Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1912-03-16
ALEXANDRIA, AFFAIRS
Four Men Lose Lives Under
Tons of Earth.
COLLAPSE OF CAVE HOUSE
A. D. Brockett a Candidate for
Mayor-City to Buy School
Site-Deaths Recorded.
Special Correspondence OF The Star.

Special Correspondence OF The Star.
ALEXANDRIA, Va. March Is. 1912.
When the old brick cave house opposite
Virginia Highlands. Alexandria county,
five miles north of this place, caved IN at
4:3O o'clock yesterday afternoon it caused
the death of four colored men, who oc-
cupied the place and made it their home
The known dead are James Clements.
twenty-three years old. an employee Of the
New Washington Brick Company, whose
plant is located nearby, native of Nor
folk, Va. and Swan Berkeley, about thir-
wagon in the District street cleaning de-
partment.
The two other victims have not yet been
identified. One is said to have been q
native of the West Indies.
Both the unidentified men are said to
have occasionally worked at the brick
yards.
Fully fifteen tons of brick and earth
fell on the men. and they had absolutely
no show for their lives. They were
simply smothered to death, and one Of
old, received a fractured leg. The po-
sitions of their bodies indicated that they
had met almost instant death, there be-
ing but little evidence of struggle.
Boys Life Saved.
A fourteen-year-old colored lad who
had also occupied the place with the
men and served them at times In the
capacity of messenger had been sent
out to purchase some groceries. This
incident saved the lads life. He went
out about o'clock. and upon returning
half an hour later he found nothing but
strong looking cave. He sounded an
alarm among the colored employees OF the
brick yards, and shortly afterward the
work of digging out the bodies was be-
gun by Hal Brooks, Joseph Kemp and
John Corlin, all colOred.
An hour afterWard the four bodies
were recovered. Late last night they
were brought to this city and taken to
undertaking establishment
and prepared for burial. Coroner Ashton
of Alexandria. after learning of the cir
deemed an inquest unneces-
sary. If the bodies are not claimed by
tomorrow they will be buried in pOtters
field at the expense of the county. No
them.
The cave-in was caused by the heavy
rains during the past few days, which
weakened the foundations The cave
was built more than fifty years ago and
was originally used as a potato house. it
IS said
Rendezvous for Tramps.
For the past quarter of century it has
been a rendezvous for tramps and other
who sought it as a place Of
shelter from the elements. At one time
also it was made a camping place for
u-hn cd hor hoir
to the south. During the past few weeks
the victims Of the accident had resided
in the place. The cave was built of brick
and was seven feet in height shaped in
a semi-circle and built like many Of the
old time cemetery vaults. 1t was PANTY
visible to passengers on the Washington
Virginia railway, being but few hum
bred yards from the tracks.
Brockett Out for Mayoralty.
A. D. Brockett. member of city council
from the third ward and former president
Of the chamber of commerce, today made
formal announcement of his candidacy
for the Office of mayor, setting forth that
his name will be presented to the city
committee as a candidate at a
meeting of that body Thursday night
next, when arrangements will be made
'or the primary.
Mr.. Brockett in his announcement says:
My candidacy for the Office of mayor II
founded upon my consistent interest and
work in behalf of our city. | am abso-
utely convinced that we can become
more progressive and still be sanely
therefore ] appeal for the
support of my fellow-citizens to bring
Alexandria into the ranks of progressive
cities of it's size
Besides Mr. Brockett, Hubert Snowden,
president of the common council, will
also be "a candidate for the Office. Both
fight. 1t is expected that the primary,
which is equivalent to an election, will
be held next month
City to Borrow $4,000.
City council, at a special meeting last
night. passed an ordinance authorizing
and empowering the finance committee
TO borrow the sum of $4,000, at a rate
Of interest not to exceed per cent. for
the purchase of the property located at
the northwest corner of West and Cam
eron streets, as recommended by the spe-
.ial committee of city council, to be used
Is site for the proposed public high
school,
1t was stated by Councilman Swan that
ne had been informed since the tract
had been surveyed that 1t contained only
about seven and one-half acres. Vice
President Smith, who presided. said 1t ran
short about three-fourths of an acre. add
ing that the committee looked at the
tract and not the number of acres.
Councilman BrOckett thought the matt
ter should be left to the members of the
according to their understand
ing.
Tennyson-Harrell Wedding.
A pretty wedding ceremony took place
1T noon today at the residence of the
brides mother, Mrs. Sally Tennyson.
when her daughter. Miss Anna G. Tenny-
son of this city, became the bride Of Rus
sell Aubrey Harfell of Orange, Va. The
ceremony was performed by Rev. III. NJ.
Canter. pastor of the Methodist Episcopal
Church South. Only the immediate rela-
lives Of the couple were in attendance. A