The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1852-05-19
From the Marietta Republican.
The Ohio and its Floods "A years

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In the history of the first 20 years of
Ohio Company's settlement we have not
much information of the "freshes." We
learn they were not unfrequent. and were
destructive of fences in some low ground
clearings, but did not disturb many
houses. #t.|.'H
In December, 1908, was "fresh" two
feet higher than any belore-called the
"Chrislmas sh''-being at its height on
Christmas day. The lower floor of the
house occupied by DR.. Cotton's family in
Marietta, was its high water mark
There were minor freshes in the next
four years. particularly the pumpkin
Fresh" of the Autumn Of 1910. This did
not effect Marietta, but was very destruc-
tive at Pittsburgh, and on the Susquehan-
nah. 1t came, think, mainly from the Al
leghany, and brought down much of Agri-
cultural products. among which pumpkins
were quite conspicuous. .,.-..
In January, 1918. came the Ice Fresh.
1t rose with tremendous rapidity at Mari
eta, before any rain had fallen on the
Muskingum; in one night it came within
ten feet Of coming over, and swept most
ofthe river 'crah'' from the banks. The
rain then poured for about forty hours,
but was suddenly checked by severe cold,
followed by some six inches of snow. 1t
rose four and half feet above the ''Christ-
mas"-and might have been. perhaps, five
feet higher, had it not been arrested by Sc
we're freezing. t........... .....
The April Fresh" was at its height the
same as the Ice Fresh, April 1, 1875
About twenty miles up the Muskingum it
was said to be four feet higher than the
"Ice." ' "
In the spring of 1918, think there was
food that fell short Of the April about
u feet. !,
There was overlooking of the lower
grounds in Marietta in Nov. 1917, and
in the June proceeding or following
There was respite then Of nearly ten
years, till the minor fresh of January 8,
1928 - ''
The crowning food was in the fore part
OF Feb, 1882. The winter commenced
and held on severely for about weeks
from the last OF Nov, 81, with much
snow and ice. There was january
Thaw," running off Of ice from head
water, which made US hope that changers
by flood" were gone by for that year.
But cold, snow and ice we're renewed, and
a February Thaw and rains brought a
food at Marietta, five feet higher than the
ice Fresh and the April. ~. a..
There was respite then Of nearly six
teen years, The food Of December l847
reached, here, within less than foot Of
the Ice and the April. s .,-..
We have now had another April Flood
which overpassed all preceding. save the
fresh Of '32. 1t came to IFS height on the
morning of Thursday, April e2-and re-
tired with unexampled tardiness-falling
in fifty hours, about six feet A fortnight
before, the water had been in. and about,
numbers Of buildings lowly situate-and
then retreated There was very heavy
rain here on the 4th Of April-but is. un-
derstood TO have prevailed and chiefly
over the regions Of Little Kanawha, Mon.
ongahela which rose beyond precedent.
Great Kanawha was also high. Had the
Muskingum been greatly swslled, had the
first April fresh (of this Year, been con-
Joined with the last. the overhows must
have been fearful indeed. Marietta has
suffered no very serious injury. Il will