Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1910-08-08
CH|LD'S BODY FOUND
IN BOTTOM OF WELL
Death of Alexander Boy at
Mount Rainier Believed to
Have Been Accident.

HYATTSV1LLE, August S.-The body
Of five-year-old William Kendall Alex
ander, only son of Mr.. and Mrs. Samuel
Hardy Alexander of Brentwood, was
found early yesterday morning at the
bottom Of a well being dug at the new
house Of Mrs. Lighbown on 37th street
between Bunker Hill road and Harris
street, Mount Rainier, about 200 yards
from his home. The discovery was made
after an all-night search by several par
ties. all neighbors of the boys parents.
Messrs. c. T. Lenahan and Walter A.
Williams were passing the new house
when it occurred to them that the child
might have fallen into the well. They
secured rope. to which they attached a
hook, and in a few moments located the
body and brought 1t to the surface.
Acting Coroner o. H. Stickell was mott
fled and a jury of inquest was sum-
moned, with C. T. Lenahan foreman.
The other members of the jury were L.
w. E. Egloff, w. A. Williams. E. Offer
man. James E. Sampson, r. ]. Penland,
j. T. Unsworth, l.. M Streamer and Will
liam F Keys. The jury returned a verdict
Of accidental drowning.
Several members of the jury were In
house Tor not providing a sufficient safe
guard around the well, but no such ac-
ton was placed upon record. DR.. Nal
ley was Of the opinion that the scar
over the right eye and at the back OF
the head was caused by contact with
materials in the we'll as the child fell.
The water was about nine feet deep IN
the well.
Searched All Night.
The little fellow was missed by his
mother about o'clock, when she called
him for dinner. He had been playing IN
front of the house with several chill
dren previous to this, and when night
came and he did not return the parents
anxiety and grief were pitiable. Parties
were organized and all through the night
a diligent search was prosecuted through
the woods for several miles around. NO
one apparently thought of looking into
the well, where the body was found the
next morning. Funeral services will be
held Tuesday, morning at IL O'Clock at
the Brentwood NJ. e. Church, Rev. n.
L. Biyens, pastor, and the interment will
be made in Congressional cemetery
Washington.
Fathers Battle With Burglars.
The father Of the dead child Is clerk
in the POST OIllCc department IA WASH
ington, and has a life position as the
result of herosm displayed while defend
ing government property at Asheville'
N. c., on the night Of February 6, 1901.
At that time he was proprietor of small
store in which was located the post once.
While posting up his books the door
opened and he found himself looking
down the barrels of a pistol. He was
commanded to throw up his hands ana
did as he was commanded. He was or
dered to open the safe, and one OF the
burglars knelt beside him while he was
executing the command. The burglar
pistol Law on the floor. A cat In anotner
room made a noise which attracted the
attention of the intruder, and Alexander
grabbed the pistol from the moor ana
engaged in a pistol duel with the our
glars. az.
He shot both the burglars. They dieo
later in q hospital. it is said. Alexander
was left in the post office for dead, pue
he revived. There were four burglars III
the party, and two OF them were iate1
caught and lynched. Two of them WeIs
negroes. Alexander lay at the PONY u
death for several weeks, but recovered
and when the case was reported 10 fIesi
dent Roosevelt he had an order issueu
which insures him a lifelong positloh III
the Post Office Department.
1t is stated that about three years dso
Alexander received letter from man
to be brother OF one OF the
burglars who were 1ynched, saying ne pro.
posed to get even At first it was tnought