The Eaton Democrat. (Eaton, Ohio) 1875-1903, 1884-02-21
THE OHIO FLOOD.
Great Destruction of Property in the
Valley. L
The River Falling SlowIy-Terrible Ca.
launify mt Cincinnati---The Work OF
Charity Still Being Theoretically <ar-
Nd On.

press and citizens relief boat, which left
this city last night, departed from Phfiiisee
Island, thirty-six miles down the river,
IT six O'Clock this morning. The stream
has fallen so much that the yellow banks
and the orchard trees with their tops fuI
of debris seem to be high up on land. AT
New Cumberland a momentary stop was
made. One hundred and fourteen families
had their houses washed away, but local
committee is doing good work, and there
was not much pressing need OF help. JusS
below Wellsburg, on the Ohio Shore. Tue |
current must have been terrible. Trees
were torn up and left on house-tops, ana
picket fence sections seem to be the only
fruit of the apple,trees. An Isolated colony
in the bend of the river, five miles from
Wellsville, was hailed, and asked if sup
plies were needed, but negative
reply was received. At Warren,
jefferson County, Ohio, seven
miles from Wellsville, there was fearful
amount of destitution. Thirteen houses
were entirely washed aways, and dozens of
families had not single article OF value
left. A considerable quantity of all sorts
of supplies were distributed by the commil-
tee, who went among the houses, and then
in charge. At Burlington, just above
Wheeling, twenty families are without
shelter. They will be left to the govern
ment boat. The destruction of property
between Wheeling and Moundsville is fear.
Iful-much greater in fact than at any other
place above. The tracks and roadbed OF
the Ohio River Railroad have almost en-
tirely disappeared, while the bridges have
all been swept away. Great destructlon
prevails at Moundsville and Berwood. At
the latter point nearly 1000 out of popu.
lation of $500 are in absolute want. Liberal
donations were given by the boat, and the
| arrival of relief occasioned the widest e1-
;citement and joy in the town.
IRoNToN, O., February 15.--Ironton has
been shut off from mail and telegraphic
| communication since Thursday of last
week. The floods covered four-ffths OF the
city. There is great suffering and desola,
tion. Many houses were swept away, ana
| scores moved from their foundations and
| Overturned. Provisions have almost given
out. There is no fresh meat, and bread is
| mot to be had. Crackers and bacon are the
| Iluxuries of life. The Relief Committee is
doing all in its power. No outside aid was
| received until to-day, when two carloads
| are being transferred from beyond the
| water line, some three miles back on the
Toledo, Cincinnati and st. Louis. We have
had to depend on our own resources, (which
| are about exhausted. The police and mill
itary are assisting local Relief Committees
in their arduous work. Only one life is
lost thus far. Wild and exciting rumors
| have been afloat during the suspension of
communication, and our people began to
feel as if the waters would never cease rls-
ing. Unless our local committees are sue
cored by outside aid there must be great
deal of suffering yet. 1t is impossible TO
estimate the damage, but it is immense.
The river has fallen about six feet.
