The evening world., 1912-06-13
P|CN|CK|NG TOTS
SAIL SAD-HEARTED
AFTER FRIEND DIES
"Don't Delay Excursion" Last
Words of Their Benefac-
tor, Herman Hoops.
HE EXPIRES ON BOAT.
Overwork in Behalf of Sunday
School Outing Causes
Sudden Death.
HE EXPIRES ON BOAT.

There was little Of picnic happiness
among the thousand children who
steamed away this morning on the
steamer Sirius for . day At Empire
Grove. The Joy that had been In their
hearts had turned TO sadness. for they
had seen their beloved leader. Herman
Hoops. die just before they sailed
away. Nor. indeed. would they have
gone at all had not his last words
been: Don't let them delay the excur-
sion. II In such n beautiful day and
the children will be so happy"
Mr. Hoops was q wealthy retired
liquor man. sixty-three years old. He
was ono Of the best known residents Of
the Chelsea district. Ills home. at No.
as West Twenty first street, was one OF
the show places Of that section. since
~ retired he had been very active In
church work. giving his time and money
freely to st. Pauls Lutheran Church.
on West Twsnty-second street. OF which
he was leading elder.
But Il was in the Sunday-schooi In
which he was most Interested. He wor-
shipped children and was happiest whom
among them. II was that fact which
inspired his fellow elders TO name him
chairman Of the sunday-school excur-
sion committee. when II was decided to
send the little folk OF the church and
nsighborhood to Empire Grove for q
days outing among the trees.
Despite his years and falling health.
Mr.. Hoops entered into the spirit Of the
oil M
tied up at the Morgan Line docks. at
che foot OF West Thirteenth street. Mr..
Hoops. with his wife. his daughter. Mrs.
Henry D. Drsws OF woodlawn Heights.
ths Bronx. and his son. William. were
0s.t on the boat
"a. Hoops examined every detail TO
~ that nothing had been left undone
Tor the amusement OF the children.
Whss he was satisfied. he took his
place At the head Of the ganGplank.
where he greeted every one Of the tots
~ name. ~ they came aboard. and
hoped they'd have . fine time. The
boat was due to sail at %. but some
Of the children hadn't come. 80 Mr..
HOOPS. ~ chairman. wouldn't let the
boat 20.
We're not going to disappoint any
OF thofn, ne said.
But he worried greatly over their alb
ssnce and Mrs. Hoops and his daughter
cautioned him he was working too hard.
oh. never mind me-" he laughed;
I've got to make this a success for the
children's sake"
DR.. schneider. an old-time friend, too,
urged him not to work SO hard.
At 10 o'clock he collapsed. Men car.
risd him to cabin. where he was at
tended by DR.. Schneider and by DIR.
Reed Of st. vincent's Hospital, who had
been summoned by Trafic Policeman
NcCabe.
I'm feeling badly" he said. ''but that
mustn't delay the excursion. Call n
carriage for me and then take the chill
Assn away. You simply mustn't call on
the picnic"
Then he died. Efforts were made. un-
successfully. to keep the children from
knowing. There were tears In their
eyes a. the body was taken off the boa,
and sent TO his home. Then the Rev,
Dr. Leo koentg. pastor OF the church,
gave the word to cast or.
1T was as he would have wished" he
said In broken voice.
In addition to those relatives with HIM
when he died. Mr.. Hoops left another
daughter. Mrs. l.. d. Leseman. OF
Charleston. &. c.