The Washington herald., 1921-07-12
Older Lad Loses Life in
Trying to Save
Younger.
THIRD BROTHER
BARELY ESCAPES
Bodies Found by Harbor
Police at Point of
Outlet.

Attempting to rescue his younger
brother, Louis Kolker, 5 years old
from the perils OF a suddenly swol-
len torrent in an open sewer on
the Soldiers Home grounds. yester-
day afternoon. Myer Kolker. . years
old. was swept from his feet and
both lads were drowned in the city
sewers.
The bodies of the lads. who arc
the sons of Samuel and Sarah Kolk-
er, of 1928 Eighth street northwest.
were recovered in the Eastern
Branch Of the Potomac River last
evening by Privates ILowrey and
Harbough, of tte Harbor police pre-
cinct, who were patrolling the por-
ton of the stream near the sewer
outlet.
Funeral services over the boys
bodies win be conducted at the
home of the parents this morning
at 10 o'clock by DR.. Moses A. Hor,
witz, rabbi of the Talmud Torat
Synagogue. Interment will be made
in the Hebrew Cemetery on Blad'
ensburg road.
Another Brother Saved.
Sidney Kolker, Z years old, an
other brother, narrowly escaped a
similar fate. having slipped into the
stream during the excitement, but
owing to the presence of mind OF
Grace Graham, playmate. was
pulled to safety.
When informed of the fate which
had befallen their youngest and old
est children, the parents became
hysterfcal and last night were re-
ported to be in a serious condi-
ton. Besides Sidney. one other
child Joseph Kolker, 3 months old
survives.
Accompanying the youthful vic
tins at the time OF the accident
were Earl Sangston. Is years old.
of 705 Rhode Island avenue north
west; Frank and Thomas McAnally.
both 13 years DID, f6es Eighth
street northwest Grace Graham. IL
years old, and wTiIiam Graham, 3
years old, both of 1913 Eighth street
northwest.
Caught in Downpour.
The eight children had been play
ing in the woods bordering on the
eastern side of the Soldiers Home
grounds during the early part of
the afternoon, according to the
story told by one of the lads, and
when thundcrshower occurred
they removed their shoes and stock
ings and sought shelter from the
downpour of rain beneath a small
bridge which spans the sewer near
the eastern entrance to the grounds.
In a short time the water in the
channel of the sewer became con-
siderably deeper and the curren,
much swifter. Realizing their peril.
all of the children, with the excep-
tion of Louis Kolker, crawled to
the bank. Efforts were made to
induce the lad to leave the perilous
position, but he repeatedly refuses
to move.
Swept Away by Current.
As the water continued to swell
and assume the proportions of a
torrent, the older brother, Myer
Kolker. went back into the water
to bring the little fellow to the
bank. 1t was while doing this that
he was swept into the water along
with his brother and carried swiftly
toward the place where the open
sewer empties into the city sewers.
Sweeping through tunnel ap-
proximately 800 feet in length, the
lads again came into
view of their playmates a short
distance from the entrance to the
city sewers. with the younger
brother tightly clasping his arms
about the neck of Myer.
Seeing the other children along
the bank, but unable to grasp any
thing which would stay the swift
rush toward death, the older boy
shouted to them to grab u.s." They
were. helpless, and mutely watched
their fellows pass into certain
death.
Several of the children rushed 70
the nearest house and informed
g..