davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The New York herald., 1922-01-30
SAW BALCONY SPIN
AROUND In DROPPING
Continued from First Page.

out over the snow ana plaster over the
tangled debris, to the doors on the
Eighteenth street side.
Across the aisle from me when the
crash came was a little fellow-I never
saw him again and I wonder IL he is
dead who laughed and roared 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.
las the ceiling broke. the plaster fell
first in chunks. 1t was just like an
ice pond breaking up. The roof didn't
give way in one crash. It seemed to
break up everywhere. That let In the
snow. which came In through the broken
places where the ceiling had given way.
It's queer, but I was conscious all
the time when was pinned down under
there by that great piece Of ceiling. My
mind. when 1 saw the ceiling falling
and afterward, was just as clear and
collected as 1t is now. I knew / was
hurt some, but didn't know how badly
1t seemed that my time had come. 1
lived year. I tell you, pinned down
between the seats.
Il
noticed blood falling from my face and
hands. 1 got out myself. No one
helped me. 1 crawled over the broken
seats and plaster and snow to the door,
On the way / saw young fellow ly-
ing half curled up, moaning and crying
for help. l leaned over to lift him, and
then everything went black.
THE next / remember 1 was at the
door. wiping the blood from my eyes
and mouth I don't knew how got out.
l didn't see any other injured ones as
I crawled out. I can't remember about
that part Of it. My only thought was
TO get home before I should die. My
chest panied me. my back seemed
broken, my face was dripping with
blood. All I wanted to do was to get
home and tell my wife and little girl
what had happened and how / was
hurt. ] thought was going to die''
Representative Smithwick. who lives
about n block from the theater. said he
staggered home without overcoat or
hat through the snow drifts. Physicians
we're summoned immediately. who found
him suffering from shock, bruises and
possibly internal injuries.
II think IL was n miracle that came
out alive" said the Florida Represen-
tative. But think of those poor chill
dren and men and women who were no,
so fortunate / don't see how any who
we're under that balcony escaped. II
those below could have seen the ceiling
breaking they would have had time to
rush out through the doors. but guess
they couldn't see as we could In the
balcony. Those underneath us had no
chance. | guess. l keep thinking of IL
all the time, that awful roaring and
the crashing of the balcony on its way
down to those people below. It was all
over in half n minute. guess, but II
seemed hours"
The New York herald., 1922-01-30
VICTIM GIVES HIS LIFE
THAT OTHERS BE SAVED
Albert Buehler Cited as Out
standing Hero of Disaster.

wAsHINGToN, Jan. 20 (Associated
Press) Many brave deeds were re-
ported to-day by rescuers working in
the .Srickerbocker Theater wreckage.
but they said Albert G. Buehler of
Washington was the outstanding hero.
giving his own life that others might
live. He could have been taken from
the debris fully an hour before he was,
but he directed the rescuers to aid
others whom he declared more seriously
hurt than he. He died after he was
taken from the building.
Lieutenant ". M. Parsons OF the Ma
rine Corps, who assisted in directing
the rescue work. gave graphic descrip-
tions of many individual rescues.
1--WE were digging into the ruins" he
said when we saw tuft Of red hair
protruding. We uncovered 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 near by was dead.
"Dr. Gearhart, n dentist, was found
pinned beneath an 1-beam. He told us
as we endeavored to extricate him that
he had been conscious all nigh. in that
position. A woman beside him was
dead.
zone man with both legs horribly
broken asked for cigarettes as he was
carried out on stretcher. He joked
with the rescuers about his mansled
limbs, remarking that he had about six
legs now. He was certainly full OF grit.
"A group OF two women and man
whom we were digging out also dis
played remarkable nerve, talking with
the men and directing their rescue"
The New York herald., 1922-01-30
LIST OF INJURED
IN THEATER CRASH
Continued from First Page.

