The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1874-07-30
A Terrible Calamity
A Waterspout Visits Pitts
burgh and Vicinityl
TERRIBLELOSs OFLIFE AND
PROPERTY.

On Monday night a most terrible
storm visited the city of Pittsburgh
and its vicinity, which was the most
destructive to life and property of any
that had ever before occurred in that
region.
The prevailing theory is that the
disaster was caused by some kind of a
waterspout. The extent of the terri
tory damaged is said to be not less
than twenty to twenty-five miles in
diameter, and the loss of life. it is
thought, will not be short of two
hundred. An account given in the
Evening Chronicle says:
The work of destruction commenced
at a point about two miles north of
the central portion OF Allegheny City.
Butehers' Run valley, at its mouth, is
probably between four and five hum
dred feet wide, and at the point where
the work OF destruction commenced
it is not more than one hundred and
fifty feet wide. Between North Av-
enue and this northerly point numer-
Gus raYines empty into Butchers Run
Valley. Along this Run the houses
were built directly over the natural
water course, culVerts being made and
used in part as foundations for dwell
ing houses. The line of destruction
followed the water course to the river
aud involved an immense number of
houses thatwere not on the line OF the
eulveft When the rain commenced
falling but little appreheDsions were
entertained, but those who live near
the head of the valley stated that sud-
denfy it seemed as If She heavens ere
opened and the water came down as
if discharged, FROM Immense pipes.
The volume was so large that the
narrow valley was filled with raging
torrent, the frame dwellings, stables
and slaughteF-houses gave way like
pipe-stems, and debris from the wrecks
was swept down along the line of the
plank road, the weight being augmen-
ted every moment. In the district ly-
ing west of Chestnut street and north,
the water rose to a height of fully 20
feet. In some places the occupants. of
dwellings were unable to escape in
time to save their lives. In many in
stances the force of the water rent the
structures into splinters. After taking
away large number of fences and
out-houses, the flood struck the dwell
ing occupied by Henry Mattern, his
wife and two children All were
drowned. The next house was that of
John Winkler, who found the flood
endangering his barn and stock. He
and his brother started out to the
horses. Mrs. Winkler remained in
the house, and in less than five min
utes the water filled all the lower
rooms. Mrs. WinkIer called for as
sistance, but before itcould reach her
the building gave way and she was
enguIfed. Further southwark was the
dwelling occupied by Mr.. John Shear
ing. AS soon as the water commence
ed rising, Mr.. Shearing moved his
family, consisting of his wife and twin
boys aged four years, to the hillside in
what he supposed to be place of safe
ty. The children were sleeping sound
Iy; but one of the little fellows was
aroused by the storm, and rolled over
the embankment into the angry flood
below. His body was recovered this
morning. The extensive glue works
were next to suecumb TO The action Of
water, and were totally destroyed. A
short distance below these works was
a small dwelling occupied by Mr.. Au-
gust Rykopf and family, embracing
his wife and two children. The fam
lily were unaware of the destruction
which was sweeping down upon them
The little building was carried from
its foundation and four of the occu-
pants with it. Mrs. Rykopf, bruised
aud bleeding, was rescued from the
torrent several squares distant, but
both children were drowned. At the
corner of East street and Madison
Avenue The waters seemed to deviate.
In a triangular shaped house at the
intersection of the streets named, re-
sided Mrs. Conlin, widow, who had
four children, one boy and three girls.
A young man named Arnold and an
ather, cripple, named Rogers, were
in the house at the time. The entire
number, with the exception of Neil
Conlon, were lost. ouug Arnold
had gone into the house TO rescue
some of the inmates, but fell victim
70 the destroying element. About a
block below the Intersection of Madi-
son Avenue and East street the tor
rent again united and swept down
EN- bracing Concord, O'Hara, and a
pOll4OA VI OAOSbnAl SlAOClSs L AC
course of the flood was probably two
hundred feet wide, and buildings,
frame and brick, fell before the devas-
tafing element as though they had
been sand. Dwellings, stables, work
shops and debris of all kinds mingled
together in one confused mass, max
ing it absolutely impossible for the
spectator to discover even the street
line. In some instances the houses |
literally turned upside down. On |
O'Hara street the dwelling of Alder
man Bolster was reduced to its oTigi- !
nal elements, and one of his children
drowned. The next family escaped. |
On the same street a family named |
Fuchs, consisting OF Jacob Fuchs and
wife and one child, and Joseph, a |
brother of Mrs. Fuchs, were lost, In |
another house almost adj joining, resid-
ed Jacob Mason. wife and two children
All the family except one child were
lost. The bodies of the three were
found this morning. On Chestnut I
street at the intersection of Spring
Garden avenue the water attained |
depth of twenty feet, but the build /
ings withstoed the force better, and |
in only one instance was there any
serious damage. A large frame
building occupied as beer hall was
moved from its foundation and floated
across the street, completely
obstructing the way. 1t is estimated
that in this district about seventy
dwelling houses were destroyed, but
no estimate has been made of their
value.