The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1917-02-12
DUPONT CLUBHOUSE IS
OisiR0YEO BY FLANIS
Beautiful Building Is Completely
Wrecked, Entaiiing Loss of
approximately $4,000
GUILTY PARTIES BEING SOUGHT
Chief Ragiand on Trail of Men Who
Tried 10 SmugEic Saws Into City
Jaii--Oficcr Reinstated ny police
commissioners.

Petersburg, Va. Feb. li.--Thc
beautiful DUPONT clubhouse at -"
village, City Point. one Of the hand
soonest and most completely furnishcd
social clubs in Virginia, was destroycgl
by fire which was discovered about E
o'clock this morning, entailing a loss
OF approximately $4,000. on which
the DuPont company carried its own
insurance.
The clubhouse was opened 10 its
members with elaborate ceremonies
IN November, 1915 Present at the
opening were several high officials Of
the DUPONT company, state officials
NJ Delaware who came down by spe-
clal train, and several Of the most
prominent ofiiCcholdgrs Of Virginia
together with numerous OF the most
prominent citizens of Richmond and
Petersburg, who went down by spe-
cial train.
Superintendent ". r. Allen. OF the
DUPONT interests Mt Hopewcfi in an
interview today with your CORE
spondent, stated that il had not def
uiteiy been determined how the fire
started but that 1t was generally be-
lieved that a short ~circuitcd wire in
the lighting syst@ n was the direct
cause Due TO the hour at which the
IRE started, the flames had gained
corsidera bic Roadway before discuv-
cred. and but for the splendid work
u the DUPONT fire department. the
building Aid have been total loss
The wing in which the handsome and
costly library Is located and the Wig
in which are the bowling alleys were
The only parts Of the building lcf,
standing.
TIE clubhouse occupied one Of the
. ct g.. -r,
20 h. found anywhere: in Virginia, ne
ing located on about the highest Gle
VatT0n IN Vf1taEr, ma tTrrr-ttv
between the .Apponattox and james
rivers at theft ConfuX, affoTdIng mag.
n!tcent scenery at all seasons Of the
year and cool and delightful bre 2e
almost as strong as the sea breeze ia
the summer months.
The DUPONT club afforded features
IN the social life Of the officers and
employees of the plant which VIII be
greatly missed until il can be- recon
structed. Mr.. Allen states that The
work Of clearing away the debris Will
be commenced tomorrow. and that the
& club will be rebuilt NJ the earliest
possible time. In the meantime Pc
tersburg and Richmond clubs VIII he
Thrown open for the convenience and
benefit of members OF the DUPONT
club, and they will meet with hearty
reception In either OF the two cities
Looking For Guilty partte~.
No arrest has vet been made Of tho
person or persons who attempted to
aid in Iiberating two Greek - tsoners
held in tho city jail here on charges
Of violating the prohibition Law. Ivy
sending them four hacksaws concealed
ia "a breast of veal yesterday.
Chief II. r. Ragiand of tho police
\ department, received Information Fri
day that an effort would lie made to
smuggle saws 20 the Greek prisonc ~
T that they might saw their way out
b of jail. chief Ragland was informed
that the saws would be found in a
loaf of bread to be sent the prisoners
Friday evening. He conveyed this
information to Sergeant Evans, ana
about noon yesterday negro APP
, peared with dinner for the prisoners.
He was detained while search was
made and until 1t was learned that
he had been made the unwilling tool
of the conspirators The police have
!. clue as to the Whereabouts Of the
guilty parties, and their arrest IS
! looked for momentariiy
Officer L. Rcinstatcd.
/ The board of police commissioners.
= composed of T. Is, Maclin. b. Il. Jones
I and pr. W, Preston Hoy, met at Pc
AlL8 headquarters III o @ GiOAh t'N-
ter1ay afternoon to hear evidence IN
the action of chief r. r. Raeland IN
{ suspendng Patrolman Slaughter Al
= ter hearing the facts as stated by
- several witnesses. the action OF the
D. chief in suspending the officer for a
, breach OF the rules of the depart
ment. aud INSTRUMENTATION, was sus-
tanned. Mr. Slaughter was present
T and represented by counsel through
whom he offered apologies to Cap
: tain Ragland and upon The chic rs
recommendation he was fined the
I amount of salary which he would
have drawn during the time of his
, suspension from Thursday at noon
? and relnstated.
The suspension OF Patrolman
Slaughter grew out of his discussing
. in puA',' an official act of the chief
AdJntant.. Cuthbert. OF the Salvation
Army, whose indscreot actions re-
suited indirectly In the controversy
expresses deep regret at certain harsh
? criticism directed at the chief and
/ contradicts n story in toto In which
it was stated that Chief Raeland used
{ harsh language towards him.
Petersburg Soldiers Leave.
I Petersburg citizens generally, es-
. pecially relatives and intimate friends
OF the members Of the Petersburg
SFd}s, were much pleased TO learn
last night that the Second Virginia
infantry. Of which the Grays are a
part has entrained at Brownsville
Ten, and left for Richmond 1t was
also learned with regret that a box
car containing the personal baggage
~ members OF Companies 20" fpe-
tershurg Grays) and H" and some
ammunition was destroyed by fire yes
to-day. Just how long the Second
g.s.s.