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| Curious people inspecting broken dam after the flood at Oakford Park. |
Cortland Evening Standard, Monday, July 6, 1903.
100 DEATHS BY FLOOD.
Large Number of People Drowned by Bursting of Dam.
DISASTER AT AN OUTING PARK.
Heavy Rains and Cloudburst Weakened Dam of Lake and When It Broke Five Acres of Water Swept Down Upon the Pleasure Seekers, Houses and Cars Swept Away.
Greensburg, Pa., July 6.—A water spout of immense proportions struck in the vicinity of Oakford park at 4 o'clock Sunday afternoon and created a flood that caused great loss of life and property.
It is known that at least 20 persons lost their lives and rumors place the number of dead at more than 100, but up to a late hour only three or four bodies have 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, aged 19, of Jeanette.
Edward O'Brien of Latrobe.
Joseph Overly of Indianapolis.
Lucy Crum of Jeanette.
Councilman Light, wife and two children of Greensburg.
At 3 o'clock rain began to fall in torrents in the vicinity of the park and spread over territory covering probably 10 miles.
Warned to Run to Hills.
Half an hour later the cloudburst occurred. The waters in the lake north of Oakford 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 and warned them to run to the hills.
On both sides of the pleasure grounds are high hills, the park being located in a ravine about a quarter of a mile wide and a mile long. The people were loathe to leave their protection and not until Manager McGrath and his assistant 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.
The gathering flood meant the breaking of the wall that held five acres of water. Soon after the buildings had been cleared, the waters swept over the wall of the dam and in a moment a torrent of water was racing over the entire length of 400 feet of the dam.
The park buildings, the merry-go-round and other amusement places were twisted about and all but the dancing pavilion and lunch stand were carried from their foundations.
The rain continued to fall in torrents and it was not long before a great section of the wall gave way with a 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 car barns are located [sic]. The entrance gates to the park were lifted and with the force of a pile driver the mammoth posts were hurled by the water against the barn.
Beyond was located the small waiting room, and on the track was standing a car loaded with passengers on their way from Greensburg and Jeanette.
The electric storm had rendered the power south of this place useless and the motorman 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 it is believed that at least 10 persons were drowned. The street car was caught and swept into the creek.
Attempt to Rescue Two Women.
Among those washed into the flood were C. M. McClain of Greensburg, Edward O'Brien and Joseph Overly and Misses Keefer and Crum. Young McClain 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. He held to the women for more than a mile and then exhausted 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 ashore. The names of the women are not known.
Standing on the platform near the waiting room were a man and his wife whose names have not been learned. When the flood came the husband escaped but the wife was carried away.
Hundreds who at nightfall missed members of their families at supper time hastened with lanterns over the hills in search of their loved ones. Many of them were overjoyed to meet their relatives on their way home.
Late at night many of those who were first reported missing turned up here.
William Clinch, Jr., of this city barely escaped from the rush of water and was an eye witness to the awful disaster.
His statement is as follows: "I was standing at the car barn at the time the warning was given. Two women came running down from the park and said that the dam had burst. I afterward learned that the dam broke at the upper end and at the lower end the water overflowed. The flood was headed by two immense timbers that came crashing down. The waiting room where people board the street cars was full of women and children. Scarcely any of these escaped.
A telephone message from Jeanette says from 50 to 75 men, women and children perished by the cloudburst at Oakford park. The majority were drowned or swept to death against the rocks in Brush creek, but a number were electrocuted. At least 800 persons were at the park seeking relief from the heat.
Mrs. Levi Baker was ill in bed when the flood came and was unable to move when the warning was given. She was caught and was drowned. John McGuskey, aged 40, was drowned. George Williams, aged 35, was drowned, but his wife was saved. Alex Victor was hurled against a tree by the torrent and was so badly injured that he died. The Nigga family consisting of the mother and seven children was caught in the flood and the mother and four of the little ones perished.
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| Cortland Traction Park. |
GLORIOUS FOURTH
Celebrated in Cortland in Remarkably Fine Style.
BIG NOISE ALL FRIDAY NIGHT.
Big Bonfire—Common Crackers and Bombs With Blowing of Horns Render Night Hideous—False Alarm of Fire—Parade of Firemen—Genuine Fire in the Afternoon—Fire Works in the Evening.
The Fourth of July was celebrated in Cortland in a way long to be remembered. A leading feature was the number of accidents that proceeded from the premature explosion of fireworks. This was especially marked during Friday night. One physician was kept busy till 3 o'clock in the morning caring for the patients that came to him.
