Highland recorder. (Monterey, Highland County, Va.) 1877-1972, 1903-07-10
HAVOC BY WATERSPOUT
Great Loss of Life and Destruction of
Properly In Pennsylvania.
A PLEASURE RESORT IS FLOODED.
Th. Wafer Rushes Through a R,ylne With
Terrific Force, Destroying Everything in lis
Track-Troi'ey Car and a Waiting Room,
Both Filled With People, Struck by the
Fiood-Numbsr of Them Drowned.

Grcensburg, Pa. Especially A cloud
burst occurred in the vicinity Of Oak
ford Park at d o'clock p. M, creating a
food that caused great loss of life and
property. 1t is thought that at least 50
persons lost their lives, and rumor places
tho number of dead considerably higher.
Up until late hour at night only 3
or 4 bodies have been recovered, having
been washed to the banks of the little
creek that runs parallel with the park.
AT 3 o'clock rain began to fall in Tor
rents in the vicinity of the park and
spread over territory covering probably
10 miles. A half hour later the cloud
burst occurred. The waters in the lake
north of Oakford Park began to rise,
and Manager James McGrath, believ-
ing there was danger of 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 line of the water,
should the banks break, and warned
them to run to the hills. On both sides
of the pleasure grounds are high hills
the park being located in ravine about
a fourth of a mile wide and mile long.
The people being protected from the
rain were loath to leave the coy places,
and not until Mr.. McGrath and his
assistant, Charles F. Thomas, entered
each building in turn and simply drove
the crowds out into the rain did they
realize that the managers we're in earn
est, that earnestness being depicted in
their pale faces, for they knew after
careful study Of the dam that the down
pour meant probably tie breaking Of
the wall that held five acres OF water:
A half hour after the buildings had
been cleared OF the people the waters
mounted the wall OF the dam and with
in five minutes water seven feet deep
was flowing over the entire length Of
400 feet OF the wall The park, or ra-
vine, with many buildings, the merry
go-round and other amusement places,
were twisted about and all except the
dancing pavilion and lunch stand were
knocked from their foundations.
The rain continued to fall in tor
rents, and about a o'clock 40 feet OF the
wall of the dam to the east gave way
with an awful. crash. The food beat
down the ravine with a roar that was
heard for two miles. A half-mile down,
at the junction Of the Greenshurge and
Jeanette and the Park car lines, the
car barns are located. The entrance
gates to the park were lifted, and Nth
the force OF a pile driver the mammoth
posts were hurled by the waters aga INST
the barn.
Beyond was located the small wal
ing room, and on the track was stand
ing a car laden with people on their
way from Grecnsburg and Jeanette.
The storm had cut off the power and
the motorman was unable to move the
car. The flood struck the waiting room,
containing probably dozen people.
A number of them struggled to a
point of safety. but in the excitement
that followed there is no way to be pos
tive how many were lost.
The street car was caught and swept
into the creek Some OF the people
jumped off and there are conflicting
stories as to the number OF those who
were carried down with the car.