The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1874-07-31
Terrible Storms.

Several portions ofthe country have recent
ly been visited by most destructive storms,
causing fearful loss of life and great des-
truction of property.
Dispatches from Eureka, Nevada, to San
Francisco, tell of a terribly destructive storm
or perhaps water spout, which burst upon
the neighboring mountain on Friday. A
flood swept through the town, drowning
many persons, and destroying property to
the extent of hundred thousand dollars.
The most appalling catastrophe occurred
at Allegheny City, Pa, on Sunday night
The day had been showery but at night the
rain fell in deluge, swelling the streams
filling the depressions, the waters, in some
places, rising to height of fifteen or twenty
feet. 1t is estimated that at least 200 lives
were lost, and the destruction of property has
been immense. The Ecening Chronicle thus
tells the story: .st.I 81 -a4'F.t.
The extent of tcrritory damaged is not less
than from twenty to twenty-five miles in di-
ameter, and how the main portion of the city
or Pittsburg, lying as it does in the centre of
this circle, escaped further injury appears al
most miraculous The prevailing theory is
that the disaster was caused by some kind of
water spout. gentleman who watched the
storm from point few miles down the
river, where there was little rain, saws that by
the fitful flashes of lightning he could see n
huge, inky black,
FUNNEL SHAPED CLOUD
which overhung the city, the narrow end
being lowest, while the dark part gave vent
to almost continuous flashes of lightning. 1t
is almost impossible for any one not familiar
with the geography of the locality to form an
idea of this disaster, or how it could possibly
have occurred. The main city of Pittsburg
as it rises gradually from point formed by
the junction of two rivers, has many gulchcs
in certain localities, which under flood of
this description are liable to do great damage,
and the part known rs Hill region is ffc-
qucntly liable to suffer from local inundation.
The damage here, however, is at this time
light, compared with other localities strictly
suburban.
The north bank of the Allcpheny upop
whose hillsides and in whose valleys the up.
per portion of the city is situated, has, accor.
ding to all accounts, been the scene of the
greatest disaster. 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 prob
ably between four and five hundred feet wide,
and at the point where the work of dcstruc-
ton commenced it is not more than one hun
dred and fifty feet wide. Between North
avenue and this northerly point numerous
ravines empty into Butchers Run Valley
Along this run houses were built directly
over the natural water course, culvcrts being
made and used in part rs foundations for the
dwellings,
If III Al
courses to the river, and involved an immense
number of houses that were not on the line
OF the culverts When the rain commenced
falling but little apprehension was entertain
eel, but those who lived near the head of the
valley state that suddenly it seemed rs if The
HEAVENS WE'RE OPENED
and the water came down as if discharged
from immense pipes. The volume was SO
great that the valley was filled with raging
torrent Frame dwellings, stables and slaugh-
ter-houses gave way like pipe stems, and the
debris from the wrecks was swept down
along the line of the plank road, the weight
being augmented every moment
In the district lying west of Chestnut street
ana north OF the line parallel with North
avenue lhe waters rose to q height of at least
~ 1ect' In some places the occupants OF
dwellings were unable to escape in time to
save their lives In many places the force of
the waters rent structures into splinters
AFTER taking away large number of fences
and outhouses, the waters swept on, over.
whelnling dwellings, and drowning the occu-
pants.
The storm was also severe in Kentucky
damaging railroads, comfelds, &c, and tear.
ing coal boats from their moorings in the
Ohio river.
A terrific thunder storm also passed over
Sarnia, Canada, ON Sunday morning. A
number OF houses and barns and Presby-
terrain church were struck by lightning, the
| loss Of prOperiY being very hcnYy