The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1874-08-04
THE WORK OF DESTRUCTION

Pittsburgh, lying as it does in the center
of this circle, escaped without further in
fury seems almost miraculous.
THE WORK OF DESTRUCTION
Commenced at point about two miles
north Of the central portion Of Allegheny
City. Butchers Run Valley, at its mouth,
is probably between four and five hun
dred feet wide, and at the point where the
work OF destruction commenced it is not
more than $50 feet wide Between North
avenue and this ortherly point numbers
Of ravincs empty into Butchers Run
Valley, and along this run the houses
were built directly over the natural water
course, culverts being made and used, in
part, as foundations for dwelling houses
The line of destruction followed the wa
ter course to the river, and involved al
immense number of houses that were not
on the line of the culvert. When the rain
commenced falling, but little apprehen-
sions were entertained, but those who
lived near the head OF the valley state
that it suddenly seemed as if the heavens
were opened and the water came down
AS IF DISCHARGED FROM IMMENSE PIPES
The volume was so large that the narrow
valley was filed with raging torrent
The frame dwellings, stables and slaugh
ter-houses gave way like pipe-stems, and
the debris from the wrecks were swept
down along the line of the plank road, the
weight being augmented every moment
In the district lying west Of Chestnut
street and north Of the line parallel with
North avenue, the water rose to a height
of fully 20 feet. In some places the oc
cupants of dwellings were unable to es.
cape in time to save their lives, and il
many instances the force of the water
rent the structures into splinters.
After taking away large number Of
fences and outhouses, the food struck
the dwelling-occupicd by Henry Mattern
and his wife and two children were
drowned. The next house was that o
John Winkler, who found the food en-
dangering his barn and stock, He and
his brother started out to the horses, while
Mrs. Wiakler remained in the house. II
less than five minutes the water filed al
the lower rooms Mrs. Winkler called
for assistance, but before it could reach
her the building gave way, and she was
ingulfed. Further southwark was q
house occupied by Mr.. John Shearing -
AS soon ar the water commenced rising
Mr. Shearing moved bis family, consist
ing of his wife and twin boys, aged foul
years, to the hillside in what he supposed
to be place of safety. The children
we're sleeping soundly, but one of the lit
tie fellows was aroused by the storm, and
rolled over the embankment into The
food below. His body was recovered
this morning.
WHOLE FAMILIES DROWNED.
The extensive glue-works were next tc
succumb to the action of the water, ant
were totally destroyed. A short distance
below these works was small dwelling
occupied by August Rykof and family
embracing his wife and two children
The family were unaware Of the destruc
ton which was sweeping down upor
them, ere the building was carried from
its foundation and the occupants with it
Mrs Rykof, bruised and bleeding, was
rescued from the torrent several squares
distant, but both her children wert
drowned. At the corner of East street
and Madison avenue, the waters seemed
to divide. In triangularshaped hous,
at the intersection of the streets named
resided Mrs. Conlon, widow who hae
four children, boy and three girls;
young man named Arnold, and another,i
cupper, named Rogers, were in the hous
at the time, and the entire number. will
the exception of VIII Conlon, were lost
Young Arnold had gone into the hous
to rescue some of the inmates, but fell
victim to the destroying element.
About block below the intersection
of Madison avenue and East street tn
torrent again united, and swept down wit
a2edoubled fury to the low lands, embrac
ing Concord, O'Hara and a portion o
Chestnut streets, The course of the foo,
was probably 200 feet wide, and build
ings, frame and brick, fell before the de
vastating element as though they ha
been sand. Dwellings, stores, workshop
and debris of all kinds mingled togethe
in one confused mass, making it absolute
ly impossible for the spectator to discov
er even the street lines In some instan
ces houses were literally turned upsid
down. On O'Hara street the dwellin
of Alderman Bolster was reduced to il
original clements and one of his child-e
drowned. The rest of the family escar
ed. On the same street a family name
Fuchs, consisting Of Jacob Fuchs, wifi
and one child, and Joseph, brother c
Mrs Fuchs, in another house almost &C
joining, besides Jacob Metrer, wife an
two children All the family except or
child was lost. The bodies of the thre
were found this morning
On Chestnut street, at the intersectio
of Spring Garden avenue, the water q
tanned depth of fully 90 feet, but tn
buildings withstood the force better, an
in only one instance was there any ser
Gus damage done. A large frame built
ing occupied as beer hall was move
from its foundations, and planted direc
ly across the street, completely obstruc
ing the way tits estimated that in tn
district about 70 dwelling houses were d.
= stroyed. but no estimate has been mad
of their value. Large numbers of pee
pie are missing, and it is thought thu
many bodies are still in the debris. A
fast as recovered they are taken to the v.
rious undertakers in the city, and 38 a,
now known to have come from this di
trict.
SPRING GARDEN AVENUE
Lies to the south Of Butchers Run, an
is separated by high hill. In this vale
the same scenes were enacted, though o
smaller scale, as regards loss of life.
would be impossible to give anything lih
; adetailed account of the damage done
, dwelling houses in this vicinity. Tho:
: which were not totally destroyed wei
very greatly damaged. Beyond Ced;
avenue fortunately there were but fe
! lives lost, at least as far as could be asce
tanned Some two or three are reporte,
, A man named Michael Slaughter was in
, tavern about 9 o'clock, when the dang,
) became apparent. He seized child
his ar,ns and rrshod fhrouuh tho do,