The Portland daily press., 1884-02-14
UNDER WATER.
Terrible Condition of Portsmouth.
Ohio.
Houses Floating Off by Hundreds, and
the Population Camping on the Hills.
The Tops of Telegraph Posts Gov
ered-Flood Notes from
Other Points.

OtQGr ECluU5.
WASHINGTON, Feb, 13.-.The Secretary Of
| War today telegraphed to the mayors OF o
number of towns 10 West Virginia, Indiana
and Ohio, authorizing thepurchase of supplies
for immediate use, varying in amount from
$500 TO 81, ,500 and directing them to make re-
turns to properly authenticated military Off
GERS.
STEUBENvILLE. o., Feb. 13.-The losses hers
by the flood aggregate 800 000.1 lille the losses
hundred and seventy families in the lower
wards have been relieved by the city.
EVANSVILLE. Ind, Feb. 13-The river con.
| tinues to rise slowly but steadily. 1t is still
l foot and 7-10tbs of an inch lower than last
year, but the opinion is that it will rise two OF
three more. Only the tops Of the houses across
the river In Kentucky are visible, but although
the farmers we're better prepared than last
year their losses will be great.
CINCINNATI, Feb. 1910 q. m. THE river
now marks 60 feet "a inches and is rising an
inch per hour. The weather is cloudy and
cool, and there is no wind this morning.
GALLIPoLIs, o., Feb. 13-The water has
fallen nine inches in twelve hours, and is still
falling slowly.
MAYsvmLE, O., Feb. 13.--Ths river is rising
quarter OF an inch per hour. 1t rose IL
inches last night.
| CINCINNATI, Feb. 13.-The suspense over the
failure IT, hear definite news from Lawrence
burg, Ind, grows painful. A special from
Aurora, Ind, says: "Up to 10 o'clock thi.
morning no news has been received from Law
renceburg. Many houses were seen floating
down the river this morning, and the anxiety
ia great. The water here is now rising an inch
an hour, and more dwellings are toppiing over.
A water famine is now an assured fact In
Cincinnati. Even with the most economical
h. H. s%
more than five or six days, and in case of a
large fire the reservoir would be exhausted.
Not Gully this, but the city is left 10 darkness,
and nnumerabe temptations are offered TO pi-
rates aod other lawless persons. The police
are supplemented by nearly 800 mlitis, but
still innumerable dangers are to be feared
from thieves.
AURORA, Ind, Feb. 10 The storm last
night caused little damage. A few small
houses and barns were washed away.
CINcIsNATI, Feb 13 "A dispatch from Law
renceourg says that the wind last night was
very destructive. Many houses were upset and
great damage was done.
PORTSMOUTH, o., Feb. 13.--The highest
flood og five feet ever known in these valleys
is causing great distre' g and sud- ring. Only
52 houses are out of water in this city OF 14.000
Inhabitants, and this people are tired ont with
care ano toll. Help must come quickly 60 the
relief OF orr homeless aud starving people.
LOUISVILLE, KY, Feb. 1912. 80 P. NJ The
river now marks 43 feet 10 inches, within
eight iuches of tae highest water mark of
1882. A heavy wind has been blowing for the
past 12 hours, causing the waves to do consid-
erapie damage to property. There Is little suf-
fering here but the news from Jefarsonville is
of the M O. deplorabie character. OF populs-
tion of ii 900 about one-half have been COM
PEELED to leave their homes and seek higher
grounds. Four-ffths of the city is inundated,
and people are suffering and begging contribu-
tions OF food.
CINCINNATI. Feb. IS Il P. NJ. The river
has reached SO feet 101 inches. The signal ser
vice flag denoting coming cold weather floats
today for the third time siuce tbs food began.
With cold weather the imprisoned people in
all towns and cities along tho Ohio river
would suffer terribly for lack of fuel. Few re-
alize the difficulty OF getting supplies deliv-
cred. There are no landings for steamers and
the damage to buildings by waves caused by
the passing steamers is SO great as to cause
the occupants oi flooded house to fire on q
steamer bringing them relief. The heavy cur
rents from the Licking river this morning
washed away 20 or more honses in Newport,
Ky. Three streets are completely blocked by
houses removed from their foundations.
