The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1922-02-02
THEATER CRISIS
HEROICALLY MET
BY dc. CITIZENS
Bandages and Medicines
Supplied by Drug Stores.
Hotels Feed Rescuers.

Physicians worked by the side OF
iaborers; nurses. ciergymen and
business men assisted by residents
in the vicinity of Eighteenth and
Columbia road, served wherever
needed. all to alleviate the pain
and suffering caused by the col
lapse of the Knickerbocker Theater
roof, Saturday night.
Business places. especially drug
stores in the neighborhood, were
thrown open and their stocks of
bandages. drugs and surgical in
struments placed at the disposal
of those requiring them for the as
sistance Of injured persons.
A notable service in this line
was given by the Peoples Drug
Store. located across the street
from the Inflated theater. which
was opened Immediately after IN
accident by w. l.. Grimes. manager,
and the retail drug store operated
by John NJ. Thai, 2443 Eighteenth
street northwest, which remained
open throughout Saturday night
and Sunday.
shelves Cleared OF stock.
Without charge or even the TAX
ing of record. these two drug
concerns cleared their shelves OF
every bit of stock needed for the
relief OF the victims. and In many
cases administered treatment to
some OF the injured whose wounds
were of a minor nature.
While this service was being
rendered men OF every profession
worked feverishly to extricate the
dead and injured from the huge
mass of debris. while nurses and
clergymen-irrespc of creed
gave to the suffering ones who
were partially imprisoned beneath
the wreckage physical and spiritual
relief.
Although each Of the drug store.
having soda fountains and cigar
and cigarette stands could have
turned the accident into a profit
they refused to do so and CLOSED
the fountains and cigar stands Sc
that they might devote their entir,
efforts to the rendering of assist
ance to those in need OF medica
attention.
Manager Grimes, of the People!
Drug Company. sent out an emer
| gency call for assistance and de
| spite the almost impossible condi
| ton OF the streets as a resylt @
| the heavy snowfall, succeeded i:
| bringing X. o. Mentzel, the man
ager of another Peoples drug store
to the scene.
On Duty - Hours.
Thai. manager of the other drut
concern. was on duty for more thai
twenty-four hours and held his en-
| tire force of clerks for. simila
| period so that the demands Of tn
| physicians could be met withou
| delay.
When request for alcoholi
stimulants was made by the physi
| clans to be used in Strengthening
the injured persons during their re
moval to hospitals. the citizenry o
the section emptied their cellars
many depicting stocks which hal
been retained since the days prio
| to the entry of the prohibition law
Then realizing that those en-
| gagged in the gruesome work of ex
| Treating the MANNED and dead wer
In need of stimulants, many down
/ town hotels, restaurants and luncl
| rooms sent large quantities of no
| coffee to the scene OF the calamity
4 which was given to the rescu
| workers without charge. Sand
witches were also gratuitousl,
| given.
The serving of the coffee. sa I'D
witches and cigarettes was in charg
| of the Red Cross and the Salvat Of
| Army and women residents of IN
| surrounding neighborhood.