Arthur McPeake

Son of Mr. and Mrs. George C. McPeakeLived at 116 East College StreetBuried in Oak Spring CemeteryFrom The Pittsburg Dispatch -- August 28, 1911 Two Heroes Die in Wake of Horror

In one family there is mourning today for the loss of a stalwart, manly boy, the youngest of two brothers. He had not even been inside the theater, but seeing the mad crush after having left his office in the same building just a few minutes before, he stripped off his coat, and with a cry of, "My God, something must be done," he jumped into the midst of the wild mass in the doorway.

He had saved two; he was about to pull a third from the struggle when the weight of those above him bore down upon him. This was Arthur Thompson McPeake of 116 East College street. His neck was broken. He was aged 22, a son of George C. McPeake, a prominent real estate man of Canonsburg. It is one of the oldest and most respected families of the town.

From The Daily Notes -- August 29, 1911 FUNERAL OF MOST OF THE VICTIMS TUESDAY

Arthur McPeake, son of Mr. and Mrs. George C. McPeake, of 116 East College street, will be buried from the home of his parents Tuesday afternoon at 2 o’clock. Interment will be made later in Speer Spring cemetery. The Rev. A. J. Ashe will conduct the services.

From Pittsburgh Sun – August 28, 1911 INQUEST WILL TAKE PLACE ON THURSDAY

The funeral of Arthur McPeake, the well-know young athlete, who sacrificed his life, while trying to save others, will take place to-morrow morning at the Spear Spring cemetery. A short funeral service will be conducted at the home before the remains will be taken to its last resting place.

Nothing but profound expressions of sorrow could be heard over the tragic death of McPeake. He was one of the most popular young men in the town. He was standing outside the building when the panic started. He was the first to rush in and assist in carrying out and extricating some of the people from the pile of human forms. He did manage to bring several children to safety, when, after trying to go in a second time, he found his way obstructed by a pile of bodies 10 feet high.

Not to be frustrated in his efforts to save others, he secured a ladder and crawled to a second-story window and was directing the work of rescue when he was caught by the surging mass. He was swept into the heap of humanity at the stair landing and, in the fall, sustained a broken neck.

From The Daily Notes -- August 30, 1911 17 FUNERALS HELD ON DARKEST OF DAYS

Every foot of standing room at and near the home of Mr. and Mrs. George C. McPeake, in East College street, was occupied Tuesday afternoon at 2:30 o'clock when funeral services for their son, Arthur, was conducted by Rev. A. J. Ashe, pastor of the First Methodist Episcopal church. Rev. Ashe spoke at length. Several hymns were sung and after the conclusion of the service, burial was made at the Speer Spring cemetery.

From The Daily Notes -- August 29, 1911 BATTLE OF LIFE WAS HARD FOR MOTHER AND DAUGHTER

Arthur McPeake, who was also killed by doing rescue work at the theater, was in this city visiting friends last Thursday. He was well known as a baseball player and athlete.

From The Daily Notes -- August 28, 1911 DIED TRYING TO SAVE OTHERS

Arthur McPeake, one of the dead, lost his life in trying to save the lives of others. He was on the outside of the building when the panic started. He was one of the first to rush into the stairway, evidently believing the building was on fire. On the stairway he was met by the crowd of panic-stricken people, fell or was pushed down and his life was crushed out by the awful jam that filled the hallway.

From Pittsburgh Gazette Times -- August 27, 1911 YOUTHFUL HEROES LOSE LIVES IN MOST PATHETIC MANNER

Arthur McPeake, aged 22, the son of Mr. and Mrs. George C. McPeake of 116 East College street, was down town at the time the catastrophe took place. He had gone to a tailor shop to get his Sunday suit. For a time he stood and watched the awful spectacle of men and women and children dying like rats in a trap. Then he cried:

"I cannot stand this any longer," and throwing off his coat he dashed into the mass of battling humans inside the opera house. He rescued two of the victims and returned for a third, but this time he was overwhelmed himself, and was not seen again until his mangled and trampled body was recovered by the firemen.

The Washington Observer -- August 28, 1911 LOWERING CLOUDS HOVER NEAR STRICKEN TOWN

The heroism of Arthur McPeake, a son of Mr. and Mrs. George McPeake, and a well known young real estate dealer here who lost his life in the terrible crush of humanity while trying to save the lives of others was brought out in the address of the Rev. A. J. Ashe, of the First Methodist Episcopal church, of this place. In this address Mr. Ashe said this young man did not die selfishly, but instead died in the noblest of work doing the best he could to help others who needed help. He showed that this young man was willing to take a chance on being crushed to death to save the lives of women and children who were being trampled down like so many weeds by strong men fighting to get to the street through the small entrance.

McPeake was popular with the Canonsburg people and nearly half a thousand persons were present to pay their last respects to him and his heroic deeds in saving other lives. During the services, Lloyd Galbraith, a friend of McPeake, sang three solos, entitled "From the Depths I Do Invoke," "Come Jesus Redeemer" and "The Crown of Jesus."

The funeral was conducted from the McPeake home at 116 South College street, and was followed by the interment at the Oak Springs cemetery.