Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1884-02-14
Thousands of Persons Driven
from Their Homes by the
Raging Floods.
Last Years CaIamitous Visitation
Being Repeated in Many Sec
tons of the Country.
Hundreds of Cities and Towns Par
TALLY Under Water-LOss Of Life
The Railways Suffering.
Cincinnati Dispatch.
CTNCINNATI AND suRuRBS.


than it was last year. Water-works
will be stopped, and probably not a
train can get into the city over any
road. People who were hoping that
the rise would stop at sixty-fve feet,
are now predicting seventy five,
which will be four feet higher than
the flood of last year. During the
greater part OF the last twenty-four
hours the rise has been at the rate of
four inches an hour.
Those living in the flooded districts
are afraid to stay IN the top stories of
their houses, and all day yesterday
they were moving out. Many who
delayed getting out until the water
was around them, have been taking
their families and goods to dry land
in skiffs. A dozen school buildings
have been thrown open for the unfor-
tunate, and churches will proba bly,
be thrown open for their accom1no-
dalton.
TIE SUBURBS.
Newport is one-third under water.
The Mayor of the city is among those
who have been obliged to move his
family to higher ground The street
railroad track from Newport to Day
ton is four feet under water. Belle-
view is partially submerged, and in
Dayton the flood has reached Fifth
street. These towns are filled with
working people, who lost all they had
last year and have been in straitened
circumstances ever since in con-
sequence. They are poorly prepared
for another such avisitatlon now, and
must suffer severely.
There is danger that a high wind
will make the river rough and topple
over many frame buildings. Those
who have deserted such buildings re-
gret that they did not weight them
by putting stones on the floor. The
stock that is fattening in the distillery
pens, probably 10000 head in all, are
being driven to the hills. There is a
great rush for lamps, coal-oil, rubber
goods, cables and ropes, lanterns, etc,
and dealers who have a supply of such
articles are getting their own figures
for them. Skiffs which three days
ago could have been bought for 80
are now selling ct $50.
WAREHOUSE UNDERMINED,
This morning the warehouse at
Duckworth's distillery was under
mined and fell into the water, causing
a large loss. Soon after the cattle
pens, capable of feeding 1 600 cattle.
were swept away. The cattle were
removed yesterday.
PITTSBURG.
It is still raining, with no immedi-
ate prospects of clearing weather The
Monongahela stopped rising q couple
Of hours this evening, but commenced
swelling again at s o'clock, and marks
now show thirty three feet and six in
ches. To the Allegheny the water is
still rising. Dispatches from up the
MonOngahela Valley report the waters
also falling. At Freeport, on the AL
legheny, it is also falling, but rising
at Oil City and Parkers In this city
the streets bounded by Duquesne way
on the north and Water street on the
south, and from the junction of the
two rivers to Sixth street, including
Penn avenue, Liberty, First to Sixth,
Ferry, and Short streets are almost
entirely submerged, and every street
south Of Penn avenue to Sharpsburg,
a distance of five niles, is under from
one to ten feet of water. Library Hall
on Penn avenue, where Lawrence Bar
rett was playing, was compelled to
suspend performances until the water
recedes. Tonight the city is in semi
darkness. The water is up to the
works, and, while the gas is still burn
ing, it is very dim.
On the South Side every street south
of Carson from Charters Greek to
Thirtieth is inundated, while all
property within three squares of the
river IN Allegheny is submerged. At
this time it is impossible to estimate
the loss, but it is safe to say it will not
fall short of 100000 and may
greatly exceed that amount.
FIVE THOUSAND HOMELESS FAMILIES.
Fully 5000 families are rendered
homeless by flood Arran gements
have been made to shelter them in
public halls tonight, and to morrow,
in accC rdance with proclamation of
Mayor Lyon, public meetings will be
held at Frohnsinn and Turner Halls
for the purpose of making some pro-
visions for them until the food sub
sides sufficiently TO permit them to
return to their homes. The Allegheny
council will also meet to morrow to
discuss the situation and devise means
for the relief of the unfortunates.
Travel was suspended this evening on
every railroad running out of the
city, with the exception of the Penn
sylvania Central.
WHEELING, w. VA
The sixty-second hour of continuous
rainfall has come to a close. The
river is now forty five feet, and rising
at the rate of six inches per hour. Not
less than five feet more is certainly
expected by morning, which will
made q food withot precedent. Not
less than 5000 citizens have already
been driven from their homes, /, 800
houses inundated. and aloss in mon
ey of over 800, 600 inflicted. Reports
from the surrounding towns Of Bel
laire, Bridgeport, Martins Ferry,
and West Wheeling, O., and Wells