Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1881-02-10
The Depot Bridge Of the Balti-
more and Ohio Road Loses
a Pier and Feels Much
Depressed Thereat.

That usually quiet and even sluggish
stream, Wheeling creek, shook itself
wide awake, yesterday, and took on the
character OF roaring torrent. The rains
OF the past three days have apparently
been general and every little riyulet was
swollen to its utmost capacity to carry
off the loose fluid. The headwaters OF
the creek, therefore, felt the boom day
before Yesterday, and by yesterday
morning had reached that portion oil the
stream in the neighborhood OF the city.
The heavy crust OF ice which has
for SO long encased it, began TO
heaye. shortly before noon, yes.
terday, and crowds gathered on the
bridges to see the breakup. 1t came
shortly, and the ice lying west OF the
Zane street bridge went off with rush.
II required but a short time for it to
pass, and nothing worthy OF note hap
pened during the brief passage. The
current and volume OF water were tre-
mendous, aud the cakes were dashed
against the piers OF tie Main street and
b. & o. bridges with terrific force, but
the ice passed by and the structures
seemed none the worse.
But while this scene was Transporting,
a far more interesting one was taking
place further out the creek and 1t was a
far more expensive one, 100. The Ice,
as stated above, broke near Reymann's
brewery, remaining intact, beyond. At
the Hemptield bridge, IL had broken and
goryed and was piled high about the
stone piers. At the city peninsula
bridge, OIL this side, and at the county
bridge, on the other, il had also gCrged
and formed high and impossible bar
rier TO the waters above.
This was at the bottom OF the trouble.
The heavy current was damned and the
waters began backing up. Woods run,
al the toll gate soon filled the basin
thus formed and began overlooking into
the lane and bottom at Leather"ood.
At the same time, the low cOinhelds OF
Judge Thompson overlooked and the
water spread rapidly in every direction.
The current continued bringing new in
stsllments of ice, which followed the
overflow and was distributed every
where. Ii piled up high against the
Steenrod foot bridge, which, quickly
Welded to the pressura and was whirled
off down stream. The heavy cakes
i.mmed against the Fulton bridge, which
IS set altogether too low, and for time
it too was threatened.
The gorge which accumulated along
the stone wall, east OF Judge Thomp
sons, formed second dam, and soon
the pike at the the toll house was COW
cred to a depth OF 20 inches with ice and
water, cutting off Leatherwood and
stopping all travel, whether by car or
carriage. The water backed around the
curve toward Mt. de Chantal, and fairly
inundated the low ground upon the
property OF K A. McCabe, Esq, taking
off fences and sadly injuring young
orchard.
The school house on the pike was GOV.
cred to depth OF two feet, while that
on the lane was partly overturned. The
windmill which operates the Leather
wood pump, was utterly destroyed, and
the low fields between it and the road
were furnished a supply Of ice that will
last until summer. The fences OF Henry
Koch's property were carried away, and
his cellar filed. Allan Davis toll house
was ornamented with foot OF water.
Conrad's property was badly injured by
the ice, and most of his fences are gone.
At the milkman Reinacker's, the water
was six feet high and rising, at o'clock.
The pike and street car tracks were
deeply covered with ice, and al great deal
OF labor will be necessary to remove 1t.
Judge Thompson's property suffered
seriously. His loss in fences alone will
amount to considerable SUN. His land
upon both sides of the creek was invaded
by the conquering element an! water
and ice combined made fearful hovac.
His residence was partially flooded.
At Fulton the scene OF destruction
was still more exaggerated and for
time there was the greatest excitement.
1t was momentarily expected the iron
bridge would 90, as the mounting Ice
crept nearer and nearer; but before
touching it the break came and it was
saved. The low ground in the neigh
borhood of Lists pork house was inun.
dated, and many buildings and cellars,
including it, were flooded. The props
which support Schenck's slaughter
house were cut away and the building
hung trembling over the water. Per-
haps, before this time, it has been en-
tirely destroyed.
The Break
otolooly tha haI OF.