Fisherman & farmer. [volume] (Edenton, N.C.) 1887-19??, 1890-06-06
A FATAL HURRICANE.
Death and Destruction i'm the
Wake of a Western Storm.
Several Persons Killed by Light
ming IN Pennsylvania.

The heaviest rain and electrical storm
known in years PASSED over a large section
OF Western Pennsylvania during the even
ing, doing great damage to property, and
resulting in the loss of several lives.
The storm struck Pittsburg about 4
o'clock, but no serious damage was done
in the old city. In the East End, how
ever, the wind played havoc. Houses
were blown down, trees uproOted and
small buildings demolished. On "inebid-
die avenue five new frame houses were lifted
from their foundations and destroyed An
other house on Black Horse Hill, occupied
by John Miller. was lifted from the founda-
lions and blown a considerable distance.
The family were in the sitting room at the
time, but were not injured. At least a score
OF other houses in the vicinity were unrOOfed.
A large number of persons received slight
injuries. The loss Is estimated at from S25,-
900 to $50. 900.
At McKeesport Penn. haiIstones as large
as walnuts fell while the rain poured down
in sheets for a full half hour The heavy ice
striking horses caused a number of rum
aways. The lightning struck several build
ings in that vicinity, and considerable DAM
age was done.
The greatest in Jury was done by the water
which came down Whites Hollow in stream
seventy-five feet vide. The water was five
feet deep on Filth avenue at point below
Centre street, and number of houses which
were below grade were submerged. The
water reached the second story of the Berk-
folder residence causing great damage to
that place and also the places adjoining. It
was by far the heaviest and most unexpected
rain storm for the year.
At Greensburg Penn, William FrS, the
gardener at ST. JOseph's Academy, was
struck and instantly killed by bolt of light
ming. A cow standing near him was also
killed. The heavy rains caused great dam
age by the flood in the lowlands in that VI
cinity. Cellars and Easements were flooded.
Lightning also struck Colonel Huff palatlal
residence, the First Reformed Church and
other buildings, doing great damage in every
instance.
Near Washington, Penn, lightning struck
derrick in course of erection on the Colonel
Robert Miller farm SCATTERING it and killing
William Furman single; seriously injuring
William Gates and stunning two others.
In Fayette County, Penn, the rain fall
was extensive, and did much damage to
the railroad. In the Third Ward swamps
the Southwest Pennsylvania Railroad tracks
were held several hours. The Ba-
timore and Ohio is a heavy sufferer.
At Bradford the tracks were covered wish
water. A heavy landslide occurred at Oak
dale, and as it was being cleared away still
heavier one came down, blocking both
tracks The flood in Nountz Greek carried
away many small buildin
At Layton Station, Pc l., an immense
amount of mud, rocks and trees came down
on the Baltimore and Ohio tracks about five
o'clock in the evening. The east bound track
was cleared at nine o'clock, but it was again
covered for long distance by more of the
hill coming down. The rain there amounted
almost to a cIoudburst. Trainmen say the
streams for the hills lowed over the track.
At Scottdale, Penn. the storm was par
ticularly destructive. Cellars all along the
principal streets are nearly filled with water,
and the goods that many Of the merchants
had slowed away s.Te saturated.
A despatch from Oil City, Penn, says:
Heavy rain falling almost steadily since last
midnight raised the water in the river and
creek to the highest point since 1888. The
river stands now at fourteen feet nine inches,
a rise of six feet since ten A: NJ.
The ground floors of the lower portion of
the town were flooded, including the base
ment of the Oil Exchange and the Derrick
press room.
At Wheeling, W. Va. about two and a
half inches of rain fell in twenty minutes,
deluging the streets and flooding number
of business houses in cellars and first floors.
Travel on the Elm Railroad was stopped for
several hours by heavy landslide. The
newly plowed farm land in the vicinity
suffered severely.
At all points along the Allegheny, Yough-
iougheny and Monongahela Rivers the ram
fall was unusual.
At Alliance, Ohio, George Patterson, his
wife and two children were killed by light
ming. Many houses are reported as having
been demolished and their inhabitants in
iured
Plate" went through bridge at GRAFTON,
near the Ohio State line. Engineer Ellis,
Fireman Nicholson and Head Brakeman
Johnston, went down in the mass Of engine
and twenty-five cars All three came out
alive, but the engineer will die. The bridge
was wooden structure and was $50 feet in
length.