Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1884-02-10
ISLAND EVEN r..
Horrors, siatistics. Scenes Of suffering
and Other Points OF The Ouce Garden

spot.
The situation on the Island at daybreak
yesterday morning can neither be imag
ined by those who were not eye witnesses
nor adequately described by those present.
No parallel can nc found il the aquatic
history of the Nail Ciy, and not even the
most gifted and imaginative Of old resi-
dents can relate anything even approx.
mating the condition Of affairs. At twelve
O'Clock on Wednesday night the rising cur.
rent Just touched the curb at the corner OF
Mr.. S. p. Norton's residence at the east
end OF Virginia street, and from that hour
benc. forth the only dry land in the ward
vas tie approach to the west end OF the
sUspensicH bridge. BY A. N. yesterday
The ST all but p!ucSy band OF rescuers had
be driven back 10 the east corner OF the
rcurd ouse, and Zane street from Taney's
p-cmises, and Virginia street for a hun.
dr,d feet was fast filling up with
an indiscriminats conglomeration OF
trees, ice, loose board piles, shanties,
hey and straw stacks, fences, O frame
house or two, and all the promiscuous
plunder gathered up by the river in its re-
lentless course. This Was piled up ten
feet above the water, and the roar OF the
torrent as it made its way through it aud
the crash and cracking OF timbers and
boards as the drift settled more closely to-
geiher, were calculated to
STRIKE TERROR INTO ANY HEART
ard deter even the typical bravest OF the
brave from venturing out to carry on the
work OF rescUe. At this hour dense fog
bad settled down upon the water. and OBJ.
iscts were indistingui shable at a distance OF
fifty yards. A tank of oil was procured,
the lumber stacks of the Wheeling and
Belmont Bridge Company levied on liber-
airy, and soon an immense
bonfire was blazing on the
Sidewalk at the north end o
the bridge, casting its rays far and wide
over the water, and served welcome bea.
con light to many . gallant searcher, anI-
ious mother and terror stricken child.
Around the ere were a dozen or fifteen
m'p, among them several reporters and
one or two policemen, and from time to
lime skiffs were sent out to families 10
rbe most exposed positions, and the suffer
ers brought to terra irma- From two
o'clock until six about thirty people, most
ly women and children, were landed, most
of lh, N spaiched from imminent danger,
Who shuwsred praises and thanks upon
lei- dsliverers without stint. Even the
least among that band who thus stood guard
throughout the night was q hero, but the
PAIN for untiring and self-sacri6cing devo
ton to the work of saving those in peril
must be
AWARDED TO JAMES RICHARDSON.
To bis e1ertions many q mother and child
owe their rescue from distress and prob
ably from death, and some substantial
recognition Of his services should be made.
Others there were, too. who did splendid
work, smong them Harry McLnre, Austin
Beach. Dave McClesry, Harry Young, Lou
Franfhein, Frank Woodmansee, Will
Korell. Jesn and George st. Meyers, Cune
and Will Kerner, Bud S:arts, and half q
dozen Others who were personally un-
known to the writer. In marked contrast
to the conduct of this band Of heroes we're
two or three shylocks who took advantage
OF the suffering and distress OF their fellow
citizens to wiring from them FIVE. ten and
even twenty dollars before they would un-
dertske to bring ashore women and chill.
dren from half submerged houses. These