The Indianapolis journal., 1884-02-15
CINCINNATI AND VICINITY.
After Reaching Triie Over Seventy-One
Feet, Fall Begins.

Feet, Fall Begins.
CINCINNATI, Feb IA, A. M.-The river is
seventyone feet a rise of three and a half
inches since 2 A. NJ. The weather is cold ther-
mQmeter 20o above zero.
The river is slowly rising, having reached
seventy-one feet and threefourths of an inch
at noon The sudden cold last night made suf-
fering more intense, as many people in the
flooded houses were either not provided with
fuel, or have not the facilities for using it.
Newport, KY. this morning, is most desolate.
The high wind last night moved the waters so
as to topple over many more buildings, and
loosened others from their foundations They
have swung into the streets until in many cases,
relief-boats have great difficulty this morning,
in passing around them. Need of help in New
port is increasing the stores of the imprisoned
families grow less and less Fortunately, 81 600
received this morning from Secretary Lin
coin, and another 81, 900 from the Cincinnati
Chamber of Commerce. The water is
now within a few inches of being five
feet higher than the great flood of last year.
1t reaches more than half square above Third
street. At Lock street the Panhandle depot is
entirely surrounded by water, and there is sew
eral feet on the floor. The Grand Central depot
has from six to eight feet of water on the floor.
At Mill street the water reaches into Fourth
street Farther west it crosses Fifth street. and
at the Cincinnati, Hamilton & Dayton depot it
reaches half way up to Sixth. AT Freeman it
crosses Sixth street. In The West End the en-
croachments extend eastwardlY as far as Free
man street. Lincoln Park is lake. except a lit
tie corner
1t is impossible to give the details of losses in
this city by wrecked and floating houses. The
wind last night added to the number wrecked in
the eastern part of the city, where the greatest
loss has been felt So far no case of loss of life
has been known, though in several cases fami-
lies have been taken from their houses Just before
the waters bore them away. AS rule, the peo-
pie cling to their houses until there is immediate
and absolute danger
The Chamber of Commerce relief committee
has not organized steamboat relief service, be-
the United States will do that, but has
sent money and supplies to the various places.
1t sends barge OF coal to Lawrenceburg and
$500 cash. 1t will start two carloads of provi-
sions, via the Chesapeake & Ohio road, to Iron
ton General Beckwith of ST. Louis who is to
be in charge of the government relief boat ex-
pected here last night has not yet arrived. Capt
Bell, who was ordered to report to Gen. Beck
with, has been making inquiries about steamers
but can do nothing until Gen. Beckwith arrives
The Secretary of War has requested Gen Beck
with to send him an estimate of what he will be
able to accomplish with $l2O, 900, and suggested
his comforting with Hon. Richard Smith, of Gin
cinnati, as to the best course to pursue.
At2P. M. the water is still at seventy-one feet
and three-fourths of inch. At 2:30 p NJ, the
first fall since the beginning of the flood, is re-
corded. The river is now seventy -one feet and
one-half inch.
At P. M. the river had receded three-fourths
OF an inch, and the good news of the actual be-
ginning of the decline spread quickly, giving a
profound feeling of relief wherever it reached
The first notice of the check came during the
afternoon and the posting of it on Change
caused an outburst of applause from the people
waiting for the river bulletins. With this de-
cidedly cold weather and wind the fall has every
facility for being constant and rapid. The
slight swels at Pittsburg since the first decline
there were not sufficient to bring the river here
to the tremendous proportions it shows tonight,
after decided fall, such as now seems probable.
Still, with the most rapid decline that can now
be expected it will be days before the houses are
much danger to houses.
The river continues to recede slowly, falling
an inch and quarter in three hours. 1t is clear
and cold.