Evening Star Newspaper, February 14, 1922, Page 3

| THEATER Army Engineer Says They Were Kind Used -to-Hold Steel Until It Can Be Riveted. '« Scouts Defective Steel Theory. Ordinary “erection bolts,” tempo- rary materials used to hold steel |YVision on the first floor steel and evi framework in, place until finally “se- cured,” were used as the final con- nectors of thd trusses in the Knicker- bocker Theater, Col. William Kelly, Corps of Engineers, U. S. A, told the | g, coroner’s jury yesterday afternoon at the inquest intg the disaster. Col. Kelly is head of the board of Army and Navy Department engineers which conducted a thorough inquiry of the collapse, These bolts, Col. Kelly pointed out, are of the type furnished when the Steel arrives on the job to hold it temporarily in place until it can be riveted. They are not the type of bolts. he said, even used in finally se- curing structural steel work. He tes- tified that he had found a number of them in the debris. broken, and had observed others still connecting some of the materials. He said he would produce them l?dl)‘. < Disagreemerft ‘Expected. Col. Kelly was recalled to be ex- amined on what appeared to be oppo- Site testimony of other experts. _ He expl what produced in a case of this kind, and erted that al} of the experts agreed ned that the testimony was just | the board expected would be ! Ilion in the break. he said. Crystalliza- | The other work was done by subcon- there. I then went to the fanhouse, crawled under, on those wet con- crete slabs, and brought out two women. I looked through a crack and saw a man—dead. I called the firemen to get him out. 1 then HERE IS ADVOCATED American Institute Adopts Resolu- tions Urging Congress to Act. Knickerbocker Cited. The American Institute of Architects, through its executive committee, has adopted lutions urging upon Con- ress tne “imperative ni of enacting egislation which will provide for the National Capital an architects registra- tion law similar in principle to the best suc 5 h:lwu‘ m‘)w existing in several states of the Union.” The redolutions state that the insti- tute is of the opinion that the Knicker- bocker Theater disaster “clearly demon- strates the necessity of protectng the lives of people attending public assem- blies and emphasizes the responsibilities of architects engaged in the ice of designing and supervisiny ings, and believes that real protection of life and property is more nearly assured when architects are required te prove their competency under a registration aw.” entific dotion to get the material out. ‘Then I tried to telephaone for acety- lene burners., saws, axes, etc.” He then said he instructed his fore- man at Takoma Park to mobilize burners, cutters, etc., and continued: Takes Further Actio: “T went back and_ met Mr. Healy and Mr. McDonald. I told the latter that I would go down and get beams in my car if I could bring them. 1 then called Mr. Ford to get some equipment. I then called Mr. Rich. After that I couldn’t think of any one to telephone to. “I went to the alley and kicked in the windows. In a basement room I heard a little girl calling for her mother; a husband calling for his wife. We then attacked a thirteen- inch wall. It was impossible to get through. I then went into the audi- torium and tried to assist there. I merely state this because it has been ade to appear that I was a heart- creature, and made an investiga- before doing anything else. d what any man would have done, and I would have done more if T could,” he concluded. Adjournment was taken here until today. BELIEVED ARBUCKLE WITNESS WAS IN HOTEL witness asserted. There was a,re- tiiemly some changes in the roof fram- n . “What was your estimate?” Mal Gordon asked. “Our estimate was $10,200.” “Steel had gone up?’ queried Maj. rdon. ‘No it was based on a revision of material.” The fifth estimate was made to_F. L. Wagner on December 5. witness went on, but on account of the cost-of material the estimate was increased R 19 F11000. The amount of steel WaS | trugses were covered up If the debris. b The condition of the debris woul n- On December 8, to F. L. Wagner. the | gicate that the failure could not have offer was made to reduce the bld $200. | 5,3t oecurred at column No, 2. This was the sixth bid, witness con- | T5er CCF FIE 0 cused, and Frank L. cluded. Wagner, builder of the Knickerbock- er, ag: was called to the stand. ‘Witness was then excused and Col.