Evening journal., 1913-08-02
EARLY PROBE
OF TRAGEDY
In M MfiANHOLE
Coroner Will Hold InGueStS
In Cases Probably On
Tuesday
SUGGESTS HERO PENSIONS
FOR FAMILIES OF MEN

datc Tor holding inquest IN lhe case
Of William Bolden aged 20 years. Of
No. ll02 East Fifteenth street. Jacob
Monck aged 81 years. Of NO. 1903 Wal
nut street. and Albery Irusty, aged IS
Years. Of New Castle, VINO lost their
lives in the manhole at Thirteenth and
Lombard streets. yesterday, It Is
thought it win be held OH Tuesday. Dr.
II. w Briggs, coroners physician, has
performed q post-nortem examination
on the bodies. and while this failed 10
show lust what acids had caused the
death Of the men. il was nsccrtuined by
the examination that il was not illumi-
mating gas or sewer gas. This, Dr.
Briggs said. he was sure or. None Of
tho men showed traces or water IN their
lungs, although Bolden. who suecum'Sd
first. was lying in the water for some
time. All the men had died from suf
location
This is borne out by the actions Of
Trusty and Monck. who wero over
come the instant they entered the
sewer AT the post mortem exsmina-
tion It was brought out that Bolden
had entered the sewer inlet and had
passed his measuring stick out to
the manhole and those working with
him heard him give the measurement
of tho pipe. It was then that he
started to crawl from the pipe and
when he reached the manhole he fell
This. according to those familiar
with the case, shows that the death
dealing acid came after Bolden had
entered the sewer pipe. Had the
fumes been there when he first en-
tered, it is contended that he would
have fallen at once, as the other men
did when they attempted TO rescue
him
Silver coins and a watch found on
the men. according to the physicians
examination, indicated a powerful
acid such as nitric had reacted on the
metal. When DR. Briggs was asked
what effect hypo-sulphite. an acid
used in the manufacture of leather
would have on man. he said II
would cause suffocstion If inhaled in
large enough quantities.
When the coroner's inquest y held
efforts will be made TO have summoned
d colored man employed III a local mo
rocco plant who said last night that he
went to the manholc and saw hypo rum
ming through the sewer He SAYS he ran
TO morocco plant nearby and asked
that the huid be shut OIL
'Hypop is eaid to be, a powerful
chemical. the fumes Of which are SO
strong that the human lungs cannot
withstand them II hvpo waa running
through the sewer at the time the men
were in It, il is claimed. they could not
have lived very many minutes.
TO ascertain just what acids had
been emptied into the sewer the
Street and Sewer Department has had
Thomas J. Bowen. Jr., acting as claim
agent, call on the various industrial
plants who use the sewer and ques-
toned on The matter.
Alexander ]. Taylor. city engineer
this morning visited the scene and
made an examination of the top Of
the nianhole No odors were Iiotie-
able today but no attempt was made
to enter the sewer. AS the dead msn,
excepting Trusty we're trying TO
clean the sewer which has been stop
ped. all summer, the pipe will be left
IN its present condition for awhile
When IL is decided by the department
to have It cleaned, the street will be
torn up and a sample of water taken
for analysis.
That the odor of the death dealing
acid was noticeable TO residents OF that
section Of tho city where the tragedy
occurred was learned today, Mrs.
Thomas H. Burrows Of No. 1904 Poplar
street being made i'll by the odor at the
time the men were stricken
The funeral Of Tfusty will take place
tomorrow afternoon from his late resi-
dence at the Buttonwoods with inter
ment in Mt. Olive cemetery. The flu
neral Of Monck, the other hero of tile
4,l -, L..
torment to be made at his former home,
Hartford county, Maryland. The funeral
Of Boulden will take place from Mt.
Enon Baptist Church Second and WISH
ington streets, on Monday afternoon.
with interment in Mt. Olive cemetery.
Want Carnegie Pension,
John S. Hamilton, publicity manager
of the Chamber of Commerce. today
started a movement for some suitable
recognition by the Carnegie Commission
Of the heroism OF Albert lrustv. the col
ored driver. who lost his life irving 10
save Boden aud Nonck AIr Hamilton
suggested a pension out Of the Carnegie
Ftad fof Trtstv's fariilv
Councilman John @ Hopkins, colored,
of The sixth Ward Speaking Of the death
Of the three men 6f his race, today said:
"Ihe wives Of Nr Bouldrn Mr. Monck
and Nlf Irustp have my heartfelt SYM
pathy. for thcy have lost the best our
rire can produce They displayed the
heroi-m mlolv equallcd BY amy man,
and showed Themselves 10 be mon that
both white and calored will admit were
credit ~ 6ur eity Mr. Washington
and Mr Bostic also proved that they
were Of the Same clas- end saved many
more lives hv their heroic work can.
not sav enough about three nf my
'lcsc-i ffiend- WHO lest their 'Ncs dis
nla, ing such heroism and|hope that
every member of our race VIII show
their great respect"