davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1922-01-30
Avalanche of Snow, Bricks,
Plaster and TUisted Steel
Beams CatdpuLtedon Crowd
Rep. John H. Smithwick of Florida, Caught I'm
der Chunk of Plaster Weighing Quarter of
Ton, Recounts Horrors Immediately
Following the Catastrophe

tangled debris. TO the doors on the
Eighteenth street side.
Across the aisle from me when
the crash came was a little fellow
never saw him again and I wonder
II he IS dead-whO laughed and
roared at every especially funny
part of the film. I don't know what
became Of him or toe others in the
ba cony after we were showered
with plaster.
Like Ice Pond Breaking Up.
"As the ceiling broke the plaster
fell first. in chunks. II was just
like an ice pond breaking up. The
roof did not give way on one crash
II seemed to break up everything.
That let in the snow which came IL
through the broken places where the
ceiling had given way. It's queer,
but was conscious all the time
when I was pinned down by that
great piece of ceiling My mind
when ! saw the ceiling falling ana
afterward was just as clear and col
lected as il is now. I knew / was
hurt some, but 1 did not know how
badly. It seemed that my time had
come lived a year, l tell you, as
Crouched down between the seats.
ct was not until I got outside thai
/ noticed blood falling from my face
and hands. ! got out myself. No
one helped me. l craw.ed over the
broken seats and plaster and snow
TO the door. on the way / saw a
young fellow lying half CURED up
moaning and crying for help. /
leaned over to lift him and then
everything went black. The next |
remembered l was at the door wip-
ing the blood from my eyes and
mouth.
Thought Death at Hand
do not know how I got out. /
did not zee any other injured ones
as / crawled out. l can't remember
about that part OF it. My only
thought then was to get home before
I should die. My chest panied me
my back seemed broken. my face
was dripping with blood. All ]
wanted to do was to get nome and
tell my wife and little girls what had
happened and how I was hurt. !
thought I was going 10 die"
Rep. Smithwick. who lives about
block from the theater, said he
staggered home without overCoat OF
hat through the snow drifts. Physi-
clans were summoned Immediately,
who found him suffering from SHOCK
bruises and possibly internal in
iuries
Believes Escape Miracle
4 think it was a miracle that l
came out alive" said the Florida
congressman. But think of those
poor children and men and women
who were not so fortunate. 4 don't
see how any who were under that
balcony escaped. II those below
could nave seen the ceiling breaking
they would have had time 10 rush
out through the doors, but I guess
they could not see like we in tie bal
cCny. These underneath us mad NJ
chance. 1 guess. keep thinking OF
lit all the time. that awful roaring
and crashing Of the balcony on its
way down to those people below.
II was all over in half a mirute. ]
guess. out it seemed hours"
South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1922-01-30
By Associated Press.

