The Redwood gazette. [volume] (Redwood Falls, Minn.) 1873-1940, 1874-08-06
TERRIBLE FLOOD.
Portions OF Pittsburgh and Allegheny
City Destroyed..-Over goo Lives Lost.

City Destroyed.--Over 900 Lives Lost.
PITTSBURGH, Pa, July q. 1874.
The calamity which befel this section
last night was the most appalling with
which it has ever been visited, so far as
the loss of life is concerned. On Sunday
heavy rains fell during the morning, but
in the afternoon the skies cleared and the
rain was thought to be over. Toward
evening, however, premonitory flashes
OF lightning were seen northeast, south
west and northwest of the city, and ON
inous, dark clouds overcast the sky.
About eight O'Clock the storm broke, ac-
companied by vivid and continuous
flashes of lightning, followed by
terrific peals of thunder. The rain
descended in torrents and in such GUAM
titles that it seemed as ii the clouds had
suddenly met with some obstruction and
emptied their contents in an instant. In
a few moments the streets were con-
verted into torrents, and down the steep
grades an immense volume of water
rolled with terrific force, tearing up the
pavement, bursting sewers, inundating
buildings and filling cellars. The rain
covered the entire city of Allegheny and
adjoining rural districts, but the most
serious 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
Kun in the southwest section of Pitts
burgh. The Press dispatch says: "The
accounts 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
to be far greater than ut first supposed.
1t is now thought the total loss of life will
not be short of 200. The loss of proper "
is proportionate. The Euening Chronicle,
in its five o'clock edition, placed the loss
at 142, and names of missing parties are
continually coming in. The extent of ter
ritory damaged 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 cir.
Gle, escaped without further injury seems
almost miraculous. A prevailing theory
seems to be that the disaster was caused
by some kind of waterspout. A gen.
tleman who watched the storm from
few miles down the river, where there
was but little rain, says that by the few
fitful flashes of lightning he could see
huge, inky-black, funnel-shaped cloud,
which overhung the city, the narrow ends
being lowest, while the dark parts rave
vent to an almost perpetual burst
of lightning. 1t is almost i'm
possible for anyone not familiar
with the geography of this local
ity to form an idea Of this disaster or
how it 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 certain localities which render
q flood of this description liable to do
great damage. The part known as the
Hill region is frequently liable to suffer
from local foundations. The damage
here, however, is this time light com.
pared with other localities strictly sub
urban. The north bank of the Allie
gheny River, 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 .
point about two miles north of the CEN
trail portion of Allegheny City. Butchers
Run Valley ct its mouth is probably be-
tween 400 and 500 feet wide, and at the
point where the work Of destruction
commenced It 10 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 In part - foundations for the
dwelling. houses.
"The line Of dsstructioa followsdlths