Night was rendered hideous in the most approved fashion. Horns were blown, fire crackers cracked, bombs boomed and skyrockets shrieked nearly all night long. There was a big bonfire on the corner of Church and Court-sts. near the soldiers' monument. Barrels and boxes were dragged from every conceivable place and everything that was not nailed down was carted off and burned up.
Just before midnight there was an alarm of fire from South Main-st. and the fire department responded promptly. It proved to be a false alarm, and later on two boys paid fines of $10 each for interfering with the alarm system when there was no fire.
During the forenoon the firemen made a fine parade. All the companies headed by the City band marched down to the Trout park where Orris Hose Co. held its picnic. There was a great crowd there and plenty of sports of various kinds. Fireworks in the evening crowned the effort. The firemen were called away rather unceremoniously during the afternoon to respond to a genuine alarm of fire on Pendleton-st.
The [Cortland Traction] park did the second best day's business in its history. It falls behind the day of the Ithaca band two years ago, but aside from that it was a leader. Over 13,000 people were carried on the line at some time during the day. The City band gave two fine concerts—programs that must have made every resident of the city proud of its band. There was no exception to be taken to its playing along any line. The dance hall was crowded all day. But the crowd was handled in an easy fashion and the last car left the park for the city at 12:10.
One conductor was heard to remark to an associate in the crowd: "We are in for an all night's job. I didn't suppose there was so many people in Cortland as we have carried up to the park this afternoon. We can't get them all home in two weeks." But he did though.
The fireworks formed a very satisfactory closing to the evening. The side hill above was seated thick with people, and the selection of pieces was a very happy one. All were enthusiastic in praise of the display.
The day, so far as weather was concerned, was ideal. Not a cloud, and not excessively hot.
MOVING PICTURES
Weekly Change of Moving Pictures at the Park.
Arrangements have been made with the Edison company to furnish 1,000 feet of moving pictures film each week to be exhibited at the Cortland park. There will be an entire change of subjects each week and the newest and latest pictures will be shown as they come out. This insures a great variety of pictures all of which will be shown at the park for the first time in Cortland. Among the pictures that will be shown during the season are the Passion Play, Coronation Parade, various illusions, etc. These will be put on as to give as varied an entertainment as possible
No charge of admission will be made to the park to witness these exhibitions. Quick and ample service to and from the park will be inaugurated during the evenings when the moving pictures are shown.
The pictures will be shown for the first time tomorrow evening, July 7.
STOLEN FROM CEMETERY
Depredations of Various Kinds Being Carried on There.
Superintendent Gallagher of the Cortland Rural cemetery informs us that numerous articles, such as ribbons, vases, plants, flowers, etc., have of late been stolen from the cemetery. The latest is the theft of a fine bulb-shaped blue vase from the burial lot of G. J. Mager. Its contents were deposited in front of the monument and the vase removed. This was done last week, and if the person who has taken it will return it to the place where taken from, no questions will be asked or action commenced.
T. D. DAVIS
Now in Homer to Build the New Passenger Station.
T. D. Davis of New York City, who had charge of the construction of the new Lackawanna station at Cortland, is in Homer to superintend the erection of the new passenger station in that village. Since completing the Cortland station Mr. Davis has had charge of building a fine new station at Norwich, Ń. Y., and has been engaged on extensive bridge repairs in New Jersey and Pennsylvania.
PAGE FOUR—EDITORIAL.
Plans to Prevent Forest Fires.
It is gratifying to note in connection with the recent destructive forest fires in the Adirondacks and in Maine that the bureau of forestry of the department of agriculture has been making a careful study of such fires and the methods of fighting them. This investigation differed from former efforts in this direction in that the fire data were obtained during the progress of the conflagrations instead of after they had run their course. Special agents were in the field in various parts of the country watching the movement of the fires and the methods of fighting them by state employees, the employees of corporations and the people living in the affected districts. Attention was also given to the causes, the rapidity of the fire, what natural conditions favor or hinder the progress of the flames and what damage is done to the soil and the tree growth.
Undoubtedly a vast amount of useful information has been thus acquired, the publication of which will serve an important end. It is hoped that it may be the means of preventing the recurrence of such great destruction as has lately occurred in the forests of Maine and northern New York.
How to prevent forest fires is a difficult problem, but it should be possible to stop in considerable measure the annual destruction of the forests by fire, which is estimated at from $25,000,000 to $50,000,000 a year in the country at large. The total loss this year will probably greatly exceed the latter figures.