By Associated Press.
WASHINGTON. Jan. 29.-An
avalanche OF broken plaster. bricks,
snow. splintered wooden and twisted
steel beams catapulting upon the
audience while the orchestra played
and a comedy hIm ground out is the
description Of the Knickerbocker
theater disaster given Sunday 10y
Rep. John II. Smithwick Of Pen
sacola, Fla. He was in the balcony
OF the theater when the roof coll
lapsed under its weight OF snow and
escaped unalded-just how ne can
not recall-with more or less serious
hurts
\ Sharp Crack and Crash
The orchestra was playing beau
tiful music and a comic film was
running" said Mr.. Smithwick, lying
in his bed bandaged and with his
face and hands covered with cuts.
Suddenly. there was a sharp crack.
II looked up and saw a great assure
running across the ceiling. 1t was
right over my head. 1 instantly
realized what was happening. The
plaster began 10 fall dropping down
in large and small chunks all over
the theater, il seemed 10 me. While
was looking up a great piece right
over my head started 20 fall. The
piece struck the seat right where
had been sitting. The force waS
broken by the seat but it pinned m,
under where / was crouching.
Great. Tremendous Roar
The noise was awful. Ii was
great, tremendous roar. II was sim
ply indescribable. I never can for
get it. In the midst of the roaring
were shrieks and cries of women ana
children and a few shouts Of men.
There were cries for help, groans
and, worst Of all. the means of those
in terrible pain IL was awful.
can't describe it, see it all the
time, those poor children and men
and women crying and groanins
there.
Only Few In Balcony
There were only a few OF US ir
the balcony. Luckily, there were no
more. The balcony gave way and
crashed soon after the ceiling be-
gan TO fall on those on the lower
floor. They were caught the worst
We in the balcony were more for
tunate.
Il guess there was a lapse OF
maybe twenty seconds. hardly more
before the balcony fell. Funny, but
it spun around. kind OF twisted, as
it's supports gave way. and it swung
down on those below. 1t did not go
straight down. just kind of slid
sideways and slanting. I suppose
from the weight Of the debris that
had fallen on us upstairs.
Crushed Under Plaster
Il don't know how 1 got out from
where l was crouching under that
chunk NJ plaster that had fallen on
me. I really believe it weighed all
of 500 pounds And I think I moved
that plaster with my shoulders.
Anyway, I crawled out between tht
seats 10 where I saw a small hole IN
the plaster above / forced myself
up through that hole. wiggling and
showing Then / Crawled out over
the snow and plaster. over the
South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1922-01-30

laughter al q filmed comedy Wltn
the roof fell on them like "a blanket
carrying down the front of the wide
balcony ln its crash.
Storm keeps Crowd Away.
Normally the theater had every
seat filled at that hour and nearly
1000 persons was its capacity The
same UNPRECEDENTED snowfall which
brought death 20 the veuturcsone
few kept the many AZ home Street
car traffic had been abandoned and
streets and sidewalks We're almost
impossible with drifts. There has
been no time yet for official inquiry
as 10 the cause of the disaster. The
ruins themselves disclose. however.
that the entire mass Of steel which
held concrete that formed the roof
had come down The crash swept
the supports out from under the
balcony. apparently. and this hinged
down az an angle OF 45 degrees.
adding TO the tangled mass OF wreck
age on the floor below.
In Heart OF Residence section.
The building stands in au acute
angle corner az Eighteenth street
and Columbia road northwest the
heart Of the most favored residence
section OF the city. The narrow
niche OF the stage ora which the
screen was hung was backed into
the corner angle. while 20 the left
from the stage the line Of the au-
ditorium wall runs in a straight line
South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1922-01-30
FOUR OF FAMILY
OF FIVE PERISH

BY Associated Press
WASHINGTON. Jan. 29.-Four Of
the i've members Of the family OF
Oscar @. Kanston Of 3S47 North
Winchester St. Chicago. lost their
lives in the Knickerbocker theatel
disaster. Kanston. who came here
recently in connection with some
temporary work for the bureau OF
valuation Of the Interstate Com
merce Commission, went last night
20 the playhouse with his wife, his
two daughters. Helen Is. and Anyln
Z. and his son Grant IL only the
boy escaped
South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1922-01-30
Church, Concerted Into Morgue,
Houses Victims of Catastrophe
Eleven Times Death Struck
Down Husband and Wife,
Side by Side.
By Associated Press

