Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1903-07-06
DAM GAVE WAY
At jeanette, Pa, After Burst
ing of a Water Spout.
Water Sweeps Down Upon Pleasure
Resort With Relentless Fury.
Estimates of Dead from 20 to 100-Few
Bodies Found.

Grcenshurg, Pa, July ga water
spout of immense proportions struck in
the vicinity of Oakford Park. at 4o'clock
this afternoon, and created flood
that caused great loss of life and prop
erty. 1t is known that at least 20 per-
sons lost their lives and rumors place
the number of dead at more than 100,
but up to a late hour, tonight, only
three or four bodies have been recov-
cred. having been washed to the banks
of the little creek that runs parallel with
the park. Among those drowned are:
Miss Gertrude Keefer, aged 10, jean
cite.
Edward O'Rrien of Latrobe, an en-
Dloye of Brown, Ketcham Co., here.
Joseph Overly of Indianapolis, en-
ployed by Brown, Ketcham Co.
Lucy Crum of Jeanette.
Councilman John Light, wife and two
children of Greenshurg.
At 3 o'clock, rain began to fall in
torrents in the vicinity of the park and
spread over territory covering proba-
bly, 10 miles. A half hour later the
cloldburst occurred.
The waters in the lake, north of Oak
ford Park, began to rise and Manager
James McGrath, 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 under the roofs of the eating
stands. the dancing pavilion and other
buildings in the line of the water and
warned them to run ito the hills. On
both sides of the pleasure grounds are
high hills, the park being located in a
rayine about a fourth of a mile wide
and a mile long.
The people being protected from the
rain were loath to leave the cosy places
and not until Mr.. McGrath and his as
sistant, Charles E. Thomas, entered
each building in turn and simply drove
the crowds out into the rain, did they
realize that the managers were in
earnest.
A half hour after the buildings had
been cleared of the people the waters
mounted the wall of the dam, holding
Ave acres of water and within five min
utes water seven feet deep was flowing
over the entire length of 400 feet of the
wall. The park or ravine is studded
with buildings. The merry-g o-rOund
and other amusement places were
twisted about and all but the dancing
pavilion and lunch stand We're 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
an awful crash. The flood beat down
the ravine with a roar that was heard
for two miles. A half mile down at
the junction of the Greensburg and
Jeanette and the Park car lines, the
car barns are located. The entrance
gates to the park We're 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 wait
ing room and on the track was stand
ing a car laden with people on their
way from Greensburg and jeanette.
The electric storm had rendered the
power south of here useless and the
mOtorman was unable to move the car.
The flood struck the waiting room con-
tanning probably a dozen people.
number of them struggled to q point
of salty.
The street car was caught and swept
into the creek. Among those who We're
washed into the food was C. NJ McClain
of Greensburg. Edward O'Brien and 10.
seph Overly and Misses Keefer and
Crum Young Mccain is an expert
swimmer and the cries for help from the
two unknown women brought the young
man to their side as they struggled in
the water. He grabbed them about the
waists and kept their heads above water
as the three were carried in the direction
of jeanette by the raging torrent. Nc
Claim held to the women for more than