Askov American. [volume] (Askov, Pine County, Minn.) 1914-current, 1922-02-02


that the number Of dead In the
knlckerbocker theater tragedy
might be less than 100 was seeN
aftsr the police had complstsA q
re-ehsck Of Ill names In ths
earlier casualty llsts, and made q
through inquiry covering the
undertaking establishments and
hospttals. AZ . results OF their
investigation, Il was said that the
death list 20 Far - definitely a.
certalned, stood at ninsty.fve.
Washington-Officia police records
placed the known dead in the
Knickerbocker theater disaster at
lot. Elimination OF duplicated names
brought the final total down from the
unofficial peak Of 112 at which the
toll of the catastrophe was placed
Saturday night
The list OF injured totaled lS4 and
II Of these were recorded AZ critical.
ly hurt. Caught beneath the falling
beams. which had been designed to
act as traverse supports for the roof,
scores were taken to hospitals sui.
fering with broken limbs or severe
internal injuries. Many were given
immediate medical attention at i'm.
provised stations hastily erected near
the scene OF the disaster.
The official list according to the
authorities, contained the names Of
all those whose bodies had been re-
covered up to midnight from the
ruins left when the roof OF the the
alter. overweighted with snow. col
lapsed on the audience.
Search Nearly Over.
The volunteer workers. including
police. firemen. marines and cavalry
from Fort Myer. had practically con-
Guided their search OF the wreckage
at midnight. The only portion of
what had been the orchestra remain
ing to be searched was a far corner
in which 1t was not expected add.
tional bodies would be found.
The knickerbocker, one of the new
est and largest OF the capitals mo-
ton picture houses. was rated as one
Of the most exclusive, drawing its pa
tronage from the Northwest residen.
tial section in the vicinity Of upper
Connecticut avenue
Family Groups Predon,inate.
Family groups predominated IT. the
| audience Saturday night and II was
upon these that the roof. backed by
tons of wet snow, descended with
barely whispered warning
The exact number in the theater
when the steel and concrete span oil
the roof buckled and :ell under Its
three foot load Of snow probably
never will be known. The stories Of
perhaps a hundred who got out un
injured have been reported. These
account for a few more than 800 In
the audience that was roaring II
laughter at a screen comedy when the
roof fell on them like a blanket, car
rying down the front OF thu wide bal
cony in its crash.
Storm Keeps Many Away.
Normally, the theater has had ever,
seat filled at that hour and its capac
ity was nearly 1000 persons. TIL
same unprecedented snowfall which
brought death to the venturesom'
few, kept the many at home. Stree
car traffic had been abandoned an,
streets and sidewalks were all bu
impossible with drifts.
There has been no time for officia
inquiry as to the cause OF the disas teI
The ruins disclose that the entir
mass OF steelheld concrete tina
formed the roof came down. TIL
crash swept the supports out fror
under the balcony, apparently. an
this hinged down At an angle of
degrees. adding to the tangled mas
OF wreckage on the door below.