Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1872-10-23
PUasTISG OF A LA2GE WATER
MAIN.
Extent and Character of the Damage.
On" of the Employees of ti,e Govern
nIeut KILLED by Foul Air White
Turning OFF the Water.

About o'clock this morning one of the large
water mains OI the Washington aIueduct. ON
BTIdge street, IN Georgetown, burStei At point
In front OF the maTket-hOuse, and n stream of
water some twelve or fifteen inches in diameter,
was projected from the opening with great
force, CARRYING away a large portion OF the
earth just placed there to til up the street.
Had IL not been that hole was knocked IN the
large sewer at that point Immediately, the
damage 10 property would have baen very
great. AS soon an opening was made in the
sewer most OF the water was carried OF By II
and the flooding of and consequent jury to the
surrounding buildings, was prevented. Col.
SAHO, sUpeTinte nGent of the aJueduct, was
Immediately on the ground, and took all neces-
SaIy steps to repair the damage as speedily rs
possible. The how Of tie water through the
mains, however, could not be stopped for some
time, "a the StOp-COCks az Foundry branch had
TO lie shut down and Tire pipes then emp.ied.
1t cannot be sscertained which OF the large
mains hiss huTsted until the earth shall he eNcs-
yatett, and a. the street has recently been filed
up there y OF Il feet, il viii take most of the
day TO remove all the fling ABOVE the main.
The twelve-inch main, however, is believed 20
lie perfect, a. the water was shut eft from II
first, and DO decrease in the flow through the
hrsak was noticed. The other two MANS being
larg-r. and holding more water. more time WIS
required TO mPty them after the pressure was
shut of. Col. Same is OF the opinion that the
whole damage can be repaired N ~ hours and
will devote himself TO the work to-day and to-
night until the work is finished. There is plenty
OF T. pe OIL hand TO put in q new section, and but
a iew hours Will be required 10 do the work after
the excavation * once made. The city will be
supplied through the other two mans while the
break II pe.I repaired.
Water was first discovered Issuing slowly from
the new-made bank OF earth in front OF the
maj ket house, about nve o'clock Yesterday al
ternOOn. and about SIX O'Clock this morning the
volume increased very rapidly, and soon a large
hole was washed in Bridge street, extending
neaT,y the entire width Of the street, and about
fifteen feet deep.
L1ter-Tbe leak is believed to be in the six
inch pipe OF III the 36-inch main, which, on sc-
count of the pressure of the earth above it, has
probably been forced through the sewer arch
The pavement in front of the C0hrier ofice has
given way, and the water is still running. Mr..
CroPley, druggist, estimates his loss in goods by
the flooding OF his cellar mt $500.
MAN KILLED BY INHALING PoCL AIR.
fatal accident occurred in connection
with this break John r. kuhns, a laborer
employed on the Washington aqueduct
and residing on Grace street in GEORGETOWN
went soon after the break in the water main wa.
discovered intOthe opening near the Rock creek
bridge in front OF the livery stable where stop
cock Is placed in order to turn OFF the water
As soon as he got into the hole foul air suffD-
Gated him, anu he died IN a few minutes. Mr..
81. e. Aldrich, assistant superintendent, who was
outs lie OF the opening, noticing that Kuhns was
being sutocated fastened q rope TO his own body
and went down 70 rescue the suffering man, but
before lie could reach him he too was al
most Frustrated and had 20 be dragged out
-Four times the effort was make TO rescue Euhns
and when rope Was fastened 20 him at last he
Nds 81 aESetl out Il was fOnnd that life was ex-
unct IL was not thought that this hole was filed
Wit foul alr a. II has been opened al least once
every week, and work men frequently descended
TO The bottom. Mr.. KGhu- was a good citizen
and much esteemed by his friends. He vas
about thirty years OF age, and leaves A wife.
be coroner did not deem 10 necessary to hold
an inquest kuhns was a member OF the Logan
Tribe Of Red Men who have taken charge of bis
remains.