The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1895-01-07

fortnight hain commenced carry III
the morning aud continued in half
hearted way for several hours, until
abou. 1 o'clock in the afternoon when 1t
became steady and contlnuedso through.
out tho afternoon and evening. Rain at
this particular time was the ono thing
that was most undesirable to residents
along tho river. The snow that has
fallen within the two weeks just como
extends over every inch. almost, OF the
territory tributary to tho Ohio river,
being from ono inch TO fifteen IN depth.
Along tho lower river tho snow WAS not
very heavy. but in the mountain regions
at headwaters 1t varied in depth from
eight to fifteen inches, and the rain now
/. coming down will have the effect, uu-
less cold weather comes mighty quick,
OF bringing up the river to stage that
will undoubtedly, shy tho river men, be
above the danger line. There Is no die.
guising tho fact that the conditions at
present are very bright, il bright 10
considered the proper term, for another
experience with the Ohio in its un.
bridled moments.
The rain yesterday had very ap-
parent effect on tho leo closed river.
The ice was never very heavy, and the
warm rain that was almost constantly
pat,eriug upon it thinnod it every hour
during the day. A breakup at this
point was expected last night, aud
during tho day a force OF men wero Mt
work clearing the ice from about tho
whariboat, so the craft would be in
fairly good shape when the crash came.
The ferry company'a city-side float that
sank last week, was pumped out and
put in shape for the breakup. The
Scotia, lying up at the upper end OF tho
city, was in pretty good shape, ready to
drop down behind the point when the
ice moved, where she will not be in
danger.
The expected breakup arrived sooner
than was expected. and as is usual the
creek exerted IN influence on the situa-
ton. The heavy rain yesterday had e1-
tended out the creek valley and in the
afternoon the stream began to rise very
rapidly. The breakup came at i:3O
o'clock above Fulton. the ice coming
down at fearful rate. In the bend be-
low Fulton the amount was too great
for the creek to handle and gorge re-
suited. The creek, OF course, backed up
above the gorge and it was feared would
get out OF the banks, but about forty
minutus after the gorge had formed it
gave way in front Of the great mass b.
hind and the torrent tina. poured out
OF tho creek mouth into tho river was
magnificent sight. The running out OF
tho creek caused the ice in the river be-
low the creek mouth to break up in
very shorttime. The breakup at Bellaire
followed, so the ice passed outrapidly and
was soon crashing into tho big gorge
below Moundsville.
Tho ice above the creek mouth and
extending to the steel bridge went out
very easily ut o'clock. About this
time the river commenced to fall rapid
". There was but one explanation OF
this action OF the river-the breaking
up OF the gorge below Moundsvile
which had been unable 10 Withstand
the breakup that occurred at Bellaire
and the additional ice that came
out OF the creek. At o'clock the
marks at the public landing showed .
feet inches. but hall an hour later tho
river was. at the feet inches mark, a
fall Of eighteen inches in o remarkably
short time. The break Of the gorge
came unexpectedly. As soon rs tho
river began TO fall, an endeavor was
z made to keep tho wnariboat atloat, bu.
the decline in the river camo in too
much OF hurry and the craft was soon
aground near tho bows. The strain on
the big chain was enormous and 1t
was unable to withstand it, swapping IN
two a, though but thread.
shottly after s o'clock the river COM
menced 10 rise again and got up to the
feet inches mark at $3.50, when it
again commenced to fall and at 0
o'clock was at feet inches, where it
remained stationary for several hours.
The rise evidently was caused by the
ice again gorging at point somewhere
below Moundsvile, but the second fall
testified th:t tho gorge did not long
hold out.
At $3.50 o'clock telephone message
was received from tho Belmont coal
works at Bellaire, stating that tho leo
was still moving out ut i rapid rate, os.
tmated at five milca per hour. At
that point tho river at that hour had
risen, being ono foot above tho low
mark experienced after the gorge first
let 20.
Tho packet Scotia, harborod above the
city, was in pretty good shape last
night at 10 o'clock. Though not quito
out OF the water ahe was rs near that
condition rs II il possible to be. The
ice is cut out all around her 30 that whom
the ice above the bridge broke sho would
be in.shape to drop below and seek
: shelter behind tho point.
Tho only reported disaster caused by
last nights breakup was tho breaking
away OF ak empty coal bargcs belong.
ing to tho Adele, tied mp near tho Dol.
mont mill, on tho South Sido. At q
late hour they were reported caught be.
low Bellnire. Evory stoamboat har-
bored around hero had her full crow
aboard and steam up ready for any
emergency that might arise.
At 10 o'clock tho rain had ceased,
I thought was reported as continuing
elsewhere. At that hour an ISTELLr-
GESceR man put this question TO river
Z man, who has tho reputation OF being
conservative:
What, in your opinion. Ia n consorva.
tive estimate OF the amount oil water
that We will hnvo horo?'
well, you can aay without cxayora.
8 ton, that We will havo thirty-llve or
forty feot horc."
"Whcn will that stage DO rcached?"
"Wo will nave thirty.iiyo or forty foot
on Wednesday," was tho reply.
Mr.. EIlingham, OF Noill 4 Elliugham,