Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1902-09-26
REBUILDING BEGUN
The Eagle Hotel to Be I'm
mediately Repaired.
IS AGAIN OCCUPIED
DAMAGE NOT so EXTENSIVE AS
AT FIRST BELIEVED.
McKee's Relatives Seem Disinclined to
Take Charge Of Body - His
Cousins Statement.

| Early this morning workmen were en-
gagged at the Golden Eagle Hotel tearing
down the ruins caused by the dynamite ex-
| posion of yesterday morning. Building In
spector Ashford notified Mr.. Brandt yes
terday afternoon that part of the structure
was in a dangerous condition and that 1t
| would have to be taken down by noon to-
day Mr. Brandt was i'll when the notice
| was served upon him, and was physically
unable to supervise the work, but he gave
| instructions to his representatives to see
that the order was complied with.
The workmen started early in the morn
ing and continued opera tons until the down.
| pour of rain bee ne so heavy that tney
| were forced to seek shelter.
| Mr.. Brandt has given orders to local
builder to repair the hotel as soon as posi-
| BILE The damage is not nearly so bad as
was at first supposed, and Mr.. Brandt may
| get his building in. condition for occupancy
| by the time the Grand Army encampment
opens. Should weather conditions permit
| the workmen to labor tomorrow and Sun
| day. Mr.. Brandt may resume business Mon
day morning 1t will probably be three or
| four weeks before the damaged portion or
| the building can be rebuilt.
Mr.. and Mrs. Brandt returned to the no
| tel last evening and with the other MEN,
bers of the family, are occupying the rear
| part of the building. few guests are also
| accommodated. A host of friends called
upon them yesterday to express sympathy
| and extend helping hand. DR.. Sellhausen
is still attending Mr.. and Mrs. Brandt, and
| unless they have a setback they Will be
| all right in few days.
Callers at the Morgue.
Many friends of Frank Mckee, the man
| who caused the explosion and then com
mitted suicide, called at the sixth precinct
| station yesterday and today. Some were
| anxious to see the body, but others merely
| called to tell the police of his various state
| ments and movements during the past sum-
| mer. A number Of them were permitted TO
| enter the morgue and view the remains.
The police were not successful yesterday
| in their efforts to find relatives of the
| young man, Mckee, who would express
willingness to take charge of the body and
see to it's interment. A telegram was re-
ceived early last night from Superintendent
Quirk of the Philadelphia police force CIV
ing the information that Charles Connell
Of the city council of the Quaker city. VINO
was mentioned a friend of the Mckee
family, will have nothing to do with the
body.
John Mckee of Baltimore. bagga gemas-
ter on the Baltimore and Ohio railroad,
cousin Of the deceased, reached here last
night on his run from Cumberland to Bal
timore and saw the superintendent OF the
morgue. He called at the morgue this
morning, saw the body and examined the
nothing about the dead mans effects to in
dictate that the latter had one cent at the
time of his death. Mr.. Mckee said the de-
ceased was about thirty-one years old. He
had not seen him for year or eighteen
months and could therefore give no infor-
nation concerning his conduct during this
time He said he had known the young man
to save his money and at the time he saw
him oftenest he was not inclined to gam
BILE or throw away his money. How much
he had saved, the cousin said, he
had no idea, but he thought Franks share
Of his fathers estate was not more than
about $1,000. He also stated that Harry Nc
Kee, a brother of the deceased, who was
mentioned in a telegram as having been
killed near Chicago more than year ago,
Is not dead That brother, he said is at
Belaire, Ohio. and is in the employ of the
Baltimore and Ohio railroad. A telegram
was sent the brother last night, asking
him what disposition should be made
Of the body, but up to noon today, no re-
Spouse had been received.
Mr.. Mckee said he would make no ar
rangements concerning the disposition of
the body until the brother at Belaire is
heard from. He suggested the belief that
the brother would not answer the telegram,
but would come here tonight to make the
necessary arrangements.
Brand Of Dynamite Used.
Last night Mr.. Samuel ]. Lowry, an ex-
pert in high explosives, called at the sixth
precinct station and saw the sticks of dy-
Mantle taken from the trunk Of the de-
ceased. Mr.. Lowry lives at 315 18th street
southwest, and his advice, it Is stated is
sought by the owners of Quarries and con-
tractors who use high explosives. He found
ii dynamite to be Of what is known as the
Star brand, and said 1t contained 20 per
cent Of sawdust and 80 per cent Of nitro
glycerin, The explosive. he stated. is very
powerful and one stick of 1t Is calculated to
do as much If not more damage than was
sustained by the hotel.
Mr.. Graefe, the occupant Of the house ad-
Joining the hotel property, was compelled
to leave his home yesterday and quarter his
family elsewhere for the night.
Information from Philadelphia is to the
effect that Frank Mckee was in that city
two years ago, and that he had worked as
a machinist in the Baltimore and Ohio
shops prior to the breaking out of the
Spanish American war, when he enlisted
and made the famous 17,OOO-mile trip on
the Oregon. 1t Is stated from the same
source that he inherited between sc, 900 and
81, 600 at the death of his father, and that
his stepmother is still living in Philadel-
phia-
Mckee was a member of the Fortieth
Ward Republican Club in Philadelphia,
and lived at STOP Woodland avenue. From
Philadelphia comes the information that
members of the political club are preparing
to send for the body to have 1t inferred in
the Quaker city.
Direction Of Inquiry.
thing additional concerning the dynamite
used by Mckee, especially where he obtain
ed it. 1t was suggested yesterday that Nc
Kee may have been responsible for the ap-
pearance of the bundle of sticks of dyna-
mite in AZ street secondhand store sew
eral weeks ago. The police made inquiries
but were unable to connect him in any man
ner with that incident. 1t Is stated that
some dynamite was stolen from the gov
eminent about the time the explosives were
found in the secondhand store and the de-
tectves had an idea that Mckee may have
obtained some of 1t from the parties who
carried it away. That he was interested
in the question Of dynamite and its uses at
that time there can be no doubt, for a man
was found yesterday with whom he had
discussed the question at length.
McKees statement to friends was that he
had obtained the dynamite at st. Asaph,
Va He had been in the habit of visiting
the pool room there and playing large
amounts on the horse races. Detectives
Horne and Hartigan, who are investigating
the case, went to ST. Asaph about noon to-
day to ascertain. II possible, If Mckee had
really obtained the explosive there
1t Is suggested by some members of the
police force that Mckee had studied the
dynamite question SO closely that his mind
off ~