The pioneer express. [volume] (Pembina, Dakota [N.D.]) 1883-1928, 1896-08-21
DEA IH slIIlN
4. AND LISA TR0US FLOOD IN
PIlTSBUR}5 a Nd VICINITY. 1:
sn.all Creeks Are Tarned Ints Tors
rents ~ : Cloudburst and Carry
Away Hoases ANA Bridges-six
Lives Arc Lost and m Enormous
Amount Of Property . Destroyed

PittaDurg, Aug. l6.-TAie morning Af
8 o'clock this city and vicinity were
visited by one of the heaviest and
most persistent downpours Of rain
that has been seen here for years. It
carried death and destruction with 1t,
and as a result six lives were lost and
thousands Of dollars worth of proper
ty laid waste. The dead are: Mrs.
Susan Aud, widow, aged "a; Mrs. El-
len Poppleton, widow, aged 20; Mrs.
Florence Robinson, her daughter, aged
"a; Martin Cochran, infant; O'Neil
Scllafer, 10 years; an unknown man.
De Haven, small oil town on the
Pittsburg & Western railroad, about
10 miles from here. had to bear the
brunt Of the storms fury, and 1t was
there that most of the lives were lost.
The little town Of 500 Inhabitants ID
situated in valley just at the juno
ton Of two creeks, and every storm
fills these creeks and floods portions OF
the place. When the storm burst the
house Of James Robinson was made y
place Of refuge by then people. OF
this number three women were
drowned. Little Martin Cochran was
in bed, sick with scarlet fever, when
the food entered his fathers house.
The shock and, exposure brought his
life to an end within an hour or two.
O'Neil Schafer was standing on the
Plttsburg & Western bridge at Sharps-
burg with thousands of others watch
ing the high waters. He attempted to
catch piece Of driftwood, lost his bal-
ance, and was caught by the torrent
and whirled into eternity In an instant,
while the onlookers were powerless to
help him. The other victim was an
unknown man whose body was seen
floating down Goar Head creek past
De Haven.
Pine creek, from it's mouth at Sharps-
burg to De Haven, is a sorry looking
spectacle. Every foot Of level ground
was under water for several hours,
and miles Of gardens and little truck
farms were washed out.
The loss at Etna will amount to
between SIS, 200 and 100000 divided
principally between Spang. Chalfant &
Co., Allegheny Salt works, Pittsburg &
Western railroad, and the residents Of
Main and Bridge streets. At Bowers
town the greater portion of the town
was under water. The heaviest loss
IL to the farmers. Live stock was also
drowned and crops ruined.
Evergreen people Jared badly. IT.
win. thriving town on the Pennsyl-
'vania railroad about 20 miles east of
here, also suffered much property dam
age, but no lives were lost.
At noon word was received that the
Fort Pitt dam ut Jeanette had burst
and the water was rushing toward
Irwin. Warming was Immediately
given people living in the low land
on the west of the railroad, but before
they could get away the Hood came
down Brush creek, carrying railroad
ties. telegraph poles and debris Of all
kinds. The car shops of the West
Moreland Coal company was first to
suffer, the employees being compelled
to dee for their lives, many having to
wade through water to their shoulders.
The women and children living in the
houses near the shops were forced to,
the upper stories and roofs of their
homes. Rescuing parties were formed
and the imperilled ones were taken or
in boats, and, where the water had
lowered, on the backs Of men.