Democratic Northwest. [volume] (Napoleon, Ohio) 1869-1894, 1884-02-21

Vulnerable smaller craft ill the rest OF
available space. Collisions are fire..
quent, though attended with nothing
more serious than a sudden and gener
al hustling together of occupants.
From this point a delightful con
tinuation of the days tour and felici-
tious one to close it with is a trip TO
the West End. The writer took a
boat at the foot of Vine street, and
piled by two streng oarsmen, it yielded
most delightful diversion for an
hour. 1t was Jumbo" and the great
Merga at Barnums scarcely received
more acclamatlons than did his name
sake on this trip. From the foot of
Vine street Jumbo pushed out to
Front street and got into a much
stronger current than prevailed on
Second street. The progress thence
down to the Gas-works was rapid.
Along the way gas s.posts were hidden
bv the water that was of considerable
depth, and at points flowed in at Sec
ond story windows. Yet where one
story remained above the level of the
flood people still lived in houses that
rendered their situation hazardous.
The water must in places have been
scarcely an inch below the floor upon
which they lived, and yet there were
no upper stories or attic into which
they could retreat, and the roof was
the only refuge. AS the gas works
were approached and the distance from
land Increased, the number of people
occupying the houses there were not
fewer IN number. There were no
happy faces in that locality except such
as were met in the boats of pleasure
parties. A gloom has settled over the
whole of that part of the bot
toms that is only too sadly noticeable.
The situation of those who are clinging
to their houses, and possibly to a for
lorn hope that they are safe, is deplora-
BILE, in spite of a wide.reaching chari-
ty. The scenes can not be put upon
paper in their absolute and entire
truth. People are living there in the
most cramped quarters, under circum-
stances betokening abject poverty and
destltutlon. In a house near the
o. & M. depot were noticed two
emaclated children peering out upon
the food from a narrow attic window
that was too small for them to even sit
upright in. They had a stricken,
woe-begone expression that was sad
dening. The only thing enlivening
about the place was tiny terrier, that
frisked about on narrow roof that
projected below their window and an
swered with his dismal yelp another
cur some distance away. The above
scene must be set to multitude of
variations before the picture of human
misery, as found in that section of the
bottoms, is complete. But the story
is growing too long. Jumbo" gIided
rapidly on, propelled by vigorous
strokes, and passed the gas works
with the O. & NJ depot, glided over
the tops of the submerged freight cars
upon surface from which landing
could readily have been made upon
the roof of the D. & M. freight de-
pot. And still on, with water every
where of about to depth of from
ten to thirty feet, with floating
piles of coal on either hand, under
the tressle of the Southern road and
around the Big Four elevator out in
to Mlllcreek. Price Hill lies mile to
the west, but Can only be reached by
water all the way. And northward
and upward along the valley the
smooth surface stretches before US.
Boats are everywhere. Jumbo is now
one of the indistlct collection that was
seen from the hilltops as through a
glass darkly. And Jumbo and his
fright glided with real Jumbo dig
nifty through them all, and was only
turned aside at Eighth street fill by
the floating plank walk. Eight street
was crossed on Mclean avenue, and
the course continued on up to the av-
enue to Gest street. Here the South.
ern Railroad track was crossed, the
boat just grating on the steel rails be-
meath A sign that never was more
appropriate than just then and now,
attracted the attention. walking on
these tracks is dangerous Then the
boat gllded out into the valley again
and took graceful swing back over
the avenue into Kenner street, at the
American Oak Leather Colnpany's
tannery, and landed its freight at the
north side of Lincoln Park, and pass
age having been made in just an hour.
Looking backward then grand
stretch of water was presented. From
a point on Kenner street, on the north
side of the park, across the valley to
the western hills the view was unob-
structed and lnspiriting. Innumerable
exclamations of surprise from thous-
ands of spectators came up like great
chorus. Then away for dinner and to
,he Office 10 tell the tale.