| He said the only proposal he had Kelly returned to the stand. on the steel work was that of C. A Examined by Maj. Gordon on the[Schneider's Sons, as indicated by ex- testimony of the failure of truss 12 amination of his files. However, he on account of a flaw, Col. Kelly said | said; he:had certified copies of pro- he );:clil enmfl;‘l.ed that Doint _VerY | posals submitted by Barber & Rosi care| y, and his conclusi on Wi Makes Explanation. e sa e napPened| “p. auked permission_to make a &l led under |Statement, which was ‘granted. Iticouliinothnave buck The work the men on his pay roll did was carpenter work, he began. 1 — i tlon Col. Kelly Recalled. ‘Watchers Report Womaii"Escaped Mysteriously at New Orleans, Taking Baggage With Her. By the Assoclated Press. NEW ORLEANS, February 14.—Po- lice and newspaper men on the trail its_load, as testified,” he explained There were evidences of crystalliza- t tract to men who he believed, stood thought it was time to get some sci- | THE EVENING STAR, WASHINGTON, D. O, TUESDAY, FEBRUARY - 14 1922 ONLY.'TEMPORARY" BOLTS USED, |REGISTERING ARCHITECTS 'PROBERS ARE TOLD WILL PRESENT PORTRAIT | OF THEODORE W. NOYES Friends of Library Will Make Gift | in Recognition of Services “ of Board President. \ In recognition of his public uervirci‘ as presidant of the board of trustees | of the Public Library since its crea- tion in 1896, a portrait of Theodore | W. Noyes will be presented to the li- brary by a group of friends at exer- ciges to be held at 8 o'clock Thursday night. The exercises will be held in the children’s room of the central library, 8th street and New York avenue. John John Edson, chairman of the committee which had the portrait painted, will preside, Commissioner Cuno H. Rudolph will make the pres- entation on behalf of the committee and donors, Justice Wendell P. Stafford, vice president of the library board, will accept the portrait on behalf of the library trustees. George F. Bower- man, librarian, will speak on the work of the Public Library today and in the future, and it is expected that {Mr_Noy s will reply. Friends of Mr. Noyes organized a to have the portrait painted. This committee consists of {Mr. Edson, chairman; Commissioner Rudolph, William T. Galliher, Gilbert | Grosvenor, Charles J. Bell. John B. Larner, treasuren, and Dr. Bowerman, secretary. The| committee invited other friends to join in the enterprise and the fund needed was quickly raised. P The portrait has been painted by Richard S. Meryman of the Corcoran School of Art, who already has painted several other very successful traits of Washingtonians. | complete form the portrait was ex- hibited at ‘orcoran Gallery of much admired by | committee CUTTOTS.000 MEN | FURARMY FUR[[:ASI Amount Carried in BilL late yemerday ‘afiernoon by a dury in Criminal Division 2 befo g S P e “don- of atering & 31 bill by fi;cmfi 3 an ‘:;fe ntur‘e!('un over the figu ! ofter including field clerks and | prannfant oen Determined Fight by Organ- ized Bloc in House When Bill Is Considered. Determined fight by an organized bloc to limit the size of the Army to & maximum of 75,000 men when the Regular Army appropriation bill comes. up for consideration in the House is forecast by the subcommit- tee now conducting hearings 1imi- nary to drafting the bill. strongly favor the reduction are said to be willing to raise the limit to 100,000 men instead of 75,000. Other factions among the House membership were said to favor a 125,000 maximum or to oppose any reduction in the present size which under a limitation for pay of enlisted men approximates 137,000. Department Estimates. War Department estimates trans: mitted through the budget bureau call for an appropriation for the fiscal vear beginning July 1 sufficient for the pay of 150,000 men and approxi- Iately 14,000 officers. Chairman An- thony of the subcommittee in charge of the bil) announced today that three new estimates had been called for from the War Department to be computed on the basis of an army of 75,000, of ‘100,000 and 125,000 enlisted Some who ion always takes place at a break the poi T B epe O e naterial | under strain. he pointed out. they werg agreed on the fact that the main tr0ss rolled off its bearings. He agded that, of course, there always Will he disagreement as to just wh: caused the initial failure, but that the board which he heads had thorough- 1y traced the