Morris tribune., 1883-02-21
The Disastrous Flood at Cincinnati.
Ohio

M
In the lower hollows Of the cotton lands
the water is within foot or two Of the
roofs OF the houses. The entire neigh bor:
hood is doing all it can for succor Of the
sufferers. There was cause Of extreme in
dividual suffering last night which the pub.
lie may never know Mothers hurried
through the rising waters with babes intheiI
arms. In some cases sick people had to- he
taken through windows and thence rescuef
to places OF safety. Several were rescued
from trees to which they had climbed. :. 4
Along the wharf the water is still rising al
the rate of an inch per hour, with a few
inches over 80 feet in the canal, SO and
inches in the chute on the falls, and 81
feet and 2 inches over, the rocks. Bus
mess Is entirely / suspended
on the wharf from first street round to
Portland avenue. The river last wear
reached its highest mark at 81 feet 10 inches
in the canal. The houses along the wharf
are in miserable condition as the water is
in the second stories and people are moving
higher up to escape the water. Business is
almo st at standstill owing to the flood
The mayor is distributing food to the suf
ferers with a liberal hand. The board of
trade turns over $500 to the sustenance fund
with more to follow. The German flood
sufferers fund is diverted to home use SIG,
and the Buckingham theater will give the
gross receipts of the Saturday matinee to
German citZe for sufferers.
TERRIBLE SITUATION AT LOUISVILLE.
The greatest disaster that ever befeIi this
cit is now upon us. The food crisis came
about midnight and to-day nearly square
mile is Under water within the limits of the
city. From 500 to 800 people are driven
from their homes. To cap the climax there
has been loss of life how great it is still
impossible to say. This m orning the entire
Section OF the city from Preston street to the
cutoff, and north of the short line FILL is in
the river. People living there had plenty
of warning. As stated, the river all day Just
Tapped the top OF Fulton street and the cut :
off entertainments, and in places the water
was tricking over At o'clock a consider
able break occurred at Adams street, and a
hundred men worked vigorously to stop
the waves, but in the. face oil
all this the infatuated inhabitants
of the old Bear Grass creek remained in
their houses and most Of them went to bed
as usual About IL O'Clock last night the
break came. The cutoff dam, overcome by
the terrific weight of water from above, gave
way, and instantly with loud roar the
what force the waters came when they had
fall Of Is to Is feet TO the low grouEd. In
less time than it takes to tell it. the flood was
sweeping in all directions and the uni, rtu-
nate people were surprised in their houses.
With a mighty rush the water swept from
square to square, rising in the houses and
sevtring many from their foundations. The
scene was awful. The roar of waters could
not drown the screams of the people VINO
were
ESCAPING FROM THEIR DOOMED DWELLINGS.
Men, women and children waded through
the advancing waters, each with what houses
mold goods they could lay hands On. Bon
fires glimmered from the higher ground,
which the poor outcasts had gained, and
hundreds ofpeop stlivered in wet clothing
about the smoky fires. To an obserter " 10
stands to-day at the loot Of Jackson, Shelby
or Clay street it Is impossible why the loss
of life was not Larger. The scene of last
night beggars desctiption. The people who
were blissfully sleeping in foolish confidence
that the emhanElnent would shelter them
were rudely awakened by the food coming
into their houses. Some were even surprised
in bed. When the stroke came it was
like lightning in the darkness. The
entire northeast corner of the city
is a picture of utte- destruction. There are
thirty five squares under water. The situa-
ton may be briefly summed up. All the
point is under water and the country be-
yond the cutoff, comprising $50 houses,
known as Bowleville, Is flo lded. Half of
Portland aud all OF Shippingport are in the
waves. All day long a stream of people
passed down the short line track to look at
the ruin. The outlook is appalling.
Houses are overturned, some on their sides,
some almost on their roofs. Other build
ings are crushed to pieces. Most OF the
houses are smsll Cottages Of frail con-
strtcti6n, and perhaps third of them in
the flooded locality have been swept from
their foundations. Doors, windows, sashes,
pieces OF furniture. amber, drift wood,
shingles are all