Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1884-02-17
MEMORY'S FLIGHT
TConcludsd from FIRST Pase.1

small bridge OF stone for the convenience
Of travellers on horseback and on foot. The
rsin-shed of this little stream Is less than
a mile square. After the lands were cleared
in part this open drain became wholly in
adequate to carry of the increased accu-
mutation of water. AfterWards-l do not
recollect the year-the general government
built q large calvert with four arches or
passage ways for the water to pass under
the turnpike. In few years these proved
wholly inefficient to carry the still in-
crcssipg volume Of water from this little
and this was followed by the
of the present large bridge.
xsy, which il now taxed to the utmost 10
carry off the water and drift. | lake 1t
that this is but small example OF the
larger rain-shed of the Oaio valley aud las
usLy tributaries"
"Hsve you any remedy TO suggest"
ut is almost needless TO discuss rem"d'4l
questions. We cannot initiate the exa'u'
PIE Of the ancient Egyptians and construct
an artificial lake or sea into which 70 COT
duct the surplus waters. No lines OF EN-.
bar kment would be OF any avail. The COM
meICe Of the cities already In existence
gculd not allow OF such procedure, aIi
&C n rsction OF the flowsge in certain places
would only increase the danger aui I'M IRE
more of our population. While Mr.. Charles
EIliot.'s reservoir system in our larger
upper streams might give some slight ap-
pesrsnce Of security, il basins large enough,
low down on the streams, with abuttlng
noun tains for dams, such as the Tltisns
might tuild, could be produced. But do
not think such works possible, and only
mention them simply to show the futility
of shy attempt to evade the inevitable
So
Through the kindness OF DR.. E. A.. Hill.
dreth l am enabled to give the following
summary of the gsins and snow fall pre-
ceding and causing the food OF 1884: The
first general Snow storm crossing the Ale
gheny mountains, or rather in a line with
them, since December, 1881, began on
January 8, 1884, coming from the north
east, and contiu ued, With occasional rains,
on the 9th, lOta, 18th and 18th. Snow fell
again on the l4th, 18th, 18th and goth, with
another snow storm on the oath, precipita-
ting IN all thirty five inches OF snow. The
thermometer fell TO 10 below zero on the
18th and 26th of January, and it rained on
the 18th, 10Th and Both, four-tenths OF an
inch in the aggregate. In February,
general rain began on the 18th, snd con
tinued on the 5th. 9th, 7tb, 9th, 10Th, 18th
and 18th, during which time 6 II inches OF
rain fell, of which amount 3 IS inches was
on the 4th, 5th and 9th. The range Of the
Thermometer during this time was from Il
degrees to 50 degrees. The flood reached
its height on Thursday, the eth, at about
IL p N. A very similar state OF weather
occurred in December, 1881. when s snow
storm crossed the Allegheny mountains
from the southeast ard precipitated six
teen inches of snow here, which vas fol-
lowed by u general thaw and rain, pro-
ducipg the Hood of February llth 1882.
An old snd we'll known citizen. who re-
quests that his nSme be withheld for per-
sonal reasons, gave me the following pic
ture Of the - hood. yes; erday:
at was known that heavy SHOWS had
fallen in the Allegheny mountains during
The latter part of Jsnusry, reported to be
rom four 20 six feet deep, followed by
warm weather and heavy rains during the
fist weak OF February. Our people pre-.
dicted high river, and their expectations
were more tban realized. We had no
friendly telegraph 20 notify US OF the rap
idity of its approach or its extent. o. the
afternoon Of the 10th of February went
down to see the old wooden bridge across
the creek on Main street, where the stone
bridge now stands. The wafer was then
within foot OF its flooring, and while we
stood at the north end the back water
came into the street and cutters with such
violence and raPidity that it was thought
40 rnfr IN FOL
us up street fully as fact as We could walk.
The only houses south OF the creek that |
can remember were Mr.. William Chap
lines residence. which stood where the
Second Presbyterian Church now stands,
ana Cline's row, adjoining, which at that
time stood upon nigh gravel oanS. Five
or six frame buildings stool along the line
Of Main street and DIR. John EOtf 8 resi-
CerCe was on the site Of the Belmont mill.
think, also, the old paper mill stool on
Water street, midway between what are
now TweGty-tirst aud Twenty.
streets The balance Of Centre Wheeling.
sloping east OF Main street and the base OF
Cha pline, or Caldwell hill. was a large
pond, known as Entfs pond.
Before nightfa!l the water begsn to dow
over the bank OF Monroe street WITH great
violence, and every one was satisf d about
most exposed at onCs made vigorous Efforts
to save their goods and chattels. krOx
& Mckee occupied the warehouse at
the northeast corner of Monroe AM
Water street, and lost heavy stock %
groceries, stored in the cellar and Fl I
door. s. rious apprehensiOIs beg n to b,
about the fam lies OF Mr.. ID VII
iel Zane and one or Two others then living
on the Island, which hogan to be rapidly
covered by water. The cattle and hogs
could be seen wading and swimming
around from one point to another. Mr..
Daniel Zane lived IN the two-story house,
now standing. To make things as sale a,
possible he moved his goods to the second
story as tae ~ete: b,gsu 10 run il on tn
first floor.
Daring the night thu family we're nuSh
'CTrihed by The roar aud Sap;d rise OF the
urging l1oj, aud Grift woId, Iarg io.s,
sud whole tees strik.ug against the north
ind Of the hHu.e Hlth snc6 violence as to
make the who'll structure ,rembis to its
tn family not knowing but
The next moment The whole hou'e would
fat and they w0uii be swallowed up in
he waters.
BY 4 o'clock A. NJ the water VAS withiB
two feet of the ceiling OF the first story,
with a powerful current setting against the
house, Just at this time tremendous
tree stove in the north eud of the front
building with fearful crash, aud the in.
mates gave up all for lost. But. fortunste-
", there was no cellar under the north
wing, and this may have saved the build
ipg-either this or kind interposition of
1t was fearfully dark night,
and Mr.. Zane, as soon as il was Daylight,
determined to listen to the entreaties OF
his wife and move out. He had moved the
old horse ferry to tree above the house,
and in it had previously put such stock and
provisions as he had been able to rescue.
In this boat he determined to cross the
river to town. With this determination he
dropped the ferry down and made it fast
to walnut tree which stood about fifty
feet east of the old house, and taking his
Jerry skiff TO the second story wiudoH he
took aboard his wife and children.
While rowing the skiff out sgainst the
strong current it suddenly struck against
the top Of the gate post, stuck, csreened,
dipped water, whirled about and was on
The point Of cspsizing several times. But
Providence again interviewed and he
reached the boat in safety. Now, in order
10 make a landing at the mouth OF Monroe
street. il was necessary to 60 up the Island
side considerable distance, which, being
done, he made a bold strike for this side,
and made good headway until within 6fty