Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1896-08-19
4 CLOUD BURSTS.
Streets in a Small Pennsylvania
Town Turned Into Raging
Rivers.

Pittsburg, Pa. Aug. 13.-There was
cloudburst at De Haven, small town
near the Wildwood oil field, about 6
O'clock this morning and six people are
reported drowned.
Definite information is meager, as
everything is washed out between
Sharpsburg and De Haven.
The town of De Haven has several
hundred inhabitants and is situated
about six miles north of Allegheny City
on the, old Butler plank road. Pine
Greek, which empties into the Allegheny
river at Sharpsburg, runs through the
town. The creek has overlooked its
banks and is u raging torrent. Houses
and oil tanks, barns and outbuildings
are floating down and have lodged
road bridge at Etna. The water is ris-
ing rapidly and at II o'clock there were
eight feet of water in the main street of
that place. The residents are moving to
the upper stories of their houses, or
seeking safety on the hillsides.
away and the Pittsburg & Western
bridge at Sharpsburg is expected to go ct
any time. The lowlands of Sharpsburg
are now under water and the flood is
spreading rapidly.
Confirmation of the loss of six lives
received at the coroner's Office at noon,
but particulars and names were not CIV
en-. The storm was the heaviest of the
year in this city. Within an hour there
was a rainfall of two inches. Great
damage is reported from all parts of the
city, but no fatalities. Every street
car line was tied up and heavy washouts
are reported on q number of railroads
entering Pittsburg. The water is now
falling at Sharpsburg and Etna and no
more damage is apprehended.
Reports from the Pine Greek valley
Indicate that the loss of life from the
cloudburst will be very heavy. At 12:45
p. m. thirty lives were reported lost. The
whole Pine Greek valley eight miles in
length is devastated.
At De Haven an entire family by tie
name of PoppletOn were drowned. How
many were in the family is not known.
Among the others who lost their lives
were:
MIR. THOMAS BYRNEs.
MRS. THOMPSON.
Three bodies have been recovered so
far. At Etna the water rose so rapidly
that the employees at Spang, Chatfall &
Co.'S iron mill were compelled to swim
out to save their lives. The foundry of
Walter Watkins was also flooded and the
workmen narrowly escaped drowning.
One of the peculiarities of the storm
in Pine creek aside from its severity
der and lightning. 1t came very quick
ly and with no warning whatever. The
heavy rain lasted for fully three hours.
The cause of the storm can be directly
attributed to the approach Of the cool
wave from the northwest. A heavy fog
which was mixed with smoke hung over
the city during the early morning. This
was an indication of approaching trouble.
The storm in Pittsburg and Allegheny
was one of the most severe of the wear
The rainfall was very great over two
inches falling during the forenoon. Great
damage was done by the water in various
parts of the city. The streets were scat
tered with mud and debris, car lines
were tied up and their tracks blockaded
and houses were flooded and rendered
unsafe. The STERN was especially felt
at Butler in the vicinity of Sharpsburg.
Up to 2 o'clock six bodies had been re-
MRS. POPLETON.
MRS. THOMPSON.
MRS. ROBINSON
MRS. THOMAS BYRNES.
MRS. AID.
UNKNOWN MAN.
Ten persons, including a little daugh-
ter of Mrs. PopletOn, were rescued from
the creek. Two members of the Pople-
ton family are still missing and are be-
ieved to be drowned. Reports of the
total loss of life runs from 10 to 30.
Pine creek, which is usually forty feet
wide. was from one-half to three-quar-
ters of mile wide. Dozens of bridges
were washed away and all the towns
along the valley are under water.
Dispatches from Westmoreland county
state that Claridge, Jeanette and Irwin
are inundated At Claridge the water
rose to the second floors and the occu-
pants were rescued with difficulty.