ASHLAND, KY, February 15.-The river
has fallen about six feet, and is receding
slowly. Weather cold and freezing hard
The Post-office has been moved back to its
!, odd quarters, and business houses cleaned
.out and business resumed again. Supplies
Iof various kinds for the relief of the suffer
, ing towns in the vicinity have been coming
lin promptly, making this distributing
sl point, from which large quantities are
daily sent both up and down the river
. The destitute of Cattletsburg, Hanging
Rock, Greenup and Ironton are being wei
taken care of. The people of Ashland arr
| in good shape, comparatively speaking
Hundreds are daily being fed at the Pubii
School buildings by the Relief COMMITTEE
3 here. Many have returned to their homes
: already while Cattletsburg, lronton, Hang
ing Rock and Greenup will continue to re
quire the assistance which is being dali,
given them for some time to come, as man,
: have lost all they had, some even thei
: houses with everything they contained
| The Western Union Telegraph office wa
q communication except with Ironton, thei
n liues being badly wrecked the create
r part of the way between Huntington an
d Portsmouth, a distance of ferty-five miles
t EVANSVILLE, IND, February 10. = TIL
g river at 10 p. m. was Al feet 21z inches, an
8 rising nearly one-quarter of an inch a
n hour, and lacks inches of the high-wate
b mark of last yeaf. The relief tug Isabel
e left here at a. M, went down the rive
e twenty miles, and found only three fan
q lilies in actual need of assistance. On
man found sick was brought here and pu
in the hospital. Twenty-six persons wer
brought here from submerged houses. Tt
10 morrow the committee goes to Newbur
~ and Enterprise, where over $50 people frol
s. Kentucky are taking refuge in Newburs
4. and in pressing need of assistance. OF
o committee will take them supplies unit
: they can procure other supplies. One hui
- dred and sixty families in and aroun
N Grand View, fifty-eight miles from her,
ia are homeless and suffering for food an
y fuel. A committee from Newburg arrive
i. here tonight asking for assistance. The
g telegraphed the facts to Secretary Lincol
L, and Governor Knott tonight. The wealth,
D. is moderating. The high-water mark of IS
D. will be reached tomorrow evening.
"a CLEVELAND, o., February 15.-Fo,
Z thousand dollars was subscribed to-day fl
,e the benefit of the flood sufferers, whic
ir swells the total cash subscriptions in tn
ID city to $15,0 900. Besides this, different bus
m ness firms in the city are making liber
IL donations Of clothing, blankets and proyi
e ions. The people from outside towns a.
beginning to send in also. A lady, wi
would not give her name, came into tt
supply department to-day and left han
- some sealskin cloak, to be sent OF sold Fl
te the benefit of the hungry and naked. II
e. officers and employees in the general offic
n of the Bee Line and Lake Shore sent
ae $500 in cash to-day as their contribute
IN Three and a half carloads of blanke:
nr clothing and provisions were shipped t
Sc | day, two to Portsmouth and the other
IS, Gallipolis, and the balance to other poin,
a Another big shipment will be made I
,h | morrow.
BLOOMINGTON, IND, February 15. =
large amount of provisions was sent
New Albany and Jeffersonville to-day f
ne the food sufferers. About ST 900 in ca
on on has also been raised, and will be forward
ns as called for.
re DAYTON, KY, February 15.-Mr. Kellc
ID. Chairman of the Relief Committee, repol
=, four hundred houses under water, and 81
y en- hundred people are obtaining relief FRI
the Relief Committee every day, and
" demand is gradually growing. 1t will
s auire an expenditure of $75, 900 to repIacet
~, property that has been damaged by
,S flood, and probably more. The dema
I it1 for coal in the past two days has caus ed
Ill big drain on the Relief Committee fun
10 and they were not prepared to meet it.
of barge of coal will be purchased for t
cd place as soon possible, and will be q
.tb tributed. The Relief Committee is work.
faithfully to prevent famine in fuel
~ coal, but is somewhat discouraged by
lal slow manner i'll which people respond.
lr- MADISON, IND, February 15.-The ri
l." rose four inches last night. 1t came t
stand at eight O'Clock, and has now fal
O. half an inch. The weather is cold, causi
me considerable suffering. The back-wa
M has covered half of Springdale Cemett
co on the north side of the city. Our Rel
No Committees are busily engaged relievi
Use the needy. The Little Sandy left ea
he this morning with the indianapolis Bo;
ON of Trade relief party and provisions. s
~, will go as far as Patriot, and return h
'rn for additional supplies, nine car loads
OF which arrived tonight for the use of I
ly committee: Mayor Smith, acting for S
lit retary of War Lincoln, is relieving
nan sufferers here and at Milton. The hc
hpr lntn nf iocf .D- i