Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1891-03-14
STRUCK BY A STORM.
Pittsburg and Allegheny Hit Amid
ships by a Stiff March Gale.
THE HEAVIEST KNOWN FOR YEARS,
Although There Was Scarcely Any Damage
and No Lives Lost.
ONE PLATE GLASS WINDOW BLOWN OUT

Pittsburg and Allegheny were swept by a
wind storm yesterday. The storm came
from the west, and had velocity of 40 miles
an hour. Although it spread terror in
every section, there was no loss of life and
but very little damage Only few people
were slightly injured. Buildings swayed
in the wind and the air was full of fying
missiles. Roofs were torn loose and Chin
neys blown down in many instances.
The storm only covered radius of 40
miles, and Pittsburg was the center of the
blizzard. Before the storm the barometer
fell from 1895 TO 2935. The disturbance
commenced at 11:30 o'clock, and in a few
minutes the storm was so violent that men
working on new buildings deserted them
and sought shelter. The next instant
bricks began to fall from all sides, and
boards and pieces of timber were sent flying
through the air. Pedestrians ran for any
shelter that could be found, while umbrel-
las and hats were left as playthings for the
breeze. Wagons were overturned in the
street, and travel was impeded from one end
of the city to the other.
Fortunate Escapes From Falling Bricks.
The great tower-like chimney of the
wrecked Germania building was one of the
first to fall. 1t struck and crushed in parts
OF the Merchants and Manufacturers In
surance building and Robinson Bros. Bank.
About the same time big piece of the iron
cornice of the Germania building was
blown into Wood street, but no one was
struck. The high walls of the Weldin
block trembled in the storm, and for time
it looked as if there would be a repetition
OF the disaster of two years ago.
Two hours after the storm started it had
settled down to a steady March gale that
fairly whistled as it tore through the streets.
A light snow storm added to the discomfort.
But few women appeared in the streets, and
those who did venture out were heavily
yelled to protect their faces from the wind.
Early in the evening there was 4 binding
snow which only lasted for short time and
then the weather became clear and cold.
The most peculiar part of the storms
work was that done at George Biggs' jew
elry store, at Sixth avenue and Smithfeld
street. The Sixth avenue window is filled
by single piece of plate glass which is the
largest in America, being II feet square
and worth S400. This was blown into the
store and shattered into fragments. Louis
Evans, matchmaker, was severely cut
on the head, but will recover. Several of
the clerks received slight injuries. When
the crash came a number of costly vases and
pieces of bric-a-brac were broken. The
loss on them alone will amount to 81, 500.
There was no insurance except on the glass,
and another plate has been ordered from
the Ford Glass Company. Henry Harris,
the porter at the store, was slightly cut.
Signs Blown Down and Smashed.
The sign In front of Peter C. Shidle's store
on Smith6eld street was blown down and
smashed. Several people were struck, but
were not badly injured.
On the Southside it seemed for time as
if the Twenty-eighth ward station house
would blow over. 1t has been in a bad con-
dition for som. time and shook in the wind,
but did not 90 over. Several canvas avn
ings were also ripped from their frames.
On the hills above the Southside the
storm was very severe. The new house o;
Thomas Williams, at Beck Run, was
caught and thrown clear off its foundation.
The loss Will be about 5000. In Allentown
little 11-year-old Lucy Davis was on her
way home from school when the wind
actually took her breath away. She gasped
for a moment, and then fell insensible. She
had to be carried into house, and it was
some time before she revived.
In the East End considerable damage was
done. The large advertising boards on
Fifth avenue, near Craft avenue, were blown
down. The sheds at Mawhinney's brick
yard were badly damaged. Six telegraph
poles on Forbes street, near Halket street,
were blown down. A number OF fences
along Highland and Ellsworth avenues were
blown down.
In Allegheny there was scarcely any dam
age done more than the loss of few signs
and several chimneys. In both cities wires
were blow down, but the damage was not
near as severe as had been supposed.