The Washington times., 1902-07-10
A Sympathetic Crowd
Watches Efforts to Re-
lease Tiny Prisoner.
SHACKLED NEARLY AN HOUR
Mr.. T ]. Tally Sends for Engineer OF
Raleigh Hotel - Pipe Taken From
Sidewalk and Broken Before Foot Is
Liberated.

The misfoTtunes of tiny boy. Just o!d
enough to toddle about. who caught his
little foot in a water trap on the street,
position from which it could not be eX-
tlicated for nearly an hour, gained the
sympathy of a curious crowd OF fully 500
people, which gathered about and watch
ed the efforts and suggested methods to
relieve him from his peculiar captivity.
The baby prisoner was Stewart Smith,
the son of MIR. and Mrs. Hugh Smith. who
reside at 5l5 Twelfth Sire, northwest.
The accident occurred at the corner of
Twelfth and E Streets northwest, shortly
after o'clock last night.
Several skilled mechanics and a num-
ber OF people who were attracted to the
scene by the cries of the child and its
mother worked manfully to free the
child After laboring for almost an hour,
their efforts were rewarded and the i'm
prisoned foot was once again on terra
frma. A physician was among the on
lockers, and medical attention was
promptly rendered.
The Accident.
Just before o'clock Mrs. Smith went
to her mothers home. at 420 Twelfth
Street, taking the youngster with her,
She was talking with her parents when
her attention was suddenly attracted
by the screams of Stewart. her baby.
who had been playing on the street.
She rushed to the child's aid and discov-
cred that his tiny foot had been lodged
in the small water-pipe which is plac-
ed on the pavement to be used when the
water is to be turned either oil OF on.
All her efforts TO exiricatCaher baby
foot proved futile Several persons were
attracted to the scene by the woman ,
frantic actions. and gradually the CROWD
grew larger ana larger, until it had
swelled TO several hundred. Many sug-
gestions were offered. but all failed.
The Pipe Taken Up.
Mr.. T. ]. Tally. proprietor cf the RAJ
leigh Hotel. was attracted b. the crowd.
and through his efforts and directions
the baby's foot was released. Mr.. Tally
ascertained the nature of the accident
and Immediately sent to his hostelry
for the engineer OF the building.
The engineer endeayo-ed to release
the foot by pouring lubricating oil on IL,
but this did not prove successful AS
a last resort, the engineer and several
por;ers. whose services Mr.. Tally had
volunteered. proceeded 10 take up the
pine from the pavement. Hammers and
chiseIs were procured and the men
worked for almost an hour before ihey
had broken the concrete block and
lifted the pipe from the ground. Then
they were compelled to cut the pipe. IN
order to get the foot out.
While the men were working the lit
tie fellow did not cease his screaming.
and his mother pleaded with the men 10
hurry. The child was lying on The
ground while the men were working, and
!, baroer went into his shop and brought
a large sheet, upon which Stewart was
placed while the pipe was being cut in
two.
Finally there was a swapping sound,
snd the pipe was broken. Immediately
the foot slipped from its shackles ami
there was JOY without bouIlla. The
crowd chcered the workmen Justify. The
relieved mother picked up her child and,
kissed and caressed il. while the peo
pie looked on sympathetically.
A Small Bone Broken.
The child was taken into its grand
mothers house and Or. Wade Atkinson,
who happened 10 be in the vicinity,
went in and volunteered his services.
1t was found that one Of the small
bones in the foot had been fractured.
The doctor set the fracture and the
child was given It's bottle Of milk. It
forgot about the foot and paid attention
to the bottle.
Dr. Atkinson was thanked b. the
child's parents. and after rendering all
possible service, he left FOR his home.
He stated last night that he did no.
think the accident would cripple the
child. although il would necessarily
keep il in bed for some time.