Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1895-09-11
AFFAIRS IN GEORGETOWN
The Police Think They Have Captured .
Murderer's Accomplioe.
An Explosion That Has Not Been Ex-
plaincd-Exciteme Over Re.
mOva1 of O Pump.

der in the arrest of nineteen-year-old
oolored boy. On August % a telegram from
the Richmond police was received here re-
questing that a lookout be kept up for
"Wm. Kemp, nineteen years old, ginger
bread color" and giving particulars as to
appearance, weight, &c, particularly men
t!on.ng scar on the arm. 1t was thought
that he was in Washington. About this
date, according to the statement of hang
ers-oa about the neghborhood, the pr.s-
oner made his appearance here on Water
street with no means of support He lived
from hand to mouth during the day md
slept in wheelbarrow near the ice house
at night. To the police he told such con-
II Trajectory stories that they arrested him on
suspicion. First he said his name was
Williams" again John Williams" and
then again ''Dodson.' He answers we'll
the description of the William Kemp want
tgat.on. A Star reporter talked to the 10y
this morning, and he admitted having been
in Richmond year ago, but states that
for nearly five months he has been boat
irg'' on tine canal for Capt. Smeberg and
Capt. Ell Spawn. the latter of boat No. 122
of the Consolidation Conpany's fleet. For
man who has been in Georgetown but a
few days. as the police think of the pr.s-
orer, he has become remarkably familiar
with mean districts here, and has a broad
acquaintance among the den:zens of Frog
Island" and Hungry HILL" and speaks in
an old-time way Of hard characters in other
parts. The boy says he was loafing about
here waiting for the coming into town Of
Capt. Spawn. who owes him money for
having worked a trip with him. He claims
that he lives in Cumberland.
There is 800 reward for information that
will lead to the capture of the man wanted
in Richmond.
An Unexplained Explosion.
There was terrific explosion here at
1910 o'clock last night, that shook buildings
and filed the air with buzz for several
minutes. The police station ratified, and
sleeping officers were awakened. The naval
observatory force sent out men to ascer-
tain what the matter was, and policemen
in every quarter of the town were inquired
of at the next hourly report. Everybody
awake was startled by the sound. 1t was
more thunderous than cannon shot or a
quarry explosion. The peculiar thing about
it all is that the explosion could not be
located definitely Reports are very vary
ing. Some say that 1t emanated from the
vicinity Of the Aaueduct bridge, others that
1t came from the opposite end of the town.
Some people thought that a mass of the
dynamite used in excavating at the union
depot had gone OF others that an over
looked charge in the Virginia quarries had
suddenly decided to burst its letters and
carry things with 1t; others. still. that one
Of the big gasometers had gone into frag-
ments, while still others say it was a
meteoric burst. The explosion Is still a
mystery to the majority. though many be-
lieve now that the quarry theory is prob
ably the correct one.
Against Removing the Pump.
A gentleman who has been considerably
worked up by the alleged wanton removal
Of pumps from all sections of the town
sends to The Star the following protest
against the filling up of the well near his
home door, and at which he has drank
constantly for over seventy years:
Great distress has been caused by the
needless destruction of the well that has
afforded such sweet and wholesome sup
ply of pure water to nearly eighty families
on 34th street near P. Soon after this glo-
rious we'll was wantonly destroyed by the
contaminationists the one at the corner OF
Saith and Q streets was pumped dry, and
property holders since have been compelled
to go all the way to 32d street and to the
Bear pump near the New Cut road for
drinking water. The Inconvenience has not
been borne without many curses being
heaped upon the heads of the men for
whom We pay taxes to maintain"
1t is stated that on the removal of this
34th street pump. two days ago. the resi-
dents about only needed a leader to attack
the District men, Indignation waxed high,
and many strong words were uttered.
The New Light and Power Company.
The purchasers of the Potomac light and
power plant are busy making necessary
changes The transfer from Mr.. victor M.
Watkins executor of the estate of A. H.
Wilder, who owned the plant carried with it
only the personal property of the company,
engines. dynamos. poles, wires, converters,
franchise, etc. The real estate at the Viz
ginia end of the Chain bridge, being ten
acres on both sides of Pimmet rum extend
Ing from the river back to point near the
run bridge, and improved with a power
house, was reserved. The Potomac Light
and Power Company Is the successor 10
the old Potomac Electric Light Company,
which became bankrupt, and was bought
in by Mr.. Wilder, a St. Paul, Mimi, mil
lionaire. he holding trust upon the whole.
Mr.. Wilder died almost Immediately after
the organization of the new company, and
the sale here was made to Messrs Miller
Lteb and Crosby to settle the estate 1t
was the ONLY interest Mr.. Wilder had in
the east. The new owners will operate the
plant tonight effectively.
Notes.
Daniel Masterson, colored, was arrested
last night charged with raping Hannah
Anderson, thirteen years of age, an alleged
relative of the man. The parties live in
Tenleytown.
Miss Jennie Masterson. after a two
months stay in the Green mountains, is
home again.