Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1884-02-17
AFTER ALL IS OVER.
a History Of the Great Flood ead Its
Norh al PHrker>burg.


lCOSe lurther Gown the OllO, putlts euEctS
will be felt by Psrkersblrg IN more WAS
than one for many years to come. So swift
and almost uuex pected did the mad arise
Of waters come, and 80 quickly has il gone,
desolstion which it has left behind it would
seem only strange, horrid dream. On
Wednesday came the news tn the rivers
were rising at head waters, that Pittsburgh,
Wellsburg, Sieubenville and Wheeling
were already overhown and that our
cir'zens should prepare for what was
soon TO come. Thursday morn
ing found the fears of the most timId real
lied. Steadily Dat silently during the
night the water had been creeping up, and
al 10 o'clock in the morning showed a
height Of forty four feet, higher than the
higbsst point reached during the terrible
fooG Of last year. And sounding proved
ii was raising at the rate of four inches an
hour How long this would continue aud
how far it would rise none co1,d tell. In
this the situation was one of tle utmost
spxiety. Deprived Of both telegraph lines,
he mails and the telephone 10 Marietta,
We were lost as il we're 70 the world and
the uncertainty of the limi; Of the rise ad-
.ted to the situation. We were Cutiof prsc-
,ica.ly from the world aud knew not when
the TINE Of resurrection would come. At
5 O'Clock in the afternoon Market street
was in ne boating stage up to the Market
House-a thing IN paralleled in the history
OF ParkersbUrg. \ voyage about the city
showed the fearful work of destruction
which vas going or. The Ohio River Rail
read track was literally ruined at this
point. All the trestling were saoat; three
engines and two gondolas were in the
water. while several Of their box cars were
floating around in various parts Of the
city.
F:cm the roof OF the Swami House the
scene Vas a grand one. Stretching away
Into foggy vista was what seemed to be
sn iutermlnable sheet Of water, its surface
covered with the ruin OF the once fair
meadows and happy homes of the
Ohio Valley farmers. Extending from hill
to hill on each side of the valley, all land
marks were lost. excepting where some
building higher than its fellows reared its
chimneys above the Ayod. From out
the windows OF the houses sur
round by the water could be seen
the anxious faces of women and
children gazing out ~ the water. The
scene was one that deued description aud
must haze been viewed TO realize the utter
ard deplOrabe situation. No one could
appreciate its horrors save those who have
been driven from place to place in futile
att. n pt to find some spot where the raging
Hood would not reach them. The sun at
last went down in the West aud night,
pregnant with horrors such as had never
been realized before, fell upon our city.
In the evening. in response to call pub
li>hed in the State Journal. a meeting was
held and systematic means for relieving
the destitute and suffering decided upon.
Fbe committee at once went actively TO
WORK snd food and clothing were furnish
I'd 10 the unfortunates.
Friday morning came, and with it relief
from fears for the future. The river hay-
ing beaten is record of last year by eight
feet, was falling fast. Stricken though
they were, our generous people turned to
Others who were still in danger. From
across the roaring, rushing river could be
heard the bells of Belpre tolling out for aid.
Standing on roofs our people could see the
buildings Of the little town slowly swept
away by current whose power no human
hand could stem. In our own city the sit
ustion was appalling. Hundreds were
homeless and without food. But many
and generous were the replies to the fol-
lowing appeal from the STATED Journal:
"Our city is now confronted with the
worst disaster it has ever experienced, aud
nothing but persistent, organized ettlrts
will succeed in relieving the suffering.
Those who have grain Of charity or sy m
patty in their constitutions must feel aud
appreciate the suffering Of those whom
the Hood has left without homes and IN
many cases without any shelter Or protec-
ton, This diretul distress is not simply
for one or two days but for many days per-
hans for weeks. Even after the water has
gone down there will be a great many
houses that cannot be Inhabited for some
time, snd suffering must necessarily con-
tinue for an indefinite period. Much can
be done in the way of relief and probably
all persons who are suffering can be pre-
vented from starvation if system is used in
the distribution of provision rs and facts OF
distress as they become known are re-
ported TO the proper authorities. Let
every one who can come to the rescue
Saturday morning the water was still
falling aud the great food was thing OF
the past. Bot it had left in its pathway
lasting markings of its relentless fury.
Streets were torn up, houses had tioated
avsy, merchants were ruined, and many
of the very poor had lost their all. As the
condition Of afFlirs began to improve, in
ciGents Of the Hood were many and varied.
One of the most striking was that OF six
children who were found in the attic OF q
house with their heads sticking out Of a
hole in the roof. They had been in this
condition for twenty Tour nours Win
nothing to eat when rescued by kindly
hands.
The water had now fallen so that Bslpre
could be reached by boats, A visit con-
6rmed the worst fesres of those who for
two days had been cut off from the suffer
ing town. Forty five houses, stores, mills,
factories and other buildings were gone.
Including those houses carried away and
those remaining, but out of position, over
one hundred were displaced.
The homeless citizens and their families
were found qusrtered in the two churches.
There they have good accommodations
and plenty of food. They are now able to
take care of themselves, at least, they need
no help at the present time. The Conn
mittee on Rslief-Messrs. Frank Ames,
Iobp Dana and Mr. Rroyning-Sro doing