fire, in running to Which caused
the death of the chief. was in house
occupied by Lewis and Edward Walker,
b2l South Henry street, in which a
blazing mattress was found and thrown
OUT in the street. without damage TO
no one was in the house<at the time. |
Immediately after the fire, Acting |
Mayor Marbury designated Mark z. |
Price, jr., member of the board of |
fire wardens. to act as chief until the |
successor should be designated by the |
city counch.
the PaSt Masters Association, r. A. |
4. A. NJ, of Alexandria. will occupy the |
chairs at tire regular communication of
Andrew Jackson Lodge next Thursday |
evening and confer the Master Masons
degree upon several candidates.
The Elks' Hall was put in shape yes
terday for the spring festival, which
will start tomorrow. The hall has been
tastefully decorated, several booths
erected, and everything put in order.
Among the prizes which have been, do
mated are Ford automobile, an Emer-
son marine engine. and a porcelain
bathtub.
Louis o. Kuhn, a soldier attached to
the Engineer Corps, who was found in
an unconscious condition on the tracks
at EdsalTs Station with his skull crush
ed and was removed to the Fort Myer
Hospital. died yesterday. without re-
gaining consciousness. 1t is believed
that he was struck by a train. The
body was shipped this afternoon to his
home in Cincinnati. .7
A class of fifty candidates will be-
Initiated by the Alva Aerie, Fraternal
Order Of Eagles. at their hall next