A Shadowed Past
Backwoods Justice (1874)
It has been said that in late 1874, a group of boys were roaming through a remote area near the Youghiogheny River Valley when they came upon the body of a man hanging from a noose in the tree. Because the body was badly decomposed at the time of its discovery, the victim's identity was never determined. As the news of the murder spread, many speculated that members of the Ku Klux Klan were involved even though they were not prevalent to the region during that time. Eventually, the incident was rumored to be a simple case of backwoods justice and the names of those responsible for the heinous crime would forever remain a mystery. Despite its lack of detail, this is one of the most popular stories told of Dead Man's Hollow. In fact, many area residents believe that this puzzling event was the very reason behind the hollow's ominous name.
It has been said that in late 1874, a group of boys were roaming through a remote area near the Youghiogheny River Valley when they came upon the body of a man hanging from a noose in the tree. Because the body was badly decomposed at the time of its discovery, the victim's identity was never determined. As the news of the murder spread, many speculated that members of the Ku Klux Klan were involved even though they were not prevalent to the region during that time. Eventually, the incident was rumored to be a simple case of backwoods justice and the names of those responsible for the heinous crime would forever remain a mystery. Despite its lack of detail, this is one of the most popular stories told of Dead Man's Hollow. In fact, many area residents believe that this puzzling event was the very reason behind the hollow's ominous name.
The Shootout (1881)
When Robert 'George' McClure arrived at his McKeesport dry goods store one morning in 1881, he surely never suspected that it would be for the very last time. As he prepared to open for business, the shopkeeper discovered that a large quantity of merchandise was missing from the shelves. Realizing that he had been robbed during the night, McClure frantically 'rounded up' a few men to help him track down the thieves. By following the fresh wagon tracks left in the dirt outside of the store, a posse of about twenty men began the pursuit. Within an hour, the armed men on horseback had tracked the wagon to Dead Man's Hollow. McClure lead his group into the woods. As the men climbed the hill, gunshots rang out from the bluff. McClure's men raced for cover behind tree trunks and large rocks before returning fire. McClure, on the other hand, charged up the hillside with his revolver leading the way. The sound of the gunfire echoed throughout the hollow. Bullets grazed back and forth across the rugged terrain; shearing tree bark and ricocheting off rocks. One of the bullets put a stop to McClure's daring charge and sent him tumbling backwards down the hill. A thin cloud of gun smoke filled the hollow as the battle raged on. Finally, after realizing that they were outnumbered, the thieves retreated. By the time the men reached him, McClure's life had already ended.
Not long after the last gunshot rang out, the majority of McClure's merchandise had been recovered and one of the men involved in the shooting was apprehended by local lawmen. The man is custody was quickly identified as an infamous gang leader named Ward McConkey. Even though he proclaimed his innocence, McConkey was convicted of McClure's murder and met his demise on the gallows in the city of Pittsburgh seven years later.
When Robert 'George' McClure arrived at his McKeesport dry goods store one morning in 1881, he surely never suspected that it would be for the very last time. As he prepared to open for business, the shopkeeper discovered that a large quantity of merchandise was missing from the shelves. Realizing that he had been robbed during the night, McClure frantically 'rounded up' a few men to help him track down the thieves. By following the fresh wagon tracks left in the dirt outside of the store, a posse of about twenty men began the pursuit. Within an hour, the armed men on horseback had tracked the wagon to Dead Man's Hollow. McClure lead his group into the woods. As the men climbed the hill, gunshots rang out from the bluff. McClure's men raced for cover behind tree trunks and large rocks before returning fire. McClure, on the other hand, charged up the hillside with his revolver leading the way. The sound of the gunfire echoed throughout the hollow. Bullets grazed back and forth across the rugged terrain; shearing tree bark and ricocheting off rocks. One of the bullets put a stop to McClure's daring charge and sent him tumbling backwards down the hill. A thin cloud of gun smoke filled the hollow as the battle raged on. Finally, after realizing that they were outnumbered, the thieves retreated. By the time the men reached him, McClure's life had already ended.
Not long after the last gunshot rang out, the majority of McClure's merchandise had been recovered and one of the men involved in the shooting was apprehended by local lawmen. The man is custody was quickly identified as an infamous gang leader named Ward McConkey. Even though he proclaimed his innocence, McConkey was convicted of McClure's murder and met his demise on the gallows in the city of Pittsburgh seven years later.
The Dynamite Explosion (1883)
Story provided by Thomas White
On a winter's day in March of 1883, when the temperature barely reached the freezing mark, four men employed at George Flemming's stone quarry in Dead Man's Hollow set out to continue the work of the previous shift. The blasting crew consisted of foreman David Henninger, his brother George, a younger fellow by the name of Noble Gilkey and an unidentified black man. As they had done time and time before, each member of the crew went about their designated duties to prepare for the blast. Once the men had reached the point in the process that required the explosives, one of the workers realized that there was a minor problem. Apparently, no one had given any thought to protecting the dynamite cartridges from the falling snow. Because the explosives were left uncovered, a thin layer of snow had settled on top of the housing. The worker immediately called the frozen explosives to the attention of the foreman. David Henninger ordered the laborer to build a small fire just a short distance away from the blasting zone. The idea was to place the charges within a few feet of the flames so that the heat would gradually melt the ice that formed on them.
