The Langston City herald. [volume] (Langston City, O.T. [Okla.]) 1891-1902, 1896-08-08
DEATH IN THE FLOOD.
EIGHT PERSONS DROWNED
IN PENNSYLVANIA.
onrding House Containing Thirteen
Persons Washed Away ana Dashed to
Pieces Against Bridgc--Twcivc Pros
:ratcd ny Lightning

PtTrsBuRe. Pa, July 90 Eight per.
sons were drowned In the food Mon.
day night. Seven of these met death
at Cecil, mining and oil hamlet in
Washington county, the eighth victim
going down at Carnegie.
Samuel Mckinney kept boarding
house at Cecil for the accommodation
Of oil men and miners. The house
was situated on the banks of Millers'
run, n tributary of Charters creek
Ordinarily the run, which flows
through valley banked by high and
steep hills, would scarcely float u chip,
but a cloudburst filed it's closely con.
fined quarters TO such an extent that
everything along its bank was endan.
gered.
There were thirteen people in the
Mckinney house when the water com
menced TO rise at 9:30, but no serious
danger was apprchended and the men
busted themselves carrying the house
hold goods to the second floor, while
the female portion OF the household
continued their dressing for the dance
which was being held in neighbor-
ing hall. Suddenly the house, n two
foundation into the seething waters
and carried down stream
1t was then too late for anyone In
the house to escape. Below the site
Of the house, about 200 yards, stands
an Old-fashioned country bridge
which spans the stream. The house
crashed against this structure, the
roof was torn off and the rest of the
building was crushed like an cggsbeil
In being forced under the bridge.
Higgins and William Whitner were
caught between tine first and second
floors. Higgins died there. but Whit.
ner made q most miraculous escape.
Those on the second floor were badly
squeezed.
inst below the bridge the wrcckage
of the house stuck on sandbar with
those OF the party who were still alive
clinging to the pieces, with scarcely a
hope of being rescued. Thomas Hayes,
Vincent Wilkinson and others formed
q rescuing party. Whitncr was res.
cued, while fast in the vrcckagc, 10y
wilkinson, who also dragged the dead
body OF Higgins from its lodgment.
samuel Mckinney was also saved by
Wilkinson. After assisting in other
rescues, Wilkinson heard n cry
for help from M the stream
and, Notwithstanding the extreme
hazard attached to the attempt
the brave fellow made the effort tc
swim across with n rope When abou
ralf way over u log struck him on The
head and broke his neck. His bod,
was found several hundred yards be
low the place in n tree. Clyde Beatt!
was another hero of the disaster wh'
lost his life. lie made strenuous eff
forts to save Margaret Mckinney ant
Jennie Holmes, and had them lodge
in a tree when wave came along ant
swept all three TO death. Beatty ha'
several opportunities to save himself
but refused to leave his weaker com
panions
In Allegheny City twelve person
were shocked by lightning. Abne
Hays, freight receiver of the For
Wayne railroad, was sitting In hi
house door when lightning knocke
him unconscious, possibly fatally In
juring him. A. NJ. Bennett and hi
children were standing on their pore
when q fash was conducted from
trolley wire IN front of the house
prostrating the entire party. Angus
Snedez and family were sitting a
supper when lightning struck th
house, following the chimney hue
the dining room. About half an hon
later a ncighbor found the whole fan
lily lying on the floor in an uncoi
scious condition. They may recove
but it is improbable.