The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1896-08-14
FLOOD AT PITISBURG
Six Persons Killed in the Sub
urban Towns.
RAIN FILLS THE CREEK BEDS.
A Wall or Water Eighteen Feet High
Bears Away a House Filled
With People.

Fttsburg, Aug i3-This morning az s
O'Clock this city and vicinity were visited
by one OF the heaviest and most persis-
tent downpours Of rain that has been
seen here for years. Il carried death and
destruction wiki il. and as a result six
lives were saeriliced and thousands Of dol
lars worth of property laid waste. The
dead are: Mrs. Susan Aud, widow, aged
"a Mrs Ellen Poppleton. widow. aged -:
Mrs. Florence Robinson, her daughter,
aged 81; Martin Cochran. infant; q Nell
Schaeffer, aged 10 years; unknown man.
The storm was preceded by dark and
threatening clouds. which obscured the
sun and enveloped the city in almost total
darkness. As the gloom began TO dispei.
the rain came in torrents and for an hour
the downpour was terrific. Ii then let
ap slightly. out for three hours longer
II rained without ceasing. Up TO noon
"a inches had fallen, l.S0 OF this being
precipitated during the first hour. In the
immediate city little damage was done.
but the suburbs and small towns near
this city suffered. De Haven. q small oil
town on the Pittsburg & Western rail-
way, about ten miles from here, had to
bear the brunt of the storms fury, and
il was there that most Of the lives were
lost. The town, OF 500 Inhabitants. is sit
uated in a valley just at the junction of
these creeks and floods portions OF the
place.
When the storm burst the house OF
James Robinson was made the place OF
refuge by ten people. or this number
three women We're drowned. The storm
partook of the nature OF a cioudburst and
filled the streams to overlooking with
wonderful rspidity. A torrent OF eighteen
feet came rushing down and struck the
eSt1 u~ffh
carrying 1t from its foundation and top
ping Ii over into the swirling flood. The
house, eollapsing as Ii was carried along,
was lodged against sorRe willows along
the bank. ana the occupants, who had
chung With desperation 20 the ruins were
enabled 10 make their escape 10 land. all
except the three women mentioned above,
who We're drowned and their bodies
washed down the stream. Little Martin
Cochran was In bed sick with scarlet
fever when the flood struck his fathers
house. The shock and exposure brought
his life to an end within an hour or two.
O'Nein Schaeffer was standing on the
Pittsburg & Western bridge at Sharps-
burg with thousands OF others watching
the high waters. He attempted TO catch
piece Of driftwood. lost his balance and
was caught by the torrent and whirled
into eternity In an instant. The other
victim was an unknown man whose body
was seen floating down Goarhead creek.
Along Pine creek. from It's mouth al
Sharpsburg to De Haven, every foot OF
level ground was under water for several
hours and miles Of gardens and little
truck farms were washed out. The west
end of Sharpsburg and Etna was flooded.
and the water was four feet deep in Shang
& Chalfant's mill. putting out the fires
and compelling the workmen 10 abandon
the building. some having almost TO swim
out. The firms loss will be about N0,o00
The Pfttsburg a. Western railroad has
been biockaded nearly all day. The loss
at Etna viii amount 10 about $4,000 or
100000. Irwin. thriving town on the
Pennsylvania road. about twenty miles
east OF here. suffered great property loss.
At noon word was received that the
Fort Pitt dam at Jeanette had burst. and
that the water was rushing toward Irwin.
was Immediately given TO people
living in the lowlands on the west of the
but before they could get away
the flood came rushing down Brush creek.
The car shops OF the Westmoreiand Coal
Company were the first TO suffer. the en-
ployes being compelled TO flee for their
lives, many having to wade through water
to their shoulders. The women and chill
dren living in the houses near the car
shops were forced TO the upper stories and
roofs. ReScaing parties were formed. and
the imprisoned ones were taken down In
boats. and. where the water was lower.
on the backs OF men. When the water
OF Brush creek had reached its height, the
Plate Glass Company's dam.
which had been partially repaired since
the other flood. burst again. and its waters
came rushing through Tinker run, food
ing in its way the Parr Wagon Works.
the Hockensmith foundry and machine
shops and planning mills. and the lumber
yards OF the Irwin Lumber Company. The
10 the machine shops Will run into
thousands OF dollars.
The mining village OF C!aridge. on the
Manor Valley railroad. near Greensburg.
was almost wiped out by the cloudburst.
but no lives were lost.