The Daily Notes -- August 28, 1911 Not Like Sunday in Canonsburg

It wasn't Sunday in Canonsburg. It is true that some of the churches held services, but the attendance was not large, and the minds of those attending divine worship were more upon what had occurred last night than upon what the preacher said.

At St. Thomas Episcopal church the rector made mention of the disaster and drew a lesson from the lack of self-control exhibited.

In the service of the Liturgical prayer for those in affliction was used, as follows:

"O merciful God, and Heavenly Father, Who hast taught us, in Thy Holy word, that Thou hast seen fit to visit us with trouble and bring distress upon us. Make us deeply sensible of the shortness and uncertainty of human life. Teach us to number our days that among the changes of this world, our hearts may surely there be fixed, where true joy is to be found through Jesus Christ our Lord."

All morning and forenoon crowds lined Pike street. The catastrophe of last night was the one subject of conversation. People came to town from up and down the valley, from Washington, and from other places. They visited the opera house building and saw where the harvest of death was reaped. They stood in front of the undertaking rooms and watched body after body as it was carried out and placed in the waiting hearse to be borne away to homes made sad.

Everybody has his own theory, and many were the plans suggested whereby the great loss of life might have been prevented, these people always beginning their remarks with "if."

Street cars that came into town during the day were crowded with people, who took advantage of Sunday to see what might be seen, although it wasn't much. The doors to the opera house on the second floor of the Morgan Building were closed and locked, and the police were on duty about the building. The officers, however, had little to do. There was a hush upon the people, and there wasn't a man in the crowd who was inclined to be disorderly.