Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1889-05-16
DISASTROUS STORM
1t Seems as if the Flood Gates of
Heaven We're Opened On the East.
Streets Turned Into Mad Torrents
Sweeping Away Everything.
Houses Demolished, Compelling the
Inmates to Flee For Safety.

PITTsBURG, Pa, May IL. The storm of
last night IN this vicinity broke the rec
ord for several years past IL severity.
Daring yesterday the merolry reached
80 degrees, causing much suffering.
Many mills we're compelled TO cease
work, and few prostrations were re-
ported. About O'Clock the storm burst
with a succession of lightning bolts.
Rain fell heavily f an hour. About 7
o'clock the storm began again with in
creased fury, lasting till about 1890
O'Clock. Rain fell in sheets, hail almost
covered the ground, and the
lightning flashes and peals of
thunder were terrific. Damage to
property and streets was general
throug hout the city. Treffis on all the
railroads was discontinued owing to land
slides and washouts. The lower part of
Allegheny City was flooded. Outbuild-
ings and fences were carried away.
Several residences were moved from
heir foundations and the occupants we're
com PEELED to flee for their lives. Two
children of Conrad Sohaefer, residing on
Spring Garden avenue, were drowned in
the flood which broke down the doors of
their dwelling. Unauthenticated reports
are rife of barns and dwellings struck by
lightning and swollen streams creating
havoc. The signal Office reports the rain
fall during the time of the storm at three
feet.
Great damage was done in Pleasant
Valley, Allegheny county, as the rain
poured down the hill sides converting
streets into channels to,turb ulent rivers
varying from few inches to several feet
in depth, and reaching from wall to wall,
Earth and debris was dumped on the
streets by the wagon load. A number of
street cars were unable to get to the
stables on account of the great amount
of earth dumped on the tracks. A num-
Der of passengers returning from the
theatres and elsewhere in order to keep
out of the drenching rain had gone
beyond their accustomed stopping
places. expectieg to return in the other
the cars. Where the cars were blookaded
the water was nearly two feet deep and
poured in through doorways and over
floors. The unfortunate passengers
took refuge from the invading waters by
standing on the seats, the drivers and
other employees of the road wadipg about
in water above their knees while they
were being soaked above by drenching
rain. At McKeesport the storm did
thousands of dollars worth of damage in
the Crooked Run district. Fifty houses
moved from their foundations and sew
eral toppled over and were demolished.
The people had to seek
the hillsides to escape drowning,
while large number of horses and cat
tie were drowned, and many children
were taken out of beds floating in the
second stories of houses, AMI their lives
saved. Twenty five carloads of debris is
lodged at from Bridge, blockading Fifth
avenue. It consists of lumber, wagons
and household goods. No lives were lost
but there were many narrow escaDes.
On the Plttsburg, McKeesport & Yong
hiogheny railroad a freight train was
wrecked, by running into a landslide, and
brakeman was killed. This makes FIVE
deaths directly attributed to the flood.
BRIDGEPORT, Conn, May lin some
places ia the Housaionic valley hailstones
as large as hickory nuts fell during the
storm yesterday, causing considerable
damage.
Dixon, Ill.,, May 11.-An electric storm
of great violence passed through this
place last night doing much damage to
property in this city and throughout the
country. Several houses were struck by
lightning. Telephone and Telegram h
wires were torn down, and windmills and
chimneys without number blown down.
Old residents say it was the worst storm
in thirty years.
You've TON, Ohio, May 11.-During the
storm last night lightning struck the
residence CT Eben Powell, at Hazeiton,
badly damaging the dwelling, but the
family escaped injury. A large barn, be-
longing to Robert Hunter, three miles
south, was fired by Zig aiming and de
stroyed. A business house owned by
Rice brothers at S5ruthers was struck
and burned TO the ground. Hail dam
aged growing crops.
BsADFoRD, Pa, May ia severe
storm accompanied by lightning, swept
across northern Pennsylvania yesterday
aud did much damage. At Ridgeway in
Elk county, Mrs. Mcneil and three chill
dren were killed by lightning. Mrs.
Mcneil lived with her hu. band and chill
dren in the suberbs and when the storm
arose she took the children into the cell
lar for safety. The deadly fluid struck
the house and passing into the basement
instantly killed the m other and her three
babies.
BURLINGTON, Pa, May 11.-Lightnipg
struck Ammes il Cos oil well, and two of
the voFEmen were seriously mi ured. At
Beaver Falls, the body of little 2-year
old dau5ht of Newton Bentley living
on the banks of Walnut Run was found
today lodged in pile of driftWood.