The Jackson standard. [volume] (Jackson C.H., Ohio) 1847-1888, 1884-02-28
THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 20, 1884
The City of Destruction.

1uo writer visited Cno city OF Forts
mouth on the 22d inst Having seen i
nine days before, when it was under wa
ter, it was now desired to see it when th'
water had so far retired as to leave th'
ravages of the ruthless waters visible.
The destruction and misery are simply
appalling. The bosom of destruction
left its fearful footprints on every hand
Leaving the train at the foot of Fifth
Street, we wended our way over Shiny
pavement down Market Street to Front
Street, thence up Front almost to its ter.
minus. Nothing noticeable is seen till
the rolling mills are reached, and here be.
gins the river boundary of the Empire OF
Destruction. Lodged against these mills
are dozen small dwellings in promiscu-
GUS ruin. Two squares further up, the
scene beggars description. Fully twenty
| five dwellings lie in a confused drift-pile,
in every conceivable position and condi-
tion. Like Thaloba among the ruins of
Babylon, we wended our way through ru-
ined streets, and wrecks of happy homes,
and squalid wretchedness, of this City of
Destruction. Imagine yourself standing
On the margin of creek, swollen to over
flowing by recent heavy rains. Observe
the passing drift. There goes a plank;
there rail; here box; yonder coup.
Floating on pace they lodge against an
obstruction, and form common mass of
drift and deft. Imagine each floating OBJ
ject to be house of different size and
quality, floating by, till twenty five to fifty
have passed and lodged and broken to
pieces in hopeless, shapeless ruin. Then
multiply the sum by one hundred and you
have an outline, background for your
pictures; yes, an outline! But whose
hand shall linn the filling qtps Look
into the blank faces, the grimy, water
soaked dwellings and mud-covered floors;
gaze on furniture, apparel and bedding,
covered with slime, and yellow water ooz-
ing and dripping from couch and pillow,
carpet and wardrobe, and above and
beyond all the sad and broken hearts
whose inmost depths are sorrow and des-
pair. No eye but the All-seeing can be-
hold this, and hand but His can paint this
saddest picture of the nineteenth century
A gentleman of intelligence informed
me that ta0o hundred and seUeaty.tioe
dwellings had left their foundations, many
of which had been either totally wrecked
or fioated away. I visited the premises of
an old friend on Front Street, scarce dis
cernible amidst the surrounding ruins.
Being at last satisfied of its identity I en-
tered the gateway, and walking to the
rear, saw the the disheartened wife en-
deavoring to dry the soiled and damaged
household goods, while CHASTITY desolation
grinned like mocking demons on every
side. She extended her hand, spoke my
name, and then-was too full for utter
ance. This picture duplicates itself on
every street of the city at some point or
other, varying only with surrounding
The people who have their homes left
are generally returning to them. Unfit
for habitation as they are, their owners
prefer to take the risk and be at home.
The work of renovation and repair is be-
ing pushed forward with energy, indoors
and out, and many places are already in
good shape. Business is again on the
move, and the city has put herself again
into the harness for the task that is upon
her. The work of relief goes bravely and
on land supplies are fully equal
to the just demands. The Relief Com
mittees are thoroughly organized, and
benefit is bestowed on no one except by |
order of the experimenting Committee
Of the particular ward of which the recip- |
lent is a resident
The loss falls heaviest on that class |
who had small means and that all inves-
ted in their small homes, and whose homes |
have been swept away or destroyed, and |
who have not the means to replace the |
loss. The greatest boon to them now
would be little financial help to replace |
their homes. The appropriations of Gov
both State and Federal, should |
have been distributed for this end alone |
The donations of generous public have
been ample to supply all present needs,
and prevent immediate suffering, so far |
as human benevolence can alleviate the |
distress of such general calamity. The |
great heart of our people answered nobly. |
The sufferers appreciate it with thank
fulness. While we pray that no such Wis
ltation shall come again in our day, we
thank God that the religion of the Man
of Nazareth has such power over the ma
tional heart, that no cry of the needy and
distressed is ever raised in vain.
S. II. BINGHAM.