Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1884-02-10

lighted up. In this dark picture is one
brilliant spot. 1t was made by the band
of heroic men who worked through thas
long and weary night, looking death in the
face hundred times, to save the lives OF
their fellow men. No life corps on rocky
sea shore ever braved greater dangers or
worked more heroically than did
THAT DEVOTED BAND.
The water had reached the foot OF the ap-
rroach to the bridge, across which swept q
current with almost resistless force. On
its edge stood the band OF brave men, one
after another volunteering TO the perilons
work. A boat is manned and, steering
boldly into the current, is swept out OF
sight in the darkness; q long period OF
anxious suspense and 1t reappears, laden
with men, women and children. Some are
taken from upper windows, drenched and
chilled: others have climbed to the roofs
and waited the approach Of death or
rescue, ss might be decrcei; some few,
driven from their homes, had taken refuge
in the branches OF trees, from which they
saw their homes swept away and crumbled
to pieces. When a boat, filled with the
rescued, came safely to land cheers would
rend the air, drowning out the cries which
we're still heard and conveying hope to
anxious hearts beyond the water. All
night long this continued and hundreds OF
people were timely snatched from what
had seemed certain death.
In the meantime the water had slowly
risen and captured the business portion OF
the city. The blocks included between
Twelfth street and the creek and circle
drawn from the corner Of Market and the
REGISTER alley, running back to Nine
teenth, were inundated. Business of all
kinds was suspended. All of the depots
and railroads were under water and COM
muuication entirely cut Off The city was
in state of siege as completely as though
hostile army eDcolnpassed her. The
creek had backed up, Overlooking the val.
leys as far as Elm Grove, covering most of
Fulton, Thompson7;lle, Leatherwood, Pleas
ant Valley and Edgington, to an average
depth of eight or ten feet, and completely
shutting of the city from the country. In
Centre Wheeling the food covered every
thing up to Market street, as far south as
Twenty .fouytb and from there down, join
M the waters OF Csldwell's run, over
lowed the whole city, as Far east as Chap
line. The E;Shth ward vas buried be-
meath the greatest depth Of any point, but
~ -, OF Nj mo
owing 10 its isolated position.
THURSDAY MorntsK
daxned upon such a scene az Wheeling
never knew Practically the water had
rescbed its height, though or inches were
added BY noon. Taen only was the situa-
ton fully realized II all of its terror, sor-
row and suffering, as daylight revealed its
full extcat and character. With the srst
dawn the rescuing sands on the Island
we're relieved by fresh men, and the work
went on wi1h unabsteG zeal and devotion.
From the cries Of the preceding night it
was feared many lives were lost, but as the
day came on and skiffs and steamboats, Vis-
tied every point a great weight was lifted
by the knowledge that ouS Of the darkness,
deluge and distress not q life had been sac
rifced. But sbe same light brought a
knowledge of frightful state of affairs
from the Eighth ward. Under the greatest
depth and largely composed Of small
hcuses, the sufS rng had been intense.
II, too. was not without its he
roes who had risked their lives
many times and oft in their brave
efforts 10 save Others. hut still hundreds
of families were yes in their homes, una
bic to get out ami many were in water two
feet deep in their upper stories. Hun
dreds had Il ken 70 the hills and hun
dreds more were shiyering and Aangerng
in the large buildings on high ground
at the foes Of the hill. But the morning
brought tSe knowledge that no Eves had
been lost and the rsst remained in the
bounds c{ human aid. The new danger
was proptly met, the danger OF
SUFFERING BY s-ARvATIoM
Tie generosity Of cur townspeople was
spontaneous, hearty and enthusiastic. A
largely attended citizens meeting was held
in tine city building, resulting in the ap-
pCinrnepr OF relief committees and the
subscribing OF a good round sum TO pur.
chase necsssaries of lie. The ladies had
not been behind band ana taeir or
gan uizatioa cooperated with the other
in the good work OF relief. Meanwhile
private sitizens and ladies uDpumbered
had been providing feoa snd shel'ar for the
outcasts, Every school house a2& most OF
the churches became hOUses OF refuge and
were flied with homeless people, while
hundreds Of private families hook care OF
as many OF the distressed as their homes
would accommodate. Subscription papers
we're circulated. and several thousand dol
lars collected by nightfall, securing tenn
porsry provision against suffering. The re-
lief committees iudiciously expended the
money in clothing and provisions, and the
day was spent in distributing supplies
among the needy. In visiting the Eighth
ward, on this day, tds distress snd suffer.
ing were found 70 be extreme Hundreds
of families still remained in their partially
subme rged houses, and msde pitiful ap-
peals for food, after the supply was eI-
haustsd. The multitude on the hillside
and in Hobbs factory and the school house
hsd their hunger appeased, bat not until
the next day could the others be reached.
For a time the bread ana meat supply ran
short, and = famine was feared, but this
was temporary, and the demand afterEsrd
relieved.
ISLAND SCENES.
All this day the water remained at its
height, varying not foot from daylight to
dark. During this time the suffering, dis
tress and excitement were intense. All day
vast crowds hoysred on the brink OF the
food, some working like beavers and others
gazing curiously at the awful msgni6cence
of the terrible scene. On the Island the