Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1883-02-17

3CrNolNxArI, Ono.


tour feet two inches by the wafer works
gauge. This exceeds by eight inches
the memorable food Of D-eetnber, iS47,
and equals that Of February, 1882.
The water is sill rising and is likely to
continue 10 rise tor several hours. 1t
IL now almost CERTAIN that the water
will go a foot higher than ever before
IN ihe history oi the CITY. A disliict
seven miles in length aud from two to
eight squares in width is completely in
undated. This does uot include at leasi
three square miles within the city limits
which are flooded 10y Mill creek. All
the manufacturing portion Of the city is
under water. The grain elevators are
all surrounded. Several squares OF
commission houses, all the tobacco
warehouses, several wholesale groceries
aud great variety OF business HOUSES
are submerged to the second stories.
OF the twrn,y-three railroads entering
the city but two were able to get trains
out TO-DAY. No steamboats, can leave
or arrive. The suspension bridge lead
ing to Coyington can only be reached
by long and dangerous skiff ride.
The Nrwport bridge is reached in the
same way.
Half the street railways are block
AIDED. The water in front OF the heat
OF the city is up xlnosl To Pearl street.
Water, Front and Second streeis, hch
are lined with warehouses aud business
blocks, are raging torrents. A big coal
ba, ge was hoated along Second street
to-day. The damage to property in
this region is enormous. Much was
reviewed, but u great amount OF sugar,
salt, tubacco, produce and mlscelll-
aeDus goods has been destroyed. The
aggregate damage is much greater than
people dare t0 think. There are miles
OF irei ght cars, some of them loaded,
with only their roofs out Of water. In
the new Union Depot, which Was sup
posed To be tar above the flood limit,
Their" is two tert of " alter.
Several thousand families have been
driven to the second stories of their
houses ur have been compelled to desert
them altogether. Those who are sur
r"anded by water are unable TO get food
ur fuel. Those who have abandoned
their houses are huddled Together in
the police stations, school houses and
churches. The Chamber of Commerce
voted 5000 Tor their relief today and
$4,000 more was subscribed withia .
few minutes. All the benevolent or
ganizations are coming to the rescue.
The associated charities have been
engaged in distributing provisions and
fuel in boats all day. The gas works
we've flooded yesterday aud las, night
the supply was very mragre. Tonight
there is no gas III all Candies and
lamps are in use IA tn" hotels, newspa-
per Offices, telegraph Offices and in priv
ate residences in cases where the peo-
Pile were able to supply themselves.
There is no light IN the streets aud the
houses show but here ard there a dim
light, A prominent dealer in oil said
to.night that there is not oil enough in
the city To last twenIy-toRr hours long
er. As the railroads are blockaoed the
outlook is Ycry dark in more respects
than one.
The militia have been ordered cut
and tonight are dolGg police duty.
The great number of deserted houses
aud The i ,rkuess renders d.predations
by thieves an easy matter.
The fooled streets are full of people,
rowing about on boards, rats and skitfs.
Many merchants tried To keep the
water from their cellars 10y pumps, with
out success. y manufactured of steam
pumps, on Central avenu., hear SECOND,
built dyke all around his building last
night, only to see it swep, away this
morning aud 81 900 worth Ut property
destroyed. The Marietta aud Cincin-
natl Railroad freight and Ohio and
Mississippi passenger depots are inun
dated The freight depot has foot of
walter or the floor. but the freight has
been nearly all saved. The railroad
track trom Plum street depot il under
several feet at water and the current Is
verv swift. CunmIns,illr. n popular
submb lying north OF CINCINNATI. in The
Mill Greek Valley. is one vast lake
Over five hundred families here have
been driven out of their houses aud thu
greater proportion OF the remainder are
living nn ,be second floor. Newport,
on the opposite side OF the river, has
one thousand dwelling honses under
water The SCENES over there were in
describable. The sick in many Instance s
who we're removed 10 the SECOND story
had Ia he taken Out To day aud lowered
un boats #-..
A most pilisble case was discovered
by Chief OF Police Smith in = house at
the lower end of Chestnut street, where
q woman named Mary Hall hal lost her
mind and Was wading around on the
floor Ia several ieeI of water. She At ub-
burnl;' refused any assistance. 1t re-
qairrd the united strength OF :our men
To take her out and hold her fast in the
boat. An aged woman named Hamil-
ton, who lived ON Elm street, while
being lowered into a boat this morning
fell aud dislucaled her h,p joint. She
was taken to the Episcopal Church,
where great number have sought
shelter. An old woman ut the lower
end of Walnut street was found frantic
ally engaged in bsiling out the fooi
through window. She was fast losing
her mind. a four year-old child, both
deaf and dumb, was found deserted at
Lizzie Wagoners house, III Elm street.
The child was benumbed with the cold