The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1915-04-04
C|TY'S PROTECTION
IN GOOD HANDS
Work of Fire and Police De-
partments Has Been Splen-
didIy Efficient.
MEN BEHIND THE GUNS
Brave Deeds of City's Defend
ers Recaunted - Chief Rag
land Head of Police Depart
ment Since 1898

Petarsba!tl. Va. AprI a.
The Petersburg Police department.
is one of the most efficient OF any OF
it's size throughout the country and
has At It's head "a chief Reuben +.
RagIand. one OF the best known and
most popular officials throughout all
the south Chief Ragland has been tbs
mead of the department since July /.
1898, surprising in age all men OF the
department IN point of service savs
Lieutenant J. i. Donahue, detective.
David Eaues and Patrolman JaInes
Vaughan and Mark Slate. Since his
connection with the office the chief,
with tho valuable assistance of SPLEEN
did corps Of men. now numbering thir-
ty-six has made many important ar
rests of criminals from all sections or
the country, aud during this time no
murderer committing his deed in this
city has ever escaped and Ina only ono
instance has there been burglary or
any consequence. that being safe
blowing here IN February, lsl9' wnen
vpREnen succeeded in wrecking the
large safe OF tho Ruclser Dry Goods
Company and escaping with several
hundred dollars.
Work of Fire Department.
The Petersburg Fire kartmen has a.
its chief Edgar Vincent Farley, who
has served in this capacity for tee
past twenty four years. having on five
different occasions since his connec-
tlon with the department been severely
injured while performing his duties
at fires and ON one occasion lay at
deaths door for several weeks from
a gunshot wound received while hunt
ing. ON April 9. 1894 Petersburg wan
shocked by one of the greatest explo-
sionS that has ever occurred in
Southern city, by an explosion OF pow
a T. q. saaxA
Brothers, in BIandford. The calamity
was ora of the most direfui since the
city WAS evacuated ON April ., 1885.
\ number OF citizens were suddenly
called into eternity and others were
MANNED for life. 1t was heartrer-
dertng catastrophe and one which MAIDS
the braHest shudder TO contemplate.
Two members OF the City Council,
citizen who was making an active cam
VASES for an office In the municipal.
government and several others were
Killed az follows
Charles Nichols Romano. Captain
James r Tosh. John r. Bland, James
Rowland. Robert Row land, William
Traylor, Edward Traylor. James W
Bryant Quincy Livesay. James w.
Perkins. white aud Thomas woodfolA,
colored
The injured were Edgar Y. Farley,
A W. Redgrave. William Parker.
Charles Wells, Charles Shortt, Walter
Nunnaliy. L., Stith Beasley. Charles
Emory, Samuel Drew and John f.
Harris
AS tho result OF this explosion Chief
Farley lay in Il hospital sixty-thres
days in an unconscious condition. how
erins between life and death. but hnai-
~ recovered and has done many brave
deeds in. the interest OF the city since
that time and is still from year to
year receiving from municipal otFiciais
compliments for his bravery and EN-
cheney In directing the departments.
The Petersburg Fire Department,
while not az near UP TO date as the
departments of many other cities OF It's
size, is with the equipment at hand
one OF the most efficient 70 be found,
mum oering on It's payroll some of the
most conscientious and best citizens
OF tho city.