Rensselaer Union, Volume 6, Number 46, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 6 August 1874 — A PENNSYLVANIA FLOOD. [ARTICLE]

A PENNSYLVANIA FLOOD.

Allegheny City and Pittsburgh ln u nS dated—Over 200 Lives Lust. PiTTBBCROH, Pa,, July 27, 1874. The devastation is complete and fearful, and extends several miles either way, north and south. At eight o’clock last evening the storm suddenly broke with a fury barring description. The drops of rain were the size of goblets, and, as the vivid lightning lit the scene, they would -Present the appearance of diamonds glistening. The thunder was deafening and incessant. It though the artillery of heaven had been let loose. The sky during the storm bore a lurid color as charged thoroughly with electricity. No one believed or thought what sad havoc this storm was doing, what devastation and ruin it was causing, or the life it was taking. The rain extended over a large section of country and did vast damage everywhere within its route. Pittsburgh suffered both in loss of property and , life, but Allegheny City waS deeply, -worse, and far more heavily afflicted. ’Everyone knew the calamity was great but no one was prepared for the scenejj jof horror to which they were witnesses to-day. All day the undertakers’ wagons have been carting the dead bodies, and the funerals were taking place all day. Coroner McCallin gave up holding inquests at four o’clock this morning as the work was getting too much for him. Frantic mothers were crying for their children, and equally anxious children looking for their parents. Willing hands there were found to search the debris for bodies, and as they were brought to light crowds would gather around looking for some relation or dear friend. As the body was recognized some one would have it taken and properly cared for. There was no business done to-day; all was turmoil and excitement. « The portion swept by the flood in Allegheny City was thickly settled, mostly by German families, and was in the Spring Garden Run and Butchers’ Run district. In Pittsburgh the Saw-mill Run district suffered worst. The following, taken from the Chronicle, Will give an idea of the extent of the flood: “ In Tejnperancevllle and the region of Saw-mill Run the elements made sad

havoc in the uncontrollable fury of the storm and flood. The fierce torrents of rain that descended in the evening swelled every little tributary to Saw-mip Run into a boiling stream, and the aggregate accumulation of water rushed with mad and irresistible fury down the valley, sweeping everything before it. “ The track of the destructive flood is this morning marked by the wrecks of dwellings, bridges, immense heaps of stones, large piles of flood-wood, torn and ragged sides of the hills where the waters surged and gnawed into their’ very vitals. Among the heaps of rubbish and wrecks that strew the whole region seven lifeless bodies have already been found, and from twenty-five to thirty persons are missing. Groups of people were standing around discussing the disaster. Others were excitedly passing up and down the streets, while still others were noticed sitting with listless eyes and stolid faces brooding over the destruction which one fearful night had brought of all their earthly possessions. At the foot of Carson street the cellars to the houses on the east side were generally filled with water, and the occupants were busily occupied until about midnight saving their property. The loss, however, was insignificant in comparison with the wholesale destruction of property. At the point where the Main street bridge crossed the run, the_ water expended its force with great fury. Not only this bridge, but the iron bridge a short distance above, was swept away, and hardly a vestige remains. The manner in which the iron bridge was torn to pieces was almost marvelous. One’“portion” of it was carried down the stream for perhaps 500 yards, and flung high up on the bank; another portion was buried beneath tons of rubbish, only a small portion of it protruding. The greater portion of the bridge, however, has entirely disappeared. One of the solid abutments was wiped out, there remaining only five of the immense stones of which it was composed. Stones from two to three feet in thickness by five feet in length were torn from the abutment and carried down the stream like so many pieces of cork. All the five bridges crossing Saw-mill Run were swept away, and hardly enough remains of some of them to define their location. The trestle-works crossing the stream were also involved in the general destruction.

“ The devastation along the line of Butchers’ and Saw-mill Runs was almost beyond description. The work of destruction commenced at a point about two miles north of Ohio street. This valley proper commences at a point just above" the line of North avenue, where Spring Garden Run and Butchers’ Run unite and flow into an immense sewer leading to the Allegheny River, just above Sycamore street. The Butchers’ Run Valley at its mouth is probably between 400 and 500 feet wide, and at the point where the work of destruction commenced it is no more than 150 feet wide. Between North avenue and this northerly point numerous ravines empty into Butchers’ Run Valley. Along this route the houses were built directly over the natural water-course, culverts being made and used in part as foundations for dwelling-houses. The line of destruction followed the water-course to the river, and involved an immense number of houses that were not on the line of the culvert. “When the rain commenced falling but little apprehension was entertained, but those who lived near the head of the valley state that suddenly it seemed as if the heavens were literally opened, and the water came down as if discharged from immense pipes. The volume was so large that the narrow valley was filled with a raging torrent. The force of the water was irresistible. The frame dwellings, stables and slaughter-houses gave way like pipe-stems, and the debris from the wrecks were swept down along the line of the plank-road, the weight being augmented every moment. In the district lying west of Chestnut street and north of a line parallel with North avenue the waters rose to a height of fully twenty feet in some places. Occupants of dwellings were unable to escape in time to save their lives, and in many instances the force of the water rent the structures into splinters. It is impossible at the present writing to give an adequate idea of the destruction wrought. An area of twenty miles square has been inundated. An immense number of houses are swept away and there is a probable loss of over 200 lives. At last accounts the loss of property had not been considered, so great was the excitement over the terrible loss of life, but it will probably exceed 93,000,000.”