The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1897-03-06
STATES UNDER WATER
Ohio and Indiana Devastated
by Their Swollen
Rivers.
RAILROADS STOP RUNNING
Houses Inundated, Fields Swamped
and Bridges Washed
Away.
RAILROADS STOP RUNNING


Scores of homes ruined. immense loss to
property and great suffering in the rec
cord for one day as a result of the second
flood within a month in this city. All
the creeks and side streams in this vicin-
ity have overfiowed their banks, and the
mad rush of waters carried houses,
bridges, trees and everything that offered
an obstruction before them
Already hundreds of thousands of dol
lars worth of damage has been done
and the full extent will be known only
after the flood subsidies and careful i'm
spection is made
Hundreds of families have been rem
dered homeless. Creeks and streams
throughout the country are rising. The
Licking is ON a rampage and the Lagoon
Dam is threatened A number of small
houses have been swept away. No flood
in the history of Ohio has so completely
cut off Cincinnati from the outside world
as the present. Many washouts on rail-
roads have occurred. The only railroads
not tied up were those entering Cincinnati
from Kentucky-the Queen and Crescent,
the Chesapeake and Ohio and the Louis
vile and Nashville.
Several wrecks have been caused by the
food, a number of bridges washed away
and others threatened.
In Covington the Licking River banks
threaten to give way, endangering much
property
At Chester Park the entire property of
the Cincinnati, Hamilton and Dayton
Railroad Company is surrounded by
three feet of water. Half of Hamilton
IS inundated. The great soap works at
Ivorydale has sustained damage amount
ing to thousands of dollars.
The flood same SO suddenly that scores
of houses up the valley were entirely sur
rounded before the occupants could real
ize the danger.
At Cumminsville there is a devastating
flood. Bridges in Hamilton county have
been swept away, others are threatened; !;
Washouts. are reported from all points in
the county and railroad travel is greatly
impeded. Many factories in the valley
have been compelled to shut down. and
the financial loss will run up into the
hundreds of thousands of dollars Numer-
Gus cases of thrilling escapes are report
ed. A fireman on the Cincinnati, Hamil-
ton and Dayton Railroad, his wife and
three children had a narrow escape from
drowning at Ivorydale. The water sud-
denly surrounded their house and rose
with great rapidity before they were
aware of it. They. escaped into the second
story and shrieked for help. The water
continued to rise. The screams of the
family attracted the attention of Walter
LaldlaW, OF the Lafdlaw-Dun Gordon
Company. He called for volunteers. and
i've machinists Of his factory responded
one of them. Jacob Mattern, swan
out to the house, a block away. with a
rops and drew after him a raft which
the others had hastily constructed. The
rope and drew after him a raft which
children We're first removed to the raft
after which the father and mother were
rescued. Soon afterward the water COM
pletely covered the house.
At Loveland the heavy rain caused the
overflow their banks Families living
along the river front had to be carried
out of their homes on horseback and in
skiffs. Business ON Jackson street was
suspended the street and stores being
flooded.
Miami River is out of it's banks at Sid
ney and all the lower part of the city
have been compelled to move out while
many are compelled to reach their homes
IN boats. The Ottawa River, which flows
through g a portion Of Lima. has; Hooded
lands and compelled a number of families
to move, who will lose all of their house,
hold effects.
- SAO11p~As 81 CT LAY tUit Qlu great
damage. The Miami River is twelve feet
above the low water mark and still ris-
Ing. Cellars are flooded and merchants
will suffer great loss from damaged goods.
At Piqua the rainfall has caused the
highest floods since 1883 The Miami
River and Canal hydraulics are over
flowing their banks and the southern part
or the city is submerged with waiter
Traffic oE the Cincinnati, Hamilton and
Dayton Railroad has been almost com
pletely suspended.
Buck Creek overf1owed it's banks at
Springfield and fifty families had to seek
safety on the second floors of their
homes. The flooded districts covers an
area of about fifteen squares. The dam
age to household goods will amount to
thousands. besides the loss to buildings
The electric railway power house is under
2. P. Mast & Co. and the o. S. Kelly
Company had to close their factories yes
terday morning on account of the water
pouring into the foundries.
The unprecedented rise of Mill Creek
reached Its climax at three O'Clock yes-
terday afternoon. From that time the
water began to recede slowly and this
morning the creek is within its banks.
The many manufacturing interests
throughout the valley suffered to a more
or less extent. The greatest loss probably
Is that of the Proctor & Gamble Com
panyS at Ivoryiale, which is estimated at
$4,000. The truck gardeners In the low
lands between here and Loveland are
! heavy losers by the flood.
The amount Of damage to railroad prom
erty in this vicinity cannot be estimated
until thorough examinations can be made
as MANY Dofnfs are still 11rdor -,