MISS HARRIET A. HAMILTON.
Death of a Cortland Normal School Teacher at Ithaca on Saturday.
Word was received in Cortland Saturday of the death at about 2 o'clock that afternoon at the home of her sister, Mrs. John Winslow at Ithaca, of Miss Harriet A. Hamilton, for the past eight years a [History, English and Civics] teacher in the Cortland Normal school. The funeral was held this afternoon at 3 o'clock at the home of Mrs. Winslow. Her age was 56 years.
Miss Hamilton had two very severe attacks of grip during the past winter and never fully recovered from these, though she was able to continue her teaching till May 29. On the following day she went to Syracuse for medical consultation when it appeared that she had Bright's disease, as an after result of the grip. She came back to Cortland, but on June 2 was so much worse that she returned to Syracuse to the House of the Good Shepherd hospital. The attack was acute and her decline was rapid. On June 11 it was said that nothing more could be done for her, and she expressed a great desire to get back to the home of her sister at Ithaca. It was feared that she could not survive the journey, but it was accomplished successfully. Several times within the next few days she had sinking spells and the end was believed to be near. But each time she rallied. Her vitality was strong and under skillful treatment it seemed that the disease was yielding to medicine. Within the last few days, however, her heart showed signs of weakness, and Saturday morning at 4 o'clock there was a decided sinking spell. She retained consciousness, however, till fifteen minutes before the end, then passed quietly away.
Miss Hamilton was one of the most beloved of all the teachers who have ever been in this school. Of the highest of culture, of the greatest refinement, with one of the warmest of hearts and possessed of the deepest of sympathy for every student, she was a favorite with all with whom she came in contact. She was esteemed and respected for her genuine worth and beloved for her personal qualities. While upon the bed of illness, knowing that the end was near, she sent to the recent graduating class a message of cheer and of love and expressed her regrets that she could not be with them upon that glad day.
She was a graduate of Cazenovia seminary and had held positions as a teacher in some of the best institutions of learning. For several years she was a teacher in the Mansfield, Pa., Normal school, for several years more in Mount Holyoke seminary and college at South Hadley, Mass., and now for the past eight years in the Cortland Normal. Quiet in manner but fascinating in conversation and with a wide knowledge of many subjects she was always the center of an interested group in whatever company she found herself. She was a constant attendant of Grace Episcopal church in this city.
A number of the Normal teachers who are still in this vicinity attended the funeral at Ithaca today.
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| William R. George. |
RED LETTER DAYS.
George Junior Republic's Big Celebration This Week.
The last three days of this week will mark an important epoch in the annals of the George Junior Republic at Freeville. On Friday the eighth anniversary will be celebrated. It will be founder's day and the founder will be present. The morning will be devoted to a reception of visitors. Many are expected from the larger cities and there will be special cars for the Boston and the New York visitors. In the afternoon a concert will be given by the famous Ithaca band. In the evening there will be a George Junior concert, a bonfire and fireworks.
Saturday morning the board of trustees will hold a meeting, followed by an inspection of the Republic. In the afternoon a game of baseball between the citizens and the graduates will make things lively. In the evening parlor theatricals will be given in Lyceum hall in the village of Freeville.
Sunday will be known as dedication day. At 10:30 a. m. the assembly will form and the procession will march across the campus to the new chapel which will be dedicated with impressive ceremonies. Bishop Potter of New York will preach the dedicatory sermon. W. R. George, the founder, will make an address. The first communion service will be held in the chapel.
BREVITIES.
—There were 193 students at Cazenovia seminary during this past year,
—A regular meeting of the Women's Relief Corps will be held at 3 o'clock tomorrow afternoon.
—Governor Odell bas promised to speak at the Seneca county fair at Waterloo the last week in August.
—Fifteen new free delivery routes have just been added to the service in Oneida county, making fifty-one in all.
— "Romeo and Juliet" will be produced at the Opera House by the Simvelle company next Monday night, July 13.
—The regular meeting of the Church Protective union will be held at their rooms tomorrow night at 8 o'clock.
—Six fire companies from Ithaca expect to attend the Central New York Firemen's convention at Homer the first week in August.
—The new display advertisements today are—G. H. Wiltsie, Drygoods, etc., page 5; L. & K. Freeman, Clearance sale of millinery, page 8; Warren, Tanner & Co, Carpet sales, page 6.
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