Pueblo chieftain., 1922-01-29

Der OF those in the theater at the time.
these estimates ranging from $50 10
500, altho the theater, one of the finest
motion picture houses IN the city has
for more than 1000
spectators.
The names of the dead had been
ascertained by the police only In a
few instances and these follow:
MRS. b. H. COvE1A
MISS COSTLEY.
WILLIAM TRACEY, q member OF
the orchestra.
F. H. EARNEST.
Two Unidentified.
DOUGLAS HIJLYER.
MRS. MARIE RUSSELL.
W. S. SCOFuID, Of Danville, Ga.
G. s, FREEMAN, musician.
MRS. CORRELLEs
D. r. O'DONNEIL. ~,
MILDRED WALFORD.
sThesAhsetsrsituaasaEin IN taa center 81
wxh0ington's fashionable northwest
section. presented scsns o1 horror an
hour after the roof fell beneath 4
which It had been subjected since the
building was erected several years
ago.
The roof seemed to rest almost on
the hoor. scarcely more than IN feet
separating the lowermost debris and
the floor level. All of the debris was
covered with the snow which had
weighed so heavily upon the roof.
Standing up thru the debris. however.
tho stark and ragged, were the pillars
that had supported tho balconies and
the roof.
The site of the theater being at tho
intersection OF two or three principal
streets was lighted by the glow Of
street lights which a few blocks dis
tant. shed soft glow on the mantle
of snow which covered the city.
Firemen and soldiers hastily rushed
from Walter Reed Military hospital
and barracks near the city endeavored
TO find an opening in the debris but
the heavy steel and concrete dehed
their offfforts except when reinforced
with picks and gas and acetaline
torches. Means of the injured could be
heard with the commands OF the nre
chiefs and the military. Beyond the
lines first established by the police
and later taken, over by the soldiers
thousands gathered.
Those beyond the. flre-line included
men and women known thruout the
ambassadors. ministers and society
leaders
Numbers of those behind the line had
friends whom they believe to have
been in. the theater when the crash
came and they appealed to those MAIN
tanning the lines, either to let them
thru or give them some Idea as TO the
number OF dead or injured. Tho same
snowfall, which caused the collapse of
the theater's roof also worked to lessen
the number of those in the crash. for
the theater being tho only one in
that section. usually is filleo even to
standing room on week nights. The
theater building was one of n number
owned by Harry NJ. Crandall and was
regarded as ono OF the most beauti-
full in the city.
Belief was expressed in some quart
ers that tho final list of injured and
possibly that Of the dead would con-.
tain names OF well known persons.
inasmueh as the theater was situated
in section of the city in which "ov-
ernment officials live. The manage
ment of the thcater declared that the
building only recently had been in
spected and approved and that the
collapse OF the roof could only have
been caused by the tremendous weight
imposed by the heaviest snowfall that
has visited Washington since 1892
The roof fell with such force MS to
drive three concrete pillars thru the
orchestra floor
tip near the stage however its force
was arrested so that the platform
acted as buffer. For this reason II
was saiu scNetdl cl INC musicians
escaped.
Every expedient was resorted to in
the work of rescue, volunteers assist
ing the firemcn. police and marines
without regard to the possible collapse
of the walls. One case was observed
of a. small boy crawling thru a small
apperature in the tangled mass Of con
crete. steel and wood to a man, woman
and child who were pinned down ana
giving them water.
As the night wore on the work of
rescue continued feverishly but some
of the rescuers expressed doubt II the
debris could be completely removed
for several DAYS leaving the possibility
that the last body might not be recov-
cred for some time.
Tho Gordon OF police. flremen and
marines was reinforced by troops of
Bov Scouts who pstood guard thru the
night.
All was confusion for hours after the