Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1920-09-19
FOUNDER BLIND RELIEF
. FUND HAD CHARMED LIFE
George Alexander Kcsslcr Barely
Escaped Death on Three Dit
fcrcnt Occasions.
DIED IN PARIS LAST MONDAY
First Saved During San Francisco
EartltqnRkc, Second From Chi
cage Hotel Fire and Third From
Sinking Lusitania.

details OF his miraculous escape when
me, me i1usitania was torpe doed are IA
., TO newspaper readers. few per-
Eno died In Paris last Monday.
S.pded tho grim messenger by a
Hs'rs breadth on two occasions prior
: 10 INC sinking OF the Cunard liner.
On the eye of tho great earthquake
WTch partly destroyed San FRAN
c c:Ss'' rra MI kessIer arrived IN that
',n.rtror'@s 20, his wine business in
III .nart CT the district subsequent
.ra sev as,ated Mr Kessler and his
a 81 ~" ,s, in this Tnet ldinE when the
~ GsNN,S.,. collapsed. jumped into
NE p>ssSteTs 7tomobile which was
sSonns ns a. IT.. door. md with the
thom, CT. ocd u. machine TO safety.
MIR. kcssl.rs arst act hereafter was
20 order eA. ,.d OF food and sup
f,Ss sSnt TO The relief of the sur
On. another occasion. Mr. Kcssler
IN MS W 10 Chicago met on the
s staH ~, ,riend. who i"yited him TO
ments- Mr.. kcss,er for wears haa
made his headquarters a. ,other
i hSo.eI when in the Windy Cit,. At
Cd 10 spend 4 few days with him
while retaining his usual headouar-
sers for business purposes. That
sam same ,S even1,i Ming. however. Mr.. Kessler
muse OF other friends in fashion
able suburb. The party broke IN
I nroio and M Mr.. ksHssler was invited to
winch he did. In the meantime tho
motel where he was to have STAYED
w MIL the friend he met on the train
friend hs Pu naTia,t to the ground and this
Mr.. Kessier, who had amnssed
great Wealth in his business. was be-
, nmmbo uor ms benefactions by a large
iiously. Not few V Who h hn%s bns1
successful in various professions owe
ment as
Establishes blind Relief Fund.
When he recovered from the shock
OF ms immersion in the sea that came
so near to being his grave when the
iIusRania went down. and from which
ne was draEged by sailors in boat,
10 Providence for this third escane
resolved TO dedicate their lives 10 the
relief OF the war wounded whose
n iha at that time were swamping
ments. Consultation with the French
authorities disclosed how this helm
Tsh pest be rendered. and the estab-
1915, of the Permanent BLIND Re,ief
War Fund for Soldiers and Sailors or
the Allies, was the result
IN this merciful cause. Mr.. Kessler
displayed the same qualities OF cease
less energy and capacity for work
ehat have made him so emincnt,y
successful in the business he then
1 from in order TO devote his
ne 10 the cause he and Mrs. Kcssler
nag espoused. He never spared him
self. nor for that matter did Mrs
NessleT: md their exertions on be-
hail or the poor. suffering Hind
wrecks OF the battlehelds contributaJ
nor q little to undermining the health
OF poth OF them. For many rnontSs
AIT, hessler's condition had been pre-
carious and Mrs. kcssler's health has
oSccasioned grave concern Al the
headquarters OF the fund. $50 Fifth
avenue, New York, Mir. Kessler
worked early and late. only to CON.
tinne his iahors far into the night
WITH star or secretaries a: his home,
Having stablisaed the institu,ion
upon firm basis and developed 1,
70 tull activity. Mr.. and Mrs. Kessler
went 10 Paris. where under the ans
pices OF the French government and
French army authorities, they opennd
tne schools for the re-educatinn ~
blinded French officers and soldiers
cessful. cue
Later they extended the work ca
Z That similar institutions have been
established in Belgium. Poland. Ser
Ola and knmania. and also aided St.