Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1891-01-03
All the company were then entertained q
breakfast in the convent refectory.
A STAMPEDE OF CLERKS.
An Unruly Steam Heater Causes q Scene as
the Agricultural Department.

the Agricultural Department.
There are $50 young ladies employed in the
seed department of the Agricultural Depart
ment and 1917 Of them were scared out of a
years growth yesterday morning. The stop
cock ON one of the steam heaters in the hall
was blown OFF aud the steam escaped with a
hiss and rush which would have done credit to
half dozen locomotives.
IN THE SEED DEPARTMENT.
The seed department occupies a separate
building southeast of the regular agricultural
bureau building and the clerks, the chief of
the building, J. b. Peck. and the steam heater
occupy the first floor. 1t was about IL O'Clock
yesterday morning when the jovial heater came
to the conclusion that things were getting Gull.
There was a partition with glass windows at the
top between the steam heater and the girls,
and the heater wasn't having much fun. The
decision was promptly reached and as promptly
carried out that at any rate it would make it
self heard In two seconds the stop cock had
been blown out, the steam was fairly roaring as
il escaped, and the girls, oh where we're they2
THE GIRLS WERE SCARED.
Some Of them were simply sitting still and
shrieking. Others were making flying leaps
over the tables and chairs for the windows and
doors, while some few retained their self-pos-
session and remained quiet.
About this time the steam heater began 10
really enjoy itself and let loose an additional
the hall He saw what WIS the
matter and wasn't scared, but the
girls came rushing by like a cyclone. He tried
to explain. but pshaw he didn't have . show,
and finally was obliged to climb into a Sod ban
to his life, while the tide of feminine love
illness swept by.
THE SCARE OVER.
The scare was as rapid in its Termination a
in its beginning, and in ten minutes the girls
were all back setting the tables straight, piek-
ing up the fallen seeds and chairs and calming
their shattered nerves.
AN ACCIDENT.
The only accident resulting from the stsm-
pede was to Miss Hattie s. Monroe Of a0s In
diana avenue, who in jumping from one Of the
windows caught her foot and fell spraining the
muscles of the hip rather severely. The win
dow was only a few feet from the ground
The clerks even the with their wits
about them, were scared on account of the i'm
preston that the boilers were directly under
them. when, in fact, they are altogether re-
moved, and as Superintendent Peck remarked,
the only thing the girls have 10 fear h an
earthquake or a furlough- The young ladies
are rather doubtful which they would prefer.
VISIT TO THE SCENE.
When q STAR reporter visited the scene Of IL
excitement everything as quiet rs possible
The steam heater was working away with no
sign of an outbreak and the clerks were busly
sorting seeds Superintendent Peck showed
the reporter the window which Miss Monroe
had used i'm her exit. and $50 girls. and many Of
them exceedingly pretty girls. watched the re-
porter. At least he thought they were watch
ing, anyway. He stumbled over a chair and
nearly upset o table, blushed % much - -
possibly could and escaped