George Kay, Aged 13, is Trampled to Death While Trying to Save a Little Playmate in Canonsburg Theater Panic, and Arthur McPeake, Aged 22, Also Was Killed After Rescuing Two.
Special Telegram from A. C. EDWARDS, Staff Correspondent.
CANONSBURG, Pa., Aug. 27 - There were two unusually pathetic instances of heroism here Saturday night in connection with the disaster at the Grand Opera House, in which so many persons lost their lives.
George Kay, aged 13, the son of Prof. Robert Kay, a music teacher of Highland avenue, was one of the unfortunate children in the playhouse at the time of the disaster. The lad, with many other boys and girls, found himself swept toward the door of the theater, and when near the exit, almost on the verge of passing through the door, a little girl’s cry behind him caused him to turn. He saw the curly head of a playmate falling backward under the feet of the mob. Taught to revere deeds of gallantry, the boy in this last great extremity did credit to his gentle breeding, and, forgetting self and the death that hovered so near at hand, he stopped and picked up, thrust her through the door, and the next instant, he himself was hurled to the floor and trampled to death.
Arthur McPeake, aged 22, the son of Mr. and Mrs. George C. McPeake of 116 East College street, was down town at the time the catastrophe took place. He had gone to a tailor shop to get his Sunday suit. For a time he stood and watched the awful spectacle of men and women and children dying like rats in a trap. Then he cried:
"I cannot stand this any longer," and throwing off his coat he dashed into the mass of battling humans inside the opera house. He rescued two of the victims and returned for a third, but this time he was overwhelmed himself, and was not seen again until his mangled and trampled body was recovered by the firemen.