CINEMA TRAGEDY.

Taranaki Daily News, 31 January 1922, Page 5

CINEMA TRAGEDY.

COLLAPSE OF THEATRE.

JVER A HUNDRFD DEAD.

STRUGGLE OF VICTIMS.

By Telegraph.—Press Assn.—Copyright.

Received Jan. 30, 5.5 p.m.

Washington, Jan. 29. The deaths in the disaster due to the collapse of the cinema theatre, wßich was caused by the weight of a heavy load of snow, number 110 and the injured total 250.—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn. Washington, Jan. 29. The cinema theatre which collapsed is situated in one of the finest residential districts in the city and is often attended by Government officials and diplomats. Among the dead are two noted correspondents of American newspapers and -former members of the House of Representatives. Hundreds of men, women and children, relatives of those entombed, struggled to break within the cordon which is 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 rescue work. The collapse of the roof is attributed to hasty war-time construction. It is certain that there will be more than a hundred dead at the cinema crash, which is the most serious disaster in Washington history. Thousands of firemen, marines, soldiers, policemen and volunteers worked all night in the debris and are still digging and bringing out crushed, dead and injured. The hospitals are full of dangerously hurt who are not expected to live. The shops throughout the district are being used as temporary hospital quarters. Many injured are suffering from exposure. To-night is cold. ’ The theatre, which is one of the 'most beautiful in the city, seated 2200, and every night was filled to its capacity. The storm fortunately decreased the attendance and saved many more hundreds from death.—Aus.-N.Z’ Cable

TRAGEDY GROWING . NUMBER OF DEAD INCREASES. DIFFICULT RESCUE WORK. ' Received Jan. 30, 7.30 p.m. Washington, Jan. 29. -Among those injured in the cinema disaster are the Assistant PostmasterGeneral (Mr. Shannessy) and his wife, and a member of the Italian Embassy. It is believed the dead include a sister of the Guatemalan Minister. Two instances occurred where persons deeply entombed under masses of material had warm milk and other nourishment passed to them through tubes inserted in apertures. President Harding issued a statement declaring that words were inadequate to voice his sorrow’, adding: “The terrible tragedy, staged midst a great storm, deeply impressed all of us, and left us wondering about the revolving fates.”

The tragedy grows greater every hour. Ninety-two dead have already l-een removed, and the number is growing steadily. It is hoped there may not be 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 a thousand or more.

The debris is so vast and the snow so encumbering that the rescuers are compelled to work slowly in order possibly to save those still alive, and that; task is far from completion. General Pershing is directing the rescue work, and soldiers control the area about the theatre. Churches are now temporary morgues, in which agonised men and women are searching for relatives. Several families have been completely wiped out. Many Government officials, several army officers, and two brothers-in-law of Senator Root are among the dead. —Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn.