Evening Star Newspaper, January 30, 1922, Page 4

THE EVENING STAR, WASHINGTON strict. Chapter Begins Re- fief Almost Immediately i After Crash. th the same zeal and efficiency of vice that has become synonymous h the name of the American Red s throughout the world, the local pter responded to the urgent need ost immediately after the crash. treasurer, Miss Margaret Hood, wBo was near to the scene of the trpgedy, immediately notified Dr. Wil- lldm E. Clark, head of the medical sybcommittee, of the disaster, who snmoned in a short time seventy- two doctors, who went to those places throughout the city where their help was needed. Miss Hood then called Dr. Ralph Jenkins, chairman of the chapter; Miss Mabel T. Boardman and Mrs. Theodore Richards, executive secre- tary of the chapter. Mrs. Richards at once notified the cantgen, motor corps, help aides and clerical committees, who quickly responded. In Charge of Committees. In charge of the various committees were Mrs. Isaac Littell, canteen com- mittee; Mrs. B. D. Carter, Mrs. Charles B. Wheeler, substitute, motor corps committee; Miss Anna Koeper, cleri- cal committee; Mrs. Scaton Schroeder, with Mrs. Clara Chappell and Mrs. Frank Pleadwell, substitutes, help aides committee; Mrs. Marie Cham- berlain, head of nursing service; Mrs. William Spencer, head of comfort sec- tion, and Mrs. David Roberts, in charge of the: production, rellef and supplies committee. Saturday night Mrs. Anna Wimer and her husband walked ten block through the snow to obtain the chauf- feurs of the motor trucks who got the cots and blankets for Emergency and Garfield hospitals and also the Christian Scientist Church. Among _the supplies furnished by the Red Cross were 100 blankets, 100 sweaters, 125 pairs of gloves, 50 bath- robes, 150 pairs of socks, 30 pairs of warm pajamas and 100 hot-water bottles. Donations in the form of blankets were received from S. Kann's & Sons. The help aides assisted in feeding the wounded at the theater, also aid- ing those still pinned under the debris by means of tubes. The sol- diers, sailors, marines, policemen and citizens aiding in relief work were also fed and from time to time given new gloves. Food and careful nurs- ing attention was also given at the Christian Scientist Church. Generous Public Spirit. Mrs. Richards, in commegting on the work of the Red Cross, stated that she wanted to commend the splendid spirit of the public, who almost overwhelmed the Red Cross with generous gifts, and use of homes, machines and assistance of every kind. The Junior Red Cross of this city also aided Iin rellef work of the injured and rescuers Saturday night, lasting through today. Every ald that the junior organization could give was furnished. Prominent in the work of the organization were Miss Hilda King, Miss Marian King, Miss Ruth Rosen- felt, Miss Catherine Chambers and Miss Edwarda Gavre. Members of the Red Cross working with them were Col. and Mrs. H. C. Barnes, Mra. Alvin Newmyer, Mrs. Natalie Mayer, Mrs. Gilbert Hahn, Mrs. Sylvan King and Mrs. Lawrence Gassenheimer. Salvation Army Assistance. Great assistance in the way of food was_rendered by the Salvation Army. headed by Capt. and Mrs. Harold Smith, and a corps of ten workers, Parly yesterday morning members of the Saivation Army appeared with & lafge supply of doughnuts and hot ©offee, which they.gave to the res- cuers and injured. Assistance was given the workers by many nearby residents, who in- vited them in their homes and helped them in the making of coffee and sandwiches. DEAD VIOLINIST JUST WED. Joseph Wade Beal Leaves Bride of Four Days After Crash. Joseph Wade Beal, first violinist the Knickerbocker Theater, marri Miss Margaret Denham, his boyhood sweetheart, last Tuesday at the Mount Pleasant M. E. Church. Today the widow, who was not present at the Knickerbocker when the roof crashed. sits in gloom, stunned by the loss that suddenly came upon her. The young man’s father, for he was about twenty-two_years old, is “Ben” Beal, 2 veteran telegrapher, in charge of the telegraph staff at the arms con- ference press room. A desire on his to become a violinist was inter- Tupted many vears ago with the loss of an arm through an acpident. When Joseph Wade Beal was born in Wash- 1in; flolent on the violin was transferred to his son, who was put to the study of that instrument at an early age. at e and, after serving in the Navy during the war, returned to the task of ful- filling' father’'s dream. —_— OFFERS TO AID IN HOMES. Group of Y. W. C. A. Would