Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1883-02-08
RAGING RIVERS.
The Ohio Will Go a Little Bit
Higher.
Great Loss Of Property and Distress at
Points Below, ard a Greater
Flood Coming.
Spscial Dispatch to the Register.


PAREERsBURG, February THE food,
which promises to rival the memorable
freShet OF 1892, shows no signs of abate-
ment. Since yesterday morning the river
continued to rise At the rate of from three
10 five inches per hour. 1t now registers
81 feet above low water mark. being within
feet OF the noted flood Of 1862 and 5 feet
Of that OF 1882. To-day has been one long
10 be remembered in Parkersburg.
The morning dswned gloomy and threat
ening rain. The people in the lower
portions of the city swoke to find destruc-
tion, the flood silently surrounding their
dwellings and invading their homes. The
water had already reached the first floor OF
the Swami House, Porter's Hotel and the
American House. Everything was re-
moved to the second stories.
The immense stock of Thompson
x Jackson and c. c. Martins wholesale
groceries, and Thompson 4 JacksOn's feed
Store will be removed beyond the reach of
water. All day Ann street from the
Swami HoNse to Andy AIS Central pre-
sented
The Busiest Scenes
ever witnessed in that locality. By noon
il was certain the water would reach the
same depth in AIS Central Hotel. Prep
srations were made accordingly. The
Kitchen and dining room furniture was
removed 10 the annex of the
hotel above Court and Ann streets,
and the wants Of their guests were sup
piled. Many families were compelled to
abandon their homes, and perhaps thirty
families are homeless tonight, while the citi-
zens are doing their best for the unfortunate
ones, who are principally OF the poorest
classes Some actually suser tonight with
hunger and cold. The lower end Of Mar
ket street for some distance above Second,
is submergedas is all that portion Of the city
bordering on the kanawhs and Ohio rivers.
The Baltimore and Ohio freight depot and
OsiCes are under water and all over the
city the usual industry closed.
Not wheel Moves.
The machinery in Smith & O'Brien's
machine shop, the Novelty Mill Company,
Eagle mill, Merchant mills, and the
Parkersburg Milling Company and
machinery are all submerged. Also
the Camden oil refinery, the Kanawha
pulp Companys acid works and Camden's
barrel factory. The b. & .. pump house is
NuNtE wafer. EllklHts ~ W RlC AOA "oSSL'
Newport, opposite Parkersburg, is Hooded.
MANY of the inhabitants are hunting
safety in higher places. The Chemical
Fibre Cumpany's works are surrounded by
water If the rise reaches two feet more
the large stock of wood belonging TO the
company, and an immense amount OF
lumber az the Ohio River mill will
be swept away. Until the water recedes
the damage cannot be estimated. The
damage to the Star Foundry will be heavy,
as they bad stock of over two hundred
stoves and a vast amount of castings,
material. etc. 1t is probable the water
will reach the gas works before morning,
and the city will be
shrOuded In Darkness.
Col. Iespard will endeavor to store
enough gas for lighting the dwelling houses
for two nights. The damage to Bently
4 Gerwig's furniture factory on Ann
street is considerable. Belleyiew,
Harris Ferry and Ravenswood, on
the Virginia side. are inundated. Many of
the citizens are homeless. A large portion
OF Marietta, Harmar, Belpre, Little Hook
Ing and Hockingport Ohio, are un-
der water. No loss of life
is reported, except one man, name un'
known, who WAS borne down the Ohio on
a StsCk of straw. which struck the piers OF
the railroad bridge here, and the man was
thrown into the river never TO rise.