The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1873-02-18
FLOOD IN THE EMoNoNGAHELA.
GpecIGl Dispatch % The IntollIgeaoer.)

special Dispatch % the IntellIgeaeer)
GRAFTON, W. Va, Feb. 17.-9:11 A. N
River very high; rising about two Zee
per hour; will be out Of banks befort
night. g. W. B.
Especial Dispatch to tho IntellIgencer)
MoRaANTowN, W. Va, Feb. 1913 A
M.-River twenty-five feet rising two
feet per hour; raining yet. Look out for
a fifty.two rise. N. N. HOFFMAN.
Damage to a Coal Fleet at Pitts.
buTgh.
PrTrsBURGH, February 1.-THE re-
cent heavy rains caused rapid rise In
the Monongahels River last night and at
Q o'clock this morning the current was 80
strong that q coal feet, consisting Of
thirty boats and barges, broke from the
fastenings at the Smith6eld street bridge
and moved of In q rapidly rising cur
rent. The alarm was instantly given by
blowing whistles and other signals in use
on the river aud every effort made to
save the lives OF the unfortunate men who
were on board of the coal fleet. Some
were saved, but 1t is reported that several
persons were lost. One man was seen to
bo carried under the Steamer Hercules,
and another under the Andes, both men
were floating past in barges, and in en-
deavoring TO jump on the wheels OF the
steamer named, fell into the current and
went down. The tow.boat, F. Wilson
living opposite the lower end OF Market
st., was struck by the floating barges, and
turned up on one side. The OIL Valley
was also cut down. Il is impossible, at
present, to ascertain the extent of dam.
age done TO property on the river.
River still rising rapidly, at 1890, with
seventeen feet-but no further danger Is
apprehended.
PITTs1URaH, February 1.-THE flood
which 30 Unexpectedly commenced in the
Monongahela river last night, continues
without abatement, and Is rather increas.
ing in violence. 1t is impossible to sp'
proximate even distant estimate Of the
damage done, but 1t Is considered that 1t
is the heaviest river disaster ever expert
enced here. Grave rumors are current
concerning the damage done up the river.
The loss OF life has not been as great as
at first supposed. Rumors prevailed that
twelve or fifteen men had gone down at
the time of the breaking away ot the
coal fleet, but 1t turns out that. only two
were lost. A man named Jas. King was
knocked of q barge at McKeesport and
drowned. The tow boat Y. F. Wilson sunk
this morning: She was valued at $15, 900.
Insurance for $4,000; Oil Valley, owned
by D. & P. J. 8. Mcdonald Of this city,
valued at $4,000, insured for $4,000;
the loss OF coal boats and barges have
been very heavy and general at Elizabeth
this morning; number Of coal boats and
barges together with quantity OF lum-
Der RATS principally owned by James
Walton were swept away, loss estimated
at $4,000. OF the baFges which broke
away from the suspension bridge, this
morning, five were owned by Samuel
Cable, four of them sunk, three OF tho
barges were landed at Shousetown, one
was marked V. F. Wilson, one Jackson
No. II, and one Mack & Go and the
barges were landed by the steamer, Fair
play, two belonged TO R. @. Gray; one
marked O'Connor and another one A.
O'Neil No. @; 1t has been reported that
several other barges have been moored
at points below the city; and at halt past
eight this evening the river is rising rap.
idly the marks, Indicating 1911 feet; 1t Is
thought that food will culminate by
midnight.
LOUISVILLE, Feb. 17.-RiVer risen 8
feet inches and rising rapidly; 10 feet
0 inches in canal, IS feet 9 inches in the
chute, 90 feet bridge space. Weather
cloudy and damp all day. Mercury 40
to 80. River full Of DRIFT and crowds are
attracted to the banks 10 watch the rising
water. Old boatmen here gay the pros
pect Is fair for higher water than for sew
eral years. No damage is reported by
the flood.
CNcNNAT1, Feb. 17.-River 81 feet
and falling temporarily. Arrived-The
r. r. Hudson from Wheeling, the Con-
dor with coal from Pomeroy, Z. Il. Hobbs
passed from Wheeling 10 St. Louis, Al
bion with salt from Pomeroy for Memphis.
Weather cloudy and warm. Hs