The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1915-04-03
TWO FAMILIES BARELY
ESCAPE WITH LIVES
Early Morning blaze In Bank Street
Building Discovered In Nick
of Time
HARRIS WON'T RUN FOR SENATE
Senator Dresyry. without Opposition,
Declares He Favors LEGISLATION That
viii Give People of Virginia Cen
uine Prohi bitton.

Carl Wrenn, will known and respected
citizens, had a narrow escape from
death about 2:30 o'clock this morn
ing when fire was discovered In the
fourstory brick building at No. iOa
Bank street. owned by Mrs. NJ. e.
Butler and occupied by Messrs. Gil
more and Wrenn.
The ground floor is occupied as a
store by MIR. Owen Gilmore. the well
KNOWN paperhanser and decorator,
who with his family reside on the
floor abova. Mr.. Wrenn and his fam
lily occupy the fourth tioor.
About z O'Clock this morning Mr.
and Mrs. Wrenn and their three
children were awakened by smoke.
Mr.. Wrenn found that room ad-
joining the apartment occupied by
his family. which 10 urged az a storage
room. was on fire and the blaze was
being blown through an open door
into the hall In order to reach the
stairway leading from their apart
ment, Mr. Wrenn with his family had
to pass the door through which tho
blaze was issuing and 1t was with
great difYiculty that the family es-
capped without injury. An alarm was
sounded and the Fire Department was
quickly on the scene and by the
prompt use OF about ffty-four gal
Ions OF chemicals extinguished the
names afte- damage OF probably $500
to the household goods had been done.
The origin of the FIRE Ia not known.
but II Is thought by Mr.. Wrsnn to
have been caused in some way by
rats.
Not n Senatorial Candidate.
Hon. John Y, Harris. of Dipwddie.
representative o. the county of Din
widdie In the state Legislature and
whose name has been mentioned
pi omtnently in connection with the
senatorial nomination from tho dis
trict comprised OF oinwiddie County
and the City OF Petersburg, was I'm
Petersburg today and denied emphat-
ically that he would be a candidate
for the nomination. adding. however.
that ne might be a candidate for re
nomination TO the House OF Delegates.
This statement from Mr.. Harris
l>aves Hon. p. r. Drewry. of this city
present representative OF the district
In the state Senate. without asowed
opposition for reelection and It IN ex-
tremely doubtful that he will have
any.
No Announcement from Drewry.
Senator Drewry has not announced
his candidacy for reelection. but his
friends have been actively engaged IN
circulating petitions requesting him to
become a candidate. having secured
many more than the necessary Atty
signatures upon the petition.
Mr. Drevry, while not favoring the
passage of the enabling act In the
last General Assembly and while us
ing his influence to prevent its pas
sage. in recent interview with your
correspondent stated that he was
heartily in favor OF the enactment of
sLch prohibitory laws as would make
Virginia real prohibition State in
accordance with the expressed wishes
Of the people in the election OF Sep
TENDER %. 1914.
Senator Drewry. while he has not
been questioned by representatives of
the Anti-Saloon League or dry"
forces OF tho state. volunteers the
statement that he will work for the
enactment Of such laws as will give
prohibition in Virginia real fair
test When elected Mr. Drewrv con-
scientiously believed that he repre-
scented wet" constituency. but since
the unmistaeahle desires OF the peo-
pie in his district were made known
in the election Of last September when
not only the County OF Dinwiddie. but
the City or Petersburg. voted in ia
vor of prohibition, Senator Drewry
states that he will disregard his per-
sonal opinion in the matter and labor
for the wishes Of his constituents.
Senator Drewry had made strong
and able representative of the dis
trict and his ability and the earnest
ness Of his present position will, II
is believed. prevent the entering into
the field for the nomination of any
other candidate.
City Point Po~tm'strcss I'll.
Information was received here to-
day Of the closing OF the City Point
postofflce. owing to the sickness OF
the postmistress. Miss Grace Pierce.
It will be remembered that a unique
situation was created at the Prince
George village some time ago when
Miss Pier>e rendered her resignation
to the department. notified her bonds
men and requested Postmaster BAR.
ham of this city. to supply post
master cor the office Immediately. A
short while afterward a civil service
examination was held IN Petersburg
for the purpose OF selecting post
master for the office. There were two
applications but no appointment has
vet been made. The closing of the
Office IN account of the sickness OF
Miss Pierce will robably mean the
immediate appointment OF her sue
cessor. The Office IS expected TO
open tomorrow
Death OF John w. Graves.
John w. Graves a prominent and
respected citizen of Chesterfield Coun-
ty. died very suddenly at his resi-
dence on Hickory Road, about six
miles from this city. at 4:3o o'clock
yesterday afternoon.
Mr. Graves was a retired farmer
seventy-six years OF age. and Ia sur
vived by three sons and two daugh-
ters Messrs. Rowlett and Robert Moy-
Ter Graves, OF Chesterfield County and
Churchill @. Graves of Roanoke.
Two brothers and two sisters,
Messrs Charles and Pompey Graves
Mrs Taylor Phillips and Mrs. Marion
Symes all OF Chesterfield County, also
survive.
The funeral will be conducted from
the residence at o'clock tomorrow
afternoon and interment will be made
In the family burial ground at the
old jackson homestead Chesterfield
County.
Correrfs an Error.
1'' Mr.. r.. Il Mann, candidate for
fioater delegate to the State Legislature
from Chesterfield and Powhatan
Counties. In opposition to Delegate
Bonifant. stated to your correspon-
dent today that It had been erroneous
n