Labor for Theater Victims. The Christian Social Service Group of the Young Women's Christian Assocla- tion offers its services in any form to the nomes of those who suffered injuries and deaths in the Knickerbocker dis- aster. The group, it was explained by Mrs E. R. Brodton the organizer and pres- | ent “mother” of the society, has about forty-five girls who will be ready at a moment’s notice to render any aid ble. As the society is at a loss to determine those who need ald, it is requested that Miss Mary Wright, on that desire to become Ppro-!j,mpia road, and the city ‘This photo; All Possible When catastrophies such as the one which befell the Knickerbocker The- eagerly beseech the newspaper offices for information and glean every line in the paper itself about the accident, there is perhapd little thought given d|to the organization which must be maintained to gather that informa- tion. In the military service there i3 no better generalship, and the forces in the field are no better trained. Such occurences as that of Saturday must be handled without notice, and there id no time to map out a cam- paign. Just a few minutes after 9 o'clock Saturday night the big fire alarm | gong In The Star office rang out box 8-1-7. It showed it was 18tk and Co- editor, knowing every part of the city, vis- ualized there was a possibility of se- He made rapid strides in his work, | .o " bl there, becauss he knew there was a big theater in the vi- cinity. “Call up the Knickerbocker,” he called to an assistant. The order had just fallen from his lips when his telephone rang, and the reporter who always stays at police dquarters sald: The Knickerbocker Theater has collapsed! ‘Reporters Rushed to Scene. That was enough. Two reporters, working on their regular night news, were dispatched immediately. One of them had been brave enough to bring his car out in the storm, and in a few minutes they were speeding through the snowdrifts, bound for the scene. In twenty minutes they were there, and went right into the wreckage to ascertain its extent. Once the city editor knew he had two men to start the work of covering the scene, he began marshaling the other reporters. The Assoclated Press nph u taken from the HOW THE STAR COVERE. NEWS OF THEATER HORROR Splendid, .Co-operation Shown by Staff at Scene and in Office to Give Publm ater Saturday night occur, and people | roof of an Information. child pinned there. There was no time to think of or to fear the possi- bility of falling walls or_further slipping of the wreckage. The peo- ple must know who /was in there Giving the people accurate informa- tion was the purpose uppermost in the minds of the reporters. Every name and address and extent of injuries, obtained was telephoned immediately to The Star news room. where a force had been:organized to compile the information, and put it in order, cutting out duplications, for once the reporters were on the scene they saw little of each other, meeting now and then at the telephone. There was no time there to stop. chat or to compare notes. They knew that was being done for them in the office. Reporters in a number of instances crawled down under the wreckage where there was an opening, in order to obtain a name or a bit of infor- mation, or possibly to obtain identi- fication of a body. When additional hospitals were put on the list of those_recelving victims a reporter would be placed on one of the first ambulances to leave for that insti- tution, with Instructions to remain and check up the list of injured. Two Dressing Stations. As the numbers were increased in the two main dressing stations that were established, that at the Chris- tlan Science Church and at the of- fice of Dr. J. B. G. Custis, 1815 Colum- bia road, opposite the theater, men were stationed In them to get details as the injured were brought in, while other reporters remained in the xrenkags to gather further informa- on. Injured taken out of the Columbia road entrances were taken to the dressing_station in Dr. Custis’ home, where first aid was applied, after which the cases were immediately evacuated to hospitals. Those taken out of the 18th street entrances were removed to the Christian Sclence Church. Later in the night The Star estab- Uished another direct line from Evans’ barber shop, Columbia road east of 18th street, and this line was kept d]on‘z bui ') |COL. ROOSEVELT OFFERS NAVY YARD EQUIPMENT ilding, looking down int Other Officials Communicate With Detective Cornwell Anxious to Aid Theater