New-York tribune., 1903-07-06

deep was flowing over the entire length Of four
hundred feet of the wall. The buildings in the
park. the merry-go-round and other amusement
places, were twisted about. and all except the
dancing pavilion and luncheon stand were
knocked from their foundations.
The rain continued to fall in torrents, and
about O'Clock forty feet OF the wall Of the
dam 10 the east gave way with awful crash.
The flood rushed down the ravine with roar
that was heard for two miles. A half mile
down, at the junction of the Greensburg and
Jeanette and the park car lines. were the car
barns. The gates to the park were lifted and
the great posts hurled by the water against the
barns
Beyond was the small waiting room. and on
the track was standing laden with people
on the way from Greensburg and Jeanette
The electric storm had cut off the power south
OF here and the motorman was unable to move
the car. The food struck the waiting roorn
containing probably dozen people. a number
Of them struggled to a place of safety. but in
the excitement that followed there is no way to
be positive how many were lost. The streetcar
was caught and swept into the creek. A num-
Der of those IN the car jumped off. and there
are conflicting stories to the number of per-
sons who were carried with the car.
UNABLE TO SAVE WOMEN.
Among those who were washed into the food
were c. NJ. McClain, of Greensburg; Edward
o'Brien and Joseph Overly and the Misses
Keefer and Crum. McClain is an expert swim
ner and the cries for help from two unknown
women brought him to their side as they strug-
gled in the water. He grabbed them about the
waists and kept their heads above water as the
three were carried in the direction of Jeanette
by the raging torrent. He held the women up
for more than a mile. and then. exhausted and
ready TO sink, he released his hold and the
women sank. It was with the greatest diff
Guilty that he managed to get to shore. He
went back to the park. but up to late hour to-
night the names Of the women were not known
1t is believed that ten people who were in the
car were drowned.
Standing on the platform near the waiting
room were a and his WIFE, whose names
have not been learned. When the flood came
the husband escaped, but the wife carried
away. 1t is said that they lived at Jeanette.
1t was o'clock when the first messenger
bearing the news OF the terrible catastrophe
reached Greensburg. The park is patronized by
the people OF this town ind Jeanette, and
when the fact was announced that the dam had
given way, and ruInor said that from 200 to
300 people were drowned, excitement knew no
bounds. The shutting down of the power house
by lightning bolt rendered the cars on the
Pittsburg. McKeesport and Greensburg Railway
helpless, and the fact that the roads and all
lines to the park were flooded made it impos-
sihle TO drive to the scene of the disaster.
SEARCH FOR THE MISSING.
There was only one way to get there for the
thousands who had friends spending the after
noon at the park-that was to walk a cir
cuitous route fully seven miles long. Hundreds
of people who at nightfall missed members OF
their families hastened with lanterns over the
hills In search of them Many of them were
overjoyed TO meet their relatives their way
home.
At II o'clock tonight anxious fathers and
mothers, who succeeded in reaching the scene
by carriages and other conveyances after the
waters had receded. lined the flooded districts
anxiousy searching and waiting for some one to
announce the finding of a body. The army of
searchers was headed by the manager of the
park. who did everything possible TO allay the
sufferings of the anxious persons who awaited
tidings of missing friends. The scene tonight
was heartrending. The wailing OF mothers who
had certainly lost their little ones was pitiful
Late tonight many of those who were first
reported missing from this place turned up
here, and it is now believed that not more than
four five people from this place were lost in
the flood. It is thought that with the various
outlets the water will subside before morning
and that some of the bodies will be recovered.
William Cline. jr.. of this city, barely escaped
from the rush of water, and was eyewitness
the awful disaster. His statement is as fol-
lows:
Il was standing at the barn at the time
the warning given. Two women came run
ming down from the park and said that the
dam had burst. afterWard learned that the
dam broke at the upper end. and at the lower
end the water overhowed. The food was headed
by two immense timbers. that came crashing
down. The waiting room where people board
the streetcars was full of women and children.
Scarcely any Of these escaped. Cries for mercy
and help were awful to hear"