The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1884-02-18
THE RUIN ALONG THE RIVER
The Story of Distress that Comes from
the Towns in the Ohio Valley.
Some of the Pitiable Scenes Presented in
Dozens Of Once Prosperous Cities in
Ohio and West Virginia.
Ten Thousand Homeless and Hungry
People in the Vicinity Of POmerOy.
Full Reports of the Condition of Nearly All
the Indiana Towns and Cities In
vaded by the Flood
Ten Thousand Suffering People Between
New Albany and Evansville.
Relief Boats Vigorously at Work in All Di-
rectiOns-The Water Falling an Inch
and Half an Hour
Ten Thousand Suffering People Between
New Albany and Evansville.
Relief Boats Vigorously at Work in All Di'
rectiOns-The Water Falling an Inch
and Half an Hour.
PARKERsBURG AND ABOVE.
The Waters Slowly Receding and Revealing
Scenes of Devastation.


PARKERsBuRG, w. Va. Feb. 16-The United
States relief steamer Katie Stockdale arrived
from Parkersburg this morning loaded to the
guards with 300 tons of relief supplies and 100
tons of coal The supplies aboard cost $4,000
of the SO 900 appropriated, and the government
has telegraphed the flooded towns on the boats
route that they have the privilege of drawing on
the remaining $25 900 in sums of $500 to Sc, 900,
according to necessities. The submerged coun-
try is slowly shaking off the waters, and the de-
vastation paralyzes description Roofs of houses
on piles of brick and timber tell the tale in all
directions. Provisions are said to be plentifully
supplied, but the people suffer from the cold
weather.
Marietta, O., looks like it had been wrecked
by hurricane. Houses are torn, Quilted and
demolished on all the streets There are no in
habitants except in the second stories, and not
many of them. Parkersburg will be able to as
sist her own sufferers, but the destituton in the
smaller settlements is intense.
Belpre is wreck It's principal street has en-
tirely disappeared, with only few piles of brick
to mark its location. A tow-boat with tow
swung abreast the town of Ravenswood and held
the houses from being swept away last Satur-
day; otherwise the town and all its inhabitants
would have been engulfed. The wires are down
in all directions, and from here the news goes to
Baltimore and is there transferred. This diaar-
rangement interferes with the transmission of
news, and it is doubtful if telegraphic matter can
be sent after leaving here.
The Stockdale leaves ten tons of freight here
to be distributed by the relief committee at this
point for the sufferers below Rusiness s an
tirely suspended. The loss at Parkersburg will
reach 81, 100000.
The river has fallen twenty feetfrom the high
est mark, but is now stationary. With the
present cold weather, however, no more floods
will ensue. Old river men state that it will be
about ten days before the river regains its nor
NAL condition A family named Tice entered
their residence on Post street, Marietta, and on
Wednesday night the building fell. They were
all rescued, but more or less injured lady
named Fulton was confined in boat, at Park
ersburg, while being conveyed from a second
story window Between Parkersburg and
Wheeling many people are living in tents, and
the deserted districts are being but slowly ven
tured into.
Major Byrne, of the Ohio relief commission,
met the officers in charge of the steamer Stock
dale. and suggested reshipment of small lots of
stores small boats. so as not to delay the Stock
dale on her journey by stopping at smaller towns.
Gen. Grosvenor, of Athens, took $3.50 to Hook
import, to-day and provisions at Belpre from
Nesonville will be sent there. The people are
plucky and hopeful Help to rebuild in cases of
poorer people is thought to be in the line of true
economy