Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-11-24
MAKE FRUITLESS SEARCH
POLICE UNABLE TO FIND
LIEUT.. CRAWFoRD's BODY.
Reward Offered by Maj. Sylvester.
Renewal Of Effort Today.
Comment on the Case.

WIFI the aim OF recovering the DO0y OF
Lieut.. John Wesley Crawford, secretary
to Admiral George Dewey and prominent
| Y. M. c. A. worker. who is believed to
| have leaped to his death from the deck
Of the Alexandria ferry boat Friday
evening. the Potomac river between
Washington and Alexandria will be swept
by searchers today from daylight to
shutdown. Efforts made yesterday by the
crews Of the police launches Maj. Syl-
vester and Vigilant were fruitless, and
the task will be resumed today.
To create an active interest in the
search by outsiders Maj. Sylvester last
night offered a reward of $25 for the re-
covery of the body. The reward is ex-
pected to be an incentive for active par
| ticipation in the search.
The officers and men OF Fort Washing
ton and Fort Hunt will be asked to keep
| a sharp lookout for the body Of the miss
ing man. SO that it will be picked up If it
1t comes to the surface and is carried
down the river.
Fish men at Monkeys wharf and other
points down the river will be advised of
the reward, and it Is expected that many
| Of them will spend the day in small boats
with graphing hooks in the river channel.
Naval Launches Needed.
It has also been suggested that some Of
the naval launches stationed at the navy
yard be used to run graphing lines. BY the
use Of a large number Of boats the search
can be made very thorough, and It is
urged that will increase the chances Of
locating the body.
The belief among Lieut. Crawford's
friends Is growing that he was financially
alton Is added his increased work as vice
chairman of the local general arrange
ment committee for the International Y.
NJ. C. A., which is now holding its con-
vention here. These two things, 1t Is
believed by his friends, brought on the
crisis Friday and were the cause Of his
disappearance.
His most intimate friends knew that for
over his financial condition. To those
who knew him in general way he never
mentioned this, and even many Of those
who were associated with him closely
did not know of his cause Of worry. Sew
eral months ago, however, he appealed to
a few whom he knew we'll for financial
aid. He was known to have sought work
outside of his duties in Admiral Deweys
Office whereby to add to his income, and
some such help was thrown in his way by
those to whom he appealed.
For the past three days those who have
been associated with him in the Y. NJ.
c. A. work say Lieut.. Crawford acted
peculiarly. He was usually of a lively
disposition and had a hearty greeting for
his friends and acquaintance, but dur
Ing the past three days, it was noticed, he
frequently appeared absent-minded and
entirely oblivious to his surroundings.
building, who saw him Friday afternoon
few hours before he disappeared, said
he noticed that Lieut.. Crawford would
stare into space for minute or more at a
time, although some one might at the
time be talking with him. He would bite
his lips and seemed to be greatly dis
turbed. Then when he would catch an
inkling of what was going on around him
His friends thought he might have been
overworked in his preparation for the big
convention, but never realized that seri-
Gus consequences would follow.
Known to But Few.
The fact that Lieut.. Crawford had any
financial troubles over which he was wor-
rying was known to but few of the Y. NJ.
c. A. men with whom he came in con-
tact, and therefore the news of his sud
den disappearance and probable suicide
came as a great shock to Them The I'M
happy incident was a leading topic of
converse ton among the association Off
Gals and others about the building, and
| there was general expression of regret
AS the time following his disappearance
iengthens interest In the search Of the
river for his body increases. Maj. Syl-
task He and Lieut.. Crawford were per-
sonal friends. and Maj Sylvester received
letter from him Friday. This letter took
up matters in connection with the con-
Vention. but gave no hint Of mental
trouble on the part Of the writer.
Maj. Sylvester. in connection with yes
! terdays search Of the river. called atten-
ton to the necessity for an additional
crew for the harbor police boat. Under
| the present arrangements there are pro
visions for only one crew for the boat.
and 1t Is impossible, he said, to work this
crew all day and all night. With double
crew the work could be continued for
twenty-four hours or until results follow
The superintendent stated last evening
that he was considering the disability
OF calling for volunteers to prosecute the
search for Lieut. Crawford