The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1894-06-01


was damaged to tho amount OF probably
$500, 900, although IL Is impossible ut
this titno to estimate the exact loss.
-Four breaks in tho leveo on tho north
side and two on tho south side have
flooded tho region botweon Eighth
street and tho river on the west on zig
gag course, thence to Fourth and Main,
Second and Santa Fe and everything
south OF and including First street. On
tho south side the flooded aroa extends
from the West Fourth street bridge
down through the Rio Grande yaIds TO
Union avenue Practically everything
west OF Union avenue from the river TO
Ostreet and all west OF Victoria avenue,
Stanton aud Snyde-a addition, is under
wafer.
While tho Arkansas was thus on its
mad career great torrent was coming
down the mountains which reached al.
most the stage Of tho flood OF last Au-
gust The cast approach to the East
Eighth street bridge was largely car.
ried away and the water main under the
Fourth street bridge was destroyed. At
$40 tho discordant notes OF tho fire
alarm whistle, in long blasts, warned
tremulous throng that the residents OF
the low lands had botter get out, and
they did so in q hurry, some managing
to carry off portion OF the belongings.
The first break in the levee was at the
north side just west OF tho Main street
bridge The water rushed in torrents
and flooded the entire block from the
river to Richmond arcnue between
Union avenue aud Main street. Mean
while the dirt approach TO the West
Fourth street viaduct on the north side
Of the river had been slowly bu. surely
melting away. and BY $50 small streams
wese tricklins down the Santa Fe tracks
and making their way east along Fourth
street.
By l1:30 the etrcau vas running
madiy through First street, Carrying
dirt, wood and debris and making it
almost impossible to wade in the water.
The water commenced pouring in on
the district between Sixth street and
the rivor ives. OF Main street, and in
very short time the water was three feet
deep and all the people In tho locality
were forced to leave their homes or 90
up in tho second story. Womon and,
childreu were taken to the water works
and other points on higher ground.
About o'clock the water began SLOWLY
to recede. and il is believed all danger
is passed, but at the present rate it will
be some timc before the streets are pa.s.
ablo.
hundreds OF people, men, women and
children, are congregated in tho city
hall ana the armory waiting until tho
waters 60 down and they can 60 TO their
homes, which will DO untenable for
Some days. Mayor Strait Issued call
for all men for whom it is possible to
assemble ut tho city hall at o clock to-
morrow morning to begin the work of
repair. The disastrous flood was prob
ably caused by tho very extensive ra,ns
in the Arkansas valley above Pueblo,
which have been prevalent ior the last
fortr.eight hours. A man was drowned
at the lover end OF Santa Fe street thia
morning while attempting to cross the
wator at that point. 1t is feared that
several others have persisted. all
houses on Third. Fourth, Fifth and
Sixth streots were filed with water,
varying from two feet to ten, according
to the height OF tho foundations. Sow
eral houses made OF Rdobe collapsed
carly to-day.
At tho water works the food cano up
and put out tho. fires under the boilers
at midnight, and TO add to tho dismal
uncertainty OF the hour the street
lights went out about 1880, but came on
again about . O'Clock. Grave ioars were
entertained for tho now leree on the
south side Of the river from above the
Santa Fc railroad bridge to the West
Fourth street viaduct. Stag had been
put on it part way UP, and its top was
the danger line Ali the land west OF
Victoria avenue was aoon sea Of
water. Down all the cross streets 1t
crept, filling cellars and Easements "a
far as Union avenue, and Oh the south
to the union depot. The Missouri
Pacific tracks and the street south wero
the avenues Tor tho water in it5 fur
ther advance east. aud soon the lots on
both sides Of May street and east were
under water. At noon the flood waters
were gradually retreating, but nearly
four square miles OF the city were still
inundated aud the use OF steam pumps
will bo necessary to drain the founla.
tions OF the buildings in this district,
Two fatalities have come to light.
the body OF an unknown man was
found to-day. two miles west OF the city.
About 10 o'clock Joseph Copp, smell.
ter laborcr with his wife and four chill
drcn attempted 10 wade through four
feet oil water near the union depot. He
became heTilderel and stcnped of into
4 hole where there was ten feet OF water
and was drowned before assistance
could reach him. Other Iosses OF life
are believed to have occurred and SOW
era! prominent. citizsn1 are missing
Tho loss involved on realty and person
al property is believed to be several
hundred thousand dollars, though it
cannot ye. >be definitely determined.
Many partition walls in the larger
buildings have been carried away.
Many narrow escapes and thrilling ex-
periencea have been had, and otto fam
lily narrowly escaped drowning The
weather is now clear and all danger Is
believed to be passed. Repairs will O.
once be commenced on tho breaks in
the ievees.
Eight Lives Lost
VANCOUVER, B. O., May 9l.-The Fra