SACKS. EDWARD A. New York city.
SACY. HARRY 4.
SAEY, WALTER URD.
SCHwAB. MRS. MATTE.
SHAUGHNEssY. T.. H.. Second As
sistant Postnsr General.
sHAUGHNEssY. MRS. Z. H.
SHAUGHNESsY. RUTH.
SMITHwICK. REPRESENTATIVE
JOHN A. of Florida.
SWARD, ALBERT w.
STRAYER, MARTHA.
TAYLOR, MRS. GERTRUDE.
TAYLOR. LIEUT.-COL.. U. S. A.
THEUNISSEN. LEONARD. AND
ELIZABETH.
THOMPSON, CHRISTIANA.
UNDERWOOD. ETA.
UPSHAW, CAROLINE.
URDONG, NATHAN l.
VAN POUCKE, ALPHONSO.
wESSON, COL. C. NJ, U. S. A.
WESSON, NANCY.
WHITE, MISS MACLEAN.
WILLIAMS, EDWARD A.
WILSON, HENRY.
WILSON. MISS EDELIN,.
WEBB, MRS. JUIETTE.
WOODRUFF, MISS INEz.
WILLIAMS, EDWARD A.
YOUNG, MISS MARIE.
YOUNGER, MRS. JOSEPH.
ZALASKI, LIEUT.. COMMANDER,
medical officer Of marine barracks. and
his wife.
The New York herald., 1922-01-30

WASHINGTON, Jan. % (Associated
Press) Most of the bodies were re-
covered from the pit Of the theater be-
meath the wreckage of the balcony or
from the front of the balcony itself.
Following the rule of motion picture
audiences and with an almost empty
house to pick from those on the main
floor had grouped themselves in the
rows of seats just below the front of
the balcony. They were back far
enough to see well and the front and
back rows were almost empty.
At the point they had chosen the
danger proved to be just double. Few
of those seated there could have es-
capped. Even IL the concrete slabs and
steelwork of the roof missed them the
solid mass of the balcony front came
down on the first wreckage with crush
ing weight. The cleaning brass rails
that adorned the balcony front lay
spread over the wreckage of the roof
fifteen feet below when rescuers reached
the scene.
Those farther back on the main floor
probably all escaped. The beams that
supported the back end of the balcony
did not let go their clutch on the wall.
The wide sweep of seats they supported
The New York herald., 1922-01-30
Four Inquiries Promised
to Fix Blame for Crash

Special Dispatch to THE NEW York HERALD.
New York Herald Bureau,
Washington, ID. c.. Jan. 20. !
Four separate Investigations of the
Knickerbocker Theater collapse were
under way or planned here to-day.
A fifth investigation may be con-
Quoted by a special committee of Con-
gress, according to a statement by Rep
resentative Mondell, Republican House
leader, and Senator Capper of Kansas.
who says he has heard OF building code
violations in Washington.
The Investigations already started or
planned will be conducted by:
Coroner Nevitt who plans to
swear IN jury Tomorrow
District Attorney Peyton -. Cor
don, who said he may lay before the
Grand Jury the evidence which he
collects.
Board OF Commissioners OF the
District OF Columbia, through the
Building Department, which, under
the law. must approve plans of any
building before It can be erected.
Police Department.
Precautions TO prevent the possibility
of a similar disaster in any other theater
were taken here to-day by the Board of
Commissioners. which. under the form
Of government of the District Of Column
bia, has charge Of the administration of
ordinances. Commissioner James Oyster
ordered closed. pending inspection to-
morrow, all theaters with roof construc-
ton similar to that OF the Knickerbocker
The Commissioners also ordered that no
other theater be allowed to open for
business unless it's roof had been cleaned
nf Gtrir 80
enforce these orders were sent to all
precincts.
Major Peyton Gordon, United States
Attorney. said tonight that his investi-
cation of the Knickerbocker Theater
crash would begin tomorrow. All per-
sons concerned in the construction, in
spection, operation and ownership of the
theater will be subp9naed. Indictments
will be asked for all individuals who
are found to be responsible. charging
them with criminal negligence. or man.
slaughter
The Federal Grand Jury, which Is now
considering the case of Charles w.
Morse. will be asked tomorrow morning
by Attorney Gordon to begin an inde-
pendent investigation. cooperating with
the Department of Justice and aside
from the inquiry which was ordered to-
day by the District Commissioners.
Everybody concerned In the opera
ton and management OF the theater."
said Mr.. Gordon. will be subpnnaed
before the Federal Grand Jury, includ-
ing the officers and directors of the
Crandail Theater Company Harry M.
crandall. president A. Il. Bethel, vice
president. and Harry Buckley, secre-
tary). as well as the architects. builders,
building inspectors and house managers.
not forgetting the ticket seller. who is
primarily responsible"
While the commissioners were begin
ming their Investigation the theater
headed by Harry M.
Crandail, president. met and issued the
following statement:
I'VE are stunned by this catastrophe.
The Knickerbocker was the Prize OF
our circuit. Constructed at no limit Of
The New York herald., 1922-01-30
Saluation Army Clues Coffee
and Sandwiches to Rescuers

