Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1874-07-30
,..,.s of the Disaster in Pittsburg.

,,;rt rsnorts that be passed three dead bodies
floating in the OHIO river abeut twerty-seVen
miles below the city, but Was unable to reach
them.
4 w. Cole, one Of the members OF the i'm
Of c. Haveler l. Co., whose glue W'rks were
entirely wrecked, states that when the mood
began 10 descend no Que had any idea that 1t
would reach the great proportions which IL as
sumcd. Cole who during the Storm STOOD out.
side Of his dwelling, located just IN the rear OF
the hill, at the upper end OF The glue WORKS
saws that the hill had the appearance OF im-
meusc sheets Of water as outlined on the OPP
nnsile nm when lighted up by CONTIGUOUS
flashes Of hghluiug. When the great f)od OF
wafer rushed down the run he llkcned the roar
nroduced to the roar OF Niagara Falls.
Mrs. Rcukaut went to her front door to as
certain the extent of the flood, aud upon open-
ing the door the water rushed IN 10 great
1ulu1uc, and was soon several feet deep. Nun
hers of articles of furniture were damned up
against the door leading to the second story,
where the children were. She found she was
unable 10 get up the staircase, aud then tried
tn Get to the rear of the house, it possible, To.
save the sleeping cues by the upstairs windows
She tried 10 vain to rouse them. AS she pass
cd ont the front door the side facing the Ale
pbany river fell out carrying her with It, ohe
was swept down the run about hundred yards,
caught on top OF some debris OF the glue works,
,.au,bercd over this distance OF fifty feet, and
had to wade from that poiut to shores dis
lance of about twenty yards, ID water, waist
deem. Her cries for assistance were responded
to by several mcn who happened TO lie In sne
vicinity, and did what they could ID enaoilng
her to reach shore. She is 10 delicate health,
and the courage she displayed was remarkable.
During the tine she Was being swept away a.
Y. Cole, with his brother Isaac, Went to the
rear of the house by meaDs OF private zane
leading past it, and by shouting at the top OF
their voices endeovored to awaken the chiiaren
who were imprisoned in the upper story OF the
dwelling. The roar of the torrent drowned
their voices, and they we're unable to make
themselves heard They then picked up
cIumls Of earth aud threw them at the WIn-
dow hut lust then the house was swept away,
and DISAPPEARED iu the food, and the three
children were crushed to death in It's crumblpg
rufus. Their nanged bodies were found about
| one huudred and fifty yards below the scene OF
the heroic efforts tor their rescue.
Another thrilling incident which occurred IN
this vicinity was the miraculous escape OF the
watchman of the glue works. He thought the
| 4 ,od was small affair. aud started up stairs
| TO get beyond reach of it just as there was
about foot of water in the lower story He
had scarcely reached the second story when
the stairs gave way, and he was compelled to
lump down to the coal house, which stood 10
the vicinity of the boilers. Out of this be
crowded through al aperture, while the water
was up to his chin. Fortunately he secured
plank, and with that he made Tor shore, which
he reached in safety.
The sudden rise of the waters in Butcher
run is well illustrated by some incidents rela-
ted by German family who reside in stone
dwelling opposite Havelers glue works. The
husband told his wife to go to the cellar to OBJ
tain some kipdliug for the cooking. stove, as he
desired to go to work early Monday morning
The wife placed the wood 10 the stove, but by
the tune she had completed her work the water
had reached the flor She notified ner hus-
band of the fact, and suggested that they had
| better vacate the house, as the food threaten
ed to destroy it. The husband, who had re-
tired, Jumped out of bed into water knee deep,
and with his wife proceeded to get the children
out of an upper story window on high ground
in the rear. After they had accomplished this
the husband returned to the bedroom to get
some clothing out OF the wardrobe, but, in the
meantime, the water reached such height as
to upset it, aud he found it impossible to get
the articles be wanted, being Compelled to
hastily vacate the apartment.
The Evening Chronicle has the following
from Ben Maueold, German, living short
distance FROM Schonapperts, whose house
proved the tomb of faulty of six: We learn
ed The particulars OF this sad episode in the
history of the Butchers run tragedy Schon-
apperts house stood Immediately below the oil
refinery of Huldship & Co.. and was struck by
the food with force enough to carry 1t COM
C. 81,
and hurl it down the torrent Mangold, hear
ing shrek upon shrek rend the air, looked out
of the upper window. The doomed house
careened aloug within stones throw. At the
upper windows stood poor Schonapperts and
wife, each holding aloft child over the raging
water aud shricking, God Almighty he p US !"
God save us!' 10 few seconds the building
reached the bend where the food turned south
| at the foot Of Beneva avenue. Here 1t struck
against slaughter house and dissolved like a
pile of snow in the boiling waters. The shrleks
we're silent, and only the crash and grinding
timbers we're heard.
The Branagan family live on 0 Hara street,
and occupy the last house saved on the left
going down the street. The family consists of
Mr.. and Mrs Branagan and four children. A
neighbor, Patrick McNlauus was also in the
house when the water tore up the back wall on
the ground floor and dashed toward the front
room on o. Hara street. Had the door not
been speedily opened aud the glass broken out
the whole family would have been drowned
like so many rats Across the window Was an
iron bar used for securing the shutter Swiftly
the wafer rose until it stood FIVE feet in the
room with current like mill-race through
the apartment. Mr.. and Mrs. Branagan in
stan.ly seized each child aud chung to the bar
with the grip of despair while the cold, muddy
torrent swept over them.
For four hours these two hung to that provi-
deutlally- placed bar, and were all rescued. Nc
Manus, who, with the remaining child, rushed
to the street, was swept iuto an alley and
on the roof Of shed, where they were also
saved. One singular feature of the food has
not been alluded to. 1t has been ascertained
that only one person who escaped from the
flood was injured. The dead al bore marks of
bruises and maDgling, but Notwithstanding the
topping Of houses and avala0ches of timber
and debris those who cscaped from the wreck