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 a manhole at the south
front OF the Treasury by the deluge Of
water following the rain about noon
today Thomas Simms, coIored, was car
Tied four blocks through a dark, Shiny
sewer, and, what is more remarkable.
Is alive this afternoon to tell OF his ex-
perience.
Slmms suffered greatly from a 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.
Simms clung to a heavy board he had in
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 a gang Of employees
erected a dam in the sewer al Fifteenth
street and Pennsylvania avenue north
west. and went to work today 10 remove
II.
Simms was seated on a small board
tearing away pieces Of scantling. when
a terrific downpour OF rain caused a
flood to descend into the hole and wash
away his seat.
Precipitated TO the bottom OF the
water-flled 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 TO the board. and kick
ing vigorously to keep his head above
the water. Slmms circled from Fifteenth
street 20 the center OF White Lot
wriggled with the subtorranean passage
wa yto the right and left OF the ellipse
and was then shot straight out d
AS he was rushed along he kept on
the lookout for any rays OF light thai
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 It against the sides of
the manhole. After waiting a moment
or two in which to recover his breath
and rid himself OF some OF the water
which filed his lungs, Simms scrambled
up or the board, dug his finger nails
into the mortar between the bricks Il
the sewer. and reached the iron I'D
over the manhole. He pressed his head
against the lie, the iron plate yielded,
and ne was again a free man.
Simms greatly startled the half score
other colOred employees by returning tC
Fifteenth street and Pennsylvania ave-
nue. in about ten minutes after he had
been swept out Of their sigh All OF
them said they never expected TO see
him alive again.
'Tt wuz n mighty quick trip" said
Slmms. as he stood before the boiler
and watched the steam issue from al
parts OF his body "Ah never thought
All git out oh dat place alive but Al
clung on tub de boa'd and looked foI
a light tell All found one. Sides lOsine
nah lunch All got nah mouf full OF
watah seberal times, and had 10 keeI
kicSin' 70 cheat de river. All been crush
ed UP lots OF times, but All amt nebel
had no 'sperience lax dat befo', and
don't want no more. All shO' am one
lucky man."