The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1877-11-29
THE WILD WATERS.
Devastation on the Line of thd Il. &
d. X. RIO Of Life and Property.
Tuesdays Cumberland News


Mr.. Joseph Smith, u canal man, ar
rived 10 this city last evening, having
ridden from the canal tunnel TO this city
on mule. He reports the destruction
and probable loss OF lie that followed III
the wake OF the flood US being most ter
ribe TO contemplate, but which cannot
be accurately known tor some days. lie
counted nine breaks, one OF them nVe
hundred feet wide, in the canal banks
between the tunnel and this city. The
water spread all over the face OF the
country from South Branch TO the tun-
mel, and probably beyond, making one
vast sheet OF water on which was no
trace OF the channel OF either canal or
river, AS noted below, he learned that
scores of small houses were washed away
At various points, sad 1t Is feared That
many lives were lost, though this Is not
positively known. Passing the house OF
= colored man on DevocnOn's farn, SAT.
urday evening, he noticed the family 1T
supper, and shouted 10 them to get out OF
the house, AS N food WAS coming. Re-
turning he found the house and Ill Its
surrour diDgs swept away, ana lhlhks
the family were drowned.
Mr.. Smith SAYS that csnaI-bosts are
scattered all over the vicinity OF the
canal and lie, wrecked and broken, III
all conceivable positions, everywhere.
1t is feared that 4" NUMBER drllted ouI
into the river, and II so the loss Oh NE
has been frignttui, rs loaded canal-ooat
could not live long in the river, and the
crews could hardly have escaped, MT.
smith knows OF four boats (names un-
| KNOWN that drifted into the river, ana
| i of op!uion that their crews were lost.
II Is the opinion OF canal man OF tins
city that fully one hundred ana my
| loaded boats nave been lost or wrecked,
and that little of the 1900 tons OF coal
carried by them will be saved. Inc loss
of lie attending such fearful Destruction
rs this can of course only be conjectured
| at this time.
THE BALTIMORE AND ONO RAILROAD
Tn. damage to the Baltimore and
| ONO railroad is considerable, though nov
| All vet definitely known. Ii Was ru'
| mored last evening That the immense
bridge at Harpers Ferry or part OF IT,
mad been swept away and that one or
two tresties on the Metropolitan branch
md beed washed out. The company :
officers here positively deny the ioSher
report, but say they know nothing o, the
| / lter.
the trains run regularly between this
city and Wheeling, Parkersol'g ana
| Pittsburgh. 1t IS 10. known when tGey
can be run east, but probably not before
the end of this week.
The telegraph lines, as usual, suffered
| mile alter mile OF the WIRES beng pulled
dom by the poles rs they fell. Inc
work of rebuilding them WAS commenced
SUNDAY and will be pushed as rapidly a
possible, and teielrahlc COMMUNICATIONS
wh, 1t IS hoped, be re,estabhshed IN
lew days.
About half past two o'clock yesterday
morning about one half OF the eastern
sbu,tmenJ OF the long bridge at zHoutn
Branch was swept away, and shortly
at,erward the eastern span, NIFTY lee! IL
length, dropp.d into the river. l ~
tbnr .n.ns ARE not damaged IN the
east. ss each span forms separate ah'
distinct bridge, having no connection e&
cent the tracks. the steal rails Of wnlc'
,fI.red 10 res stance but snapped Ike
nipe SENS The span destroyed can o'
.restled III day.
West OF South Branch tie railroad
though having been GooiCd, has no
injured. East of South Branch, how
ever, the damage is great. AT ont
mace the north track was lifted bodlI.
over to the south track, and at anothe
both were swept into ditch ten feet DC
low the track levil. Each break
shout haIta mile long. At other place
particularly near Paw Paw, the track
sre ro, believed to be damaged, but ut
piled high with debris OF every dlscriF
ton. ,..,...,,
ina loss sustained by individuals
Little Cacspon, Okonoka, Paw t"w an
Frerch's is very large. All along tn
Lime scores of small houses, belonging I
trsck hands or small farmers, were swep
SWAY. together with al the possession
OF their owners, who are now encampe
Along the mountain sides IN huts, IN a
utterly destitute condition.