WASHINGTON. Jan. %. =
Recovered from the wreck and
horror Of the ruined Knicker-
booker theater, a pitiful stream
of mangled bodies. dead and
living. flowed all Saturday night
and Sunday into the lower
rooms of a Christian Science
church a few hundred yards
away. At the last word of the
disaster. the place was thrown
open to those stricken folk and
the hundreds of others who
came to search for their dead or
injured. AS the full weight of
the losses became known, the
dead monopolized the space,
crowding the injured in the all
too small rooms.
1t was merely a first aid sta
ton for those taken crushed, but
alive. from the wreckage. They
were carried on stretchers over
the slippery pavement with lines
of soldiers keeping the crowds
far back. Doctors and nurses
and women eager 10 bring thei-
sympathy and cheer 20 the suffering
or bereaved. waited i'm the church
They tenderly washed away the gre,
dust OF the crumpled concrete and
grim and contracted blood. black
ened sometimes by hours OF waiting
pinned under the debris until the
.rescuers cut the victim loose. Ban
dages were applied and then the in
jured were whisked away 10 hos
pitfalls or home.
But the dead lay long in the dou-
South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1922-01-30
Sen. Cabper Seeks
Probe of Building
Code Enforcement
BY Associated Press

~ AcoNAi aAfA AF~~
WASHINGTON. Jan. "a
Senator Capper OF Kansas. a mem
Der OF the senate District OF
Column ia. announced Sunda,
night that as soon as the senate
recovered he would introduce a
resolution calling for an investi-
CATION OF the Knickerbocker the
alter disaster and also Of all larg,
building construction in Wash
iugton since the beginning OF the
war
sen. Capper said reports had
come 20 him that 10 a more or
less degree the building code o.
the District OF Columbia had been
violated during the rush OF con
struction following the inc7ease
in the city's population following
the war declaration.
South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1922-01-30
HERO DIES SO THAT
OTHERS, PINNED IN
RUINS, MIGHT LIVE
Tells Rescuers to Look After
Others, and Succunibs
When Rescued.
BY Associated Press.
WASHINGTON.

be ASSOCIATED ETess.
WASHINGTON. Jan. 29-Many
brave deeds were reported Sunday
by rescuers working in the Knicker-
booker theater wreckage. but they
said Albert O. BuehleE Of Washing
ton was the outstanding hero. Civ
ing his own life that others might
live He could have been taken
from the debris fully an hour before
ne was. but he directed the rescuers
10 aid others whom he declared
more seriously hurt than he. He
died soon after he was taken from
The building.
Lieut. V. N. Parsons OF the
Marine corps, who assisted in direct
ing the rescue work. gave graphic
descriptions Of many individual res
cues.
We were digging into the ruins,
he said. when we saw a tuft OF red
hair protruding. We discovered a
small boy probably nine years old.
who told US his little sister was
beneath the pile OF debris also. The
girl was rescued and neither she
nor the boy was seriously hurt
through some miracle, but their
mother, nearby. was dead.
DIR. Gearhart. dentist. was
found pinned beneath an I-beam.
He told Us. as We endeavored 20 ex-
tricate him. that he had been con-
scious all night in that position. A
woman beside him was dead.
"One fellow. with both legs nor
f|---.s-z - -
South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1922-01-30
CLEAR MOHARDT
AND DESCH OF
PRO- CHARGES
Evidence of Double Crossing
Double CrOssers Favor
able 10 Stars.
COACH PROMISES PROBE
Notre Dame Faculty Prepar-
pairing TO Thoroughly In
vcsligaIe All Reports.


