davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Washington herald., 1922-01-30
Phone Girls Flash Doctors
And Hospital;Traffic Huge

Probably the first report Of the
knickerbocker Theater disaster was
received by an operator for the
Chesapeake and Potomac Telephone
company when a mans voice on the
wire said hurriedly:
My name is Norris. The roof OF
the Knickerbocker Theater has
caved in. Send the nearest doctor"
The call was turned over imme-
distely to the central information
desk. The young woman in charge.
without waiting for further in
structions, Immediately called tn.
police department and Emergency
Hospital. She then assigned six op-
orators TO the task OF calling every
doctor in the Columbia exchange
and. having exhausted that list,
turned to the North exchange.
Seventy-two doctors were called.
In the meantime the chief opera =
tor. having located a telephone near
the theater. called at regular in
tervsls To ascertain what was need =
ed. and acted as an intermediary.
The Washington herald., 1922-01-30
Rescue Of Two Fair-Haired
Youngsters a Bright Spot

The happy and early rescue ef-
fected of two fair-haired Youngsters
was an incident that gave a little
joy to the men who engaged them
selves in the heart-rending and
back -brea king task of digging out
the bodies Of dead and injured
Even above the pounding anc
scraping of the tools with which
the rescuers worked there came
family. but surely. a childish half
sob and half-cry. early Yesterday
morning. and instantly all work
ceased that the call could be To-
Gated.
Soon. though il seemed an eternity
to the straining ears or the anxious
listeners. the direction was ascer-
tanned and with redoubled strength
the work was resumed until an
aperture was made and eager hands
reached into the maze OF girders
and came back with-a dazed but
happy boy of about eight. He was
sobbing softly and mana ged to tell
the searchers that his sister was
also alive and NEAR to the opening.
In q moment the TWO were united
again. wrapped in blankets and
hustled TO the 1rst-aid station. Cpon
examination it was found that
neither of the tots was any the
worse for the experience. The chill
dren were too daZed. or happy. to
give their ames to The Herald
reporter. but all were glad that
the Children came out unscaIhed
II was one of the few incidents
that made the work less tragic for
the overuorked rescue party.
The Washington herald., 1922-01-30

She also called every hospital In
the city. notifying the surgeons on
duty of what had happened.
The telephone company's big fleet
OF trucks and automobiles was on
duty. of course. transporting op-
orators from homes to central Of
fees. These machines were imme-
diately taken off the telephone work
and rushed TO Eighteenth street and
Columbia road. In each machine
were men long experienced in just
the kind of work necessary to plow
into the fallen debris. They were
familiar with tools. steel. and espe-
cially with acctylene torches. which
were used in cutting quickly
through the fallen and twisted steel
beams.
Telephone trafic conditions in the
city exchanges became indescrib-
able as thousands of frantic people
bogsn to call for friends to learn
OF their safety or possible injury
and the operators. swamped with
work after the most trying day in
Washington'S telephone history. re-
fused to leave the boards.
The traffic volume remained enor-
nous yesterday, owing to the
stream of inquiries. Long distance
traffic reached a point beyond COM
pare. when people out OF town be-
gan to call their friends here.
As a result OF these conditions,
charles T. Clagett. division man.
aEer OF the company. issued an ap-
peal to the public to make only
necessary calls and to limit their
conversations as closely as possible
The Washington herald., 1922-01-30