matter by markings on the wall. and the condition in which the debris appeared on the bottom. It all led to thte northwest corner. He scouted the architect's theory that the failure was caused by a de- fect in the main truss, and illustrated by a blackboard diagram to the jury that even if there had been a flaw in the main truss, as contended, it would not have pulled apart, but would have been pressed together. because the break indicated was in a “compres- sion member"—the top chord of the truss. He admitted that crystalliza- tien was shown In the break, but said this is always apparent in the case of sudden breaks, which this one was. Sees Nothing But Praise. Ma). Peyton Gordon, United States district attorney, threw a bomb into the proceedings just after Frank L. ‘Wagner, the builder, and R. G. Fletch- er, who was manager for the Ham- mett Fireproofing Company at the time, had made voluntary statements of the workmanship of the building. when the district attorney said that every one who had appeared and who had anything to do with the building had praised himself. Then, after a Pause, he said, forcefully: “The building fell.” Harry Blake, 1461 Rhode Island ave- nue northwest, general manager for Barber & Ross, was the first witness yesterday afternoon. Asked if Barber & Ross were re- quested to bid on the steel for the Knickerbocker, he answered in the afiirmative. Six_bids were submitted, he testified. the first of which was made October 27, 1915. That was on a tentative plan, he said. The amount called for 202 tons of steel at $11,500. The sec- ond estimate was made to James L. Parsons, January 6, 1916. It called for 212 tons of steel: the price was $14,- 500, delivered at the building, he testified. Declares Plans Same. He sald the plans were the same, except that in the latter plan a base- ment floor was added. Both of those plans called for two large trusses, the main one 107 feet long and weighing 72,000 pounds. i \};as_tyo?r ld ""elf"d because you ouldn urn’ the st . Gordon asked. L “No. They weren't ready to go jahead at the time. The third bid. he said, was on Erank L. Wagner's plans by M. S. Rich. They called for 121 tons of steel at $3,900. This plan was en- tirely different, he said. There couldn’t be any comparison on a basis of tonnage of steel. The fourth estimate was made No- vyember 3, 1916, at invitation of the Melton Construction Company, F. Wagner, M. A. Weller Co., H. D. Watts Co., A. L. Smith & Co. and the Boyle Robertson_Construction Com- panys plan. by R W. Geare, archi- ec called for 122 tons of steel. “This was a completed plan. The ma- terial on these latter two estimates ‘was practically the same throughout, SPECIAL NOTICES. OTICE TO THE CREDITORS. IF ANY, OF the Arlington Fire Insurance Company fof the District of Columbia—The seid company, hav. Ing been dissoived and the undersigned having aprointed receiver of its assets by a de. eree of the Supreme Court of the District of Columbta, passed in Equity Cause No. 39526, Botice is hereby given to the creditors of said eompany, if any, and to persons havin, egainst_it, to exhibif . othe: company will be divided among its stockhold- ers as provided by said decree and said cred- dtors may be excinded from all benefit of said ‘WILLIAM E. EDMONSTON, Receiver, st. . The American Railway Express Company - Will sell at PUBLIC AUTION On Tuesday, February 28th, 300 Packages. more or less. of Unclaimed Br. press ments, which bave been on hand Dinety daye or longer at Washizgton, D. O Sale to be held at 7th and Canal Sts., Richmond, Va. ©. W. TURNER, Agent. __W. G. HUGHES, Sales Agent. = . CONSOLIDATED CAR FOR_ HOUSEHOLD for California about February 25th. uced rates and ‘quick service. Becurity Storage Company, 1140 15th st. GRAND AND UPRIGHT PIANOS FOR RENT: 08 taken in as part payment on Victrolas, Btes . 