The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1916-12-23
f|REMEN WILL BEAR
| CAPTAIN TO GRAVE
William @. Matt, Killed on Duty at
Fire, To BE Buried Sunday.
Highly Praised BY Chief.

Richmond fremen will attend in
body the funeral of Captain William
C. Matt. Sunday afternoon at 3 o'clock
in st. Marys German Catholic Church.
Captain Matt. in charge of Engine
Company No. 7. lost his life Thursday
night by falling from a ladder while
fighting the fire which destroyed the
plant of the Imperial Coffee Company
at Fourteenth and Cary Streets. Two
other firemen, Abraham Podoll. OF
Company No. 8, and J. L. Buck, OF
Company No. 4. who received slight
Injuries during the same fire. are said
to be rapidly recovering at Virginia
Hospital.
Chief Joynes stated yesterday that
he would send detail of firemen from
each company in the city to attend
the funeral and burial Of Captain
Matt whose remains will in inferred
in ST Mary's Cemetery. Members of
his company. to be chosen today by
the chief. will bear their leaders
body to its last resting place.
Praise For Captain Matt.
Chief Joynes. in commenting on the
death of this able fireman. spoke OF
him in the highest terms Captain
Matt was as good fireman as ever
went to a fire." he said HE always
used the best OF Judgment and handled
his men well. ! knew always that
when / placed a duty in the hands of
Matt he would handled the situation
to my perfect satisfaction" Matt was
popular with his men, and with a
large number OF friends in the city.
He Is survived by his wife. three
sisters, Mrs. James B. Doherty. Mrs.
J. j. Mulcare. Of Richmond. and Mrs
J. r. Mulcare. OF Brooklyn; and two
brothers, John and A B. Matt. OF this
city.
Fire Chief Joynes stated yester-
day that Captain Matt was not over
come by smoke, which caused him to
fall from ladder, as was thought,
but that he was pulled down from
his place on the ladder by Fireman
Podoli. who lost his balance and
clutched at Matt in an effort to save
himself from falling. The statement
that a flying nozzle struck Matt. caus-
ing him 10 lose hts balance and fall
TO the curb. striking his head on the
pavement and fracturing his skull
was denied.
Loss Covered BY Insurance.
Tho fre which started from some
source. which heads OF the fire de-
partment say may never be known.
totally wrecked the coffee company's
property. and the loss. estimated at
100000, by f. A. Saunders. Jr.. presi-
dent OF the company. WIS entirely COW
cred by insurance Only the heroic
efforts Of firenen prevented the spread
of n-e to many nearby buildings. it
is thought
Rebuilding OF the coffee plant will
begin, Mr.. Saunders said yesterday, as
soon az the debris can be cleared
away from the ruins OF the old house
the city had offered him the use OF
their machines. without any cost. until
his property can be put back in shape
Plans for the new building are now
under way. but In the meantime the
companys offices are established tenn
porarily in the e. A. Saunders build
ing. and business is now being carried
on as before the fire.
Provision For Widow.
1t Is understood that provisions will
be made for the support OF Mats
widow following the custom practiced
In previous cases Of this kind. Chief
Joynes stated yesterday that the
widow would receive the regular pay
that her husband would have re-
ceived until his present term had ex-
pired, and that when this source of
relief had been exhausted the City
Council will be expected 10 include an
amount in the next budget which will
be used for Mrs, Mats benefit This.
1t Is said. has been the plan followed
In the case OF other firemen who have
lost their lives in the city's service
and who have left dependent families