Evening star., 1947-12-19
WreckerstoDi Today
For ; Persons Missinq
In Empire Apartments

WAeOheiS elIlployeQ oy the
District prepared today to dig
into the ruins of the Empire
Apartments, Ninth street and
New York avenue NV, for three
persons missing since Tuesdays
building collapse.
The District assumed responsible
ity for clearing and partly razinz
the building last night when it was
learned there would be delay in
obtaining the permission of a person
holding first trust.
Rather than delay work, District
officials decided to invoke a regula-
ton empowering them to condemn
and assume control of unsafe build
ings.
In the conference were Engineer
Commissioner Gordon r. Young,
Building Inspector Robert H. Davis
and Nick Papanicolas, owner of the
building. Mr.. Davis said the wreck.
ing cost would be assessed against
the property.
Two Cranes to Be Used,
Considering the partly demolished
building too hazardous for workmen
to enter, the Arrow Wrecking d
Lumber Co. moved two huge cranes
alongside.
Equipped with 9o-foot booms and
15-foot jibs, the cranes were to reach
over the top of the seven-story, 85-
foot structure, the top three floors
Of which will be removed.
Somewhere in the tons of twisted
wreckage 1t was feared these three
persons were buried
Mrs. K. B. Van Sickler, 70; Ernest
Dorsey, "A, and Joseph Smith, all
residents of the 36-apartment
building.
Son Critieizes Delay.
William Van Sickler of Accokeek,
Md, who feared his mother was
trapped in the ruins, criticized Dis
trict officials for "inexcusable delay"
In clearing the building. Supported
by brother, Giles Van Sickler of
Fitzgerald, Va, and sister, Mrs.
L. B. Phillips of Round Hill, Va,
Mr.. Van Sickler said he expected to
retain an attorney and press an
inquiry into the delay.
"Conceding that it was too dam
gerous for flremen to continue rescue
work, there was no excuse for de-
laying the work from Wednesday
until Friday" William Van Sickler
said. What if my mother had
been trapped in there, injured dur
ing those hours?"
Also on the scene was Joseph
Smith Of Pittsburgh, Pa, brother
in-law of the missing man of the
same name. He said his sisters,
Mrs. William Offutt of Pittsburgh,
and Mrs. James Macy of Sharon, Pa.
also were in Washington.
Nine injured persons were re-
ported improved at Emergency Hos
pital Still on the critical list, but
conscious, Mrs Lena Smith, 40, re-
peatedly asked about her husband
Joseph. One man, identified from
fingerprints as George Patterson, 10,
died in the building.
Officials Watch Work.
Mr.. Davis arrived on the scene
at 7:3o am. today and Gen. Young
appeared IS minutes later to watch
workmen. remove plate glass win-
dows from the City Finance Co.,
whose street level corner Office was
buried in debris. Mr. Davis said
part of the rubble would be removed
through the Office.
Two building inspectors, Oscar
Estep and R. D. Kinney, will re-
main at the scene throughout the
work. AS the debris Is removed an
effort will be made to reconstruct
the building on paper, floor by floor,
and to check material to determine
what caused the collapse, Mr.. Davis
said.
The wrecking crew will consist OF
10 men at the peak of operation.
Some will work in slings on the
booms of cranes, tearing away part
of the roof so the wreckage may be
lifted out. Latest estimates indi-
cate 1t will require something less
than one month to complete the
job.
Gen. Young said 1t was not yet
determined whether the work would
be on 16-hOllr-a-dav haSis as he
suggested earlier. He said fire trucks
might be called in after dark to
furnish light.