broken hearts were here. each
seeking the face or faces that meant
all of life.
The pathos of the great tragedy
touched alfand though the workers
were forced to be brief, often
abrupt. their hearts. too. were
hurting with the close sympathy
they felt, for each sorrowinG child.
or man, or woman. Almost in
variably the inquirer approached
the information desk trembling and
afraid OF the news he came to find.
On several occasions women went
away without daring 10 ask the
dreaded question. Others came
stoically and bore their griefs with
little outward show. while many
broke down completely and had to
be carried away.
Many Seek Missing.
In a pitifully few numoes of In
stances the faces of the questioners
and those who answered them
lighted up when il could be said
that loved one had escaped or
had been sent to e hospital with
slight injuries. Earnest requests
for news Of missing people con-
tinued to come in all day. but
toward evening the queries took on
a resigned note. with the apparent
rcaliZat tion that. even if their loved
ones through some miracle had es-
capped death in the crash, the pro-
longed exposure TO a freezing tenn
perature would bring the end. The
only desire of the bereaved now is
to secure the bodies Of those they
have lost to pay a last homage in
burial
The Washington herald., 1922-01-30
Former Inspector to
Figure in Crash Probe

| Morris Hacker. who occupied the
most of District building inspector in
Ia17 when the Knickerbocker was
.rccted E.was in conference yester-
day with Commissioner Oyster and
cher officials He declared himself
sxnectant of a call during the inves-
,,ration: preliminary moves in when
,Iready have been made.
- NIr. Hacker declared he could
stats norhing definite concerning the
construction of the building without
,onsuItation Of files Of the ONCE
where he formerly was chief. He
called stten'ion to the fact. how
cver. thai the matters Of materials
,nd building are strictly regulated
he the District code and that plans
which Jailed to meet regulations in
.onv respect would never have been
approved.
Mr.. Hacker. who lives at 1898
Adams Mill road. a stones throw
from the Knickerbocker. spent Sat
urday night and most Of Sunday as
siSfinS IN rescue work.
The Washington herald., 1922-01-30
Gasps Save Others"
Dies After Rescue

one act OF heroism stands out in
connection with the knickerbocker
tragedy more prominently than any
that have so far come 10 light. While
attempting to cut through the steel
and cement barriers that separated
Albert Mueller. apartment 12l. the
Portner. from his rescuerS. the lat
tered were ordered by the injured
man TO let him remain where he was
until others more in need of aid had
been rescued.
This was done. and for four hours
Mr.. Mueller lay pinned beneath the
fallen roof. suffering internal inju-
ries. as well AS from a great cut
across his forehead. When finally
rescued and taken TO the relief sta
ton. his condition was so critical
that hypode rmics were administered
in the hope OF reviving life. He
rallied long enough TO smile at those
about him and to speak few words
to his wife. who was with him until
his death a few minutes later.
The Washington herald., 1922-01-30
ALEXANDRIA DIGS
TO GET OUT, FROM
UNDER DEEP SNOW
Bus Line Continues Oper.
alton, and Trolley
Has Hopes.
THE HERALD BUREAU.
A. s. DoEiphan.

90 hing Strcet-
ALEXANDRIA. Va. Jan. 2e.-The
work of digging out of the snow
was begun in earnest today. First
official action TO clean the streets
and make an opening for fire ap-
paratus and other vehicles was
taken this afternoon when a spe-
ciaI meeting of both branches OF the
city council was called by Mayor
Duncan and blanket resolution
was adopted authorizing the mayor
and city engineer TO open the
streets and stating that funds Will
be provided for the work. There
will be another meeting OF the
city council at s o'clock Wcdnes-
day night when resolution appro-
priatinS money for the work will
be presented.
A force Of several hundred men
was on the job early today and
the center of King street was
opened for traffic. The force later
in the day was greatly increased
and was working under the direc-
tion of City Engineer f. c. Dunn
Firemen engaged in the task OF
N'NoA hhe SPoNtS
and before nightfall the fire plugs
in the heart OF the business section
had been fully uncovered. A big
tractor was put into operation and
beat down the snow so that the
traffic would not be impeded.
The police report no damage here
from the storm. Thus far no roofs
have collapsed.
Many automobiles that endeav-
, ored 10 make the trip are laid VI
for repairs. The Alexandria Motor
Bus has given continuous service
between here and Washington. be
| ing the only means of transporta
, ton between the two cities.
The delivery OF milk was severa
/ hours late this morning. The brea'
wagons tomorrow expect to be ou
as usual. although the number will
! be reduced. many having been pui
l out of commission since the storm
The first electric train to star
! foy Washington since Saturday left
al $50 O'colck tonight and got al
! FAR as Four Mile Run. where il en-
! countered a train of the track and
! returned TO Alexandria. the com
pany expected TO get some car
The Washington herald., 1922-01-30
U. S. SHIPS BRING
EGYPTIAN COTTON

