Daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, Va. [W. Va.]) 1859-1865, 1865-03-20
Ba~THE F1ooD.-On Saturday the Ohio

river again overlooked its banks, and we
have been visited by the heaviest food that
has occurred since 1862, the helghth being
but little short of the food of that year.
The extent of the present rise Was far be-
yond the anuciPa,ions of those most expe-
rieuced in river matters, and consequently
found our citizens but lily prepared for
such an emergency. The river commenced
rising on Friday, increasing rapidly during
the night, and continuing until six O'Clock
on Sunday morning, at which time it had
reached the extreme heighth and soon be-
gan to recede.
For the last three days Wheeling hasoc.
cupied position similar to that of a be.
lsaguered city. The rushing volume Of
water sweeping over the banks which had
confined it, inundated the surrounding
country for miles, submerging the railroad
and other various routes of approach to
the city, thus cutting her off from almost
all communication with the outside world.
Nails could neither be forwarded or re.
ceived. The usual order of things was
totally disarranged. % Saturday business
was almost entirely suspended, operations
being confined to the removal of merchan-
disc and household goods from the cellars
and first floors of buildings about to be
invaded. A lsrge portion of the island is
completely submerged and the citizens oc.
cuPying the lower points were compelled
to oOcupy upper stories only, or seek higher
ground. The independent republic of
Ritchietown found itself, or at least the
greater portion, under water, greatly to the
loss and Inconvenience of the citizens. A
stranger beholding their half submerged
dwellings might readily conclude that they
were amphibious in their nature and habits,
or that they belonged to the mermaid fam.
lily, and for this reason had chosen their
watery abode. They have the consolation
however OF knowing they were not alone
in their eujoyments, a majority of their
fellow citizens in the 9Th ward being in a
like condition; many rising from their bed
in the morning to find their houses sur.
rounded by water, others to know that
they would soon be in the same condition.
Rats and skitfs were in great demand,
and hurry and preparation was the order
of the day. Cooking stoves went up stairs,
and psrloTs were transferred to garrets.-
All that portion OF the sixth ward lying
between ChaPliue street and the river came
within the range of the deluge, the water
extending up Main street in the 9th ward
to the curbstOue in front of Messrs. Reed
L Krafrs drug store. There was consider.
able depth Of water on the floors of the
machine shops of the Baltimore and Ohio
rairoadi also on the main aoor of the
Belmont Mills, though not reaching the
higher floor on which the nail machines
stand. The company however was COM
PEELED to remove several thousand kegs
OF nails TO prevent damage from water.-
Aessrs. Detwiler s. Co., for the second time
this spring, was under the necessity of re.
moving everything from the basement of
their Touring mills. All the bridges cross.
ing Wheeling creek we're overlooked. com.
munication heiug kept up by means Of frail
barks which transported passengers for ten
cents head.
All parties living within range of the
food will experience considerable loss aud
great Inconvenience, and we hope if we are
to have another such visitation it may be
many years hence.