The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1922-01-31
NUMBER OF DEAD
INCATASTROpHE
BELOW 100 MARK
Edward II. Shaughnessy Is Now
Expected TO Recover From
Injuries Received.
SEVERAL INVESTIGATIONS
OF DISASTER BEING MADE
Last Body Is Removed and Res
cuers Halt After Having
Worked As Hours.
fnu rha Assoclated Pressl

t5y The Associated Press)
WASHINGTON, Jan. 30.-The possi-
bility that the number Of dead in the
Knickerbocker theatre tragedy might
be less than 100 was seen tonight after
the police had completed re-checlI
Of all names in the earlier casualty list
and had made thorough inquiry Gov
ering undertaking establishments and
hospitals. AS a result of their investi-
CATION It was said the death list so
far definitely ascertained stood at 95.
Ten names in the list heretofore
given were tentatively stricken out
pending more definite knowledge OF
these persons. The ten had been listed
as address unknown" and there had
been no inquiries by relatives or
friends for such persons; those We're:
w. N. Crawford, Albert Baker. Il. Y.
Hall, Paulus Lamby t. L. Lehler, Mr..
and Mrs. Russell Maine, ID. ". Walsh,
Miss NJ. f. Walsh and Mrs. Davis.
The condition Of Edward II. shapgh-
messy, second assistant postmaster
general, was said tonight to be i'm
proving and it was added that he was
now expected TO recover,
Investigation Of the cause OF the
Ilnickerbocker theatre disaster was be-
gun today by several agencies OF the
District of Columbia government with
the probability that the senate and
house also might undertake exhaus-
tive Inquiries.
The senate IS expected to act tomor
row on a resolution by Senator Capper.
republican, Kansas, calling for an in
vestigation OF the catastrophe by a
senate committee. Despite the an
nouncement by Representative Mon
dell. republican leader. that the house
would not authorize an inquirey until
District OF Columbia officials have
concluded their Investigations, Repre-
sentative Ryan, republican, New York,
charging that the collapse Of the roof
was due 70 faulty construction and
would not have occurred had there
been proper inspection, offered reso-
luton proposing an investigation.
District OF Columbia commissioners
declared they would so into every
phase of the tragedy which occurred
Saturday night. when the roof freight
ca with snow fell on an audience of
several hundred. not only for the pur-
pose of fixing the blame but also Of
guarding against possible recurrence
oe such ceiamities.
Colonel Charles Keller, engineer
commissioner, after making a personal
survey OF the wreckage, declared he
believed the cave-in was caused by a
defect in material at some point OF the
roofs support. He stated, however,
that Jt would be impossible now to de-
termine whether there had been any
defect In the material.
Plans for the support of the roof
Colonel Keller asserted, indicate that
the capacity for weight was greatly IN
excess of any requirement in a climate
like washington's
Building Inspector Healy also was
OF tho opinion that plans for the con-
struction OK the roof were sound and
practical and that the necessary test
following construction had been met.
Preliminary 10 an investigation OF
the disaster the federal grand jury
went to tho scene OF the tragedy and
examined the wrecl1ase today. Wit
nesses win be called before the jury
without delay. It was said, in an ef-
fort TO fix blame.
p. J. Ramsey Novitt, District OF
Columbia coroner, declaring he would
snare no effort in fixing esponsibilsty,
requested Pcyton Gordon, district at
tornsy. TO ask the war department to
assign expert engineers to tho task OF
determining the cause OF the roof col
lapse. Mr.. Gordon said he would seek
such assistance.
Convinced that au bodies had beEn
removed from the debris. the search
for dead was halted today by officials
in charge OF rescue work, which had
gone on continuously for 40 hours. The
last body was removed from the
wreckago late last night. Inspector
Heaiy ordered tho walls of the theatre
RACED at once as a safety precautiou.
trnfounded reports that the walls had
ollapsed killing men in the rescue
party. were spread broadcast today,
,susing much excitement.