Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1902-09-25
WRECK OF A HOTEL
Continued from Seventh pase.)

Continued from Seventh Page.)
port that she had made any unpleasant re-
mark to or about Mckee during the even
ing. She was on the best OF terms with
him, she said. and. regarding him as one
Of the family because Of his long residence
at the hotel. she had brought him a souve-
NH from Germany, together with those she
had brought her sons and others about the
house.
Mckee remained about the hotel until
about Ii: As O'Clock, when he went to his
room. At ii $50 o'clock he was on the side
walk conversing With friends. He was not
Intoxicated, although he had been drinking.
Mr.. Brandt's Statement.
In conversation with a Star reporter to-
day Mr. Brandt declared that he had never
had a cross word with Mckee.
He had lived with US 50 long" said he.
that 1 regarded him and treated him as
one of the family. Why he should have
done this have no idea
The statement which appeared in a morn
ing paper Mr.. Brandt declared, was en-
tirely without foundation. and he was at
loss to understand how such report could
have been circulated. He denied that there
was any love affair between Mckee and his
daughter
Sophie" he stated. sis only child of
fourteen years, and at no time did the young
man ever show any regard for her except
SuCn as ne would nave SHOWN q SiSteT
Miss Brandt also denied that her rela-
lions with Mckee were other than those
that might exist had be been her brother.
She had never been out with him, she
stated. and her father added that Sophie
never went to the theater or places OF
amusement unless she was accompanied by
one of her parents. Mr.. and Mrs. Brandt
are at present at 406 New Jersey avenue
Police Investigation.
Lieut. Moore, Sergt. Gloss, Precinct De-
tective Larry O'Dea and a number Of po-
licemen Of the sixth precinct spent consd-
cradle time investigating the case today.
Coroner hewitt was on hand about day.
break. He went through the hotel. making
a careful examination of the premises. The
doctor visited the room occupied by Nc
Kee, and was shown where the body was
found. Later he heard the statements of
number of witnesses, and announced the
conclusion that the dead man killed him
self. A certificate of death from self
inflicted wound was given. An effort Is be-
ing made to locate McKees relatives in
Philadelphia.
The testimony heard by the coroner was
conflicting. so DR.. hewitt stated to Star
reporter From what he heard, he stated,
he is satisfied that the young man was In
love with Miss Brandt, and that was the
motive for the suicide and explosion.
The Official Report.
The police report of the affair reads:
About 400 this am. an alarm was
turned in from box Is. by Acting Sergeant
Bode, for fire at 400 New Jersey avenue
northwest, supposed to have been caused
by dynamite exploded by Frank Mckee,
white. twenty six years old. who was board
ing in the house. The explosion wrecked
the New Jersey avenue side Of the building
completely. Mr.. and Mrs. Lewis Brandt.
owners and occupants of the house, were
asleep in the Second-story front room at
the time and were taken from the cellar,
where they were found by the ffremen. Mr..
Brandt had his ankle sprained, while Mrs.
Brandt was somewhat bruised, and was
suffering from an injured wrist also. They
were removed to the Emergency Hospital
In the ambulance from that institution AT
ter the explosion Mckee committed suicide
by shooting himself in the head. The body
was removed to the morgue and the cor
oner notified. Damage to the building was
5000.
Several detectives were sent to the hotel
from headquarters, and they also made an
investigation Of the affair. So far as is
known they failed to learn anything in ad-
dition to what the sixth precinct police had
already ascertained.
Prompt Action Of Firemen.
The members Of Truck A and Engine
Company No 8. located, respectively, on
North Capitol street and Delaware avenue
in the vicinity of the Baltimore and Ohio
depot, heard the report Of the explosion and
were instantly ready to answer the alarm
which was sent in at 4:31 am. The two
companies arrived on the scene almost SIM
ultaneously about five minutes after the
explosion took place, with Foreman Hooper
In charge of the truck company and Fore
man L. ]. Brown directing the engine COM
pany. Both crews and their foremen are
deserving of credit for their prompt and
energetic efforts in rescuing the guests from
the debris Of the dismantled building
The scene of the explosion when the fire
men arrived was one of great excitement.
The guests of the hotel, who had been so
unceremoniousy and startlingly awakened
from their slumbers, were rushing out of
the building In a general panic, regardless
of the scanty attire incident to the nights
repose The residents in the vicinity, who
were scarcely less excited and hardly more
generously robed, quickly gathered about
the building and soon formed a large crowd
of spectators.
A line of hose was turned on the slight
blaze discovered in the room occupied by
Mr. Brandt on the second floor, the bedding
and mattress having caught fire. This
prompt action doubtless prevented more Sc
rious results and saved greater loss to the
building from damage by fire.
Search for the Guests.
While the blaze was being extinguished
by a number Of firemen others were search
ing about the rooms for guests of the hotel
VINO Hight not nave DeSH dDle TO escape Dy
their own efforts. 1t was feared that
number had been pinned beneath the fall
Ing bricks and debris and were unable to
get out of the partly demolished building.
Assistant Driver w. T. Coulter Of No.
went to the third story of the hotel, and in
the east front room on that floor found the
body of Frank Mckee lying ON his right
side, with a pistol clutched in his right
hand. He Immediately notified Foreman
Brown. and the police were informed Of the
discovery. He was thought to be still alive
when first found, but the physicians who
examined him shortly afterward pro-
nounced him dead The body was removed
to the morgue across the street by Privates
Mcdonald. Branzell and Coulter of engine
No. 8.
Carried Woman From Building.
Assistant Foreman Reynolds of truck A
discovered Mrs. Mary Lush. a cripple. on
the third floor, and carried her from the
building About the same time Driver
Markward and Private Nohe of truck A
found George Hobel and the little son of