BOSTON. Jan. 2s.-Three valuable
oargocs OF Egyptian cotton arc en-
route TO Boston following the Ship
ping Board fight TO secure a part
OF the Egyptian cotton business for
American ships.
The first vessel TO carry both tho
American nag and a cargo OF this
Kind OF cotton since the recent agree
ment between Liverpool ship owners
and the Shipping Boards traffic de-
partment is the steamer Ophis. due
here tomorrow or Tuesday with H.
800 bales for Boston. and e25 bales
for New York
The Washington herald., 1922-01-30
Officers in Charge
Rotate in Reliefs

The work. Of rescue. during the
night and until yesterday morn
mig, a il concerned service mfn. was
directed by Lieut.. Col. Rhea. United
States Marine Corps. and Mai. Harry
coope. L. $. A. These officers re-
NAMED in charge OF their respective
commands until Yesterday. when
they were relieved by Mai. G. p
George. L. S. A.. who in turn was
relieved during the later hours Of
the day by Mai. @. s. Patton.
The Washington herald., 1922-01-30
Georgetown Students
Bod y at Fraternity House

The body OF W. \. cDoc'D Erous-
seau. jr.. who died in the theater
tragedy. will be taken TO his home
in North Adams. Mass. at midni ght
Tuesday. The body will be accom-
panied by member of the Kappa
Alpha Phi Fraternity OF Georgetown
Foreign Service School. OF which the
victim was member.
The body OF Brousseau may he
viewed by he friends at Kappa Al
pha Phi Fraternity House 1912 Six
teenth street northwest. TODAY from
:, 10 10 y. m.
The Washington herald., 1922-01-30

chestra. was seriously injured The
latter is at the Emergency Hospital
Oresto Nstiello arrived but recently
from Louisville. Ky
Mrs. Nellie Norris CovelI had been
brought 10 the thester by her hus-
band and had been seated only a
few minutes before she met her
death. Her husband searched long
to find her body. which is now at
Speare's undertaking parlors. She
was accompa MED to the theater by
Miss Nellie Ray. who now is in the
hospital. Miss Ray is a student
at George Washington University.
Mrs. Covell leaves sister and her
husband. Benjam Covell. They re-
sided at :4os Eighteenth street north
west.
The Washington herald., 1922-01-30
Two Newspapermen Die:
Friends Trio Is Ended

msIien fate seems to hav. hung
overland finally to have achieved
the extinction of a trio OF Wash
ington's newspaper correspondents.
among the best known in their pro-
fession.
Genial Ben Allen. of the Cleve-
land Plain Dealer. died in an auto
mobile accident during Presiden
wilson's swing through the West
in 1919. g. G. Brainerd, BROOKLYN
Eagle representative was among
the first found dead in the Knicker-
booker ruins. Yesterday, the body.
OF Louis Strayer. Pittsburgh Post
Dispatch. was recovered.
The three for years had been the
closest of friends
The Washington herald., 1922-01-30
Constantine Buys Chateau.

