KINEMA DISASTER

Otago Daily Times, Issue 18467, 31 January 1922, Page 5

KINEMA DISASTER

DEATH ROLL INCREASING. RESCUE WORK PROCEEDING HOSPITALS FULL OF INJURED. Press Association—By Telegraph—Copyright. WASHINGTON, January 29. It is certain that there will bo _ more than 100 dead as the result of the kinema crash, which is the most serious disaster in Washington’s history. Thousands of firemen, marines, soldiers, policemen, and volunteers worked all night in the debris, and they are still digging and dragging out tho crushed, .dead, and injured. The hospitals are full of injured who are not expected to live. The shops throughout the district are being used as temporary hospital quarters. Many of the injured are suffering from exposure to tho night’s cold. The theatre, which was one of the most beautiful in the city, seated 2200, and every night it was filled to capacity. The storm fortunately decreased the attendance, and saved many more hundreds from death- The dead number 90 and the injured 250.—A. and N.Z. Cable. DEAD NUMBER 110. WASHINGTON, January 29. Tho 'dead in the kinema accident number 110. —A. and N.Z. Cable. ' PATHETIC > SCENES. ) Vr RESCUE WORK IMPEDED. WASHINGTON, January 29. The kinema theatre which collapsed was situated in one of the finest residential districts in the city. It was often attended .by Government officials and diplomats. Among the dead are two noted correspondents of American newspapers, and a former member of the House of Representatives. Hundreds of men, women, and children—relatives of _ those entombed, struggled to break within the cordon which stretched around the scene of the disaster. Moaning could be heard from the debris, which consisted of a mixture of concrete, steel, and snow. The blizzard continued all night, hampering the rescue work. The collapse of the roof is attributed to hasty war-time construction. —A. and N.Z. Coble. EXTENT OF THE TRAGEDY. ■■ - * CROWING GREATER HOURLY. PRESIDENT HARDING’S SYMPATHY. CHURCHES USED AS MORGUES. WASHINGTON, January 29. (Received Jan. 30, at 5.5 p.m.) Among those injured are the Assistant Postmaster-General, Mr Shaugnessy, and his wife, and a member of the Italian Embassy. It is believed that the dead include a sister of the Guatomalian Minister. Two instances occurred where persons who were deeply entombed under masses of material had warm milk and other nourishment passed to them through tubes inserted in apertures made by picks and acetylene torches. President Harding has issued a statement declaring that words were inadequate to voice his sorrow, adding: “The terrible tragedy staged midst the great storm has deeply impressed all of us and has left us wondering about the revolving fates. The tragedy grows greater every hour. Ninety-two dead have already been removed, and the number is growing steadily. It is hoped there may not bo more than 125 killed. While at first it was estimated that there were only 500 in the theatre when the collapse occurred the management is uncertain, and the number may have been even 1000 or more. The debris is so vast and tho snow so encumbering that the rescuers are comped ed to work slowly in order possibly to save those who are still alive. That task is far from completion. General Pershing is directing • the rescue work. Soldiers control the area -about the theatre. The churches are now temporary morgues, which agonised men and wpmen are searching for relatives. Several families have been completely wiped ont. Many Government officials, several army officers, and two hrothera-iri-law of Senator Root are among the dead.—A. and N.Z. Cable. [A _ cable message published yesterday morning reported that a heavy load of snow caused the collapse of the roof and a wall of a kinema theatre, catching 500 people under the debris.]