1110 G n.w. Kranich & Back and Emerson pianos. W. H. TURBERVILLE Formerly of Turberville & Harding 1 a S BERNIZIN —steam, Bot-wai MIGH GRADE BUT NOT HIGH THE SERVICE SHOP BYRON S. ADAMS, raurrams, 813 11th Bt e’re Strong for BI0%% | —proof of which is founz woRk | in the’ BED ROCK PRICES that obtain here. AND " Geo. ML Barker Co.. Inc. i1_N. Y. ave. 17 Tth. Tel. M. 1368 e SR 830 13th St. o= estim: our Wfibw.fld&. At the time he saw the break. rust {nad formed and the break was not well marked. % Doubt About Flaw. “The shape of the break leaves it doubtful that it was due to a flaw,” he went on. “It is almost certain that it was not.” he asserted. ‘The end of beam 22, he said, does not show any indication of having gone back through the wall. * This is opposite to the contention of Archi- tect Geare, in his testimony. “If this buckling had taken Dlace] in _truss 12 before beams 21 and 22 pulled off their bearings, what would the effect have been on the roof slabs?” Maj. Gordon asked. “The roof slab was lying on them. They were imbedded in the roof slab and_that slab would have had to go. too.” He illustrated his contention with photographs. “Did you get on the top of the wall and look at those bearings?” Maj. Gordon asked. 5 “Yes, sir; dozens of times,” witness firmly responded. He insisted in his previous testi- mony that beams 21 and 22 came off first. Declares Truss Tipped Off. ~ Maj. Kelly said there was no doubt as to how the main truss failed; that is, Ic tipped off its bearing plate; but there is bound to be differences of opinion as to what caused the truss to slip off the bearing plate. The determination beyond a doubt as to what caused the initial failure was made difficult, he said, by the removal of materials during the res- cue operations. The buckling of the main truss would not have taken place first, he contended. ‘The top chord of truss 11 was under compression, he asserte and any fracture would have had®the effect of pushing the ends closer. Beam 22 would have kept it from a side move- ment, he went on. The bolts found on the ruins wer to every indication, “erection belts" he asserted. He explained that such bolts are only temporarary materials to hold the steel together until it is riveted. Similar boits, he went on, were found in the trusses. Wil Produce Bolts. Maj. Gordon asked him to produce these bolts today and he said he would. “Did you see whether truss 12 was bolted to truss 11;" asked Maj. Gor- do%lt the suggestion of an attorney. “Yes." 1 “Did you see it yourself?” pressed Maj. Gordon on further suggestion of the attorney. “Yes sir; 1 have here a photograph that will show it,” he answered em- phatically. high in their lines. The hollow tile work was awarded to the Hammett Fireproofing Com- pany, he s the cut stone to the Ingails Company: erection of the cut stone to Joseph Robeson, Wash- ingto; ornamental iron to Bruno Bros.. Washington: structural steel to C. A.'Schneider’s Sons. At this point he took some time to highly laud the latter company, and J. H. Ford in, particular. When he awarded the contract for the- steel, he said, he thought he had done good thing. Erection of the steel work was in the hands of John McDonald, and plastering, McNulty Bros. of Wash- ington. Believed Work Well Done. Donald M. Wallace, he continued, was the general superintendent on the job. Each of the subcontractors was_ represented by a foreman. he continued. At no time did he have any idea that any one was slighting the work at all. He said he received $77,207.95 for the job. out of which he got a net profit of $2,789.12, out of which in turn had to come his compensation for ten or eleven months' super- vision, overhead and executive ex- penses. This he cited, he said, to show that there was no profiteering. He then detailed the number of bulldings which he has constructed in Washington and other parts of the countr: Out of 130 buildings built in the last twenty years, he said, he had never had an accident. v had any reason to doubt the stability of the Knickerbocker building, he went on. Attended Theater Himuelf. “Only a week before the accident took place T occupied sqats in the theater with my wife, my son, my daughter, her husband and their two children,” he said. This would indicate, he said. that he had.no doubt about the bullding. “Did the Schneider Company bid o the same plan as Barber & Ross? Maj. Gordon asked. " answered witness. My general superintendent.” He reported to you?” es, in charge of all the work.” What did Mr. Geare do?” ‘He had general supervision. Every subcontract had to be approved by Mr. Geare. Was Wallace under the supervision ofdllr, Geare?” Maj. Gordon comtin- ue 'Yes, Mr. Geare had authority under s contract to remove Mr. Wallace he felt so disposed.” ‘Witness was here excused, and R. “Have you any other suggestions, IG< Fletcher of the Hammett Fireproof- Maj. Kelly?” Maj. Gordon asked. “The testimony which has been pro- duced is along the lines that we have anticipated. There are many