Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1881-02-14
THE. FROZEN. FLOOD.
LATEST NEWS OF the MODERN
DEluGe. =
The Climax Reached and the River Slowly
DeeIiuing-facis Concerning the
Flood, with Notes and
Incidents.

The food remains with MS. For
three days il has been an 'unwelcome
guest, and now has lost most OF Its inter,
est except to those whose homes ana
property have been invaded. But the
sudden change OF weather has put
new phase upon the deluge and given to
il an additional and most unpleasant
feature. Now, instead OF quietly passing
off rs the northern supply .diminishes,
the water will be laden with newly
formed ice, and in this particular the
cellars will suffer. The inconvenience
the ice will produce about those houses
now submerged will be very great,
and in some quarters the suffer
ing will be eorrespondingly great.
Last night the mercury touched ~
degrees and ice was formed everywhere.
Where the water spread and was shall
low, it was covered with CLASSY sur
face that was highly disagreeable where
it offered an impediment to navigation.
At Benwood, which is terribly sub
merged, the suffering is great.
But now the orst part OF the deluge
is over and marked TALL will take place
to-day. Telegraphic reports from above
show all Of the head waters to be sub
siding rapidly and the supply has evil
IDENTITY been exhausted. This cold snap
will chill all OF the small streams and
serve 10 hasten the decline OF the waters.
At dark last night, there was a little
more than IS feet of water indicated by
the wharf marks, and a gradual fall was
taking place. There were various ire
sponsible rumors circulated yesterday,
in effect that heavy addition to the
flood would be made by the Allegheny
rise, but the authors were mere alarm
lists, and their stories had no founda-
ton. 1t was the effect OF that rise that
continued for so long the present high
stage, and that caused the fluctuations
of depth. Since Saturday noon the wa
ter has risen and fallen three separate
times, though no over six or eight inches
at any one time. About noon yester-
day, which was considered the final de-
cline set in, beginning almost imper.
ceptibly. By this morning the TALL will
doubtless be distinct, and after that as
rapid as was the rise.
The scenes about the city and vicini-
ty were about rs described on Saturday
morning. The limits OF the inundation
were extended somewhat, on that day,
and held their position during Sunday,
but Neptune has sounded his conch for
retreat, and the land will soon recover
its lost ground-with an unpleasant adj
dition in the shape ofmud.
The incidents connected with the wa
terry invasion, are numerous and
various. Some OF them are very
ludiCrous, while others are inclined
to be pathetic. An instance OF the lat
ter was family on the lower part OF the
Island. Their home was cut off from
the world, and as they were all OF the
feminine gender and owned no boat,
and could not swim, they were half
starved before visiting mariner discov'
cred their situation and brought them
relief. 1t is truly amusing to see the
second-story arrangements OF several
families in the submerged Caldwell's
run districts. The study of domestic
economy has been studied by some, but
neglected by others, and the general
confusion which pervades the cooking
and sleeping arrangements OF the latter
is fealfully and wonderfully great.
An animated scene took place on
Market below Twenty-fourth street, yes
terday afternoon. The water extends
up the former nearly to the latter, form
ing boating space upon which fioated
every variety Of craft. A great many
well known citizens OF the ward pad
died about upon rats, skis and cata-
marans OF one kind and another, and as
an occasional ducking was unavoidable,
the sport was rich-to the others
We have yet to chronicle a serious &C.
cident resulting from the overflow. The
loss will be great and the inconvenience
and distress greater, but not yet has life
or limb been endangered.