By the time the worker was able to get a fire started, the rest of the crew had finished with the other preparations. The explosives were then moved to a location that was thought to be a safe distance from the flames. Next, the foreman motioned for his men to gather next to the fire and warm up. While Flemming's employees waited for the cartridges to thaw, an ill wind continued to howl between the walls of the stone quarry. Strong gusts swirled around the crackling fire and caused the flames to burn brighter. Occasionally, some of the glowing cinders were whisked high into the air by the winter weather. For reasons unknown, the dangers of hot embers dancing on the wind seemed to be of little concern to the workers. It was later suggested that because the men were engaged in conversation, they did not notice that one of the embers had landed next to the dynamite cartridges. What happened next was inevitable.
Without warning, the dynamite erupted into a blinding flash of light. All four men were instantly thrown in different directions as the thunderous roar of the blast echoed throughout the hollow. Another crew working in the stone quarry witnessed the accident and raced to assist the wounded. Unfortunately, it was already too late for some of the men.
In the weeks that followed the accident, the gruesome details of the explosion were published in the Wheeling Register. The publication stated that the Henninger brothers met their doom in Dead Man's Hollow. David Henninger died instantly. His brother George passed on a few minutes later. The Wheeling Register also revealed that the unidentified black man sustained internal injuries in addition to severe burns. He was not expected to recover. The fourth man involved in the accident, Noble Gilkey, was reported to have had the best chances for survival because he was standing the furthest from the blast. The young man received only minor burns to a small portion of his body. It was also reported that Gilkey's home was within sight of the stone quarry. This meant that he was able to receive medical attention immediately following the incident.
Story provided by Thomas White
On a winter's day in March of 1883, when the temperature barely reached the freezing mark, four men employed at George Flemming's stone quarry in Dead Man's Hollow set out to continue the work of the previous shift. The blasting crew consisted of foreman David Henninger, his brother George, a younger fellow by the name of Noble Gilkey and an unidentified black man. As they had done time and time before, each member of the crew went about their designated duties to prepare for the blast. Once the men had reached the point in the process that required the explosives, one of the workers realized that there was a minor problem. Apparently, no one had given any thought to protecting the dynamite cartridges from the falling snow. Because the explosives were left uncovered, a thin layer of snow had settled on top of the housing. The worker immediately called the frozen explosives to the attention of the foreman. David Henninger ordered the laborer to build a small fire just a short distance away from the blasting zone. The idea was to place the charges within a few feet of the flames so that the heat would gradually melt the ice that formed on them.
By the time the worker was able to get a fire started, the rest of the crew had finished with the other preparations. The explosives were then moved to a location that was thought to be a safe distance from the flames. Next, the foreman motioned for his men to gather next to the fire and warm up. While Flemming's employees waited for the cartridges to thaw, an ill wind continued to howl between the walls of the stone quarry. Strong gusts swirled around the crackling fire and caused the flames to burn brighter. Occasionally, some of the glowing cinders were whisked high into the air by the winter weather. For reasons unknown, the dangers of hot embers dancing on the wind seemed to be of little concern to the workers. It was later suggested that because the men were engaged in conversation, they did not notice that one of the embers had landed next to the dynamite cartridges. What happened next was inevitable.
Without warning, the dynamite erupted into a blinding flash of light. All four men were instantly thrown in different directions as the thunderous roar of the blast echoed throughout the hollow. Another crew working in the stone quarry witnessed the accident and raced to assist the wounded. Unfortunately, it was already too late for some of the men.
In the weeks that followed the accident, the gruesome details of the explosion were published in the Wheeling Register. The publication stated that the Henninger brothers met their doom in Dead Man's Hollow. David Henninger died instantly. His brother George passed on a few minutes later. The Wheeling Register also revealed that the unidentified black man sustained internal injuries in addition to severe burns. He was not expected to recover. The fourth man involved in the accident, Noble Gilkey, was reported to have had the best chances for survival because he was standing the furthest from the blast. The young man received only minor burns to a small portion of his body. It was also reported that Gilkey's home was within sight of the stone quarry. This meant that he was able to receive medical attention immediately following the incident.
The story of the 1883 dynamite explosion in Dead Man's Hollow was featured in the pages of the book, Forgotten Tales Of Pennsylvania by Thomas White. While researching the story for this website, very little information could be found in the local newspaper archives. When asked why it was difficult to find records of this story, the author offered an unusual explanation. White stated that many of the accidents and disasters that occurred in the Pittsburgh area during the late 1800s and early 1900s were never actually reported by the Pittsburgh newspapers. This was common practice for newspapers in order to remain ' business friendly'. In most cases, these horrific stories would often show up across state lines in the newspapers of neighboring cities. White also stated that because dynamite accidents were unfortunately all too common in the late 1800s, many of them were never reported at all.
