The Montgomery advertiser., 1903-07-06

 CAUSES DEATH

Greenburg Pa. July 5.--A waterspout or 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. It Is
 known that at least twenty persons lest their lives and rumors place the number or dead at more than 100, but until late hour tonight only three or four bodies nave been recovered. having 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 19. of Jean- ette Edward O'Brien of Iatrobe, an em-s ploye of Brown Ketcham Company. here: Joseph Overly of Indianapolis, Ind, em- pioyed by the Brown Ketcham Company: Lucy Crum, Jeanette; Councilman John Light. wife and two children of Green- burg
 Al 3 o'clock rain began to fall in tor- rents in the vicinity of the park and ten miles,
 half hour later the cloudburst oc- cured and the umbrellas carried by the crowds of people were crushed like egg shells. The waters in the lake north of oakford Park began to swell and Man ager James McGrath. believing that there was danger of a final break in the great walls of the dam. hurried among the crowds of pleasure seekers who had Rath- cred under the roofs of the eating stands. the merry-go-round. the theatre, the 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 pleasure grounds there are high hills. the park being situated in ravine about fourth of mile wide and q mite long. The people protected from the rain. were loath to leave the cozy places and not until McGrath and ms assistant. Charles E. Thomas entered each building in turn and simply drove the crowds out into the rain did they re- alize that the park managers were in earnest. for they knew after careful study of the dam that the awful flood meant probably the breaking of the wall that held five acres of water. A half hour after the buildings had been cleared of 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 40O feet of the wall. The park, or ravine, studded with build ings. the merry-go-rounds. the laughing gallery and other amusement places were twisted about and all but the dancing pa- vilion and large lunch 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 to the east gave way with a crash. The flood beat down the ravine with roar that was heard for two miles. A half mile down at the junction of the Greenburg and Jeanette and the park car lines. the car barns are located The en- trance gates to the park were lifted and with the force of a pile-driver the mann moth posts were hurled by the waters against the barn. Beyond were located the small waiting room and on the track was standing a car laden with people on their way from Greensburg and Jeanette. The electric storm had rendered the pow CT south of here useless and the motor- man 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 excitement that followed it is not positive how many were lost The street car was caught and swept into the creek and whirled and tumbled about. A num- Der of the people in the car jumped ofr and there are conflicting stories as to the number of persons who were carried away. Among those who were washed into the flood was c. M. McCiain of Greensburg. Edward O'Brien and Joseph Overly and Misses Keefer and Crum Young McClain is an expert 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 and the three were carried down in the direction of Jeanette. The brave lad held to the wo- men for mora than Q mile and then, .ex- hausted and ready to sink to his death, he released his hold and the women sank. It was with the greatest difficulty that he managed to get to shore. He went back to the point, but up to a late hour to- night the names of the women were not known. It is believed that fully ten per- sons were drowned.