Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1922-01-30
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around, kind of twisted, as its sup
ports gave way and 1t swung down on
those below. 1t didn't go right down.
just kind Of slid sideways and slant
ing, suppose from the weight of the
debris that had fallen on us upstairs.
II don't know how | got out from
where / was crouching> under that
chunk of plaster that had fallen on
me. I really believe it weighed all
of 500 pounds and | think | moved
that plaster with my shoulders. Any
way l crawled out between the seats
to where / saw a small hole in the
plaster above l forced myself up
through that hole. wiggling and SHOW
ing. Then 1 crawlcd out over the
snow and plaster. over the tangled
debris, to the doors Of the 1Sst street
side.
ACROSS the aisle from me when the
crash came was d little fellow
never saw him again. and wonder
il he is dead-who laughed and roar
ed at every especially funny part OF
| the film. don't know what became
Of him or the others in the balcony
after we were showered with plaster.
| "As the ceiling broke, the plaster
fell first, in chunks. II was just like
an ice. pond breaking up. The roof
didn't give way On one crash. 1t
seemed to break up everywhere. That
let in the snow, which came in
through the broken places where the
ceiling had given way.
Its queer. but was conscious all
the time I was pinned down under
there by that great piece of ceiling.
My mind. when saw the ceiling fall
! ing. and afterwards, was just as
clear and collected as it is now.
knew 1 was hurt some, but I didn't
know how badly. 1t seemed that my
time had come. lived a year, tell
you. pinned down between the seats.
1T wasn't until I got outside that
I noticed blood falling from my face
and hands. l got out myself. No
one helped me- 1 crawled> over the
broken seats and plaster and snow to
the door. On the way l saw young
fellow lying half curled up. moaning
and crying for help. / leaned over t.
life him and then everything went
| black. The next | remember I was ut
the door wiping the blood from my
eyes and mouth. I don't Naow how
got out. / didn't see any other injured
ones as crawled out. l can't icmem-
her that part of 1t. My only thought
then was to get home before l should
die. My chest panied me, ny back
seemed broken. my face was dripping
with blood. All wanted to do was TO
get home and tell my wife and little
girl what had happened and how l was
hurt. / thought | was going to die"
Representative Smithwick, who lives
about a block from the theatre, said
he staggered home without ov.: coat or
hat through the snowdrifts. Phys
clans were summoned Immediately,
who found him suffering from shock,
bruises and possibly internal injuries.
II think it was a miracle that
came out alive" said the Florida cor
gresham. "But think Of those poor
children and men and women who were
not so fortunate. l don't see how any
who were under that balcony escaped
If those below could have seen the
ceiling breaking they would have ha l
time to rush out through the doors.
but 1 guess they could not sec as We
could in the balcony. Those under
meath us had no chance, I guess.
| keep thinking of it all the time. that
awful roaring and the crashing Of the
balcony on its way down to these peo-
pie below. 1t was all over in a half
minute, 1 guess, but it SCENE dhours."