The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1883-02-19
Leavenworth, Crawford County, a Sc
rious Sufferer by the Flood.
Prospect of Great Destruction Along the
Wabash-The Floods in the Maumee
The Lower Mississippi.
THE VALLEY OF THE OHIO.
CINCINNATI.

The Water Gradually Receding and the City
Resuning Its Usual Routine.
Special Dispatch to the Journal from a STAFF Core
spondent
CINCINNATI, Feb. 1S.-During the last two
or three days Cincinnati has been visited by
thousands of strangers, who came from all
directions to witness the devastation wrought
by the foods and Prices Hill, the high
lands and elevated points affording good
views of the flooded districts are crowded by
sightseers. Your correspondent came from
Aurora to this city along the river, and found
everywhere evidences of the destructive over
flow. Farms are inundated, factories at the
river towns submerged and the stream itself
swollen almost out of all semblance to its
former self.
The warm weather of Friday was followed
yesterday by a cold wave, the thermometer
registering twelve degrees below the freezing
point, and great rejoicing is INDUCED in over
the tact that the blizzard from the North
west will check the almost incessant down
pour of the past week, and permit the river to
perform the great task imposed upon it-that
of carrying off the immense volume of water
that has created such havoc all along its
course 1t is now steadily falling, and this
evening had fallen from sxty-six feet and
four inches on Thursday last to fifty nine feet
nine inches last night. The last rise from
Pittsburg is expected to reach here this even
ing, but, while it may check the decline for
a time, it will not materially interfere with
the subsistence of the water. The big Shields
engine at the water-works has been steadily
at work pumping water into the big reservoir
since Friday, aud the city is fairly we'll sup
piled with that very necessary article. The
laundries have all been cut off and no water
will be furnished to heavy consumers of this
character until the supply is again equal to
the demand. The fires have been kept con-
stantly burning under the retorts at the gas
works, as to have allowed them to grow cold
would have resulted in their utter ruin.
The company announces the hope of its
ability to furnish illumination tomorrow
night, and the restoration of gas will remove
one of the greatest inconvienences occasioned
by the disaster For a week past the streets
have been buried in gloom and darkness, an
occasional coal-oil lamp placed on gas-post,
generally to serve as a beacon light for some
saloon, affording the only CLEANS of light in
the impenetrable darkness.
CLEANING UP AND RENovATINa
The force of the STRENGTHENING department
is busily engaged in following the receding
water and cleaning up the heavy layers of
sediment deposited upon the streets and side
walks. Fires are kept burning at the waters
edge for the comfort of the workmen. Bust
ness men in the inundated district are busily
engaged in Strengthening up their houses and
are following the water down with their
goods as it leaves the lower floors. Members
o; firms are already employed in making in
voices and estimating losses. te4
1t is estimated by those best qualified to
Judge, that ten million dollars will not cover
the damages done to Cincinnati and the ad-
joining towns. 84tie @..
In Cincinnati, great as has been the calam-
ity from monetary standpoint, it has been
singularly free from incident and only two
lives are known to have been lost-two lads
who were drowned by the capsizing of a
rudely-constructed fiatboat at the threshold
of their home. 1t is feared, however, that as
the water recedes many of the build
ings, especially those standing on made
ground will give way. 1t is highly probable
that the loss on buildings after the water
disappears will be greater than when the
food was at its height.
The relief committees still have about all
they can attend 10, and probably will have
70 IN Tho 4
pendent upon them are generally of the
lower order Of the poorer classes and they
will accept assistance as long as the commit
tees will continue to extend it. Twelve
soup houses have been established, and COM