Evening star., 1944-03-11
of Gov. Price,
State Senator Die in
Richmond Hotel Fire
6 Perish as Flames
Sweep Top Floors
Of the Jefferson
BY the Associated Press.

RlCHMOND, va, Mar. IL
Mrs. James Hubert Price, widow
of the former Governor of Vir-
ginia, was identified today as one
of six victims Of the disastrous
fire in the Hotel Jefferson last
midnight, which also claimed the
life of State Senator Aubrey G.
Weaver, chairman Of the Senate
Finance Committee. The fire
swept through the two top floors
the fifth and sixth.
The identification was made by
her son, 1t. James H. Price, jr., at
a funeral home. Mrs. Price has lived
in the hotel since shortly after ths
Governors death last fall.
Mrs. Prices room was just down
the hall from that occupied by Sen
Aator Weaver and adjoined that Of
Senator and Mrs. S. Floyd Landreth.
Galax, who had narrow escape
when flames drove them TO their
bathroom until firemen could ex.
ttnguish flames in the hallway.
Byrd Mourns Weaver's Death.
Senator Byrd, Democrat, of Vir.
ginia issued the following statement
in Washington:
"The tragic death Of State SEN
ator Weaver is a great shock and
distress to me. He possessed q SUI
perb legislative capacity and as
chairman Of the Senate Finance
Committee he rendered q most no
table service.
mo man in public life in Virginia
had better understanding Of Vir-
ginia affairs or possessed to a great
Ter degree the confidence and affec-
ton Of his colleagues. He will be
sorely missed in the public service,
but his loss to his host of friends
who loved him as I did will be
irreplacable."
Others Killed in Fire.
Others killed were:
Dorothy Gam, "a. of Newark.
Jean Manfred, about "A, Of Irving.
ton, N. j.
J.W. Ross, sailor, Camp Peary, Va.
An unidentified woman.
Nearly a score Of guests were hos
|pitalized and others treated at the
scene for shock and smoke inhala-
ton.
The hotel, crowded with members
OF the Virginia Assembly, was .
scene Of confusion as men and wonn-
en- rushed from their rooms or called
for help when flames enveloped the
two floors. OF undetermined cause,
it apparently began in . linen closet.
Damage was confined to the two
top floors. Firemen broke windows
to rescue trapped persons, while
other scantily clad guests poured
down stairways.
Mr.. Weaver, 81, was chairman Of
the Senate Finance Committee and
a leading political figure in the
State for many years.
In addition to her son, who has
seen active naval service In the
South Pacific, Mrs. Price is survived
by a daughter, Miss Lillian Moir
Price. Mrs. Price was a native Of
Stuart.
Mr.. Landreth. despite severe
burns, succeeded in opening q
window and directing attention OF
| the firemen to flames on the sixth
floor. Quick action by the firemen
put out flames in the hall of that
floor where many guests had been
trapped.
Also injured were Delegate Ed
mund De Jarnette, Ashland, face
burns, and Senator Harry Stuart,
Russell County, smoke.
Delegate w. Selden Washington,
Alexandria, was the only member Of
the Legislature from Northern Vir.
ginia known to have been staying
at the hotel. He told his wife today
he was on the second floor and went
back to sleep after the fire.
Gov. Darden. 1t. Gov. william M.
Tuck, Mayor Gordon B. Amber of
Richmond and other notables rushed
to the hotel on receiving word of
the tragedy.
| Senator Weaver was brought to
the LOBBY on one OF the last elevators
to operate and was pronounced dead
after more than an hours effort to
resuscitate him.
Flames Sweep Through Railways.
The flames swept rapidly through
the Railways and guests who at
tempted to open doors were forced
back into their rooms by flames
which Senator Landreth said leaped
half way across his room.
Il slammed shut my door and
rushed to the window for air." the
Senator said. Mrs. Landreth and
I had our hair and eyebrows burned.
We dropped to our knees and crawled
to the bathroom, shut the door and
kept throwing water on 1t with a wet
towel. 1t looked like the end had
come but We decided there was
nothing we could do but wait for
the firemen.
ut seemed like two weeks before
(See FIRE, Page A-2)