At noon to-day the total dead had
reached seventy-five. The number had
grown to ninety-four when darkness
came again, finding the firemen and
soldiers still searching the debris.
Word came that more bodies had been
sighted in the wreckage.
Parties of soldiers with ropes pulled
twisted steel girders out of the build
ing. Sometimes it required thirty men
to get them loose. This same pro-
lcedure they followed in hauling out
heavy blocks Of concrete that had
formed the steps of the balcony which
had collapsed with the roof Mean
while others were prying into the
debris for bodies.
Ambulance squads with stretchers
stood in the lobby of the theater which
was intact. The bodies were taken
out at intervals. At times an hour
would pass before a body would be
located. At one time eight bodies were
found huddled in one group.
4 The cold and continuous snow which
Handicapped the rescue work during
the night abated to-day and the snow
started to melt, but 1t was fatiguing.
difficult work. Salvation Army lassies
were on hand in the theater lobby
with sandwiches and coffee for the
men who were digging into the debris.
The firemen had not had relief when
darkness came tonight. Occasionally
one of them would drop exhausted
and would be carried into what had
been the confectionery and ice cream
parlor of the theater. There were
scores of minor injuries to the work.
ers, who had to be taken to hospitals
themselves.
Marine guards assigned to protect
Sc,cgates 10 the International Arms
Conference were transferred to the
scene to serve in the double capacity
of keeping the crowds from interfer-
Ing with rescue work and from the
walls. which were in constant danger
OF topplng.
Boy Scouts with their long poles
kept way open from the scene of
the disaste. TO the Christian Science
Church. Whenever a new body was
found the stretcher bearers went
Through this line to the temporary
morgue. The bodies were laid on the
floor there. covered with blankets.
The condition of the streets. al
though somewhat relieved by the
thawing weather, made Il highly diff
cult for hearses and ambulances to
get TO and from the church to the
homes Of the victims or the under
taking establishments. Forty bodies
had not been moved at noon from the
improvised morgue.
Police guarded the entrance to the
church. Friends and relatives of VIC
tins upon establishing their identity
could enter. Inside the church in the
altar occupied by the reader, sat a
policeman, checking UP the identifi
cation list, When some one recog-
rized q body It was marked with a
tag pinned to the blanket.
4 m some instances the FEATURES of
the victims were crushed beyond rec
pgnition. Identification in those cases
was completed by search of the cloth
ing. This was not SO difficult in the
case of men. who had letters and
The New York herald., 1922-01-30

