The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1875-08-05
THEGREAT FLOOD THE COUN-
TIES BELOW.

THEGREAT FLOODIN THE COUN-
TIES BELOW.
Yesterday morning Captain WILL
HANSON, wclI-kuown river man, who
resides NJ Malamoras, on the Ohio river
paid Us II visit, and oourteously gave Us
vivid verbal description OF the terrible
scourgc which IN, visited the people
along the stream, between this city and
Parkcrsburg, in the recent rains.
For nearly one month now, rains have
fallen in greater or less volume, almost
every day. The ground has kept too Wet
the mos. Of this time 10 work corn, and
the atmosphere too damp to cure hay or
stack wheat.
The wheat, nj least in the section of
country below u. bordering the river on
either side, was q light crop: but the wet
weather has almost wholly ruined what
there was. Such as ha, been stacked is
heating, that which is shocked is grow.
ing, and along the streams it has nearly
all, whether in shock or stack, been wash
ed away Capt. WILLIAMSON is Of opinion
that there cannot be saved enough good
wheat of this years crop to furnish seed
for this falls sowing.
The oats mas mainly been mashed to
the earth by the beating rains or tangled
and twisted by the winds, until but little
can bee Graded. Most Of 1t is rotting,
and unless clear weather comes very soon,
the crop as 81 whole, will be lost.
The corn, where the floods have not
mashed il down and destroyed it, is ovcr-
shooting itself and doing but little good.
But little hay has yet been saved IN
good condition, and that which was saved
on the low-nnds has been carried away
10y the floods.
The potato crop, which is an unusually
fine one, has already commcnccda second
growth and decay. 1t is too early to dig
and house potatoes for winter and to
leave them in the ground is almost GER
tam loss.
This is the condition OF such portions
of the crops as the rushing waters have
not carried away.
Captain WILLIAMSON says that the
storm which we had in this vicinity last
Sunday night, was general in the section
of country referred to.
Fishing creek, which enters the Ohio
river at New Martinsville, rose until it
ten feet higher than 1raS crer iHo,on
before. Stacks and shocks of grain
and hay, came down that stream
in great numbers; 700 to 500 cords of
key wood; several hundred thousand
slaves; thousands OF panrels Of fence;
dwelling houses, stones, saw mills, out
houses, over fifty stand of bees, and all
manner Of private property, with bridges,
&c, came down in drifts OF vast pro-
portions. The damage along this stream
was estimated AT exceeding 100000. y
similar cor djtion Of things existed all
along the river streams on both side, Of
the Ohio.
Middle Island Creek, which emptics
into the Ohio near st. MaryS, was espc-
crally destructive. No less than five
mills. including the grist and saw mill at
Shilo, owned by the Shilo Manufacture
ing Company; the store house Of Mr..
HOLMES, about five miles up the stream;
the dwelling of Mr.. MCWuLIAMS, on a
small tributary stream; GLENDENNING'S
store, or another tributary; hundreds Of
dozens of wheat and oats; hundreds OF
tons of hay; thousands ofpannels of fence
were carried oil rs lightly rs foam 10y the
roaring and msddening torrents. Mid
die Island Creek was five feet higher
than was ever known before, and all of
its tributaries were wild in the unhcard-
Of accumulation of waters.
In some places the flats bordering these
streams, were 100 to 200 yards wide, Yet
the waters sweep in one broad, madden
ing torrent, from hill to hill, hurting
down buildings, carrying away fences,
gram, hay and everything movable, and
washing down the corn as ii an immense I
log had rolled over it. The damage done |
is beyond computation. The people are
disheartened and dismaycd. Captain .
WILLIAMSON gives it as his solemn con-
viction that this is judgment visited by
Providence upon proud, selfish, grasp
ing people.