The Newberry herald. [volume] (Newberry, S.C.) 1865-1884, 1874-08-05
Another Dreadful Disaster.

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The long chapter Of disasters still
lengthens, each day adding fresh hcr-
rors to the dreadful summary Of loss
IN life and property, by FIRE, food,
railroad accidents, explosions, &C.
The following is the latest, Of which
We make synopsis from the daily
papers:
On the night of the 26th one of the
most fearful rain storms ever known,
visited Alleghany City, Pennsylvania,
and the devastation effected was wide
spread and shocking. The rain com.
menced to fall about eight o'clock,
: Just when the church bells had ceased
their toiling and when worshippers
were engaged in religious exercises:
singing hymns Of praise to God. 1t
seemed as if the gates of heaven haG
opened wide aud allowed the deluge
free scope, for never before has any
one in this ueighborhood witnessed
such an incessant and so heavy a
rainfall. Accurate measurement OF
the rains Yesterday shows fall Of
within one-twentieth of five and one
half inches-mcre than twice as much
as has ever been known to fall In the
same space. The thunder and light
ming were terrific, and the death cry
of scores Of victims rose upon the air
from dozen submerged localities. It
was not until the break of day that
the full horrors Of the food wer"
known. When the rain commenced
falling but little apprehension was ell
tertained, but those who live near the
head of the valley state that suddenly
it seemed as if the heavens were lit
orally opened, and water came down
in great volumes, which soon filed
the Iowlands to ovcrfowing. Rapidly
the streams filed and houses wtrr
sucked Of their foundations Ike 5"
MANY iackstrSws and hurled aga!ASt
each other, their occupants bci"2
crushed Or drowned IN t!!tir etI"rts It
escape. The loss Of life is appalling
and the scene is almost indescr!hab!e
and when the houses began to float
then it was that the air was rent witt
wild, distressing cries of mothers ant
children and tender babes. At shor
intervals fash Of lightning woul(
reveal gllastly, terror-strlcken face
thrust from the windows of foatin;
houses, and presently, when the waite
began to rise higher and higher, an,
buildings began to crumblc and ia
to pieces, struggling forms OF HeI
women and children could be seen i
the water battling icr life. Then; a
ter az iDteryYl Of darkness, the il.:''j
aing woal again reveal the place, Iu
t!.ev had disappeared benea:h heay
mass Of floating timbers. Never i
=: instant did the wild. dcspaiTin
cries cease. No sooner would t!
screams OF one despalrlnG Mort
cease with dealt! than another w""i
burst forth, an, SC during the Ion
hours Of the night they conld he;
them scream, and witness their Il.
iDg struggles without power to he!
~ times they could see through Il
windows Of floating house. where
light still burned. mothers kneeli'
with young children in their ar:i'
presently the house would topple al
fall with crash, bnt not too loud
drown tie piercing shr;eks Of t!
poor wrcsches within. The work
recovering bodies commenced at da
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even now men with lanterus are scare
ing the debris for sOlnc one known
be missing. The bodies recovered a
iior the most part disfgarcd: showl'
that the current of waters was &c
violent.