The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1896-07-28
CYCLONE STORM
AT PITTSBURG
Hundreds Of Trees Removed and Houses
UnrOOfed.
THE DAMAGE TO LIFE AND PROPERTY
One Hundred Thousand Dollars Loss
in Pittsburg..Efiects of Storm at
Wilkes. Barre, Philadelphia and
Other Localities Throughout the
State.

Pittsburg. July 27.-A cyclonic storm
burst upon this city at 4.S0 o'clock this
afternoon. which in a few minutes
caused the death of two persons, the
fatal injury of another and monetary
loss of probably 100000 throughout AL
legheny country. Several churches on
the hill district We're partly unroofed
and one was struck by lightning. A
number of smaller houses Were also un-
rooted. the streets were flooded with
surprising quickness, sewers discharged
their overflow into houses, and some of
the street cars Were compelled to sus-
pend for periods ranging from one-half
to an hour and a half. Hundreds of
trees We're uprooted and many lawns
laid waste. Smoke stacks, chimneys
and windows We're demolished in all di-
rections.
At Sugar Camp grove. picnic ground
on the West Penn branch of the Penn
sylvania railroad near Aspinwall, where
the Eighth ward fishing and hunting
club or Allegheny were encamped, a
limb of a sycamore tree fell upon the
commissary tent, in which number
of members of the club had taken ref
uge from the storm. John Figus. OF
II Ping street, Allegheny, was instantly
killed; George Miller, Of 226 Main
street, Allegheny. had his back broken
and cannot recover, and Jacob Metz and
d. II. O'Connell We're badly hurt.
In this city John Auilader, teams
ster for the Williams Brick company,
was struck by a falling sign and died
within five minutes. The temperature,
which had risen to SO degrees before the
storm fell rapidly to II degrees. The
storm was over i'm about ten minutes
but II was succeeded by others of less
violence during the evening. During the
eight hours preceding midnight l.4S in
ches of rain fell.
STORM IN OTHER SECTIONS.
Wilkes Barre. July 27.-A terrific
rain storm passed over this city and
valley this afternoon, accompanied by
severe lightning. The trolley wires of
| the Wyoming Valley Traction company
were struck I'm several places and the
commutators on many cars were burned
out completely. stalling traffic in many
places for few hours. A number of
houses are reported to have been
struck and damaged by lightning. The
| telegraph and telephone wires were dis
arranged and it was late tonight before
service could be re-established. Tn,
| downpour of rain was the heaviest
known i'm many years, and growing
crops We're beaten in the ground. The
loss to the latter will be heavy.
At Milnesville. in the lower end of this
| county. the Methodist church and q
large coal breaker We're struck by
| lightning. The church was partly de
molished and the breaker badly dam
aged. Mine Boss Joseph Seigfoss. who
was In the breaker at the time, was
slightly injured.
Reading. Pa, July 27.-This section
was visited by a terrific wind and rair
| storm late this evening, but no serious
| damage was done. At LynnDort, lie.
high county, the barns Of j. c. Wuchtel
| and A. f. Hartman were struck by
| lightning and both were totally de
stroyed. together with the seasons crop
Loss. $1,000
The dwelling of c. Ebert. near the
! same place. was also struck by light
ming, but no one was injured.
| Philadelphia, July 27.-A severe storm
of wind. rain and lightning passed over
this city this evening. The wind
reached a maximum velocity of 53 miles
an hour and torrents of rain fell for an
hour and half. but beyond the up
| roofing of few trees in the suburbs no
particular damage was done here. The
storm was general throughout eastern
! Pennsylvania and was very severe but
so far as learned. no great destruction
of property took place. The storm
passed southwest over New Jersey. but
no damage Is reported from the south
| ern part of the state.