Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1874-07-28
THE PITrsBURG WATER SPOUT
A Terrible Calamity
Over Two Hundred Persons Drowned

Telegraphic dispatches in yesterdays STAR
stated that Pittsburg and its vicinity was visited
with violent and destructive rain storm on
Sunday flooding the streets and washing away
houses, with great loss of life. The center OF
the city was comparatively unhurt, but the
suburban portions were whelmed in torrents OF
water, and houses were swept away and ruined,
carrying away and drowning many families. Ii
is believed the number OF persons drowned will
amount TO two hundred and over. The prevail
ing theory is that the disaster was caused bv
some kind OF water spout. A gentleman who
watched the storm from a point a few miles
down the river, where there was little rain
says that by the ftful flashes of lightning he
could see huge inky- black funnel-shaped
cloud which overhung the city, the narrow end
being the lowest, while the dark parts gave
vent to almost continued flashes of lightning
AN IRRESISTIBLE FLOOD.
The work of destruction commenced at a
point about two miles north of the central pOr-
ton OF Allegheny City. Butchers run at it
mouth Is probably between 400 and 500 feet
wide, and at the point where the work OF de-
structiOn commenced 1t is not more than $50 feet
wide. Between North avenue and this north
erly point numerous ravines empty into Butch
er's run valley. Along this run houses were
built directly over the natural water course,
culverts being made and used in part as found
atoms for dwellings. The line OF destruction
followed the water course TO the river, and in
VOWED an immense number OF houses that were
commenced falling but little apprehension was
entertained, but those whe lived near the head
OF the valley state that suddenly il seemed as If
the heavens we're opened and the water came
down az III discharged from immense pipes
The volume was so great that the valley was
filled with raging torrent. Frame dwellings,
stablee and slaughter houses gave way like pipe
stems, and the debris from the wrecks was
swept down along the plank road, the weight
being augmented every moment. In the dis
trtct lying west Of Chestnut street and north Of
q line parallel with North avenue the waters
rose to height of fully twenty feet. In
some places the occupants Of dwellings
were unable to escape in time to sVe
Of the water rent structures into spIinters
The course Of the food was probably two hun
dred feet wide, and frame and brick buildings
though they had been sand. Dwellings, stores,
workshops and debris Of all kinds mingled to-
gether In one confused mass, making IL impos-
sible for the spectator to discover even street
lines In some instances. Houses were literally
turned upside down. On O'Hare street the
dwelling Of Alderman Bolster was reduced 10
its original elements, and one of his children
drowned. The rest OF the family escaped. On
the same street was family consisting of Jacob
Nuches, wife and one child, and Joseph a
brother OF Mrs. Nuches; an adjoining house
contained Jacob Meter, wife and two children,
all of whom except one child were lost Their
bodies were found last evening. On Chestnut
street at the intersection of Spring Garden
avenue, the water attained a depth of fully
twenty feet, but the buildings wfhstood tbs
force better, and in only one instance was any
serious damage done. a large frame building
u
and foated directly across the
street, completely obstructing the way. II is
estimated that in this district seventy buildings
were destroyed, but no estimate has been made
OF their value. A large number of people are
missing. 1t is thought many bodies are still in
the debris.
THRILLING INCIDENTS OF THE DISASTER.
On Center street, parties who appeared with
skif discovered man hanging on the roof of
a house, and rescued him. He informed the
men in the skiff that his family, consisting of
his wife and four children, were back in the
house. He got on the roof, jumped from that
to another roof, and when he reached Center
street the house was swept away, and the fam
lily persisted, together with the children Of an
other family, making, in all, ten souls on Chest
In Caspar Raises saloon, among others. were
Philip Hess, constable, and Henry Schaeffer
They rushed out Of the saloon into the street,
and that was the last seen Of them alive. Hess
body was found next morning, ciinginR to q nre-
plug with one hand. Schaeffer's BODY has not
yet been found. Another man also rushed from
the saloon with Hess and Schaeffer; his body
was recovered in q yard between Chestnut and
Center streets, about o mile distant.
VIM. Poets tied his wife and several children
with . clothes line in his house, fearing some OF
them would rush away in their alarm and be
lost. The house and entire family were saved
The number Of persons lost Is undoubtedly
more than already recorded.
During the aashesof lightning, horses, cattle.
and animals Of all kinds could be seen floating
in the torrent, and their believing Of terror
could be heard above the food.