The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1884-02-08
BEATING THE RECORD.
Fifty-One Feet at Wheeling, and Rise of
Three Feet More Expected.

Three Feet More Expected.
WHEELING, W. Va, Feb. 1.-THE river here
reached fifty-one feet and has not yet ceased
rising. There was great distress during the
night and the steamer Belle Prince has this
morning been engaged in taking families off the
island where, however, many still remain.
Skffs have also done good work Many casual
ties have been reported, but investigation shows
slight foundation for most of them Many heart
rending instances of sick people imprisoned all
night amid the waste of waters came to light
this morning The Bellaire, o., goblet-works
caught fire this morning from lime Stacking in
the water, but the flames did little HARM The
scenes about the city are unprecedented within
century, and there is four feet more water
than in the famous flood of 1882. Two or three
feet more is expected. 1t is impossible at this
hour to give an estimate of the damage. Busi-
ness is nearly suspended.
AT P. NJ. the river has ffty-one feet six
inches and rising slowly. The steamers Belle
Prince and Princess have been busily engaged in
bringing people from the island There has
been more damage to property than was ever ex-
perienced here before. The Playground is
total wreck. Three houses came down from
ABOVE. weather cloudy ana COOL
The water here is still rising, and vastly larger
areas are submerged than were in 1882. Houses,
barns, bridges, straw and hay-stacks have been
floating past all day. The Wheeling Cheese
Companys storage house loses about $50 900 by
water in the cellars Merchants on Main, Water
and Market streets also lose heavily in perish
able goods now under water. Several houses
have foated off the island. 1t is impossible to
estimate the losses, but they will aggregate over
81, 200, 900.
The water reached the lime pits of the Bell
aire (O) Goblet Works. the LABEL Glass Com
pany, at Bridgeport, O., and the Elsen Glass
Works, at Martins Ferry, o., and the shaking
lime started flames In all cases the damage
was slight. No loss of life has resulted here
The Western Union Telegraph Company's office
is only reached by boats. The Baltimore &
Ohiols wires are all down. Telephone communi
cation with all the suburbs is cut Off The
water and gas-works gave out today, and
tonight the city is in darkness and at the mercy
of fire. if one should start The streets of half
the city are navigable only in boats and all sorts
of improvised crafts are plying as ferries. Many
people are still exposed on the island, not spot
of which remains above water The work of re
moving people goes bravely on by skiffs and
steamboats,. A relief meeting was held this
afternoon, and 81, 700 raised in half an hour.
Committees were appointed to look after the des-
titute.
Ten thousand people are homeless and unpro-
vided for here Fully $4,000 were driven from
their homes by the flood, but a third of them
are comfortably quartered at the hotels, board
ing-houses, or with friends. Public schools and
churches have been thrown open, and the peo-
pie are housed and fed there The water reached
the highest point at 10 o'clock when it was fifty
two feet. Since that time it has receded a few
inches.