points where the initial cause might have taken place,” Col. Kelly said. “The only way to determine that is by tracing the marks on walls, etc., ing Company was recalled. Says Men Were Experts. “Inasmuch as this company has borne the brunt of attack in this controversy,” he said, “T can’t under- stand it, as the walls are still there. The men employed were tile experts. They were picked men. The man in and it all leads to the northwest cor- | charge of the work up to the concrete ner.” SPECIAL NOTICES. SPECIAL TRIPS. EXPENSES. Florida, by auto, 14 days. $130.50. Foseon by hoa 0% Shva § s, $125.50. DBLTA TOURS, 500 Bond building, 14th and Ne OUR OLD WOOD FLOORS DRESSED 70 A very high polish, scraped or cleaned with chem- leal. No too bad. C. Adams, 208 Bar- ristér bldg. Main 1457, 16° YOU REMEMBER ME! John Hodges, the Bookbindes 1011 E Street N.W, Ground Floor. Bookbinding has not advanced in price and sow s the time to have it done. your ks and have them bornd. ROOF TROUBLE? Stove trouble — Furna - Cng wad Rooting Experters s — Oul the Wash. Loa Grafton & Son, Ve, 1gn 8. “Heating a5d Roofing Bxperts 35 Years. Ladies Instructed Free. You can make your hat in the latest style’ for the bare cost of materials. We guarantes the result. Free millinery classes daily, 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Latest style hat frames, 65c. Braias. Sowers, fower making materlals and all supplies a Honately low prices. HARRIS HAT FRAME SHOD: 1010 F ST. N.W. Roof Troubles : —vanish after Ferguson gets on the job. Test eur efficient service. R. K. FERGUSON, Inc. 1114 oth St. Phone North 282, Bootie Everse n.w. 15° ALL CLAIMS AGAINST V. T. GRIMALLY It Won't Obligate You —to inquire about our pricf'.s for RESILVERING MIRRORS. Drop in or phone West 67. Becker Paint and'GlI:ss Co., CHAS. E. HODGKL T, 1289 Wisconsin ave. Phone West 67. S . __ “THEORIGIN Okml“‘lfiflw"' Making Yourself —l!.-.fillm”lf]mmfll.'. NG STANEY nfl"mm_ cetmats. | Prices reasoiable, Ut SI® Jou en The Biggs Engineering 1810 14eh ot n.v. el Frant 17, ROOF LEAKING QUICK SERVICE—CALL B 2908, Col, 7845 YOUR ROOF- —Let us put it in good shape. It D = hard ‘oid” winter onyaur Toof. and Fight mew is _the time to get it ready for spring rains. Dot wait—call us o IRONCLAD ot itisx o = ONE MINUTE'S THOUGHT WILL CONVINCE Bring in} band on the wall had been in charge He then Indicate§ how the various on ";e academic building at West o fore care was used in the Knicker- bocker walls than at West Point or any other part of the country,” he went on. He said he didn’t understand “the unusual condition” at the junction of the stage and Columbia road walls, pointed to by Col. Kelly. “There was no unusual conditiom there,” he asserted. “There is a crack there, but it would seem to be an effect rather than a cause,” he said. “Mr. Fletcher, every one here who had anything to do with this bullding has praised _ himself. The bullding fell” Maj. Gordon here interposed. You're satisfled that the work was properly done?” Maj. Gordon went on. “Yes, si 'r‘te s )‘:susg" egina V. Geare, the archif 'elurnedllo the stand. et “You have something further queried Maj. Gordon, © o “Yes. It seems I have created an erroneous impression as to what I did on the night of the accident. “I heard about it and went over there. I heard there were ten people under the debris. When I got in I noticed the first barrier was ‘this truss, and then I noticed this break. I waiked up to the truss. It might only have been a sccond that I was 7% First Mortgage I\nvestments Under our Ten Month Investment i Plan B irst Mortgage Invest- ments in " denominations of $100, $500 and $1,000. . ————— e No loss 1o any Tovestor i 49 yoars % FEH.Smrry Co.: - “Founded 1873 - of a woman who registered ‘at a local hotel as Mrs. elle El Ruy, and who is believed by tnem to be Zeh Prevost, missing Arbuckle witness, have found no clue that will aid them their search. The woman in question mysterious- ly disappeared from her third-story hotel room yesterday while a sup- posedly close watch was being kept upon her movements by officers and reporters. So far nothing has been learned as to the woman's movements since leav- ing the hotel yesterday. Early yes- terday, when accosted in the hotel lobby by a reporter and addressed as Miss Prevost, she stoutly denied he was the missing actress and stated | she was here for the purpose of play- ing the races; that she had