Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1884-02-14

escaped with their lives. Block alter block
aud street after street show not single
house unmoyed by the water. The mum
ber of houses and other outbuildings tnat
we're overturned could not be counted
from a boat. Floating barns were as nu.
merous rs leaves when they are whirled
over the water by the winds OF autum.
Harmar swept Away.
Rarmar was swept by the fierce, restless
current of the Muskingum. 1t was only
by the exertion of great labor that boat
could be rowed through the streets. Not
twenty houses in the town proper escaped
the water. Several hundred people were
driven from their homes and sought refuge
on the high hills back OF the town. Tne
victims OF the flood were encamPed IN
tents, wagons, box cars, and it rained most
of the time. Others piled all OF their pos.
sessions on flat-boats. Barns, fences and
sheds were swept out, and some dwelling
houses followed them. The town is in bad
shape.
Good Samaritans.
The relief committee had its headq uar-
ters in the college do rmitory, and made
that depot of supplies. The distributing
room was the busiest place in the town.
The city was divided into districts, and two
boats assigned to each district. The first
day the relief boats we're occupied in re-
moving people from their homes. In
many cases whole families were taken from
the highest point on the roof, where they
had been driven by the water. Two chill
dren were drowned in the lower part OF
town. We were unable to get the names:
One poor woman was taken from her bed
sick and gave birth to q child in the
kofo Nd Erlhau
the committee furnished food for six
hundred people. The next day the num-
Der who were unable to get food for them.
selves reached one thousand. The com.
mittee sent men 10 every house on the hill
TO solicit money and cooked food. The
canvaesers met with generous and prompt
responses. People gave beyond their
means in many cases. Baked beans, bread,
coffee, tea, sugar, rice, ham, bacon and
crackers were provided. The food is bound
to give out unless supplies can be had here
from elsewhere. Little can be expected
from the country, as the farmers lave lost
heavily and the bridges are down, and
they cannot haul in the town for week
or ten days. Saturday the committee
sent dispatches TO Governor Hoadly and
10 Congressman Warner setting forth
the pitisble condition. OF Marietta and
neighboring towns. 1t is to be hoped that
swift and generous relief will be given the
Ohio Valley. Local resources will soon
fail. Our people are doing everything in
their power for the sufferers. but the water
stands on so long that help must come
from without.
Scenes at Beipre.
No town, in proportion to the size, has
suffered more than Belpre. The whole
iorce of the powerful Ohio River current
at that point sweeps through the little
town. One hundred houses have been
moved from their foundations and over
forty five swept away. The Touring mill,
Buckeye Pump works, Blennerhsssett's
saw mill. all of the drug stores, Odd Eel
lows Hall, Stones store, Bosworth &
O'Neal's store, and number of other stores
have been carried away. The current has
made clean sweep. There is a washout
in the big railroad fill at q point one.hil
way between the hotel and the iron ap'
proach 10 the bridge.