The Andrew County Republican. [volume] (Savannah, Mo.) 1871-1876, 1874-08-07
TERRIBLE DEUCE.

FLOOD ISFLIcrs SERIOUS DAMAGE ofoS
LIFE AND PROPERTY.
PITTSBURGH, July 27.-The rain-storm
-,;cb visited this city yesterday ana last
;rb. WAS the heaviest known to the eldest
.h;.spts and the result the most disas-
.-.,s in the history of this city. The storm
:, the morning only inflicted some damage on
a. .svers and individual property; but at
.hont Q o'clock the windows of the heavens
- oreped and the deluge was fearful.
S.I;d masses of water flung themselves in
..rrv volume upon every square foot OF the
- and country, the thunder and lightning
tarridc. and the desth-cry Of scores Of
r;.,ius rose upon the air from a dozen sub
-o,c.d localities. The exact course Of this
,,ciope as vet is not precisely known, but
| - n l.. a semi-circle, embracing the
-ar.bsrn western. and southwestern parts of
.r c;tv in its area, leaving the main portion
- .be city unharmed. In Allegheny the
,,,.mitv IS utterly appalling. not only In
tbe loss OF property, but in lives Of
beings.
Tba treat ire, so recent within its borders,
r.s Nothing as compared with this disaster.
people in the vicinity where the greatest des-
--uction occurred say that they could
,st svay from the reach of fire. but the water
ovarwhelmed them and placed life in as great
| iAonsrdv as property. In all parts OF the city
more or less damage was done but great loss
oc,nrred in the bottom districts, when the
.or,en. swept from the hills. In these the
greatest distress prevailed. Families III the
pesce and quiet of the Sabbath evening, were
| rompeIled to their uttermost exertion to save
thar lives. The devastation along the line of
Butchers and Sawmill run was Amos be-
vond description. The work of destruction
commenced a. 2 point about two miles north
Il Ohio street. TIT valley proper COM
ueuces a. q point just above the line
: If North avenue, where Spring Gar
dan run and Butchers run unite and
sov inte Al immense sewer. leading into Ale
gheuy river. Butchers run valley, at its
month, Is probably between 400 and $50 feet
vide. and st the point where the work Of des-
truction commenced it is not moro than $50
feet vide. Between North avenue and this
portherlv point. numerous ravines empty into
Butchers -uu Talley. Along this route houses
we're bull. directly over tho natural water
course TO the river, and involved an immense
number of houses that were not on the line OF
the c~ulyerts. When the ram commenced fall
ing. but little apprehension was entertained
but those who lived near the head Of the valley
state that suddenly it seemed as if the hesy-
ems we're literally opened. and the watercame
down as Il discharged from an immense pipe.
The volume wss so large that this narrow
valley was filed with the raging torrent. The
force Of the water was irresistible. The frame
dwellings, stables. and slaughter houses gave
vay Ike pipe-stems, aud the debris from the
wreck was swept down along the plank-road.
! .lLf weight neing augmented every mo-
nsnt. N :lie district lying west of Chestnut
sreet and ior.h OF a line parallel with North
nsnue. the water rose to a height Of fully
. feet. II some places the occupants of
dwelling. were unable to escape in time to
save their lives. and in many instances the
force Of the water rent the structures into
%spFnters.
The following is a recapitulation Of the losses
oflife and property thus far reported:
Butchers run-Found, IL; missing, 20.
Woods run-Found, 5: missing. 4.
Castle Shannon railroad-Found, 10: miss
ING, none.
Ohio river-Found, !; missing, none.
Soho-Found. l; missing, none.
Charters creek-Found, ii missing, 8.
Bndgeyills to Washington county-Found,
Il; missing. 3.
Total buildings destroyed, 1i7.
Search for bodies in several localities is
going On tonight.