he was elected vice-president of the or
ganization. According to custom this
would have resulted in his elevation to
the presidency. He was Mason and q
National Guard veteran.
Mr.. and Mrs. Brainerd collaborated in
the writing Of fiction under the pen
name of E. J. Rath. They wrote a
number of novelettes which had wide
popularity in magazines.
Former Representative Andrew J.
Barchfeld. also among the dead. be-
came during his career in Congress one
Of the best known men in Washington.
Almost a giant in size, he was always
particularly active in the affairs of the
Pennsylvania delegation. DR.. Barchfeld
was native Of Pittsburgh and a
graduate Of the jefferson Medical Tol-
lege Of Philadelphia. After serving sew
eral terms in Congress he entered busi-
ness and has been representing a num-
ber of Pennsylvania interests in Wash
ington during the last year.
Guy s. Aldrich, youngest brother Of
Mrs. Reed Smoot. wife of the Senator
from Utah, died beside his wife Mr..
and Mrs. Aldrich were in Washington
on visit from their home in Salt Lake
City. Both Mrs Aldrich's hips were
broken, but it is thought she will sur
vive.
~ InCiuenL occurred In the case
of DIR. and Mrs. Clyde Gearhart DR..
Gearhart Is one of the most prominent
dental surgeons in Washington. Mrs
Gearhart was killed outright and DIR.
Gearhart was so badly crushed that one
of his legs had to be amputated. He
probably will live.
Among those killed instantly were
Capt. and Mrs. r. III. Conroy Vance of
Fredericksburg, Va. Capt. Vance was a
former officer in the British army and
was head of bank in Fredericksburg
Assistant Postmaster-G General Is. III.
Shaughnessy. who was attending the
theater with his ten-year-old daughter.
Ruth probably will recover Mr..
Shaughnessy was reported missing to-
day owing to the fact that he was rushed
to Walter Reed Hospital early this
morning without any record being made
OF his removal. Ruth Shaughnessy's arm
was broken but she was not seriously in
jured.
The New York herald., 1922-01-30

cards in their pockets, as with the
women whose handbags and similar
trinkets had been lost. In one cor
ner of the church, in the end which
held tho bodies, was a stack of cloth
ing picked up in the ruins of the
theater. There were fur coats, over
coats, umbrellas, vershoes-every-
thing in the way OF apparel-all torn,
cut and stained.
Every now and then group Of
soldiers would enter the church with
a stretcher. which held under its blan-
ket the body OF a man, woman or
child. Those who had been standing
to one side. weeping silently, would
move toward the body of the new ar
rival. 1t was with difficulty that the
police, the physicians and the nurses
were able to prevent crowding among
those who wondered If the body was
that Of a loved one.
Then that part Of the blanket which
covered the face would be moved back
gently SO that Identification could pro-
ceed. The day in the church was Just
a continual repetition of scenes like
this, scenes filed with pathos.
NoToHeT NeVltJ ISSUED instructions
permitting undertakers to remove
bodies. once identified, from the church
to their establishments. He provided,
however, that the bodies should not be
removed from undertaking establish
ments to private homes until there
had been rehabilitation. He feared
that inaccurate Identification might be
made, which would result In the wrong
body being sent to home, thereby
increasing the confusion of the situa-
tion.
The fact that so many persons of
prominence were in the theater at
the time Of the crash is due to its loca-
tion in the vicinity of many FASH
ionable apartment houses in the north
west section of the city. This is the
only picture theater located in outIy-
Ing sections of the city. that is of any
Importance, the others being com
paratively small. The Knickerbocker
Theater, however, was highly modern.
having been built but three years
ago and was regarded as one of IN.
finest motion picture houses in the
United States.
The New York herald., 1922-01-30
BARkLEY FEARED SON
WAS IN MOVIE CRASH
Heard Collapse, Searched the
Ruins; Boy at Neighbor's.
Special Dispatch to THE Nrw YoRK HrpArp.
New York Herald Bureau.
Wnshington. ID. C.. Jan. 90