Occupational Hazards (1887)
A local man by the name of James Flemming had been working in Dead Man's Hollow at the stone quarry that his father owned. On a summer day in 1887, he was preparing to remove a rock formation with explosives. This process required Flemming to climb to the top of the quarry's wall and drill a row of evenly spaced holes across the entire upper ledge. Once the vertical drilling was complete, the explosive charges could then be wired together and loaded into each hole. This was a task that Flemming was all too familiar with. A confident young man began working dangerously close to the edge of the jagged cliff. As he operated the drill, Flemming accidentally lost his footing and toppled over sideways. He fell an estimated thirty feet to the rocks below. What ultimately should have cost the young man his life left him with only minor injuries. Witnesses to the terrifying event were stunned when they saw that Flemming was able to climb to his feet and hobble over a mile to his home.
After a brief hiatus, Flemming made a full recovery from the fall and returned to work. Once at the stone quarry, he seemed to pick up right where he left off. It wasn't long before Flemming had finished drilling and had all of the charges set in place. After moving to safety, he attempted to detonate the dynamite and bring the rock wall down. To his surprise, the dynamite plunger malfunctioned and did not initiate the explosion. The young man pressed down on the plunger once more. Again, there were no results. After disconnecting the fuses and waiting for a few minutes as a precaution, Flemming decided that it was safe to extract the explosives. He proceeded back to ledge and began to pull the dynamite up and out of each hole. Somehow in the process of removing one of the charges, the cap on the cartridge had inadvertently struck the corner of Flemming's drill. The sudden contact immediately triggered an explosion. At that precise moment, the young man was hit by the full impact of the blast. His body was violently thrown away from the ledge and back into a wooded area. A thick cloud of dust and debris followed. Once coworkers spotted Flemming's motionless body and realized exactly what had happened, they hurried to his aid. As the dust began to settle, a bruised and battered Flemming was seen picking himself up. For a second time, eyewitnesses were astonished to see Flemming stand up and stumble to his home in Boston hollow just as he did a few weeks earlier. It was later said that after the explosion, no one ever saw James Flemming near the Dead Man's Hollow stone quarry again.
A local man by the name of James Flemming had been working in Dead Man's Hollow at the stone quarry that his father owned. On a summer day in 1887, he was preparing to remove a rock formation with explosives. This process required Flemming to climb to the top of the quarry's wall and drill a row of evenly spaced holes across the entire upper ledge. Once the vertical drilling was complete, the explosive charges could then be wired together and loaded into each hole. This was a task that Flemming was all too familiar with. A confident young man began working dangerously close to the edge of the jagged cliff. As he operated the drill, Flemming accidentally lost his footing and toppled over sideways. He fell an estimated thirty feet to the rocks below. What ultimately should have cost the young man his life left him with only minor injuries. Witnesses to the terrifying event were stunned when they saw that Flemming was able to climb to his feet and hobble over a mile to his home.
After a brief hiatus, Flemming made a full recovery from the fall and returned to work. Once at the stone quarry, he seemed to pick up right where he left off. It wasn't long before Flemming had finished drilling and had all of the charges set in place. After moving to safety, he attempted to detonate the dynamite and bring the rock wall down. To his surprise, the dynamite plunger malfunctioned and did not initiate the explosion. The young man pressed down on the plunger once more. Again, there were no results. After disconnecting the fuses and waiting for a few minutes as a precaution, Flemming decided that it was safe to extract the explosives. He proceeded back to ledge and began to pull the dynamite up and out of each hole. Somehow in the process of removing one of the charges, the cap on the cartridge had inadvertently struck the corner of Flemming's drill. The sudden contact immediately triggered an explosion. At that precise moment, the young man was hit by the full impact of the blast. His body was violently thrown away from the ledge and back into a wooded area. A thick cloud of dust and debris followed. Once coworkers spotted Flemming's motionless body and realized exactly what had happened, they hurried to his aid. As the dust began to settle, a bruised and battered Flemming was seen picking himself up. For a second time, eyewitnesses were astonished to see Flemming stand up and stumble to his home in Boston hollow just as he did a few weeks earlier. It was later said that after the explosion, no one ever saw James Flemming near the Dead Man's Hollow stone quarry again.
Drowning Suspicions (1887)
In October of that very same year, the body of a man washed up along the river bank near Dead Man's Hollow. The victim was later identified by the local newspaper as Elizabeth Township resident, George Edward Woods. It was reported that the 74 year old man was crossing the Youghiogheny River on a ferry boat when he lost his balance and fell into the water. Oddly enough, witnesses on the boat with Woods offered conflicting stories about the incident. Their version of the story suggested that Woods was intoxicated and creating a disturbance. When some of the passengers attempted to restrain the drunken man, he eluded them by leaping into the river. Another account implied that Woods left the boat dock and was later seen conversing with a group of men near Dead Man's Hollow. Although his death was officially ruled as an accident, there was still skepticism about whether or not Woods went into the water on his own free will or if he had 'help' from someone else. One popular belief was that a passenger on the boat intentional pushed an unruly Woods overboard in order to 'sober him up'. When the drunken man turned up dead, the fear of murder accusations may have prompted those involved to deviate from the facts. Still, others believed that Woods was indeed the victim of foul play after the hat that he had been wearing was found in Dead Man's Hollow... Bone dry.
