McCook weekly tribune. (McCook, Neb.) 188?-1886, 1884-02-21
uNpREcEDENrED FLOODS.
Towns-Water Everywhere and
Still Increasing.

since the Hood began. The stage of high
water last yeafa was passed at O'Clock this
afternoon. Steady hard rain during the
greater part of the day, together with re-
ports of general rains in every place where
it would run into the Ohio, made it certain
| a still more dangerous flood would be upon
the unfortunate people of the Ohio valley.
The experience of last year made the peo-
pie bold in confronting the danger they had
once met and overcome, but when a new
element of terror came in the form of
higher flood new series of calamities began
to appear. The gas was lost yesterday. and
the water supply has ceased to accumulate.
There are five days. supply in the reservoir
with careful use, but one big fire would
make serions inroads on that. Worst of all,
nobody knows what limit the flood will
reach. Rising water above and in all side
tributaries render it certain the river must
continue to rise for some time. 1t is hardly
possible to give an idea of the situation. The
mass Of people can not see the great body
Of the river, as the approach to the banks is
cut of on all streets running to the river at
Pearl street or near it. Strangers to the
city may gain an idea of its extent when it
is stated the water is now but little more
than 600 feet from the Burnet house. From
there TO the river bank the proper distance
is between three and four squares. All that
can be seen is that the street is inundated.
Boats are gliding in all directions. Sus-
pension bridge, 100 feet above low water
mark, makes but a low arch above the mad
flood. The Newport and Southern railroad
bridges look almost like touching the water.
The view from Prices Hill, in the western
part of the city, gives the only comprehensive
outline of the fiood-covered portion of the
city. At the foot of the hill on the west
side of the city Mill creek spreads to an av-
erage of a mile. The backwater runs be-
yond Spring Grove cemetery, a distance of
seven miles. Up the river in Cincinnati,
Covington and Newport the houses can be
seen peering out of the water, while down
the river almost from hill to hill the valley
danger has been, there is no great disaster.
The cry of distress, however, is beginning
to grow louder. Manufactures are stop
ping and men are thrown out of employ
ment. In Newport it is estimated 5000 to
{, 1000 people are homeless. Their supplies
were exhausted atnoon, and many will go
without supper to-night, because the sup
plies Of the relief committee are exhausted.
Relief work in Cincinnati is begin
ming to press. Lawrenceburg to-day sent
request for help, but owing to lack Of
funds the contributions have not been so
generous as last year. Eighth street, the
street railroad avenue between the city and
Price Hill, overlooked to-day, and access to
that suburb is cut off. One of the largest
establishments in Mill Creek valley, the
American Oak Leather Co., has been bat
thing to keep the flood out. They have
built barriers entirely surrounding the
whole structure, and are now Is inches
above the water and can keep safe until 20
feet is reached. At seven tonight the
water was 66 feet II inches. The water
works Office reports one engine still work.
ing, and will continue to 60 till the fires are
put out, which will be when the stage
reaches four inches more. Consumption
will be stopped tomorrow, except for do
nestle purposes.
GALLIPOLIs, o., February 11.-Five
thousand people are camped on the hills at
Pomeroy, in terrible want of food and shell
ter. One hundred and fifty houses have
fioated away. Boats land at the courthouse
steps. The people are haggard and worn
out for want of sleep, food and shelter.
Nearly every business man is bankrupt. A
house went by Middleport this morning
with woman sitting on the gable end.
Some men rowed out and appealed to her to
get off, but she refused, saying she had four
babies below. A glass was broken and the
children seen floating around dead.
CINCINNATI, February 12.-The stu
has been more gloomy than ever. The
river rose almost constantly from one-half
inch to an inch per hour, and is now three
feet above the highest stage last year. II
is uncertain when the rise will end. 1t is
significant because of the vastly increased
territory of the flood and because of the
greatly increased leverage of swaying the
water has on buildings, as well as the
injury to the foundations. One and
two-story brick business houses on Sixth
street fell with great crash, owing to
weakened foundations. This is only the
beginning Of much apprehension on
this account in Covington and Newport,
where the native soil makes the danger
greater. Contributions are much slower
than last year. They have now to reach
SD. 900, exclusive of the s., 900 appropriat-
ed by the council. George W. Childs, of
Philadelphia, Pa, donated $500, and Henry
Irving $3.50. The committee will persist in
the determination to disburse all contribu-
tions from abroad among the sufferers out
side of Cincinnati. Tonight high winds
blowing almost a gale, causing great danger
by the agitation of the water, as the high
wind will loosen the houses from their foun-
dations. Several more houses in Newport