Morning journal and courier., 1884-02-13
THE WESTERN FLOODS.

| Water All Around-And Yet q Water
 Famtne-Ths Sad Plight of Cinctn- natt-Other Towns I'm the Grip of the
 Floods-A Sad Story From all Points. CINCINNATI Feb. 12.-The muddy waves of the Ohio have crept up an inch an hour for the last twenty-four hours ending at D.. m., but since that time have only advanced half an inch. People who thought them selves far out of reach of the waters were to-day moving and seeking safer quarters. It has now reached an almost incredible height and people stand blanklY asking when will it stop. Matters are so desperate that the public is prepared for anything and those most interested simply stand and wait for what may next come. In the city the situa- tion is more and more deplorable. Thou sands of men are out of employment and they and their families must be fed The funds in the hands of the relief committee are inadequate, and while there is as yet no actual want, still the possibility of it stares the citizens of Cincinnati in the face. A water famine is now an assured fact. Even with the most economical use of water it cannot last more than five or six days, and in case of large fire the reservoirs would be exhausted The city is also left in darkness and innumerabIe temptations offered to pirates and lawless persons. The police are supplemented by nearly five hundred militia, but still many dangers are to be feared. It is generally conceded that the river will be as slow in falling as in rising, and it is predicted the climax will not be reached until to morrow md T, CT will send the Ohio up and thus continue the flood. At 10 o'clock tonight the river stood 6S feet 10 1-2 inches, and was still ris- ing. Heavy rains with high winds are pre- vailing.
 About four hundred organs and pianos are afioat among the household furniture. The fair ground is totally ruined. The fences are all down, the sheds stables and some of the houses foated off. The Ohio and Mississippi railroad levee is washed out for a distance of five hundred yards and is still washing at 8 fearful rste The Ohio and Mississippi railroad company estimate their loss at $1O0, ,OOO in this one item, not consid- ering the loss in time and money by the pres- ent mode of connecting with Cincinnati.
 At Gallipolis, Ohio, the people are all safe, the city being nearly all above water. The loss will be comparatively light, but above and below there is utter desalution on every hand. The suffering cannot be imagined. The Gallipolis relief committee have sent four boats up the river to Pomeroy and Mid dleport loaded with provisions and others will follow, but the supply is almost ex- hausted.
 Point Pleasant is entirely inundated. Only about twenty houses can be seen above water Middleport and Cheshire from four to ten feet under water. Pomeroy is all under water except the hills, with every business house flooded to the second story. One hundred and twenty-five houses have been washed away from the place. The people are suffering for food.
 At Lawrenceburg there is no regular or ganized relief committee and little or no pro- visions on hand. There is sad fate before them. A committee has been formed and sent to them with provisions. A coal and coal oil famine Is at hand, as coal cannot be reached aud the gas has long since ceased The individual cases of suffering this year are small compared with those of 1883 as the city is almost forsaken. The streets are empty. but guarded and patrolled by police and the engine houses filled with firemen ready for active duty at the clap of the bells.
 At Jeffersonville, Ind, the river continues to rise. Almost the whole city is flooded from two to fifteen feet. The scene is inde- scribable. The streets are filled with skiffs and the worst is apprehended. It lacks thirty inches of last years rise. Everybody seems paralyzed. The northwestern part of the city IS ent1reiy aoanuon6u ana many houses in other parts of the city. Hundreds of families are homeless. Not less than nine thousand people have had to move out or up stairs. The situation of Belpre, Ohio, is improving. The river has fallen nearly six feet, but is falling very slowly. There nine feet more water than in last February at the highest. We have no communication with Marietta, but much damage is reported there.
 Parkersburg has suffered less than many other towns. Forty buildings were swept away from Belpre. Many people are desti- tute but they are being provided for by outside citizens.