Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1884-02-10

,ngTy waters climbing higher and higher
and coming nearer snd nearer, as If eager
10 enguIf them. But when 70 this horror
is added that of the darkness Of the night
the danger of destruction from the floating
objects around them, the experience Ii one
which cannot be described, can only be I'M
agined, To the people imprisoned In their
Island homes on Wednesday night, un-
ccnscious that efforts were being made by
strong hearts and willing hands 10 rescue
them. and alive only to the horrors OF the
constantly deepening waters, the intense
d ,rl ness of the night, and the danger OF
their homes being wrenched from their
foundations and they swept down to an un-
known fate, hiss come an experience whose
memory cannot pass away.
Tie shrieks OF frightened women ana
children full OF agony aud fear, heard
sboye the swift rush Of the river and the
Z ling rain, was the first intimation that
,he We ter bad reached q dangerous height
.IG Il at the hundreds who live on the
n, rth nd OF the Island and who had been
uDsbje 70 make their escape into the city
bei, re nightfsll, were in dsDger Of death
and perbsps dying Men were soon found
esrtr 10 attempt the rescue, but IN the
darkness and the swift eddying current OF
lLC water such efforts were attended WIN
rrU rtsinty and the greatest danger. some
tW,pty five men manned half dozen
.k,f, which we're launched from the east
erd of Virginia street and proceeded out
10 North Broad way and Penn streets. In
Il darkness no knowledge could be OBJ.
tanned OF the current and the progress OF
The rescuers VAS full of peril. Coming up
ON The cross streets they would strlke
current flowing at the rate OF twelve miles
an hour, which would sweep them nun
d,.Ss OF feet ont of their course and in some
instances overturniDg the boats, plunge
the bostmen into the rlVer. ihen
with slight rest, often with
tee trunk SIS an anchor, the brave
fellows Sould keep upon their course,
ended only by the cries of distress
spd the course of the fences
which border the streets. Esch trip occu'
nj, & al least two hours, and IN some IN
stances boat would be out from three TO
FIVE honrs In this manner between IL
O'Clock Wednesday night and yesterday
morning over 80 people were brought to
the Suspension bridge and then hurried
away to Il e homes OF friends In the city.
tt e SCI mes which occurred on the bridge
teggsr description. Wives were searching
for their husbands and husbands for their
wives, while children were crying for their
fathers and mothers. Often portion oil
family would be rescued by one boat and
The r, main der by another
When the morning came, the men who
hsd worked for eight long hours IN the
dark ress and storm, sought their MONIES
or sleep aud rest. But others were waiting
TO teke their places, and, with the boats
msnpeG with experienced rlver men, VINO
With the coming OF day light, could see the
course of tie current which swept through
the streets and bys,reets with irreslstlh!e
two steamboats, the belle Prince" and
Princes" also came to the rescue, while
skifTs pushed out from the North Wheeling
side and dropped down among the long i'm
prisoned Islanders. BY four O'Clock the
last man, woman and child who was in dan
ger had been rescued and the gallant work
OF a day and night was finished
II Lieutenant Rhodes and his companions
who rescued the perishing passengers OF
the wrecked City OF Columbus have re-
ceived the praises not only OF great city
snd common wealth but of q whole nation,
what shall be said OF the and brave young
fellows of our city who on Wednesday
plight rIsked their own lives, and braved
untold dangers, that they might save
others?
HOW THEY WE'RE RESCUED.
Yesterday morning REGISTER reporter
i,intd rescuing party and entered skin
al the west end of the suspension bridge
Tie collection of drftwoo1 and floating
debris in Virginia street bad rendered that
route no longer possible, and the boats
were compelled to drop down North Front
street and then row out Ohio street, from
which they would 20 where their services
were needed But a few feet from the
shore was a ministure whirlpool caused by
the curve of the bank and the junction OF
tie waters, which swept down the main
channel and through the streets OF the
Island. 4 few strong, well directed strokes
carried the boat through the whirlpool:
and it tioated Oil down North Front and
struck out Ohio street. At the junction
Of Ohio and Broadway an exciting inc dent
occurred. The water flowing through the
two streets had caused a whirlpool, which
caught the boat, and, whirling it around
and sround suddenly flung it through the
water distance OF fifty or seventy-fiye
feet, and gave the rowers chance to
continue on their way. Fhe course
In ID Br0sdwsy to Zane street, out
Zane 10 York street, and up North York
10 shove to above Indiana street. Here the
work Of rs.cring the e'ple made prisoners
by the water began. From one house
tushsnd and wife. mede pale and weak by
the horrors OF the night through which
they lad passed, and looking more dead
than alive, we're taken, and from another
stricken and almost desperate, a mother
end two children. But in the midst OF the
grsvsst peril the mothers nature asserted
itself and The poor woman would not
enter the boat until she knew
that her little ones were safe.
In The meantime smother boat had
pushed up snd soon secured its freight Of
frightened people. Then both boats start
ed on their return and in half hour all
were safely landed and fastening toward
the city. This is only parallel to a hun
irFd cttPr scenes which happened yester-
d-y In the southern portion Of the Island
the two steamers princess" and Belle
Prince" did effective work, and it is safe to
cav that not one person now remains on
the island whose life is in danger.
ISUAyn EYHNr1