Evening star., 1940-06-06
New Contributions
Push Red Cross
Fund 10 $137,531
$275 Check From Sole
OF HeirIooms One of
Most Unusual Gifts

A check for $275, representing the
proceeds from the sale Of heirlooms
by prominent Washingtonian, was
received by Bruce Baird, chairman
OF the war relief fund campaign of
the District Red Cross Chapter, to-
day as new contributions amounting
to $24,76927 pushed the total re-
ceipts to date tc sl37,53170.
The $275 donation, one OF the most
unusual gifts received by the local
chapter in the current campaign,
was earmarked specifically for divi-
sion between the British and French
Red Cross stations. Mr.. Baird said
the donor obtained the money by
selling a small diamond cross that
his mother had worn, a ring that
favorite sister had cherished and
several other small jewels.
The giver, who was stationed in
London as Naval Reserve officer
during the first World War,
cherished the heirlooms as keep
sakes, but decided that, since he had
no one to leave them to, he would
convert them into cash and present
the money to the Red Cross. The
National Savings & Trust Co. dis
| posed of the mementoeS and gave
| the money to Mr.. Baird.
Federal Workers Help.
Campaign officials said contribu-
tionS from Government depart
ments figured prominently in yes
terday's contributions. which pushed
total receipts closer to the halfway
mark. The quota assigned to the
local chapter is $300,000
Federal workers donations came
from the Federal Works Agency,
$32825; Veterans Administration
$655.65; War Department, s756 so;
Agriculture Department., $1,6lOO4;
Interstate Commerce Commission
$1,64405: Treasury. $4.45196; Com
merce, $l,069l0: General Account
ing, 1898; Budget Bureau, S343 rs;
Federal Housing, S3l0; Army War
College, $40; Securities and Ex-
change, S82085; Library of Con-
gress, Sl0665 Office of Govern
ment Reports, SIS Internal Rev.
enue, S2,770, and National Capital
Parks, $24.
In the local field the Potomac
Electric Power Co. gave $1,000 and
employees of Loew's Theaters were
reported signed up 100 per cent, with
an average gift of more than S5.
Other special gifts were: Wood
ward & Lothrop, $3.50; Lansburgh
& Bro, $3.50; Julius Garfnckel Co.,
$3.50 S. Kann Sons Co.. 5000; F. w.
Woolworth Co.. 500; Guy Curran
& Co., Inc, $3.50; Walter E. Edge
5000, and Mrs. J. H. Lewis, 5000
First Ship to Sail Next Week.
The Civic Education Service, 744
Jackson place NV, has 80 employees
who contributed total of S465. In
addition, these employees said they
were setting aside sum each pay
day for the Red Cross.
Booths in the various stores and
banks yesterday reported a total of
$1,36116.
The Red Cross announced last
night that its first mercy ship" the
McKeesport, would be loaded in New
York early next week with $1,000 900
worth of relief supplies for refugees
and wounded in France Other such
vessels, it was said, will follow later.
The McKeesport is expected to sail
by the end of next week. The cargo
will include surplus farm products
sold to the Red Cross by the Agri-
culture Department at half price
motor trucks, ambulances, clothing,
bedding, drugs and surgical supplies
The State Department has in
structed the McKeesport to fly the
Red Cross and United States flags
and to proceed fully lighted at night.
She will dock in Bordeaux.