The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1890-05-24
Portions Of Pennsylvania Literally
Drowned Out BY Furious
Storms.
Vivid Lightning and Deafening
Thunder Accompany the Down
pour Of Rain.
Streams Overflow Their Banks and Many
Valley Towns submerged-washouts
and Landslides

PrrTsBuRa, May 28.--A severe rain ana
electrical storm passed over large section
OF western Pennsylvania this evening, do
ing great damage to property and resulting
in the loss Of several lives. In the east end
Of this city houses were blown down, trees
uprooted and small buildings demolished.
A house on IBlack Horse hill, occupied by
John B. Miller, was lifted bodily from its
foundation and blown q considerable dis
tance. The family escaped with slight
bruises. At least q SCORE Of other houses in
the viclnity were unroofed. A large mum
Der of persons received slight injuries but
so far as known there were no fatalities.
At McKeesport hail stones as large
as walnuts fell, while rain poured
down in sheets for half an hour. Light
ming struck several buildings and consider
able damage was done. The greatest in
lnry was done by water, which came down
The water was five feet deep ON Fifth ave
nue., and number Of houses below grade
submerged.
At Greenburg William Fry, gardener at
St. Joseph's academy, was killed BY light
ming. The heavy rains caused great dam
ming struck number Of fne buildings,
doing great damage in every instance.
Near Washington lightning struck der
rick on the Miller farm, shatterinR il and
Killing William Farnum, seriously injuring
Milllam Gates and stunning two others. In
fayette county the rainfall was extensive
and did much damage to railroads.
A heavy landslide occurred at Oakdale
and as 1t was being cleared away q still
heavier one came down blockading both
tracks. The flood in Mounts creek carried
away many buildings.
At Invknv, Station, n = ss.ns.n~,,.~
mud, rocks and trees came down on the
Baltimore and Ohio tracks. The rain there
amounted to almost q cloud burst, AT
Scottdale the storm was particularly de-
structlve. Cellars along all the principle
streets we're nearly filled with water and
Is rising steadily and the safety Of bridges
between Soottdale and Fair Chance
is endangered. A dispatch from Oil
City says q heavy rain has fallen
almost steadily since last night, raising
m wafer ~ the m river and creek to the highest
point since 1883: On account Of washouts
there y no railroad communication with
Buffalo or Warren. The ground fovrs 81
the lower portion Of town are flooded.
At wheeling, ". Va, two and one-half
inches ',i ct Ct rain fell in twenty minutes, de-
business houses. There are apprehensions
of big rise in the river.
In Pittsburg heavy rain is likely to
swell the rivers to food proportions.
"A special from Erie says that long con-
tlnued rains have caused great deal of
trouble on the railroads in that section of
the state. and to-day there were many wash
outs. The east bound freight on the Nickel
Plate went through bridge near Crayton.
three train men were seriously injured.
twenty-five cars went down into the floor.
Reports from Cleveland.
CLEVELAND, May 23.-A rain storm much
in the nature Of a oloudburst swept over
northwestern Pennsylvania this morning.
doing great damage. At Cory the streets
were converted into rivers, in some places
two feet deep, tearing up sewers and wash
ing out roads. The railroad yards are COM
pletely inundated. Merchants also sus-
tanned heavy losses. The valley from CORY
to lrvington. q distance of twenty miles, is
q complete lake of water from one to three
miles in width. The loss will probably
reach 800 GOO or more. Public highways in
the surrounding country are nearly impassa-
BILE.
At Meadeville lightning struck several
buildings, although none were severely
extensive damage resulted in the lower por-
lion OF the city from the rapid rising of
French creek. Three bridges, slaughter
house and numerous small buildings and
sldeWalks have been swept away. Reports
from all directions indicate that the dam
age in this vicinity was very heavy. The
also suffered from washouta.
In Another Sect ION.
CINCINNATI, May 23.-The northern coun-
ties of Kentucky and the southern counties
of West Virginia were swept tonight by
terrific wind, thunder and rain storm,
Great damage was done at many points.
The full extent of tn damage cannot be
learned till tomorrow. No fatalities are
reported. but number of persons were in
jured at different points.
The Deadly Lightning.
ALLIANCE, Ohio, May 23.-George Patter-
son, wife and two children, of Salineville,
we're killed bY lightning whila standing nm,