The Unfortunate Life of the St Clair Incline in Pittsburghs South Side. Was it cursed?

 Funicular Inclines have operated for over 100 years in the united states 3 of the most outstanding right here in Western Pa. with one of the safest records for operation of a public transit conveyance  in the world but this was not the case for the St Clair Incline  which operated on Pittsburgh's South Side which had several notable incidents  

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/St._Clair_Incline

incline running behind water pumping station

  Built in 1886-88 and operating till 1933  it traveled from  22nd and Joseph St up to Salisbury St. across from the old Fort  Laughlin Playground  which once served as a redoubt during the civil war. 

with 2 tracks  which where laid on the ground and where more of a cable way ,which got higher and in  a parabolic arc as you got towards the top it carries both passengers and freight.

 It was among one of 17 inclines built around same era as a way for Steel Mill and Glass Workers to get to their homes up on the slopes  instead of having to walk up and down the steep hill .

But one day one of the cars went plunging into the 22nd street station after the Engineer operating the 

controls passed out due to a medical condition and fell on the controls.

at 3:30 am on the morning of April 6, 1909  and 3 young men where aboard a 17 year old survived having jumped off early but a 16 and 17 yr old died  horrifically. after trying to jump.

The cars apparently did not have a emergency safety centrifugal brake  like other inclines  and elevators which senses the car exceeding seed and send out a set of spikes to slow the car. 

https://www.otis.com/en/us/tools-resources/high-rise-safety-systems/

But this would not be the only time this incline saw tragedy

On July 22, 1915 a young 19 moth old  child was crushed when trying to follow  his 2 sisters after they crossed over the tracks instead of walking around correctly 

Then on March 10,1919  A young girl lost her life while leaning on a gate of one of the cars and it gave way and she fell to her death.

 3 fatality on 1 incline and none as far as i can find with all the other inclines in the area.

Which makes one wonder was it cursed . That area where it ran was inhabited by native Americans  so who knows if angry spirits could be involved. 

An April Fools Day Radio Stunt which got out of hand in North Park in the 90s

The late John Cigna a much loved morning radio host on KDKA 1020 AM Radio show  one morning in the early90s  came on the air and started reporting about  strange police activity in  Allegheny County's North Park .

Police supposedly  had a portion of the park blocked off for unknown incident but as the morning broadcast went on it appeared a possible UFO had landed in the park.

http://old.post-gazette.com/tv/20010906cignaradiop5.asp

People where panicked and calling the station and local police trying to get information  I listened that morning and at first something was going on but when I switched stations and no one else was reporting it and then one host told a April Fool Joke  for the day yes you guessed it it was just another one of John Cigna's famous April 1st Pranks.

 

He actually had some management at station  believing him as well and it caused quite the uproar.

Plus the bonus of Army reserve units being seen in the area which where on their way to a drill just made it all that more believable.

Management had their own revenge over this prank  when they had a "Bring me the head of Cigna " contest where people brought a replica of john  to a contest to be judged for prizes 

Of course this was not the first time John pulled off the perfect April Fools Prank   He had listeners convinced there was an alligator  loose in city sewer's and convinced people to flush their toilets to help flush it out of the sewer system.

 I meet john a couple years before he passed when he stopped in the Harley dealership in the north Hills where i was doing repairs he was a great guy to have a conversation with and he could often be found Saturday nights at Costanza's restaurant on 4th ave downtown.

John you are truly one of a kind and sorely missed

At one time you could see a live show that used Real Nitoglycerin blowing things up.

 Up a long back road out of Titusville Pa. you will come across a rather strange sign .

Nitroglycerin Show 

Yes the stuff that goes bang

Well seeing the sign I of course had to go up road to see what was left but the old bridge is closed 

So I did some googling and yes this was a one time tourist attraction where real Nitroglycerin was used to educate the public.

Nitroglycerin was a big player in the development and continuing of production of petroleum Oil 

back in the early 1800s and well into 1900s 

Placed in a metal tube which looked like a torpedo it was dropped down into a oil well to help get oil flowing and then keep oil flowing if the flow slowed down or stopped. today they call it Fracking but its been going on for over a 100 years .

http://www.phmc.state.pa.us/portal/communities/pa-heritage/shooting-stars-drake-well.html

Well Rick F. Tallini  who purchased the Otto Cupler  Torpedo Company  which purchased the Roberts Torpedo company who patented the process .

In 1992 He got the idea to put on an educational yet fun show to teach about the dangers  as well as usefulness  of nitroglycerin. which also included skits and a shootout  between  Moon Lighters and Pinkerton's Moonlighters where men who illegally shot wells  and did not pay Roberts for use of his patent and where term Moonlighting originated 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QWRqolnp894

Originally you could ride the  tourist train  and they used real nitro in the show but then in 1995

The show was moved to drake Well Museum and  much safer pyrotechnics where used and a much smaller compact staging are is used.

I was not able to find video of original show I will keep looking but here is the show in Drake well park 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q7qEEAU__dQ

https://www.aparat.com/v/93HYn/Drake_Well_Nitro_Show