The Chesterfield advertiser. [volume] (Chesterfield C.H., S.C.) 1884-1978, 1922-02-02
MOVIE HOUSE ROOF
FALLS UNDER SNOW

! Washington, Jan. 28.-Fifteen
persons at least are believed to have
been killed and scores injured to-
/; night in the collapse under the weight
/ Of two feet Of snow on the roof of
the Knickerbocker Theater, a motion
picture house, located in the heart of
Washington's fashionable northwest
, section.
Two hours and a half after the
crash. which occurred about 8 O'Clock
definite information as to the number
of dead and injured was wholly lack
ing as well as estimates of the number
OF thos in the theater at the time
these estimates ranging from $50 to
500, although the theater, one of the
finest motion picture houses in the
city, had Accommodations for more
than 1000 spectators.
All was confusion for hours after
the crash, while police, firemen, mar
ines from the nearby barracks and
soldiers from Walter Reed Military
Hospital, strove to burrow beneath
the mass of debris. Scores had been
removed from the edges of the debris
and hurried to hospitals.
Washington, Jan. 3O.-Ohicial
police records early today placed the
known dead in the Knickerbocker
Theater disaster at lot.
The list of injured stood at 1874,
with Ia listed as seriously injured"
The exact number in the theater
when the steel and concrete span of
the roof buckeled and fell under its
three-foot load of snow probably will
never be known The stories of per-
haps hundred who got out unin-
jured have been reported. These ac-
count for few more than 800 in the
audience that was roaring in laughter
at film comedy when the roof fell
on them like blanket, carrying down
the front of the wide balcony in its
crash.
Normally, the theater has had ev-
cry seat filled at that hour and nearly
1000 persons was it's capacity. The
same unprecedented snowfall which
brought death to the venturesome
few, kept the many at home. Street
car traffic had been abandoned and
streets and sidewalks were all but i'm
passible with drifts.
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 auditori-
am realized what had happened.
Firemen fought their way through
heaping snow drifts in answer to q
general alarm. Police patrols filled
with men churned and skidded
through the white muck and in answ-
er to a summons, marines from the
barracks clear across the city came at
double time, painting through the
heavy going. At Fort Meyer, across
the river, the cavalry was turned out
and started in truck loads to the res
cue only to find roads blocked with
snow. The men men shoveled their
way frantically, but finally four mule
teams from the fort and from the
engineer barracks were called on.
AT the scene of the disaster there
was wild confusion for time. Those
who first made their way to the au-
| ditorium doors saw before them a
dim, mysterious heap of wreckage
family lighted by string of colored
electrics on the stage that still stood
intact, and by the reflected glow from
the leaden skies about the void where
the roof had been. Minute by minute
the crowds about the door thickened
The crash of the falling roof had
| drawn many, some who had relatives
in that mass of ruin and melting
snow The clang of the fire appara-
| tus brought others and un-
til the marines came painting up the
police were powerless to keep off the
| crowd
Plenty Of Help
Firemen plunged into the wreck
age with lanterns. Men with elec.
trio torches came from all sides to
aid. And it was a daunting task
they faced. They stood on the de-
bris they must risk life to reach those
dead or dying below. On the Co.
lumbia- road side the single walls
lowered menacingly above their
heads, stripped almost bare except
| for the high exit signs marking the
way out of the balcony, now a crump
led mass below. Not window in
the long wall was broken.
With infinite care the rescuers be-
gan work. Every beam they touched
might let another mass of concrete
| down If it was moved too swiftly.