The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1874-08-15 00:00:00

THE GREAT FLOOD AT PITTSBURG. ,

The American papers contain full details of the
terrible flood at Pittsburg, which appears to have
drowned 200 people. The extent of territory damaged
is not less than from 20 to 25 miles in diameter, and how
the main portion of the city of Pittsburg—lying as
it does in the centre of this circle escaped appears
most miraculous. A prevailing theory is that the
disaster WM caused by some kind of waterspout. A
gentleman, who watched the storm from a point a few
miles down the river, where there was little rain, says
that by the fitful flashes of lightning he could see a
huge inky black funnel-shaped cloud which over-
hung the city, the narrow ends being lowest, while
the dark parts gave vent to almost continuous flashes
of lightning. The north bank of the Alleghany, upon
the hill sides and in the valleys of which the upper
portion of the city is situated, has, according to all ac-
counts, been the scene of the greatest disaster. The work
of destruction began at a point about two miles north
of the central portion of Alleghany city. Butcher's
Ron Valley, at its mouth, is probably between 400
and 500 feet wide, and at the point where the work of
destruction began it is not more than 130 feet wide.
Between North Ave and this northerly point numerous
ravines empty into Butcher's Run Valley. Along this
run the houses were built directly over the natural
course, culverts being made and used in part as founda-
tions for dwellings. The line of destruction followed
the watercoursq to the river, and involved an immense
number of houses that were not on the line of the cal
verts.

When the rain began falling little apprehension was
entertained, but those who lived near the head of the
valley state that suddenly it seemed as if the heavens
were opened, and the water came down as if discharged
from immense pipes ; the volume was so great that the
valley was filled with a raging torrent, The frame-
dwellings, stables, and slaughterhouses gave way like
pipe stems, and the debris from the wrecks was swept
down along the line of the plank road, the weight being
augmented every moment. In the district lying west
of Chestnet-street and north of a line parallel with
North Ave the waters rose to a height of fully 20 feet;
in some places occupants of dwellings were unable to
escape in time to save their lives. In many places the
force of the water rent structures into splinters. At the
corners of East-street and Madison-avenue the water
seemed to deviate. In a triangular house at the inter-
section of these streets resided Mrs. Coulon, with
four children; also a young man named Arnold and a
cripple named Rogers. All were lost, except Niel
Coulon. Young Arnold had gone into the house to
rescue some of the inmates, but fell a victim to the
flood. About a block below the intersection of
Madison-avenue and East-street the torrent again
united, and swept down with redoubled violence to
the low lands embracing Concord, O'Hara, and a por-
tion of Chestnut streets. The course of the flood was
probably 200 feet wide. The frame and brick build-
ings fell before it as though they had been sand dwel-
lings. Stones, workshops, and debris of all kinds
mingled together in one confused mass, making it im-
possible for the spectators to discover even the street
lines. In some instances houses were literally turned
upside down. For more than a mile out on Spring-
Garden-avenue, A lleghany City, the marks of the
destruction are everywhere seen. Houses are thrown
together in heaps. Some twenty-five or thirty
slaughter-houses on the avenue were washed away.
Many bridges that were not totally destroyed are
seriously damaged. The water rising to the height of
15 feet flooded the first floors of all the houses, and in
many places the second floors. Several houses were
swept into the middle of the street, and others carried
off hundreds of yards and shattered to pieces. A house
containing two or three families at the rear of Centre-
street was destroyed, and it is supposed all the inmates
were drowned. In Temperanceville and Saw Mill
Run the flood made sad havoc. The fierce torrents of
rain swelled every little tributary of Saw Mill Run
into a boiling stream, and the accumulating waters
rushed with mad and irresistible fury down the valley,
sweeping everything in their course. The track of
devastation is marked by the wrecks of dwellings,
bridges, immense heaps of stones, large piles of drift
wood, and the torn and ragged sides of the hills
where the waters surged and gnawed into their very
vitals. Seven lifeless bodies have already been found ;
from twenty-five to thirty persons are missing. The iron
bridge crossing Saw Mill Run at Main street, and five
other bridges above were swept away. At I%l:Laughlin's,
about eleven miles west on the Pan Handle railroad,
eleven persons are reported to have been drowned,
also hundreds of cattle, horses, sheep, &c. On the
south side of the Ohio river Temperanceville was the
heaviest sufferer. There a narrow stream, known as
the Saw Mill Run, empties into the Ohio. Up this
stream hardly a vestige remains of two iron bridges.
Stones five by two feet were torn from the abutments
and swept down the stream like pieces of cork. Five
wooden bridges and three trestles over the same stream
were also swept away. The gas holders of the gas
works were also badly injured. G. S. and J. C. Taylor's
salt works were also completely wrecked, and the loss
is estimated at 25,000 dols. At Brooks, Ballantine, and
Co.'s refinery three tanks, two stills, two worms, and
350 feet of pipe were swept away. A brick store near
Washington turnpike, owned by George K. Gambles,
and occupied by Mr. Siegler, was struck tiy the flood
and carried away. Nothing can new be seen where it
stood save a pool of water. Siegles estimates his loss on
stock at about 9,000 dole. The building wasworth about
4,000 dols. The lot on which the building stood has also
disappeared, the course of the run being here changed,
so that its bed is now where the building was formerly
situated. In Charter's Valley there is a stream which
runs parallel with Sawmill Run and empties into the
Ohio river three miles below. The loss of life here
appears to be very great. All the little runs
emptying into Charter's Creek became rushing rivers.
On Brush Run the fences and bridges are all gone, and
a great deal of valuable property was destroyed. The
loss of human life has been frightful. At M`Laughlin's
Run eleven persons were drowned, among them a
whole family named Maclean being swept away. A
house owned by Mr. Strators, which had been stand-
ing 100 years, was torn away, and after being taken
down the stream a mile and a half Mr. Strators sue-
ceeded in making his escape. During the flashes of
lightning horses and cattle and animals of all kinds
could be seen floating in the torrent, and their bellow-
ing from terror could be heard above the roar of the
flood.