Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1897-02-24
THREE-FOURTHs OF CHARLESTON,
w. VA, UNDER WATER.
THOUSANDS ARE HOMELESS.
Many Go Hungry-Four Feet In
Capitol Yard-No Session of the
Iept.Infure-Treme Loss of
e Observation-Disclosures Damaged.


the city, and three fourths of it is under
water from two to six feet deep. AT
least a thousand people are homeless
and many have had little to eat since
Yesterday at noon. Last night they
boated about the streets in an attempt
to secure their meagre possessions, and
some of them lost all. Being the very
poor classes, much suffering will follow.
TO THE RESCUE.
Since midnight last night an army of
citizens have been to the rescue, ana
to-day at public meeting of the citizens
several thousand dollars was subscribed.
All of the churches. school buildings, and
other public buildings are turned into
temporary homes for the distressed. In
the Capitol yard water is four feet deep.
The cellar is flooded and the furnaces
are out few statesmen ventured over
in boats this morning, but there was no
session. and there will be none before
Friday. As soon as the Legislature meets
a sum will be appropriated for the Ka-
nawha-Valley sufferers. The flood viii
necessitate an adjourned session to pass
the appropriation bill.
TREMENDOUS LOSS.
Reports from up the Kanawha and Elk
shows a tremendous loss of property. A
dozen coal-tipples have foated down the
Kanawha. The Chesapeake and Ohio
Norfolk and Western, and Kanawha and
Michigan railroads are seriously dam
aged in this section. The gas and cleo
tric-light plants are submerged, and the
town is in total darkness. The water
works is badly damaged, and a shut-on
is feared. The river has reached forty
one feet 1t is stationary now.
FLOOD IN THE MONONGAHEL>.
PITTSBURG, PA, February 3.-The
food in the Monongahea river marked
q feet to-day. and is expected TO rise
two feet more. But little water, how
ever. is coming out of the Allegheny
river, so the Monongahela flood Is pass
ing by without doing serious damage
here 1t has done considerable mischief
up the river 10 factories located on the
| banks of the Monongahela. Youghio-
gheny, and Little rivers. All Of the rail-
roads in that section are either wholly
interrupted or are working under great
| difficulties At McXeesport the flood
damage will reach $4,000.
THE OHIO STILL RISING.
LOUISVILLE. KY, February D.
| The Ohio river has risen eight and a half
feet here since yesterday, and is still
rising at the rate Of three inches an
hour. The stage OF water on the falls
is % feet, and It is expected to reach q
feet, which will food the river-front
Two-thirds OF the town Of Corbin is
under water. The damage is estimated
at $25 000.
The flood damage I'm Southeastern Ken
lucky is estimated at 100000. The Ken
| lucky river rose forty feet i'm two hours
I'm the mountain country. and swept
| everything before IT.
FATALITIES.
The Cumberland river destroyed all
property in the bottom lands of Harlan
| county. Near Donkeysville, Jonas Tyree
was caught I'm Powell river and drowned.
At Jackson the kentucky river flooded
the Arlington Hotel. and broke three log
| booms. letting out 5000 logs Abe Reed
| (coloredD was drowned while trying 10
| save them.
Beattysvile is reported flooded. but the
wires are down, and the tracks OF the
Richmond. Irvine, and Beattysyille rail-
road are washed away for considerable
| distance, rendering communication i'm
| possible.
The town OF Farmer is under water.
Fifty thousand logs have been lost in the
Big Sandy Valley. The mountain streams
are full of wrecks of cabins and barns
of the mountaineers.
SITUATION AT CINCINNATI
CINCINNATI, o. February @.-The
a.fF aaf
| large tobacco warehouses on front street
are full Of water to the first floors, but the
stock of tobacco has been moved out. so
far there has been little loss at those
| places.
! A Catlettsburg special says: The street
! car line on Centre street is covered with
water. Residents on the square bounded
bv north Front. Main, and Centre streets
are moving. The loss cannot be estimated.
| The greatest loss is TO timber-men.
! At Versailles, KY, no trains are running
| to-day, on account or the damage uy tno
| flood at Valley View.
The train which left Versailles last night
AT 6 o'clock. and was due at Richmond at
| s O'clock was delayed until this morning
SEVERAL PEOPLE DROWNED.
FRANKFORT, KY. February 3.-The
streams in Kentucky are clear out OF
| their banks. and doing immeasurable dam
age Several people have been drowned
/ I'm various parts Of the State. Much STOCK
| has been lost fencing swept away. ana
| other property almost ruined. The streams
| all through the mountains are higher thah
for years.
Al Middleboro' yesterday a cloud-burst
deluged the locality, drowning James
| Charwell. wife and four children.
| All but two blocks of Pineville, KY, IS
covered while a number of little towns
| along the North Fork Of the Kentucky
river are under water. The people nave
been forced to seek shelter on the noun
] tains Reports from Jackson and other
| nIaces no the North Fork say there has
| heen considerable loss Of life and properly.
Mrs. Hutzell and her little daughter were
| drowned In their house. which was WASH
ed from the mountain side. In Breathitt
county. last night. Two men, whose names
could not be learned. were drowned IN ohe
of the streams in Bell county.
FLOODS IN TENNESSEE.
KNOXVILLE. TENN. February D.
Heavy rains have swollen the streams
enornousIv I'm this vicinity. Two railway
trestles near this city were washed away
last night. All telegraph and telephone
wires east OF Knoxville are DOWN ana
trains are standing still. The Clinch
| river AT clinton registers forty feet, and
| the residents are leaving their houses.
There is fear OF great damage aad loss
| OF life.
Forced from Their Homes by water.
HINTON. w. VA February 3.-tspe-
ciaI THE heavy rains which prevailed III
this section Of the country for the past
forty-eight hours has caused all the
streams 10 overflow their banks. entailing
loss OF property. New river at this point
Is higher than it has been Sor twenty
wears. and the people Of upper hinton
| have been forced from their homes Tne
wafer is on the first floor Of most OF the
houses.
Ronnoke River booming.
ROANOKE, VA. February 3.-(Spe-
c,aI 1-The heavy rains OF yesterday and
ali OF last night flooded the streams IN