Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1922-01-30

tragedy, including the operations Of
JuilGcrs, contractors and building In
spectors, especially In relation to struc-
tres erected during and since the
World War"
Frantic calls for aid went out
as soon as those in the double
walled structures, which form the
Eighteenth street and back wall
of the Knickcrbocker Theatre real.
lied that the roof had collapsed Sat-
urday night.
Firemen fought their way through
heaping snow drifts in answer to n gem
Cral alarm. Police patrols filed With
men churncd and skiddcd through the
white muck, and IN answer TO a sum-
mons marines from tho barracks clear
across the city came ut double time,
painting. through the heavy going.
At Fort Myer, across the river, the
cavalry was turp.' out and started III
truckloads to the rescue, only 10 find
roads Blocked with SNOW. The men
shovcled thier way tranticUlly, Dut
finally four more teams from the fort
and from the engineer barracks were
called on.
At the sccnc Of the disaster there was
Wild confusion for time. Those who
first made their way to the auditorium
doors saw before them n dim. mystcrI.
Gus heap Of wrecknge family lighted bv
n string of coored eectrics on the stage
that still stood intact and by the re-
flected glow from the lenden skies above
tho void where the roof had beer.
Crowd at Scene Thiei,ens
Minute by minute the crowds about
the door th!ckencd, The crash Of the
falling roof had drawn many, some who
1. 81 -, hnA
melting snow inside.
Men with electric torches came from
all sides TO aid. And Il vas a dauuting
task they faced. They stood on the
debris they must lift to reach those dead
or dying below. On the Columbia road
side the single wall lowered menacingly
above their heads, stripped almost bare
except for the high exit signs marking
the way out Of the balcony, now
crumpled mass below. Not window
in the long wall was broken.
With infinite care the rcscuers be-
gan work. Every bea mthcy touched
might let another mass of concrete down
II It were moved TOO ewiftly. There
were some groans IN the darkness be-
low and no one knew how many mon.
women and children had been crushed
or trapped there. The huge slabs of
their steel supporting girders. stood in
crazy attitudes. 4 touch might send
them topping.
Houses Made Aid Stations
But against every difficulty the SOL
diers and sailors and tiremen and police
and citizens toiled desperately and
slow stream of dead and injured be-
gan to tr.ckle out through the door
ways. Nearly every house and store
in the vicinity became rescue station.
rescuers and rescued as the night wore
on.
On the Eighteenth street front Il row
Of parked automobiles stood. waiting
for owners killed or hurt in the crash
inside. They were hub deep IN snow
and only narrow lane was opened 10
traffic in the street itself, as the street
cars could not get through because Of
the snow. The automobiles hindercd
the rescuers' work. They were picked
up bodily by crowds Of men and lifted
out of the way.
Ambuiances and private machines
gathered up the injured as they were
brought out. Finally a string OF army
Hospital with sacks full Of band
ages. Doctors came from everywhere
army and navy and civilian doctors.
All through the night the work Of
rescue went on. l. was evident thar
nothing could be done for many of the
victims until the weight of the wreck
age could be lifted. 4 call to the NAVY
Yard brought bluejackets and hydraulic
jacks and oxyhydrogen Jets 70 burn
through the steel beams. The jacks were
lined up under the edge of the fallen
balcony and little at Il time IT'S weight
was lifted. Rescuers took their lives in
their hands 70 creep under and release
people there.
Relief at Daylight
As daylight came the task became
easier EngineeG officers from the
Army could see what must b. done,
They traced each twisted beam and
saw where It would be safe TO cut and
where o steel sirdcr might be dragged
out OF the pile with safety 10 those
below. Holes were cut through the
wall. and with ropes and tackle the
eoldiers and sailors heaved away.
slipping and falling in the mushy snow
outside.
Meanwhile, all Washington, il
seemed, WAS leading for the scene.
With street cars stopped, every street
rQs black with strings of people
stumbling over the banked snow. They
trampcd from every corner Of tho city
aAd the soldiers aud police he'd r.gid
lines about the theatre TO keep them
back
Hour hy hour throughout yesterday
tn" death toll rose. Less than hnif 0f the
total had been recovered when full day
light came, despite hours ot labor.
- ut, ,11
Some of the men who mad worked all
sleep and prepare for another night OF
f.. New police and fire crews came in.
After the center of the main floor had
been cleared of victims dug out Of the
wreckage by main strength, n more
Systematic search began, and It was still
going on today without halt. Tie
workers. sure that this center space
held no body or injured 7 rSou. began
turning over the tons Of debris piliug
II in that space or dragging beams and
slabs outside. During th" uay cleo -
tric!ans came to string wires and set
rows Of lamps in place 10 al the work
glare Of fires lighted b. the soldiers 70
warm themselves as they waited %
Aeave on IA rope, threw additional light
on the mass within the rOofess shell
wLcra LIndreds labor"i '.IceastIgly.
Torches Light Scene
As the gas jets came into play bril-.
liant spurts Of tiaN.e lighted the scene.
Showers of SPARKS rose as TIE live heat
other tanglc. High on the walls sail i.
or~ and Fold!ers pcrrnci on hanging
cans or iu wiHdo" lodges 10 cut loosy
'nr rul uf a giTI"r .rd L.. i be drnggcd