liJ iI0 Associated iIess-
CHICAGO. Jan. -9.-lndlcauons
sunday nisht were that Gus DeSch
and john Mohardt Notre Dame
football stars, who were sara 70
have played with 'allhN4tlt- III
ln the professional game iasl IAN
against Iaylorviile. iil, Whlch re-
suited bon disqualification or nine
University or Illinois athIetes' WouIu
Dc cleared OF any connection Win
tle collegiate football scandal
Developments sunday tended 70
show that Desch and Mohardt were
innocent victims OF case or false
identity which was ;he second IN
stance of dOunlc-crossiug On the Dit
ter rivalry between the two towns
over the game CarlinvIlle people
bet approximately $4,000 ON the
game. IL is SAID. after hiring 10 col
lege players for their eleven, only
TO find that IayloUIle had learned
IF TIE plan and procured nine Hi
nois athletes for it's team when win
rs 20 o.
Both Desch. member Of the Am
erican Olympic team. and Mohardt'
am all-Amcricau halfback selection
saturday night issued formal denials
that they played i'm the game and
sunday presented evidence 20 the
NOtrc Dame authorities at South
Bend that they were in school the
day OF the contest. Whom the Car
l.nvilie people, who thought they
had hired the two players learned
Of this, they frankly declared that
undoubtedly they had been imposed
upon by persons using the names
posch and Mohardt and that besides
1eing beaten at their own game OF
safe betting they had been the
dupes or the ringers they hired 70
make the betting safe
Dcsch and Mohardt Clear
NJ South BEND. besch ana MO-
H'idl presented 'helr evidence d'
an informal meeting OF some mem
hefs OF the college athletic COM
mlttee and later these members eN-
pressed the OPINION lhaI the Two
men were innocent ana mercy VIC,
inns or uIhsldh'es. LOT MAJ
meeting on the comnlltee Will De
neld lohorro" az WhI'h an iIlio'-
H'alloh -a'he'eu VIII pe some over
''p'' ~ a.
lHNhle previous lo 'Hc E"Hie WeIe
'''"l i' .>V''' ','"
procured 20 play an" .''d' lut GAM
''o mus o'en ''i'iVlleu ana l'T PEI.
''"5 'I""' 'i'''' ~
'''" VIZ
'o" "Sl,C'p'' ,''u gu '''''' ii', u
We're Nu"t S'd'S' 10
appear Jul ''t ''"'u' "u' wy nue
''9" mas p"9''''1- p'' ''0'
rd'loIl J." 'I' -a"'t anu anu oui''eu
mat ne can prove MS ass. ll'IiS'
hochht ihNc>'IEa'lhS-
Nnule '"tNnc- Nol'g Ialne
''a'il' H"i'"al "'eu' ''''. 'us Assn
,''leu TeS9 lIat l'-' 'ulll'- '''eS uh-
o'u''e'lS No"'u '"N, u''Sl-c ae..on
I'D lht iUFtS''9d-'"- Nilo"' u lii"t '>u-
South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1922-01-30
FORMER LOCAL
Man KILLED IN
THEATER CRASH
George Sydney Freeman, Nio-
linist, Was COncertmaster
in Doomed Building.
WAS WELL KNOWN HERE
Victim Was Member of South
Bend Symphony and Black
stone Orchestras.

south Bend music circles We're
stunned last night when word was
received of the death of George
sydney Freeman. concert master Of
the Blackstone orchestra UP until
the time it was disbanded Jan. /,
n the collapse Of the roof Of the
Knickerbocker theater, Washington.
u. c., Saturday night.
Musicians all over the city we're
generous IN their praise Of the dead
musician. for they knew him, not
only as q conscientious artist, but
also as a friend whose genial smile
and winning personality We're ever
present
While at the Blackstone Free
man won a host Of friends through
the excellence of his work Friends
here viii mourn his untimely death
for they realize that they. and the
entire world of music. have lost a
viohnist for whom critics had pre-
dicted a brilliant future.
Was Concert Master.
Freeman, who was but 20 years
OF age. was with the Blackstone or
chestra for seven months, having
come to this city from Louisville,
Ky, where he held the position Of
concert master in the Strand theater
orchestra. He was married.
d. x. J. Schafer. 316 s. Franklin
St. former mayor Of South Bend.
with whom Freeman and his wife
lived while here, described the cou-
pie as an unusually devoted pair.
Mrs Schafer said that when the
members of the Blackstone orches-
ira were notified Of their release,
Freeman sent his wife 10 Louisville
TO stay with her aunt while he went
10 Washington 70 investigate the
position Of concert master of the
Knickerbocker theater there.
Upon accepting the POSITION in
Washington Il was his intention to
have his wife Join him there AIR.
Schafer said that il was doubtful
if his wife was in Washington at
the time Of the accident. 1t is
thought that she is still in Louis
Vile.
Local musicians characterized
Freeman as being very conscien-
AlOuSs II ~ lEldltu llidt dAANl ANaN
ing the Blackstone he was offered
the position Of musical director at
the Orpheum theater here. He de-
clined this offer on the grounds
that he was not experienced in vau-
deville work.
Trained NiOlinist
The dead musician was born in
Alabama. where it is thought his
parents still reside. He was a high
~ trained violinist, having studied
az several eastern music schools and
under nationally known teachers.
Before going to Louisville he had
taken an intensive course in violin
music at the New England Conser-
vatory or Music. Boston
Angelo WHALE formerly director
Of the Blackstone orchestra. who
was with Freeman the night he
left here for Washington 10 accept
the position which ultimately meant
his death. was generous in his praise
Of Freeman. Mr.. WHALE said that
he had advised the violinist 10 re-
main in this city but that the youth
realized that the position OF con-
cert master OF a 50-piece orchestra
was a great opportunity which could
not be missed.
Freeman was also a member OF
the South Bend Symphony or
CheStra
South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1922-01-30
TAYLORNILLE COACH
AND MANAGER SPLIT

