Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1884-02-22
Death and Devastation
Horrible Details of the Ohio
River Valley Deluge.
Millions of Dollars and Many
Lives Lost.
Terrible Sorrow and Suffering of
the Victims.
The Most Disastrous Flood of the
Century.
The Sad Story at Length.

century.
The Sad Story at Length.
AT CINCINNATI.
The river is a foot higher than a
year ago ard rising at midnight an
inch an hour The situation has be-
come more and more serious. Up to
tonight the Cincinnati, Hamilton &
Dayton road has been able to reach its
depot. 1t will be unable to get trains
out in the morning. This leaves the
Cincinnati Northern the only road
able to take its trains from its depot
The water has reached Chester park
and Maud S. and Kitson's horses will
probably have to be removed from
their stables. Covington has neither
gas nor water.
A News Journal Aurora, Ind, spe
cial says the situation there is alarm
ing. Tt liver IS rising more rapidly.
Three dea. nave occurred since yes
terday.
WHEELING, W. VA.
The steady rain fall has caused
much alarm, which was increased by
news of a rise at the head waters
The subscriptions in cash here reach
$13, 600, all of which has been spent,
and supplies sent in from else where
are consumed as fast as received. The
homeless are on short allowance,
owing to insufficient supplies, and ap-
peals for aid are still coming in from
neighboring towns The committee
are powerless to help them. Many
who are themselves sufferers from the
flood contribute to help others. The
state of affairs is heartrending.
The mayor of Newport, has found it
necessary to make the following state
ment:
NEWPORT, Ky, Feb. 1.-THE Relief union of
the city of Newport realizing the fearful state of
affairs in city which, now in point of territory
is one-half and in population two-thirds under
water have requested me- as mayor of the city,
to appeal to the public of the United States for
relief In doing so, l regret the utmost necessity
of such action; but earnestly appeal to the good
people of the country for aid.
Signed, VIM II. HORTON,
Mayor.
LAURENCEBURG, IND.
The mayor for the first time to day
asked for help from abroad. People
are removing from the second floors
and abandoning their goods bee ause
they have no place to take them, and
the current is so swift that the footing
is dangerous. A family was rescued
to day from the second story, where
the water had reached depth of four
inches.
AT CINCINNATI.-L
The situation IS more gloomy
than ever. The river rose almost
constantly from half an inch to an
inch an hour and was growing from
two to three feet above the highest
stage last year. This is a fact of
great significance and loses no weight
by uncertainty when the rise will end.
1t is significant because of the vastly
increase of territory flooded
and because of the greatly in
creased danger to buildings by
increased leverage the swaying on the
water has on them as well
as injury to the foundation. One two
story brick business building occupied
by Chas. A. Marsh & Co., on Sixth
street, fell with great crash, owing
to the weakened foundation. The
building was weighted with a guam
tity of hemp, which aided in causing
the destruction. This is only the be-
ginning There is much apprehen-
sion on this account in Covington and
Newport where the nature of the soil
makes the danger greater As the
water creeps upon the houses it has
been found necessary to remove fam
lilies to safe places.
The relief committee in charge of
this work had to act arbitrarily in
some cases and compel people to leave
their houses. In two or three of these
cases the houses are now off their
foundations or washed away, and
undoubtedly there would have been a
loss of life if the people had been al
lowed to act in their own behalf, SO
tenaciously do they cling to their lit
tie all of property.
Owing to the general impression
here that the flood would not exceed
last year and that losses and suffering
would be less, contributions are
much slower coming in.
They have now reached obout $25, 600,
exclusive of $4,000 appropriated by
the council. This has been anticipat-
ed already and drafts will have to be
made soon on the appropriation un-
less funds come in faster A repre-
sentative here of the Columbus Buggy
company, Columbus, Ohio, received n
telegram that their employees have
given days wages, amounting to a
thousand dollars, and many were
doubling their subscriptions.
Among the people from abroad who
have contributed are Geo. w Childs,
$500, and Henry Irving, $3.50. The
committee will persist in its determi-
nation to disburse all contributions
from abroad among the sufferers out
side of Cincinnati. Tonight had a
frightful beginning by reason of the
high wind which threatened to be
a sewers gale, but though strong was
not steady enough to start the waves
so as to do any great damage as far as
known now. There is great danger
however that the agitation of the
water by the wind viii loosen houses
from their foundations. Several
more houses in Newport have left
their foundations and some are
tumbled over Fortunately all were
deserted. The occupants of the
water bound houses, some with no
lights to break the gloom, must have
heard the bowling wind and beating
rain tonight with feeling almost
hopeless and helplessness. News
from the more exposed places like
New Richmond, OHIO, and Lawrence
burg, Indiana, was awaited with
dread The reports received tonight
frem Newport on this point are re
assuring. The masons of this city
have found it necessary to t ke de
cisive action and issue the following
appeal:
/ To the Masons of the United States:
/ The Masons OF Cincinnati represent that ca
lanity greater than ever known is now upon tn.
Ohio valley for hundreds Of miles: not only Ma
| sons in great number, but thousands of men
| women and children are homeless. cold and hun
| gry. Every ource Of charity must be called OF
sires to contribute TO this noble purpose. remit
| tanceS may be sent to the Masonic Hood commit
tee Of the Masonic temple of Cincinnati.
All Masonic bodies In this city NEE
tomorrow to perfect arrangement
for systematic relief.
The river at 10 p. m. was 6S feet, 10
inches, and raising half an inch a
hour Raining hard
AT COLUMBUS.
| The following proclamation was i
sued this evening:
To the people Of Onio: