Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1889-07-22
A VIEW OF THE RUIN.
A Correspondent Goes Through the Flood
ed District.

A Correspondent Goes Through the Flood
ed District.
speesal Telegram 10 he Register.
vRNswOoD, W. VA, July 2l.-Iour
correspondent returned this evening from
the flooded district, and finds the reports
from the territory, once so beautiful and
noted for its excellent scenery, in jackson
county, near this place, more appalling
that was at first supposed. Providence
Chapel, the new NJ. E. Church building
that was to have been dedicated to-day,
now lies in a drift pile ten miles below
where it stood, entirely destroyed and oil
covered With mud, and from its present ap-
pearance looks as though the small congre-
CATION that once looked forward with
anxious hearts to place where they could
meet together for divine worship, will
never meet again until another building
can be provided. Some of them met their
fate in the same raging waters which
swept away the church, and those still
alive have horror too well told in their
faces.
A small stream a few inches in depth,
which would not float shirgle ten feet
over It's small rifles, was in q few minutes
changed to raging river, extending from
hill to hill, and leaving mass of drilt
composed Of every conceivable object.
For q comparison, it formed O DRIFT
nile on the farm of T. G. Hutchinson's
fifteen miles from the source Of the small
rivulet, covering space Of at least three
acres and from twenty to fifty feet bign,
containing everything conceivable that
could be used by farmer.
To day sad hearted friends are hunting
for the lost body of some one near and
dear to them, while hundreds OF peopls
from the surrounding country are there
viewing the scene with terror stricken
faces. and only say no human being can
even attempt to describe
THE TERRIBLE SITUATION.
The county bridges crossing every small
stream are sl washed away, making
travelling entirely impossible only on foot
or horseback. Several times to-day your
correspondent had to swim his horse to
oct across to another branch, only to see
desolation depicted there in the same hor-
rible manner. All along the roads that
are not covered with DRIFT travel is i'm
possible, caused by the sediment left by
the receding waters.
Henry Mckee, heretofore a well-to-do
farmer with large family, to-day has
nothing but his land, everything being
washed away, aud by diligent work only
mspsged to save himself and family
Squire Garry, of Iockhsrt's P. o., also
prosperous farmer, living Just few miles
below Henry Mckee, lost all his crop, just
harvested the day before the dreadful
calamity befel them, and now has nothin
whatever left; and so on down the stream.
Farmer and farm are all in the same de-
plorable condition, not even leaving q
single one untouched.
So far four bodies have been found, all
having the same appearance OF those OF
the late Johnstown disaster, showing the
water in such small stream to have
velocity enough to have swept away any
thing its path, no matter what, and the
only cause of no greater loss Of life being
there were not enough people IN the
valley.
TIED IN A TREE.
Thomag Hughes, the man who lost hia
entire family, house and household goods,
now lies in precarious condition from
bruises received, while tied to the top of
tree, by floating debris. He tied himself
there with his suspenders, and was not dis
covered until 10 o'clock the next day.
Huge rocks that were imbeded in the
hillsides above the small stream with only
a small portion of them sticking ont, were
washed from their mopriDgs and sent hurt
ling down the stream as though they were
but small light objects.
MANY Of the stricken people had nothing
to eat and no place to lsy their head dur
inc the next day and night after the flood,
but the entire community for miles around
have thrown open their doors, inviting the
once prosperous but now sad-hesrted and
desolate people into their houses. So sud
den did the waters come down upon them
that they had no chance OF escape nor
scarcely had they warning enough to even
take one thought as to the best course to
nursue. and while eudeavoring to save
themselyes and children from the
aging waters they often had to
snccnmb TO its fury. 1t came with
such rspidity and force while they had
Mold of some moving object floating along,
That thew would come in contact with
something else and lose their hold and
sink beneath the muddy water to rise no
more.