The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1884-02-07

had watched the progress Of the rise dur
ing tho night, was astounded. by 0 o'clocl
Water street was almost impossible, 81
dense was the crowd Of sight.seGrs, and i
continued 10 remain 10 until between
and Q o'clock in the afternoon, when tht
waters Tapped over the pavement ant
flowed upon the IHt tloors OF the Btorei
fronting on the leyee. Those who stood
and watched the rise for two or three hour
could hardly believe their senses. From
early daylight until 6 r. NJ. the rise WAS on
an average Of inches per hour. Steadily
y advanced foot by foot until the mark o.
the flood Of June, 1881, was reached, and
still 1t advanced.
GRAND SPECTACLE.
The sight from the Ieyee was during tht
entire day, at once grand and terrible. Tht
Island appeared to have almost sunk be
meath the turbid torrent that went rushing
on, carrying everything mercllessly be-
fore 1t. N
About noon a large quantity OF heavy
ice, presumably from the "Yough," went
down. It has undoubtedly done great dam.
age, both above and below here, in places
from which no reports can be received. An
enormous amount OF debris covered the
river all the time. 5 :.
The Western Union office was the oh.
jective point for a struggling crowd every
moment Of the day. The bulletin board
was never more anIiously scanned in time
Of war or peace. There was depicted on
every countenaace look OF intense anx.
iety, and distressed and despairing look
was observable in the eyes OF many a poor
fellow whose little all was on the Island
or the low lands OF the South Side.
At noon the reports were very dtBcour.
Rising, and still raining"
1he one question was, "Where will 1t
stop2" j
None could answer.
All the old river men and those versed
in the history oi fresheis, when applied to,
simply said: "It'e past figuring Out; it
will beat the flood Of '52. That is all tnat
can be said." Z
About p N. the waters poured into the
office OF the Western Union Telegraph
Company, and as many instruments as
could be gotten into the Peoples Bank
were hastily removed by Manager Tracy
and his efficient corps of assistants. The
Western Union office will necessarily be
here lor several days, for when the waters
recede there will be deposit OF several
inches Of mud all over the Western Union
office. Only five wires could be worked
from the bank room.
lj.Esf SOME UNUSUAL SCENES.
Commencing at about noon, the scenes
on Main street grew more and more spirit
ed and exciting. The water commenced
flowing up from the creek aud every half
hour compelled some merchant to vacate.
Wagons and drays were driven rapidly
along, assisting in removing valuable goods.
Every one worked with will and vigor
born only OF desperation. The situation
worse and worse. By 10 o'clock the wa.
ters met at the corner Of Twelfth and Main
and one could row from Booths boat
store to the stone bridge. This
bridge Was entirely covered. At MUM 4
Brandfass corner, the water Was waist deep
on the pavement. The lower story Of the
B. & o. freight depot and its sheds were
submerged. The P, W. & Ky. freight de-
PoI aiso lto PasseuSel uepot,H were lnaCcetSl-
BILE from the street. The water was four
feet deep on the office floor OF the Stamm
House. Its parlors were flooded and its
dining room floor about ruined by the
pressure OF the water from underneath.
The St. Charles Hotel was in the same de-.
plorabie condition. The St. James Hotel,
in the course Of repair, had great damage
done to it. Along Water street the current
was 30 swift as to be very dangerous for
skitf to venture near the opening OF any Of
the cross streets to the levee. The most
vivid pin picture would fail to properly
depict the sights on Main street after
dark. In the wholesale dry
goods houses, hardware and grocery whole
sale houses, clerks dressed in rubber were
rushing through the water on the floor,
rushing goods upon the elevators to the
second floor and cursing the luck that had
overtaken them. Many were warned OF
their fate many hours in advance, but
needed it not The old adage, procrastina.
ton is the thief Of time, WAS realized by
many last night more forcibly than pleas
sntly.