The Washington herald., 1922-01-30


noted by the rescue gangs. and ne
was thrown bodily from the place
into the eIarms OF the police.
Around.'the corner from the Knick-
erbocker. the beautiful First Church
cf Christ. Scientist. was an impro-
viscd morEue. Bodies were placed
IN rows upon the concrete hoors.
And here were enacted those scenes
so remote when taking place in
far city," heart-wrenchins when
Spne's fellow townsmen are the search
fers for their dead. Thinning as the
hours brought more and more iden-
J tihcations, moved the files OF men
HIsl wonderland OF children-look-
iuS for missing relatives and friends.
Blankets covered the dead.
vt first there were not enough
stretchers, nor coffins. and automo-
hiles and ambuIsnces made continu-
Gus trips to undertaking establish
ments. Coroner hewitt released the
bodies to claimants upon proper iden-
tihcation.
So wide were thrown the doors
or all hospitals and Of homes in the
Vicinity Of the stricken section that
every hurt person was taken into
the arms OF mercy and tender care
as he or she was borne from the
Nreckage which had enSulfed $50
persons
Emergency aid stations were in
stalled for desperate cases where
waste ef time meant death. Not
few died on improvised operat-
ing tables. with the military
worked all Saturday night and all
sunday doctors in the white Of in
ternes japd in civilian dress. the
ever-fai ilhfuI nurses. the former
army men. scores possessed of but
one emotion-to aid the stricken.
While. the oxyacetylene torches
|xSputtered and shone green. ropes
|were rested about great chunks Of
concrete. and sweating gangs or
snortinE tractors hauled them to
hChe street.
Tangled Debris In Center.
The four mauve- tinted walls with
the gray heavens above made a
solemn setting for the sruesome
scene. Ciold-colored brocade panels
that once shone in glory now hang
ragged and stained on the walls.
and ciId sconces. some OF them still
holdincHelectric bulbs. hang dan
cling on black wires from their
places along the sides of the walls.
The center is a tangled mass OF
debris = iron cirders twisted into
monstroqS shapes. broken plaster
and shattered chairs The stage
remains intact except that the
screen. on which the movie stars
"f the world have nightly fitted.
is torn in half. The rows OF red.
white nd blue lights over the stage
remain in good condition and were
used during both nights to guide
the rescuers in their work.
organ Smashed Flat.
The organ which stood to the left
"r the stage is sma shed fat to the
flooring. having the appearance OF
= closed accordion. The young wo-
man organist escaped with a few
scratches. hut woman violinist,
Fw ho sat beside her. was instantly
killed
u was pointed out by construc-
fion engineer that when the ceiling
fell the attendant compression OF
air blew the fire exits open thus
surely preventing the walls from
collapse. In this case. he thought.
no one inside would have escaped.
One OF the most pathetic scenes
uncarthed was when biz sheet Of
wire netting and plaster was lifted
from a row OF balcony seats. show
ing an pld man sitting upright and
little ,airI Of some 5 wears seated
beside him. II is believed that they
both we're instantly killed.
Three In skating Costume.
Under the same plane of plaster
If oh
hands tisid on the tops OF their
heads in an attitude OF self-pro-
lection against the falling ceiling.
They were dressed in skating cos
tube and had evidently been enjoy
in- thar sport during the after
noon aud were finishing a happy
dav together a. the theater
The "tuG-of-wsr." which is a part
~ all army and navy field games,
show ed,.twhen the blue and khaki
work ed" toeether pulling down the
lettering debris. The BOYS from
kFort Myer and the navy yard la
bored together with fine unanimity,
and from midnight Saturday TO
carly Monday morning in some
saSeS- '.'
N One iackie. careless Of the whip
ping wind. in blouse and white cap.
attracted much attention for his
spectacular work high up on the
walls. !, For thirty-siN hours >he
toiIed with apparent tirelessness.
encouraging those about him. More
over. he was too modest to tell his
name
saved by Premonition.
one hoy Of l.. white-faced and
serious. looked on at the rescuIng
from thr roped lines stretching
down columbia road and Eighteenth
street. He lives just across tire
street. he said. and had missed at
tendance at the Knicksrbocker for
the hrst' Saturday night for three
whole wears 1T was a premonition
on nv mothers part" he declared
with conviction. she went to a
dovntown theater. but made me
nromise' would not leave the
house.
Incnaetnr tn