Camas Prairie chronicle. [volume] (Cottonwood, Idaho) 1901-1917, 1903-07-10

Greensburg, Pa, July 1--A e.
spout of immense proportions, strif
ing in the vicinity of Oakford park,
Sunday afternoon created a food that
caused a great loss of life and prop
erty. It is known that at least so
persons were lost and rumors placed
the number of dead at more than 100.
but up to late hour only two or
three bodies have been recovered, hav-
ing been washed to the banks of the
little creek that runs parallel with the
park.
At 8 o'clock rain began to fall In
torrents near the park and spread over
a territory covering probably 10 miles.
A half hour later the cloudburst oc-
Cured. The waters in the lake north
Of Oakford park began to swell and
Manager James MeGrath, believing
that there was danger of final break
in the great walls Of the dam, hurried
among the crowd of pleasure seek.
ers who had gathered under the roofs
of the eating stands, the merry go
round, the theaters, dancing pavilion
and other buildings in line of the
water should the banks break and
warned them to run to the hills. On
both sides of the grounds there are
high hills, the park being located in
a ravine about fourth Of a mile wide
and mile long. Those protected from
the rain did not want to leave and I'M
til Mr.. McGrath and his assistants
entered each building in turn and sim
ply drove the crowds out into the rain
did they realize the danger.
A half hour after the buildings had
been cleared of the people the waters
mounted the walls 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,
the merry go round and other amuse-
ment 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 4 o'clock 40
feet of the wall Of the dam to the east
gave way with crash. The food beat
down the ravine with roar that was
heard for two miles.
A half mile down at the junction OF
the Greensburg and Jeanette and
Park line, the car barns are located.
The entrance gates to the park were
lifted, and with the force of pile
driver the large posts were hurled by
the waters against the barn. Beyond
were located the small waiting room,
and on the track was standing car
laden with people on their way from
Greensburg and Jeanette. The cleo
trio storm had rendered the power
south Of here useless and the motor
man was unable to move the car. The
food struck the waiting room, contain
ing probably dozen people. A num-
Der of them struggled to a point of
ffssaafety- hbalt in the excitement that fol-
lowed, it is not POSITIVE how many
were lost
The street car was caught and
swept into the creek and was whirled
and tumbled about. A number of peo-
pie in the car jumped off and there
are conflicting reports as to the num-
Der of persons carried with the car.
Losses Down the Valley.
Irwin, Pa, July THE sudden ris-
ing of Bush creek caused by the cloud
burst and the breaking Of the oakford
dam caused damage in this vicinity
of several hundred thousand dollars
and probably loss of life. So sudden
was the rise in the stream that the
people living along the banks had
barely time to run to the hills.