The Toledo chronicle. [volume] (Toledo, Tama County, Iowa) 1873-1924, 1874-07-30


covered the entire city of Allegheny and
adjoining rural districts, but the most Sc
rious damage and loss of life was con-
fined to Butchers and Spring Garden
Runs in the northeast portion Of
Allegheny, Woods Run in the northwest
section of the same city, and Saw-mill
Run in the southwest section Of Pitts
burgh.
The Press dispatch says: "The ac
counts Of the terrible flood which has
deluged nearly all the suburban sections
of this city, as they come in during the
afternoon and evening, show the disaster
is far greater than at first supposed.
1T is now thought the total loss fife
will not be short of 200 The loss of
property is proportionate. The Erening
Chronicle, in its five o'clock edition,
placed the loss ut 142, and names of
missing parties are continually coming
in. The extent Of territory dam
aged is not less than twenty to twenty
five miles in diameter, and how the
main portion Of the city Of Pittsburgh,
lying as it does, in the center of this
circle, escaped without further injury
seems almost miraculous. A prevailing
theory seems to be that the disaster was
caused by some kind of water-spout. A
gentleman who watched the storm from
a few miles down the river, where there
was but little rain, says that by the few
fitful flashes Of lightning he could see a
huge, inky- black, funnelshaped cloud,
which overhung the city, the narrow
ends being lowest, while the dark parts
gave vent to an almost perpetual
burst of lightning. 1t is almost
impossible for anyone not famil-
lar with the geography Of this locality
to form an idea of this disaster or how 1t
could possibly have occurred. The main
city of Pittsburgh, as it rises gradually
from the point formed by the junction of
the two rivers, has many gulches in GER
tain localities, which render flood Of
this description liable to do great dam
age The part known as the Hill region
is frequently liable to suffer from local
foundations. The damage here, how
ever, is this time light, compared with
other localities strictly suburban. The
north bank of the Allegheny River, upon
whose hill-sides and in whose valleys the
upper portion of the city is stu.
ated, has, according to all accounts, been
the scene Of the greatest disaster. The
work of destruction commenced at a point
about two miles north Of the central
portion Of Allegheny City. Butchers
Run Valley at its mouth is probably be-
tween 400 and 500 feet wide, and at the
point where the work of destruction COM
menced it is not more than 15O feet /
wide Between North avenue and this
northerly point numerous ravines empty /
into Butchers Run Valley. Along this
run the houses were built directly over
the natural water, course, culverts being |
made in part rs foundations for the
dwellinghouse
"The line of destruction followed the
to the river and involved
an immense number Of houses that were
not on the line of the culvert. When the
rain comnlEaced falling but little appre-
tensions were entertained, but those
!, ho live ne.ss. ths head Of the vali1,
stated that suddenly it seemed as if the
heavens opened and the water came
lown as if discharged from immense
pipes The volume was so large that the
narrow valley was filled with
aging torrent, the frame dwellings,
stables and slaughterhouses gave
way like pipe-stems, and debris from the
wrecks was swept down along the line of
he plank-road, the weight being aug
nented every moment. In the district
ying west of Chestnut street and north
he water rose to height of fully twen-
y feet. In some places the occupants of
dwellings, were unable to escape in time
O save their lives. In many instances
he force Of the water shattered struct-
Tres into splinters.
"The course of the flood was probably
90 feet wide, and buildings, frame and
rick, fell before the devastating
lement as though they had been
and. Dwellings, stables, workshops,
nd debris of all kinds mingled together
n one confused mass, making it abso-
utely impossible for the spectator to
iscover even the street line. In some
instances houses were literally turned
pside down. The loss of life was fear
ul."
AT the time of sending the last ac-
cunt 142 dead bodies had been re-
overed, and it was thought the number
lrowned would considerably exceed 200.
t is yet too early to furnish a correct
stimate Of the loss Of property, but it
5 immense, probably exceeding $3,OOO,-
90.