In October of that very same year, the body of a man washed up along the river bank near Dead Man's Hollow. The victim was later identified by the local newspaper as Elizabeth Township resident, George Edward Woods. It was reported that the 74 year old man was crossing the Youghiogheny River on a ferry boat when he lost his balance and fell into the water. Oddly enough, witnesses on the boat with Woods offered conflicting stories about the incident. Their version of the story suggested that Woods was intoxicated and creating a disturbance. When some of the passengers attempted to restrain the drunken man, he eluded them by leaping into the river. Another account implied that Woods left the boat dock and was later seen conversing with a group of men near Dead Man's Hollow. Although his death was officially ruled as an accident, there was still skepticism about whether or not Woods went into the water on his own free will or if he had 'help' from someone else. One popular belief was that a passenger on the boat intentional pushed an unruly Woods overboard in order to 'sober him up'. When the drunken man turned up dead, the fear of murder accusations may have prompted those involved to deviate from the facts. Still, others believed that Woods was indeed the victim of foul play after the hat that he had been wearing was found in Dead Man's Hollow... Bone dry.
A Shocking Moment (1892)
In June of 1892, an extraordinary story about a near fatal disaster on the ridge above Dead Man's Hollow began circulating across the region. There had been severe thunderstorms moving through the area on that particular summer day. Because of the uncooperative weather, production at the Snee Oil well had been gradually slowing to a halt. Heavy rains eventually forced the two men operating the oil derrick to take shelter. Within minutes of leaving the drilling platform, a blinding flash of light illuminated the darkened sky. From the safety of a storage shed, the two men watched in disbelief as a bolt of lightning descended upon the wooden structure where they had been only moments before. Immediately, the derrick collapsed into a pile twisted and splintered wood. The flames that had appeared on the wet lumber were quickly extinguished by the rain. It was no surprise that the two men decided to wait out the storm before walking away from the smoldering wreckage with one incredible story.
In June of 1892, an extraordinary story about a near fatal disaster on the ridge above Dead Man's Hollow began circulating across the region. There had been severe thunderstorms moving through the area on that particular summer day. Because of the uncooperative weather, production at the Snee Oil well had been gradually slowing to a halt. Heavy rains eventually forced the two men operating the oil derrick to take shelter. Within minutes of leaving the drilling platform, a blinding flash of light illuminated the darkened sky. From the safety of a storage shed, the two men watched in disbelief as a bolt of lightning descended upon the wooden structure where they had been only moments before. Immediately, the derrick collapsed into a pile twisted and splintered wood. The flames that had appeared on the wet lumber were quickly extinguished by the rain. It was no surprise that the two men decided to wait out the storm before walking away from the smoldering wreckage with one incredible story.
The Bowman Brick Factory Fire (1898)
One well known incident in Dead Man's Hollow history was the 1898 fire at the Bowman Brick Factory. Black smoke billowed from the hollow and could be seen for miles. The flames spread quickly throughout the plant's main building. Factory workers immediately formed 'bucket brigades' to pull water from Dead Man's Run and the Youghiogheny River. However, their gallant efforts to extinguish the fire were hampered by the fast moving flames and the thick smoke. By the time that the horse drawn steam fire engines had arrived, the fire had already consumed most of the building and the machinery inside. Eventually the steam pumpers were able to get the fire under control. Miraculously, no one was severely injured during the blaze. The cause of the fire still remains uncertain.
One well known incident in Dead Man's Hollow history was the 1898 fire at the Bowman Brick Factory. Black smoke billowed from the hollow and could be seen for miles. The flames spread quickly throughout the plant's main building. Factory workers immediately formed 'bucket brigades' to pull water from Dead Man's Run and the Youghiogheny River. However, their gallant efforts to extinguish the fire were hampered by the fast moving flames and the thick smoke. By the time that the horse drawn steam fire engines had arrived, the fire had already consumed most of the building and the machinery inside. Eventually the steam pumpers were able to get the fire under control. Miraculously, no one was severely injured during the blaze. The cause of the fire still remains uncertain.
Elevated Danger (1905)
On September 25th, 1905, Dead Man's Hollow was the scene of yet another fatality. The tragedy occurred at the newly reconstructed Union Sewer Pipe Company. An employee named Mike Sacco had just finished his afternoon shift and was preparing to leave. As he did every day, Sacco went to the open air elevator. It was reported that when he tugged on the operating rope to lower the elevator, it began to climb instead. Poor judgment led the employee to jump from the safety of the metal framed platform back to the second floor. Unfortunately there wasn't enough clearance and the man's body became painfully wedged between the second floor ceiling and the floor of the elevator. When other factory employees were finally able to free Sacco from his restraint, they carried the injured man to Versailles. Once there, the employees were able to get their coworker onto a wagon heading into the city of McKeesport. Regrettably, the victim died from his injuries before he arrived at the hospital. The details regarding Mike Sacco's horrific death were recorded the next day in the local newspaper. The report sadly stated that the victim had been displaced from his family in Europe in order to find work in America.
