Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1882-02-21
THE FLOOD AT CINCINNATI.
The Ohio Leaplng It's Banks--
CeilRrs FiIIing-RailrOad
Tracks Submerged.
Iincinrali Commercial Q + yesterday. /

Cincinnati Commercial Of yesterday
All day yesterday, despiteEthe con-
tinuous rain, thousands Of persons
visited the Ohio along its miles of front
to view the spectacle Of the turbid
waters fastening along and in their
pulSations occasionally thrsatensd to
leap the banks, "Fifty-three feet one
inch and still rising" was the after
noon report Of the water works mark.
Towards 4 clock a dense fog stratum
settled on the river, obstructing the
view of its surface 20 that the curious
had to content themselves with look
ing on the element Immediately at
their feet. The old Whitewater canal
bed, now used by the G. & l. was
completely submerged in places, and it
was a novel experience to stand upon
any of the bridges and see the switch
men wading around like storks.
At times one of these men would
find hole deeper than any he had
struck for an hour, and as the element
would come up around his abdomen,
his gssps for breath and profanity
were painful to hear. Following their
motions, you would see them make
their way to a spot where was standing
out of the water black looking up
rieht. Pulling this to a slanting po-
sitiou and waving the disengaged arm
would bring yard engine and a hall
dozen freight cars down from the high
ground through the water like huge
sea serpent. Taking the cars to a
place OF undoubted safety, the engine
would return for more.
At Riverside the Cincinnati Cooper
age Works are built on the highest
point on the river bank between the
tEo Miamis, and at 5 pm. the water
was within one foot and half Of en-
tering its cellars.
Mill creek was a perfect waste of
waters, the whole inundated valley
being only broken in surface by the
few streets filed in from east to west
and by the Marietta road bed running
north and south. The Gatf stock pens
that people have been accustomed to
see perched upon the monstrously high
stills, near the creek, had but two feet
between them and the flood.
Crossing the Sixth street bridge
coming east ut Mill creek, owners Of
vehicles found themselves confronted
with a submerged street and two
chances Offering: either to trust them
selves to the uncertain depth, or to
retraoe and by long detour reach the
city by way of Eighth street. The few
who took the risk had the under side
of their wagon or carriage bodies wet
by contact with the water. The Third
street cars nescessarily had their Sixth
street route shortened, having to halt
at the water edge near the |. G. Il l..
machine shops.
Adjacent to this place and on the
north side of Sixth street, was two
story frame completely surrounded.
One of the occupants, a good natured
as we'll as good looking Irish woman,
was leaning from the window indulg-
ing in humorous chaff with her safer
neighbors:
IF this kapes on, me and the child.
ther will not go to the Sayside next
summer. Look at me game fowls,
Mrs. Mulcahey," indicating some sor-
ry locking, bedraggled chickens clus-
tered together on a little island in the
side yard.
"Nf you'll 90 to the ball this evein' Z"
said Mrs. Mulcahey, "Tll call for yer
wild canoe
Pursuing investigations eastward,
the 0. & NJ. tracks were in many
places Tapped by the Ohio, and all the
coal yards were more or less flooded.
The Office Of Daniel Stone & Co was
as isolated as q lighthouse, and the
wagons within the inclosure were up
to their hubs"
The more complete reports in the
river column tend to show that a
higher river may be looked for. At
2 am. the stage was one foot four
inches short Of the greatest hight Of
August, 1877, when it was % feet o
inches.