The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1883-02-09
RIyEn RgMiNIscENoEs.
Something About the Big Floods OF the

The height OF the river on Wednesday. the
alarming dispatches from Pittsburgh and the
force with which the creek, already swollen
to an unusual height, ran out, bringing down
with 1t Ice and drift, naturally created con-
siderable excitement In the minds OF those
living on the lower levels Of the city, aud
quite AS naturally awakened in the minds Of
old citizens, who witnessed the foods OF 1882
and 1852, remembrances OF those diSagreeable
times, whether they lived outside the danger
line or not. An IHTELLIGEScER reporter called
on Col. Henry Hubbard at his saw mill yes
terday, and found him keeping watchtul
eye on his property, which was surrounded
by boom. A few moments conversation
was had with him, in the course OF which lie
said
The flood Of 1882, which reached its cul-
minating point on the 18th Of February oil
that year, though but few inches higher
than the one OF 1852, was much more de-
structive, owing probably, to the fact that
the lesson then learned was not entirely for
gotten by 1852 The flood Of 1910, occurring
when the country was much more sparsely
inhabited about the low bottoms, which were
avoided on account OF malaria, left but few
traces and fewer remembrance OF loss, while
those Of 1882 and 1852 sre yet fresh in the
minds OF those who witnessed them. The
food OF 1882 followed the breaking up OF the
ice in the river and creek and was occasioned
mostly by melting snow in the mountains.
while that OF 1852 was mostly from rain, Of
which we had three days and nights Of such
rains as only could have been equaled when
Noah had completed his fatboat
During the food OF 1882 the river at times
appeared to be floating village, as dozen
houses were in sight at time, accompanied
by something OF every nature about a house
that would float. In one instance there was
sheep, while at the same time cock was
perched on the top, who evidently enjoyed
his ride, as he frequently tapped his wings
aud croged. But the damage was not all
done above us on the river, as many houses
we're swept away from the lower part OF the
city, and though many hair-breadth escapes
were reported, do not remember any loss 0f
life.
With much that was pathetic there was an
occasional streak OF the humorous. An in.
stance OF which was, when an elderly Ger
man who kept ten pin alley and q pig pen
on Main, below Twenty.Second street, and
who had been forced to take refuge on top OF
the one.story house he occupied, witnessed
the loss OF bis treasures. Just IS the skitl
reached him he cried out "0h, mein Colt !!
mein Colt, there goes meins pigs, meins
rolly polleys and all" Along with the
houses that were swept away went the
bridges over the creek at Main and Sixteenth
Streets thus severing the ties that had ever
been on strain between the north aud south
end OF the town. These bridges were wooden.
The one at Sixteenth street was covered, and
on the plan Of the one over Back river, and
the best that ever spanned the creek at that
hA nj al tto n n
worthless. having been built by the Govern
ment In 1919.
The foods OF April, 1852, though destructive
OF much property ip the way Of lumber, out
houses, fences, ETC., was much less so In
houses, nor did 1t entail as much suffering,
owing 10 the season. Both OF these foods
covered the entire Island with the exception
OF small mound IL the yard OF the old
Berger place. The heights reached by these
floods are both marked on the water works
building, you know, aud the one OF 1859 on
the lamp post in the middle Of the stone
bridge over the creek, at about mans hight
above the pavement. That water filed this
Office we are now in, half way up to the
ceiling"
Several other old citizens told about the
water coming up Fourteenth street so as to
fill the cellar OF the old Hullihen building,
corner OF Fourteenth and Market Streets
now used as Chinese laundry. skitfs were
rowed up 10 the Exchange bank steps, and
all along Water street. Nearly all agreed
that the water OF yesterday was probably
greater in volume than that OF 1882 and 1852,
but the river Is much wider now, the banks
having been cut away iearfully by floods in
the past, and the flood OF 1889 would prob.
ably not bring the river out Of Its banks 10.
day