Butler citizen. [volume] (Butler, Pa.) 1877-1922, 1884-02-13

were stationery with the Monopgahela
the Allegheny thirty-four feet six inch
es. One fatality was reported. Thos.
Kelly, a grocer of the South Side, was
trying to secure droftwood and fell into
the Monongahela and was drowned.
Another man, unknown, went down the
river on barge and is believed to have
been lost. Hundreds of women and
children were quartered in City Hall
MANY were half starved, not having
bad anything to eat all day. substan-
tial snpper was served them and every
thing possible was done to relieve their
sufferings.
Thursday morning found between
FIVE and six thousand buildings in the
two cities submerged, and the residen-
ces of 25, 600 people, 10000 of whom
were unable to occupy their houses
Fifteen thousand men were thrown out
of employ by the stopage of mills
and factories. The flooded districts We'd
nesday night presented vivid picture.
All night the police patrolled the dis
tricts in beats, and all skiffs, the occu-
pants of which were unable to give
good account of themselves were taken
in. 1t was feared that thieves would
take advantage Of the deserted stores
and dwellings to pillage them. No
gas was burning on the streets, and in
tense darkness prevailed which was
relieved by an occasional electric light.
There were plenty of deserted residen-
ces from where people had fled, but
there were just as many who stayed.
Few slept While they declined 10
seek safety by removing, they had not
the courage to sleep while danger was
imminent. Curtains were thrown
back, and out of the windows hung oc-
cupants who nervousIy inquired of the
police patrol as they passed in boats
what the stage of the water was, and
if the river was still rising. The graf
flying news that the water was station
cry at midnight was received on all
sides with expressions of joy and
thankfulness.
The public halls in both cities were
filled with women and children rem
dered homeless, and every thing posi-
BILE was done in the way Of furnishing
them food and raiment to alleviate
their sulferings John Jacobs, of
Sharpsburgh, was catching drftwood,
when he fell in the water and was
drowned.
The decline in the rivers continued
all day, and at 8 a'clock p. NJ. the
Monongahela marks registered thirty
feet six inches, fall of nearly three
feet since midnight The Allegheny
marks show thirty-one feet and falling
about three inches an hour.
At meeting of citizens Thursday,
an executive committee were appointed
who were instructed to take immediate
steps to relieve all sufferers in the two
cities. Committees representing the
leading business interests were also ap-
pointed to solicit donations
At midnight Thursday night the
waters were still receding the Monon-
gahela stood at twenty-nine feet one
inch; the Allegheny stood at thirty-two
feet two inches. A careful estimate of
the loss from the food in the county
gives total of $3,OOO,O0o. This is
largely due TO the fact discoverd that a
majority of the manufacturers will not
be able to resume operations before
two weeks. All the mills lie low
and were inundated long after the
streets were clear.
AT WHEELING.
WHEELING, w. VA. Feb. 9.-The
water has receded to 4S feet, leaving
three inches of Shiny mud over the de-
serted streets. The gas will be turned
on this evening, but water famine is
threatened, with no prospects of relief
before Monday. Home subscriptions
for the relief of the destitute have
reached $4,000 and plenty more is
available. Provisions are holding out
well, and the promise of restored COM
munication with the outside world Z is
bright. Relief parties had gone to
Benwood and Welsburg by steamboat.
At West Wheeling on the river boats
are prevented from landing by the in
habitants The steamer John Lewis
arrived from down the river this even
ing. She was riddled with bullets and
the passengers were lying on the cabin
floor covered with mattresses and life
preservers as protection from the nis-
siles. The boat left Parkersburg this
morning. The inhabitants feared the
waves from the passing steamer would
complete the work of the wreck by the
food. The steamer Dan Kain went
around the the island to relieve the
Bridgeport sufferers and was also fired
on at West W heeling and driven back
by Senator Wagner's crowd.
At Martins Ferry, o., two hundred
people are fed by organized charity.
The funds are drawn from the proceeds
of fines under the Scott law.
WHEELING, w. Va, Feb. l0.-The
river has receded more slowly than was
expected, and part of the city and
country above and below still remain
under water, though the inhabited por-
tion for the most part is forsaken by
the waters. The disappearance Of the
water reveal the extent Of the ravages
of the food, and the sight exposed to
the eye to-day is indeed dlsheartening.
Huge rocks, board piles, trees, drift
wood and small shanties cover parts of
many streets, and hundreds Of large
houses and barns arc gathered at points
where the surface of the water was OBJ
structed, Fifty houses are jammed upon
and against each other at the South
end of the city, and the b. q o. track
between here and Benwood is covered
with buildings and drift, which were
nulled To nicces To clcar the track The