Ev Associated Press.
CARLINNILLE I.l Jan. g.
givers Anderson business manager
-he local football team. sunday
rieht declared shat be mad person
ally "hire1 and paid Notre Dame
University mon 90 play for Carlin-
Vile acainst Tayiorville last fall "
hile Lionel Noise. coach NJ the
.cam. said that 20 his knowledge
here was not a Notre Dame man in
ne Carlinvilie lineup" Both asser-
cns we're made in formal state
ents 10 The Associated Press.
Mr.. Anderson cleared John Mo-
Lln-.Lr-.l IN n ra two /
South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1922-01-30
All Bodies Believed Removed From Scene of
Horror After "a Hours of Rescue Work by
Hundreds of Police, Firemen Sol
diers, Sailors and Marines
HEAVY SNOW STORM RESPONSIBLE
FOR CROWD OF ONLY 300 OR 400
Crash of Roof Came Without Warning, and Pa
irons, Made Up of Family Groups, Were
Caught Under Tons of Debris With
out Opportunity of Escape.
BULLETIN
BY ASSOCIATED PRESS

day placed the known dead the Knkerboce heser dss
ter 1O7 Elimination of duplicated brought the final
total down from the unofficial peak Of II which the toll Of
the catastrophe placed late Sunday night The list injured
stood at 134, with ID listed seriously injured"
South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1922-01-30
THE WEATHER

Indiana-Fair Monday Tuesday I'M
settled with snow or rain iu south
and snow iu north portions no
change in temperature
Lever Michigan - Fair Monday
tuesday unsettled. probably snow no
-hange So temperature.
South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1922-01-30

Continued on page two)
South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1922-01-30
Only An Instants Warning

This whole space stood roofcss 20
the sky a moment after the FIRST
kissing sound o. the breaking roof
gave warning above the music OF the
South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1922-01-30

Continued on page twO)
The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1922-07-02
Nav ORLEANS coTroN

NEW ORLEANS, July 1.-Sman de-
preston In the price of cotton today
was caused by the railroad labor
troubles and continued hot and dry
weather over the greater part OF the
belt, although the last half of the SEES
sion brought partial recoveries on the
forecast OF showery weather for sew
eral states. The opening was lower
and in the early trading the declines
amounted to 16 to Is points, October
dropping off to 2O.s7, this was the low
Of the day. In the later trading the
active months came back to levels un-
changed to eight points down COM
pared with yesterdays finals, but the
close was at net losses of to IS points
October closing at 2o.es.
At times trading plainly was re-
stricted by the governments second
report Of the season on the growing
crop which is due Monday at 1880
The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1922-07-02
Einstein Theory
All "Bosh" Says
Spanish Teacher


