Evening star., 1909-04-25
KILLED BY A CAvE-|N
John Boggs Buried Alive While
Working in Ditch.
FELLOW-LABORER INJURED
Fatal Accident Late Yesterday at
Substation Site.
HEROIC EFFORTS TO RESCUE
Police Reserves Called Out-Coroner
Gives Orders for Inquest at
Morgue Tomorrow.

One man killed, one injured and sew
eral narrow escapes were incidents of
cavern Of earth at 7th and streets
southwest yesterday afternoon. The in
dividual who lost his life was John Bosgs,
colored, fifty-two years of age, who lived
with his wife and five children at 4O'
Howard avenue, Anacostia. The man In
jured is Robert Douglass, colored, forty
years of age, Of 1890 Half street south
east. John Lee, also colored, of 32i X
street southwest was also at work at
7th and streets southwest when the
accident happened, but he was not in the
trench with the others and so escaped
injury. There were two landslides. The
second covered Boggs and suffocated him.
The second also covered Douglass and
came near ending his life.
j. G. Frank. superintendent in the Dis
trict water department, was at the trench
with August Robinson OF 419 street
and John Rock of 211 l. street, laborers
in the employ of the department, shortly
before the fatal accident occurred. His
men left the trench and were about to
drive away when the caye-n occurred.
The trench. which was about fifteen feet
deep. had been dug by laborers in the
employ of James F. Horan, plumber, of
81 Az street. who had the contract for
installing the water and sewer at the
substation of the Southern railway.
Due to Sandy Soil.
The accident, it is declared, was due
to the sandy condition of the soil and
the absence of snoring. 1t is stated that
the plumber had suggested the use of
boards to protect the sides Of the trench,
but the workmen thought such unneces-
sary, as they only had to dig about two
feet more. Mr.. Koran left the work a
few minutes before the accident occurred
and went to a lumber yard to order tim
ber for use about the trench.
Before he returned the cave-in had oc-
CURED, and Douglass had been rescued
and taken to the Emergency Hospital.
Boggs was the only labOrer in the ditch
when the first caye-in occurred, the dirt
knocking him down and partly covering
him. Douglass hurried to his assistance.
The partly covered man in the bottom
of the excavation begged for assistance,
seeming to realize the danger of another
landslide.
TRY to get me out he said to Doug
lass. For Gods sake, Douglass, help
me out of here
Hastens to Rescue.
Although Douglass realized there was
danger in entering the trench, he was
soon therein. working with all his
strength to save the life of his fellow
workman. He had removed only a few
shovels Of dirt, however, before the sec
ond' mass of earth slid from the west side
of the trench. This covered him and
caused a report that several men had
been buried.
A large crowd quickly assembled. A
call was sent TO the fourth precinct sta
ton for assistance and Capt. Mulhall,
Sergt. Kilmartin and the reserves re-
sponded. but the removal of the dirt
was left to the laborers
When the second cave-in occurred the
dirt fell with such force that Douglass
almost lost his life. He had to depend
on others for assistance. John Lee hap
pened to be near enough to render aid
promptly.
Douglass Works Hard.
Il managed to get down in the hole
and scratch the dirt from his face" Lee
explained afterward. II was afraid he
was gone. 1 knew Boggs could not be
saved, but / worked as hard as I ever
did in my life when I started to assist
in getting Douglass out When ! had
succeeded in uncovering his face 1 felt
satisfied he was not fatally hurt"
Men who were excavating for the foun-
dation of the substation and others re-
sponded to the call for assistance and
willing workers soon became too numer-
Gus. 1t was realized by the police that
too much weight about the trench and
the vibration caused by moving trains
would probably cause additional earth
movement, and efforts were made to keep
the curious ones far enough away to be
out of danger. Douglass was soon taken
out and hurried to the hospital. while
the effort to recover the body of Boggs
was continued.
Hauled Out With Rope.
Douglass complained of an injury to
his chest. but would not remain at the
hospital. He insisted on returning to
the scene of the accident and was taken
there. leaving shortly before the body
of his companion was recovered. Two
colored men worked hard removing the
mass of earth from the body, while Mr.
Horan assisted from a landing several
feet above them. All manner of suggeS-
tions were offered by those in the crowd
A rope was tied about the body, and
after much difficulty 1t was drawn from
the ditch and removed to the morgue
Capt. William Kelly. assistant to the
Engineer Commissioner. and Coroner
hewitt were on hand long before the body
of Boggs was unearthed. Both officials