Representative Bariley (Kentucky)
had narrowing experience in connec-
ton with the Knickerbocker disaster.
He iives In an apartment house few
doors from the theater His boy, who
Is about ID, left the apartment a little
before o'clock. saying he was going
TO the movies"
When Mr.. Barkley heard OF the thea
ter's collapse he Immediately feared his
son was one OF the victims He rushed
tc the scene and In despair tugged at
iron beams and searched among tho
wreckage for his son. He alternated
these vain efforts by looking over the
dead and Injured in the Christian
Science Church.
He had given up hope when about
'So his son suddenly appeared. In
stead OF going 60 the movies" he had
met some other boys who live near bv
and they had decided to spend the even
Ing in neighbor's home.
The New York herald., 1922-01-30

cost before the war. when the best ma
terials and engineering brains were se-
cured to make this nouse model of
theater architecture and construction,
the structure was subject to and passed
every municipal and government inspec-
tion and test. We cannot find words
TO express the depth of sympathy we
feel for those bereaved by this appalling
catastrophe.
I'VE would infinitely rather have aban-
doned all our enterprises than that a
single life should have been lost or any
individual manned or injured"
The New York herald., 1922-01-30
President Voices Grief
at Extent of Tragedy

wv ASHINGTON, Jan. 20 CAS-
w sociated Presso..president
Harding issued the foIIoac-
ing statement late to-day on the
Knickerbocker Thedter disaster:
have experienced the same
astounding shock and the same
inexpressibie sorrow which has
come to all of Washington, and
which will be sympathetically
felt throughout the land. If I
knew what to say to soften the
sorrow of hundreds who are so
suddenly bereaved, if could say
a word to cheer manned and suf-
fering, I would gladly do it. The
terrible tragedy, staged in the
midst of the great storm, has
deeply depressed all of us and
left us wondering about the re-
volving fates.
The New York herald., 1922-01-30
Four of Family of Five
Perished in Theater
w TAsHINGToN. Jan. % az

w 7 TASHINGTON. Jan. 20 CAS-
wv sociated Press).-Four of
the five members of the
family Of Oscar G. Kanston of
3S47 North Winchester street. Chi
cago. lost their lives in the Knicker-
booker Theater.
Mr.. Kanston, who came here re-
Gently in connection with tempo
rary work for the bureau of valua-
ton of the Interstate Commerce
Commission. went to the playhouse
with his wife, his two daughters.
Helen, 13, and Anyln. Z. and his
son, Grant, IL. Only the boy es-
capped.
The New York herald., 1922-01-30
'UNNED BY THEATER COLLAPSE, AWAITS INVESTIGATION

sanity from o'clock the
streets shoulder high
The crowd laughing the
had finished brief concert and
Suddenly there nching sound grinding kissing which
lasted
the balcony. One hundred and wereh
This great weight with iron gders plaster
cement decorations everything
The balcony crashed the floor below The of life
the hoo
escaped with their lives
toium injured.
Two and half feet deep had the
is entirely building
this
The question
minimum the number
a full
auditorium
width The roof the center venlato
been set fan to keep the
Shat shaft
Ihe hrst that something a
accident The anior the told
mad come when large quantity
the
less to investigate.
Wtnn another instant the entire
spectators sitting there laughing
place in darkness
system to help the work..
The New York herald., 1922-01-30
WOMAN VICTIM of FIRE DIES.

Mrs Agnes Utsuganuma. 90 years
old. who was burned Saturday in an
antique shop conducted by her husband
Thomas Utsuganuma. at 4219 Broad
way died last night in Columbus Hos
pital Utsuganuma was burned on the
face, bands and body while attempting
TO rescue his wife and is a patient in
the same hospital.
The New York herald., 1922-01-30
u. S. VALUATION PLAN
TO BE URGED TO-DAY
Convention of Manufacturers
Will Ask Congress to Act.
Special Dispatch TO THE NEW YorK Hrrup
New York Herald Bureau.
Washington, ID. G., Jan %

John f. Edgerton. president OF the
National Association of Manufacturers.
who arrived here this afternoon to pre-
side over the special convention TO be-
gin tomorrow morning for the purpose
of urging Congress to take immediate
action on the impending tariff bill, ex-
pressed confidence that not only would
the whole tariff situation be cleared up
soon but that the American valuation
plan would be adopted. He will head
a committee of twenty-five manufao-
turers from all parts of the country
who will call on President Harding TO-
morrow afternoon.
The New York herald., 1922-01-30
Theater Crash Saves
Lives in Twelve Homes
Special Dispatch to THE New York HERALD


