The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1874-07-29
THE GREAT FLOOD.
Incidents and Descriptions Of the DIS.
aster-Heart Rending scenes.

Incidents and Descriptions Of the Dis
aster-Heart Rending scenes.
From the Pittsburgh Commercial Of the
2sth, we collect the following compen-
dunn of facts relating to the recent flood
in that city and locality;
The storm In Pittsburgh.
Although the storm was, probably, the
fiercest that was ever experienced in this
city, and the loss of property, in the ag-
gregate, greater than was ever known, 1t
was only in the new district lying ut the
mouth of Saw Mill run, on the south side
of the Monongahela river-the extreme
western portion of the corporation-that
any lives were lost. In the old city, IN
fact all that portion lying between the
Allegheny and MonOngahela rivers, no
lives were lost and no injuries to persons
were inflicted In this regard
under the circumstances, our people
give thanks for mercy extended.
With the exception of the west
ern portion of the South side, already
mentioned, the city of Pittsburgh indeed
made most fortunate escape. The loss
of life at the mouth of Saw Mill run was
indeed fearful, but it would have been rs
appalling as that ut Butchers run, Allie
gheny, had the fiat near the river been
such as the latter. whereby the the torrent
could mass against the dwellings. From
the hill districts the sewers were OF course
inadequate to the work Of carrying oil
the immense volumes of water, while
their capacity was weakened by the debris
thrown into the mouths of drops, thereby
in many cases choking them up. Thus
the torrent WAS, in the main, forced upou
the surface and covered whole thorough
fares, sweeping bouldcrs and earth from
their places, filling cellars and tearing
from their places and throwing before II
such light and insecure buildings as
might be in its way The rubbish, dirt.
timber. bouldcrs. &c, thus thrown upon
the bottom streets served to choke up
sewers and To- make water courses out ol
all natural and artificial directions here
totore had, by which again cellars were
filed houses injured, and damage done
generally that ordinarily would Il" mn
possible.
No description of this calamity, how
ever graphic, could convey TO the mind
an adequate conception Of 1t. Tho nor
rOrs compressed within that dreadful
hour will never be fully told. ThoN"
who visited the scene yesterday, saw tn"
wrecked houses, and the long rows "t
bodies carried from the ruins-who gaZ"d
upon the ghastlv forms of the dead, and
the agonized features of surviving par
cnts and children, can form II faint
conception of the terrOrs Of that fatal
hour. Whole families have been
blottcd out entirely. In one case,
a father alone survives a family Of eleven
the mother and nine children having
perished The father had been absent
during tho night, and thus escaped.
There were scores of incidents, of the
most touching and narrowing nature,
past the power of words to portray. II
has been the aim of our reporters To
gather such facts as they could obtain
in regard to the loss of life.
1t will he several days before Il complete
list of the dead can be ascertained.
The Storm I'm the East End.
That part of the city known aS the
East End including the rural wards, re-
ccivcd It's share of the storm. The ram
was very heavy, and the immense black
clouds which overhung Allegheny could
be plainly discerned to the northward.
The tracks of the Pennsylvania Central
and of the Connellsvillc railroads, winch
traverse this section, were completely
blockaded with rocks, earth and other
debris. which were swept down from the
embankments and hillsidcs. Thousands
of tons were cast upon the roadways. oh
the Pennsylvania road. between the outer
depot and Lawrenccvillc. the debris was
several feet thick on the tracks in some
places.
The South Side.
The South Side district Of our city
suffered in no small degree by the caIam-
ituus visitation, although the formation
of the ground forbidS such c"ncrntra-
tion of disastrous influences aS wrought
sucb havoc in the Butchers run district.
in Allegheny. The water was not thrown
J,,yn H.. .Innas into one narrow outlet.
hnt @ aowrJ Jlwn both sides of the hills.
amL 49, yos di.nersrd rather than cunccn-
% ,rntoJ Sill ss we have said the de-
u '"t'"; w r.a, ,|r.ot and incmdrd. besides
' , "''"''S" 's nn'n.:r,y mn = thn infinitely more
i'',,n.,ht, i"> Ia.s If Tf, In the
'"'''' ''''., >,,, Y,, n,.,r,o,
IA" Will "" ,| ..;,,,.
the disaster attained iGarin' Pr"P'r,'"'t,S, t
and it is here that tn" loss oil I,'' i 20 ,hg %g
recorded. All along the course ~ 'n'
stream there were wreck ana "c'"I'a.T',, I;n5 IL,
and IN some I"'Hl'tIe> ur''" TI'' iIn'as s war;.
the a''uiii"i"t'u ''' :; r,,;,,- .rJ
'~'lt nM"l, n,.,,n -, ,r. one Of the widest
~, In',rm,ti,n
~ - ,,, n.,,,es
49,, 60, elan,
1t Is gratifying I" l'''',. ,T' , v.nr, r,,
early Yesterday morning w., .L,' .Ia,,a,,.s
promptly engage" l" repay, ~, =,
Of tn" previous hlSi'. 49,. @ @,a,i."ail" hnt