The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1883-02-14


This morning the entire section Of the city
from Preston street to the cut off and north
Of the short line fill Is in the river. People
living there had plenty Of warning. AS
stated yesterday the river had just Tapped
the top oil Fulton street and the cutoff EN-.
bankments, and in places the water was
trickling over. At three o'clock consid.
cradle break occurred at Adams street and
one hundred men worked vigorously to
stop the waves. Butin face OF all this, the
infatuated inhabitants OF BearGr creek
remained in their houses. Most OF them
went to bed as usual about II O'Clock last
night. When the break came the cutoff
dam, overcome by the terrific weight
Of water from above gave way instantly.
AN IRREslsrABLE FORCE.
With a loud roar the flood rushed over.
1t may be imagined with what force the
waters came when they had fall Of iii.
teen to eighteen feet to low ground be.
meath. In less time than it takes to tell it
the flood was sweeping in from all points,
and the unfortunate people were surprised
in their houses With q mighty rush the
water swept from square TO square, rapidly
rising in houses and severing many from
their foundations. The scene was awful
The roar Of the waters could not drown the
screams Of the terrified ones, who were es.
Gaping from doomed dwellings. Skitis shot
about from window to window, rescuing
men, women and children.
Bontires glimmered from the higher
ground which the poor outcasts had gained.
Hundreds OF people shivered In their wet
clothing about the smoking fires. To an
observer who stands to-day at the foot OF
jackson, Shelby or CLAY streets it Is impos.
sible to understand why the loss Of life was
not larger. The scene last night beggars
description. ..HH.
@ A TERRIBLE AWAKENING. ~
The people who were blissfully sleeping
in the foolish confidence that the embank-
ment would shelter them, were rudely
awakened by the food coming into their
houses. Some were even surprised in bed.
When the stroke came 1t was like lightning
In darkness and cold they fled>the watery
death half clothed and carrying nothing
with them save their children and the
helpless. No scene OF broken dyke in
Holland can be more terrible or more
thrilling. The panic was indescribable,
with the awful roar and shrieks OF the
terror stricken people, as they hurried to
higher ground, leaving homes, furniture
and all to the mercy Of the water.
A. large part Of the city has constituted
itself into a relief committee, with the
Mayor at thehead, and all that can is being
done. There are thirty five squares un-
der water. The situation may be briefly
summed up. All points are under water,
and the country beyond the cutoff com.
prising one hundred and fifty houses, known
as Bowleville, is flooded; half OF Portland
and all the shipping port are in the
waves. All day long stream Of people
passed up and down the Short Line track to
look at the ruin wrought by the river.
The outlook is appalling. Houses are
overturned, some on their sides, some al.
most on their roofs, other buildings are
crushed to pieces. Most OF the houses are
small cottages Of frail construction, and
perhaps third OF those in the flooded 10.
cality have been swept from their founda.
tions. Doors, window sashes, pieces Of
furniture, lumber, drift wood and shingles
are all floating about in confusion.
s.4....e, LOSS OF LIFE.
The river continued to rise slowly all day.
It is now about 66l feet at the foot Of the
Canal, and Al feet here. The weather is
warmer. A light rain is falling, with indi.
cations OF increasing during the night. The
rise is now one inch above the food Of
lS47, and eight inches below that OF 1882.
On the point where the disaster occurred
last night, the food extends over space
OF over quarter OF mile wide and more
than mile in length. Over $50 houses
are either under water or else float
ing about. The fact that the water
is comparatively still prevents most
OF the houses from floating away, while
many are tied with head cables. A graft.
flying feature OF the flood Is that compare.
lively few are thought TO have lost their
lives. Many occupants OF houses OF the
submerged districts had removed and thus
escaped. The fact that the survivors are
scattered over the city renders II impossi.
BILE to make definite statement as TO who
are lost or saved, and it is sufficient to say
that the death rate Is smaller than circum-
stances indicate. Those known to be lost are
John Finet and son, a small boy, George
Lynch, Edward Harris, George Bell, Harry
Browning. L. Cutholis and family, wife
and three children, are missing, but it Is
hoped they had moved out. These names
are all that could be learned by active
search OF reporters all day, but 1t Is feared
that when the waters subside ghast-
ly scenes will be found in the houses
now under water, as 1t is scarcely
probable so small list as this will close
the death rate. So far as heard all yet alive
have been removed from the houses. A
man, name not learned, was seen fran.
ticaliy calling for help from the door Of a
house floating down the river at the foot
OF First street this afternoon. He was
rescued by parties with skiff. He had
been in the house all night and day.
sUccoRING THE DISTRESSED.
To-day Mayor Jacob chartered the
steamerMattie Hays and corps Of men
trayersed the submerged district, taking of
a number oil persons, and by means Of
boats supplying food 10 those whoremain In
housesaboye water. Many were in this way
succored, as not all the houses were entirely
submerged. A singular incident occurred
during the trip. One man was clinging to
a tree. As the men approached him he
cried out, "Go over to that house.
There ia a woman and several children
syer there. l will hold here until you
ave them" The house was forty yards
away. The men started, but before they
reached 1t the house was turned over and
carried away in the rush OF waters. No
noise was heard and nothing is known
whether the people were rescued or not.
This report Is necessarily incomplete;
families are scattered, the water hides the
ghastly results OF last nights work, and
those anxious ones who demand the
names Of the dead must wait, as
must we, who are most interested,
until the floods 90 down and miles Of land
Il. \ k.. A.,