The Washington times., 1907-12-23
District Employe Swept
Into Manhole by Floods
Following Rain.
Watches for Light and
Lands Safely as He
Reaches Next
Entrance.

Swept into n manhole at the south
front Of the Treasury by the delUge o.
water following the rain about noon
today, Thomas Simms, colored. was car
ried four blocks through a dark, sIimy
sewer. and, what Is more remarkable.
is alive this afternoon to tell OF his ex-
perience.
Slmms suffered greatly from q nervous
shock and swallowing a great quantity
OF water, but after standing BY a boiler
in the Regent Hotel he regained his
composure and was able to relate his
experience. Although placed in as peril
Gus predicament as a man could be.
SimmE clung to a heavy board he had I'm
his hand when swept into the sewer and
never lost his presence Of mind.
Watched Manhole.
But for his keeping constantly on the
lookout in the dark sewer for a ray OF
light from another manhole he would
have been carried to the Big Basin Of
the Potomac and probably drowned
Simms has been employed by the Dis
trict Sewer Department for seventeen
years.
Several days ago gang OF employees
erected a dam in the sewer at Fifteenth
street and Pennsylvania avenue north
west, and went TO work today TO remove
It.
Simms was seated on a small board
tearing away pieces OF scantling, when
terrific downpoUr OF rain caused q
Hood to descend into the hole and wasl
away his seat.
Precipitated to the bottom OF the
water-filled sewer Simms held to the
piece OF timber. made a futile grab for
his lunch. which was wrapped in a
piece OF paper. and then began his
hazardous journey through the sewer
Gulping large quantities OF water
clutching tightly 70 the board. and kick
Ing vigorously to keep his head above
the water, Simms circled from Fifteenth
street 10 the center OF White Lot
wriggled with the subterranean passage.
wa ytO the right and left OF the clips,
ard was then shot straight out q
Seventeenth and 3 streets northwest
As he was rushed along he kept OF
the lookout for any rays Of light tina
might reveal the presence of another
manhole
Catches ManhOle.
Finally he was rewarded for his dill
gent search by seeing a light break into
the dark, dingy hole He took a new
grip on the board. and by a supreme
effort jammed II against the sides OF
the manhOle. After waiting n moment
or two in which TO recover his breath
and rid himself OF some OF the water
which filed his lungs, Slmms scrambled
up on tho board, dug his finger nails
into the mortar between the bricks OF
the sewer. and reached the iron lid
over the manhOle. He pressed HIS head
against the lie, tho iron plate yielded
and ne was again free man.
Simms greatly startled the half scor,
other colOred employees by returning q
Fifteenth street and Pennsylvania ave
nue. in about ten minutes after he had
been swept out Of their sight All OF
them said they never expected to see
him alive again
'Tt wuz a mighty quick trip" said
Simms, as he stood before the bOue1
and watched the steam issue from al
parts OF HIS body. "Ah never though
An git out Oh dat place alive, but AZ
clung on tuh de OOa'd and looked To-
q light tell All found one Sides IOsinl
nah lunch All got nah mOuf full OF
watah seberal times, and had 10 keel
liCkin' to cheat de river. An been crush
ed UP lots OF times. but All amt nebe
had no 'sperience LAX dat befo'. an,
don't want no more. All sho' am ont
lucky man.