The Daily Notes -- September 2, 1911 SHOULD HAVE BEEN MEANS OF ACCESS SEPARATE FROM EXIT (editorial from the Claysville Recorder)

Some place the blame on the dollar outweighing consideration of public safety on the part of the owner. But as all would have been perfectly safe had they retained their seats, there seems to be the more reason why public opinion as partly to blame. The building is strong. There are fire escapes. There is ample room for a large crowd to be quickly dismissed. A young lady, who had been advised not to approach the stairway in case of a panic, tried to follow the advice Saturday evening but was powerless to do so. One stairway to the second floor has 26 steps and is 6 ½ feet wide. There is a rotunda on the second floor and a flight of seven steps leading to the auditorium. On the stairway was a line of people going up, taking the place of those who would leave the show. The panic-stricken crowd came like an avalanche down against them in the lower stairway. Here is a feature where the owner failed to provide safety, as there should have been means of access separate from the exit.