Arizona republican., 1922-01-29

the imprisoned. "Get Rich Quick
Wailingford' was being shown and
the second show of the evening had
Just begun when the roof crashed.
Volunteers Aid Rescuers
TWO men were said to have been
removed dead and Miss Costley
died OF injuries after she had been
taken to a physicians office. Coroner
j. r. hewitt said his first guess"
was that there had been three hun
dred killed. Several hours would
perhaps elapse however. 1t was indi-
Gated, before a definite estimate of
the situation would be available
Police, firemen and volunteers were
assisted in the work Of rescue by
marines who have been stationed
here during the armament conference
They worked also in imminent dan
ger OF the walls collapsing on them.
While they worked relatives of those
who had been at the performance
stood bareheaded in the snow fear
fully awaiting word Of their loved
ones.
No warning was given as the walls
crashed, the roof breaking in on the
heads OF the audience with a noise
like thunder, crushing seats and oc-
cupants as 1T fell. 1t was more than
an hour before the rescuers using
gas torches to cut through the ac-
cumulated mass Of steel and concrete
reached the section where 1t was be-
Heved most of the dead and injured
were.
The theater, situated in the CEN
ter Of Washington's fashionable
northwest section, presented a scene
OF horror an hour after the roof fell
beneath weight of snow heavier
than any to which it had been sub
jected since the building was erected
several years ago.
Roof Rests on Floor
The roof seemed to rest almost on
the floor, scarcely more than a foot
and a half separating the lowermost
debris and the floor level. All of
the debris was covered with the snow
which had weighted so heavily upon
the roof. Standing up through the
debris, however. stark and ragged
We're the pillars that had supported
the balconies and the roof.
The site of the theater. being at
the intersection Of two or three prin-
cipal streets, was lighted by the glow
rof street lights, which a few blocks
distant shed a soft glow on the man
tie of snow which covered the city.
Beyond the lines first established
by the police and later taken over by
soldiers, thousands gathered.
4 Those beyond the fire lines In
scluded men and women known
throughout the country--senators
representatives, ambassadors. minis
ters and society leaders. Numbers OF
those behind the lines had friends
whom they believed to have been in
the theater when the crash came and
they appealed to these maintaining
the lines either to let them through
or give them some idea as to the
number of dead or injured.
The same snowfall which caused
the collapse of the theater's roof also
worked to lessen the number OF those
in the crash, for the theater, being |
the only one in that section, usually |
is filled even to standing room on |
weekend nights. The theater build |
ing was one Of number owned by |
Harry M. Crandall and was regarded |
as one Of the most beautiful in the |
city.
Close All Theaters
Every theater in this city. includ- |
Ing both motion picture houses and |
playhouses, was ordered closed to- |
night. not to reopen until building |
inspectors have certified that there |
Is no danger of their snow laden roofs /
collapsing.