The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1883-01-10
DESTRUCTIVE DELUGE.
TEN EUROPEAN RIVERS ON ATARE
Carrying Ds,th and Devastation Before Them-A
Parallel to the Mississippi Valley floods.
Thousands OfPoOpls HOmslsss-GraphIe
Picture orths Inundated Districts.

BERLIN, Jan. o.-BetYeen Christmas and
New Years the note OF alarm was sounded
in Central Europe that the heaawaters Of
the Rhine, the Main, the Danube, the Inn,
the Moldau, the yistula, the Oder, the Elbe,
the Theiss and the Weser were rising, ow-
ing to the melting snow in the Alps. I'm.
der violent southerly winds there was a
heavy rainfall. Soon afterwards the worst
fears were realized. The districts border.
ing on these streams were inundated, and
the foods which overflowed the banks laid
the fields, vineyards and dwellings for
miles under water, causing more destruC-
tion than the deluge Of month since.
THE DANUBE.
Throughout Upper and Lower Austria
and Bohemia the thawing Of the deep snow
was very sudden, and numerous avalan'
ches fell in styria, blocking the railroads.
The Danube Immediately commenced to
rise. The city authorities FASTENED to take
measures to check the flood. Engineers
and workmen were busy Strengthening
and repairing the bridges and dikes. News
OF danger came from hundreds OF villages
along the banks as the tributaries continued
to bear immense masses OF water into the
main stream. BY New Years the Danube
had overhowed its right bank, flooding the
railway and station and drivingthe officials
into the upper floors and offices. The
Danube Navigation Company had boats
and sailors ready and detachments OF pom.
TONERS on duty in the Prater.. The water
flooded the engine which drove the elec.
tric light OF the Karl Theatre and the audi
ence had to leave.
In some towns deer took refuge among
the houses and quantities OF game, roe.
buck, pheasants, hares and p,rtridges
drifIed down the river. There is scarcely
any abatement as yet, the water standing
500 centimetres higher than its normal
level in Vienna, 6GS in Pesth and CTS in
Pressburg. 1t is hoped that il the dikes
hold out the worst is past. Linz and Pesth
have suffered most among the larger towns,
10000 acres Of cultivated land lying south
OF the latter being entirely submerged.
The country folk saved their herds with
difficulty, but left their houses to the mercy
OF the waters. The damage TO property is
serious everywhere, but the loss OF life is
not as large as might be expected, owing
to the precautions taken in good time.
ON TIE RHINE.
In Germany, especially in the Rhine pro-
vinces, the inundations were more de-
structive than for many years. The city
OF Mayence is in a critical position, the
waters having advanced close to the walls
aud flooded the railroads. The entire
plain between Mannheim and Worms is
one great lake ten feet deep. Five villages
were destroyed and 250 houses have fallen
in. In the Red district, near Worms,
twelve villages were nearly destroyed and
600 houses collapsed. Ten thousand people
are completely destitute. At Mannheim the
whole district presents melancholy aspect
Nothing is visible from the observatory
but sea Of water, with few trees and
roofs emerging from the flood. The bur.
gomasters Of Worms and Mannheim left
in boats. A number OF lives were lost. AT
Heidelberg both lines OF railway were des-
troyed. The water has risen TO the ceilings
in the lower parts of'the town. Every
where churches and public buildings have
been opened to shelter the roohess suffer.
ers. The public authorities are supplying
food from Worms to Bodenheim and
Lampertheim. At Bergstrasse the Rhine
burst through the dams and swept away
houses and herds.