Victims. Detective Fred -M. Cornwell, in charge at police headquarters, from midnight until 8 o'clock in the morn- ing, was one of the busiest men in the police department yesterday. busy w and other to leave to get a bite to eat. So s he kept answering tele- phone calls and arranging for as- sistance at the scene of the accident gluce! that.he was unable the telephone long enough Police officials on duty at the scene of the accident were in frequent communication with him in efforts to get additional as- nd to have him transmit numerous orders to the department. sistance A number of persons in official lite, | among them Col. Theodore Roosevelt, assistant secretary of the Navy, tele. phoned offers of assistance, the as-| sistant secretary beln, Motor trucks, sledge hammers ent. most persist- and acetylene torches were in great- est demand at the scene of the acci- dent. Col. l'ulouvelt told the night chief of detectives that the d tment could have anything the Navy De- partment could furnish. Truck and sledges were soon on their way to the scene. Requests from all directions to fur- nish laborers to shovel snowv were re- cel ed by the night chief. “We'll pay them & dollar an hour,” said the representative of one big corporation. At Union station, where were in demand, the want W plied by the military authorities cause 0f the urgency to operate mail trains, and two of the soldiers were ‘while at HERO TO THE LAST. Scott Montgomery, Dying, Said, “Help the Women.” Scott Montgomery, chief of the ac- counts section, United States Veterans' Bureauy, killed in the theater crash, was a veteran of the world war. i he served as a s Tl ergeant in the Medical: Corps. He lived at 1824 Biltmore street. | He was taken from the ruins alive, but died at the hospital four hours later. His body was taken to Speare's under- aking establishment, 1208 H street. Montgomery was & hero to the last. Found by his rescuers pinioned by steel girder and almost buried a heavy in a barely all righ sake, help the mass alive, t of cement and plaster and , he protested that he was and murmured, ‘women!"" “For God's the auditorium toward the stage. The picture shows the WARNING CRY OF “DUCK” SAVES MANY IN BALCONY OF THEATER MAKE FUNERAL PLANS FOR HOWARD S. KNEESSI Charles W. Semmes Assists Family of Victim of Theater Disaster. Arrangements will be completed late today for the funeral of Howard G. Kneess! of 5501 Colorado avenue, who was killed and whose wife was injured in _the Knickerbocker cave-in. rles W. Semmes, president of the Semmes Motor Company, of which Mr. Kneessi was vice president, treasurer and active partner, is aiding the fam- ily to make plans. Mr. Kneessi entered into partnership with Mr. Semmes in 1913 and they have been associated in the automobile busi- ness since that date. He was only thirty-four years of age and is survived by his injured wife, two brothers, a sister and his moth He was a member of the Columbia Country Club, the City Club, the |Rlcquel Club and of the Automotive Trade Association. He was a member of the board of directors of the Dupont National Bank and was well known in local business circles, . Kneessi was educgted in local public schools and was a graduate of McKinley High School. WAS NOT AT THEATER. Miss Etta Underwood Was Wrong- ly Reported as Injured. Miss Etta Underwood, listed as one of the injured at Emergency Hos- pital from the Knickerbocker Thea- ter, was not in the accident at all Miss Underwood was taken sick at her home, 2506 K street, and was taken to 'the Emergency Hospital as a medical patient just about the time of the accident. THREE SURVIVE VICTIM. Funeral Arrangements for Miss Mellan Not Made. Miss Agnes M. Mellan, nineteen years of age, of 1437 Belmont street, ‘who was killed at the theater, was the sister of Mrs. Grace Madert, Mrs. Em- ma Bensinger and John Mellan. Her body was taken to Chambers’ undertaking establishment, but ar- rangements for the funeral have not been completed. CARD GAME SAVED LIVES. If Coroner Nevitt and his wife had not decided to play a game of cards - D. 0, MONDAY, JANUARY 30, 1922. +% “Duck,” was a warning shouted by one of the spectators that saved many persons who occupied seats in the balcony at the Knickerbocker Theater. “I know it saved my life,” said Dick Kracke, fourteen years old, 1917 18th street, who escaped without a scratch. Dick and three companions, Billy Pogue of 1820 20th street being one of them, attended the performance, where they had balcony seats. this time that the uck™ was