Evening star., 1923-06-07
AID FOR VICTIMS
| OF SHRINE TRAGEDY
Check Offered for Fund While
Plans for DuVaI Funeral
Are Made.

" A4io arrangements were DelQa
made today for the burial of Marcus
b. DuVal, fatally injured in a fall
from the platform on which he was
working at electric lights of a garden
or Allah pillar yesterday, and whils
j. e. Gale, his fellow workman. was
lying In Emergency Hospital await
ing the verdict of physicians which
would tell him whether he would
ever be able to work again, move
meRt was set on foot to provide as.
sistance to either family. if needed.
Bright and early, in The Stars mail
this morning, came a check for $50
from Washington Topham. of 43 u
street, local civic leader. expressing
the sympathy felt by thousands in
Washington as a result of the only
fatal accident recorded Shrine week,
and suggesting the start of a fund
for the families.
Mrs. Du Val was interviewed this
morning in her apartment at 91O
18th street. She expressed warm grati-
tude for the sentiment supporting
the initiation of such a fund as sug-
gested, but announced that she could
not accept the proceeds, inasmuch as
no urgent need existed for such as
sistance. lbs
Not Expecting Need.
Il thank you and those who are
suggesting this Kindness" she said,
but / would rather not accept any
proceeds from fund because 1 feel
that L Will be able to support myself.
l have position and I do not feel
justified in accepting such an offer
ing
At the bedside Of Gale a different
situation was uncovered. Flat on his
back lay a man who attempted to
hold the ladder steady when his fell
low workman was dangling beside
MIN. He either strained or broke his
PACK IN his attempt. And his sacri-
nee was fruitless. because he saw his
companion go crashing down to death
1t was learned that he hasn't any
reserve FUNDS in the family chest ex-
ceptlng the regular pay check, which
mas not come to him yet for a weeks
work Hard luck seems to have se5-
lected his home for visitations re.
Gently. Just before Christmas he was
working in Chicago, when Mrs. Gale,
VINO Is native Washingtonian, be-
came i'll. A major operation was ne
ceSsitated.
was necessary for her to come to
:" "ashington in order that relatives
might be within call when she would
De left alone during the day. Where
upon during the last Christmas season
they journeyed back Gales surplus
funds have been used up during that
bills. seo4A
Ihen the only calamity of Shrine
thie mgeA 81 IN Washington laid its pail upon
Inls 1aml!y. After working night and
DAY on the electric lights-being an
expert electrician himself-yesterday
morning he was wedged in underneath
tne top OF column when a trucl,
heard the crash, saw DuVal fail. and
attempted to make his body a link be-
tween platform and ladder and to hold
tne torty-foot ladder upright. When he
tainted. ne
Gale himself is a Mason, and his
dues are paid up to date in Corner
stone Lodge, Chicago. The tragedy
Of the entire affair is that these men,
working to make Washington more
presentable for the enjoyment of
others in town, sacrificed themselves
in their work
This is the keynote of sympathy
struck in the letter of Mr.. Topham
which accompanied the initial con-
trfbution to the Gale relief fund this
morning.
Here is what Mr. Topham said: "The
hearts of all our citizens. as well as
those of thousands of our visiting
Shriners, are saddened because of the
terrible accident which befell the
two young men in the Garden of
Allah this morning. The result was
immediate death for one and proba-
bly, permanent injury and inability
for future work and support of fam
lily of the other.
"One of these young men is a Mason
and married. He is an excellent young
man and good electrician. and had
been working day and night, helping
to get the electrical display on Penn
sylvania avenue ready and in opera
tion for the Shrine convention.
aside from the grief in the fam
lilies of these men, they will be put
to heavy and immediate expense.
which they are probably unprepared
for. I have thought that many at
their sympathy and financial assist
| ance. 1 inclose my check herewith to
start such fund"
Cash Goes to Needy.
Learning today that Mrs. Du Val
felt that need for assistance in her
case was not pressing. and that she
, would rather have the entire pro-
ceeds of such a fund as described
rendered to the family of the fellow
workman of her husband, Mr.. Topham
Immediately consented to the use of
his check for such an arrangement,
and authorized 1t to be placed to the
account of the Gale relief fund.
Gale is twenty-six years of age. He
Is a native of Chicago and was mar
rsed to Miss Thompson of Al U street
here four years ago. After the wed
ding the couple went to Chicago, but
since the advent of unfortunate cir
cumstances had returned to wash
lngton some few months ago.
Contributions to the relief fund will
be acknowledged by The Evening
star. Address contributions to Gale
Relief Fund, The Evening Star, Wash
inrton d. c.