Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1917-12-30
VALLEY OF VIRGINIA.


VALLEY OF VIRGINIA.
The plan of H. F. Byrd of Winchester,
federal fuel administrator of Virginia.
wood for general distribution at cost
prices to relieve coal shortage. is OPP
posed by the wholesale and retail deal
ers in wood. They contend they will
have to quit business unless some plan
is worked out whereby they will not
have to compete with the convict labor.
Mr.. Byrd, however, anticipated this
and is working with the state highway
commissioner, the superintendent of the
penitentiary and other oficials on plans
to overcome this objection. Expert
ments made during the past two weeks
near Fredericksburg and Staunton have
shown that wood cut in cord lengths
by convicts can be sold to the con-
sumner at 81 per cord.
Funeral services were held here yes
terday for Mrs. Sarah A. Denny, widow
Of Joseph s. Denny, who died at the
home Of her nephew. William g. Hardy.
on Christmas day. She had been living
with her son, James L. Denny. in CO.
lumbia, S. c., but recently expressed a
wish to return to Winchester, her birth
place, to spend what she said would be
her last Christmas. She died late that
night
Fire believed to have been of incen-
diary origin a few nights ago destroyed
large and practically new barn on the
farm of ]. Robert Oates near the West
Virginia line, together with all its con-
tents, including two mules. one horse
two cows. several pigs, over 100 chick.
ems, 500 bushels Of wheat and oats and
large quantities of hay, straw. corn and
machinery. He carried no insurance.
John H. Snyder. a prominent Win
chester business man, is in serious
condition as a result of being enyel-
oped in a flame which shot suddenly
from a furnace in the basement at MS
home when he opened the furnace door
to rake the IRE. The clothing was burn.
ed from the upper part Of his body and
most of his hair was also burned on
Much of the soft coal now being used
here Is gas coal, and many people have
narrowly escaped injury in similar
way.
Mrs. Sarah Ellen Rider, who was born
near Winchester ninety-nine years ago
is dead at Williamson, W. Va. She was
the widow of P. G. Rider. the last OF
nineteen children, and leaves one son
fifteen grandchildren. thirty great
grandchildren and one great-great-
grandchild.
Members Of the family of James
Lamp were slowly recovering to-day
from the nauseatfng effects OF anthra-
cite coal gas. which rendered them un-
conscious during the night. A relative
living nearby found them in pre-
carious condition. Several members of
the family had swooned and fallen on
the floor and lay as If dead when
found.
Friends here have received announce
ment Of the marriage OF Ogden III.
Hammond. son of the late Gen. John
H Hammond, L. s. A.. of st. Paul,
Mimi. and Mrs. Marguerite Mcclure
Rowland. daughter of the late Mr.. and
Mrs. David Mcclure and widow OF Du-
lany Rowland. which was quietly SOL
emnized last week in New York. the
ceremony being performed at the home
Of the bride by the Rev. William Mar
tin Of st. Patrick's Cathedral Mr..
Hammond's first wife. who was form
erIy Miss Mary Stevens, a close con-
nection of the Mcclure family of Clarke
county. was lost in the Lusitania dis
aster in May, 1915.
Citizens of Harrisonburg and other
towns in Rockingham county who may
find beef and veal and pork too highly
priced can make ends meet better now
by eating bear meat. large quantities
of which have been placed on the mar
ket at more reasonable prices than
those demanded for the choice steaks
and chops. The mountains of that
county are said to be infested by bears,
and during the past few days number
of such animals have been gagged by
hunters One party of sportsmen yes
terday brought in two. one weighing
900 pounds and the other ESQ pounds.
The hides. worth about s35 apiece. will
be tanned and made into overcoats.
George Ryneal. the wealthy retired
of Washington, whose death occurred
recently, left no will. so far as known.
although diligent search has been made
in both Martinsburg and Washington
for such a document. On motion of
the relatives. George 8. Hill Of Martins
burg and Attorney Fox of Washing
ton have been appointed administra-
tors The estate is valued at about
$3.50. 0on.
The Rev. DR.. ]. H Lacy. pastor of
the Presbyterian Church in Winches-
ter. who was recently extended call
by the congregation Of that denomina-
ton at Laurinburg. n. c.. has declined
to accept the call. Upon his return
congregation gave him rousing re-
ception.
Former State Senator William Camp
bell of Jefferson county, w Va, who
has been connected with the govern IN
ment service in a special capacity for
several years, was taken violently III
while in the West Virginia mountains
several days ago and was removed TO
hospital in Washington. where he
submitted to a surgical operation for
disorder that has been troubling him
for some time. He is reported to be
improved.
A bill is to be pressed at the forth
coming session of the Virginia general
assembly to compel the ablebodied un-
employed to do labor for which they
may be fitted. Conditions brought about
by the war have caused a serious labor
shortage in the state, but 1t Is pointed
out that there are just as many idle
men as before, and that they are. as a
rule. depending upon others and. in
many cases women. for support. The
proposed law, which has the backing
OF many organisations. will make 1t a
misdemeanor for any ablebodied man
who is not self-supporting to remain
Idle.
Mrs. Alma Catherine Machir. widow
of James W. Machir. who died few
days ago at her home at Strasburg, Va,
was a member of family Of eight chill
dren, all of whom, except Mrs. Silas
Funk, have preceded her to the grave
in the order In which they were born.
Mrs Machir leaves her one sister. one
daughter and two sons.
Mrs Mary Cornelia Stephenson. widow
of John Stephenson, who died at her
home here several days ago from ad-
yanced age, was a daughter Of w. Roy
Mason, a distinguished lawyer of King
George county, Va. All of her sisters
married United States Army officers be-
fore the civil war, who brought their
husbands south At the outbreak of hos
Titles, and the men served in the Con-
sederate army. Her husband was In