shouted, Dick stated, and many persons occupying DR. GEARHART LOSES LEG, DUE TO THEATER CRASH Feared His Other Foot Must Be Amputated—Friend Aids Him by Blood Transfusion. Dr. Clyde M. Gearhart, one of the injured victims of the Knickerbocker Theater disaster, is at Emergency Hospital with serious injuries. Dr. Gearhart was seated about in the middle of the wrecked theater and was pinned under the wreckage for several hours before being rescued. After his removal to the Lospital he ‘was placed on the operating table and one leg was removed. It was feared today by other foot would have to be ampu- tated on aocount of its condition. Mrs. Gearhart, who accompanied Dr. Gearhart to the theater, was killed. Dr. F. H. Edmonds, an optician, gave a quantity of his blood for his friend, Dr. Gearhart, when the operation was performed on the latter at Emergency Hospital yesterday. Dr. Edmonds also is at the hospital. He was not in the wrecked theater. Dr. Gearhart, whose office is at 1624 I street, is well known in dental circles in Washing- ton as a speclalist in treatment of the teeth and gums for Riggs disease. —_— MRS. BARCHFELD KILLED. Daughter-in-Law of Dead Ex-Rep- chairman, be notified at Main 8587 or Mrm. Brodton at Franklin 7872. CAPT. VANCE PROMINENT. Wietim of Enickerbocker Disaster ! Well Known in Virginia. 3 €apt. R. Conroy Vance of Richmond, V&, who, with his wife, was killed in th$ Enickerbocker Theater disaster, wga one of the most prominent men dnithe Fredericksburg section of Vir- giffa. He was president of ‘' the ters National Bank of Frederick: g, president of the Fredericksburg tel Company, president of the ers’ Creamery and owner of the sfleld Hall herd of Jersey cattle dairy farm near Fredericksburg. urviving Capt. and Mrs. Vance are & gon and daughter, both of whom are attending achool. Capt. Vance leaves rother in South Africa and a sister England. Mrs. Vance leaves & ther in Magsachusetts. $S PRICE G. W. STUDENT ter Victim Daughter of Capt. Price, Beverly Apartments. ‘tn- Helen H. Price, sighteen years age, who was killed in the crash, Was the daughter of Capt. Price of the Beverly apartments. She was _graduate of Central High School at the time of her death, taking a course at George Washing- niversity. e formerly lived in Oakland, Calif., and attended the Technical h School thers. Her body was en from the theater to the First of Christ, Scientist, and was by her fathes was notified and in & few brief minutes the first news of the disaster was known throughout the news- paper offices of the country. ‘Additional men were dispatched to the scene as they were reached on their regular assignments, and others were sent to the hospitals to assure aocuracy in the lists of injured. Arriving at the scene of the disaster, a line of communication with the office_ by telephone was established in the National Sport Shop, on 18th street, just opposite the theater. Cull to Injured for Names, The first two reporters on the scene set about getting the names of people in the ruins by calling to them, and getting information from those who were_conscious. Each person who was brought out was interviewed to get_every bit of information, which made possible some early forecast of the extent of the dead, maimed and injured. Dressing _stations were established in various houses. The reporters had to locate them. and everybody who was sent out was followed by & re- porter to ascertain where he was be- ing treated. Once these sources of information were established, more attention could be given at the scene. Many of the first identifications of the dead were made by The Star men first on the scene, When & body was laid aside they searched pockets for pa- pers or other means of identification, ager ty provide information for fran- people who knew they had rela- tives or friends in the house at the time. Frantie Appeals for Relief. A scramble through the ruins, a voice heard, a frantic appeal for re- llef, or a request to notify “hom The reporter would crouch on hands and knees, peer down through little cracks in the concrete ang talk with & man beund here, o€ & Woman and A conthiguously open until 9 o'clock last night. In The Star office & man sat with a head receiver, like that of & telephone operatpr, on, while a re- porter remained in the store with the receiver continuously at his ear. Relatives Beg for Information. Every time a Star reporter came out of the scene and rushed for the telephone he was beseeched by anx- fous. relativ and friends of those known