THEATRE COLLAPSE.

Auckland Star, Volume LIII, Issue 24, 30 January 1922, Page 5

THEATRE COLLAPSE.

IN HEAVY SNOWSTORM NINETY PEOPLE KILLED. 250 OTHERS INJURED. DISASTEB IN WASHINGTON. DirriCULT RESCUE WORK. (By Cable.—Trees Association.—-ropvrtgbt.) 'Received 11.30 a.m.) WASHINGTON*. January 20. T'ac most sensational disaster recorded in the hi;-tory of Washington occurred to-dny. when the heavy snowfall during o severe blizzard caused the rorf of a cinematograph theatre to collapse, burying 5W> people under the debris. Of these ninety were brought out dead by the rescuers, while 250 were injured, many so severely that their ultimate recovery is doubtful. , The f.Weane is situated in one of the I fine.33 residential districts in the city, I and is often attended hy Government official* and diplomats. Among the dea<l are two noted correspondents of American newspapers and a former member of the House of Representative. Hundred? of men. women and children, relatives of the entombed, struggled to break within ;«!ie cordon which was etretched around the scene of the disaster. The moaning of the victims could be heard from the debris, which consisted of a mixture of concrete, steel, and enow. The blizzard continued through the night, hampering the work of rescue. Thousands of firemen, marines, soldiers, policemen, and volunteers worked »U night amid the debris digging and bringing out the crushed, dead, and injured. The hospitals are full of dangerously hurt, and shops throughout the district mc being used as temporary hospital quarters. Many of the injured are suffering from exposure to the cold. The theat>re. which was one of the most beautiful in the city, seated 2200, and was every night filled to its capacity. The frtorm fortunately caused a decreased attendance, which saved many more hundreds from death. The collapse of tha roof is attributed to hasty wartime construction. The worst blizzard known to Washington is sweeping the city. There is three feet of snow on the ground, and flakes 1 are still falling.—(A. and N.Z. Cable.) i