On September 25th, 1905, Dead Man's Hollow was the scene of yet another fatality. The tragedy occurred at the newly reconstructed Union Sewer Pipe Company. An employee named Mike Sacco had just finished his afternoon shift and was preparing to leave. As he did every day, Sacco went to the open air elevator. It was reported that when he tugged on the operating rope to lower the elevator, it began to climb instead. Poor judgment led the employee to jump from the safety of the metal framed platform back to the second floor. Unfortunately there wasn't enough clearance and the man's body became painfully wedged between the second floor ceiling and the floor of the elevator. When other factory employees were finally able to free Sacco from his restraint, they carried the injured man to Versailles. Once there, the employees were able to get their coworker onto a wagon heading into the city of McKeesport. Regrettably, the victim died from his injuries before he arrived at the hospital. The details regarding Mike Sacco's horrific death were recorded the next day in the local newspaper. The report sadly stated that the victim had been displaced from his family in Europe in order to find work in America.
The Great Streetcar Robbery (1908)
Late one Saturday night in May of 1908, a streetcar travelling from McKeesport to Elizabeth stopped in Boston to pick up two men who were standing side by side. When the men boarded the car, their behavior became very suspicious. One of the men positioned himself at the front of the car next to the motorman. The other stood silently at the opposite end close to the conductor. Within seconds, the streetcar was moving along the tracks again. As it rounded the bend near an isolated section of the rail line, the shifty fellow standing next to the operator drew a revolver. With the barrel of a gun pointed at his side, the motorman displayed no sign of resistance and was quick to follow the gunman's instructions. Some of the passengers were shaken when the man standing on the rear platform brandished his gun and forcefully pushed the conductor forward. Once the car was at a standstill, the two bandits carried out their scheme. They quickly worked their way through the car and ordered the passengers to surrender their money and jewelry. It didn't take long for the bandits to collect the loot. Moments later, one of the men fired two rounds into the night air to scare those seated on the streetcar. As some of the passengers panicked, the duo disappeared into the woods next to the rail line. It was later reported that the two men made their getaway on horses stolen from Wiley's Livery in Elizabeth.
The following morning, an Allegheny County detective named John Englert arrived at the scene of the crime. After combing the area, Englert determined that one of the stolen horses was missing a shoe. He made a note of his discovery and proceeded to conduct the investigation. For the next two weeks, the lawman dedicated himself to tracking down the robbery suspects. Even with all of the information that had been collected during that period, Englert continued to dwell on thoughts of the distinct tracks of a horse with a missing shoe. Upon returning to the scene of the crime, the lone detective attempted to trace the bandit's escape route using tracks preserved in the dried soil. Englert's inquest carried him to Dead Man's Hollow. From there, he was able to follow the perpetrators' trail along the edge of Dead Man's Run to Belle Bridge Hill. The tracks led the seasoned lawman directly to a dilapidated house on the ridge. Englert was confident that he had found the suspects' hideout. Knowing that he could not proceed without help, Englert quietly slipped away to gather his forces.
It wasn't long before the detective returned to the house on Belle Bridge Hill. This time, he was joined by a Constable named Stephen Jones. For additional assistance, the officers deputized the employees of a construction crew and their supervisor, Henry Altman. As Englert's posse carefully approached the house, the men noticed the silhouette of a person standing next to a window. Once the individual inside the house spotted the advancing lawmen, he or she disappeared from view. Moments later, the front door opened and a young man charged outside with revolvers in each hand. A hail of gunfire exploded along the ridge as the bandit advanced on the group. One of the bullets struck Englert in his right arm. The lawman returned fire. Five bullets from his weapon met the intended target with sheer accuracy. The bandit staggered backwards into the open doorway of the home before collapsing onto the threshold. Englert took cover as the rest of his men surrounded the house. Next came the sound of gravel being crushed beneath the tires of an automobile that was rolling onto the scene. Once the occupants of the hideout realized that reinforcements had arrived, the ordeal ended without further bloodshed. The second bandit, along with his wife and infant child, surrendered peacefully. A third man was also taken into custody without incident. Upon entering the house, Constable Jones recovered a pocket watch and the rest of the stolen goods from the streetcar robbery.
Shortly after their apprehension, the local newspaper identified the bandits as Thomas Manning and John Patterson. Manning was taken to the hospital where he would later die from the injuries that he sustained during the raid. Patterson was later convicted and sentence to time in jail. The other individuals that were taken into custody were not charged with the crime and eventually released.