to be in the building for some bit of information which would give hope of life.” Many times the sad story had to be broken that thé body of_the relative had been found. There was a reporter with rescue party, helping to drag off wreckage until the form of a victim was exposed, then starting his duty of getting the identification and ex- tent of injuries ‘if the person were alive, or getting a description to write, it life were extinct, all in an effort to be first to provide accurate information for anxious one! This procedure Was repeatsd over and over again all during the night and day, reporters remaining con- stantly on duty, ing no. relisf. The descriptive ry of the disaster out of the way 1y, the later work consisted principally of identifying those taken out of the wreckage. Phone Calls by Hundreds. In The Star office ‘a force of men worked steadily recelving the infor- mation, compiling it, ant “f.mng it in type,” while another .force an- swered the numerous telephone. in- quiries from relatives and friends, the volume of calls for information increasing as the news of the disaster spread throughout the city. The re- porters on the scene kept the:infor- mation in the possession of the effice up to the minute. And thus the tragedy, which drove everything el was “covered.” 8 ‘Veronica It Fun be held He had Miss been d to the theater [urphy of 1860 fornia | th street and she was killed by his side. was in_ her behalf that the dying help. Co., 1118 th street. JANITORS APT from the front e, droppod ever the entire g e, $he rean wall whish MAIN !N"RANCE; The two azartments at the left, the eandy kitchen a corridor alons ** e 15th sf side mflm Mfl -y ot or and balcony as (¢ on & Ainge on perpeadicular to 18th strects = or eral services for Miss at the chapel Murphy will of Geler's Sons BALCONY Saturday night instead of roing ‘o 6 movies- oy, ), might have been victims of the Knickerbocker. Dr. Nevitt, it was learned last night, suggested a card game in lieu of the theater and while he and his wife were still playing word came 10f the crash. DIAGRAM SHOWING CONSTRUCTION OF THE| KNICKERBOCKER - THEATER. [/ Oto by the resentative Here on a Visit. Mra. Elmer Barchfeld, daughter-in- law of Dr. Andrew Jackson Barch- feld, who met death in the Knicker- bocker disaster, was also killed. M: Barchfeld, who was here on a_ visit from Pittsburgh, had been in Wash- ington about five days and planned on staying five weeks. She and the for- mer Pennsylvania representative at- tended the theater together. Their bodies wsr‘o mllnolv‘ed t't‘m:i the wrenl:k- age about 3 o'clock yesterday morning to the Christian Science Church, and ‘were later taken to Hines' undertak- ing establishment on 14th street. where they now remain. It is planned to take the body of Mrs. Barchfeld to Pittburgh_tonight. Elmer Barchfeld, an attorney of Pittsburgh, {8 now in Washington. The dead woman leaves two children, ages about six and eight years, who are now in Pittsbu Dr. Barchfeld is survived by his widow and son, Elmer, an attorney of Pittsburgh. If arrangements can be completed, it is planned tc take the body to Pittsburgh tonight, where in- terment will take pluce. ———— HAD JUST BOUGHT TICKET. Police Surgeon Borden Has Narrow Esocape From Death. The story of the narrow escape of Police SBurgeon Borden from death in the Kickerbocker Theater crash was related last night by detectives at the scene. ‘According to one of the headquar- ters men, Dr. Borden had just bought a ticket for the show when the crash He was one etflmo first, there- work of rescue proceeding. hospital officials that the |* Photo by Pridgeon. | balcony seats fell to the floor. The ash came about the time they ‘ducked,” and presently portions of the roof covered them, the seats hold- |ing thte concrete far enough above them to save them from death. The dust was stifling, the boy said, and the place was so dark that it was impossible to tell just which way to make a move. Billy Pogue struck a {match and found an opening in_ the |covering. The and others climbed through succeeded in | reaching the badly shattered stair- way n arm and his wife jfoined the boys. Dick stated, and the husband called to his wife, who had assisted him from the build- : “Honey, get a taxi.” She man- aged to get such a vehicle, and the couple sped away from the theater. |DR. BARCHFELD SERVED 14 YEARS IN CONGRESS Victim of Enickerbocker Disaster Also Was Delegate to Brus- sels Peace Congress. Dr. Andrew Jackson Barchfeld, one ‘of the Knickerbocker