Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1888-08-23
IN THE COUNTRY.

Roads, fields, houses, growing crops, and
every thing else was buried under cover
ing of from su inch to foot of particularly
nasty, shiny mud, and it will take lots OF
raking and scraping and elbow grease and
soap to get things in their usually attrac-
tive and first-class condition in that por-
ton of Ohio county.
The number of visitors to Elm Grove
and Triadelphis, yesterday, WIS very large.
From early in the morning until late IN
the evening they filed along the pike in
conyeyarces Of all kinds, and little escaped
their observation between the city limits
and Ropey's Point. Everywhere they saw
evidences of the great power and unusual
height of the water during the previous
night, and there were many expressions Of
wonder that anything in the path Of the
creek escaped destruction.
The water in the creek at Elm Grove
did not commence to 20 down for good
until after midnight Tuesday night, and
eve, then the fall was very slow and de-
liberate, so that "a late as six o'clock last
evening the creek, although well within
it's banks, was still running out a very
large body of water. The people at the
Grove say the torrent played some very
unusual capers during Tuesday evening
and night, and they were at loss yester-
day 10 explain the phenomena. For in
stance, when the reporter for the REGISTER
left Elm Grove at six o'clock Tuesday
evening, the water in the creek had fallen
about six inches, and it was the general
opinion that it would keep on going down.
1t fell about q foot farther, and then
suddenly started to rise, and kept it
ND, until, at eleven o'clock, the
water was higher than ever. This second
rush of water came out of big Wheeling
creek, and evidently had its origin far up
the valley, beyond the Pennsylvania line.
The rush continued until after Midnight,
and then the fall set in which has continued
ever since. This branch of the creek
poured out an unprecedented amount Of
water, and there were grave fears at Elm
Grove yesterday afternoon that great dam
age had occurred away up the creek valley.
Up to i've o'clock last evening the only
living thing that has come down the val
ley of big Wheeling creek, was COW be-
longing to A. busch, not single one of the
Inhabitants of the valley succeeded in
getting down TO the Grove. A REG
IsTER reporter made persistent but
unsuccessful effort to get up the
creek during the afternoon, but
could not get past the first fordiDg, on &C
count Of the volume of water. The people
living along the creek for mile or so east
of Elm Grove could tell nothing of the
condition of affairs above, but judging
from the immense volume of water, and
the long time it took for the freshet to run
out, and also from the fact that chairs,
bureaus and other articles Of furniture
went down the creek with other floatage,
there must be ruined homes, and possibly
loss of lite away up the valley. The
creek makes big bend around into Mar
shall county couple OF miles above Elm
Grove, and then turns gradually to the
e st again, until the Pennsylvania line is
reached, iwhere it forks, one branch running
mp into Washington county, and the other
out into Greene, the creek having its
source some thirty or more miles above
Elm Grove. This leaves lots OF room up
there ior bad news, but the grim forbod-
ipgs of those along the lower creek may be
groundless, and it is to be hoped they are.
From Fulton, east to the limits of Elm
Grove, the visible effects of the Hood had
pretty well disappeared yesterday even
ing. except in the vicinity of Lestherwood,
on the pike, and about Pleasant Valley.
The Elm Grove motor line had big force
of men at work all day, repairing the
bridge at Woods run, and getting the long
stretch of displaced track back in posi-
ton, and at FIVE o'clock last night repairs
had progressed go far, that motor was
got across the bridge, thus restoring direct
communication with the eastern end Of
the line. The track just east of Woods
run requires good deal of adjustment
still, but it will he in its former condition
by tonight.
The pike just in this vicinity was covered
with coating of mud, for here, on Tues
day, night the water stood three or four
feet deep, but il in no way inteIferes with
travel, and the not sun OF single day will
pretty we'll dry it up. All slong towards
the Grove, the effects of the water can be
seen in the flstteued corn of the fields. and
in the layer OF mud which was impartially
distributed everywhere, but little loss, ex-
cept in the way of inconvenience, can be
chronicled until one descends the hill
into Elm Grove. Among the loosers
along the pike are Louis Steenrod,
whose fences are largely gone, and corn
crop ruined, and most Of his neighbors are
IN the same boat. Along in Elm Grove,
on both sides of the pike, almost every
house was wet by the water, and fences
are gone, drift piled up in yards and gar
dens, outhouses moved from their founda-
tions, and gardens, lawns, and crops de-
stroyed, while that evey-present layer Of
yellow slime gives the whole landscape q
isundiced and unattrsctive appearance.
Most of the damage to the weet end Of the
Grove came from the water which cut
across under the trestling of the Chambers
coal works from the valley of Middle
Wheeling creek, it flowing along the base
Of the hill, and then cutting across the
pike, through the grounds of Mrs. Woods,
and others, and 80 on to the channel of the
main creek.
Crossing the railroad track, going to-
wards the stone bridge, the pike in front of
the store, and of W. T. Chambers resi-
dence, is full of drift, while lsrgequanti-
ties are piled in the yards Of the residences.
At each end of the stone bridge the pike ia
covered with thick layer Of mud, where
the water was at least six feet deep during
the height of the food. The stone bridge
does not seem to be in any worse condition
than it was Immediately after the July
food, and it will not take large outlay 70
make il as good as new.
The creek tore through the beautiful
grounds surrounding the residence of
Major Loring, completely running large
share OF the lawn, and almost wiping the
hedge fence along the road going up to-
wards Dusch's ont Of existence. The pike
in front Of the Msjor's residence was so
filed with soft mud yesterday, rs to be
almost impossible, and hundreds of cubic
Yards of cley will have to be removed be-
fore the solid macadam is reached. Horses
had . great time fioundering through it
yesterday, and needed cleaning immedi-
ately after the trip.
At the turn Of the road, after passing the
Monument going on towards Triadelphia,