The Saint Paul globe., 1903-07-06
CAUGHT IN GORGE,
SCORES MEET DEATH
FROM CLOUDBURST
Flood Causes Breaking of Dam
at Oakford Park, Pa, and
Many Drown Before They Can
Reach Safety.

GREENSBURG. Pa, July 5.-A
waterspout of immense proportions
striking in the vicinity of Oakford
Park this afternoon at o'clock created
a flood that caused great loss OF life
and property. 1t is known that at
least twenty persons lost their lives,
and rumors place TIE number of dead
at more than 100.i but until late hour
tonight only three or four bodies have
been recovered, having been washed
to the banks of the little creek that
runs parallel with the park. The names
of those known and believed to have
been drowned are:
MISS GERTRUDE KEEFER, aged
nineteen, OF Jeanette.
employee of Brown ketcham company.
here.
JOSEPH OVERLY. of indianapolis.
Ind employed by Brown, Ketcham.
COUNCILMAN JOHN LIGHT. WIFE
AND TWO CHILDREN. of Greensburg.
AT o'clock rain began to fall in
torrents in the vicinity of the park
and spread over territory covering
probably ten miles. A half hour later
the cloudburst occurred, and the UNI
pie were crushed like egg shells. The
waters in the lake of Oakford park
began to swell, and Manager James
McGrath. believing there was danger
of final break in the great walls OF
the dam, hurried among the crowds OF
pleasure seekers, who had gathered
under the roofs of the eating stands,
the merry-g go-round, the theater, the
dancing pavilion and other buildings in
line of the water If the banks should
break, and warned them to run to the
hills. On both sides of the pleasure
grounds there are high hills. the park
being located in a ravine about a
fourth of mile wide and a mile long.
The people, being protected from the
rain, were loath to leave the cozy
places, and not until Mr.. McGrath and
his assistant, Charles Thomas, entered
each building in turn and simply drove
the crowds out into the rain did they
realize that the parks managers were
in earnest, that earnestness being de-
picted in their pale faces, for they
knew, after careful study of the dam,
that a full flood meant probably the
breaking of the wall that held five
acres of water A half hour after the
buildings had been cleared of the peo-
pie the waters mounted the walls of
the dam and within a few minutes wa
IeTS 10 the uepln Oh HNe Ieel were HOW
ing over the entire length of 400 feet
of wall. The park, studded with build
ings, the merry go-round, the laugh
ing gallery and other amusement
places, were twisted about and all but
the dancing pavilion and large lunch
stand were Wrenched from their foun-
dations The rain continued to fall in
torrents, and at 4 o'clock forty feet
of the wall of the dam to the east
beat down the raVine with a roar that
was heard for two miles. half mile
down at the junction of the Green's
burg & Jeanette and the park car
lines the car barns are located. The
barns were lifted, and, with the force
of a pile driver, the huge posts from
the dam were hurled by the waters
against the barn. Behind was the small
waiting rom, and on the track was
standing a car laden with people on
their way from GfeenSburg and jean
nette. The electric storm had render
ed the power house useless and the
motorman was unable to move the car.
The flood struck the waiting room,
containing probably a dozen people. A
number of them struggled to a point of
safety, but in the confusion that fol-
lowed, 1t is not positive how many
were lost. The street car was caught
anu swept lilO the creek ana WnlfleQ
and tumbled about A number of peo-
pie in the car jumped off, and there
are conflicting stories as to the num-
Der of persons who were carried with
the car. Among those who were
washed into the flood was G. M. Nc
Lain, of Greensburg; Edward O'Brien
and Joseph Overly and Misses Keefer
and Crum. Young McLain is an ex-
pert swimmer and has exceptional
courage. The cries for help from the
two unknown women brought the
young man to their side as they were
struggling in the water, and grabbing
both about the waist, he kept their
heads above water as the three were
carried in the direction of Jeanette
by the rising tide. The brave lad held
to the women for more than a mile,
and then exhausted and ready to sink
to his death, he released his hold and
the women sank. 1t was with the
greatest difficulty that he managed to
get to shore. He went back to the
park, but up to late hour tonight
the names of the women were not
known. 1t is believed that fully ten
people who were in the car ~were
drowned.
Standing on the platform near the
waiting room there was a man and
wife, whose names have not been
learned. When the flood came the
husband escaped, but the wife was
carried away. 1t Is said that the
couple resided at Jeanette 1t was
o'clock wher. the first messenger bear
ing the news of the terrible catas-
trODhp reached GreanGburD