The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1884-02-20
THE SUFFERERS BY THE GREAT
FLOODS.
narrowing Tales of the Distress Wit
messed by Relief Party-The
Ohio Begins TO Fail.

from trip to Ripley with
relief supplies. Messrs. Bishop and
Collins, who went with the steamer,
say that the hills on the opposite
side of the river now form its banks.
The people asked first for news, next
for ropes with which to anchor their
houses, and lastly for cooked pro-
visions. None want clothing. The
houses are everywhere swept away
or floating on their corners.
Rural and Augusta, KY, are
wrecks. The water is running be-
hind Augusta, making an island Of
it.
Dover, Kentucky, is in twelve
feet of water in in the shallowest
part.
New Palestine, Ohio, is nearly ru-
ined, and New Richmond is still
worse off.
In Point Pleasant, General Grants
birthplace, only two houses are out
OF the water.
Moscow is in a bad condition,
many houses having entirely disap-
peared.
Neville is a wreck, and Shiloh is
worse than Neville.
Half Of Higginsport is in the wa
ter.
Leyanna is badly submerged.
Ripley is in a terrible condition
One side of a brick house at Ripley
fell in yesterday, and Others are
weakening.
The people say the farmers from
the country are helping them wher.
ever the roads and the floods permit
access.
The misery, destruction and dis.
tress cannot be overdrawn.
The sudden cold last night made
the suffering more intense here, as
many people in the flooded houses
are not supplied with fuel, or else
have no facilities for using it.
In Newport, Kentucky, this morn
ing the scene was most desolate. The
high wind last night waved the wa
ter so as to topple over many build
ings, and. loosened from their foun-
dations, they have swung into the
streets, causing, in many cases, to
the relief boats, great difficulty IN
passing around them. The need for
help in Newport is increasing, as the
stores of the imprisoned families
grow less and less. Fortunately
$1,000 was received there this morn
ing from Secretary Lincoln and
another $1,000 from the Cincinnati
Chamber of Commerce.
1t is impossible to give details OF
The losses to the city by the 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, there
being more frame houses in thai
section. Fortunately, SO far no case
of loss of life has been known
though in several cases the families
have been taken from their home:
lust before the water bore then
away. As a rule the people cling tC
their houses until there is immedi
ate and absolute danger.
LOUISVILLE, February Ill
turned cold early last night, and tn,
clouds disappeared. To-day ha:
been bright and beautiful. The
strong wind last night caused th'
waves to do much damage in th'
submerged district. a great many
houses have fallen down or foateC
off. 1t is not uncommon to see {
large frame structure floating dowr
ever the falls. The people are al
out. however, and no injury or los'
of life is reported. The water is still
rising, though the ground is hare
/ frozen. Louisville will not call fe
any outside help.
The suffering is great at Jefferson
vile. The people are crowded to
gether in the churches and school
houses almost to suffocation. Tn,
relief measures in opperation arr
very inadequate. The waves die
much damage to property last night
Two feet more of water will flood th'
penitentiary, and there are 600 con.
victs to be cared for.
The 125 families of lime burners a
Utica, twelve miles above here, ar
still huddled together in one church
and are sadly in need of relief.
The town of Clarksville, Ind, i
almost washed away.
Inch by inch the water has risel
at Jacksonville, Indiana, unit
nearly every street has disappeared
If the water continues TO rise at tn
present rate by noon Friday ther
will not be dry spot in the town
The sights are most appalling ant
distressing. MANY houses have cav
ed in. Hundreds of persons ar
huddled together in the same build
ing.
GREENUP, February 14.-Th
town is completely submerged, an,
there is great suffering among TIA
poor. Provisions are especially
needed.
Up river dispatches received las
night state the river is falling in tn
region of Gallipolis and is statlonar
at Huntingdon and Portsmouth,
! CAIRO, February 1.-THE river
forty-eight feet high. 1t is freez
ing.
| WASHINGTON, February 14-Sec
retary Lincoln estimates that tn
purchases Of supplies by the Mayor
of various towns authorized by hir
yesterday will amount to about s5C
900. General Saxton. at Louisvill,
will start a boat to-day with SUI
plies, operating directly below Lou
isville. Captain Gushing is leadin
a boat at Pittsburg, intending
give relief as far south as Ironton, a
an estimated cost of $4,000. Ger
Saxton's expenditure will cost abou
the same, leaving s120,0O0 of tn
amount appropriated to be disburse
by General Beckwith, who ha
charge at Cincinnati. The SecreSar
has directed General Beckwith t
hire and load boats there with proI
er food. clothing and other necessa
ries for the destitute as far east an