Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-12-29

hidden seam behind the snoring upon
the site of the new home of the National
Metropolitan Citizens Bank, on 18th street
northwest between and G. streets. ad-
mitted a large enough quantity of rain
water last night to endanger the embank-
ment, and the result was that the snoring
about the coal vault, at the rear of the
premises, collapsed and carried the heavy
timbers. bricks. mortar. coal and dirt with
1t into the pit. where a number of men
were at work. One man was killed and
two were seriously injured. The latter
were conveyed at once to the Emergency
Hospital. Several others managed to
avoid the falling debris and escaped with
slight bruises.
Three italian laborers and a colored man
who were working In the excavation We're
partly covered with dirt, but were able TO
crawl from their dangerous position The
first report had it that nine or ten men had
been caught beneath the mass of debris
and that four or five of them had been
killed. 1t was believed by the other work
men that that number of lives had been
lost, and the police and fire departments
were appealed to for assistance.
Because OF the exaggerated report that
was sent out the reserves from the First.
Second. Third and Sixth precincts were
sent to the scene Of the accident Lieuts
Moore. Sullivan, Boyle and Byrnes accom-
panying them. On the part Of the fire de-
partment Chief Belt Fire Marshal NichoI-
son and Truck c Company responded. Both
policemen and fremen did effective service
the laborers and mechanics at work there
being SO greatly excited and badly fright
ened that 1t was some time before they
were able to begin the work of rescue.
The members of the fire department who
responded went to work In the excavation
under direction OF Captain Dixon. and had
a number of carpenters and laborers to
assist them. Charles r. Smith, car
penter. and Thomas Roy. a colored laborer,
were rescued alive and were taken to the
Emergency Hospital, where preparations
had been made for the treatment of any
number OF persons. These preparations
were made under the supervision of Dr..
White. the resident physician at the hos
pital, as soon as he was told that number
of workmen had been buried by the falling
of the snoring and other material.
Rev. Father Stafford, pastor of st. Pat
rick's Church, hurried to the scene as soon
as he heard of the accident, thinking he
might render spiritual aid. Later, the Rev.
Father Lee, pastor of st, Matthew S
Church. and his assistant. the Rev. Father
Cooper arrived. The latter, who speaks
italian fiuently, also went to the hospital to
see the patients.
Done Under Contract.
The work of making the excavations for
the cellars, coal vaults and foundations is
being done by the Thompson and Starrett
Company, Mr.. West Love acting as gen.
eral superintendent. Mr. P. f. Gorrnley,
who was formerly connected with the Of
fee of the District building inspector was
doing the experimenting for the bank
officials, his Office being in a small frame
structure IN front of the present home OF
the bank. Mr. Love was upon the scene
at the time the accident happened but
the banks superintendent did not reach
there until after the collapse had oc-
CURED. The first intimation he had OF the
disaster was when he saw the truck com
pany standing in front of the premises
where the work Is being done. He natural
Iy thought there was a fire in the neigh
borhood, and 1t was not until he actually
reached the scene of his labors that he
learned of what had occurred.
Firemen policemen and workmen were
then employed in the endeavor TO rescue
the victims OF the accident. Bank Off
cta4s and others who were interested in
the affair were soon at hand making anx-
sous inquiries concerning the number oi
persons who had been killed or injured
while the owner of the property on F
street, 1t is stated was anxious TO know
II his property had been damaged
But little damage was caused To the
adjoining property. the coal shed and a
small section of brick wall having beer
damaged and subsequently torn down
When the men employed upon the worl
had recovered from their fr ght the,
worked hard to unsarth the bodies tina.
were supposed to have been beneath tn,
mass of debris. some of them endan-, rim.
their own lives In order that no time shouls
be lost.
Work of Rescue Suspended.
When the frenen left the excavation tha
had been made for the coal vault thel
places were taken by the carpenters an.
la,borers, but the work OF searching 10
bodies had to be suspended after the re
mains of Chandron were recovered Thi
was necessary because of the posstblltt,
of further falling of earth and other ma
teriai. On the edge of the ground abou
nfteen feet above the bottom of the ex