Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1922-01-30
ALL OF CRASHVICTTMS
s: IDENTIFIED, RESCUERS
i: STILL SEARCH IN RUINS.
Senator kapper to Move for Senate Inqury-Huntreds
" of Washington Homes Are Plunged Into Mourn
ing--Nlany Narrow Escapes
CONTINUED From FRS, ragco
hurled him out through the doorway

hurled him out through the doorway
TO safety.
Most OF the bodies were recovered
from the floor OF the pit beneath the
wrcCkaEc OF the balcony or from the
(. Front of the balcony itself. Follow
ing the rule Of motion picture audi.
cnces 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
aud back rows were almost empty.
At the point they had chosen, the
danger proved 10 be just double. Few
OF thos. seated there could have cs-
capped. Even If the failing concrete
slabs and steel work Of the roof
missed them. the solid mass of the
balcony front came down on the first
wrcckaEe with crushing weight. The
cleaning brass rail that adorned the
balcony front lay spread over the
wrcckacc OF tn" roof fifteen feet be-
Low. when r,Scuccs reached the scene.
Those farther back on the main
floor rroh.5Iy all escaped The beams
that Supported the back end OF the
Daicouy ed not lot 10 their clutch on
the wall The wide sweep OF seats
troy supported tilted down until tho
,yrcci,ai.c bclow took the weight of
tic front cnl. then stood covering the
nark rows OF the main floor Ike Il
tent
The iron; rows OF the balcony We're
ground 10 n twisted mass of ruin III
tho fan. There was no wood in the
structure. II was all steel and con-
ctctc, bat the enormous weight of the
balcony was Itself suf!icicn, 10 wind
= me tortured beams into fantastic
shapes
Frantic Calls for Aid.
Here again chance played a part in
REDUCING, the number Of victims. The
'front.' rows Of the balcony. four or iHe
tiers deep. were known as reserved
seats. They were priced above the
succeeding rows and except when
the house was jammed. commonly
were no, all occupied. With the
small attendance OF last night, PROB
ably only few had paid the extra
urlce for these seats, the majority
,,refe-ring to sit further back In the
halcouy. And many OF those oehiho
,r,,nblcd IN the steep slope OF tho
l.,llen balcony to safety. although
many were struck down In the hrst
flow when the roof came In. some
we're hurled down into tho PIX
,yrcckare when tho balcony front
ccII. and evrn some of these escaped
syith bruises. There is no RECORD"
however. or any survivor among
-thos. in tho foremost balcony seats
frantic calls for aid went out nv
soon AS those IN the double waiinh
,,tructur..S which form the Eighteenth
t,r.t ana bacE wall Of the audi
,,r.Dm realized what had happened.
These two thrce-hoor wings form ihu
.hl,e-, s;orco along the Eighteenth
street front, and houH. the s'airwayS
.l lilo .;uyrUlrhcs and exits both
- tha, side and along the back wall
:,rd hoy Wrre not Involved IN IN"
as.tr. winch was confined TO tho
..r!ditus.ur itself. Later these stores
ana corr.IorS becam" IN" nrst-aid
STATIONS as the In&ng!rd victims were
GrarEed irgin :lo wrcckage
LlTemcn fought their way through
hcadinp snowdrifts In answer 10 a
general alarm Police patrols allied
WIN men churH.r an! skdded
through the N.s-it.a. INDEX and In
answer to . summons, marines from
The barrHcGs clear across the city
came at coublc time. painting through
the heavy going. Al Fort MyEr
across the river. tho cIvn.ry was
turned out and started 81 truck loads
l. tie rescue only to and roads block
,d w!,u snow The :nem shoveIvd
ihe.v way il1nt!ca!.y, but hnai!y four