When manager C. F. Ferguson of the Opera House was seen in the theater tonight, although nearly exhausted, gave a short talk. He said, "No fire of any kind broke out in the house, no fuse burned out and there was no flame. A film broke and the light which shines through the film suddenly on the curtain. Some one in the gallery shouted fire and the people began to rush toward the stairs. All the people who lost their lives were at the foot of the stairs where the crush took place. The theater will be closed indefinitely and I will offer a $500 for the arrest and conviction of the person or persons who started this horrible affair by the cry of fire. No fuse burned out because all our fuses are on the stage.
"One show had just been concluded and the people were leaving while others were just starting to come in when the cry was raised. I went down through the crush and back up again trying to get the people to return to the auditorium and those who did were dismissed by means of the back door. Others went down the fire escape, but many would heed no warning and tried the stairs.
"Just 714 tickets had been sold but many had not entered the room when the panic began. The first show had been cut short to make room for about 100 people who were standing in the hall and many of those who left were in the street before they knew what was taking place. Who ever shouted the fatal warning is responsible for this and I offer a reward for their conviction."