Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1922-01-30
WASHINGTON CRASH
WV|DLY DESCRIBED
IN ALL ITS HORRORS
Mangled Mass of Debris
Depicts Cruesomc
Catastrophe.
STRETCHER-BEARERS
ADD TO TRAGIC PICTURE
Doctors, Nurses and Rcscuers
Work Like Mad TO Aid
Injured.
AMBCLANCEs RUSH TO AND EIt0
OnloOkers Arc silent ns Workers RE-
move Dead From Gray and
thnstIy Wreck.
STRETCHER-BE
ADD TO TRAGIC PICTURE
RUSH TO AND Fno
Onlookers Arc silent ns Workers Re
move Dead From Gray and
Chastity Wreck.
ny Clayton WhitchilI.

HSliING ION. Jan. %. - FOur
eaunt walls surrounding hill Of
dirty snow. huge concrete blocks.
manglcd steel girders. plaster and
wire. Two hundred .ircmen and sol
diers working feverishly with picks.
crowbarS. torches and ropes among
the ruins. Nurses and doctors.
strctcher- bearers and thousands OF
silent and drawn uniookers working
or waiting at their posts within and
without
This is the picture of washinston's
greatest tragedy-the collapse Of the
knickerbocker, motion picture the
ater. showplace of the capitars
movicdom, at Eighteenth Street and
Columbia Road. The picture has been
maintained. reel after reel. Ia all OF
It's horror. since shortly after 9:ao
Saturday night.
GrOnns Die Away.
Groans of the injured and dying. for
the mos, part. had been stilled by
noon OF the Sabbath. when the great
blizzard, which swept the city, had
completely spent itself. and the sun
shone down upon the fury and
tragedy the storm had wrought Res
cucrs held out slight hope of recover
ing alive the few still left In the
ruins late Sunday. who had been en-
Euifed in the avalanche of death
dealing wrcckagc.
1t happened that the writer was
passing the thcater at the hour the
tragedy occurred. From within the
notes OF the organ had just died away
There was sound like the signing of
n great wind, then thunderous
rumble. which shook tho ground un-
derfoot as the snow-laden roof dis
appeared within the walls. with a
crash the exit doors were literally
blasted ont Then silence. followed
almost Immediately by the low moan
of many subdued voices punctuate
by shrieks Of frightened. injured and
dying.
Noise OF panic followed. Those
nearest the exits stampcded for
safety. Charles whitcomb, OF New
York. who had purchased the last
ticket at the theater performance.
had just opened the door 70 enter
the house. when the roof crashed. Tho
force of the impact hurled him across
the lobby through the outside door
into the street. Only slightly bruised.
he muttered thanks to God for his
escape.
Few Are Fortunate.
Not more than half a dozen per-
sons, seated on the outcrmost aisle
OF the orchestra were as fortunate as
in escaping.
Meantime. from the great snow
drifts. blocking all traffic without,
thousands Of people appeared as il by
magic. From nearby fire stations
companies summoned by general
alarm. fought desperately with their
heavy equipment to make their way
to the scene.
Those who reached the disaster
frst saw hill. three stories high.
gray and ghas.ly. Now and then
means OF women and children and
shouts OF imprisoned men pierced
the air above the clang and roar OF
fire engines and ambulances. These
cries guided the rescuers.
The huge mound OF ruin was made
more CHASTITY by the shadows cast
upon it from the standing walls and
the few electric lights that had not
been broken by tho collapse. Snow
driven by a high wind swept down
on the wreckagc.
In the weird light. rendered more
80 by the fact that ] had just come
In from'thc bright lights and glistcn-
ing snow without. the figures of hui
man beings could be seen franticaliy
struggling to Get out. terror
The straining and cries of those pin
ioncd gave me the impression that
the huge mass of debris was alive.
but could not move
Under the wreckage could see
men. women, girls and boys seeking
TO crawl along small openings be-
tween the seats. Shouted directions
from friend to friend filled the air
with these came the shouts
TOR help.
Christ save me-" some woman
screamed. 1t seemed that all were
moaning and crying at once.
Probably the wind and cold and
driven SNOW silcncod the carly
CONTINUED On Paso 2, Col. a.)
ht s)g