Pittsburgh Gazette Times -- August 27, 1911 Woman Escapes Death Then Becomes Insane

Mrs. Minnie Lemon, One Of The Rescued, Has Her Mind Unbalanced By Awful Sight.

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CANONSBURG, Pa., Aug. 27 - Mrs. Minnie Lemon of Lawrenceville, Ill., who was in the ill-fated theater Saturday night when the panic occurred, but who did not get in the crush, became hysterical at the sights she saw. When, after being taken to the hospital, she became insane. Mrs. Lemon went to Houston, a town near heream a short time ago, to visit with Mrs. J. Margaret Kane, a relative. Saturday night both went to see the vaudeville show.

When the cry of "fire" was heard, they remained in their seats until the greater part of the audience had left. Leaving their seats, they then went to the stairway to get out. The sight of the struggling humanity so unnerved Mrs. Lemon that she became hysterical. She was removed to the hospital in an automobile where she remained unconscious for several hours.

About 3 o'clock this morning she opened her eyes and screamed: "Save me. Oh, save me from this fire." "Extinguish those flames, there they are." "Put them out." "Save me." "My clothes are burning now." As she screamed the above sentences she writhed in agony on her cot.

The frantic appeals of the woman were pitiable. Late this afternoon, however, her condition became improved. It is now believed by the physicians that she will recover.