The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1883-04-21
The Recent Floods in the West.
correspondence of the Democratic Advocate
NEWPORT, KY, April Sth, 1883.


Cincinnati, Ohio, and Covington and New
port, KY, are located in a basin, surrounded
by high bluffs and hills, which almost rise to
the altitude of mountains. This basin is ira
versed by the Ohio river from east to west.
separating Cincinnati from CovingtOn and
Newport; and by the Licking river from the
south to north, to its junction with the Ohio,
separating Covington and Newport; and by
Mill Creek in the west end of Cincinnati. On
the banks of these streams and adjacent to
them are compacty built and thickly settled
portions of the three cities. A great ma jority
of the citizens in these localities are laborers
and operatives and small property owners.
And. right here, in the valleys of these
streams, gathered together the floods that
spread out and deluged and devastated all
within their reach. A common remark was
81 wonder why so many people lost their
furniture and even their clothing? The
water advanced on them at about an inch an
hour; why did they not get their effects out of
danger?'' | think for this reason, if no 9th
er: Each habitation had its danger lines, es-
tablished by previous foods. The inhabitants
had seen the water advance to these lines be-
fore. encroach upon and occupy cellars and
ground floors, when they took up carpets.
stacked up furniture and then saw the floods
come to a stand, retire, and leave matters IN
a fair condition, comparatively speaking
This they expected to be the result again, and,
when it was found to be otherwise, and the
waters crawled right up to where the turni-
ture was piled it was too late to move, and
people had to look out for themselves, espe-
cialfy those who lived in cottages and small
two story dwellings,; besides, there were not
facilities enough at hand to move both the
people and their household goods. The
safety of the people was the first considera-
! ton. In all the vast eXpanse of water, and
the consequent hurry and excitement attend
! ing upon the flood it is a remarkable fact
that. as far as we have been able to ascertain,
not a single life was lost, or man, woman or
child reported as missing during its preva-
lence here The churches, schoolhOuses and
other public buildings were opened to the
refugees. and many found shelter with their
! more fortunate neighbors and friends The
ARRANGEMENTS for the meals and care of the
| occupants of the schoolhouses were under the
| general supervision of the superintendent OF
/ the schools. Each building was in charge of
its principal, assisted by the janitor. The
| teachers volunteered and formed corps of re-
| lief, preparing, cooking and distributing the
meals to their unfortunate guests 1t was a
pleasant incident in the history of the flood to
witness those who but n few days before,
!
dren. now attired in white aprons covering
their tidy dresses, doing honors that command
! the admiration of the good and the wise, feed
| ing the hungry with food made ready by their
own hands Our teachers can not only teach,
! but keep house, when necessary. The Hood
ed district was terribly broken up. Had a
| fire swept over it, many could not have been
| left in much worse condition, with mud and
! filth and damp walls, foundations shaken,
| fences and outhouses gone, furniture warped,
! broken, gone to pieces all cold, damp and
cheerlesS, and the savings Of life, in their little
! homes, thus devastated. 1t was indeed sad
! to see widowed mothers stand in the midst OF
| this wreck and contemplate their situation,
and there were those who were compelled to
| do it, 1t is no wonder they stood appalled,
and silent. Amidst this destruction, waste
! and sorrow it was cheering to witness the
promptness with which relief came, as far as
! human agencies could afford it. 1t came in
| every imaginable shape, from all quarters
and from all classes of people.
| Two weeks before our flood citizens OF
! Newport sent s., 900 to the relief Of the flood
! sufferers III Germany. Now the Emperor
sends relief for tie German sufferers in the
| Ohio valley. 1t is gratifying to an old Mary
| lander to realize that, while the citizens OF
other states were doing noble work i'll this
direction, that a citizen of Baltimore was
amongst the foremost in donating a first, and
then second thousand, to the general re-
| lief fund, and some hundreds especially to
Newport These acts count i'll making up the
sum total of mans life, and the president of
the Baltimore & Ohio Railroad Company,
| John w. Garrett. with us stands associated i'll
this work with the name of James Gordon
Bennett, of the Ne,r York Herald and with
those of the liberal citizens of other states,
who contributed so timely and generously to
the relief of Newport sufferers, thereby com
handing our gratitude, esteem and sincere
thanks. A walk through the flooded district
this morning shows signs of Improvement and
recovery. In short time the flood of SO
will be remembered and talked of when minor
floods appear. as was that of 81, as the high
est within the memory of the oldest inhabitant
of ''OLD KAINTUCK.'