Late one Saturday night in May of 1908, a streetcar travelling from McKeesport to Elizabeth stopped in Boston to pick up two men who were standing side by side. When the men boarded the car, their behavior became very suspicious. One of the men positioned himself at the front of the car next to the motorman. The other stood silently at the opposite end close to the conductor. Within seconds, the streetcar was moving along the tracks again. As it rounded the bend near an isolated section of the rail line, the shifty fellow standing next to the operator drew a revolver. With the barrel of a gun pointed at his side, the motorman displayed no sign of resistance and was quick to follow the gunman's instructions. Some of the passengers were shaken when the man standing on the rear platform brandished his gun and forcefully pushed the conductor forward. Once the car was at a standstill, the two bandits carried out their scheme. They quickly worked their way through the car and ordered the passengers to surrender their money and jewelry. It didn't take long for the bandits to collect the loot. Moments later, one of the men fired two rounds into the night air to scare those seated on the streetcar. As some of the passengers panicked, the duo disappeared into the woods next to the rail line. It was later reported that the two men made their getaway on horses stolen from Wiley's Livery in Elizabeth.
The following morning, an Allegheny County detective named John Englert arrived at the scene of the crime. After combing the area, Englert determined that one of the stolen horses was missing a shoe. He made a note of his discovery and proceeded to conduct the investigation. For the next two weeks, the lawman dedicated himself to tracking down the robbery suspects. Even with all of the information that had been collected during that period, Englert continued to dwell on thoughts of the distinct tracks of a horse with a missing shoe. Upon returning to the scene of the crime, the lone detective attempted to trace the bandit's escape route using tracks preserved in the dried soil. Englert's inquest carried him to Dead Man's Hollow. From there, he was able to follow the perpetrators' trail along the edge of Dead Man's Run to Belle Bridge Hill. The tracks led the seasoned lawman directly to a dilapidated house on the ridge. Englert was confident that he had found the suspects' hideout. Knowing that he could not proceed without help, Englert quietly slipped away to gather his forces.
It wasn't long before the detective returned to the house on Belle Bridge Hill. This time, he was joined by a Constable named Stephen Jones. For additional assistance, the officers deputized the employees of a construction crew and their supervisor, Henry Altman. As Englert's posse carefully approached the house, the men noticed the silhouette of a person standing next to a window. Once the individual inside the house spotted the advancing lawmen, he or she disappeared from view. Moments later, the front door opened and a young man charged outside with revolvers in each hand. A hail of gunfire exploded along the ridge as the bandit advanced on the group. One of the bullets struck Englert in his right arm. The lawman returned fire. Five bullets from his weapon met the intended target with sheer accuracy. The bandit staggered backwards into the open doorway of the home before collapsing onto the threshold. Englert took cover as the rest of his men surrounded the house. Next came the sound of gravel being crushed beneath the tires of an automobile that was rolling onto the scene. Once the occupants of the hideout realized that reinforcements had arrived, the ordeal ended without further bloodshed. The second bandit, along with his wife and infant child, surrendered peacefully. A third man was also taken into custody without incident. Upon entering the house, Constable Jones recovered a pocket watch and the rest of the stolen goods from the streetcar robbery.
Shortly after their apprehension, the local newspaper identified the bandits as Thomas Manning and John Patterson. Manning was taken to the hospital where he would later die from the injuries that he sustained during the raid. Patterson was later convicted and sentence to time in jail. The other individuals that were taken into custody were not charged with the crime and eventually released.
The Daily News
Saturday Evening, June 6, 1908
- The material featured above is property of The Daily News -
The story of the Great Streetcar Robbery of 1908 can also be found in the pages of McKeesport Trolleys by Ronald L. Beal and Gangs and Outlaws Of Western Pennsylvania by Thomas White.
The Union Sewer Pipe Company Fire (1925)
At the turn of the twentieth century, the Union Sewer Pipe Company had taken up residence at the former site of the Bowman Brick Factory. With the nation's growing demand for clay pipes, the success of the company seemed inevitable. By 1910, there were over seventy men employed at the plant in Dead Man's Hollow. With the number of orders increasing everyday, certain things like safety measures undoubtedly received less attention than they should have. It may have been that type of negligence that was responsible for bringing an end to the prospering company in 1925.
That year, a fire broke out in the main building. With flammable materials all around, it was easy for the flames to spread quickly throughout the factory. Unlike the previous fire in 1898, motorized fire engines were able to arrive much faster than their horse drawn predecessors. Firemen, factory workers and even some of the hollow's residents worked side by side to fight the fire. Despite having better equipment and extra manpower, firefighters were still unable to gain control. The intense heat made it impossible to get close enough to the building to effectively contain the fire. It wasn't long before the blaze towered well beyond the rooftop. Realizing that situation had the potential to become deadly, the firemen withdrew from their positions near the building. The crowds that had assembled on the opposite side of the river watched in awe as the five story building began to collapse. When the massive walls of the charred structure hit the ground, it sent a hot wind swirling through the hollow and out over the Youghiogheny. Glowing pieces of debris were suddenly falling all across the factory site. Once the building was down, firefighters immediately resumed their attack. This time, they concentrated most of their efforts on the scorched debris to prevent any new fires from starting. After a fierce battle, crews finally brought the flames down.
When it was over, the Union Sewer Pipe Company had been reduced to a pile of rubble that smoldered for about a week. The foul odor of the blackened remains lingered along the railroad line, across the river and into Versailles. Talk of the incident seemed to spread faster than the actual flames. It was said that people were travelling from all over the area to see the destruction for themselves. What everyone found to be amazing was how no lives were lost during the tragedy. This incident was the catalyst for the separation of the industry from Dead Man's Hollow.
