The record-union., 1896-08-14
Cloudburst at Dehaven, Small Station
Near Pittsburg.
The Water Coming Down in an
Almost Unbroken Sheet-A Small
Stream Converted Into a Roaring
River, That Swept Up Hillsides,
Wrecked Houses, Killed Livestock,
Blocked Railroads and Ruined
Farms.

points within a radius of thirty miles
of the city shortly after s o'clock this
morning, resulting in the death of five
persons and the destruction of much
property. The storm expended its
greatest fury in the valley of Pine
Creek, in Hampton Township, a few
miles from this city. At Dehaven, a
small station on the Pittsburg and
Western Railroad, what is popularity
called a "cloudburst' occurred Pine
Creek, usually a sluggish stream, was
converted into roaring river that
swept up the hillsides, wrecked houses,
demolished a large part of the Butler
plank road, blocked the Pittsburg and
Western road, killed livestock and
ruined farms. Four OF the people who
lest their lives were drowned at De-
haven, and one near the mouth of the
creek at Etna
The dead are: Mrs. Susan Aud.
widow, "A years of age; Mrs. Sarah
Poppleton, widow, aged 60 yefrs; Mrs.
James Robinson, aged 50 years These
were drowned at Dehaven, and Emil
Scboefel, aged Is, was drowned at
Etna. An unknown man was drowned
above Dehaven, body not recovered.
The disaster at Dehaven, which re-
suited in the drowning of three women
ana an unknown man, was identical,
even to details, with the catastrophe
which swept eight people to death at
Crell, Pa, two weeks ago. The only
difference was that the Creil flood
happened in the evening and this one
In the morning. Soon after daylight
dark clouds began to gather north of
the little village. Rain had begun to
fall about o'clock, but the shower,
though persistent, was not heavy An
hour later, however, it seemed as if the
fiood-gates of Heaven had been
opened, and the water came down in
an almost unbroken sheet Too add to
the terror, it was as black as night.
Mrs. Sarah Poppleton, a widow, liv ed
in two-story frame house at the head
CT the town with her daughter. AS the
stream rose to the doors of her house
she began to cry for help. J. C. Nc
Auley, who lives two houses below.
heard her screams, and wading
through the rapidly rising flood took
her ten-year-old daughter Sarah into
the house of James Robinson, which
stood on the other side of the road
In small one-story cottage below
and within ten yards of the Poppleton
house, old Mrs Aud and her grand
sons, aged 10 and II, were imprisoned
Immediately after the Auld house was
carried away it first lodged against a
tree. All the rubbish that the house
carried was piled against it. Finally
it broke, and the entire mass of debris
was carried against the Robinson
house, which could not withstand the
shock. There was not a vestige of the
house left.
The body of Mrs. Poppleton was found
several hours afterwards in a cornfield
just below the town. Mrs. Robinson
was found at Burchfleld, two miles be-
low, and the body of Mrs. Aud was not
recovered until late in the day and
then far down the stream. Little John
and Wesley Auld, floating on part of
the side of the house, managed to reach
and cling to trees, and were rescued
an hour later. James Robinson also sue
ceeded in reaching tree with his three
year-old baby. Charles Smith saved
little Sarah Poppleton by swimming
after her. Frederick Poppleton and
McAuley were carried further than any
of the others, but near the lower end of
the town they also got refuge in the
trees. All of these We're eventually
rescued.
In the little village great excitement
prevailed, many families being cut off
by the torrent which was roaring down
the main street. There were many mar
row escapes in Dehaven and the viii
lage of Burchfield, four miles below,
but all those in danger were rescued
at great peril While the storm was at
its worst in Dehaven an unknown man
was seen coming down the stream on
the roof of an outbuilding. He disap-
peared from view, and his body was
afterward seen further down stream,
but could not be recovered.
The flood subsidized almost as quickly
as it rose, leaving the main street of the
village strewn with debris.
1t is estimated that in one hour not
much less than four inches of rain fell |
In Pittsburg the water guages showed a |
downfall of 221 inches between 8 and |
1:30 o'clock
At Irwin, Pa, and many other sta
tions on the Pennsylvania Railroad a |
flood was caused by the bursting of !
dams. More than sixty houses were |
partially submerged, and there were
many narrow escapes. but no loss of |
life is reported. At Irwin the Pennsyl- |
vania Railroad platform was swept |
away with the freight that was on it. |
A number of manufacturing establish |
rnents suffered damage which will |
amount to thousands of dollars.
SENATOR STEWART OF NEVADA.
Warns Laborers Not to Vote for |