The Superior times. [volume] (Superior, Wis.) 1870-1912, 1874-08-08
THE PITTSBURG HORROR.
Terrible Effects Of the Recent
Storm.
Twenty to Thirty Miles of Country
Flooded,
2I9 Lives I.ost-Immeuse Destruction Oh
PROPERTY

Property
Following are the particulars OF the
appalling calamity at Pittsburg, Pa. on
the Doth nit. F: A severe rain storm had
prevailed all day of the Goth, increasing
in violence until evening, when 1t had
reached It's height During the night
the storm continued undated, and was
the most severe and destructive to life
and property that has ever occurred II
that vicinity. The ram came down III
perfect deluge, the water coming
down the streets leading from the hills
with fearful velocity, the current beng
swelled also by water from side streets.
In Allegheny City the flood was terri
I bic. A sewer on Madison avenue and
Vista streets burst, inundatin8 the
whole upper part Of the city. A num-
Der Of houses were swept away on
Spring Garden St, the water attaining
a depth Of ten feet, causing large loss OF
life in this vicinity In Butchers Run
district, at Woods Run, and at Saw
Mil Run, suburbs Of Pittsbrrg, the
havoc was fearful. At the formerplace
38 bodies had been recovered, and II at
the two last mentioned places.
For more than a mile ont on Spring
| Garden avenue, Allegheny City, marks
of destruction are plainly visible.
| Houses are washed away, and buildings
thrown togetherinheaps. Some twenty
| five or thirty slaughter houses on this
avenue were also washed away. Build
ings that were not totally destroyed
We're greatly damaged.
/ The water, rising to the height of
fifteen feet, flooded the first floors Of
the buildings, and in many cases the
second story.
/ Several houses were swept INTO the
middle Of the street, and others carried
hundred yards andshatteredto pieces.
A house containing two or three faml-
lies, at the rear of Center St, was de-
stroyed, and the inmates are all sup
posed to have been drowned.
In Temperanceville and Saw Mill
Run, the elements made sad havoc.
/ The track Of the destructive flood is
marked by wrecks Of dwellings,, bridges,
immense heaps Of stone, large piles Of
/ fo0dwood, and the torn and ragged
sides of the hills where the waters
surged aud gnawed into their very Vi
tails. Several hfeless bodies have already
l Dt'u IOt1tNi. i IOJi bNtlIbN Nt W ~IAiA -
persons are missing.
The Union bridge, crossing Saw Mil
Run at Main street, and five others
above were swept away.
At IcKaughlin's about eleven miles
west, ON the Pan Handle Road, eleven
persons are reported to have been
drowned; also, hundreds Of cattle,
horses, sheep, etc.
The extent of territory damaged is
not less than 20 to 80 miles in diameter
and how the main portion Of the city
OF Pittsburg, lying as il dOesin the cen
ter Of this circle, escaped without fur
ther injury, seems almost miraculous.
4 prevailing theory seems t. be that
the disaster was caused by some kind
Of water spout 4 gentleman who
watched the storm from few miles
down the river. where there was but
little rain, says that by the iitful flashes
of lightning, he could see p huge, inky,
black, funnel-shaped cloud, which over
ung the city, the marrow end being to
the west, while the dark parts gave vent
to an almost perpetual burst OF hight
ming
The north bank Of the Allegheny
river, upon whose hillsides anu in
whose valleys the upper portion of the
city is situated, has. according to all
accounts, been the scene of greatest dis
aster.
The work Of destruction commenced
at a point about two miles north OF the
central portion Of Allegheny City
Butchers Run Valley, ut its mouth,
probably between four and five hundred
feet wide, and at the point where the
work Of destruction commenced, it Is
not more than one hundred and fifty
feet between north avenue and this
northerly point. Numerous ravines
/ empty into Butchers Run Valley.
The line of the destruction followed
/ the water course to the river and in
volved an immense number OF houses
that were on the line Of the culvert.
I When the rain commenced falling but
little apprehensiOnS were entertained,
! bat those who live at the head Of the
valley, state that suddenly it seemed as
if the heavens were opened, and the
water came down as if discharged from
immense pipes. Tie volume was so
large that the narrow valley was filled
with a raging torrent. The frame
dwellings,, stables, and slaughter houses
gave way like pipe stems, and 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 St,
! and north. the water rose TO height of
fully twenty feet In some places oc-
cupants Of dwellings, were unable to es-
cape III time to save their lives. In
many instances the force of the water
sent the structure into splinters.
After taking awaya number of fences
and outhouses, the flood struck {; dwell
ing occupied 10y FL. Mallern, his wife
and two children-all drowned.
Further southwark was dwelling oc-
cupied by Mr.. John Thearing. Mr.
Thearing moved his family, consisting
OF his wife and twin boys, aged four
years, to the hillside, to what was sap
posed to be place Of safety The
children were sleeping soundly. One
little fellow was aroused by the storm,
and rolled over an embankmentinto the
angry food below. His body was re-
covered
The extensive glue works were the
next to sUccomb to the action of the
water and were totally destroyed. At
the corner Of East street and Madison
avenue the waters seemed to deviate
\ triangular shaped house at the inter
section of the streets named, was swept
away with six inmates.
About block below the intersection
: ~.