New-York tribune., 1890-05-24
A FIERCE AND FATAL STORM
WESTERN PENNSYLVANIA SWEPT BY RAIN,
WIND AND HAIL.
SEVERAL PERSONS KILLED BY LIGHTNING
GREAT DAMAGE TO PROPERTY IN MANY
PLAcES-A CLoUpBURsT NEAR ERIE.

PLACES-A CLOUpBURST NEAR ERIE.
Pittsburg, May a3.-The heaviest rain and electrical
storm known in years passed large part Of
western Pennsylvania this evening. doing great dam
age to property and resulting in the loss Of several
lives. The storm struck Pttsburg about 4 O'clock
but no serious damage done In the old city. In
the east end, however, the wind played havoc Houses
were blown down, trees uprooted, and small build
ngs demolished. IN winebidde ave. five new frame
houses were lifted from their foundations and COM
pletey destroyed Another house, Black Horse
l!i, occupied by John Miller lifted bodily from
the foundations and blown a considerable distance
The family were in the sitting room at the tme but
were not injured. At least Of other houses In
The vicinity unroofcd. A large number of per
sons received slight injuries but, as far as known
there were no fatalities. The loss is estimated at
from $4,000 to $4,000.
At McKeeSport halstones as large as wanuts fell,
while the rain poured down in sheets for full half
hour The lightning struck several buildings and con-
siderable damage done The greatest injury was
done by the water, which carno down Whites Hollow
In a stream seventy five feet wide. The water was
five feet deep at point in F1fthavc., ard a num-
Der Of houses which were below grade were flooded.
The water reached the story Of the Berkoder
dwelling. causing great damage to that place and the
places adjoining it. II b. far the heaviest and
most unexpected rainstorm of tile year
ht Grcensburg William Fry, the gardener at st.
JOscph's Academy, was struck aud instantly Killed
10y lightning. 4 standing him WIS also
killed. Tho heavy rains caused great damage by the
1Dod in the owlands. Cellars and basement kitchens
flooded. Lightning also struck Colonel lufs
fine house the Pirst Reformed Church. and other build
ines, doing great damage IN every instance. Scar
Washington. Penn, lightning struck derrick In tho
Of erection the Colonel Robert Miller farm
slatterne it. ard killing William Furman, single:
seriously injurIns William Gates, and stunning two
others.
In Fayette County the rainfall was extensive, ana
did much damage to the railroad IN the Thiri Ward
swamps the southwest Pennsylvania Railroad tracks
flooded several feet deep. and trains have been
held several hours. The Baltimore and Ohio Is a
heavy sufferer At Broadford the traces are covered
with water. A heavy landslide occurred at oakdale'
and a. it was being cleared away still heavier one
came down. blocking both tracks The food in Mount%
Creek carried away many small buildings.
At Layten station immense amount OF mud
rocks and trc, came down the Baltimore and ohio
track, about ) O'Clock this evening. The eastbound
track was cleared at O'Clock, but later dispatches
SAY IL has as.n been covered for long distance by
more Of the hill coming down. the rain there TINS
afternoon amounted almost - cloud burst Train
men say the streams from the hills flowed over thc
track. The westbound track Will not be cleared
before tomorrow night.
At Scottdale the storm wa, particularly destructive
with water and tho goods that many OF the merchants
had stored In them are saturated. The creek is rlS-
Ing steadily. aud the safety Of two OF the railroad
bridges between scottdae aad Fdrchancc l. endangered
4 construction train Ia, been ordered to the scene
4 dl,patch from Oh CITY, Penn. says Heavy
rainfall almost steadily since last midnight has
raised the water in the river md creek TO the highest
,,lnt since l5.y Tho rise In the river has been AT
II, hghcft average I'm the last four hours and stands
fourteen feet nine m c4e n se ne 81 s n rive i
nom vc 20 eight inches higher and II Is ekpeot.i tl'
night ON account Of wushOutS, no railroad com
l.iinicatlon can be had with Buffalo or Warren. inc
gIouLd floors Of the houses IA the lower part OF t @
town are flooded Including the basement Of the Oh
Exchange aud The DeT'cA es.roym: =, ,,Lo.
OF rain .cll In twenty minutes dcIugne the streets
eni nr,t door. Travel tho Elm Railroad Ma'
t"n,"d Tor .@vcrnl hour, by a heavy landslide. The
newly poushed farm land in the yicin;t? suffered
In Pttsburg the heavy rain Is likely 10 sweH me
nn@,6cny Yonshionsicny and Monong gahcla rivers the
,'i'fu IA. U,It,uaI Iho stage Of water here this
evening is thirteen feet. and rising
rr.c Penn. May % (specan.-A clondburst in The
,clniiV of E-.e AOUdcd the rDads and burst rarula
culvrris on all the lines. The Philadelphia ana Ere
and the lc and pltt,burg Railroads had 10 transfer
,hcr pasensg & s cEeTai N@Ta P%a Pnie went tnroag
h1Gsc At Crayton near the ohio state Iinc EhsinrcF
Ellis. Fireman Nicholson and Head hraNema. , gT,n
i've car, All three out alive, but the engineer
will do. The hrd &c was wooden stfu'ulic anu "N
I;O feet In length. .
Cleveland. ohio. May "a rain storm nlci III ln
the nature OF loud burst, swept over No,I!lN','Wn "a
PENNSYLVANIA this morning. doing great uanlas' ~
prDDerty At CORY strcrts Wclc cphNcr''u 49,.
river, In some places two feet deep. tearing uP uY
sewers and washing out the road, ne iH,.,iu @ ~
ward, were completely submerged. the noon Na'U
img ont some OF the side tracks The b',I
ness IN Fr-tavc, Main ana cur ~,
and west Of the city sustained heavy damage. ne J..
valley from Corey 10 Irvintown di,taloc o' b-c
g.. t,laf.a Ink Df
miles IN width. The loss Will probably r,ii'n %lw"j j
600 or mor, The public highways IN t' S"''o"'''
ING country are nca-S impa sable. . -, ,....,o
Al Mcadvilc the lightning cut out all the "ic,u'S hS
lights, and several buildings "ere StIu'h, a''""S w ~,
none Wcro severely dana ccd. Several streets VIZ
Hooded and extensive damage resulted IN tIe IoMyL
portion Of the city from the rapid rising o, rr r,s u
trrnk Three bridges, slaughter house, hufncrnu'
small buildings and sidewalks were swept away hc
ports from all directions indicate that tho dau"so "
this vicinity has been heavy