The New York herald., 1922-01-31
Doubt Is Expressed Snow
Alone Brought Collapse and
Death Of 1O8 Persons.
QUICK ACTION IN SENATE
Washington Mourns for Vic
tims-SOcial Events Called
Off-Search Is Stopped.
Special Dispatch 70 THr NEW YORK HERALD
New York HernId Bureau.
Washington. D. G.. Jan. 20.

Washington. y. G.. Jan. 20.
With the toll Of the Knickerbocker
Picture Theater disaster now recorded
at -0s killed and f4o seriously injured
the machinery OF four independent Tn
vestigations to-day was under way TO
ix the responsibility for the collapse
OF the snow laden roof
These Investigations were in the
hands Of Congress. tho District OF
Columbia Commissioners. the Federal
Grand Jury and the Coroner. They
all set out 70 determine whether faulty
the inability of the roof TO aold the
weight of snow.
Col. Charles Keller. L. 5. A., En-
gineer Commissioner Of tEe District Of
Columbia, declared tonight that the
weight of snow was not enough to
cause the collapse of the roof unless
the construction was faulty. This was
the opinion also OF Herbert Hoover,
Secretary of Commerce and an en-
g:neer of long experience. Other en-
giheers declared the concrete of the
rocf had deteriorated 10 an extent
where IL was possible TO crumble IL in
tho hand.
On the other hand. Il developed that
the building code OF the District o.
Columbia. In compliance with which
the theater was erected. requires an
allowance of twenty-five pounds a
square foot for rain and snow on the
surface OF roof. It is estimated that
the weight of the snow on the roof,
around thirty inches. would weigh
about thirty pounds to the square foot.
or ar excess of FIVE pounds above code
provisions.
Rechecking List OF Dead.
Tire authorities are refrainlng from
taking any criminal action against the
officials OF the Crandan company,
which owned and operated the theater
until some result follows the lnvestiga-
tions. They called attention TO the fact
that the officials of the company are
men of responsibility in Washington and
may be apprehended whenever IL Is
desirable
careful rechecking. The number fixed
by the police Is los. on the other hand.
there Is difference between the lists
complied unofficially. chiefly by the
newsps pers. One Of these places the
number OF dead nj III. but Il includes
eight persons who are reported missing
and OF whom there is reaeon to suppose
they were In the disaster. Another OF
these lists. compiled with the utmost
care. fixes the number OF dead at io1.
with seven unsccounted for and others
In hospitals at the point OF death.
Acting Postmaster-Gcnera Edward w.
shaughnessy. one Of the score OF public
men caught in the crash. was making
desperate fight FOR life to-day at Walter
Reed Military Hospital The chances
were against him. as he II suffering
from n fractured pclvfs and internal IN
juries. He underwent series or blood
transfusions. Late tonight he was stll
alive. but his condition was extremely
grave.
search u Abandoned.
Ihe disaster threw washington into
mourning. Virtually all the festivities
arranged for the next week have been
Cancelled. One OF these arranged for
tonight. when the Ohio Society was to
give a Mckinley Day reception I'm honor
OF the President and Mrs Harding. was
called off at the Presidents request.
The search for bodies was abandoned
at o'clock this morning. thirty hours
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Continued on Pare Two