PARIS, Jan. 2s.-A report from
Constautinople says King Constan-
tine OF Greece has purchases a cha
teau from the millionaire, VI. Tho
mestelianO. of Rumania. where he
intends TO live after he abdicatcs
the throne OF Greece. The Genos
conference is expected to force, his
abdication through refusal of Great
Britain. France and Italy to make
loans to Greece while Constantine
remains on the throne.
The Washington herald., 1922-01-30
Theater Forces Suffer
Heavily in Disaster

Three small children. aged 6. 4
and years. are left without par
ents by the sudden taking on OF
John Lambert Walker and his wife.
Agnes Henritz Walker. in the crash.
When found. their bodies lay clasped
in each others arms.
Mr.. Walker was in business with
the firm OF w. r. Hibbs and Com
psny. He was recently elected se-
nior steward Of the Harmony Lodge
OF the Masonic order In Washing
ton. He was born In 1889 In Wash
ineton and educated in the city's
public schools.
oresto Natiello. an attachc Of the
thester. was vi. and his brother.
Ernesto Matte leader Of the or
The Washington herald., 1922-01-30
Capt. Prices Daughter
Among Those Killed

Helen II. Price. IS. is one of the
victims Of the Knickerbocker disas-
ter. She is the daughter of Capt.
Price. Beverly apartments. and wa,
graduate Of Central High School
and had been attending her fresh
man term at George Washington Uni
versity.
Miss Price was a member of Chi
Omega and formerly of Technical
High School. Oakland. Cal Her BODY
was recovered yesterday morning and
identihed by her father. Capt Price.
at First Church OF Christ. Scientist,
after the edifice had been converted
into an improvised morgue.
The Washington herald., 1922-01-30

stons were newcomers to washing
ton son. Grant. aged 8, escaped
from the shattered mass Of debris.
Thomas F. Fleming. vice presi-
dent OF the Terminal Storage Com
pany. and living at 1851 Wyoming
avenue. took his daughter, Mary L.,
and son. John p. Fleming. aged re-
spectively 20 and 81, to the Knick-
erbocker. They all were killed by
the falling roof and their bodies re-
moved to Gawlers.
Mr.. and Mrs. Louis F. Valentine,
the former secretary of the
r. p. Andrews Paper Company res
idence the Netherlands apartment.
were amonk the killed. They were
childless
The Washington herald., 1922-01-30
Shaughnessy Undergoes
Three Blood Infusions

Edward II. Shaughnessy. Second
Assistant Postmaster General. now
acting Postmaster General In the
Absence of Will Hays and First AS.
sistant DIR. Work. has anderson.
three blood transfusions in the er-
fort TO save his life.
Shaushnessy, when discovered in
the knickerbocker Theater ruins.
was pinned under a steel Sirder. a
huge concrete block resting over
his abdomen where il had fallen.
crushing the pelvis- Despite his
agony. he insisted that rescue
workers first release his wife, who
had suffered three broken ribs. and
his two daughters. one OF them
with both arms fractured.
His condition at the hospital last
night was regarded as grave
The Washington herald., 1922-01-30
into operation between Alexandra
and Washington late In the night

into operation between Alexandria
and Washington late In the night.
The fire department was called
out at 1880 o'clock this morning
30 extInguish a blaze caused by a
defective fiue at st. Paurs Epis-
copal Church. The FIRE apparatus
got only within a square OF the
church. but the blaze was extin-
Puished with chemicals before much
damage was done.
Ssme OF the fire apparatus got
stuck in the snow and subsequently
had TO be hauled out.
Norman Morton. a former resident
q the city, died yesterday at Des
Hoines. Iowa. The body will he
brought here for burial He was
a son Of Mr.. and Mrs. John Nor
ton. 5i3 North Pitt street. He was
a world war veteran and served
overseas.
The Washington herald., 1922-01-30
President Takes Interest.

