The Billings gazette. [volume] (Billings, Mont.) 1896-1919, 1903-07-10
TORRENT CARRIES STREET CAR
AND ITS LOAD OF HUMAN
FREIGHT AWAY.
MANY ARE ELEcTRocuTED
MEET DEATH BY GRAsPING THE
..
LIVE WIRES TORN DOWN BY
THE WATER.

Greensburg, Pa, July GA water
spout of immense proportions striking
In the vicinity Of Oakford park Sun
day afternoon at 4 o'clock, created a
flood that caused great loss of life and
property. 1t is known at least twenty
persons lost their lives, and rumors
place the number of dead at more than
100, but up until a late hour last night
only three or four bodies had 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 Of Jeanette,
Edward O'Brien of Latrobe, Joseph
Overly of Indianapolis, Ind. employed
by Brown, Ketcham company of
Greensburg; Lucy Crum If Jeanette,
Councilman John Light, wife and two
children of Greensburg.
Rain Falls in Torrents.
At 3 o'clock rain began to fall in
torrents in the vicinity of the park
and spread over a territory covering
probably ten miles. A half hour later
the cloudburst occurred and the UNI
brellas carried by the crowds of peo-
pie were crushed like e%ggshells. The
water in the lake of Oakford park be-
ban to swell, and Manager James Nc
grath, believing there was danger of
a final break in the great walls of the
dam, hurried among the crowds of
pleasure seekers, who had gathered n
der the roofs of the eating stands, the
merry-go-round, the theater. the dane
ing 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 a 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
ed each building in turn and simply
drove the crowds out into the rain
did they realize that the parks man
ayers were in earnest. that earnest
ness being depicted in their pale faces.
for thev knew after careful study of
the dam that a full flood meant prob
ably the breaking of the wall that held
five acres of water.
Water overflows the Dam.
Half an hour after the buildings had
been cleared of the people the waters
mounted the walls of the dam and with
in a few minutes water to the depth
of five feet was flowing over the en-
tire length Of 400 feet of the wall. The
park, studded with buildings contain
ing a~musements, were twisted about
and all bNt the dancing pavilion and
large lunch stand were wrenched from
their foundations.
The rain continued to fall in torrents
and at 4 O'Clock 40 feet of the wall
of the dam to the east gave wav with
a crash. The flood beat down the ra-
vine with a o a 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 car
barns are located. The barns were
lifted and with the force of a pile
driver the huge posts were hurled bv
the waters against the barn. Behind
were the small waiting rooms and on
the track was standing a car laden
with people on their way from Green's
burg and Jeanette. The electric
storm had rendered the powerhouse
useless and the motorman was unable
to move the cal. 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 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 number of people in the car
jumped off and there are conflicting
stories as to the number of persons
who were carried with the car.
Victims Of the Flood. =
Among those who we're washed into
the food was C. M. McLain of Greens.
burg, Edward O'Brien and Joseph
Overly and Misses Keefer and Crum.
Young McLain 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 wa
ter as the three were carried in the
direction of Jeanette bv the rising
tide. The brave lad held to the wo'
men for more than a mile and then ex
Nausted and ready to sink to his
death he released his hold and the wo
men sank. It was with the greatest
difficulty that he managed to get tc
shore. He went back to the park. but
up to a late hour at night the names
of the women were not known. 1t is
believed that fully ten people who
were in the a 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 hus