victims, gg;\éed sli-‘l ;!'DYES(‘nhldfl\'e in seven resses from the thirty- Pennsylvania distriet e e was born in Pitisburgh Ma; 1863, was educated n he syt schools there and received his pro- fessional degree in 1884 at Jefferson Medical College, Philadelphia. He early became ~prominent in public life, serving as a school director and 2 councilman for several years, The former representative was a delegate to the republican national convention, in 1886, 1894 and 1900, and was a member of the republican state committee for many years. He was first elected to Congress in 1904, and in 1905 was a delegate to the Brsulaselumneace CONgGTess. nce his retirement from Congr he had made his home in Washingion. DIES OF HIS INJURIES. W. A. Brosseau, Jr., Was Student at Georgetown University. W. A. Brousseau, jr., who dled early yesterday morning from injuries re- celved in the Knickerbocker crash, is a native of North Adams, His father is the city ph)’!l’cl:‘n..l 3 position corresponding to- that of ealth officer here. Mr. Brosseau, who is twenty-two years old, was a stu- dent at the School of Foreign Serv- ice, Georgetown University, and was a member of the Knights of Columbus and the Kappa Alpha Phi Frateraity. e fraternity ho 1912 16th ltredetmno;thwea{, Crihes rosseau and his friend, Willia | Peters, also,a resident at the Kflpla Alpha Phi house, went to the theater and, according to Peters, were set- tled in their seats when the crash came. Peters said he threw himself under a seat and Brosseau tried to follow his example, but was caught on the arm of the chair. Peters said he prayed for “just one ray of light” and that his prayer was answered. He_succeeded in extricating himself ana then went back and to the rescue of Brosseau, who, when found, was severely injured. The body will remain at the fra- ternity house until midnight, when it will be taken to North Adams for burfal. The Knights of Columbus and the Kappa Alpha Phi Fraternity will have charge of the body. The fra- ternity yesterday announced that friends may view the body from § until 10 o'clock tonight. MISS VIVIAN OGDEN. Miss Vivian Ogden, twenty-four years of age, of 3121 Mount Pleasant Street, one of the victims of the Knickerbocker, was private secretary to H. H. Shelton, lawsver, of the Mun- sey bullding, and was a night student of George Washington University. She was a native of Louisiana, Ark., and her body will be sent there for burial. Funeral services were held THEATER PLANNED TOALLOW CHANGES So Constructed That Conver- sion to Apartment or Busi- ness Building Possible. The manager of the Knickerbocker Theater, Robert Etris, lived in the theater building. His apartment was at the south end. It is stated that he entered the theater just befors the crash, and for some time it was thought he had been caught by the falling roof. It appears he turned to the left and went to his apartment, which lies in a portion of the struc- ture outside the theater proper, and which was not damaged. It is stated that the Knickerbocker was built with the idea that, if the theater were not successful, the build- ing could be turned into an apart- ment and run up several stories high- er. There was also the possibility that the building might later turned into a combination of shops, baliroom, summer garden, restaurant, roof garden, etc. Plans were drawn, according to neigh- bors who watched the bullding rise and who were approached to rent store space in case the combination amuse- ment place were decided on, so that the structure could be turned to any of the three purposes. The Columbia road side shows where the apartmant house floors and windows would have been. Just behind the stage, located at the narrow north end of the building, is y shtop. A corridor-like division, ing the main entrance and lob- connects this shop with the apart- ent portion, occupied by the manager and the superintendent of the building. In all these parts the roof stayed and nothing was displaced to give any clue to the horrors lying just beyond the inner doors. The diagram herewith printed explains the situation in the building. On the flat roof was a small- er structure of tin and iron, which added eome little weight, and which also gave a chance for the twenty.five- mile-an-hour wind to exert considerable pressure on the weakening structure. POLICE FORCE THEATERS TO REMOVE ROOF SNOW Houses Remain Closed Sunday Un- til Order Is Com- plied With. Practically every theater in the cit was open last night, but not befor the captain