The heavy rains that last Thursday night did much damage to McDonald and the neighboring towns when the high waters washed through the business houses and homes, destroying much property and laying waste crops and gardens. Many people traveling between McDonald and Pittsburgh were kept from their destinations until after the flood subsided about four o'clock Friday morning. The flood rains were preceded by one of the most severe electric storms ever witnessed in the section. The lower section of McDonald was badly washed. The stores of Hyman LEVINE and Joseph WEISSBERG probably suffered more than the several others into which the water swept. In the pressing establishment of Pete FEDEROFF, the water rose to within one foot of the ceiling, doing considerable damage to clothing and equipment. In the M. H. LEVISON shoe store, a little more than one inch of water covered the main floor, and the basements from the George W. SMITH building to WEISSBERG's hardware store were completely filled. Garages, homes and business places on Washington street were also flooded, and several families on McDonald, Barr, and Valley streets were driven from their homes. The water rose so rapidly in these places that many were trapped before they became aware that a flood was approaching. The fire department was drafted into service and a number of marooned citizens were rescued by the firemen who waded the high water and carried them to safety. Sev! eral foundations on North McDonald street were completely destroyed. The high water in McDonald began to recede about midnight. The entire business section of Oakdale was flooded to a depth of several feet, the main part of town and the public square being covered by several feet of water. The rapid waters of the north branch of Robinson's Run creek washed down foot bridges, brick porches, derrick wheels, telephone and telegraph poles, furniture, and other debris, which tended to hold back the water at the State street arch bridge. Move of the bigger things were caught for the moment, but the force of the water rushing through soon washed them under. In the main creek where the old Union avenue bridge formerly stood, a gas main caught much of the floating debris. It was feared for a time that the pipe would give way before the heavy weight of the gathering rubbish. Boxes and steel gasoline drums were among the things that thundered through the new bridge on this side. In the public square, many poles were being carried by the currents, threatening the windows and walls of the busine! ss houses. Several autos were severely damaged when caught in the waters and were unable to run free. The waters became alarming about nine-thirty, when a dept of almost three feet was in the square. Traffic was blocked and no one permitted to attempt a drive to the other side. Until about one o'clock the flood rose rapidly, then reaching its crest a few inches above the floor of the new Marshall filling station, which was the last place entered by the rising water. Little damage was done in the high stores, but in all the ones level with the street, hardly anything that could be damaged was saves. The stores were unable to operate until the next day, when new supplies of food and other necessities were rushed in. The Presbyterian and United Presbyterian church and the following business houses were entered by the water: J. S. MOORE Hardware, H. C. DODDS Drug store, Oakdale Auto Supply Co., Hadden Restaurant, Butler Chain store, Eagle Chain store, SMILNYEK building, KOSTYAK grocery store, BOCK & WATTERS garage, Lee COOK restaurant and dining room, HENNEMUTH grocery store, HUEY & MATHEWS store, A. & P. store, HOFFMAN department store, First National bank, EVANS Barber Shop, Oakdale Valet Shoppe, SCHWIMER meat market, Joseph VENALECK repair shop, Oakdale postoffice, Armstrong Cork company, and the MARSHALL filling station. A new foundation for the MOORE hardware building was badly damaged and completely filled with water. Homes along Marion avenue and Clinton avenue were badly flooded and left in a terrible condition when the water receded. Porches, fences, and gardens were completely destroyed. Stock and equipment of the business house were carried to the hills and sav! ed. Lightening threatened homes an the firefighting equipment was paralyzed. The home of F. L. SHANE on Vincennes avenue was struck by the lightening, which tore off part of the slate roof and chimney, setting fire to the house. The flames, however, were quickly smothered by a deluge of rain. The water reached its crest about one o'clock then quickly receded. A drop of two feet was made in the first hour, and soon traffic was resumed through about three feet of water still in the square. Cleaning up followed with an exhaustion of the water supply which lasted several hours. The water level reached has only been equaled by one flood many years ago, which rose to a higher level of two and one-half feet. In Noblestown homes and business places of the following persons were flooded: Harry LAUDERBAUGH, Joseph SNEZAK, Alex PLUMERET, Leon DUCRAY, Mary MARTIN, Mary HENEN, Charles TENNYSON, Louis QUERNS, M. NOIR, John DUFFY, and Clyde LAUDERBAUGH.