The Ohio Democrat. (Logan, O. [Ohio]) 1886-1906, 1903-07-30
DROWNED IN FLOOD
Scores Meet Death at Pennsyl-
vania Pleasure Resort.
WALL OF WATER SWEEPS RAyINH

Cloudburst Caused a Flood That
Washed Out Dam, Releasing Five
Acres of Water-Manager of the
Park Warned People OF Danger.
Most of Whom Escaped.
Pittsburg, July Ga telephone mes
sage from Jeanette received at mid.
night says from so to 75 men, women
and children perished by the cloud
burst at Oakfcrd park. The ma
| 1ority were drowned or their lives
| were beaten out against the rocks in
Brush creek, but number were cleo
trocuted. At least 500 persons were
at the park seeking relief from the
heat.
At 3 o'clock rain began to fall In
torrents In the vicinity of the park
and spread over a territory covering
probably 10 miles. A half hour later
the cloudburst occurred, and the UNI
brellas carried by the crowds OF peo-
pie were crushed like eggshells. The
waters in the lake north Of OalSford
park began to swell, and Manager
James McGrath, believing that there
was danger of final break in the
great walls of the dam, hurried among
the crowds of pleasureseekers who
had gathered under the roofs of the
eating stands, the merry-go-round, the
theater, the dancing pavilion and other
buildings In line of the water should
the banks break, and warned them to
fn thn hi1lc n Hnth cit - fhs
pleasure grounds there are high hills,
the park being situated in a ravine
about fourth of a mile wide and a
mile long. The people, protected from
the rain, were loath to leave the coZy
places, and not until Mr.. McGrath and
his assistant, Charles E. Thoms, en-
tered each building in turn and sim
ply drove the crowds out into the rain,
did they realize that the park man.
ayers were in earnest for they knew
after careful study of the dam that the
awful food meant probably the break
ing Of the wall that held five acres of
water. A half hour after the buildings
had been cleared of the people the
waters mounted the wall of the dam,
hiIh within llNS lllllulCS MdlCIb " LuC
depth Of five feet were flowing over
the entire length of 400 feet of the
wall The park or ravine, studded
with buildings, the merry-go-round,
The laughing gallery and other amuse-
nent places were twisted about and
Ill but the dancing pavilion and large
lunch stand were knocked from their
do ha t.,
all In torrents and about o'clock 40
'eet of the wall of the dam to the
east gave way with a crash. The food
1eat down the ravine with a roar that
vas heard for two miles. A half mile
lown, at the juncture of the Green's
)urg and Jeanette and the park car
ines, the car barns are located. The
gates to the park were lifted
md with the force of piledriver the
posts were hurled by the
vaters against the barn. Beyond was
ocated the small waiting room and
n the track was standing a car laden
With people on their way from Green's
urg and Jeanette. The electric storm
ad rendered the power south Of here
seless, and the motorman was unable
o move the car. The food struck the
Waiting room. containing probably
Oxen people. A number of them
truggled to a point OF safety. but In
he excitement that followed it Is not
nown positively how many were lost.
he streetcar was caught and swept
lto the creek and whirled and tum-
led about. A number Of the people
l the car jumped off, and there are
onflicting stories as to the number Of
ersons who were carried with the
ar.