Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1863-01-08
LOCAL NEWS.
TERRIBLE DISASTER.
Falling of a House,
captain }. NJ. Simm. Crashed Under the
Ruins, and Several Men Severely
Injured.

Yesterday afternoon, about 2 O'Clock, a. q
dozen or more colored men We're engaged, under
the directioa of Capt. Joseph NJ. Simms, in
storing grain in the three-story warehonsn Of
Messrs. SniOot & Spedden, on the canal, near
the corner OF street south and Third street
east the chimney was heard 70 crack and the
men immediately ran out, bat the chimney
sermng TO settle in its place, they returned 8 No
renewed their work. Shortly after, however
the walls common ced 10 crack and fall out liz,
all directions the ilcoring, on which there was
shout a,VO bushels Of gram, falling ST the same
time.
s The men inside, on the first alarm, made for
The street, the most Of them making their escape
by the alley WAY, over which the floor did not
sank; Among the.e we're the proprietors of the
building ana several negroes. Capt. Simms
was on the low er fo5r at the time, and persons
2hoi :ed 10 him 10 run out the alley way, but ne
attempted 10 escape by running through the
front Coor, on The canal side, and was caught
by the falling bricks and unbers inst outside
where he was completely covered, with the
exception Of one hand. Several OF the coloreG
men also ran out this door, and two OF them
named Jim Wedge and Sly Brown, were also
caught by some OF the falling masonry ana
Were severely Injured. Others were iniared by
b~Ing struck, but not seriously.
The news OF the terrible disaster 81 once
spread through that section, and sooa a large
number OF citizens were at the place. including
the American Hook ana Ladder Company and
Officers Barkely, Burns and Others OF the police
who promptly set about removing the rubbish.
The body Of Capt. SinnIns founG where he
fell, with bis head fractured aud his neck and
breast ruised, and be WAS At once taken 10 The
residence OF kIs son in la ", Mr.. James Carroll
on l. street south. near Third street east Fer
long time, and until laic ID The evening, the
ruins were eyerhauied 10 ascertain IL any eth
eEs had b,en buried lie Lhefu, aad tho search
has been rene wed this morning; but up to the
press nj hour no others have BEEN found, and il
Is thought that all escaped.
Several OF the men escaped almost miracu-
lously. One Of them who was seated on pile OF
bags IN the second story when tina noor 50 ak
felt them gradually giving way under him IA
thy pressing tight sgsinst his body he couid
notextricate himself but W a. gradually broaght
down to the ground floor from whence he WAS
taken after the walls hsd fallen with no uries
other than b. ing little scared and hs wing MS
thighs punched between the bags. Another col
ored mah who Was standing near the corner OF
the house when the cracking commenced started
IN Decline tor the bridge and barely made bis
escape, she vail coming down in waves,
and striking his heels at every few steps he
look bruised th.m considerably.
The house is one of the oldest in Washington,
having ben built over fifty years ago It has
been used Tor various purposes, hs wing bees
formerly . warehouse, but for several yeirs
pat, this, and the pas next door, occ a pied by
Capt. Sim'ns have been in uSe dwrlliugs.
l. belongs 10 the &c tate of the late Wrn Spedden
" hoes son, wlth hir partner, Mr.. SraooL a short
time since rrcon vrrLsd it ini warehouse.
Capt. Simms was about IS years OF age, aad
HN itsiofu uefc iOf ABOVE 81 years. ne
OF his life he haS been folio wing the W at-Y, auJ
unul recently ran schooner on tie river lie
vas well known among river men, and was
universally este M d.
Messr>. SrnOot and Spedden. and the friends
OF Capt. Simms, d. sire TO return their thaaxs
TO the American Hook and Ladder Com paay,
the police above named, anj the ctti,>us gen-
orally, who rendered assistxnc. in eKtrica Tin =
those IN the ruins.
THH M sTEoroLiTAN PoLnB.--On JAnuuy
III, SuptriL ;sndent Webb issu d "a ORD AT % the
police force, " herein he com men Is .h-n tor
their good conduct, appearance, and bearing ou
jan. LIST He also compliments them tor In.
personal nehtneRs And order they have IN Ala
tanned under Why unfayoTable cir ca insta au-s
ss % want OF proper acoommod alton :, a ad th !,
fact thai the uniforms have i'm many Last An "a
lassed through more than one hand. The ord .r
says:
ether hAs never boen an occasion vet WIEN
the Metst poiItan Police OH EZRA, ~ 1 b,iy h1S
tailed TO do credit 70 the board who 90 .,ci IL.