The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1884-02-16
GREAT FLOODS IN THE WEST
All Former Floods Exeeeded-Thousands
Of People H0meIess-GreatD Destruction
of Properfy-Loss Of Life.

passed out into the Chesapeake Bay last Fri
day. On Sunday all danger had passed and
the citizens of Port Deposit and Havre de
Grace breathed freer. Along the Ohio the
waters began to recede on Friday at Pittsburg
and Wheeling, though slowly, and it was not
until Sunday night that the rivers at Pittsburg
were again within their banks. Fears OF
| building foundations being damaged and pave
ments sinking were entertained; and many
people were homeless and in want on Monday,
while fears of another flood were entertained
on account of rains and another rise at the
| headwaters.
| A dispatch from Wheeling on Sunday said:
! The river has recedcd more slowly than was
expected, and portions of the city and the
country above and below are still under
water, though the inhabited portion for the
most part is clear. The disappearance of the
water only reveals the extent of the ravages
of the flood, and the sight exposed to the
eye to-day is disheartening Huge rocks,
trees, driftwood and small shanties cover parts
of many streets, and hundreds of houses and
barns have been left stranded at points where
the surface of the water was obstructed by
trees. Fifty houses are jammed upon and
! against each other at the south end ofthe city.
Two children died from cold and exposure.
| Including both sides of the river the loss is
estimated at S6,000,O00.
The water at Cincinnati rose steadily and
on Monday passed the highest point reached
last year. At Gallipolis, Ohio, the water was
seven feet higher than last year. Point Pleas
ant, Ohio, was submerged, and Chesire, Ad-
olson and other towns were suffering. AT
Cattlesburg, KY, only three houses remained
out of the water. Newport, KY, was COM
from Cincinnati says AT the foot of Price S
Hill, on the west side, Mill creek spreads to
an average width of a mile, and reaches north
out of sight. The back water runs beyond
Spring Grove Cemetery, seven miles up the
river. Cincinnati, Covington and Newport
houses can be seen peering out of the water,
while down the river, almost from hill to hill,
the valley is covered. The cry of distress be-
gins to grow louder. In Newport it is esti-
mated that from 5000 to 5000 persons are
homeless. Their supplies were exhausted at
noon. The water here is 60 feet and ii
inches.
A Cincinnati dispatch of Tuesday says =
The water at P. M. was So feet 81 inches,
lacking but one half an inch of being two feet
higher than last year. The condition of things
at Newport, KY, is growing more frightful.
To-day residence, built last year at an ex-
pense of $4,000, topped over and is a com
plete mass of ruins. Fortunately the family
had removed. Many more buildings are in
danger. Many people are in houses unable
to get away and must be lost if the houses
fall. At jefferson, Ind, 1900 people have
been compelled to move to the second stories.
At Gallipollis the river is falling.
WHEELING, W. Va, Feb. 12.-Slow prog
ress has been made in clearing away the de-
briss left by the flood. The number of desti-
tute persons is materially reduced, but sew
eral thousand are still dependent upon the re-
lief committee, principally women and chill
dren or old men. Since the flood receded q
singular phenomenon has been noticed at
Powhatan. Sand and water were thrown Il
considerable height there by three regular
geysers, which attract many sghtseers. VIM.
Derry, aged As, fell overheard from the Alb
ner O'Neal EN- route up the river and was
drowned. Donations for the benefit of flood
sufferers are coming in literally. Senator
Payne, of Ohio, telegraphed subscription of
81 900. A telegram was received from the
Secretary of War authorizing the mayor to
expend $1,000, and draw on the department
The worst need is clothing and bedding.
CHARLESTON, W. Va, Feb. 12.-The gov
eminent boat Bee and the towboat John d.
Lewis have returned here, after having dis
tributed provisions among the food sufferers
along the Kanawha river yesterday and last
night. No such suffering has ever before
been caused by high water on the kanawha
river At Buffalo, Leon-Place and Point
Pleasant there is great suffering. The people
will have to be fed for fully eight days yet.
Many farmers have lost all their corn, wheat,
hay and oats and some stock along the Kama
wha river. and help is needed
MEMPHIS, Feb. l2.-The river to- night marks
80 feet inches, which is foot inches be-
low the danger line and Il feet inches below
the extreme high-water mark. The rise dur
ing the past "a hours has only been inches.
This is due to the fact that the river has gone
over its banks above here and is filling up the
sunken lands along the St. Francis river.
PITTsBuRG, Feb. 12.-1he rivers are swell
ing again at the rate of two inches per hour.
Dispatches from all points above here report
continued rain and rising water. The people
living in the bottom lands are filled with APP
prehensions of another flood. The situation
among the sufferers in Allegheny is worse, if
possible, that on any day since the flood
abated.
FoRr SMITH, ARK, Feb. 12.-The heavy
rains that have been falling have swollen all
the streams in this section. The Arkansas
river has risen l feet, and tonight is rising
nine inches per hour. 1t is now three feet
above the danger line. The prospects are
that the water will rise higher than at any
time since 1874.
has been received at the Office of the mayor
from the chairman of the finance committee
of Portsmouth, Ohio.
ITO the Mayor Of Boston Our city of over
1900 souls is entirely under water. Our
people have been ferrying live stock to the
hills for the past twenty hours. Over one
half of our city will be washed away. The
water stands two, and in many houses four
feet deep on the second floor. Already over
100 houses have iloated away, and over 100
others have turned and twisted, and should
say that 200 frame houses are anchored with
heavy rope, tied to trees and telegraph poles.
When | say the tops of telegraph poles are
under water in some parts of our city you
can then form an idea OF the depth of water.
The current has come through the streets,
doing much damage. We have not seen
paper nor had mail since Thursday Sun
day and Monday We got man to go in skiff
seven miles above here and send dispatches.
The river continues to rise, and we have tel
egraphed to Columbus to Secretary of State
Newman for tents. Our people will have to
camp out on the hills in Kentucky and back
in Ohio to- morrow night. Surely our people
will be thankful for aid.
LOUISVILLE, KY, Feb 13.-The river is
rising at the rate of an inch per hour. There
is little suffering here, but the news from
JeHerSOnVllle is OF bne most ueplOriDle cnar-
acter. OF population OIL 200 at that place,
about one-half have been compelled to leave
their homes and seek higher grounds. Four
fifths of the city is inundated. People are
suffering and are begging contributions Of
food.
GALLPoLIs, ONO, Feb. 13.-It is estimated
that 30, 900 persons along the river within a
distance of twenty-five miles will have to be
feb by charity for two weeks.
STEUBENvIILE, OHIO, Feb 18-The losses
by the food here aggregate 100000, while
the losses in the vicinity make S50,0?0 addi
tional.
The heavy current from the Licking river
Wednesday morning washed away 20 more
houses in Newport, Ky. Three streets are
completely blocked by houses which have
been removed from their foundations.
The LATEsT.-0n Thursday the Ohio river
at Cincinnati was over II feet, being nearly
FIVE feet higher than last year. The wind
disturbed the water and many houses toppled
| in Neyport. XIV. New Palestine, Ohio, is