Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1892-08-24
A HORRIBLE ACCIDENT.
Fall Through an Unprotected Opening
Into Tank OF Boiling Water.

Into Tank OF Boiling Water.
Gu the 14th street side of the power house Of
the Washington and Georgetown railroad be-
tween d and streets northwest great vaults
have been excavated beneath the sidewalk. Mas
siye iron beams have been erected TO support
the sidewalk. metal arches being fastened be-
tween the beams.
In these vaults-or. more properly speaking
in the vault, for it is but one long one-a
metal-iined well. about eight feet deep and
eight feet in diameter has been made 70,
the purpose of taking the water of the steam
exhaust pipe Of the power house. The greater
part of the openings between the iron beami
or girders has been covered by placing in DO
sition the metal arches. but last night there
we're several openings uncovered and, strange
to say. one directly bver the well Of steamine
water was 20 exposed. Lights were placed in
and about the piles OF building materials and
rubbish in the street. but. so reporter OF
The STAR WIS informed this morning by an
officer of the first precinct, no ropes or other
by from approaching the opening over the
vault
Between u and o'clock last night Mr.. J. T.
Freeman, young Engiishman. had occasion
to pass up l4th street and made his
way, it is presumed. over the
partly covered vault. plunging through the
opening above the well into the
almost boiling water. His cries were heard for
distance of several squares. but it was impos-
sibIe to locate them for some little time by
those who ran to his relief. When the
unfortunate man WAS found it was
discovered that he had, by swim
ming in the scaIding water. managed to keen
his head above it. and had at length escaped
from his terrible position. climbing out by
means of the large iron exhaust pine which runs
down into the we'll. although it was hot.
Officers Helar.and Settright, with the patrol
wagon, were quickly on hand. and the injured
man, suffering excruciating pain was hurried
to the Emergency Hospital. There it was dis
covered that he had been badly burned by the
hot water. especially on the inner parts Of the
thighs and about the body and arms.
On removing his clothing the outer skin
pulled off in many places, leaving great raw
spots. The shock TO his nervous system was
very great and the efforts of Dr. Woodward
and the hospital staff were directed princi-
paily to Its reduction. For several hours
he suffered the most intense agony, but the
pain was finally allayed to some extent. To-day
the unfortunate man is doing as well can be
expected. but the physicians state that his
condition Is most serious one. His
friends desired to remove him to Providence
Hospital this morning, but DIR. Kerr Of the
Emergency Hospital informed them that he
was i'll condition to be removed.
In conversation with the reporter several
residents of the neighborhood expressed
indignation at what they claimed was a great
piece of negligence on the part of the railroad
company in failing to so barricade the ap-
proaches to the exposed openings as to make i,
impossible for any one passing to fall into
them.
today it was impossible to obtain from him any
statement of the Incident