Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-05-19
THENATIONALTHEATER
CLOSED BECAUSE THE WEST
WALL HAS BEEN UNDERMINED.

Building Inspector Snowden Ashford this
afternoon condemned the front portion of
the National Theater building, and no more
performances will be given at that play
house for week at least. The rear portion
or the building, containing the auditorium
and stage, was not formally condemned, but
MIR. Ashford strongly advised against per-
hitting its use. Manager Rapley of the
theater agreed that the public might be
subjected to some danger and readily con-
scented to close the playhouse.
The Cause Of the Difficulty.
The discovery was made today that the
west wall of the theater has sunk about
three inches. leaving cracks in several
places and rendering that portion of the
building unsafe. Manager Rapley of the
New National was in consultation with the
local building authorities all day to de-
ternine whether the theater would have to
be condemned The cracks are caused by
the shrinking of the clay which consti-
tutes the foundation of the building
The theatrical performance scheduled at
the National for last evening was called
on According to one report this was due
TO the absence of Joseph Wheelock jr, one
OF the actors but another report had it that
the theater Dad been closed as a precaution
against accident
Building Inspector Ashford has required
the tenants in the south and west portions
OF the building to vacate temporarily. Mr..
Ashford was called upon to day to condemn
the theater, ana a consultation was had at
noon to determine whether the condition
would warrant this action. Representatives
OF the George A. Fuller Company which Is
erecting the new building adjacent to the
theated and other engineers were present.
but no conclusion was reached.
The contractors for the building adjacent
TO the theater dug close to the wall of the
theater in preparing the foundation for
the new structure, and In so doing en-
countered a very wet blue clay In order
10 facilitate their work pumps were in
stalled and the clay drained of water
According to the building inspector this
same character of clay is underneath the
National. and when the pumps started to
work this clay also was drained. When
the cay began to dry out 1t shrunk, says
Mr.. Ashford, and the sinking of the walls
resulted.
Mr. Rapley is doing all In his power to
protect the public from possible harm. and
when the engineers advised against opening
the theater this evening he willingly COM
piled. But at the same time he did not
care TO close the playhouse and lose money
II there was no danger. For this reason
the engineers were called into consultation
Undermined the Wall.
The contractors for the new building
and the inspectors in the local building
Inspectors office have been busy and have
practically "honeycombed" the theater
building with massive joists and cables
calculated to prevent further Slipping.
MT Ashford explained today to a repre-
sentative of The Star that there is no i'm
mediate and direct danger to the theater
itself. as ii is separated from the front
OF the building by wall
Mr.. Ashford says the front or south
western. portion of the building could fall
without affecting the portion of the build
ing containing the auditorium and stage
IL was called to his attention however
mat should the front wall fall while an
audience was In the auditorium the crash
would surely cause panic among the audi
tors, and fatalities might result
II was also suggested that should the
front of The building fall the main exit
and the western exits might be closed with
debris. thus blocking the way and prevent
ing the escape of those in the theater au-
dltorum. This condition was also admitted
TO be possible by Mr.. Ashford but he
doubted his authority to demand" the
closing of the theater because of such lin
direct possible results.