Semi-weekly register. (Brookings, Brookings Co., S.D.) 1894-1898, 1896-08-01
THE DEATH LIST GROWS
Eight Names Added to the
Number Of Victims of the
Pittsburg Storm.
Boarding House at Cecil Swept
Away and Seven of the In
mates Perish.
Hundreds Of Bridges Washed
Out and Railroad Traffic
Suspended.

PTTTSBURG, july 29.-Elght persons
were drowned III the flood Monday
night Seven of these met death at
Cecil, a mining and oil hamlet in
Washington county, the eighth victim
going down at Carnegie. The dead
are: Mrs. Samuel Mckinney, Mar
garet Mckinney, James Mckinney,
Clyde Beatty, G.. G. Higgins, Vincent
Welkinson, Jennie Holmes and John
Wright.
Samuel Mckinney kept boarding
house at Cecil for the accommodation
of oil men and miners. The house was
situated on the bank of Millers run, a
tributary of CHARTERS creek Or
dinarily the run, which flows
through a valley banked by high
and steep hills, would scarcely
float chip, but cloudburst filled it in
its closely confined quarters to such an
extent that everything along its banks
was endangered.
The House Carried Away.
There were 13 people in the McKin-
ney house when the water commenced
to rise, but no serious danger was ap-
pretended Suddenly the house a
2-story frame, was washed from its
foundation into the seething waters and
rapidly carried down stream. 1t was
then too late for any one 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 egg
shell Higgins and w. B. Hittener were
caught between the first and second
floors. Higgins died there but Hittener
made most miraculous escape. Those
on the second floor were badly squeezed.
Just below the bridge the wreckage of
the house struck on q sand bar, with
those of the party who were alive,
clinging to the timbers without any
hope of being rescued.
Several Acts of Heroism.
Thomas Hayes, Vincent Wilkinson
and others formed a rescuing party.
Hittener was rescued while fast in the
wreckage by Wilkinson, who also
dragged the dead body of Higgins from
its lodgment Samuel Mckinney was
also saved by Wilkinson. After assist
ing in other rescues, Wilkinson heard a
cry for help from - opposite side Of
the stream, and, Notwithstanding the
extreme hazard attached to the at
tempt, the brave fellow made the effort
to swim across with rope. When
about half way over log struck him
on the head and broke his neck. His
body was found several hundred yards
below, lodged in tree.
Clyde Beatty was another hero of the
disaster who lost his life. He made
strenuous efforts to save Margaret Nc
Kinney and Jennie Holmes and had
them lodged in tree, when wave
came along and swept all to death.
Beatty had several opportunities to
save himself, but refused to leave his
weaker companions.
Hundreds of Bridges Gone.
Hundreds of bridges have been
washed away and traffic has been sus.
pended on the Washington and
Waynesburg railroad. In the oil fields
an enormous amounts of oil was lost
through breaking of mains and scores
of rigs were demolished.
At Claysville houses We're unroofed,
trees uprooted and many buildings are
total wrecks. The United Presbyterian
church and the Claysville high school
building suffered the severest loss here,
being struck by lightning and wrecked.
Reports brought in from the surround
ing country state that the storm has
wrought great destruction for miles
around. In some places houses were
removed from their foundations but no
further loss of life is yet reported.