New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1874-07-28
B Y enTELaEG RAPhI
DISASTER.

"A Delase Of Rain At Pittsbufg-Fsarfal
Loss Of Life In Alleghany-Pan.Handl
Railroad Overaowedf Houses Washed
- Away"
30 PrrrsBuRc, July 27.-Heavy ehowers' all
day yesterday, but 1t night the rain fell in
deluge. Fearful loss of life is reported in
Allegheny. The tunnel Of the Panhandle
railroad was flooded with tour feet of water.
It is iEpossible for the train to pass. The
torrent from the hills swept houses from
their foundations, tearing them to pieces.
far sixteen bodies have been recovered.
Further Particulars.
= The accounts of the terrible food which
tions Of this city Al, they some in show that
the disaster is far greater than was at first
supposed. It is now thought the total loss
Of life viii be fully 200. and the loss ofprop-
.erty is proportionate. ...-..l
= The Erening Chronicle, in its five O'Clock
edition, placed the loss at ]42, and the
names OF the missing parties are continually
coming in
The extent of territory damaged is not
less than twenty to- twenty-five miles in
diameter. and how the main portion Of the
city Of Pittsburg, lying az it does in the
centre of this circle, escaped further injury,
il almost mirectlous. 4 prevailing theory
is that the disaster was cacsed by some
kind Of water spout. A gentleman who
watched the storm from point few miles
down the river, whore there was but little
rain, says that by the ftful flashes of light
ming he could see q huge, inky, black,
funnel shaped cloud, which, oyerhung the
city, the narrow ends being lowest, while
tinuous burst OF lightning. s.i-
II ia almoat imnOssihIa for anv nnn NOT
familiar with the geography of the locality
to form an idea OF this disaster, or how it
could pessibly have occurred. The main
city of Pittsburg, as it rises gradually from
the point formed by the junction Of the two
rivers, has many gulches in certain locali-
ties, which under . flood of this description
are liable to to 10 great damage, and the
liable to suffer from che local innundations.
The damage here, however, is at this time
light, compared with other localities di-
rectly suburban. st5T5.
The north bank of the Alleghany, upon
whose hillsides and in whose valleys the
upper portion Of the city is situated, has,
according to all accounts, been the scene of
the greatest disaster.
The work of destruction commenced at q
point abont two miles north of the central
portion of Allegheny City. Butchers run
=
and 500 feet wide, and at the point where
the work of destruction commenced it is
not more than $50 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 and used in part as
foundations tor dwellings. The line Of
destruction followed the water courses to
<y,a VII, md inn un1uo1 aI>w
of houses that we're not on the line Of the
culvert. +.. r--
When the rain commenced falling but
little apprehension was entertained; but
those who lived near 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 an immense
pipe. -L.
The volume was SO great that the valley
dwellings, stables and slaughterhouses gave
away like pipe stems, and the debris from
the wrecks were swept down along the line
of the plank road, its weight being aug
mented every moment. In the district lying
west of Chestnut street and north Of q line
parallel with North avenue the waters
rose to height of fully twenty feet in some
places; the occupants of dwellings were un-
able to escape in time to save their lives.
Al uauy IUbCduCt5 Lut lOICc VI WdtSI TcuG
structures into splinters.
After taking away a large number of out
houses and fences the flood struck the
dwelling occupied by Henry Mattorn, wife
and two children; all were drowned. The
next house was that of John Winkler, who
found the flood endangering the barn and
stock. With his brother he started out to
the horses. Mrs. Winkler remained in the
house, and in less than five minutes all the
lower rooms were filed with water. Mrs.
Winkler called for assistance, but before it
she was engulphed. Further southwark
was the building of John Shearing.
AS soon as the water commenced rising
Shearing moved his family, consisting of
his wife and twin boys aged four years, to
the hillside, in what he supposed to be q
place of safety. The children were Sleep
ing sOundly, but one of the little fellows
was aroused by the storm and rolled over
an embankment into the angry food below.
His body was recovered this morning.
The extensive glue works were the next
were totally destroyed. A short distance
below these works was small dwelling,
occupied by August Kickoff and family, EN-
bracing wife and two children. They
were unaware of the destruction that was
sweeping down upon them and, with the
building, were carried down the stream.
Mrs. Kickoff was rescued, bruised and
bleeding, from the torrent. The remainder
of the family were drowned.
At the corner OF East street and Madison
avenue the waters seemed to deviate. In
triangular house at the Intersection of the
streets named, resided Mrs. CoulOn with
four children; also q young man, Arnold,
and cripple named Rogers, were IN the
house. All we're lost except Neil Coulon.
Young Arnold had gone into the house to
rouse some of the inmates, but fell victim
to the destroying elements.
About block below, at the intersection
Of Madison avenue and East street, the
torrent again united, and swept down with
redoubled violence to the low lands, en-
bracing Concord, Hara and q portion of
Chestnut streets.
The course of the flood was probably 200
Ieet wide, and buildings, frame and brick,
fell before the devastating element as
though they had been sand houses. Stores,
and debris Of all kinds mingled
together in one confused mass, making it
impossible for the spectator to discover
9ven the street lines. In some instances
On 'Hara street the dwelling of Alderman
Bolster was reduced to it's original elements,
and one of his children was drowned. The |
'est Of the family escaped. On the same
street q family, consisting of Jacob Fuchs, |
wife, one child, and Joseph, brother OF |
Mrs. Fuchs, and the adjoining house, con- |
aiming Jacob Netzer, wife and two chill |
lren, all except one child were lost. The |
bodies were found this morning.
On Chestnut street, at the intersection of |
Spring Garden avenue, the water attained |
. depth Of fully twenty feet, but the build |
ngs withstood the force better, and in only |
me instance was serious damage done. A
arge frame building occupied as beer |
,all was moved from its foundations, and |
loated directly across the street completely |