of police in whose precinct the house is located, had given his per- mission. Following the order of the Commis. sioners, clasing all theaters until the snow was removed from the roof, In- spector Sullivan, acting chief of pol issued orders to the captains of precincts to see that the order was ca ried out. As the building inspector's force was not working yesterday no one could be secured from that source to | make the inspection, it was state the police captains were held respo: sible as to the safety of the theater: The captains personally visited eac of the theaters and saw that the snow | nad not only been removed from the j roofs, but from the exits as well, before | they would allow the doors to be opened to the public. At the Rialto Theater, where on Sunday morning, the Burrall Sunday {school class, of the Calvary Baptist {Sunday_school meets, Capt. Brown | of the first precinct refused to allo { the class session to be held yesterda: morning. Laborers had been bus | from daylight in clearing the snow !from the theater roof, but as it had | not been entirely removed, the offi- { cer declined to allow the session to ibe held there. The members, there- | upon, met in the church. | Two theaters, operated for colored people, were closed yesterday, out of {respect for those who lost their li !in the Knickerbocker Theater dis: ter. The Howard Theater T street tween 6th and 7th streets, of wh {J. Thomas is proprietor and manage: {and the Republic, U street, near 14t} ! street, of which Walter Pinchback is manager, were closed all day yester- day. The managers announced the. { would not open the places and placed !signs on the outside stating the were closed out of respect for ti dead. —_— {RED CROSS FOLK FORM SERVICE HOSPITALS AID Rescue Workers Supplied With Va- rious Comforts at Knicker- bocker Theater. Shortly after news of the Knicke. bocker Theater disaster reached ofli cials_at Walter Reed Hospital the Red Cross fleld directors and the as- sistant in charge of home service were summoned from their homes in the city to report at once for what- ever duty might be necessary. Miss Margaret H. Lower, field director, and Thomas Blandford, assistant, started immediately for the hospital, but due to traffic congestion and the shortage of transportation got only as far as the scene of the disaster. M. JH. Reckord, assistant director of camp service at Red Cross quarters, ac- companied the Walter Reed workers. At the soene of the tragedy there was much work to be done, and the uni forms of these workers made it po: sible for them te be immediately ad- mitted as rescuers. H. G. Davis, in charge of Red Cross at Naval Hospital, also was summon- jed, and these four people collectes jana distributed sweaters, helment gloves, socks and cigarettes to am- bulance drivers, policemen, firemen and to volunteer rescuers. They also requested residents to start a can- teen service. —_— ARE FOR ORPHANED BOY. Mr. and Mrs. Albert F. Elkins of 1302 Delafleld street are taking tem- porary care of Oscar Grant Kanston, the twelve-year-old boy whose fath- er, mother and two sisters were kill- ed in the Knickerbocker disaster. Aulyn Kanston of Louisville, Ky., the bYoy's uncle, will arrive here tomor- row to take care of the estate. 0. G. Kanston, was connected with the Interstate Commerce Com- mission here. The boy will probably be taken to Chicago, where his grandfather and grandmother are living. —_— ANOTHER VIRGINIAN DEAD. ‘Willlam Lovick Schoolfield of Dan- ville, Va., who was killed in the crash, was the son of Mrs. James E. School- fleld of Danville. Samuel Schoolfield, a brother, wired to relatives in Danville informing them of the positive identi- fication of the body. The mother, brother and two sisters of young School- fleld at present are in this city. The family is widely known fn the section of the state im which they live, the textile town of Schoolfield near Danville, belng named for one of its members. The body will be taken to Danville for interment. [ S — FREEMAN SOUTH BEND BOY G. Sidney Freeman, a violinist in the orchestra of the Knickerbocker ‘Theater, who was killed when the roof fell, came here from South Bend, Ind, about a month ago to: take a position with the Knicker- bocker orchestra. He lived with his wife at 2409 18th street. The Musicians’ Union of the District is In charge of ths body. which will be sent to South Bend stablish a first ald atatiol 'by- drug store, at Hysong’'s undertaking chapel, 1300 N street, this afternoon. £ for interment.