The Washington times., 1895-03-09
Excited Public Thought a Boy Was
Caught by a CaVe-in.
TONS OF EARTH WENT DOWN
Policeman strohman Was Sure He Heard
the Clasps of Some One in the Pile-Men
Hastily Put. to Work, but in the Mean
time the Missing Lad Had Eeen Found
Elsewhere Excavation for New Main.

The residents of Florida avenue, near w
street northwest, between Fourteenth and
Fifteenth streets, were startled by the
circulation of a report at 6 80 p. N. yes
terday, that boy had been buried under
several tons of earth that had fallen from
the sides of the excavation for the new water
main in that section.
Several boys, including George Garner,
John Kelley, Joseph Riley, and a lad named
Sumner, had been playing in and about
the deep trench made for the reception
of the big metal main, and some OF them
had been seen to 90 into the end of one OF
the pipes just before the earth caved.
Nobody saw them come out, and precocious
little chap named ''Ikey" Tashof, aged
five years, who resides with his mother at
No. 1921 w street. made the startling
announcement that there was "a boy
covered up by the dirt in there and
asked Policeman Suohman to help get
him out The officer approached the place
designated, and convinced himself that he
heard the gasps of some one who seemed
to be suffering from suffocation.
MURPHY WAS MISSING.
Davie Murphy, about the age ofthe Tashof
child, a son of William Murphy, who re-
sides at No. 14o4 Florida avenue, was
about The same time reported to be missing,
and his friends had instituted a search for
him The two reports met with the natural
result OF convincing almost everyone that
Davie was the victim of the landslide.
j. j. Fitzgerald, the Inspector who has
main, was summoned by telephone and
came from his residence at No. 120 6 street
northwest. A watchmaD named Willis and
others, besides the excited populace, were
also on the ground and under Mr.. FitZ-
geraid's direction several men were at
once put to work 10 remove the accumulated
dirt
Meanwhile Sergt. HARRISON, in charge OF
a squad OF the reser rYes, came in answer to
a summons, and the expectant throng held
its breath while the workmcn we're labori-
ousy uncovering the big pipe at the end OF
which it was supposed there was crushed
body. The policeman on the beat did not
know the name of the child who had given
him the call, and no one else seemed TO
know how many boys had been in the ditch,
nor the names OF either OF them.
Inquiry, however, located one of the
boys, from him three other names were
procured, and at the last call it was learned
that ''Ikey" Tash hof's friend 'Dayy''
had been found and sent home.
He is a reckless boy said ''Davy's"
mother, ''and is often on the street when
don't know where he is. This evening he
was found up at the mission rooms. on
Fourteenth street. where he was looking in
at the Windows
NOBODY BURIED THERE.
When the last shoyelful of dirt was re-
moved from the opening of the main and
workmcn peered into it by the light of a
lantern and exposed the depths of the ex-
cavation, it became evident that there
was nobody buried there. and the finding
OF the hoys known to have been skylaTking
about the place was additional proof.
Boys are accustomed TO play upon the
banks of the excavation, and, notwith
standing they are ordered away when dis
covered they take advantage OF the alb
sence OF the watChmen and get down into
the cut, and even crawl through the metal
pipes That nobody was killed or Grip
pied yesterday evening is due to the good
fortune that seems to preserve venture
some boys from accident. II was stated
last night that the police would be given
again caught transgressing.
The water main now in process OF con-
struction leads from the U street pumping
station to Thirteenth street northwest.
and thence west by Thirteenth street to
make an important connection with the
high service OF the water department.