The Penn's Grove record., 1884-03-22

On the l4.h Of February the steam
boat Katie S~tOCkdaIg arrived at Pitts
burg from Cincinnati. She was o
fifteen hours late. No word had been
received from her since she passed Steu-
beuvlllc at noon the day previous. Her
failure TO put In an appearance crested
considerable apprehension among those
financially interested IN her, Evil fore
bodinVs possessed those who had friends
or relatives on board Of her. As soon as
the bow OF the incoming boat came
within reach of the Scotia, the crew
jumped from one boat to the other and
were soon miugling with the delighted
crowd on the wharf boat. Everybody
shook hands and everybody locked happy
and c0ntented. The spacious hearts OF
the cOlOred rOustsbOuts seemed to OVER
flow with thankfulness for their safe re-
turn. All had friends awaiting their
coming. In many instances their meet
ings and greetings were not only pa
theuc, but amusing.
"No mo boatin' on floods TO- me-, -"
said one fat, ragged, though clever
looking negro" as he threw his arms
about his lat, stubby wife, who stood on
the wharf, Just outside the wharf-boat.
Deed, honey, | thought you wss a
widow. Whare's de kid2" he continued,
still holding the 200 pounds of colored
flesh suspended in the air. After the
embrace their lips met and q smack fol-
lowed. The Conclusion was not loud, but
the sound was dull and heavy like a bursted
bubble in a pot Of hot mush.
After the confusion Of landing had sub
sided. the work OF unloading the boat
was begun. Again there was consider.
able hustle ard hurrying to and fro.
Captain Cochran and his attendants were
TO busy TO talk. Head Clerk B~erringer,
however, was at leisure.
"rell me something of your trip"
suggested the reporter.
Paint yourself a picture of dreary
desolatlon and absolute distress, frame 1t
with wrecked and ruined homes, hang
over il q black veil of suffering and death,
and you tell the whole story OF our voy
age he replied. 'Our experience has
indeed been a sad one. 1 saw but one
bright spot since we left Cincinnati on
Wednesday. That was my home at Reed
vile. Every house in that village is high
and dry. hen we passed there | sighted
my wife standing IN our doorway. Or
course, she could not see me, but she
knew our boat. By the aid of a glass !
could distinguish her waving a ~handkcr-
CHIEF until we were almost out of sight,
That sort Of cheered me, but the distress
OF some Of the others in the crew, as
We passed their homes, many of them
entirely buried by the waters, others
drltted off their foundations, and still
.tIapa -F.HnHsrr g, v-oear - fI,,u a,ro,
sort Of CounteraCted my feeling of su-
preme satisfaction. | pItled them, but |
could not relieve their suffering. The
absence of any knowledge IN regard to
their families vas all hat troubled them.
THIS information could not be obtained.
"When we left Cincinnati there was a
general stampede to get aboard orr boat.
People had heard from the headwaters,
and they were anxious to get away. They
had no special destination. Any place to
avoid the flood. Our first day out we saw
but little destI uCliCn, but when daylight
dawned OF the second morning we saw
some dreary pictures. White tente dotted
the hills. The river from one bank to the
other was floating full of ice and ruins.
Bed and bedding, and heushold FURNITURE
OF every description were strewn about
with chaotic confusion. Between Pome-
roy and Rosewood we counted %itty-three
Buildings floating down the stream. 1t
Coehranville but two houses were left
standing. The rest Of the Town had
drltted into q hJtle creek near there. Be
tween lronton and this city we dId not &c
a town or village adjacent to the ri yer
that was not completely submerged. In
fact We did not see 3 house That we we're sure
was on its foundation. At Georgetown
the stage of our boat struck the steamer
Clifton. The bow Of our boat was slightly
injured, and a large IN the CliftonS Tow
was sunk. No other damage was done.
The accident, however, nearly stampeded
the crew of both boats.
~ Belleville our steward saw the roof
of his house, The rest was under water.
II had been worked eff Its foundation.
As yet he had heard nothing of his family.
One OF our pilols, who lives at the same
place, saw his house floating about several
rods from its foundation. Both these uen
were nearly Wild TO get information but
they could not leave the boat, and were
unable TO get IL. l tell you sir they raved
like mad men and their distress was heart
rendlng, but sympathy under such clrcum-
stances only tends to inhame the feeling
OF distress. You will excuse me, l bate
to talk OF the trip. | can yet see honses
floating and hear the distressing cries of
men, women, and children begging for
assistance, Why, at some places down
the stream we were fired on. People
thought we were disturbing the already
riotous waters, and at one place more
than twenty shots were fired at us. /
have seen more in the last week than |
ever want to see again. 1t appears like
a dream"