INQUIRIES ARE SEARCHING.
SPECIAL TO THE PITTSBURGH SUN.
CANONSBURG, Pa., Aug. 28. – Coincident with the triple investigation into the theater disaster here Saturday night, when 26 human beings were killed following the cry of “fire” in a crowded moving picture show, the first funerals of the victims took place this afternoon and the solemn corteges filed through the streets while a solemn-faced, sad-eyed throng gazed at the mute evidence of Canonsburg’s worst catastrophe.
With the State, county and town officials probing deep into the horror to in an attempt to find is the factory laws, with regard to proper escape exits, were in working order, Canonsburg awoke this morning determined to place the blame for the catastrophe.
Deputy Factory Inspector James R. Patterson is here acting under instructions from Factory Inspector Delaney; Coroner James Heffran empanelled a jury yesterday and is making an investigation prior to setting the date for the inquest, while the town’s officials are equally active in making a searching probe into the disaster.
The first funeral services over the remains of a victim will be held this evening over the body of George Kay, son of Robert Kay, at the home of his parents, in Highland avenue , and the interment will be t0-morrow morning in the Hickory cemetery. This evening at 6 o’clock, Rev. Herbert Loomis, pastor of the First Baptist Church, will conduct the funeral services over the remains of Harold Shaner, 13 years of age, at his home, No. 363 Elm street. The body will be shipped to Gaysport, O., to-morrow, where it will be buried.
The funeral services over the remains of Miss Monzella Robinson, 17 years old, a negress, will take place to-morrow afternoon at 2:30 o’clock at the Afro Methodist Church, and will be conducted by the Rev. Mr. Magee, pastor of the church.
This morning, the two bodies of little Carl and Margaret Lane, 2 ½ years and 6 months old, respectively, were taken to the home of the late Mrs. Callie Young, No. 114 South Jefferson street, their aunt. Mrs. Young was also killed. The triple funeral will take place to-morrow afternoon at the Hill Church cemetery. Funeral services will be conducted at 2 o’clock by the Rev. J. M. Work, pastor of the Central Presbyterian Church, and Rev. T. W. T. Aiken of the Chartiers United Presbyterian Church.
Following the funeral services at the home of his mother in North Canonsburg over the remains of Sidney Rittiger, to-morrow morning the burial will take place in Oak Spring cemetery. The body of his fiancée, Lulu Fisher, was still unclaimed at noon in the undertaking rooms of the Hopper Bros. Her home was found to be in Glen Campbell, Ind. Instead of Glen Campbell, Pa., as originally stated. If relatives do not claim the body, it is thought she will be buried at the side of her sweetheart.
One of the most pathetic incidents in connection to the disaster is the case of Miss Fisher. She had just selected her engagement ring, and, with her fiancé, Mr. Rittiger, entered the theater. Less than an hour later, she was dead.
The burial of the remains of Blanche K. Kelly, the wife of George Kelly, of Houston, and of her 4-year-old daughter, Helen, will take place Wednesday morning. The interment will take place at Oak Springs cemetery.
The funeral of Steve Mastic, the 13-year-old son of S. Mastic, a miner at Buffalo Park, will take place this afternoon. The interment will take place at the Slavonic Catholic Church cemetery.
The body of Mrs. Ellen Miller, 36 years old, wife of Charles Miller, of McKeesport, was shipped to that place early this morning.
Bradley Williams, of Youngstown, Pa., is at his home in a serious condition as a result of injuries he sustained in the crush. A large piece was bitten from one of his arms by a crazed foreigner. Williams said this morning that he was going down the steps when he was caught in the crush and was thrown down the steps on top of the pile. He fell on top of a foreigner, who begged Williams to get up so he could be released. He was unable to do so as people six deep were piled on him. The foreigner, in his mad frenzy, began biting him in the arm, taking part of his coat sleeve with the flesh.
Alan Rossel, 16 years old, is also in serious condition a result of the injuries he sustained. He met George Kay, son of Prof. Kay on the street Saturday night and he was invited to go to the theater with him and young Kay purchased the tickets. They were waiting for the crowd inside the auditorium to empty. While standing there, they met Sidney Rittiger and his sweetheart Lulu Fisher. They were talking together, Rossel being a friend of Rittiger. Suddenly the door was pushed open and six persons came pushing out. A moment later the crowd surged out, catching Kay Rittiger, Miss Fisher and Rossel with it. They were pushed down the stairs and landed on top of the mass of human beings. The father of young Rossel, I. W. Rossel was among the party of rescuers and it was he who pulled the unconscious form of his son from the heap.
Lydie Patterson, 16-year-old daughter of Eli Patterson, of South Canonsburg
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