Evening star., 1947-12-23

Wreckers Press Hunt
For Empire Victims,
But Hazard Is Great
Search for at least one other
body believed buried in the
wreckage of the Empire Building
went ahead today under condi-
tions described as extremely
hazardous"
Meanwhile, autopsies on two
bodies removed yesterday from the
collapsed section of the seven-story
apartment structure at Ninth street
and New York avenue NV, were
being made by Coroner A. Magruder
Macdonald. The autopsies were
expected to disclose whether death
resulted directly from injuries in the
crash a week ago tonight or from
suffocation under tons of rubble.
DR.. Macdonald said autopsy find
ings probably would not be available
until tomorrow.
He refused to say at this time
whether the bodies had external
marks of injury.
Three persons now are known to
have died in the collapse. The
bodies identified yesterday were
those of Ernest Dorsey, "A, and Jo-
seph M. Smith, 10. A body taken
from the ruins last Wednesday was
identified as that of George Patter-
son, 10.
Mrs. X. B. Van Sickler, 78, has
been reported missing. Her son
William Van Sickler, said today he
has retained an attorney, Harold S
Harrison, to press for an inquiry
into reasons for delay in locating
the bodies in the debris.
Further Collapse Possible.
Murray T. Shipp Of the Pines
Wrecking Co. took reporters into the
building this morning to show how
a space from the ground to the
seventh floor had been cleared away
On all sides, however, were saggine
sections of ceilings, floors, hanging
beams, pieces of furniture and other
rubble.
This created an extremely haz-
ardous" condition because parts o1
it might crash down at any moment
Mr.. Shipp said. While exterior
walls seemed strong. a huge iror
beam was pinned against one sec.
ton Of wall in manner that ap-
parently held up mass of rubble
Mr.. Shipp cited the possible danger
of buckling wall or sudden fall
Of the beam and debris.
In regard to the dangerous con-
dition of the building, Deputy
Coroner Christopher ]. Murphy was
enormously quoted in The Star yes
terday as having told workmen to
dig for bodies without regard for
safety requirements. DR.. Murphy
after viewing the two bodies 10
Gated in the wreckage, authorized
the men to remove them but ad-
vised the men to use helmets and
take every precaution for their per-
sonal safety.
The wrecking crew resumed op-
erations at daylight today after
cleanup crew of six men worked
throughout the night to remove as
much surface debris as possible.
Pedestrian Traffic Permitted.
While spectators, sometimes as
many as 300, watched from nearby
streets, pedestrian traffic was per-
mitted again on the east side OF
Ninth street and on the south side
of New York avenue from Tenth
street to q point near the Empire
Building.
Pedestrians, however, still were
not allowed on the sidewalks or in
the streets Immediately adjacent to
the building. Both New York ave-
nue. and Ninth street, within block
of the structure, were still closed to
automobile traffic, while streetcars
continued to move slowly in passing
the building.
The body of Ernest Dorsey was
identified late yesterday at the
District morgue by his brother,
Wilbur Dorsey. Funeral arrange
ments will await release of the body
by the coroner, Mr.. Dorsey said.
Burial may be in Arlington Gene
terry, Mr.. Dorsey said, If 1t can be
determined that Ernest Dorsey
served In the Army during World
War I.
His brother explained that Err
nest Dorsey was at Union Station
on Armistice Day in 1918 waiting
to 60 to an Army camp, but rela-
tives were uncertain today that he
was actually inducted into service
The body of Mr.. Smith was iden-
tilted by his son, DIR. Chester r.
Smith, of 2722 Ontario road NV.
Mr.. Smith also Is survived by his
wife, Mrs. Lena Smith, who still is
in a serious condition at Emer-
gency Hospital from injuries re-
ceived in the collapse.
rs Feet Of Debris on Bodies.
Workmen found the bodies Of Mr..
Dorsey and Mr.. Smith shortly be-
fore noon yesterday, but had to
dig through the debris for almost
three hours before they could be
removed.
Brig. Gen. Gordon r. Young
Engineer Commissioner, was told by
Mr.. Shipp that the bodies were To-
Gated within few feet Of one an
other but had been covered by
debris Is feet deep.
Gen. Young remarked that the
two men might have died of suffo-
cation.
Mr.. Shipp and several workmer
said they did not notice bad cuts
or other outward signs Of injuries
on the bodies.
! DR.. Smith disclosed last night thai
K. # |