The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1897-04-30


bors towards the rescue OF those unfor-
tunates whose lives were still endan-
gered, and for the relief OF the hun
dreds OF destitute and hungry. Tonight
It seems a certainty that the loss OF life
in yesterdays deluge will not exceed
twenty.
An day thc missing people, supposed
yesterday to have been drowned, have
been found cllnging to bushes or drift
wood down the streams, on the west
bluns, or scattered In farm houses for
miles.
During the greater part Of yesterday
the roaring torrent OF water cut on
communication with the submerged
district and IN the excitement the
death list was swollen to hundreds. The
negroes who lived In the stricken por-
tlon OF the town had, in their terror
given up their missing friends and rel
atives as lost and X vas the general be-
lief that scores had persisted IN tnelr
homes or in tornado cellars, but when
daylight came to-day the Hood had SUD
sided and examinations OF the houses
and cellars failed 10 confirm the eSaS-
gerated reported loss OF life.
Daylight found dozens OF people still
clinging TO trees. overturned houses or
tInbers in perIlous positions which thsy
mad sustained all during that weary
nIuht. For miles along the scene OF de-
yagtation 1900 people homeless. halt III
frorn exposure and hunger passed
miserable night, and morning found
most OF them zoo weak TO give much
SgsIstn'nce either to themselves or 9th
ers. The scene in the Hood swept dis
trict this morning was one or desoia-
lion. The river fell rapidly during the
night and when the sun rose the eGtent
OF the damage done 10 property Soula
be- seen. The river ls still bank-full but
the water had Feceded from most OF the
Inundated district
Them was a confused mass OF debris
and overturned and demolished houses
scattered over the valley where ast
night was a sea OF water The banks
we're Uttered with the dead c1rcassef OF
farr, animals. Whole blocks wi ere
vesierday stood home in nearly every
iot were stripped, and huge Ieee
torn up by their roots were scattered
everywhere.
with the first ray OF daylight the
work OF rescue and relief was taken up
with a will and kept up with tireless
energy, During last night men had
been put 10 work in lumber yards, con-
structlna boats, and dawn to-day WIZ
messed dozen crafts dartlng out from
All directions TO the rescue OF the nnlor-
tunates. The work OF the rattsmeh
proved most effective and one oS one
me people were transported from their
a. Tanm
lana Every house, drift pile and tree
was closely examined In search Of the
Ssad THE family OF Wesley McGln,
reported Yesterday rs drowned, was
fSnnd safe. The only bodies found dur
inc the daV we're those OF Mrs Fannie
pntIin and eve children, all lodged In
nile of driftwood. These, with George
owen. the butcher drowned while res
cuing others, Frank Myers. Mrs. Jane
watt Mrs. Francis Moore, Mrs. Drum-
mSnd. Mrs. Dennis and child, and Mrs.
Watson are the only identihed ueau'
though many are still missing
During the day systematic reIet w, Was
perfected and carried on. terries pneS1
across the river carrying PROVISIONS I'M
clothing everywhere and returning
with me injured Such were carefully
cared Tor IN private homes in Guthrie.
Rv nightfall ample arrangements mao
been made for the Immediate care OF
tbe homeless and there was an assur-
ance OF no further suffering, nt least
for the time being.
Five hundred homes were swept away
and one hundred and ilfty houses were
wrecked, and twenty stores were ue-
Stroyed, leaving one thousand people
homeless and a great many uestitute; u;
THE work OF supplying shelter ana LooI i..sT
for all these was by no means y hIl,aiI ll.,'.lI
undeTiaklnR. But the Guthrleites were
coTsi to ire task and Tonight thou
sands OF dollars have oeeh supscIIpeu
to aid the afflicted. - -,,,..
The damage along the Cimnrron IlVeT g,
oost is very extensive and hundreds OF
Torn,s have been devastated along the
nsen Fork IN Lincoln county. Hun
6reds ot men worked all day re-buildihB
houses along that stream.
The damage TO property VIII oe W lle
neIEhborhood Of 100000 while tnat suh-
tanned IN crops may equal OF perhaps
double that amount.
A APIufaI sight.
cpihrie proper lies on high plain
and AWAY west on a similar eminence
stands the Catholic academy, while be-
,woon IN the once-fertllc valley. is n
son I'm which floats the hoHleS VI V"e
section OF the city. on the tops OF
many houses and perched In the FORKS
~ tbe freshly green trees, this morn.
ing many still living, but twenty-t9ur
boure without food and exhausted win
",IneInr' wet and chilled. stuck to their
unsteady perches the llvelonE night
some with children in their nrms-wlth-
o,it sustainance and without sleep
Acrnss the silent water they cried out
FOR help but they had to wait untl the
iirst streak OF dawn to enable rescuers
to begin work. ..,,.,
The waters has gone down s0meWhat
and the spectacle this morning was
TenIarkable chaos Of mud, wrecks and
here and there u body left by the re-
ccding water:
IL ls believed that loss Of life has
aIso occurred south Of Guthrie, along
the Cottonwood river. Many farm
houses In that district are reported to
have been swept away Seven miles
south of here at Stewards Hunts store
and postorlce were swept away.
More High water.