With Tolling of Bells and Streets Filled with Slow Moving Funeral Processions the People of Canonsburg Follow to the Grave the Victims of Saturday Evening's Disaster -- Blackest Day in the History of the Chartiers Valley Town -- All Places of Business Ordered Closed for the Day.
GRAVE DIGGERS FAIL TO KEEP UP WITH WORK: MUTE EVIDENCES OF TRAGEDY ARE COLLECTED.
Canonsburg, Aug. 29 -- With three exceptions, the victims of the Canonsburg tragedy of last Saturday night have been laid to rest. Funeral processions could be seen at every turn in Canonsburg today and a general feeling of deepest sorrow prevailed on this, the saddest day in the history of the ill-fated town. With the grief the elements participated rain falling continually throughout the forenoon and a part of the afternoon.
The undertakers and liveryman were taxed to their capacity and many of the funerals were delayed as the trips to the cemeteries could not be made in sufficient time to return for the next funeral. Several funeral cars and cabs were brought here from Washington, but despite this they were not sufficient to take care of all the funerals and cabs could only be furnished only to the very near friends of victims.
One notable feature of many of the funerals of today was the absence of the curious as every person in attendance was there not to see but to sympathize with the friends and families where death had entered.
Memorial Service Planned.
In memory of the 26 lives crushed out in the hell hole entrance to the local play house it has been suggested that special memorial services be held next Sunday in one of the churches of the town. No definite steps have been taken. The accident took from the public schools of Canonsburg eight of their brightest pupils and in memory of these pupils memorial services will be held at the opening of the school term next week. The schools were to have opened last Monday, but owing to the tragedy the opening was postponed until next week.
"The tolling of the church bells of the borough throughout the day from early this morning when the first funeral was held at 8 o'clock until 6 o'clock continually pealed out the notice that another victim was being laid to rest. The tolling of the bells in the steeples of the churches on this gloomy day added to the general sadness. All of the ministers in their addresses brought out the fact that some good would result from this tragedy as the people would be more sympathetic. They brought out facts showing the many sympathetic acts performed since the accident on Saturday night. They also showed that good would result from the fact that better means would be taken toward the prevention of similar accidents.
Business Houses Close.
Today, in honor of the dead, upon the proclamation of Burgess W. H. Dunlap, all the business houses were closed at 10 o’clock this morning, to remain closed until 4 o'clock this afternoon. Within these hours many of the funerals of the victims were held. These were largely attended. Every Canonsburg citizen felt keenly the gloom that had fallen over the community. In every home of this borough the disaster is still almost the sole topic of conversation. In many, sympathy goes out to those who lost loved ones, yet there are those who were in that awful crush and as they look over the escape they breathe a word of prayer. There are those who will never forget that awful mass of panic-mad people as they fought to free themselves from the jam on the stairway of the Morgan opera house.
The exercises in connection with the laying to rest the victims of the opera house horror were inaugurated at 8 o’clock this morning, and from ten until the last sad rites had been said over the corpses of the victims there was an almost constant stream of funeral corteges over the Canonsburg streets.
First of Funerals.
At 8 o'clock a double funeral was conducted from St. Patrick's Roman Catholic church when the obsequities of Mrs. Mary Laird Campbell, aged 46, and her daughter, Helen Laird, age six, were held. The Rev. Father Thomas Zacharski, of St. Thomas church, read the blessing service for the dead while a solemn requiem high mass was recited by Rev. Father James H. Gilmore, of the Immaculate Conception church of Washington. Father Gilmore also made the funeral address. Four eight-year-old playmates of Helen Laird were pallbearers. They were garbed in white with wreathes of white flowers in their hair. Mother and daughter were buried in the same grave in the catholic cemetery.
At 10 o'clock the second funeral was held at St. Patrick's church, that over the body of little six-year-old Margaret Gibbs. Rev. Father Zacharski read the mass. Margaret had taken her first communion at St. Patrick's church but a short time ago, and six little playmates, who also took their first communion at that time, were pall bearers. They wore white dresses with garlands of white flowers in their hair. Interment was in the Catholic cemetery. Both the funerals at the Catholic church were largely attended.
Services for Babes.
The funeral of the two Lane children, Carl, aged 2 1/2, and Margaret, aged four years, were held at 10 o'clock this morning from the home of their uncle, Charles Young, in South Jefferson street. The Rev. W. P. Akin, of the Chartiers United Presbyterian church, conducted the funeral services, assisted by the Rev. W. B. Smiley, a former pastor of the church. Mrs. Lane, the children's mother, who was badly hurt in Saturday’s disaster, and who has been in Canonsburg hospital, saw her two dead tots for the first time since the accident when she was taken to the funeral this morning. Her condition was such that she had to be removed from the hospital in an automobile while she reclined on a couch through the services, constantly attended by Dr. J. C. Kelso. The mother in her weakened condition was almost prostrated during the services.
In the same room where rested to dead bodies of the two children also reposed the brier on which lay Mrs. Callie Young, wife of Charles Young, and an aunt of the dead children. Mrs. Young's funeral was not held until 2 o'clock this afternoon, the Rev. J. M. Of the Central Presbyterian church, officiating. Her body was buried in the cemetery at the Hill church while those of her niece and nephew were buried in the Oak Spring cemetery.
At 11 o'clock the funeral of Sidney Rittiger, aged 30, was conducted from the home of his mother, who resides near the plant of the Canonsburg Iron & Steel company. The Rev. H. F. Loomis, of the First Baptist church had charge of those exercises and the First Baptist church choir sang. Rittiger was buried in the Oak Springs cemetery. It developed today that the crepe from the door of the Rittiger home had been stolen early this morning, the ghouls apparently being attracted by the value of the large quantity of ribbon attached to the crepe.