At the turn of the twentieth century, the Union Sewer Pipe Company had taken up residence at the former site of the Bowman Brick Factory. With the nation's growing demand for clay pipes, the success of the company seemed inevitable. By 1910, there were over seventy men employed at the plant in Dead Man's Hollow. With the number of orders increasing everyday, certain things like safety measures undoubtedly received less attention than they should have. It may have been that type of negligence that was responsible for bringing an end to the prospering company in 1925.
That year, a fire broke out in the main building. With flammable materials all around, it was easy for the flames to spread quickly throughout the factory. Unlike the previous fire in 1898, motorized fire engines were able to arrive much faster than their horse drawn predecessors. Firemen, factory workers and even some of the hollow's residents worked side by side to fight the fire. Despite having better equipment and extra manpower, firefighters were still unable to gain control. The intense heat made it impossible to get close enough to the building to effectively contain the fire. It wasn't long before the blaze towered well beyond the rooftop. Realizing that situation had the potential to become deadly, the firemen withdrew from their positions near the building. The crowds that had assembled on the opposite side of the river watched in awe as the five story building began to collapse. When the massive walls of the charred structure hit the ground, it sent a hot wind swirling through the hollow and out over the Youghiogheny. Glowing pieces of debris were suddenly falling all across the factory site. Once the building was down, firefighters immediately resumed their attack. This time, they concentrated most of their efforts on the scorched debris to prevent any new fires from starting. After a fierce battle, crews finally brought the flames down.
When it was over, the Union Sewer Pipe Company had been reduced to a pile of rubble that smoldered for about a week. The foul odor of the blackened remains lingered along the railroad line, across the river and into Versailles. Talk of the incident seemed to spread faster than the actual flames. It was said that people were travelling from all over the area to see the destruction for themselves. What everyone found to be amazing was how no lives were lost during the tragedy. This incident was the catalyst for the separation of the industry from Dead Man's Hollow.
The Great St. Patrick's Day Flood (1936)
Throughout the years, those living and working in Dead Man's Hollow often found themselves at the mercy of floodwaters. There were numerous occasions when the Youghiogheny River spilled over its banks and into the hollow. One of the most devastating floods ever recorded occurred on March, 17th, 1936. Because it happened on the Irish holiday, it immediately became known as The Great St. Patrick's Day Flood. For the complete story of the flood and historic photographs, 'click' on the Shamrock logo below.
Throughout the years, those living and working in Dead Man's Hollow often found themselves at the mercy of floodwaters. There were numerous occasions when the Youghiogheny River spilled over its banks and into the hollow. One of the most devastating floods ever recorded occurred on March, 17th, 1936. Because it happened on the Irish holiday, it immediately became known as The Great St. Patrick's Day Flood. For the complete story of the flood and historic photographs, 'click' on the Shamrock logo below.
The Youghiogheny River Tragedy (1944)
Story provided by John Canelle
Mike Wassel and his wife, Mary watched as the train pulled into the station at noon. The couple, along with a young woman named Anna Rusnak, were waiting to greet Mike's younger brother, John. Twenty year old Anna was overjoyed by the sight of her future husband stepping down from the passenger car in his military uniform. The young serviceman had just returned home to the McKeesport area on a five day furlough from the Armed Forces. After a few warm embraces, the group made their way back to the Wassel's home in Dead Man's Hollow. The next day, John and Anna spent the afternoon dodging raindrops while visiting family and friends. Toward evening, the couple reunited with Mike and Mary to celebrate John's homecoming with dinner and drinks. While enjoying themselves inside a local restaurant, the group was unaware that a severe storm was blowing in.
As the hour grew late, John Wassel and company left the establishment in Versailles and headed for home in the rain. When they reached the Youghiogheny River, the group boarded Mike Wassel's homemade skiff as fast as they could. In the dark, it was almost impossible to see how choppy the rising waters of the Youghiogheny had become. The young women huddled nervously underneath an umbrella that they were sharing as the lightning spidered across the sky. For reasons unknown, there were now concerns that the small wooden craft would not support the weight of four people despite being able to on the previous trip across the river. Mike decided that he could wade across the river directly behind the boat. Not wanting to waste time, John dropped the oars into the water and began to row back to Dead Man's Hollow. Soon, he found himself struggling to keep the boat under control in the rushing water. The roar of thunder added to the tension building on the river. At that moment, the night sky opened up. The rain began to fall so hard that it made the water next to the boat appear as if it were boiling. Without warning, a strong gust of wind caught the umbrella and pulled it to the side of the skiff. As both women tried to hang onto the umbrella, the sudden weight shift caused the small boat to capsize. All three occupants were forced into the murky water. Before Mike had a chance to react to the situation, the strong current quickly separated him from his brother and the two women. When John surfaced, he could hear both women screaming somewhere in the darkness. He immediately tried to swim to Anna but his heavy combat shoes were making it extremely difficult to tread water. As the raging water carried the sound of screams further away, John had no other choice but to focus on saving his own life. After an exhausting fight against the Youghiogheny River, the young serviceman finally made it to the muddy bank.
