The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1903-07-10
DROWNED By CIOUOBJRS1.
Upwards Of One Hundred Lives Re.
ported Lost by acloudburst
IL Pennsylvania.
PLEASURE SEEKERS OVERWHELMED.
Hoey were Gathered ~ Oakland rsrk. ID
the Vicinity of Gr~ensbarx. aud Wers
Oser~ h~lm~d- Almost without Warn.
ing. by Wall If Water which Carried
kveryth Before IL.


Greensburg. Pa, July CA water.
spout Of immense proportions strik
ing in the vicinity of Oakford Park
yesterday created Hood that caused
. great loss OF life and property Ii
l. known that At least twenty persons
were lost and ramors place the mum
Der Of dead at more than hundred
but up 10 late hour last night only
three or four bodies have been recoy-
cred, having been washed TO the
banks of the little creek that runs
parallel with the park. The names
Al three o'clock rain began TO fall
in torrents in the vicinity If the park
and spread over territory covering
probably ten miles. \ half hour later
the clCudburst occurred. and the mum
Der Of umbrellas carried by the
crowds were crushed like eggshcIls.
The waters in the lake north 81 Oak
ford park began to swell. and Man
ager James McGrath. believing there
was danger 81 a final break in the
great walls Of the dam. hurried
among the crowds ~ pleasure seek
ers who had gathered under the roof
eating sandwiches, the merrygo-
round, the theatcr. the dancing pa,iI-
ion and other buildings in line Of the |
water should the banks break and |
warning them 10 run 70 the hills. On l
both sides Of rte grounds there are
high hills. the park being located in 4
a ravine about a fourth OF mile wide
and mile long The people being
protected from the rain did not want
10 leave. and not until Mr.. McGrath
and his assistant entered each build
ing in turn and simply drove the
crowds out into the rain lid they real
ize that the parks managers were in
earnest. for they knew after careful
study Of the dam that the awful rain
meant probably the breaking Of the
wall tina. held five acres Of water.
About half hour after the building
had been cleared the waters mounted
the wall Of the dam and within five
minutes water TO the depth of five feet
was flowing over the entire length OF
400 feet OF the wall. The park. or
ravine. studded with buildings. III.
merry-go-round. the laughing gallery
and other amusement places were
twisted about. and all but the dancing
pavilion and large lunch stand were
Knocked from their foundations. The. ,
rain continued To fall in torrents. and
about four O'Clock 40 feet of the wall
n the dam 70 the east gave way with
4 crash. The food beat down the ra-
tine with roar that was heard for
two miles A half mile down at the
junction of the GreenSburg and Jean
nette and the park car lines the ear
parns are located. The entrance
gates 20 the park were lifted. and
With the force OF pile-driver the :
ma mmOth posts Were hurled by the
waters against the barn beyond In
which was located the small waiting g
Dom. and on the track was standing
car loaded with people on their way
rom Greensburg and Jeanette. Tn.
-ctric storm rendered all the pow
r south IF here useless. and the mo-
o-man was unable 10 move the car.
'hs food struck the waiting room. Z
obtaining probably a dozen people =
number Of them struggled 10 the :
'oint ~ safety. but in the excitement y
hat followed il is not positive how .
many were lost. The street car was =
arght and swept into the creek and =
Fhirled and tumbied about a mum =
er Of people in the car jumped off Z
nd there are conflicting stories as &c I
he number Of persons who were car =
led with the car. Among those who :,
ere dashed into the flood was G. NJ
lcclain. of Grc-nsburg: Edward
'Rrien and Joseph Overly and Misses
eefrr and Grum- Young McCIain T. n
n expert swimmer and has excep-
onal courage The cries for help
-om the two unknown women
ronCht the young man to their side
; they We're struggling in the water. Ia
nj grabbing both about the waist "a
kept their heads above water a. bs
70 three were carried in the direc- ar
on ~ jeannette by the raging tide. I'll
ne brave lad held 20 the women for HI
ore than q mile. and then exhausted re
~ ready 10 sink TO his death he re- te
ased his hold and the women sank n,
-sas with the greatest difficulty tina, &c
managed 10 get - shore. He went os
lck q the park but up to late hi
'nr last night the names of the m
omen were not known. III j. believed co
At fully ten people who were in the 20
IT were drowned
Standing on the platform near the
liung room there were man and
re whose names have not been no
armed. When the food came the no
isband escaped, but the wife was 81
rried away. III