Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1884-02-20
High Water in the Kanawha
and Ohio Valley
cOrrespOndence Of the shenandoah Herald.
RAYMOND CRY, VIVA. !
= Februarv IL. 1884. !

correspondsnce Of the Shenandoah Herald.
RAYMOND Cry, VIVA.
&c February, IL, 1884.
The heavy SHOWS we had during this
winter and the recent rains caused the
creates: food ever known ia the lower
end Of the Kanawha and Ohio Valley,
especially in the vicinity Of the mouth
of the lKanawba river. Point Pleas
ant is situated on the Ohio and Kanaw-
ha rivers ard takes lis name from its
being built on the point made by the
junction of the two rivers. Having
heard that Point Pleasant and the
towns on the two rivers were inundat-
ed we concluded to visit them, and
render all necessary assistance IN our
power TO the uniortunaies. So on
Sunday morning we boarded the good
steamer Dauiel Boone and took pas
SAGE down the Kanawha river. The
river in cur vicinity commenced to
rise at an early date last week, and
continued TO come up TIE banks with
rapidity only appreciated BY one hav-
ING seen big rise. We were con-
tinually receiving kilograms from the
head waters of both rivers, that the
tributaries were rising at a rapid rate and
hood was anticipated. A person not
we'll acquainted with topography OF the
country would not have known in
what locality he was; for The one story
and some OF tie one and half story
dwellings were completely submerged.
The frs town OF importance we came
TO on our passage down stream was
the county seat Of Putman, where we
saw only the low portions of the town
inundated and no families were COM
pelled to move out Of their homes,
several miles below Wing6eld we be-
gan 10 see farm houses submerged and
the occupants either on hills near by
or on the roofs until succor came. The
town OF Buffalo (about 90 miles above
the mouth of Kna. river. was all ill.,
undated except few houses on high
hill no, far from the river and 10 their
first stories were several inches Of wa
ter. The little village OF Leon was
completely submerged, county bridges,
railroad trestle work and all kinds oil
articles fOatable we're tossed about bi
the wind and waves. Having lived at
Point Pleasant for three years l was
we'll acquainted with its topography
and at my first sight OF the town could
not help but exclaim mirabile riSu. The
telegraph poles in some places were
not discernible with the glass, while ip
other parts the insulaiors were visible.
Persons were seen in their upper stories
a: the windows, ard in some houses
the water was foot or more on the
floors. In 1882 the river was very high
and 10 this date was the highes. on re-
cord. The food of February 1889
came 10 within several inches of the 30
GOOD. This food Of 'S4 is between
eight and ten feet above the food Of
80. The streams were full OF DRIFT of
every kind and sorts; fodder, hay, corn,
barns, houses, trees, &C., stock perish
ed by the hundreds, some farmers
took their stock to the hay mows, in
large fat boats. The straw ricks in
some localities were preventing from
f)aung away by The stock on them.
Houses. barns, and all valuable out
houses were tied with ropes to trees 10
the neigh borhood. There has been as
far as ascertained yet, no loss Of life.
Our friend, an old Vlrsinlan, DR.. Bar
bees house was full Of water in the
lower story, so the family moved up
stairs. We left at 3 p. NJ. on Sunday
last and the river was rising at The
rate OF one iuch per hour which was
very rapid at such a stage OF water.
The width Of the stream was about SIX
miles at the mouth of the river.
The Ohio Central r. r. have large
iron bridge across the Ohio river at
Point Pleasant and last gears flood
caused them 10 build the piers Of thelr
bridge five teet higher than they in
tended doing when they commenced
the work, so from the bridge TO 10"
water mark Is ninety 1907 leet and The
water was within 20 oil 25 feet oil ii
making tie rise about seventy QO) leel
The damage done 10 the Ka. division
Of the O. {. r. r. will take at leas
TWO months OF hard work to place then
in running condition. The farmer
along the rivers lost all their feed
, The damage to farmers, coal operators
sc. will reach millions. Tonight l2Il
February, and last night the Ka. rive
, has been falling and has dropped on
foot and TX inches.
AEsCULAPlUS.