TOXIC, June 3s.-Mr. Hchiro Eakai,
Spanish language Instructor At the Colo
NAL school In Koishikawa, claims to have
discovered theory of absolution, which
is contrary to Einstein's theory Of rela-
tivity. He developed the idea Of explain
ing the universe by dissolution while look
ing for the best method Of teaching gram
mar,
Interviewed by the Nichi nichi Mr..
Sakai said:
81 wonder why men of profound think
ing like Professor Einstsin could not disc
cover the thAory Of ahHolution. did not
encounter any great difficulty In discov-
ering It. Kant and Socrates win dwindie
into insignificance beside the theory
which win rsvolutioniza the medical phio
losophical, physical econornia and reli8-
ious worlds. What gives ma great sat
tsfaction is the thought that the theory
which I discovered win strike At the very
foundation OF monism. The theory Of abb
solution proves the reality Of the concep-
tons Of soul heaven. hell and other ideas
which believers In the doctrine of monisrn
laugh at as creations Of cracked brain.
The theory of relatively cannot be explain
ed unless by means Of high mathematics
while the theory discovered is easy
to understand.
The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1922-07-02
WALL STREET

. NEW YORK, July For all prac-
tical purposes, today's stock market
was almost nom existent, the attend
ance of members on the floor OF the
exchange was Of the slimmest pro-
portions and the turnover of little
more than 100000 shares was the
smallest, even for weekend, since
the beginning of the year.
Rails held their ground, regardless
Of the strike situation, early nominal
recessions being largely, If not entirely
regained later. Some of the independ-
ent steels, as well as active oils and
motors made moderate gains on the
day, but many of the leaders rose and
fell within fractional limits.
For the first time in almost two
months actual loans and discounts OF
the clearing house showed a large de-
crease, the contraction Of $1o5,000,0oo
being accompanied by decrease of
about $152, 900 in net demand de-
Sosits and little more than 100000,
900 In time deposits. The actual cash
gain OF practically $20,50o,oo0 wiped
out the previous weeks deficit. leaving
excess reserves at almost $17,000,00o.
The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1922-07-02
CALOMEL SALIVATES
EVEN WHEN CAREFUL
Treaeherous Drug Can Not Be Trusted
and Next Desc May Cause
Trouble.

Calomel IL dangerous. It may sail
vate you and make you suffer fearfully
from soreness OF gums, tenderness OF
jaws and teeth. swollen tongue and ex-
cessive saliva dribbling from the
mouth. Don't trust calome1. It 10 mer-
curry; quicksilver.
II you feel bilious, hendachy, consti-
pated and all knocked out, Just go to
your druggist and get q bottle Of Dod-
sons Liver Tone for few cents which
II q harmless vegetable substitute for
dangerous calomel. Take spoonful
and II 1t doesn't start your liver and
straighten you up better and quicker
than nasty ealoTnel and without max
ing you sick, you just go back and get
your money.
II you take calomel today you'll be
sick and nauseated tomorrow; besides.
1t may saiivate you. while II you take
Dodson'a Liver Tone you will wake UP
feeling great. No salts necessary. Give
IL to the children because it is perfectly
harmless and cannot salivats.-AdVer-
tisement.
The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1922-07-02
Jap School Boys
Pass Vote want
Of Confidence"

KYoTO, Japan, June 1o-(By MaiD-
The boys Of the high school Of Xyoto
who passed q vote OF ''want OF conf
dence" In their principal were suspend
ed for q week. This drastic step" as
the japanese papers described the ac-
ton Of the school authorities Is unusual
In the frequent strikes Of school boys
in Japan, they usually being settled by
compromise in which the boys generally
secure the enforcement Of some OF their
demands.
The non-confidence vote in Kyoto was
based ON the alleged "despotism" of the
principal in discharging old professors
AZ a conference Of the principal and the
scholars could not come to an agreement
the suspension Of the boys was decided
upon.