Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1891-11-24
OVER In ALLEGHENY.
Peculiar Franks of the Riotous Winds
How an Unfortunate Woman Struggled
With the Storm-ConsiderabIe Damage

Peculiar Franks of the Riotous Winds
How an Unfortunate Woman Struggled
With the Storm-Consderable Damage
Reported, But No One Hurt.
The wild winds played many peculiar
pranks in Allegheny. Two ponderous cleo
trio light towers were prostrated, smoke
stack that loomed up in the rear OF Boggs
Il Bulbs store on Federal street was blown
down, the turret of the grand stand at Ex-
position Park was demolished, tree at
Sandusky and Erie streets was uprooted
and innumerable chimneys were destroyed
during the storm. The vicious wind storm
was accompanied by a heavy fall of rain,
hail and snow, and the elements seemed 20
combine in violent assault upon the
Northside. Pedestrians were blinded by
the hurricane. Umbrellas, hats and bonnets
were carried away on the wings OF the
furious wind, but no one was hurt
The storm rushed suddenly upon the city.
The lowering clouds hanging like gossamer
over The sky betokened rain, but there were
no evidences of storm. Those who were
On the streets were prepared for rain, but
they were rot ready for the outburst that
overlook them. Shortly after 10 O'Clock q
pleasant southern breeze, which seemed 20
sweep up from the Ohio river, cleared the
skies A pleasant sun shower followed and
rainbows drifted like billows through the
streets. Then there was a low rumbling
like the noise of distant train. Along
every street and coming in every direction
toward City Hall was a hszy cloud and be-
hind the clouds came the rioting,
rollicking wind and rain. Everything
movable was swept along ahead of the
storm. Awnings were torn from their fasten-
lrif OH in
confusion A small panel, upon which
was printed ''dinner now ready" leaned up
against the stone wall surrounding the Car
negie building, ard to the door ofthe Mayors
Office. just across the street, was carried a
small oi.cloth sign upon which was painted
in black letters "soup to-day" Men and
women cut sorry figures chasing their hats
and bonnets through the muddy streets
One unfortunate lady. who was waiting at
Federal and Ohio streets for car to Pitts
burg, was deeply distressed. The storm
had fatigued her She was standing under
the shadow of the electric tower there.
The tower was suddenly lighted, and
blue flash fairly blinded her She
shifted her umbrella to watch the lighted
towers. As she turned fresh gust of wind
caught her skirts, her hat and her umbrella
With her right hand she grabbed at her
Hopping clothes and endeavored to hold them
near her shoe tops. Just then her hat
threatened to leave her. With her left
hand she grabbed at her hat letting 90 other
umbrella, which was carried high in the air
and twisted out of all form before it landed
nearly square away. As she stood bowed
bv holding her dress to her shoes with one
hand and holding fast upon her head her
hat with the other, and at the same time
endeavoring to watch the course of her
umbrella as it was being carried recklessly
away, she looked indeed an unhappy soul.
The storm had nearly past when she aban-
doned her watch for the car that was delayed
by the storm from which she was suffering.
She finally took refuge in the market house.
One of the electric towers blown down was
in the Allegheny Park. The other was
located at School and Ann streets When
the huge tower toppled over the confusion
of wires set fire to the house of Hiram
Msrcillus. An alarm was sounded, but
the fire was rained out before
the department responded Many of the
telephone, fire alarm, police, patrol and tel
egraph wires were burned out and wrecked,
but all the damage was repaired during the
afternoon. About 40 feet of the Pleasant
Valley trolley wire was burned out, and
travel on that road was delayed for nearly
an hour. While the windstorm lasted but
little over so minutes, the rain, hail and
snowstorm kept up until late last night.