Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1910-12-01
ALEXANDRIA AFFAIRS
Four Men Overcome by Fumes
on a Gasoline Launch.
ONE NEGRO ALREADY DEAD
Second Reported to Be in Preca-
rious Condition-Repairs Started
Will Modernize Jail.
Special Correspondence Of The Star.

II ALEXANDRIA, Va, December l, l3lo.
AS result of being overcome by
gasoline fumes from the engine of the
gasoline power boat Frank NJ. Phil
lips while they slept, at Somerset
Beach. Va. one of a crew of four
negroes, Joseph Porter. also known as
Joseph Culpeper. about twenty-one
years old. living at 730 Jefferson street.
this city. is dead; a second negro. ac-
! cording to reports received here today,
is still in a precarious condition;
Cecil Hufty. a well known Alexandrian.
in charge of the crew, had a narrow
escape from being -asphyxiated, and
two negro laborers, who were also
overcome, soon revived.
i long distance telephone message
was received here this morning from
Councilman Frank c. Spinks by John
Riley, which was to the effect that the
condition of D4r. Hufty had considerabl!
improved during the night.
j No further news had been received up
to an early hour this afternoon. A local
4 physician left here this morning on a
steamer to give what assistance he could.
i The launch Frank NJ. Phillips was in
command Of Capt. Douglas Ramsay, this
city. and youth named Norman Davis,
both of whom slept in the cabin in the
fore of the boat. while Mr.. -Hufty looked
after the colored men in the cabin of the
engine room.
Found in Engine Room.
| The boat had been chartered by Mr..
Hufty to go to Somerset Beach, for the
purpose of loading barge with ties and
lumber, and left Tuesday. When the
beach was, reached yesterday morning the
colored men in charge of Mr.. Hufty. to-
in the engine room.
They were quickly brought out into the
open, and two out of four soon revived
| When the steamer Wakefield reached
this city at 3 o'clock yesterday afternoon
Capt. William Davis made report OF
the affair to friends of Mr.. Hufty.
Last night a rescue party consisting of
Councilman Frank c. Spinks. F. M. Ham
ilton and Leslie NJ. Spinney, the latter of
Kensington, Nd. left here at II o'clock
on the launch Mae, commanded by Capt
AL Hullings, this city. They reached Som
erset Beach early this morning.
If Mr.. Huftys condition continues to
improve he may be brought home this
evening. The colored men will also be
brought here, it is expected, this evening.
4 colored undertaken left this morning
for Somerset Beach to bring the body OF
| Porter to this city.
Porter's mother. received a telegram
from the coroner at Somerset Beach mott
flying her OF her sons death.
Preliminary work preparatory to the re-
building of the city Jail was begun by the
contractors this morning and will be Wig
orously pushed to completion. - <
have to be transferred for some time to
come, in fact, until the work is well
under way.
| The improvements planned provide for
cutting the entire interior of the struc-
ture and nothing will be left standing
| save the walls Modern steel cells and
| other modern jail equipments will be in
stalled. which will make it one of the
strongest jails in this section Of the state
| A verdict for $4,000 was given by a
jury in the circuit court for Alexandria
county yesterday afternoon in the case o:
Sisson's administrator against the South
ern Railway Company. The railway COM
| pany. however, demurred to the evidence
| The suit was to recover that amount for
the death of William E. Sisson, who was
killed by being struck by a train Of the
defendant company January 18 last at
the crossing near the Mahoneysville dis
tillery. west Of this city. Attorneys Lewis
III. Machen and Robinson Moncure repre-
scented the plaintiff. and the defendant
company was represented by Attorneys
Barbour and Keith.
Scarlet Fever Closes School.
| Because several of the students at the
Episcopal School are suffering from scar
terday afternoon until January 4. Many
! of the students have already gone to
| their homes, and a number left this aft
| ernoon.
Funeral services for Willard P. Vincent,
who died Monday, were held at 3 o'clock
| this afternoon at Wheatley's under
taking establishment. Rev. p. p. Phil
LIPS. rector Of st. Pauls p. e. Church,
conducted the services and the interment
was in Bethel cemetery Members Of
Alexandria washington Lodge of Masons
attended in body.
The funeral of George T. Meade, who
died yesterday morning, will take place at
l3 o'clock tomor. Ow afternoon from the
residence of his parents, PA SouCh Henry
street. The services will be conducted by
Rev. J. H. Cutter, pastor of st. Mary's
Catholic Church.
The bazaar at Christ Church pa ish
hall attracted a large crowd last evening.
1t will be repeated tonight. and this after
noon luncheon or tea will be served from
2 until o'clock and supper from until
II o'clock.
Gov. Mann has named the chairman OF
each standing committee Of the Virginia
branch Of the Travellers Protective AS
ISOLATION a delegate to the National
Rivers and Harbors Congress, which con-
venes in Washington December z to ..
among them A. D. Brockett. this city.
who Is chairman of the railroad COM
| mittee.