Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1898-03-26

pair of damage will involve the outlay
OF great deal of time and money BY
the residents. In some cases large
stables and other buildings were
stranded on the wrong lots or upset in
the streets and alleys, blocking III
travel and making unappreciative
householders swear while ever and
anon one would meet a despatched
man in gum boots looking for a trace
OF missing out-buiiding and just a.
| unhappy as ever when ne CHANGED to
find it in another mans front yard
four or five squares away from its
proper location. But such is life in a
locality exposed to occasional freshets
Your old and seasoned Islander don't
really mind it so much.
The Board of Public Works got the
force of White Wings to work prompt
ly, yesterday, on the business streets,
as soon as the water began TO fall, and
they followed up the diminishing flood
by sweeping the mud after it, and as
a result great deal of good work was
done in this limited section of the city.
Pity is, it could not
HAVE BEEN MORE GENERAL.
There was many a street where the
prompt application of fire hose would
have had very beneficial effect while
the mud was still soft. To-day it will
very likely be too late TO do this work
effectively.
AS on Thursday, the Island was a
great centre of attraction fer people
from the city proper, and many hun
dreds went over during the day, either
from pure curiosity or to see how rela-
tives and friends were getting along.
The skiff ferrymen necessarily had to
operate in a more restricted area than
on the day before. but still they hauled
a good many people and took in
quite large amount Of money. Many
improvised RATS were also pressed into
service, in reaching houses still deep
ly submerged
EXCESSIVE CHARGES.
There were many complaints, yes
terday, of outrageous charges b.
sharks running skiffs in The flooded
districts. One man on the South Side
is said TO have charged a woman half
dollar for bringing some food from
a distance of two squares, and another
Island man, the owner of considerable
property, charged his less fortunate
neighbors good round sums to take
them to and from home, thus trading,
it IS claimed, on their misfortune
There was no complaint when the
charge was moderate, but only when
excessive, as in the case Of one man
who wished to see how his family was
coming on. He made the trip in a
skl1f, consuming perhaps twenty min
utes time, and was charged q dollar.
He told the skiff owner to go to a
warm climate. and paid nothing. An
other man was told it would cost him
two dollars to visit bis home, short
distance from the steel bridge, on Penn
street. He went back to town. On
the other hand, and in marked contrast
to such cases, a number of men spent
all OF Wednesday and Thursday in
skiffs looking after neighbors and
charging nothing for their services.
Such kindness at such time is not to
be forgotten in days to come.
THE WESTERN UNION ALL RIGHT.
All during The flood of the present
week the western Union continued to
do business as usual, having lost no
wires with the exception OF one or two
along the Ohio River railroad, south
OF the city. Last evening Manager
Tracy said every requirement. OF the
service had been met from day to
day, and that the company was hand-
ling with dispatch all business offered.
The street railway people were max
ing arrangements, last evening, TO
start up the lines on schedule time this
morning and to-day cars Will be run
ming as usual. The stoppage was, OF
course, a great inconvenience to thou
sands of people, but is was unayoid-
able, and a necessary incident of the
food.
ROBT. DOWNING'S EXPERIENCE.
Robert Downing, the tragedian, and
his daughter arrived in the city about
three o'clock yesterday afternoon, on
the Virginia, and were present at the
presentation of Half a King" by the
Francis Wilson Company, at the Opera
House, last night. BIr. Downing was
met by Register reporter between
the acts, and detailed some of bis eX-
periences reaching the city. Mr. Down
ing referred with considerable earn
estnesS to the indiscriminate firing on
boats from the shores, and said most
OF the trouble appeared to come from
wharfboatS at the various towns. He
said at first, when he heard the Bop
ping of rifles, he did not understand
II, and asked an officer of the boat
what it meant. Oh was the reply,
they're only trying to kill the pilot;
that's all. Excuse me-, said Mr.
Downing, Il think FL go below; l
don't enjoy the scenery much, any
how" MI. Downing told of the mar
row escape of the mate of the Virginia,
-; IS detailed elsewhere. Changing the
subject little, he said: II wished to
get couple OF trunks across the river
at Marietta, and asked a boatman if he
could bring them over. oh, | guess
so, said he. How much will it cost p
| asked. Well he replied, I'll do 1t
for five dollars We'll, bring them
over | said, and be quick about it.
and then | commenced to figure how
much it would cost to move all the
baggage of the company and conclud-
ed / had better close the season if
such rates were to prevail"
Last night the Board of Public
Works had the hose force out wash
ing the mud from the streets near the
river in the business district. and
much good work was accomplished.
The change viii be apparent this
morning.
At the rate at which the riveris now
receding it will soon get within res-
sonable bounds and once more there