The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1912-02-01
BURNED TO DEATH
BEFORE HUSBAND
|. B. Luck, Aged Invalid, Unable
to Aid His Dying
Wife.

Helpless to save her. T. B. Luck, of
6l4 West Clay Street, late yesterday
afternoon watched his wife burn to
death before his eyes, and, even after
her lifeless form had been laid on the
bed from which he had just been
taken. was unable to realize that she
was dead.
Mrs. Luck was scventy-nine years
ola. He Is on tho verge of his eighty
sixth year. and has passed beyond the
age when one feels the lapse of time.
shortly after . o'clock yesterday af-
ternoon his wife arose tc do some
slight cooking for tho invalid man,
ana In some manner which will never
be accounted for. her clothes caught
IRE from the open fire burning In their
room. y. boy passing by on tho street
saw smoke issuing from the second
story window. He ran to the door and
| knocked loudly and vainly NJ A. Tim
oerlake. of eos West Clay Street, who
works on the corner just below, heard
| the boy knocking and also saw the
smoke
Body on Fire.
Realizing that something was wrong,
| nc broke through the front door, and
| rushed upstairs. As he opened tho
door leading into the Lucks' room, he
stumbled across tho body of the wo-
man. from which q sheet % fame waa
! sun rising. He called loudly for help.
and the boy who had attracted the at.
tcntion of others and whose name Ia
| unknown, finally succeeded In notify.
ing A. NJ. Dlbb, boarder. who was
then In tho back yard.
| Bibb, encountcrlng several doors
which were closed between him and
the second floor. broke through. and
entered the room in kline to aid Mr..
| Timberlake in putting out the fire
win their naked hands the two men
peat out the Games. bu; were unable
| 70 save tho woman. AS the last spark
died out, they saw that sha was dead.
and tenderly they raised her on the
bed she had just left Mr.. Timbcrlake
notified tho Second Police Station, and
Bicycle Policeman Thurman was sent
10 the house. a few sparks were stilll
burning In the carpets and the three
men went down on their knees and OK
uhsuished them. There was no need
to call the Fire Department. nor tho
city ambulance. They notified Coroner
Iaylor and he arrived as quickly as
possible. His verdict was that death
was due to accidental burning, and
later the body was turned over to Tn
dcrtaked Kahn.
Lived Alone.
For fifty years or moro tho Lucks
have lived alone and together. Mr..
Bibh. who occupied a irst-noor room
with his son, has been III the house
ricd up coal and water to Mrs Luck in
the morning. as she said she wns feel.
ing nnwell, and then went out Later
he performed tho same service AT e.
clock he went out into the backward
ana knew nothing OF tho fire until
aroused hy the unknown boy knock
ing on tho front door. When he and
Mr.. Tlmhcrlake got upstairs and broke
In the door, they found Mrs Luck ~
ing on tho floor. face upwards, as it
she had attempted to escape. Mr. Luck
who had looked vainly on, was st!llI
living In his bed. y few moments later
and his bed would have been attire. In
some way, though, either he or his
Wife had managed TO cpSn window
as II to jump out But ne was unab bic
to rise, and shc died ut the door
Practically every vcstisc of clothing
was burned away. and the unfortunate
! Woman's body was burned to crisp
/ she must have died within a few min
utes after her clothing caught fire from
| the CRATE
! snIc Home for Fifty Years
| the Lucks have been living In the
same house since they were married
| Tor more than fifty years. They had
| two children. both OF whom are dead
! Mr.. Luck was formerly carriage
| builder on Brook Avenue. He retired
/ some years ago and sold out his bust
ness, rescrving the right TO work In
| the place whenever he felt tit He
had accumulated a little money and
| owned his own home, and has lived in
! comparative comfort He was enlisted
during tho War Between the States
and served the Confederate government
: as mn ambulance builder. Soon aftck.I
| he war he married and was settled in
| business.
! The Luck home was known as a gath
! erinS place for young people of the
Selghborhood, and rarely Sunday
passed that the aged couple were not
| visited by the boys and girls living
near. Mrs. Luck was widely known for
her charity and for her kindly heart.
and 1t was said last night that she
| VIII be sadly missed by the young
people. who loved her most
The funeral services VIII he held Mt
the grave In Hollywood Cemetery at Al
| o'clock this afternoon.
!
Virginia Historical Society
The annual meeting OF the society vii, ~,