Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1912-07-25
Heaviest Rain in Years Floods the
District around Pittsburg-
Hundreds Homeless.
FEARED DAMS WOULD BREA[.
Water Eushes into Village Soon
after Inhabitants Had Es-
caped--Spend Night
in Storm.

Pittsburg, July 24.--For the second
time since last Sunday the Pittsbure
district was flooded o-iay by one Of
the heaviest rains in years. In less
than six hours the precipitation was
close to three inches.
Early tonight Turtle creek near
here. was rising IA inches an hour.
At Haysborough the rising water from
Four Mile run drove many families TO
the upper portion Of their home.
Later a call for help was sent to tAis
city and policemen were sent to tho
rescue. The storm was especially Sc
we're throughout the territory along
| the Monogahela river southeast of
here. The river and its many tribu
taries are rising rapidly. causing seri-
Gus loss in the Monongahela valley.
DRIVEN TO THE HILLSIDES.
brownsville. Pa. July A-Horsemen
dashing franticallv down the Redstons
valley to-day. often with water up to
the saddle glrths made a journey of nine
miles in time to save the lives OF
| hundreds Of persons at Smock, mining
village. Aside from the great quantity Of
water due TO the cloudburst. 1t was feared
a huge reservoir was about to lot go.
ITO the hills, To the hills, To reservoir
| is breaking. The cry caused terror
among the miners and within few
moments. 600 families were rushing
through the muddy waters to the hill
sides. Soon the water rushed into the
mining village causing heavy damage
Tonight the miners and their families
are camping in pouring rain on the hill
| sides under makeshift shelters of blank
cts, quilts. boards and straw.
| picht tr tn
| the effect that from six to 10 miners were
drowned before they could reach safety.
| CAUSES REIGN OF TERROR.
| Connellsville, Pa, July 24The flood
| here to-day swept away a score of build
irgs. damaged many others, made 50 fam
lilies homeless and caused over 10000
damage, The lower part of the town Is
under six feet of water.
i A reign of terror strucl' the town when
word was received in the afternoon that
number of large reservoirs. five miles
above Dunbar. had broken. The word was
received by the telephone company and
spread rapidly Within a short time the
greater part Of the towns population
was fleeing for their lives to the hill
sides. While the reservoirs held intact
the water due to the cloudburst was
sufficient TO spread havoc.
MILES OF LAND FLOODED.
Jeannette. Pa. July PA cloudburst
flooded miles of territory between here
and at Greensburg to-day. The lowlands
were quickly inundated and hundreds Of
persons were compelled to flee for their
lives. Residences and business places
were almost completely submerged in
some districts, while the Manor Valley
a.. xr.t,t~ -
trolley service, were put of commission.
Seventy-.ive families are homeless in
Jeannette.
STREAMS RAGING Torrents.
Dunbar. Pa. July PA devastating
food rushing down the mountainside
spread ruin throughout Dunbar to-day.
A cloudburst transformed small streams
!, into raging torrents. A number of build
I ings were completely wrecked and hum
: dreds of others damaged. The town is all
! most ENTIRELY under water tonight while
q many buildings, including the city hall.
t have been swept away.
e WORST RAIN IN 20 YEARS.
Washington. Pa, July 24,-The most
severe rain storm In 90 years caused
widespread damage throughout WASH
! ington county to-day.
AT Misboro. 70 miners had a narrow
u escape from death when the Besco mine
OF the Ressemer Coke company was
y flooded. When the water began to enter
the mouth of the mine call for help
was sounded and 50 men quickly formed
rescue party. After valiant work en-
bankments were erected about the mouth
l. of the mine and the water was held
back long enough to permit the 70 men
. within to reach the surface.
SWEEPS UPPER OHIO VALLEY.
i Wheeling. W. Va, July o4-The upper
Ohio valley was swept by a most de-
l. structive wind rain and electrical storm
n this afternoon one, and perhaps three
d lives were lost William Burris, Balti-
{ more & Ohio track walker, was struck by
t passenger train and instantly killed. At
:, Welsburg. two boys were seen In boat
10 before the storm and have disappeared.