Evening star., 1947-04-11
Hearing on Drowning
Finds No Violation
OF Boat Renal Law

small metal rowboat which sank
IN the Potomac River yesterday, re-
sulting in the drowning Of q 13-
year-old boy, was rented by q IT.
year-old youth In compliance with
district law, corporation counseI,s|
hearing found today.
Drowned was Embrey Kits, SON
of Mr.. and Mrs. Clarence Kits, 3o17|
Dumbartona ssenpaf NWs He lost
boat b1s sui Submerged ahder tzs <sisht ,ised el
seven teen-age boys about so yards
from shore. The others swan safely
to land. Embrey could not swim.
The hearing was ordered before
George F. Lynch, assistant corpora
ton counsel, to determine whether
the boat was rented TO an under
age youth. The law forbids renting
boats to minors under II. Police
listed only one OF the seven boys
being as old as II.
Youth, IL, Rowed Boat.
The hearing brought out that the
craft was hired by Joseph Collins,
II, of 1929 M street NV. He told
Mr.. Lynch he was the only one who
rowed the boat.
Also summoned to the hearing
was Mrs. J.sWssc cxampton, owner of
Champions Boat Yard, 1895 K street
NV, where the boat was rented:
John P. Champion. 10. her son, who
is in charge Of the dock; her daugh-
ter, Annabelle. Is. who rented the
boat, and Joseph s. Cunningham, Is,
of 2912 Olive avenue NV, one of
the seven boys.
Mr.. Lynch said he was satisfied
the boat was rented and handled by
the 17-year-old boy. He warned,
however, that another hearing may
be held to determine the condition
of the boat when harbor police raise
1t from the river.
Other Boys in Craft.
The other boys in the boat besides
Cunningham and Collins were listed
as Dougla&. Becraft, Is. of 1884
Twenty -nintA street NV; James
Wilson, Is, ana his brother William,
Is. OF 1922 M street NV; James
Tolson, 13, of 2g20 M street NV.
George Fillmahn of 603 Seventy
first street Me- said he was walking
-narthe river bank when he heard a
voicAshout, f'Cut it out, fellows, I
can't SWIM He said he turned in
time to see the boat, which was
rocking sideways, sink and throw
the youths into the water.
Zone of the boys hollered he
couldn't swim 1T was the same
voice I heard earlier-and two boys
grabbed him and started toward
shore" Mr.. Fillmann said, ''but they
let go about 80 feet out. I saw the
boy 60 under, come up and go under
again. I was too far away to do
anything"
Boys Become Panicky.
Charles H. Ward OF 4611 Harling
lane, Bethesda, Ma, was painting
his boat on the nearby shore when
the accident happened. Mr.. Ward.
police said, saw one youth standing
sank.
Police said the survivors told them
the seven boys had made two trips
in the boat to a rsck In the middle
of the river to fish. After a short
while. they said, they decided to re-
turn to. shore and to make it in
one trip. 8&a
The boat began to ship water and
the boys became panicky, police said.
Police dragged the river for more
than an hour before they recovered
young Kits body in about Is feet
of water some 80 feet from shore.
The boy, who was student at
Gordon Junior High School, was al
member Of the Georgetown Branchl
Boys Clubs 105-pound basket ball
team, which was scheduled to meet
the 90-pounders at Uline Arena last
night in a preliminary to the Wash
ington Chicago Stays game.
The boys game was called of be-
cause of young Kits death.
In addition to his parents, the boy
is survived by two brothers, Jerry,
Q, and Clarence, jr,, 10, and sister,
Nellie, %.
Mr.. Kits said his sons body
would be moved from the Morgue
today to Chambers funeral home,
Thirty first and M streets NV.
Funeral arrangements have not
y