The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1884-02-07
THE SITUATION AT CINCINNATI.
The Waters Still Rising Rapidly-Measures
for Relief of the Distressed.

years food would be duplicated now, cannot be
found day. There is no longer a doubt that
the water will reach last years height On the
contrary, with the rain still falling and weather
mild, the only question now is by how much of
last years flood will it be exceeded. The most
alarming feature of the present situation is the
Tapidity of the rise. Last year, when the river
had reached this height, it was rising less than
an inch an hour. At noon to-day the gauge
shows fifty nine feet. This is unprecedented at
such high stages, and shows what a prodigious
rainfall there has been. With last years ex-
perience merchants and manufacturers will lose
much less than then. No time is now wasted in
pumping water from the cellars. Every available
man and team is employed where the water may
encroach, in placing goods ON higher floors, or in
removing to higher ground. Business is com
pletely suspended throughout all the lower parts
of the city. The Grand Central railroad depot
is abandoned. The Ohio & Mississippi, which
railroad has an eastern terminus at Aurora, Ind,
will run steamers between that point and Storr's
Station, thence by omnibus. The Cincinnati,
Washington & Baltimore trains will use the Gin
cinnati Hamilton & Dayton depot. This can be
used until the water reaches sixtysix feet then
trains will have to stop at the stockyards.
Decline trains will make that their ter
minus tomorrow. The Panhandle and Lou
isville & Nashville can use their depot until
the water reaches sixty-two feet The Cincin-
natl Southern will not be troubled in reaching
its Main street Depot until the water gets higher
than it was last year, but it cannot reach the
side tracks to do freight business. The Cincin-
natl, Indianapolis, St Louis & Chicago bids fair
to be shut out altogether, unless arrangements
can be made to reach the city via Rushville
over the Cincinnati, Hamilton & Dayton. The
Cincinnati Northern Toledo, Cincinnati & ST.
Louis is the only road that cannot be reached
by the flood This morning warehouse in
Duckworths distillery was undermined and fell
into the water, causing large loss. Soon after
the cattle pens, feeding thousands of cattle were
swept away. He had removed the cattle yester-
day. Loss heavy
The Chamber of Commerce transacted but lit
tie business to-day Measures were taken to
provide relief fund for the destitute A com
mittee of fifteen was appointed, and the secre-
tary was kept busy for some time receiving sub,
scriptons mostly 800 each. The Chamber
itself appropriated So, 900 to the fund The
health officer announced that it would place
fifteen of the sanitary force at the disposal
of the relief committee
Rain is still falling, the wind is from the
south, and the temperature not falling tat 2
P.M).
Specials from Butler, KY, say the Licking
river is rising three inches an hour, and is with
in twenty three inches of the high water of last
year.
9P. M.-Sixty feet eight and half inches is
the record at this hour and the river is rising
two inches an hour. The rain has almost
stopped. This is a rise of six feet six and half
inches during the past twenty four hours. The
water has stopped streetcar travel between Gin
cinnati and Covington and Newport, and skiffs
will be carrying passengers to the suspension
bridge before morning. The lower part of the
city is already submerged, and hundreds, per
haps thousands of houses invaded on first floors
by water 1t has been remarked that business
though the promise to-day is that the flood will
be greater than last year. They have submitted
to the inevitable with good grace, and will
suffer comparatively small loss aside from
the cost of removing goods and suspension
of business. There is even strong talk of rails
ing the low grounds of the city above the flood
height as one means of averting future trouble
Of this kind. Relief work has been started
promptly, with determination that Cincinnati
shall take care of her own poor. The commit
tee of fifteen, appointed by the Chamber of
Commerce. held a meeting this afternoon, and
put the machinery in immediate motion for
4o1yi aaf af
perienced and efficient men, j. l.. Keck and C.
w Rowland were sent out at once to organize
a food supply, and they will allow no worthy
person to go hungry. This work is, nearly
two days in advance of last
years record in this direction. The
purpose is to prevent necessity
for relief as far as possible The gas-works
closed when the water reached sixty feet. The
gas in the mains and meters is sufficient for to-
night, but tomorrow night recourse will be had
to lamps, candles and electric lights. This fact
has given rise to many queries whether the opera
festival and Mapleson's opera, announced to be
given next Monday will be postponed. The
Music Hall managers say the opera festival will
not be postponed. They have made arrange
ments for gas supply independent of
the city gasw6tks, and there will be
postponement on any account. Heuck's
new Opera house, where Mapleson appears
will have electric light. One great source of
trouble will be the water famine The engines
of the water works are working now with diff
Guilty and will be entirely disabled with five or
six feet more There will doubtless be an order
tomorrow, stopping all manufactures that use
steam from running, in order to save the wafer
supply as much possible.
1t is difficult to get men to make predictions,
but the general opinion is that the river must
exceed the highest stage of last year, sixtysix
feet four inches. @
The railroad situation is unchanged. The
floors of the GRAM Central, Ohio &
Mississippi, and transfer depots are all
weighted with iron to keep them from being
lifted by water No freight is received. The
Little Miami depot is inaccessible for trains
Other roads are running as previously an
nounced. Newport and towns on the Kentucky
shore above are already deep in water. Fami-
lies have been busy removing goods in wagons
as long possible, and afterwards in skitfs
No casualties reported.
IL P. M-River 60 feet IL inches
Almost Stationary.