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From The Daily Notes -- August 29, 1911 PRINCIPALS PRAISE THE DEAD CHILDREN
Eight pupils of the Canonsburg public schools perished in Saturday night’s disaster. Six of these had attended the schools of the First and Second wards, and two of the South Side schools. One of these pupils -- Murray Hill -- was a student in the high school; Frances Byrd, George Kay and Walter Neish were pupils of the eighth grade, just below the high school; Margaret Gibbs, fifth grade, and Elizabeth Gleditsch, first grade. The little Gleditsch girl entered school only a month or two before the close of the last term.
Principal F. W. McVay said today; “I can truthfully say that the children who lost their lives in the horror were model pupils, and possessed of more than ordinary intelligence. Not one of them, so far as I can recall, ever required correction.”
From The Daily Notes – August 30, 1911 CONDITIONS BECOMING NORMAL AFTER DAY OF MANY FUNERALS
Tomorrow at 2 p. m. Funeral services for Francis Byrd will be held at the Payne African American church, and then the last victim of Saturday night's tragedy will have been laid to rest.
From The Washington Observer -- August 30, 1911 LOWERING CLOUDS HOVER NEAR STRICKEN TOWN
Word was received today from Thomas Byrd, father of Francis Byrd, a colored girl victim, stating that he could not possibly come from Portland, Ore., where he is employed, the daughter's funeral will be held at 2 o'clock Thursday from the A. M. E. church with which members of the family are connected.
From The Pittsburgh Sun -- August 31, 1911 VALUABLES ARE MISSING SINCE BIG DISASTER
The burial of the last victim, Frances Byrd, the 13-year-old negress, will take place this afternoon at 2 o'clock. The funeral was deferred in hope that the girl's father, who is in Oregon, could return, but a telegram was received from him in which he stated it would be impossible for him to be here in time for the interment.
From The Daily Notes -- August 31, 1911 GRAVE CLOSES OVER LAST OF VICTIMS
The last victim of the great tragedy was buried this afternoon, when the body of Frances
Lived at 178 East College StreetDaughter of Mr. and Mrs. Robert ByrdBuried at Speer Spring CemeteryFrom The Daily Notes -- Father of Victim Located
Robert Byrd, father of Frances Byrd, one of the victims of the Opera House tragedy, has been heard from. He is in Portland Oregon. On account of the great distance it will be impossible for him to reach home for the funeral of his daughter, which will take place on Thursday afternoon in the A. M. E. church.
From The Daily Notes -- August 29, 1911 Funeral of Frances Byrd
The funeral services of Miss Frances Byrd, who was killed at the Opera House on Saturday evening, will be held on Thursday afternoon at 2 o’clock in the A. M. E. church.
Byrd, a 13-year old school girl, whose home was in east college street. Was lowered into the waiting grave in Speer Spring cemetery, where her family owns a lot. The service was conducted in Payne chapel at 2 p.m. by the Rev. C. A. McGee, this being the third funeral in connection with the Opera House panic that he has conducted. There was a large attendance of friends of the dead girl. Joseph Sly, Lester Vactor, Vivian Bush, Roy Bush, Howard Walls and Lewis McGee, intimate friends, acted as bearers. The Rev. C. A. McGee based his remarks on the words of Job: “When a few years are come, then I shall go the way whence I shall not return” (Job 16:23). The pastor said: “Death is presented in the Scriptures under a variety of figures, as the cutting of the weaver’s thread; passing through a gate; it is called a sleep, and, sometimes, a deep sleep. It is called an enemy. But death is not always an enemy. It may come as your best friend.
“The harvest is sometimes gathered before it is ripe, in order to save it. So God sometimes gathers children home in order to save them. There are many things that are worse than death. Here death is spoken of as the end. Life is a journey; death is the end.
“Notice, first, that this is a strange journey. We have never gone that way. We have been very near. Some of you were very near the valley last Saturday night.
“Notice, second, that it is a solemn thing to die. We realized this on last Saturday night, when so many dear ones were taken away. The awful gloom which stretched her wings over Canonsburg can never be forgotten. Death is solemn because it brings us face to face with Christ – face to face with our life work; face to face with the future, where we must begin an eternity of joy or woe. It is a solemn thing to die; it is more solemn to live.
“Third, it is a sad journey, because we must go alone. We stand by the bedside of dying friends until our feet are almost in Jordan. But there we must say goodbye. It was sad indeed for Frances to have her dear young life crushed out in this manner; away from home; no one to whisper words of encouragement and hope; no mother’s tender hand to administer.
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