The President sent Gen. Sawyer.
White House physician, to Walter
Reed Hospital TO make direct in
quiry about Mr.. Shaughnessy's con-
dition and TO inquire on behalf Of
government employees caught in the
wreck.
The Washington herald., 1922-01-30
Oscar .Kanston's Family
J% Virtually Wiped Out

The family OF Oscar q. Ksnston.
ISIS Seventeenth street northwest
was virtually wiped out. His body.
with those Of his wife and two lit
a. daughters. Dorothy and Anlyn.
was discovered in the ruins huddled
together and removed 70 Gswler's
undertaking Establishment. TheNKan-
The Washington herald., 1922-01-30
Woe. Seldom Relieved. Fills
Church Basement MOrgue

The basement of the First Church
Of christ. Scientist. at Columbia
road and Euclid street. YESTERDAY
morning was the scene Of Il rapid
succession OF tragedies Necessity
forced the adoption of this location
as combination first-aid station
and morgue. Crushed and mangled
bodies were carried from the ruins
Of the knickerbCcker Theate"
through the snowstorm to the
church basement. Once there. the
dead were placed in long rows TO
await Identification. while those
containing one precious spark Of
life were administered frst-aid anc
hurried to hospitals in all parts Of
the city.
Friends Get Information.
a record was kept of each case,
and long before the unfortuna te s
were taken from the debris pleas
for aid in finding loved ones began
to pour in on the workers. An i'm
promptu bureau Of information was
formed and the almost frantic refa-
tivcs and friends were directed
there to find JOY or sorrow or nerve
racking suspense. as the case might
be. II was pitiful Mothers came
pleading for their little ones, Or
children tearfully seeking parents.
Weeping girls and strong men with
The Washington herald., 1922-01-30

DEATH TOLL MOUNTS TO1O2;
INVESTIGATION IS ORDERED
Still More Bodies May Be Found in Ruins of
|. Knickerbocker Theater.

Continued From Page oHe.
The Washington herald., 1922-01-30

one hoy Of l.. whIte-faced and
.criouS, looked on at the rescuIng
fr,m tbr roped lines stretching
Town columbia road and Eighteenth
street. He lives just across the
street. he said. and had missed at
tendance at the Knicksrbocker for
The hrst' Saturday night for three
whole wears. 1T was premonition
on nv mothers part" he declared
with conviction. she went to a
downtown theater. but made me
nromise' would not leave the
bouSe'
The Bemidji daily pioneer. [volume] (Bemidji, Minn.) 1904-1971, 1922-02-06

CHAPTER 1n.-Talking with Babe"
Littleford next day. Dale is ordered by
to leave his sirT' alone. Dale replies
spiritedly. and they fight. Dale whips
the bully, though badly used dip. He ar
ranges with John Moreland to develop
David's coal deposits. Ben Littleford
sends challenge to John Moreland to
meet him with his followers next day. in
battle. Moreland agreea.
CHAPTER IV.-During the night al!
the guns belonging to the Iittlefords and
the Morelands mysteriously disappear.
The Bemidji daily pioneer. [volume] (Bemidji, Minn.) 1904-1971, 1922-02-06
He ard She.

''There are three stages in mans
lnfatuation for Il woman: Making his
way. having his way and going his
way"
1.-THE reason that love affair so sell
dom ends happily IL that one Of the
lovers is generally unwilling for it to
end Mt ALL"
1T is probable that II woman can.
not see the point Of her husbands
jokes she will see very little indeed ef
him."
~ woman cares most for man
when their love affair Is over; a man
cares most for woman before their
love affair has begun
1T Is the man who has, no right who
generally comforts the woman who has
wrongs"
1T Is more or less true that All at.
tractive woman has no friends. The
men are more and the women less"
oddly enough. the woman who
looks most self-possessed generally be-
longs to some man."
"Men always say that they loathe
being flattered. but don't take any no.
tice-no man has ever known that he
was fiattered."-From "Tattlings," BY
Sidney Tremayne.
The Bemidji daily pioneer. [volume] (Bemidji, Minn.) 1904-1971, 1922-02-06
Ingenious Washington Youth.

