Evening star., 1929-11-26
Special Board Says Action Is
to Prevent Hampering of
Coroner's Inquest.
ALSO WISH TO AVOID
EMBARRASSING DISTRICT
Definite Conclusion as to Cause OF
Disaster at Store Is Reached
by Investigators.

Unwilling to take any action Wnlcn
might hamper the coroner in conduct
ing his inquest, or embarrass the Dis
trict should it be involved in suits Tor
damages, the special board OF inquiry
which has been investigating the ex-
plosion last week at the McCrory and
10 cent store, having reached "a definite
conclusion" as to the cause Of the dis
aster, adjourned at noon today with
out making any report Of its findings.
Assistant Engineer Commissioner
Donald A. Dawson, who has been In
charge Of the inquiry, announced that
he would submit a report to Engineer
Commissioner william B. Ladue after
the coroner's inquest has been held.
The coroner's inquest, which will de-
termine any criminal responsibility
that may be found to exist, is scheduled
for December 2.
Maj. Dawson said he felt it would be
unfair to the coroner If he should make
any statement as to the boards find-
ings at this time. He also pointed out
the possibility that the District might
be joined in any damage suits growing
out OF the disaster and expressed the
belief that statement from him at
this time might prove inadvisable In
the event Of such litigation.
Experts Aid Investigators.
with the exception of differences Of
opinion concerning minor details, the
members of the board have arrived at
a conclusion as to the probable cause
Of the explosion" the Assistant En-
gineer Commissioner declared. Maj.
Dawson said that all of the piping and
valves attached to the boiler, which he
regarded as essential to thorough ex-
animation, had been made available to
the board He said that he had been
assisted by three experts from the Bu-
reau of Standards and the Bureau OF
Mines but he would not divufge their
names. He and the other members Of
the board will testify at the coroner's
INQUEST, If called, he said.
Because of the extremely technical
nature of any inquiry into disaster
OF this kind" Maj Dawson said, Eve
will make suggestions to the coroner
as to the best means Of eliciting the
essential information from the wit
nesses. We feel that the difflculties
confronting physician in charge of an
make it desirable that he be given the
benefit of our findings, if this can be
done without prejudicing his inquest.
Besides Maj. Dawson, P. NJ. Green
law, inspector Of boilers; John w. Och
mann, building inspector; A. r. Nc
CONCEAL plumbing inspector, and Rob-
ert E. Lynch, ranking assistant to the
corporation counsel, are members of the
board.
EmpIO. S Of Store Testify.
Maurice j. Colbert, who installed the
boiler and plumbing 9 in the McCrory
store building nine years ago, supplied
the board with drawings of the inStalla-
tions for comparison with plans from
the plumbing inspectors Office yester-
day afternoon. James Paxton, manager
Of the store, and several colored en-
ployes also testified before the board
yesterday.
The boiler, which exploded, was of
low-preSsure type, and was not con-
Sidered dangerous. There is no pro-
vision in the District Of Columbia Code
for offlcial inspection of this class of
boilers. It is believed that the investi-
CATION may result in steps benig taken
to incorporate some law requiring such
inspection in the code.
Victim Is Added to List.
The name of an additional victim
was added to the list of those injured
in the explosion today. Six persons died
as result of the explosion and a score
more suffered injuries.
Suffering from severe shock Miss r.
B. McGrath, 306 Second street south
east, has been confined to her home
under a physicians care since last
Thursday. the day of the explosion, it
was reported.
Miss McGrath was walking north on
Seventh street toward the McCrory
store when the blast occurred.
"I was walking with my head down."
Miss McGrath said, "and did not see the
sidewalk cave in, but I heard the
screams and turned cold all over. /
thought for a moment / was going to
collapse, but / managed to control my
self and walked away. / don't remem-
Der going home. but I think must have
boarded a street car"
Five OF Six Dead are Buried.
Five of the six persons who lost their
lives in the explosion were buried yes
terday.
Funeral services for Miss Elizabeth
Dawson of 337 Maryland avenue north
east were held at the home of her sis
ter. Mrs Charles Scheppach, at 28l1
Fifth street northeast. Interment was
in Mount Olivet Cemetery.
Triple services were held at 4505 Ar
kansas avenue for the three members
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