The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1888-07-12
IN WEST VIRGINIA.

tlOns Ill through tne HOOueu ulStflCtS,
IN WEST VIRGINIA.
Great Damage Done In the Valley River
-Iosses.
WHEELING, W. Va, July 1.-THE rise
in the Valley river at Grafton yesterday
morning from the rains Of the past two
days was unprecedented and the result to
the lumber interest of this section is dis
4istrous. At about 3 o'clock yesterday
morning the Valley river boom, in which
thousands of logs had lodged, gave way,
carrying devastation in ITS path. The
planning mill of Morgan 4 Magll was
swept away, as was the Fettcrman bridge
about two miles below this town. At Z
O'Clock the river had risen fully twenty
feet and was twenty.nine feet in the chan.
mel. II was momentarily feared that the
railroad bridge at Grafton would be swept
away, which would have resulted had the
water risen a foot higher Several build
ings, Including saw mills, etc, were washed
down the river and were crushed TO
atoms when they struck the strong iron
railroad bridge here. A large number Of
dwelling houses in South Grafton and
West Grafton were flooded 20 depth OF
ten or fifteen feet and the losses were
severe. Mitchell Barrett lost kiln Of brick
valued at &, 300 q. w. Curtin, lost in logs
etc, about $1,000 10 5000; Blatchely 4
Co., pump factory, about So, 900 10 $751;
600. The Grafton & Grenbricr railroad
Is completely flooded and trains DELAYED.
II is thought their loss will be heavy.
This flood, so far, is more disastrous to
Grafton than the fire OF year ago, and
the loss TO this town and section will not
fall short OF $3.50, 900. The damage at
Harrisburg will reach 1925, 900. Seventeen
houses, one saw-mill and one planing.mill,
one Bulman patent iron railroad bridge
are washed away. Five families have lost
all they possessed, while a majority Of our
people are heavy losers. In addition 20
washing away the Little Kanawha bridge
at Parkersburg. the flood has done other
severe havoc. All the Baltimore & Ohio
trains are stopped from the east. Two
tunnels between Parkersburg and Grafton
are cayed in. The new GAINESVILLE x Ohio
road Is reported 10 he badly damaged.
The Ohio River road was damaged TO some
extent below Parkersburg. Great losses
Of croSs-ties and timber are reported. The
destruction 20 property all along the Little
kanawha and Ohio rivers Is greater than
in 1884 when the great flood came.
The farms are flooded and hundreds Of
acres Of growing crops and harvested grain
are destroyed. Millions OF feet Of lumber
are ailoat in the swift current, going 10 de-
struction. The loss In this vicinity will
be Sl5, 900, and in this and djoining coun-
ties will be more than 100000.
Every stream Is out OF It's banks Mum
beers Of families have had 10 move 20 high
ground. A family named White had re-
tired last night when the flood entered
their home, reaching nearly 10 the top OF
the bed covering before they got out.
harrisburg was entirely cut of from rail.
road and tclegraphic communication for
twenty-four hours. The greatest excite
mcnt prevailed. Beside twenty houses
having been carried away by the madden
cd waters an inestimnble amount Of prop
erty has been ruined. About s O'Clock
Sunday evening Il began 90 rain and con-
tinued 10 do no almost constantly un.
Ill this morning at o'clock, but
streams being comparatively low, on one
thought Of the creek and river rising no
FNllulNF Nilh NilNNt llNliE pH Al' NNNluiltir
had no preparations ioT moving ont. At
the midnight hour the alarm was given by
the lumber men who were engaged In
catching logs, but the rise was 80 rapid no
goods could bc moved, and those who
were awakened barely escaped with their
lives. II was q night Of terror never 10 be
forgotten. The water reached Its highest
stage ut o'clock, aud by those who 70.
member the flood OF 1852 II is conceded
that IL entirely surpasses II. Tho loss 10
the town aud county can not even be csti-
mated. Every bridge both iron aud wood,
was swept away entirely. No mails have
arrived since yesterday. r. T. Bowndcs,
@. NJ. aud J. n. Hart, J. 4. Osborne, u.
H. =. and n. A. Suttonworth were the
heaviest losers, although hundreds OF poor
people are entirely without homes. u. r.
l1wndes, who operates asaw-mill, wooden.
mills and gristmill, besides being an OK.
tcnsiyc dealer In lumber, estimates his los,
at about SIS, O0g.
No loss OF life Is reported NJ vet, al.
though some persons state that they saw n
boy on a lot Oi driitwo0d which was float
ing down stream at the rate OF fourteen
miles an hour, and that all attempts to
save him were futile. Over 1000 logs
were lost on account Of the high stage and
rapid moving OF the water. Those houses
that escaped the devastating effect Of the
flood were thrown open 10 the uniortu-
nate ones, and every effort Is being made
10 alleviate the suffering.
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