Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1884-02-14
AFTER ALL IS OVER.
A History of the Great Flood and Its
work at Park kersburg.
l..

Special to the Register.
PARKEasBURG, w. Va, February l3.-The
great food which FELL with a heavy hand
upon our prosperous little city has passed
on to carry disaster aud perhaps death 70
those further down the Ohio, but its effects
will be felt by Parker.burg in more ways
than one for many years to come. So swift
and almost unexpected did the mad arise
of waters come, and 50 quickly has 1t gone,
that were it not for the scenes Of ruin and
desolation which 1t has left behind it would
seem only a strange, horrid dream. On
Wednesday came the news that the rivers
were rising at head waters, that Pittsburgh,
Wellsburg, Steubenville and Wheeling
were already overhown and that our
citizens should prepare for what was
soon TO come. Thursday morn
ing found the fears of the most timId real
lied. Steadily but silently during the
night the water had been creeping up, and
at 10 o'clock in the morning showed a
height OF forty four feet, higher than the
highest point reached during the terrible
flood OF last year. And sounding proved
II was raising at the rate Of four inches an
hour How long this would continue aud
how far it would rise none could tell. In
this the situation was one OF the utmost
anxiety. Deprived Of both telegraph lines,
The mails and the telephone to Marietta,
we were lost as it were to the world and
the uncertainty OF the limit Of the rise ad-
ded to the situation. We were cutlof prac-
tically from the world and knew not when
the time OF resurrection would come. At
5 o'clock in the afternoon Market street
was in fine boating stage up to the Market
House-a thing unparalleled in the history
OF Parkersburg. A voyage about the city
howed the fearful work OF destruction
which vas going on. The Ohio River Rail-
road track was literally ruined at this
point. All the trestling were aAoat; three
engines and two gondolas were in the
water, while several OF their box cars were
floating around in various parts OF the
city.
From the roof OF the SEann House the
scene was a grand one. Stretching away
into foggy vista was what seemed to be
an intermlnable sheet of water. its surface
covered with the ruin OF the once fair
meadows and happy homes OF the
Ohio Valley farmers. Extending from hill
to hill on each side of the valley, ell land
marks were lost excepting where some
building higher than its fellows reared its
chimneys above the Hood. From out
the windows OF the houses sur
-ound by the water could be seen
the anxious faces OF women and
children gazing out on the water. The
scene was one that defied description aud
must have been viewed to realize the utter
and deplorable situation. No one could
appreciate its horrors save those who have
been driven from place to place in Q futile
attempt to ind some spot where the raging
food would not reach them. The sun at
last went down in the West and night,
pregnant with horrors such as had never
been realized before, fell upon eur city.
In the evening, in response to call pub
lished in the State Journal. meeting was
held and systematic means for relieving
the destitute and suffering decided upon.
The committee at once went actively to
work and food and clothing were furnish
ed to the unfortaDstes.
Friday morning came, sad with it relief
from fears for the future. The river hay-
ing beaten its record Of last year by eight
feet, was falling fast. Stricken though
they were, our generous people turned to
others who were still in danger. From
ACROSS the roaring, rushing river could be
heard the bells Of Belpre tolling out for aid.
Standing on roofs our people could see the
buildings of the little town slowly swept
away BY . current whose power no human
hand could stem In our own city the sit.
ustion was appalling. Hundreds were
homeless and without food. But many
and generous were the replies to the fol.
lowing appeal from the State-Journal:
''Our city il now confronted with the
worst disaster it has ever experienced, and
nothing but persisteut organised efforts
will succeed in relieving the suffering.
Those who have grain Of charity or sym
pathy in their constitutions must feel and
appreciate the suffering. Of those whom
the food hiss left without homes aud 10