Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1890-08-27
THE BIG RAIN
OF YESTERDAY AFTERNOON PUT CALDWELLS
RUN on 4 HIGH.
Mrs Kate Hohman's Residence Invaded by The
Water and tie Family Have a
Narrow Escape,

The heavy rains OF yesterday after
noon swelled some of the small streams
near this city. to the great danger OF
persons and property along their banks.
An instance was afforded at Caldwell's
run. where the flood assumed
considerable volume and tore down
the narrow valley, carrying with
IT much loose debris, which helped the
angry water i'm the work of destruction.
Among those who suffered severely
from the miniature wall OF water that
rushed down the run was Mrs. Kate
Holman, who lives at l42 Twenty-ninth
street. 25O yards east of Mccullough
street, near the flour mill. 1t is two
story frame house. and II seemed
to be so situated for the time
being aS to be in the centre OF
the run. the stream parting, and the
two forks flowing completely around
the building. Such was the force and
momentum OF the debriS-ladcn torrent
that il almost completely washed away
the foundation Of the building, and
poured ,copiouSly into the house.
There was considerable eXcitemcn. for
the time being. Mrs. Holman and her
children attempted TO escape from the
rear Of the building, but the water had
risen so high that they were all three
taken off their feet. Through the
assistance Of neighbors, and particularly
Louis Bowman, the family was finally
rescued from their perilouS position I'M
Injured. They were badly frightened,
and some time elapsed before they be-
came composed.
The building is in rather an unsettled
condition and badly damaged. The
Holman family appears TO be particu-
larly unfortunate in the matter of Hoods.
as in 1883 in the same rain the stone
bridge succumbcd, there was another
and larger flood in the run endanger-
ing the same family, the husband OF
which lost his life.
The rising waters yesterday did con-
siderable damage in South Wheeling, a
building occupied by Mrs. Hanc, ON the
corner OF FOrty-Second and Jacob
streets, being badly interfered with by
the flood overlooking some OF
her apartments, and inconvenicncing
her business to no little extent This
case was the subject OF consideration at
the meeting of Council last evening.
Mayor Seabright interesting himself in
the case, and making an especial appeal
tending to the immediate repair
and improvement the property in
this ucghborhood. The cellars OF sew
eral other houses were flooded and
much OF periShable nature in the way
of food and domestic accoutremcntS
were lost.
The north end of the Eoil street
bridge was somewhat shaken, and at
one time, il looked as if the safety OF
the structure was grave question.
At midnight last night two blockadcS
were reported along the line of the Il.
" O., east of this city, At the NarrowS
the hill slipped down over the track,
putting stop to traffic, while at a point
two miles east of MoundSvillc there was
bad waShout The west bound pas
Scnger train, due in this city at 1l:30 p.
m, was not expected to arrive until
about six or seven o'clock this morning,
while the east bound trains are delayed,
and things diSarrangcd generally. The
"Pcwiky" bridge at Caldwcll's run was
badly damaged and is insecure.
At midnight it was still raining heav-
fly, and there was every prospect that
the downpour would continue until day
light At least.
There is little room for doubt that
large amount Of damage has been done
throughout the country bordering on
upper Ohio valley.