The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1884-02-08

ol sufferers. llcke'a aro now On Hale at
the Journal office. Tho price Of admission
has been fixed ut iifty cents, aud for such a
worthy object the patronage should be
I liberal.
the DELUtlED GARDEN SPOT.
The Suffering nud Distrcu, and tho I.oAn
| on the Islnui.
The Island yesterday Was all but wiped
out ol existence. There was not foot Of
surface not reached by the angry waters.
The distress and suffering, and the loss and
damage sustained to a greater or lees degree
by every resident in that part OF the city,
can never be told. The mere thought is in
itself sickeninp; but when one crosses the
bridge and standing on one OF the high
abutments OF the leland approaches. gazes
over The scene Of WOO and tlesolation spread
out in every direction, one is Mortified and
APPALLED,. 1t would almost exhaus! the
English vocabulary to portray in all its
vi7idness the chaos, confusion and terror
that has prevailed in the Seventh ward for
the last forty-eight hours.
When the lNrELLi6ESceR went, to press
yesterday morning, At about 8 o'clock, all
interest has been attracted and centered
on the Island. For three hours previous
pistol Hhots and cries OF "For Gods sake,
send as aid !" had been iaintly heard by
those on the bridge, coming from the
upper end OF the Island. It was as dark
IS it well could be, and over all hung q
dense tog like pail, as II Nature herself
mouEned over the horrible destruction she
had caused. Although nothing could be
seen except an occasional light dancing
over the turbulent waters, from the sound
OF the waters it was known that a terrific
current was setting across the Island, and
the mental contemplation Of the damage it
would do made many man shud1sr who
hcd no interest whatever, outside Of that
OF Humanity, in the Island. In the South
Wheeling low lands the water that sub
| merged the houses was still water caused
by . set back at Boggs and Caldwell runs,
and thus it wss that the Island attracted
such general attention.
THE CENTRE OF INTEREST,
Every ono wanted to know the iate
| OF property over there and day break
was anxiously awaited. Until that hour
it was immagined on this side that nothing
could be done.
Eata different view was taken by few
brave hearted, noble fellows, who had
established an impromptu life saving ata.
ton at the ives. end Of the bridge. The
lSTELLldEScER reporter to whom was
assigned the Island, as soon as the paper
had gone 10 press yesterday morning, felt
his way over the bridge in the darkness
and 10y. The scene spread out before him
as be emerged from tho west arch was
wierd and fascinating in its widness. A
largo lot oil tho bridge company's timber
had been coaiis.icated, aud huge bonfire
built just east OF the "round house," A
half dozen skitis were hauled up in
the street, and three times that
number OF young men were grouped
about the blazing timbers and trying to
pierce the darkness that everywhere pre-
vailed. One Of their number was missing,
and had been for some hours. although he
had once been seen about fifty feet distant
out Virginia street trying to stem the stiff
current, only to find his way blockaded by
an immense gorge OF ice logs and trees
that filled Zane street. This gorge was
diagonally across Virginia street. The
roots had beon caught by the telegraph
post in front Of Mr.. Sam Norton's resi-.
dcncp, corner Of Virginia and South Front
streets. The other end was lodged
against tho pavement in front Of
the "round house." Back OF this there
! was gorge that extended back up ZINE
aud North Front streets Us far as could be
seen Il was made up ol nearly every
thing-ice, sheds, stables, ont.houses, loga,
timbers, etc. The water was tapping the
pavement OF the bridge approaches, rush
Ing madly along like mill.race and rising
steadily.
A MISSING NAN, H
The lnsFing man referred To was Tom
Martin. lie had taken y ekid' down to
0tia Street and by that route back 10 the
.eople still remaining in their houses.
Not returning in proper time parties we're
sent out in other ekids, but they ali return
ed reporting having found no trace Of the
man. Very fsw cared to remove from
their homes before daylight, not desiring
to couple the danger OF darkness to that Of
the swiftly running torrent. It was well
they did so, for the resCueis had many q
thrilling escape from the watery grave,
which it WIGS supposed had been Martins
late.
Martin had very thrilling experience.
lie heard the ahouts OF warning from those
about tho fire, saw the barricade and en-.
deavored 10 return by the way he came,
but getting lost in the fog, tied up to a tele-
graph pole and waited for the log to lift.
He returned to tho bridge about o A, N,
Meesrs. Harry Nc Lure, Frank Woodman.
see, Lou Frapzaeim and others were at
one time plunged in up to their waists as
they endeavored to launch their boat in
the swiftly moving tide that pitched down
the declivity towards South Front street
like miniature cataract.
About O'Clock in the morning it was
mutually agreed to postpone further search
for those desiring TO move out until day.
break. The crowd aeased iteslf about the
fire, which it had been necessary 10 move
back owing to the rspidity with which the
river was rising.
BARNS AFLoAr.
AS tho different ones that had been out
were relating their experiences, there was
a sudden cry Of danger. Looming up be-
hind the round house could be discerned
the ou.linea OF three large barns aud a
straw stack that had just tloated down.
Onward they camo with force almost re-
sistless, bearing down trees that stood IN
their way like 50 many reeds All the
time there WAS horrid crashing sound,
Then the bridge pier was struck. There
was loud crash, . tearing and ripping, and
what were once the well'kept buildings Of
some thrifty farmer became a shapelesa
macs Of driit.wood. This was only one Of
dozen like incidents. IN ~
At last daybreak came. It was vel.
come relief to bolh rescuels and those who
had spen. night Of terror in houses that
rocked on their foundations. The river
had risen two feet since A. ". and The
current was alarming1y swift. The waves
snt, on 4