Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1888-07-13
A RARE BIRD.

A Big RAIN SpOIm SWOOps Do"h A'o@ N.-N
Northeast The River.
1t is seldom that Wheeling sees an East
ern rain, and rarely are we treated to one
from the Northeast Such storm came
over the hill back Of Fulton about seven
o'clock last evening, following closely
upon rain of smaller proportions which
came up from that prolific source-the
Southwestern hour earlier, and for about
an hour the water poured down in tor
rents. The earlier shower had been pre-
ce5ed ald accompanied by brisk breeze,
twenty degrees colder than the tempera-
ture prevailing during the afternoon,
and the marked fall in the thermometer
which ensued was accelerated by the
Northeast storm, so that there was general
complaint of chilliness daring the re.
msinder of the evening and night. At
midnight the mercury marked 60 degrees
The rain created some little apprehension
that the falling waters OF the Ohio would
be checked up, especially as there was
rumor current that there had been a small
deluge at Pittsburg late in the afternoon,
but by ten o'clock the sky was clear, and
what promised to be rainy night turned
ont quite the contrary.
The water in the river reached its high
est point yesterday morning. about q. feet
being the maximum, aud after remaining
a. stand for several hours, began to fall
slowly. At eight o'clock last night there
WAS less than &c feet, and the water was
beginning to 90 down as fast as it had
risen.
The coal feet began passing early in the
day, but generally at widely separated in
tervals. Upto eight O'Clock the following
steamers bad passed this city: Jim Wood,
Tom Rees, Jim Brown, Sam Brown, Sam'l
Miller, Nellie Speer, VIM. G. Homer, VIM.
Bonner, and Veteran No. 2. None Of the
boats had any trouble in the immediate
vicinity of this city, but several had close
calls in passing under the Bellaire bridge
About two o'clock in the afternoon the
Tom Rees struck one of her fuel boats
against the bridge pier, and the boat went
to the bottom like stone. The remain
der of the tow had q harrow escape, aad
there was a good deal of hurrying to and
fro on the steamer for time. About s.
O0O, 600 bushels of coal left Pittsburg yes
terdy morning, nearly all Of it for Clncin-
natl, making 9,7Sl, 600 up to date.
There are few loaded boats now remaining
in the harbor. Mr. Jenkins, the head Of
the firm of 7. NJ. Jenkins q Co., who are
generally credited with being the heaviest
losers, started down the river from Pitts
burg yesterday in a skitf, to trace the
whereabouts Of various coal boats and
bargss lost by them, if some of them are
still on the surface of the water, as he has
been given good reason to understand.
This is the first serious mishap that has
befallen the Jenkins firm, and il is au-
thoritatively stated by those in position
to know that all the losses sustained by
them since they have been in business
would not amount TO what they have lost
on this rise alone. The firm has already
found one loaded barge in good condition,
ard if not another one of those missing is
found intact their loss will not 60 above
$50, 000 which is considerably less than
half of the amount at first stated. The
coal firms of Q'Neill aud Walton are almost
equally heavy losers By tho rise. Wal
toms greatest damage, however, is not in
river property, but on coal tipples and ma
chinery in ard about McKessport.
The dredging boats will have great
time when the water subsides clearing the
channel of the sunken boats and other OBJ
structions with which it is encountered.
Coal shippers say that no fair estimate
Of tho loss sustained can as yet be given,
as there are quite number OF boats and
property which are placed among the
losses which will be found all right when q
reckoning is made. There is no doubt
but what sn indefinite number of boats
and bsrges went down, but considerable of
this property was caught or went ashore in
such places a. to make the damage to the
boats but partial, while the coal on oil
could be saved.
The marks at the upstream points last
evening wero rs follows: Oil City, inches
and stationary; Parker, 4 inches and fall
ing; Rice's Landing, Is feet and falling;
Greensboro, II feet and falling; Browns
vile, - feet inches and falling; Cairo.
% feet inches and raising; Cincinnati, 80
feet 6 inches; Pittsburg, Il feet.
The Shsrley will be to-morrow's Cincin-
nsti boat, leaving at 3 o'clock.
The published statement about the
Pittsburg whsrfboat passing here at II
o'clock Wednesday night must be wrong,
IS telegram from East Liverpool says
the boat went to pieces at that place at
noon Wednesday.