! One small Western boy has solved
the tisherman's problem Of getting
plenty Of fishw0rms without digging
for them. He coaxes them forth from
their hiding places through the magic
Of electricity. This lad, Joe Siesfried
of Kennewich, Wash, though only ten
years old, has devised with a little
help from his father a special appa-
ratus that is the champion fishwOrm
coaxer and extractor. The apparatu:
consists Of a telephone magnetic, which
delivers. current at so to 90 volts. This
iagneto is connected to two heavy
wires, or electrodes set in the ground
six or eight inches deep and fifteen to
eighteen inches apart. When the mag
.neto is operated the current flows be-
tween the ). electrodes, and many
Worms in the vicinity receive a sensa-
efon which causes them to hurry to
the surface at full speed. Joe has
counted as many as fifteen worms
coming out at one time. He has had
inquiries as to the charge for worms
if purchased by the gallon for medici-
nal purposes, but his school work
keeps him too busy, and he, only uses
the apparatus for furnishing fish bait
to his many young friends.
The Bemidji daily pioneer. [volume] (Bemidji, Minn.) 1904-1971, 1922-02-06
THOS. MElCHAN AGAIN
MAKES HIT AT CRAM

Thomas Meighan is the type OK sta,
who tnrlves upon red-oloooeo s
with lots Of action. He has been gwen =
an ideal vehicle in "The Frontier o.
the Stars" from the magazine seriaA
~ Albert Payson Terhune., Inc PIC,
ture IS being shown at the Graho
theater for the last time tonight.
Mr.. Meighan is cast in the same
kind Of master-crook role that eshad
in "The Miracle Man." He is an East
side gang leader, who, escaping from
+. a detective, encounters upon the root
to Of. a tenement house pretty crippled
a1rl. AZ friendship develops between
the two, and the crook, under her IN
Auence, goes the straight and narrow
Mr.. Meighan's part is a strenuous
one, requiring him to light a couple
Of bouts at fisticuffs, to risk his NE
in a steel mill accident, and hnally
to sescue the heroine from a tene-
ment fire. Faire Binney, sister OF
the Realart star, plays the role OF
the girl with winning charm. Edward
Ellis and Alphonz ETHER arc also III
the cast.
= The picture is a Charles Maiane
production, being directed by tn
same man who screened THE Cop
perhead" and "The Fighting Chance.
It is picture of such virile charm and
appeal that none who sees it is likely
soon to forget it.
Rolling Stones,' an unusually
good two part comedy completes tne
program.
The Bemidji daily pioneer. [volume] (Bemidji, Minn.) 1904-1971, 1922-02-06
MOLLY o" AT THE REX
TONIGHT AND WEDNESDAY

Molly O." the Mack Senne1t pro-
dnctior distributed by Associated
ihrst National Pictures, Inc, which
~ announced as the attraction for the
Rex theater today and Tuesday is
probably the most costly production
that has been produced in enc world
during the past year. MIR. Sennctt
has made no announcement of the
actual outlay Of money which the
completion of "Molly o" has demand
ed. but the known costs of the fac
tors entering ln.r it makes it air.ost
\ staggering total, without :he Incl
dental expenses which no one bit
the producer caH know.
Despite the huge cost there is
nothing extravagant about The IT.
traction. The mere huacnes, Of it,
AZ it was planned ny Mr.. Scrnett
called for cost that is four or five
times greater than the actual outlay
on advertised "lavish' productions.
Determined t., make il success,r to
"Mickey" that would eclipse that
success as box Office attraction Fir.
Sennett planned big f:o'a the start
and kept to that program.
Three months is considered ample
time for the filming Of a production,
but MOLLY o. was actually in the
process of shooting" for just six
days less than ten months. In spite
of this there was not an idle day at
the studio during the entire time.
Work was progressing on it all the
time. but Mr.. Sennett's insistence up.
on "bigness" in even the smallest de-
tails resulted in a carefulncss of stu.
dio work that has never been accord
cd to another production.
Persons who have reviewed the pro
duction at the studio declare that the
carefulness expended on it has been
worth while--that "Bigness" sticks
out in every scene-and that as O
whole no one can see it without be-
ing impressed with its magnitude.