Weather Stories

 

 

Pittsburg Flood Does Much Damage 
Gorges in Upper Allegheny Break and Water is Sweeping Down Valley

Traffic Tied Up in Western Part of State--Gas Shortage Causses Suffering

Special to The Inquirer.

PITTSBURG, PA., Jan. 10.--After one flood began receding, having done damage estimated at more than one million dollars, another tidal wave is descending down the Allegheny River tonight. Two large gorges in the upper Allegheny broke late this afternoon, and the great volume of water, backed up by the ice dams, is sweeping down the valley. Forecaster Pennywitt began sending messages down the Ohio valley to have the stream cleared so as to give the mass of broken ice full sway.

The principal damage done by the flood today was in the stoppage of traffic and the closing of numerous manufacturing plants along the river front. The Allegheny River reached its highest at noon when it registered 22.3 feet at the point bridge. This was four inches above the flood line in Allegheny, and as a result many streets in the old First ward were under water. This was hailed as a good thing by Mayor Magee and other city officials, for they have been engaged in securing waivers from damages to raise these streets above the flood line. Policemen called on residents in the flooded district on rafts and in hip boots, and secured many waivers which were being withheld.

A house boat occupied by Edward Lassen, his wife and baby and two boarders broke loose at Groveton and smashed against the Coraopolis Bridge pier early this morning. All were saved, but the boat sank. The steamer Florence Bell, owned by Captain John Hudson, Freeport, was sunk near Tarentum at a loss of $8000. A sand dredge of the Pittsburg Plate Glass Company was also sunk, loss $4000. Several boat houses and floats are reported lost. In the Ohio valley more than 5000 men were thrown out of work, while east of Pittsburg a similar number were forced to cease work.
[Philadelphia Inquirer, January 20, 1910 - Transcribed by C. Anthony]

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Five Meet Death In Heavy Blizzard 
Two Die From Exposure, Woman Overcom on Way to Church

Traffic Tied Up in Western Part of State--Gas Shortage Causses Suffering

Special to The Inquirer.

PITTSBURG, Pa., Dec. 9--Five persons met death as a result of the blizzard which swept this region yesterday and early today and a general gas shortage caused much suffering. In some of the boroughs there was not enough gas to cook dinner. Six inches of snow fell and seven degrees below zero was recorded at the Allegheny police station. The blizzard was the worst in many years, coming so early in the winter.

Railroad and trolley schedules are demoralized.

John Bousted, 45, a miner, was found frozen to death this morning about twenty feet from his home in Banksville, a suburb. He apparently had collapsed while struggling against wind and snow drifts.

George C. Colledge, four-year-old son of A. McB. Colledge, secretary of Dormont Board of Health, stood in front of an open gas grate trying to get warm this morning. His clothing ignited and he suffered burns from which he died tonight.

An unidentified man was burned to death in a fire that destroyed an abandoned dwelling in Dorseyville this morning. The man evidently had entered the building for shelter, started a fire in a grate and then gone to sleep.

An unidentified man, about 55, supposed to have been an inmate of the City Home in May View, was found frozen to death beside teh Pan Handle Railroad tracks in South Fayette township this morning.

While on her way to church Mrs. Mary Hadduk, 65, of the North Side, was overcome by the intense cold and fell in the street. She was taken into a drug store, dying there. The body was taken to the morgue, where it lay unidentified until this evening, when a son, M. J. Hadduk, alarmed at the prolonged absence of his mother, started an investigation.

Richard Powell, of Wilkinsburg, was found unconscious from exposure early today on a porch in Hamilton avenue, this city. He may die.

Firemen, responding to still alarms, extinguished many fires throughout this county, resulting from efforts to thaw out frozen water pipes. In one instance the flames got beyond control and the home of Thomas Hall, in Lafayette avenue, was destroyed. In all cases the firemen suffered greatly from the intense cold.  
[Philadelphia Inquirer, December 10, 1917- Transcribed by C. Anthony]

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