Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-08-02
SAMUEL ROSS DIES
OF HEART ATTACK
Washington Hardware Man
and Turfman Overcome in
Surf at Atlantic City.


Samuel Ross, rs, of Washington
race horse owner, was fatally stricken
with heart attack while bathing il
the surf at Atlantic City this morning
He was taken from the water by lif,
guards and was pronounced dead a hal
hour later by DR.. Raymond Williams
Mr.. Ross Son-in-law, L. L. Lipscomb Of
| New York was nearly drowned in try.
| ing to rescue him and was pulled out
! of the water at the same time anc
| barely revived.
| The two had gone in swimming short.
! ly after breakfast, off Fredericksburg
avenue, Ventor. They got into diff
| Guilty and were being carried out BY
| the current when the life guards came
| on duty at $50 o'clock. Mrs. Lipscomt
| saw their predicament from the beach
! and hurried the life guards to their aid
The two were brought ashore. Mr.
LipScomb rallied to resuScitation efforts
but the unexpected heart attack which
Mr.. Ross had sustained had exhausted
his strength.
According to the authorities, no water
was found in Mr.. Ross lungs. His
| death was attributed to a heart attack
superinduced by overeXertion in bat
Ting the strong ocean current.
Well Known thurman.
The first information received here
about Mr.. Ross death was a telephone
message TO Harry Blake. president of
| Barber & Ross, Inc, of which hardware
business Mr.. Ross was chairman of the
M diFn6fnFc I0
ton of the firm in 1927, Mr.. Ross had
conducted it as its owner for upward
of As years.
Although in business In Washington
for half a century, MFR. Ross was equally
well known as turfman. The polka
dot colors of the Ross stables have been
familiar to race fans at every leading
track throughout the country for Is
years or more.
Mr.. Ross was more than ordinarily
successful with moderate-sized but Sc
lect stable of thoroughbreds. He was
one of the organizers and former presi-
dent of the Washington Jockey Club,
which operated for years the old Ben
ming race track at Benning, D. C.
Mr.. Ross was a favorite with turf
folk who thrilled to the long-Shot wager,
his 2-year-olds many times flashing to
the front unexpectedly. He had on
hand nearly always two or three
promising young horses. Veteran turf
followers will recall at least two that
went into big money for marked sue
cess. They were Crank and Ultimatum,
which won victories in many of the
biggest race meets.
Jointly Owned The Porter.
For a time Mr.. Ross shared breeding
fortunes with Edward B. Mclean,
Washington publisher and sportsman
They owned between them a horse
named The Porter, which was famous
racer.
His horses for years have been trained
at the old Benning track, where his
stables are located.
Mr.. Ross was president of the Washing
ton Jockey Club for two years, back about
1906 and 1907, and helped organize the
club 80 years ago. 1t was said that
some of his best horses had won as
much as 100000 each. When the old
Benning track was closed to race
betting, Mr.. Ross horses were seen more
frequently on other tracks.
Upon receipt of the news from
Atlantic City, Mr. Blake left immediate
~ for the resort to help arrange for the
return of Mr. Ross body to this city
Mr.. Ross had left early yesterday
afternoon to visit his daughter, Mrs
Rebecca Lipscomb; her husband and
their two children over the week end
He had intended returning here Monday
1t was said that Mr.. Ross had enjoyed
excellent health for many years and
had never before had any trouble with
his heart.
Native Of Pennsylvania.
Born near Altoona, Pa, Mr. Ross
came to washington so years ago. He
came here as manager Of the Wash
inpton branch of Barber & Henderson
Co. of Philadelphia. This business was
located on what is now the site OF
the President Theater, formerly Ker-
mans burlesque house, on Pennsylvania
avenue near Eleventh street. 1t was
then a millwork and lumber concern
| to which was added hardware and other
| lines.
when Mr.. Barber died, about five
years later, Mr.. Ross bought out the
| business. He operated it as persona
/ owner, under the name OF Barber d
Ross. It grew into one of the largest
| hardware businesses in this section
| The business was incorporated in jan
uary. 1927. as Barber &c Ross, Inc
Since then Mr.. Ross has served a.
chairman of the board of directors anc
| the business was conducted under MI
! active supervision.
/ With Mr.. Ross death, only two othel
| charter members of the Washington
Board of Trade are said to remain
alive. They are Isador Sacks ant
Theodore w. Noyes.
Active I'm Board of Trade.
Mr.. Ross was actively associated II
the movement that resulted in the es
tablishment of the trade board IL
| 1889. He was not inclined to be {
Joiner" but had always taken al
active interest and part in the affair
of the Board of Trade. He was also
member of the Columbia Country Club
and for years had been interested IL
the National Training School for Boys
on Bladensburg road. He was a mem
Der of its board. Mr.. Ross resided a
2324 Massachusetts, avenue.
His daughter was his only child. He
husband, Mr.. Lipscomb, is gradual
of the Naval Academy and now
president of the Dubilier Corporation
of New York, maker of radio parts.
brother, J. Anderson Ross of Philadel
phia, retired business man, and
nephew, Frank Macklin Of Philadel
phia, also survive him.
.. - ~ n .