Waterbury Democrat., 1902-03-31
AN EASTER CYCLONE
'phurckss Wrecked and Wor-
 ! shippers Crushed In Ruins. ss
FIFTY PERSONS HURT, SOME FATALLY
Scores of Houses UnRoofed, Factory tAChimneys Blown Down and Tele-
 graph and Telephone Lines
 ;, Disabled by Terrific storm.

tAChimneys Blown Down and Tele-
 graph and Telephone Lines
 Disabled by Terrific storm. PETERSBURG, March 31.-one of the Nercsst windstorms ever known in this section struck the city yesterday just before noon and did almost incalcula- bIe damage to property and injured many people, some of whom may die from the effects of their wounds. Scores of houses were unroofed, many trees were blown down, mill stacks top pied over. and telegraph and telephone wires were generally disabled.
 The most serious accident reported k MaS the unroofing of the Knoxville Presbyterian church in Knoxville. The ehurch at the time was filled with an Easter congregation numbering about 800 persons. While the minister was in the midst of his sermon a strong gust bf wind blew over the large chimney and lifted a portion of the roof of the building. The bricks from the chimney crashed through the roof and carried huge piece of the hardwood ceiling measuring about 40 by 20 feet down upon the worshipers in the pews. An lndescribable panic envued, and fran tic rush was made for tNe doors and windows. The excitement was soon guieted, and the work of rescue began. At least forty persons were caught by the wreckage and more or less hurt. Of this number five may not recover.
 h none of the other accidents re- ported throughout the city were there any serious injuries to persons, though 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 escaped drowning, but all were finally rescued by harbor boats.
 The corrugated iron roof of the Un- lon bridge at the point was lifted from its fastenings by the wind and part Of 1t carried a distance of a mile. The Whittier schoolhouse on Mount Wash Ington was unroofed and its walls bad ly twisted.
 Jones 6 Laughlin had fourteen of their furnace stacks blown down, ne sessitating the shutdown of portion bf their plant for weeks.
 As Rev. J. W. English, pastor of the Robinson Run U. P. church, near Me Donald, was raising his arms to pro- hounce the benediction lightning struck the church spire, and it toppled upon the roof, crushing it and injuring a number of worshipers, two of whom kiIl die.
 The NobIestown Presbyterian church was also unroofed, but the congrega- lion escaped injury.
 The Forest Oil company had between zoo and 300 derricks blown down in it's Mcdonald region, and considerable damage was sustained by its pipe sys- tenn.
 The Armstrong Cork company plant bn Liberty avenue, between Twenty fifth and Twenty-sixth streets, was un- toofed and much damage done to ma- ehinery and stock.
 More than 2,500 lights of glass in the Phipps conservatory in Schenley park were broken and much of the gorgeous Easter flower display rlined.
 The Montana apartment house at Penn avenue and Fairmont street, east end, and the Idaho building, which ad- joins it, were partially destroyed.
 The roof of the big forge plant at Rankin was lifted off and carried many yards away.
 The damage in the Monongahela and Turtle creek valleys will reach thou sands of dollars, but no specially big individual loss is reported.
 Almost the entire east end district of This city was in darkness last night, the electric lighting system having been put out of commission by the storm.