Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1922-01-30

more victims, as a result of the roof
y night.
The work of rescue was begun
few minutes after the roof, with its
three feet Of snow caved in. It's i'm
menstv. was not at first realized.
Soon after the accident happened a big
force Of firemen, soldiers, police and
civilians were on the scene. The roof
of the big playhouse had caved in,
leaving ruin and desolation. The 800
odd people in the theater who were en-
Toying picture entitled Get Rich
Quick Wallinford," were caught like
rats in trap, never having chance
for their life.
The scenes that followed the crash
were heartrendering. An attempt to
describe them would be beyond mag
inatoin. The Christian Science
Church nearby was turned into
temporary morgue and nearby houses
were converted into temporary hos
fpitals.. Red, Cross nurses soon
on the scene and before long the work
ers got under way in organized fash
ion. Priests and preachers were on
the scene and in the building, giving
aid to the dying and injured.
Practically every physician in
northwest Washington was summoned
and gave what aid they could. The
rescue work was more difficult owing
to the fact that the workers had to
cut through mass of wire and steel,
the wire being from the ceiling for the
plaStering.
Thousands of persons soon lined the
streets surrounding the theater, but
that area quickly was roDed off. 1t
was with the greatest difficulty that
{ the police and volunteers kept back
the crowd. bent upon entering the
theater. Persons darted here and
there franticalIy appealing to learn
if some relative or friend had been
taken out. The scene was indescrlb-
ably This was kept up all night
as the snow fell, and yesterday thous-
ands of spectators lined the streets
adjoining the theatcr and watched the
rescue workers bring out body after
body. Most of the dead and injured
were gotten out of the thcater by 10
o'clock yesterday morning.
! In the audience were some of the
most prominent people in the country.
! Among the list of well known persons
who met death were: Guv S. Eldridge,
Of Salt Lake City, brother-in-law of
Senator Reed Smoot: A. ]. Rarchfield,
former U. s. REPRESENTATIVE from
Pittsburg, Pa. and Miss Barchfield:
! Chapn"nv G.. Rraincrd. correspondent
of the Brooklyn Eagle and once its
| assistant manaGin" editor, and Mrs.
Rrainerd: Louis w. Straypr, Wash
ington correspondent of the Pitts
hur"h Dispatrh: Naval Constructor
| O. G.. Hughes. Howard G. knessi. vice
president of the ScmmrS Motor Com
nanv. and Colonel anr Mrs. Charles c..
| Tucker.
| The sad story of four out of n
family of five killed in the tragedy
was presented Those killed were Mr..
and Mrs. Oscar c. Kanston. their
daughter. Helen Dorothy, aged 13,
and another daughter Anlvn, aged 7.
The only one that escaned was their
son. Grant. Mr.. Kanston was from
Chicago, ard was connected with the
! Bureau of Valuation Of the Interstate
! Commerce Commission.
~ connection with the Knicfer-
hncker Thcater tragedy, President
/ Harding Yesterday said:
81 have expericnced the same
astoundin" shock and the same
innvprcssihIc sorrow which has
como to all of Washington and
"hich will hr sympatheticalIv felt
throughout the land. II | knew
aurht 70 sav to soften the sorrow
nf hundreds who are so suddenly
| hcrraved. if 7 conld say word
=" chnor tho maimed and suffer
ir~ would rladlv do it. The
tnrr;hln traoedv. staged in the
rnidst of fha great storm. has
dnnnlv inonressod All Of Us and left
/ nc wondering about the revolving
fates"
A sweepire Investigation intG the
disaster will be made. Coroner Ne
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