Buried in Strange Land
A sad feature of a sad day was the interment of George Owen Cole, aged 30, which took place at 10 o'clock. Cole was a Welshman, apparently refined and cultivated. He had been a member of the Church of England before coming to this country, but had never affiliated with any church organization here. He had no relatives or close friends here. Employees of the Continental Can factory, where he was employed, had raised funds to give him a decent burial. His remains had reposed since Saturday night at Hopper Brothers, and from this place the corpse was carried out and buried in Oak Springs cemetery without a word or prayer or service of any description being read over the casket.
The remains of Ludwig Nagy, aged 35, which had been at the Hopper morgue, were taken to St. Patrick's Roman Catholic church where short funeral services were held at 1 o'clock this afternoon. Nagy's funeral would have been similar to that of the unfortunate Cole had not a brother come out of Pittsburg this morning and arranged for the funeral in the church. His body was laid to rest at the Catholic cemetery.
At 2 o'clock this afternoon in the A. M. E. church exercises were conducted over the remains of Monzella Robinson, the 17-year-old colored girl who was numbered among Saturday night's victims. The Rev. C. A. McGee, pastor of the church, conducted these services in the presence of a large crowd. Internment was at the Payne cemetery.
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.
Tomorrow morning at 10 o'clock at Houston will be held the funeral of Mrs. Blanche Kelly and her four-year-old baby, from the home of the husband, Harry Kelly. The Rev. H. F. Loomis, of the First Baptist church, of Canonsburg, will have charge.
Almost Another Tragedy
A second tragedy was almost enacted yesterday at the Catholic cemetery at the burial of Steven Mouciowicz. As the body was being lowered into the grave a severe electric storm was precipitated. A tree in the cemetery close by was struck and several members of the funeral party were partially stunned, two persons being knocked down. None was seriously hurt.
Youth's Heroism Noted
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.
The funeral of Water Neish, the fourteen-year-old son of Mr. And Mrs. William Neish was the last held today. The services were in the First Baptist church conducted by the Rev. H. F. Loomis. This service was largely attended and very impressive. Walter as he was known to every person was perhaps the best known young boy in Canonsburg. He sold papers and was always at hand to meet all trains with the Washington Observer and the Pittsburg papers. He always had a kind bright good morning for every one and in this way made many friends. The church was filled to its capacity long before the time of the services by people who came to pay their last respects to the polite and accommodating newsboy.
The services of Elizabeth Gleditsch, the six-year-old daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Tony Gleditsch, of West College street, were conducted by the Rev. Mr. Loomis. Mrs. Loomis sang a solo "Asleep in Jesus." The floral tributes here as well as at all of the funerals were very beautiful. The services were conducted shortly after 3 o'clock and the internment was in the Oak Spring cemetery.
Services over the remains of Mrs. Fred Marshall were conducted from the A. M. E. church this afternoon at 4 o'clock by the Rev. C. A. McGee. The interment was in the Payne cemetery. This service was largely attended and the church was taxed to its capacity.
Mrs. William Lane attended the services of her sister, Mrs. Callie Young, this afternoon and this evening after the services was taken to her house on Pitt street. It is thought that she will recover in a few days as the physician stated that she was suffering only from shock.
It is thought that no more fatalities will result, Mrs. George Miller is probably the worst injured. G. W. Miller, of 116 Smith street who was injured in the crush on Saturday evening was hurt in the breast and stomach and bruised about the hips; his wife was also badly injured about the head and stomach, and as a result has suffered two hemorrhages. They were accompanied by their 3-year-old child, who was saved after a hard struggle. George Bradley, who was injured, was from Wilkinsburg.
Schools Hit Hard
Eight pupils of the Canonsburg public schools perished in Saturday night's disaster. Six of these attended the schools of the First and Second wards, and two the South Side school. One of these pupils -- Murray Hill -- was a student in the high school; Francis Byrd, George Kay and Walter Neish were pupils of the eighth grade, just below the high school; Margaret Gibb, fifth grade and Elizabeth Gleditsch, first grade. The little Gleditsch girl entered school only about a month or two before the close of the last term.
Principal W. F. McVay said today: “I can truthfully say that the children who lost their lives in the horror were model, and possessed of more than ordinary intelligence. Not one of them, so far as I can recall, ever required correction."
Two of the dead pupils attended the Third ward school. They were Paul Mastic and Monzella Robinson, although the Robinson had quit school some time before the close of the last term. Principal S. P. McWilliams, of the Third ward school, said at noon: “Both were good children; they never gave us any trouble. A story printed in an out of town paper stated that Floyd Shaner, brother of Harold, who was killed was badly hurt. This is untrue. I saw Floyd yesterday and talked with him. He is all right."
Grave Diggers Behind.
One deplorable feature of the day of funerals was the uncompleted graves at the Roman Catholic cemetery when the first bodies today were taken there for interment. It is alleged that the grave diggers became intoxicated and the undertakers not knowing this went there early this morning for the burials. The graves were not completed and as the cabs and hearses had to be used for other funerals following closely the caskets were placed in the rough boxes and left in the rain until the completion of the graves.
As mute evidence to the awful rush of humanity in the Morgan opera house on Saturday night and the force of this rush are the many articles yet at the police station. There are to be found numerous shoes of all sizes and descriptions, including many women's and children's shoes, nearly 100 combs, mostly back combs worn by women and found there together with scores of breast pins, broaches and other articles of jewelry. ###