The Daily Notes -- August 30, 1911 CANONSBURG TRAGEDY NEARLY DUPLICATED AT MONONGAHELA

Monongahela, August 28. -- Great presence of mind, coupled with quick action on the part of Manager A. J. Keller and his employees, prevented an accident in Monongahela Saturday evening very similar in every respect to that which befell Canonsburg about an hour before.

It was during the fourth show at the Gem theater, about half past 9. The operator at the moving picture machine was grinding out a little romance of love and adventure when the film parted and it was necessary to throw off the picture. The momentary flickering of the light, followed by the plain light on the picture sheet incited a little fellow in the front row to piercingly yell "fire." Perhaps ten seconds elapsed and then the house was in an uproar and all started in a rush for the door. At the time a crowd was waiting in the lobby waiting for the next show and perhaps thirty persons rushed out. Another moment and there probably would have been a jam at the entrance, caused by the two crowds colliding. Manager Keller, who happened to be on the outside at the moment, dashed through the crowd and placing himself in the center aisle stopped the mad rush. In a few minutes the excitement subsided and the show continued. No person was injured to the slightest extent, but this was only due to Mr. Keller's quick thinking.

This is exactly what caused the wild panic at Canonsburg. The management attempted to find the boy who gave the alarm.