Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1874-07-29
The Butchers Bun Region a
Scene Of Awful Wreck and
Loss Of Life-The Very
Genius Of DesOlati0n and
Destruction at Work
There.
Allegheny City and Pittsburg-
What Wind and Water Can
Effect in the Way of Com
pIete SpOliatiOn,
Etc, Etc.

PITTsBUBG, July 27.-It is almost i'm
possible for any one not familiar with
the geography of this locality to form
an idea of this disaster, or now it could
possibly have occurred. The main city
Of Pittsburg, IS il rises gradually frOm
the point formed by the junction of the
two rivers, has many gulches in certain
localities, which render a food of this
description liable to do great damage,
and The part known as the Hill region is
frequently liable TO suffer from local in.
undations. The damage here, however,
is this time light, compared with other
localities strictly suburban. The north
bank of Alleghaney river, upon whose
hiiisides and in whose vallies the upper
portion OF the city is situated, has, ac-
c0Tdiug to all accounts, been the scene
OF the greatest disaster. The WORK of
destruction commenced st point about
two miles from the central portion of Al
leghaney City; at CherzOne valley at its
mouth, is probably between four AID
five hundred feet wide, and st the point
where the work OF destruction COM
menced, it is not more than one hum
dred aud fifty feet wide. Between
North avenue and this nOrtherly point,
numerous ravines empty into Butchers
Run valley. Along this run the houses
we're built directly over the natural
water-eOurse, cuiverts being mace
and used, In part, as founda-
tiOns for the dwellinghOuses.
The line OF destruction followed
the water course TO the river, and in-
vOlved an immense number of Eouses
that were not on the line OF the culvert.
When the rain commenced falling but
little appTebensiOns were entertained,
but those who lived near the head of the
valley,state thst suddenly it seemed as il
the heavens were opened and the water
came down as if discharged from inn
mense pipes. The volume was so large
that the narrow valley was filled with a
raging torrent. The frame dwellings,
stables and slaughterhouses gave way
like pipe stems, and the debris from the
wrecks were swept down along the line
Of piank-rOad, the weight being aug
mented every moment. In the district
lying west OF Chestnut street and north
OF a line parallel with North avenue,
the waters rose to a hight OF fully
twenty leet. In some places the oeeu-
pants OF dwellings were unable to escape
IN time TO save their lives. In many
instances the force of water rent struc-
lures into splinters. After taking
away large number Of fences and out
houses, the food struck the dwelling
occupied by Henry Mattern, his wife
and two children. All were drowned.
The next house was that of John Wink
Ter, who found the flood endangering
bis barn ana stock. he and his brother
started out TO the horses. Mrs. Winkler
remained III the house, ond in less than
five minutes the water filed all the
lower rooms. Mrs. Winkler called for
assistance, but before il could reach nor
the building gave way, and she was en-.
gulphe d. Further south was the dwell
ing occupied by Mr.. John Shearing. As
soon as the waters commenced rising.
Mr Shearing moved his family, con.
sisting Of his wife aud twin bows. the
latter aged sour years, TO a hillside.
where be thought they would DE safe.
I The children we're sleeping soundly, but
/ one Of the little fellows was aroused by
the storm, and rolled over the embank-
ment into the angry flood below,
His body was recovered this morning