The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1908-06-09
TWO BURIED ALIVE
AS FLOOR COLLAPSES
Bodies of Two Workmen Recovered From Debris-La-
borers Covered by Mass of Concrete and Three
= Are Missing. -
Brother of One of the Victims Saved by Holding to Win
dow Sill, While Others Have Narrow
- Escapes From Violent Death

The mangled bodies Of two
workmen who were buried alive
have been extricated, and it is feared
that three others are still under the
tons Of concrete and iron beams
which crashed through three flooH
to the cellar when the fourth floor
OF a building in course of erection
at the corner Of Twentieth and P
streets northwest collapsed today.
The bodies of Lemuel King, a
steamftter's helper, and Richard
Webb, a colored Iaborer, are now
at the District morgue. Fearing that
further excavation in the mass of
wreckage may bring the toppling
walls of the structure down on the
men working below, Coroner Nevitt
has ordered all work TO cease. He
declared that there is no hope that
spark of life is left in the other
three men buried in the debris, and
that to push the excavation at this
time might means further deaths.
The body of Lemuel King, crushed
and bruised beyond recognition, was
taken out shortly after noon and
an hour larer that of Webb was
brought out, mashed and unreeog-
nizable. Bo-h bodies were taken to
the District morgue.
Several Narrow Escapes.
Many were injured and eyeral had
narrow escares that were almost mirac-
ulous when the tons Of concrete and
twisted steel supports came tearing
through the three floors OF The building
Fearing that the brick walls Of the
building Of death would topple and
fall Coroner hewitt has. ordered Chief
Belt, of the Fire Department. to rage
the building, and not until the work
OF excavation can be safely done viii
the Coroner allow men TO risk their
lives IN a vain effort to find TIE bodies
OF the three men who are thought 10
lie crushed and lifeless beneath the
concrete
An inquest will be held BY the coren-
er tomorrow morning 10 determine
where the responsibility for the deaths
lies.
II is said that the cause OF the col
lapse was the piling of cement on the
fourth floor 10 be used in freproofing
The weight caused the walls 10 bulge
outward, the iron floor supports sIipped
out OF place. and the whole mass went
downward. crashing and tearing its
way through three floors ara into the
cellar As IL stands now the building is
a mlsshapen mass of twisted walls.
frTr rfrars-r VT
Of the Fire Department will tear IL
down Immediately after the other body
IS taken out.
Fragment Saves Two.
Thomas Basey white, Roy Downs,
white, and George Crayton. colored,
were hit by flying pieces Of concrete
and iron as the mass crashed down
ward. Fortunately they we're stand
ing near the front vail OF the build
ing when the collapse came, and were
protected by 2 part of The flooring
overhead which remained intact.
Several Of the WOrkmen narrowly
missed death The escape Of Ellsworth
king, brother OF one OF TIE men
who was buried alive, was almost miraC-
ulous- He was going through a win
COW 10 a scaffOldlng when the floor
gave way beneath his feet He clung
10 the windOvsiil and with an almost
superhuman effort succeeded in draw
ing himself I'd To the sill, whence hs
was rescued IN few minutes.
Two Miss Roll Call.
An alarm for the Fire Department
was sent in Immediately after the acci-
dent, and a roll call of the workmen
was taken. All but Lemuel King and
Richard Webb were accounted for.
Henry Wilson. of Takoma Park, and
Joseph Han, Of % John Marshall place,
also had very narrow escapes.
The members of the Fire Department
set 10 work at once TO recover the bod
les and save the lives Of the two men
II possible. 4 score Of labOreTs took
picks and aided in tie work which had
10 be done with extreme caution lest one
of the sharp points be driven into the
body Of one the buried men. Captain
Boyle, of the Third precinct, ordered
out the reserves Of that station. and.
with Inspector Cross, he directed the
work OF rOping of the streets near the
building and keeping the crowds from
interfering with the work OF rescue.
Deputy Coroner GldzebroOk arrived
within half an hour after the collapse
and with members Of the building de-
partment set about establishing the re-
spOnsibilitv. The building inspectors re-
fuse 10 say a word about the matter
for the work Of inspecting buildings in
the course of erection and the ascer-
tainment of their safe condition is the
duty OF their department
T. H. Pickford in Charge.
T. II. Pickford was the contractor in
charge of the building. and it is under
stocd that he was erecting the apart
ment house for himself. The concrete
work was being done by W. Hendricks
That the building has been in a dan
gerous condition for weeks is the state
ment made by many residents OF the
vicinity. and they declare that com
plants TO the building department re-
garding It have had no results The
bTickwork, they say, was flimsy and
the whole structure was being thrown
together. AS It stands now, the brick
walls are bulging in several places.
and the door castings all through the
structure are bent and twisted
That a rigid Investigation will be made
TO place the responsibility for the fatal
collapse just where il belongs is prom
ised by Assistant Coroner GiazebroOk
he would take no action pend
ing the arrival or Coroner hewitt
1t is said that the building was be-
ing rushed TO meet the demand for