Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1891-02-21
IN GREAT DISTRESS.
PARKERSBURG IS A SCENE OF DESOLATION
AND DESTRUCTION.
Hundreds Of People HOmelsss-Ths Little Kanawha
Aiding IN the Work Of Missry-hrs IS
Added TO the DSasiers-Seyeral Houses
Destroyed Belmont and Eureka
In It Deep,

Special telegram 10 the Register.
PNEkEE>BURG. W. Va, February 20
The Ohio has been rising all day. AT
a. IN. there was A feet inches in the
channel and rising two inches per heur.
NJ tfO'clock the waters came up more
slowly. making less than an inch pei
hour. The whole country is covered,
and from the surrounding heights looks
like a huge lake checkered with houses,
hundreds OF which are submerged 10
the roofs, while many have toppled from
their foundations and lie on their sides
or bottom up. The deSolaton, eSpe-
cially at Riverside, is appalling. Not a
house escaped in that town and most OF
them are utterly ruined. All around
the Ohio front the sea OF waters covers
everything. The Ohio River rail-
road cannot be seen anywhere
above the city, and the shops
are many feet under water. There
are already crowds OF homeless and
houseleSS men, women and children
thrown ON the charity Of the citizens.
Temporary shelter is being furnished
as RAPIDLY as possible, while food aud
assistance is being rendered in SkiitS
and floats Of every description, which
are going from house TO house where
many unfortua are still imprisoned
90 care for aH6~ protect them. The
scene along the Little kanawha on
First. Second and the end OF Third
streets bcggars description. HOuSeleSS
and homeless people are everywhere.
a. a. a. ell
ported among the unfortunateS. The
B. Il q. and Ohio River freight depOtS
are covered TO the depth OF many feet
of water. All of the machine shops,
manufactures, saw mills, ,reiinerieS along
the Kanawha from Point Mills up, have
shut down, and nearly all of them are
flooded and terribly damaged. 1t was
thought the river would certainly de-
cline early in the day, but the hope did
not obtain. AT noon, while everyone
was anXiouSly and eXpectantly awaiting
the information that the river had
Stouped rising. news was received from
the headwaterS Of the Little kanawha
that the terrible rains had put that
stream out of its banks and that all the
streams tributary were coming out and
carrying everything before them, and
that the flood would begin TO be felt
about dark in this city. This infOrma-
tion was terrible under the circum-
stances. as it not only forctOld fur
thcr rise of the Ohio here, but the fur
ther fact that the current coming out Of
the Kanawha now meant the loss and
destruction OF many houses already top
pling from their foundations RumOrS Of
a rise in the MuSkingum added terror
To the news from kauawha, and the
people are now waiting helpless and
hopeless for the worst. All OF the
hotels and boarding houses in the
lower part Of the city are surrounded,
and tie houses aud hotels up town are
crowded with people. Reports from
below say the Little and Big Hooking
Valleys are swept clean for many miles.
Bottom lands. towns, farms and villages
below are over-llOOded, and many
houses are gone The stories coming
in are ones OF terrible suffering from all
points along the Ohio. BlennerhaSSett
Island 5 covered and much damage is
done. Belprc is suffering greatly and
tho towns Of Belmont and Eureka are
reported ruined or carried off. No COM
munication can be had with towns
above. Meals Island can only be To-
Gated by frinses projecting above the
water. The water is now within seven
feet OF lS>4.
The rising waters Stacked several
hundred barrels Of lime in the Smith
Hardware Company'S warehouse on
Jackson street. The building, a two
story frame, burned TO the ground. y
row of one story frame houses caught
from the warehouse aud were also de-
stroved. These houses belonged to a.
e.. Jackson. The large livery stable of
Mitchell Il Co. caught fire and was also
burned 10 the ground. Loss on sable
about :. 900. G.. c. Martins warehouse
adjoining the stables, filled with flour.
was also burned. together with two
story frame dwelling owned 10y y. e..
Jackson. \ small frame stable was also
burned. The burned buildings are all
surrounded by water To the depth OF
five or six feet. II is impossible to get
the amount Of the losses tonight. The
fires are still burning.