Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-06-04
DEATH ACCIDENTAL
==g
Coroner's Investigation Of a
Double rraedy..
VERDICT Rem
INQUEST OVER BtT ONE OF THE
VICTIMS.
Report Of the Testimony Submitted
Funeral Of Harold G. Grant
This Afternoon.


This Afternoon.
The circumstances attending the deaths
Of Harold c. Grant and Melvin B. Smith,
employees of the engineer department of the
District government, whose bodies were re-
covered from the big sewer at New Jersey
avenue and G street Tuesday afternoon, as
published In yesterdays Star were investi-
gated at the sixth precinct station today
by Coroner hewitt. The inquest was held
over but one body, but the verdict natural
ly applies to both
Six jurymen who were sworn In the case
visited the Grant home and then went to
the station and heard the testimony of a
number of witnesses. Two relatives of
Smith were present, his body having been
previously sent to his old home for inter-
ment There were no District officials or
members Of the bar in attendance to look
after the interests Of either side.
After hearing the testimony of the wit
nesses the jury returned a verdict of acct
dental death in the case of Grant. The
jury found that he was overcome by gas.
which caused him to lose his grasp upon
the iron fastenings, and fall into the water
and get drowned.
Smiths body has been sent to Gloucester,
Mass. as stated yesterday, and the funeral
of Grant took place this afternoon from his
late home. 2s23 14th street. The Rev. M.
Ross Fishburn, pastor of the Mount Pleas
ant Congregational Church. offlciated. The
interment was at Rock Creek.
The First Witness.
The first witness examined was John p
Mills, fagman on the Pennsylvania rail-
road who was on duty at the New Jersey
oft
said he saw two men near the manhole.
and soon afterward he heard somebody
say: There's a man in the sewer" A
man named Ball. who ran to the manhole
ahead of witness, said second man had
entered the sewer. Witness was going to
make effort to rescue the men by going
into the sewer, but somebody suggested he
might encounter gas, and he did not enter.
lighted lamp, witness said, was lowered,
and the light went out when the lamp got
said he rugged drag and with the assist
ance of a man named Reinhard, succeeded
in recovering the bodice n
Heard Calls. for Aid.
Harry Ball gave the Jury the information
that he was lying on the grass not far from
the manhole, when his attention was at
tracted to the opening1b by the calls for as
sistance by the man on the street. Wit
ness was the first person to reach the man.
hole in response to the calls. By the time
he reached there a man. was descending
the manhole. He wastabeut five feet from
the top when witness Sfeached there. The
man descending was apparently about
twenty feet from the top when he fell into
the water. When his hold on the iron
fastenings was released heG fell against the
opposite side Of the brickwork and then
dropped to the water. The second man to
lose his life. he said. dtdano speak a word
after he passed through the top of the
Witness could. not tell what caused the
man to fall. He was so much excited that
he could not tell II he noticed the odor of
gas coming from the sewer.
William Reinhard testified that the acct
dent. in his opinion. occurred about $3.50
O'Clock, and the second body was recovered
about o clock.
He said he assisted the Witness Mills to
recover the bodies Witness told of the
lamps being lowered and Of the light going
out shortly after it reached the big sewer.
Saw Nothing but Bubbles.
James P. Gaynor, the next witness ex-
amined. said he went with piece of hose
to the manhole when the outcry was made.
but there was nothing at the bottom of the
manhole to be seen except bubbles. Wit
ness said the hose was lowered. but nothing
could be accomplished. as the victims of the
accident were not in sight.
Rodier Taylor, a conductor, was exam
ined. but he was unable to throw any light
on the affair. :,
Acting Supedntendent's Statement.
Asa G. Phillips. acting superintendent of
sewers. testified that he had made an inves-
tigation of the accident AS rule, he said,
workmen are expected to exercise precau-
ton. During his long experience in the en-
gineer department. he said he had gone
through many sewers and has never suf-
fered any Inconvenience from foul gas.
In the place where the young men lost
their lives. the witness stated, the struc-
ture Is really tunnel and not a sewer.
The structure Is 5000 feet long and has
seven manholes. Only few days before
the accident occurred the sewer was pump
ed out and Mr.. Smith went through the en-
tire length of the sewer. There was no
sewer connection with the new structure,
and the water in it was practically pure
spring water. There is a bulkhead at each
end and witness expressed the belief that
there was not particle Of foul water or
gas in 1t from a sewer that was in use. If
there was gas in the manhole witness could
not explain it.. Witness, told the jury that
foul air or gas In sewers that are in use
comes from different sources. Sometimes IL
Illuminating gas escapes into the sewers and
at times benzine from houses will appear
and cause an unpleasant edor.
Usually, Mr. Phillips stated, there Is no APP
probable odor from such gas 1t is generally
supposed that where light will not burn
there Is danger. Witness said that sewer
gas causes man to become shaky about
his legs before the mind is affected. Both
the unfortunate employees, the witness
stated. were exRerienced In their work.
Mr.. Smith. he satd. had worked on the
deep sewer work In Boston y''a'
HAS anybody connected With your Office
been down the inanlIols' 1sifee the accident
occurred?" Mr.. Phillips was asked
II think not" he ansyuered,---
Detective Harttgan tells me that he
went down as far as the water the day OF
the accident" the coroner informed the
jury.
Mr.. Phillips, resumtnK. ,Iaid he had re-
ceived report showing THAT the manhole
was In perfect condition, so far as the
irons or steps are concefned
Believes First Victim WAS Drowned.
Witness expressed the belief that the first
victim accidentally fell Iassd was drowned,
and that the Seconff ursa1 Grant WAS