Norwich bulletin., 1922-01-30

Washington. Jan. % CBy the A. P).-
IRE list cf known dead in the knicker-
cocker theatre disaster was brought TO
u. tonight when a canvass Of the city
hosp tails and Of tie emergency medical
stations established 10 care for the VIC
inns had been completed This was sald
20 include an the bodies recovered from
.re ruins Of the theatre. where last night
Ia the midst of the showing of a rolllcA-
ing comedy film the roof collapsed on
tc-wccn 500 and 400 patrons.
The list n injured totslled 134 tonight
and of these Il were recorded as having
suffered serious hurts Caught beneath
tha falling beams which had been de-
signed .o act as traverse supports for the
--of scores were taken TO hospitals suf-
fc-ir- with broken limbs or severe in
te-nsi Injuries. Many were given !mme-
slate medical attention at improvised sta
lions hastily erected near the scene Of
the disaster.
Tire Enickerhocker. one Of the newest
and largest Of the can.tars motion pic
tu-- houses was rste1 as one Of the
most exclusive drawing its patronage
srrm TIE northwest residential section in
.le yicinisy of upper Connecticut avenue.
Family groups predominated in the
auiicnce which gathered last night TO
watch the showing OF a rollicking comedy
md d was upon these that the roof,
sacked hy tons OF wet snow, descended
v.-h barely a whispered warning. In
fe entire audience only one person was
found who had become aware of impend-
frr Goom in time 20 reach an exit. A
number ot others worked their way TO
safety through scant openings in the
Urerkare.
T-e large majority Of the victims, both
siei 7ui injured. were residents Of this
-itr. although many came recently from
other places Exploration Of the ruins
wert on unchecked after dark. but those
ln charge believed few additional bodies
would be found. Without regard to their
pun risk. soldiers. marines, sailors, po-
Tre. f-euen and citizen volunteers had
fought fheir way beneath the wTeckage
over practically the whole floor space Of
the aud forium-
T-e exact runiber IN the theatre when
fHa steel and concrete span Of the roof
-'eI and feI under is three-foot load
~ snow probably never viii he known
Tie stories Of perhaps a hundred who
rrt olt unirjured have been reported
These account for a few more than SOC
Ir The audience that was roaring ir
7Hcft-r az a filmed comedy when the
rorr ZEN or them IKE a blanket. carrying
frvr The front % the wide balcony in its
--zrh
Normally every seat in the theatre hs.
seen filled ~ that hour. and nearly GOl
7r-sons was its capacity. The same un
7r~ccten'e1 snowfall which brought il
he fc1fr 90 +fe Vrutiiresou1e few keep
ne many ~ home. Street car traffic haC
seen abandoned and streets and side
Vaiss were au but impossible will
f-f-r
There has been no time as yet fo- Of
fral inquiry as 20 the cause Of the dis
asfe- The ruins themselves disclose
however that the entire mass Of steel
H.'f concrete that formed the roof ha,
-ame down. TIE crash swept the sup
.-fs 1lt from under he balcony. appar
s~fr and fhis hinged down al an angl
% f- degrees adding 20 the tangled mas
1f Nrer-aEe on the floor below.
TIE turi'nE stands in an acute-anEle
corner az Eighteenth street and Colum
H.a rraf Northwest the heart Of tn
~re- favored residence section Of th
city The narrow niche of the stage o
u-r fhr screen was hung was backe
Irf0 Pho corner angle. while 10 the lei
---n Tho stage the line Of the auditorium
sail -uus in q straight line for some 20
ts~f down Eighteenth street To III
-rhr fhe w1n follows the slow curve +
~oHmhIa road Tor about the same di.
.a1ce and ~ rhe far end. psralleling tn
rf-Ea front the back wall con1pIetes n
Fsi-or.um proper. also about 200 fe,
org
Trir whole rrzce stood rooness TO II
tr Al moment after the first hissir
sound e. the breaking roof gave warnir
above the music OF the orchestra
There r. only one survivor thus {:
rro r7v tod y having heard that war;
-E ard seer -he first powdsry handf
% snow sift down over the head Of Il
1rc1-stra leader in time to make h
srr7ps From his seat weu forward
-r main aeor he raced for the doors
.s back A great blast Of air. expcsl,
ts -he root came down hurled him O.
h-71Eh the doorway 20 safety.
Most Bodies from the Pit.
,fos tof The bodies weer recovered fro
-r doo- ~ The pit beneath the wrecka
% from the front OF the balcony itse
Following the rule ~ motion picture a
9e1crs and With m almost empty hou
o PICK from. those on the main floor HI
lrounci themselves n the rows Of sea
rvt below the front of the balcony. tn
re-e hack Ear enough 10 see well. a
no 'front.' and back rows were almc
rnnty
A. ne point they had chosen the da
go proved 20 be just double. Few
hose seated there could have escap,
Er-n = the falling concrete slabs a
e.uc-S o. The roof missed them, {
r-l mass o. the balcony front car
s1vn on the first wreckage with crushi
weight The cleaning brass rail I'll
adorned the balcony front lay spre
-rsr The wreclSage o. the roof fifteen Z,
ts'ov when rescuers reached the scene
Those farther hack on the main hC
probably az escaped. Ire beams n
E-7rorted the hars1 end Of the balco
as rct lst 80 tssir clutch on the Wa
THs vide sweep of seats they support
ltei down until the wreckage bel
took the weight of the front end, III
stood covering the back rows Of the ms
fcor Ike a tent
An steel and Concrete.
TIE front rows OF The balcony ",
rround 20 a twisted mass Of ruin in
fail There was 10 wood in the str
tue. L was al steel and concrete. |
N. enormous weight OF the balcony v
ffscf sufficient % wind the to-tui
beams Into fantastic shapes
Here again chance played a part
reducing the number ~ victims. I
front rows % the balcony. four or {
trrs cee1. were known as reserve
glats They were priced above the s.