West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1886-04-09
The Flood at Rowlesburg.
THE CHEAT RIVER GETS ON
4 HIGH
And does About $40 900 Damage
full Particulars from our
Spe ial Correspondent.

interests of Rowlesburg was receiv
ed ON Wednesday March 3lst. when
the Cheat River rose to the highest
point since 1855 and swept away sheer
booms, cribs break-waters, lumber
and thousands oflogs On the morn.
ing of March Slst, the river had risen
to seven feet above low-water mark
and by six o'clock. the same day, had
reached the enormous height (for this
stream) Of fourteen feet.
At about two o'clock it was report.
ed that c. Stockham, Jr. & Co, were
about to lose all of their logs which
were held by their boom, and hun.
dreds of people gathered on the banks
to sec the breakup. The logs went
out at four o'clock with q terrible
crash There was one lot piled to
the height of twenty feet, while Others
hoated loosely covering the river
from bank to bank.
The Jam struck the pier of the b
~ .. bridge with such force that II
knocked four or five huge rocks from
the basement of it. 1t was at once
supposed that the immense amount
of logs would sweep away those of
Hinkle, King & Co. which were pro-
tected by break-water. and at least
three hundred people rushed TO the
scene. The logs did not strike the
break-water but fioated on by, tear.
ing but one raft loose. After they
had passed some expressed their
opinion that II. X & Co.'S, RATS were
safe.
The river was rising at an alarm
ing rate about six inches per hour
and they commenced at once apply.
ing a great number Of cables TO the
RATS, with the hope that they might
save them.
About five o'clock the water cut its
way between the break-water and A.
ID. Bowman's lot. In short time
there was a large space cut and a
swift current Of water rushing through
cutting off four and five feet of the
bank every ten or fifteen minutes. 1t
became evident that Mr.. Bowman's
dwelling house would be washed a..
way and the people commenced TAX
out the household goods. Hardly ten
minutes expired after this had been
done when the foundation began to
give way and the house leaned toward
the river. A cable was attached to
the upper story Of the house and tied
TO post in the yard, with the hope
that IL might be pulled over on the
lot when the foundation washed out.
There WIS a cellar under the house
and as soon as the water found its
way into IL the current became very
swift and it was but q short time till
the foundation gave way and the house
tumbled, swapping the cable as II it
were n clothes line, and was swept
with great rapidity against the RATS.
All hopes of saving the RATS were
then dispelled The water rushed
fran.ically over the RATS which we're
near the break-water and almost bur.
led them to the bottom Of the river.
In twenty minutes after the hou sc
jammed against the RATS the en- |
Of the break-water next TO shore gave
way and oil the RATS sixty in mum.
ber-were swept down the Cheat.
The Rowlesburg Wood Works lost
all their logs also From the b. &C.
O. bridge to Hinkle, King IL Co.'S
mill the river washed away six or
eight feet Of all the lots on its south
bank. Half Of Mr.. Bowmans' and a
small portion Of +. b. stones lots
are gone. Peter Cazad vacated his
house at eight O'Clock, r. M. The
water then being up under his kitchen.
families living in the bottom north OF
Main Street we're badly scared, and a
few Of them moved up town on high
grourd that night. They feared that
the river would rise one or tvo feet
more and sweep away the dwellings
Of that portion Of the town.
On the night Of the food one could
see hundreds ofpersous with lanterns
walking up and down the banks IN.
til twelve o'clock, wnen the river be-
gan to fall.
Below Is a list Of the parties who
suffered damages by the food and as
closely as can be estimated, their
losses:
Hinkle, King q Co, $4,000; G.
Stockham. Jr.. q Co. $4,000; Rowles
burg Wood Works, 5000; Andrew
Nelson, Of Oakland, 81 800 Charles
Macomber, $50; John Daily 375 ,
A, ID Bowman. $500; +. b. Stone,
$500; b. & O. r. r. Co, $500 f; A. r.
Bowman, 500; Mrs. S. Coni6, ESQ
and NJ T.. Howe $50. The loss at
this place amounts to about $4,000
The mill men also lost a great number