New York Herald Bureau.
Washington, ID. c., Jan. 20.
r ARLY this morning various
~ residents in the vicinity of
the i'll fated Knickerbocker
Theater were warned that their
homes were unsafe because Of the
weight of snow on the roofs. They
rushed terror-stricken into the
streets.
Only q few minutes after they
were safely outside the roofs of
twelve houses on T street, N. W.,
caved in.
The homes are understood to
have been condemned by the build
ing inspector and the escape of the
occupants is regarded as miracu-
lous.
The New York herald., 1922-01-30
SYNAGOGUE HOLDS DINNER.

The seventy-fifth annual dinner of the
Central Synagogue was held last night
ut the Hotel Astor. marking the end of
a three days conference.
The New York herald., 1922-01-30
100000 PHILADELPHIA FIRE

PHILADELPHIA. Jan. 29.-Fire to-day
destroyed the box factory of j. N. Gle
ment Brothers. 31s-320 Delaware ave-
nue. The loss was estimated at 500. 900.
The New York herald., 1922-01-30
O. q r-a g n

N - VI Fs Ts-V. % IT.
!, n you want TO know what goes ,broush
fhe air tonight by wireless telephone. read
the RADIO DEPARTMENT OF The Globe
cents at I'll newsdeaiers.--Adv.
The New York herald., 1922-01-30
DRUG TABLETS GIVEN
TO THOSE ENTRAPPED
Every Effort Is Made to ALE.
Uidte Suffering.

Special Dispatch to Tup NEW York Hrrarp.
New York Herald Bureau.
washington. ID. C. Ian 90
The Bourbon news. [volume] (Paris, Ky.) 1895-19??, 1922-12-05
ROAD OPEN TO TRAFFIC

For the benefit of the travelling
public THE NEWS sis requested TO
give publicity to the fact that the
Clark county end of the Mt. Sterling
pike has been completed by the
contractors. Bitter & Wiley More
work is being done on the road. such
as the building of culverts ana
grading on the side. but the THOR
oughfare has been opened to the
public.
Five miles of the Montgomery
county end are not finished, and
detour must be made for about two
miles at Sewell's shop. Highway
experts state that this is one OF the
best roads in the State from the
standpoint of material, grading and
construction.
The Bourbon news. [volume] (Paris, Ky.) 1895-19??, 1922-12-05
BASEMENT FLOODED

The basement of the Bourbon
Agricultural Bank & Trust Co.'s
building was flooded to a depth OF
several inches, when someone left
the faucet of a hydrant open. The
water was pumped out with a hand
nnmp. no damage being done in
the basement.
The Bourbon news. [volume] (Paris, Ky.) 1895-19??, 1922-12-05
BANK STOCK SOLD

Auctioneer M. F. Kenney sold
Yesterday for Mrs. Amni Prichard
Brown, administratrix of L. j.
Fretwell, three shares Of the capt.
tai stock of the Peoples-Deposlt
Bank and Trust Company at $3.50
per share, two shares Of same bank
at s257 per share, and three shares
of Farmers & Traders Bank for
STAG per share.
The Bourbon news. [volume] (Paris, Ky.) 1895-19??, 1922-12-05
NEWS OF THE COURTS

In the County Court Saturday
Judge George Batterton appointed
J. A. Horton administrator of the
estate of the late Mrs. Lee T. Beall.
Mr.. Horton accepted the trust, and
qualified by furnishing bond in the
sum of s1.1OO, with Douglas Thorn
as. as surety.
The Bourbon news. [volume] (Paris, Ky.) 1895-19??, 1922-12-05
GIFT SHOP SALE

The ladies of Paris and Bourbon
County are asked to remember the
Christmas sale to be held by the
women of the Christian church,
december s and 9 in the Paris Re-
altv Office. Many articles will be
offered in this sale that will make
attractive Christmas gifts.