Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-06-17
HIS LIFE CRUSHED OUT
ISAIAH BLAINE INSTANTLY
KILLED BY FALLING WALL
James Miles Slightly Injured-Both
Were Employed in Demolishing
Old Building.

A fatal accident occurred in South Wesh-
| ington yesterday afternoon about o'clock.
Isaiah Blaine, forty-five years of age. who
lived at 525 Virginia avenue southeast hav-
ing been crushed to death under mass
of brick and mortar while assisting in the
work of tearing down the church building
on ID street southwest between Az and 9th
streets to make room for the railroad i'm
provements. James Miles, colored, nine
teen years of age, who lives at 427 Sth
street southwest, was also caught beneath
the brick and mortar but was only slightly
injured He was taken to the Emergency
Hospital and given treatment. The sur
geons wanted him to remain there for a
time In order they might have an oppor-
tunity to determine If he had received any
internal injury, but he refused to remain.
The building which was being torn down
was formerly the home of the congregation
of the Fifth Baptist Church, where the
Rev. c. c. Meador served as pastor for
many years Several times the congrega-
ton were in litigation with the railroad
company because of damage sustained by
the church, and finally the property was
bought by the railroad company. A few
days ago, when the railroad company had
obtained deeds to all the property in the
square, the work of tearing down the
structures was begun by the Lohr Wreck
ing and Construction Company. Blaine
was one of the workmen who was engaged
upon the church building yesterday.
Caught Under the Debris.
Near the close of the working day 1t
was noticed that one of the walls of the
old church structure was not in condition
to be left until Monday 1t was deemed
advisable to throw it and relieve the
nelshborhood of the danger. When the
wall fell Blaine and the other workmen
made an effort to get out of the way, but
Blaine and Miles were caught Blaine was
Instantly killed already stated. When
the dust had cleared away and It was seen
that Blaine was missing the other work
men removed the debris as quickly as pos
sible and found his crushed remains There
was mass of mortar and brick upon him.
and shortly after his mangfed form was
taken from beneath the debris 1t was re-
moved to the morgue-
An examination of the body showed that
the back of the skull was crushed, the nose
had been broken and there were several
cuts about one side of the face, in addition
to other cuts and bruises The superintend-
ent OF the morgue made an investigation OF
the AFFAIR for Acting Coroner Glazebrook,
and the latter decided that he would hold
an inquest at the morgue at IL o'clock to-
morrow morning. II was stated that the
wall fell before the men were ready and
that Blaine had no warning OF the danger.
Warning Came Too Late.
Workmen had undermined the wall at
several places, it is stated. and they were
then getting their cables ready to fasten
to 1t for the purpose of throwing 1T, but
this latter work had not been completed be-
fore the wall tumbled. When the work
men saw what was occurring they shouted
to Blaine and the others to get out of the
unable to get out.
The deceased leaves a widow and three
children They will probably be represent
ed at the inquest, which is to be held to-
morrow. Arrangements for the funeral
have not yet been made.