The News.Journsl has received special
from Portsmouth, Ohio, dated yesterday and
forwarded from Sciotoville, the nearest tele-
grapn station, saying thst there Is not an acre
OF dry ground in the city and not a hundred
fioated off, and the post office and banks are
closed. The corn and hay crops in the Scioto
valley will be ruined.
STEUBENvILLE, o., Feb. 13.-Damage to
private properly in Jefferson county is about a
quarter of million dollars and tine number of
sufferers is placed at $1,000.
COLUMBUS, O., Feb 13-Both branches of
the legislature passed bill to-day appropria-
ting 100000 to the Ohio river sufferers, and
several bills were passed authorizing the river
counties to borrow money for relief
HARMAR, Ohio, Feb. 13.-This town is
flooded and the people are destitute. One
hundred buildings have been washed away
and people are camping on the hills. Harmsr
asks those more fortunate to help her. Money,
clothing or food can be sent to George FL.
Stevens, Marietta, or to the Harmar relief COM
mittee.
INDIANAPOLIS, Feb. l3 Steamer Little
Sandy has been chartered at Madison and will
be loaded with provisions and sent up the
river Friday to distribute wherever needed. A
large steamer will also be chartered for q SINH
lar service on the lower part of the river.
CINCINNATI, Feb. 13.-9 P. M. At this hour
the water has reached 20 feet 2a inches. A
heavy rain fell from p m. to $50 when there
were slight indications of colder weather. Pearl
street is now navigable from end to end by
skiffs. At the market house on Broadway
water covers the benches, making a depth Of
nearly five feet upon the floor. Vast numbers
of people go to and from the suspension bridges
on fat-bottomed boats furnished by the bridge
company, propelled by poles and having ropes
stretched to the telegraph poles to assist In
crossing the current at streets. The people fill
their boats by standing close together.
GALLIPoLIs, Ohio, Feb 12.-It ia estimated
that 10000 persons along the river, within q
distance Of % miles will have to be fed BY
charity for two weeks.
CLEVELAND, Ohio, Feb 12.-At citizen q
meeting today, subscription list was circulat-
ed, and Se1ator.elect Paine headed it with
the relief of sufferers in the flooded districts.
Bakers are publicly called upon to contribute
bread, and depot of supplies has been opened
and prepared food. with clothing and other
necessities are for warded as often as practical
BILE to the Ohio valley.
WHEELING, W. Va, Feb. 13.-At Millsbury,
twenty miles below here, the people are dssti-
tute and experiencing much suffering. The
home fund for the relief OF the destitute has
reached $25 900 In cash and as much more in
goods, but this and donations from abroad dis
appear as fast as received. Masons desirous of
making contributions can send drafts to the
Masonic relief committee, VIM Hastings,
chairman.
CONCORD, N. H, Feb. IS John G. Line
han, department commander OF the New
Hampshire G. A. R., has issued an appeal to
all P. 'sts in the State for aid for safferers by
the fioad in the west.
INDIANAPOLIS, Feb. 13.-The following
message has been received from Gov Porter
at Lawrenceburg.
The condition OF Lawrencsburg is pitiable
in the extreme. More houses have been NOV
ed f.om their foundations than last year. Re-
lief should have reference now not only to the
food but to enabling poor people to replace
and repair their houses.
A Tornado and Heavy Raine in Texas.
Waco, Texas, Feb. ia rain storm, which
has been prevailing for several days, developed
into perfect tornado yesterday. Considerable
damage was done in the southern portion ol
the city. DR.. Burleson's residence was blown
over, but the occupants escaped without inju.
ry. The Horn House was also blown down
| The music room at the Waco University was
blown from its brick foundation. A large
amount of fencing was ruined. Train men
say that the storm extended from Sayler tc
Waco. 1t was quite severe at Bartlett and
Ranger, blowing down houses at both places.
| In Northern Texas the heaviest rain of the
winter occurred yesterday, filling to overflow.
| ing the already swollen streams. Much dam
| age was done to stock in the bottom lands
There are heavy washouts on the Internatioua
| railway near Mneola. Stock is suffering
J greatly. The Texas Pacific railroad Is washed
| away about two miles west of that town, and
| all communication is cut off except by wire
A Terrible Report from Evansville.