Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1894-09-20
THE KNOX FIRE VICTIMS
Disposition Of the Fund Raised by the Star
for Their Families.
Report of Those Designated by the
Commissioners to Equitably APP
portion the Amount.

The matter of the distribution of the
funds raised by The Evening Star for the
relief of the families of the firemen who lost
their lives in the Knox fire has been settled
in the form of a report made to the Com
missioners. They have not yet had a chance
to act upon the report. but it will un-
doubtedly be adopted by them without de-
lay.
The sum that was raised by popular sub
scription through The Star amounted to
AOl9.43, and this was at once turned oveI
to the Commissioners for distribution to the
needy ones. The Commissioners designated
Auditor Petty and DR.. William Tindall, Sec
rotary of the board, to determine upon a
plan for the best and most equitable dis
posal Of this fund, and the report made
this afternoon embodies the results of theii
labors. The report is as follows:
To the Commissioners of the District OF
Columbia.
mated by you TO recommend a plan for the
distribution of the fund of $4,01943 of the
subscriptions sent to The Evening Star by
citizens of the District of Columbia for the
beneht of those who were dependent upon
the nremen who lost their lives in the dis
charge of their duty at the recent dis
astrous fire at the Knox building" and
transmitted to the Commissioners on the
ON instant with the request that they
take charge of the money and see that IL
is properly distributed" have to submit the
IolloWlng as in their judgment the most
equitable method of disposng. of that fund
Inc members of the District of Columbia
ere a department who were killed at the
hre mentioned were:.
samuel Z. Mastin. assistant foreman, No
l engine.
Dennis ODonnoghue probationary private
No. l engine
Michael r Eantop pri,,o+o NJ ..-.
Samuel +. Mastin left a widow and two
years.
Michael r. Fenton left two sisters. Kate
NJ and Annie NJ. Fenton, who are entitled
TO relief under the terms of the donation
We therefore recommend that one-thir]
or the fund be given to the widow of AS
sistant Foreman Mastin and ene-third to
the sisters of Fenton.
ODonnoghue's father and mother sur
vive him and claim that during the term
or his service In the fire department he
from time to time contributed toward the
payment or their house rent and that to
that extent they were dependent upon him,
Notwithstanding they have two other sons,
enc OF whom is of age, capable of assisting
them.
The father claims that debility. conse-
quent upon a remote illness from the grip,
prevents his self-support. 1t is asserted by
MIR. i. Dennis Harper. and admitted by the
mother and father of the deceased-O' Don
nOghue-that the latter had been a mem
Der OF the family of said Harper from early
childhood until his appointment in the fire
department-that said Harper and his wife
assumed the cares. expenses and parental
surveillance thus devolved upon them with
the acquiescence of ODonnoghue's father
and mother
In view of these facts we are constrained
to regard the Harpers entitled to fully as
much consideration as the parents OF
O'Donnoghue. and recommend that the re-
naming third of the fund be equally divid-
ed between T. Dennis Harper and d. ODon-
noghue-fat Their of the deceased.
Tine chief engineer of the fire department
who was designated as a member of this
committee, prefers not to act in that ca
pacity.
J. F. PETTY,
WILLIAM TINDALL.
Committee