When the lightning illuminated the sky again, John could see that his brother was only a few yards away from him. The two men began a desperate search for Anna and Mary along the shoreline. Recognizing the need for more help, the eldest Wassel raced to a neighbor's home in Dead Man's Hollow.
As the night rolled on, a growing number of people joined in the search efforts. Unfortunately, any hopes of finding the two women alive were vanquished by the morning light. Heartbreaking news fell upon the region when the authorities pulled the lifeless body of one of the missing women from the river. A short time later, more disappointing news followed with the discovery of the second victim's body further down the river near McKeesport. The events that occurred on a stormy night in during the World War II era would become the very last tragedy to befall on Dead Man's Hollow.
Story provided by John Canelle
Mike Wassel and his wife, Mary watched as the train pulled into the station at noon. The couple, along with a young woman named Anna Rusnak, were waiting to greet Mike's younger brother, John. Twenty year old Anna was overjoyed by the sight of her future husband stepping down from the passenger car in his military uniform. The young serviceman had just returned home to the McKeesport area on a five day furlough from the Armed Forces. After a few warm embraces, the group made their way back to the Wassel's home in Dead Man's Hollow. The next day, John and Anna spent the afternoon dodging raindrops while visiting family and friends. Toward evening, the couple reunited with Mike and Mary to celebrate John's homecoming with dinner and drinks. While enjoying themselves inside a local restaurant, the group was unaware that a severe storm was blowing in.
As the hour grew late, John Wassel and company left the establishment in Versailles and headed for home in the rain. When they reached the Youghiogheny River, the group boarded Mike Wassel's homemade skiff as fast as they could. In the dark, it was almost impossible to see how choppy the rising waters of the Youghiogheny had become. The young women huddled nervously underneath an umbrella that they were sharing as the lightning spidered across the sky. For reasons unknown, there were now concerns that the small wooden craft would not support the weight of four people despite being able to on the previous trip across the river. Mike decided that he could wade across the river directly behind the boat. Not wanting to waste time, John dropped the oars into the water and began to row back to Dead Man's Hollow. Soon, he found himself struggling to keep the boat under control in the rushing water. The roar of thunder added to the tension building on the river. At that moment, the night sky opened up. The rain began to fall so hard that it made the water next to the boat appear as if it were boiling. Without warning, a strong gust of wind caught the umbrella and pulled it to the side of the skiff. As both women tried to hang onto the umbrella, the sudden weight shift caused the small boat to capsize. All three occupants were forced into the murky water. Before Mike had a chance to react to the situation, the strong current quickly separated him from his brother and the two women. When John surfaced, he could hear both women screaming somewhere in the darkness. He immediately tried to swim to Anna but his heavy combat shoes were making it extremely difficult to tread water. As the raging water carried the sound of screams further away, John had no other choice but to focus on saving his own life. After an exhausting fight against the Youghiogheny River, the young serviceman finally made it to the muddy bank.
When the lightning illuminated the sky again, John could see that his brother was only a few yards away from him. The two men began a desperate search for Anna and Mary along the shoreline. Recognizing the need for more help, the eldest Wassel raced to a neighbor's home in Dead Man's Hollow.
As the night rolled on, a growing number of people joined in the search efforts. Unfortunately, any hopes of finding the two women alive were vanquished by the morning light. Heartbreaking news fell upon the region when the authorities pulled the lifeless body of one of the missing women from the river. A short time later, more disappointing news followed with the discovery of the second victim's body further down the river near McKeesport. The events that occurred on a stormy night in during the World War II era would become the very last tragedy to befall on Dead Man's Hollow.
The tragedy that occurred on the evening of May 24rd, 1944, had been etched into the memory of Liberty Borough resident, John Canelle for over sixty-seven years. Canelle, who was born and raised in Dead Man's Hollow, remembered that fateful night as if it happened only yesterday. It began with the sound of someone's fist pounding on the front door of his family's home. His mother opened the door to find their friend and neighbor, Michael Bendzuch Sr. standing on the porch. Canelle vividly remembered the severity of the storm as Bendzuch stood there in a rain soaked slicker. The former Dead Man's Hollow resident then recalled Bendzuch's words. "Annie! Annie! Come quick! The girls... They went into the river," he said. Canelle added, "I was eight years old when that happened. I'll never forget it."
In addition to his first hand recollection, John Canelle provided this website with copies of the newspaper article and photographs that he had saved. The following material was published by the Daily News on Thursday, May 25th, 1944. This material is used by permission.
In addition to his first hand recollection, John Canelle provided this website with copies of the newspaper article and photographs that he had saved. The following material was published by the Daily News on Thursday, May 25th, 1944. This material is used by permission.
The Daily News
Thursday Evening, May 25, 1944
- The material featured above is property of The Daily News -
Tornado! (1944)
Story provided by John Canelle
Story provided by John Canelle