The Washington times., 1922-02-05

NNALOADLC aiu was KIVen ~
the authorities in charge Of
relieving the injured and clear.
ing the Knickerbocker Theatea
last week. following the most seri-
Gus catastrophe which has eve,
visited Washington. by the public
school students Of the Mt. Pleas
ant neighborhood.
Being In the vicinity Of the
crash. scores Of high school boys
and girls Immediately set about
the humanitarian task of relief
as soon as the word passed from
house TO house.
Fearing that some of their rel
atives or friends might be impris,
oned beneath the fallen roof,
many boys did the work Of men
for hours, In pulling concrete and
beams from the theater.
SYMPATHY PREVAILS.
The tragedy affects the high
schools In many varied ways. Sew
sral of Central's and Westerns
best students were victims Of the
crash. Their schoolmates attend
Cd funeral exercises, and hundreds
Of notes Of sympathy and codo-
lence have reached relatives Of the
young victims from school friends.
Miss Mabel L. Benson, Ameri-
canization teacher Of the Webster
School, has sent the following reso-
luton. drawn up by her students,
, 30 The Times:
I'VE, the teachers and students
81 the Americanization class Of
tho Webster School wish to express
our deep sorrow and sympathy to
those who were bereaved by the
terrible KnickerbocIter Theater dis
aster."
NICKLAS Is HERO.
Eddie" Nicklas, formerly Of
Central High School, is today the
idol of the class with which he
graduated last week. He proved
himself q hero on the occasion Of
the disaster. Having gone to the
moving picture house with bud
de-" Nicklas, who was a star half
miller on the track team. was not
injured seriously when the roof fell.
After his release from the debris
he was told to go to q hospital for
treatment or go home II not hurt,
but he kept his head about him
looking for the puddle" who had
been sitting next to him. He To-
Gated the boy by the moving of q
hand. and stood by the point for
hours. holding the hand while fire
men dug the ruins away.
AZ a result the boy was taken
out alive. and Eddie" NickIas.
WIN grsduatedNcnly Last wednes-
DAY as historfsn OF his class. is the
prids Of ire Blue and White.
In slf probability the prompt
arrtsd OF young boys. willing to
help clear the wreckage and re-
Hove the suffering. saved the lives
Of many.
HELP FREMEN WORK
Central High School boys who
did duty" for hours after the
tragedy included Vernon Gray,
member Of the crew: Randall Buck
fngham. manager Of track; Ed
ward Buckley, captain Of football;
William Little, and Francis Stein,
Of the football team. and many
others.
With two flashlights, Randall
Buckingham wen: from one crevice
TO another. discovering men, wo-
men and children whom firemen,
unaided by light, had missed. I'm
ninchingiy, he provided light while
firemen dug several victims from
beneath the balcony.
Other boys accompanied doctors,
who were distributing medicines
and bandages. In many instances
this help made it possible to allie
viats the suffering of some persons
who could not DO wholly seen.
Vernon Gray carried out several
young children, and lifted much
weight from the bodies of persons
who needed help.
Edward Buckley remained on the
scene until after daylight Sunday
morning aiding authorities In the
work Of rescue. In addition to
those named, many other Western
and Central boys helped the men.
BOY SCOUTS TURN OUT.
Boy Scouts turned out before
not many hours had elapsed. and
preserved order in the crowds who
gathered In the neighborhood.
Looking very busy and efficient,
though very young, these Scouts
held many curious Information
seekers behind the lines erected by
police.
Their sticks served as a barrier
which prevented the crowds from
surEing over the scene, and hinder
ing rescue work.
The school girls did their part
On the occasion by dispensing cof-