Butler citizen. [volume] (Butler, Pa.) 1877-1922, 1884-02-20
FURIOUS FLOODS.
BLACK DESPAIR LIFTS HER
GLOOMY BANNERS ABOVE
THE MIGHTY RUSH
OF WATERS.
Tales Of Woe from End to End
of the Ohio Valley.

| Tales OF Woe from End to End
| of the Ohio Valley.
| CINCINNATI, O., Feb. 1l-At 9
O'Clock to night the official water guage
marked 81 feet and inch and rising
one inch per hour. The rise since
o'clock this morning has been l6
inches, and there is no telling when it
will stop. 1t has been rising steadily
all day throughout. The Ohio Valley
and all the streams emptying into the
Ohio are pouring out in torrents.
All business in this city south of
Third street, and along the entire river
front for miles, is absolutely suspended.
the only occupation being in saving
property and in caring for the needy
who have been driven from their
homes.
In the western portion of the city,
south of Eighth street, and extending
to the beautiful suburb of Riverside,
the majority of the dwellings are under
water. A week ago families moved
their household effects to the second
stories and then left for the hills to
await developments. To-day the
water reached the second stories of
the houses, while many are completely
submerged or have been removed from
their foundations. The same may be
said of Newport, just across the river.
| Three. fourths of that town is not hab-
| liable.
ABOVE AND BELOW.
The water is still rapidly rising at
points above, and in some cases it is
from to feet higher than at any
time last year. New Richmond,
twenty miles above, is the scene of
great distress The entire town is
under water, though few of the in
habitants remain quartered in the
upper stories of halls and public build
ings. Lawrenceberg and Aurora, be-
low the city, come next in point OF in
terest.
The rapidly rising water to-day has
banished all hope of saving anything
from the general ruin. Especially is
this the case at Lawrenceburg Those
who removed to places of supposed
safety a week ago were again compell-
ed to seek new quarters. There is,
and must be many days of great suffer-
ing at both places named and speedy
relief should be given.
THE GENERAL GLOOM
Up to last night there was dispo-
sition to treat the matter lightly in
Cincinnati, because it was supposed
that the worst was over, and that in a
few days business would again be re-
sumed, but the rapid change for the
worse has cast gloom over the en-
tire city. All day the newspaper Of
fees and bulletin boards have been
tbronged with anxious inquirers for
news frow points above The streets
along the water line have been crowded
with people viewing the scene of de-
struction. Many houses and barns
have passed down the river, and many
more will certainly follow. There is
no disaster in this city that the relief
committees will not be able to provide
for, and the work of relief is progress
ing favorably.
TOTAL DARKNESS.
The city is in total darkness tonight,
the foggy atmosphere adding to its
density. The gas works are entirely
submerged and the last engine of the
water works was stopped early to-
night, the rising water drowning the
fires The city is guarded by 500
militia in addition to the regular po-
lice force. All the lines of railway are
more or less crippled, and no trains are
able to leave their regular depots
Most of the trains leave from points
out side the city, to which passengers
are taken in boats and omnibuses.
There is no freight taken.
MORE AND MORE SERIOUS.
12-30A. NV ith the river a foot
higher tonight than year ago, and
riaing at midnight an inch an hour,
the situation becomes more and more
serious. Up to midnight the Cincin-
natl, Hamilton & Dayton railway had
been able to reach it's depot. 1t will
be unable to get trains out in the
morning. This leaves the Cincinnati
Northern the only road able to take it's
trains from its depot. 1t carries pas
sengers for the Cincinnati, Washing
ton Il Baltimore and for the Panhan-
die out to the junction with the Gin
cinnati, Washington Il Baltimore road,
which road is used by the Panhandle
to Loveland Trains on the Cleve-
land, Columbus, Cincinnati & Indian
apolis road are obliged to stop at Ches-
ter Park, seven miles out. Ohio and
Mississippi boats coa no longer land
at Stars Station and will use the
wherry to convey passengers to and
from boats The Cincinnati Southern
is arranging for ferry to reach the
depot at Gest street. The Kentucky
Central and Chesapeak and Ohio have
no water to trouble them. Five Thous-
and distilery cattle now at the stock
yards have TO be removed in the morn
ing. The water has reached Chester
Park, and Maud S. and Kilton's horses
will probably have to be removed from
their stables Covingtou has neither
gas nor water.
LOWER DOWN.
At Aurora, Ind, the situation is
alarming The river is rising more
rapidly. Three deaths since yesterday.
At Lawrence, Ind, it is growing
worse and worse.
THE 0IJJn OCEAN