Evening star., 1922-01-29
TROOPS RENDER
Splendid SERVICE
Police and FiremenAIso Quick
to Arrive at the Scene of
Knickerb0Cker Horror.

Assisting virtually all night long
in the relief work We're more than
$50 soldiers and marines. sent to the
scene by the special order of Brig.
Gen. Ii. II. BandhulZ, of the army,
commanding the district of Wash
ington. and Mai. Gen. Lejeune, head
Of the marine corps.
There were $50 cavalrymen from
Fort Mver. Va. dispatched to the
theater under the supervision of Maj.
Harry toope. adjutant of the dis
trict of Washington. He WAS re-
lieved early this morning by Maj.
c. +. George. of Fort Myer, who.
in turn. was relieved shortly before
noon by Maj. I'atton. also of Fort
Myer. Gen. BaniholZ said that it was
not his intention to send more troops.
as the number engaged in the work
of rescue at present WAS adequate.
The army, he declared was anxious
to help in every way possible.
About 100 more marines joined
with the soldiers in aiding in the
rescue activities today. Some of the
marines were from the marine bar
racks and some from the navy yard.
Lieut.. Col. Rhea. of the navy yard,
Ms in charge. assisted by Maj. Vocel,
commanding officer of the marine
barracks. who stayed on duty all
night and First Lieut. NJ " Parsons
Police Act Quickly.
Lieut.. &. L. Plemmons. night chief
OF detectives. was on duty at police
headquarters. when the first call for
the fire department was received from
the alarm box al 18th street and Column
bia road at $40 o'clock. Immediately
upon receipt of the alarm, the lieu
tenant learned of the seriousness of
the disaster and got busy on the tele-
phone wires to have police of several
precincts in readiness for emergency
work.
Exactly thirteen minutes after the
first alarm was received second
alarm was sounded. sunmoning six
additional companies OF firemen to
the scene. and at $40 O'Clock the
sounding of a fourth alarm brought
five more companies. At $50 o'clock
fifth alarm was sounded, SIX more
companies responding to aid in the
rescue work. making total of twen-
ty engine companies, six trucks.
water tower and fourteen fuel
wagons scheduled to respond
Marines Offer Services.
Shortly after the sounding of the
fifth alarm Lieut.. Plemmons received
an offer of the services of the marines
stationed at the Pan-American build
ing. where the conference on the linn
itation of arms is being held. The
offer was promptly accepted.
Because of the seriousness of the
tragedy calls We're sent to practically
every hospital in the city for ambu-
lances and physicians and to every
police station for patrol wagons and
reserves.
Much difficulty was experienced by
-hofh" the frenlen and policemen in
their efforts to reach the scene. Seven
pieces of fire apparatus and one police
patrol wagon We're reported disabled
en- route to the theater.
Both vehicles of No. 10 engine COM
pany became stalled within fifty feet
Of the company's station. Maryland
avenue between 18th and 14th streets
northeast. Firemen and nearby resi-
dents worked hard to get the engine
and hose carriage out OF the deep
drift snow, and finally the company
was obliged to report out of service.
Other companies reporting out OF
service soon after receiving the calls
were Nos 5. 20 and "a engine COM
panies and Nos. 4. and 6 truck COM
panies.
Hundreds of Anxious Inquiries.
Telephone lines leading to police
headquarters and places Of business
in the vicinity of the theater were
kept busy until long after midnight.
relatives and friends Of persons
thought to have attended the per
formance making anxious inquiry as
to the identity of injured persons.
In many other instances inquiries
were made by persons, members of
whose families had not returned
home. the delay causing anNi1tS. 1t
was not until late in the night that
hospital attendants were able TO give
much definite information. the ply
sicianS taking care to dress the in
jurieS before consuming time record
ing names and addresses.
Detectives Sweeney and MesSer. on
duty at police headquarters, We're
sent to the theater by I.icut. plem-
mons They soon teleDhoned for ad-
ditional men, but the department was
without means of TRANSFORMATION for
them. Police officials realized what
it meant to be without automobiles
in good working order. and il is
probable that an appeal viii lee made
to Congress for money for the pur-
chase of a sufficient numbe:' of such
cars for use of members OF the force
detailed at headquarters.