New-York tribune., 1902-03-31
CHURCHES UNROOFED.
GALE FROM OHIO LEA YES
WAKE OF WRECKAGE.
WIRES DOWN. HOUSES UNROOFED,
SHIPS ENDANGERED AND RAIL
ROADS HAMPERED.

Pittsburg March 30-One of the fferCest wind
storms ever known in this section struck the
city to-day just before noon, did almost in
calculable damage to property and injured many
people, some of whom may die from the effects
of their wounds. Scores of houses were un-
rooted, many trees blown down, mill
stacks were topped and telegraph and
telephone wires generally disabled.
The most serious accident reported up to .
o'clock tonight was the unroofing of the Pres
byterian Church in Knoxville. The church was
filled with an Easter congregation numbering
about six hundred persons. While the minister
was preaching strong gust Of win blew over
the large chimney and lifted O. portion of the
roof of the building. The bricks from the
chimney crashed through the roof and carried
a huge piece of the la~dwOod ceiling, measur-
ing about 10 by 20 feet. down upon the wor-
shippers in the pews. An indescribable panic
ensued. and frantic rush made for the
doors and windows. The excitement was soon
quieted and the work Of rescue begun. At least
forty persons were caught by the wreckage and
more less injured. OF this number five may
not recover.
In none Of the other accidents reported in the
city there any serious injury to persons
although many narrow escapes are recorded.
The towboat Belle MCGOWAN was blown over
in the Ohio River. opposite Sawmill Run. and
completely wrecked. Her crew narrowly es-
capped drowning, but all were finally rescued by
harbor boats
The corrugated iron roof of the Union Bridge
was lifted from its fastenings by the wind and
parts of it were carried mile away. The Whit
tier schoohouse on Mount Washington, was
unroofed. and it's walls were badly twisted
Jones & Laughlin had fourteen Of their fur
mace stacks blown down, necessitating shut
ting down portion of their plant for weeks
Reports from nearby towns are SLOW about
coming in, probably on account OF the crippled
condition of the wires. 1t is feared that much
damage has been done in other places.
The NObestOWn Presbyterian Church was
unroofed, but the congregation escaped injury.
The Forest Oil Company had between two hun
dred and three hundred derricks blown down in
its Mcdonald region and considerable damage
was sustained by its pipeage system. The Of
fees Of the Monongahea connecting railroad in
this city were destroyed by fire during the af-
ternoOn because no alarm could he turned in
either by telephone telegraph.
The Armstrong Cork Company's plant in Lib
erty-ave. unrOofed and much damage was
done to machinery and stock. Reports from the
different railroads tonight show that all suf-
fered more or less from broken telegraph poles
and crippled service. All however were in
good shape. and trains running by = o'clock.
The baseball park in Allegheny lost of its
fences and a portion OF the grandstand roof
More than 100 panes Of glass in the Phipps
Conservatory in SChenley Park We're broken
and much OF the gorgeous Easter flower diSpa Y
WAS ruined. The Montana apartment house nj
Penn-aVe. and Fairmont-st. East End. and the
Idaho Building, which adjons II. were partially
destroyed The roof OF the big forge plant at
Rankin was lifted off and carried many yards
away.
The damage in the Monongahe and Turtle
Creek valleys will reach thousands of dollars
but no specially big individual loss is reported
Almost The entire East End district of this city
is in darkness tonight the electric lighting sys-
tenn having been rendered ineffective by the
storm. The downtown portions were repaired
early in the afternoon.
The storm which came upon the city very
suddenly, came up through the Ohio Valley and
passed on eastward 1t lasted about thirty min
utes. for only five minutes Of which the velocity
Of the wind Was unusually high. In that five
minutes practically all of the damage done was
accomplished.
As the Rev. J W. English. pastor Of the Rob
inSon Run I. =. Church, near Mcdonald. was
raising his arms to pronounce the benedCton.
lightning struck the church spire and il toppled
upon the roof crushing II and injuring A num-
her OF worShippers. two Of whom will die
The spire and part Of the roof OF the l. T
Church At Mcdonald was torn off and the build
ing considerably damaged, but no one was in
tured.