Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1902-10-27
BOYS LOST IN SEWER
POLICE SO INFORMED BY ANx-
ToUs ONES TODAY.
Belief Expressed That Missing Youths
Have Gone a,tos New York
A II
Friends Alarmed.

TWO boys lost In g sewer was recorded on
the police complaint book this morning.
The boys In question: are Robert Cross and
Ernest Shepherd fifteen and seventeen
years old. respectively. Cross parents live
at i0S5 18th street southeast, while the
home OF Shepherd is near 18th street and
pennsylvania avenue, in the same section.
yesterday afternoon about 4 O'Clock the
young men left their companions and en-
tered the mouth Of the big sewer near the
foot OF N street, a short distance beyond
the tracks OF the Pennsylvania railroad.
Several youths who had been playing with
them waited a few minutes and then
walked away. Harry Walker, an uncle of
the Cross boy, was with the boys when
they entered the sewer. but he gave no
had been in the habit OF going through the
sewer ever since he had known of it's ex-
istence.
When Eugene Cross failed to appear at
n a IN time for supper. which was some
thing unusual his mother made inquiries,
and was told where he had gone. She was
not alarmed over the report, for she knew
that boys had often gone into the under
ground passaseway and walked up as far
as the manhoie near 18th and X streets.
But the mother became alarmed when the
boy mad not returned at clock She then
calied on the parents of the other youth
ana learned from them that he had not
been home since dinner time.
Made a Search.
Frank Holt a friend Of the families, pro-
cured lantern and made a short trip
through the sewerTz without finding any
trace of the boys Night passed without
any tidinss being received. and this morn
ing Capt. Boardmah was appealed to by
the parents of the Cross boy.
DrOthpr hnnp in no oil
night and hasn't come. OUT was what
john cross Informed the police captain
wnen ne called at Headquarters.
he related the story of his brothers dis
appearance and also told of the Shepherd
boy going with him.. Capt. Boardman CALI
ed I'D the superintendent, told him of the
report and asked that men who were &C.
customed to working in sewers be sent to
searcn Tor the boys. His request was COM
Piled with but the men who made the
search were unable to find the lads.
Mrs Cross. whose husband, John Cross,
is plasterer. related to a Star reporter
the story OF her boys disappearance.
do YOU think the gas in the sewer could
KIN my boy!' was her anxious inquiry. IT
buried child only a few weeks ago, and I
Robbie"
MY son was at the dinner table yes-
terdav afternoon with the other members
OF the family she stated land he did not
go away until after 3 o'clock" So :
beiore entering the mouth of the sewer
the boys arranged to, meet companions at
the 14th street manhpfe The others went
there and called to- the underground pe1es-
TRANS. but heardslnathing in response.
Ihere is but little water in the sewer, and
one one can easily walk Through 1t without get
ting his feet wet zsrr.l,
1t was stated THIS morning that the
youths had talked Of going to New York,
ana the belief is EXPRESSED that they came
out of the sewer and boarded a freight
train for the metropolis.