been so successful that she contemplated a trip to Cuba by way of Florida points, and that she would leave the city yesterday afternoon. All questions as to her recent move- ments were unanswered. Reporters and detectives were to- day still advancing theorles as to how Mrs. El Ruy escaped from her room without their knowledge, taking with her several pieces of hand bag- gage. Her large theatrical trunk was left in the room. —_— Mrs. Julia Hall, year-old woman of Hudsonville, Mich., has just made her seventh trip to the altar as a bride. ((Sa you need it. night and bring Val $8. an elghty-three-| FROM THE AVE We work on the theory that if we can save you a suit today we will be able to sell you one later on when through your clothes to- coat down here tomorrow. Values up to $12, Now men. Members of the subcommittee were of the opinion that the appropria. tion bill would provide, when re ported, for an army of 00,000 . or 125,000 men.” Efforts to cut the You Need Not Have a Cold_ on will take Laxative BROMO QUININE u feel the firt symptoms of & Advertisement. [ A SCHOOL OF DISTINCT PURPOSE 7 : W/////I//I/I(///.’”I//.// e Through Limiting itself to secretarial science, this school has become eminent in its field. 2 tribute to your success. | | Classes Now Forming Washington School for 1419 F Street Secretaries, Main 5832 AT, ve a Suit!” By matching that idle coat in your gloset with a pair, of P-B trousers, from our—— Annual Sale of Men’s Trousers We will match it up with its trouser mate and start it working for you in good shape. And at the same time we’ll save you on the trousers—for they are all now reduced as follows: $4.85 |. $7.50 So look that idle ues up to 50, Now In practically every pattern that suits are made of, ‘including blue serges, black unfinished worsted, pin stripes, browns, grays, oxfords, plaids, herringbones and tweeds. In every size that men and trousers come in. “Save a Suit!”’ j were expected to be made by demo- cratic members of the House and by some of the other members who be- lieve the armament conference ha practically removed the possibility of |SHOVER OF FAKE BANK NOTE. Robert Price, colored. was convicted war. rr, C. Griffiths. number below 100,000, it was said,{ M. K. Campbell, K. T. Simmons, Harry Da R. Normiandy and Davidé totul approp: pay for all the Arm: for cted witi res one roprietor of a Chinese officers on the retired list. 10 note. pequested in estimates for the War | tence. epartment is approximately $364,. He was re. The total .leased on bail of $3,000 to await sen 000,000, Hearings on the appropriation bill before the subcommittee probably will be concluded this week, with Secretary Weeks and Gen. Pershing as the last witnesses. It probably will be several weeks, members of the subcommittee said, before the bill is l'!ll:::!td by the appropriations com- mittee. OPPOSE ICE CREAM PLANT. ! Citizens Protest Construction Takoma Park Square. A petition against the erection of an ice or fce cream manufacturing estab- lishment In square 3334, Takoma Park, was made pubic today. According to the petition, 400 signa- tures support the protest. The signato- ries _on behalf of the petitioners are A. B. Foster, M. O. Baugher, R. W. H. Taylor, R. Dickens, C. 8. B. Eranklin Brvan. M. Lilly, in Reed, Eastwood. Original Caramels 620 9th N.W. THE BOOK YOU WANT —can be supplied by PEARLMAN’S BOOK SHOP G. D. PEARLMAN, Proprietor v 933 G Street Only Have You Lost or Found Something? An advertisement in the “Lost and Found” columns of The Star will put everybody on the look-out for what you've lost; or advise a loser of what you have found Be explicit in what yov say—giving all the in- formation the loser or finder should have wil] bring results. “Around the corner is a Star Branch Office” Complete list of the 57; and Classified Rates on page 28 of today’s Star. ¢ e T g e e e e G Y S R ST, fROM _THE AVENUE_ AT NINT oo} Clearance Sale of Women’s Shoes and Pump_s $3.85 Reduced from $8 and $10 Pumps for afternoon and evening wear in avariety of leath- : ers and styles—three of which are illustrated. Sizes from 214 to 7, AA to C. French and Baby Louis heels. Also about three hundred pairs of wom- en’s high shoes, laced or but- tons, with French heels. Leathers: Brown kid, black kid and patent leather. Sizes 3 to 8; One look is worth a thousand words. If you need a pair of shoes or pumps, here’s a once-a- year chance to save over half.