Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1898-03-24
ALONG THE LANDING.
Car Tracks and Wharf Under Water and
Business Practically Suspended

Car tracks and Wharf Under Water and
Business Practically Suspended.
The scene along the landing all dur
ing yesterday and last night was the
lvellest that has been known since
the Hood of 1891. At an early hour in
the morning the crowd began assem-
bllng along Water street between the
Stamm House and the Windsor, close
ly watching the river as it steadily
climbed the wharf. At times there was
not less than from four to five hun
dred men, women and children grouped
along Water street Watching every
wave OF the river. The telephone at
the wharfboat was Kept constantly
buzzlng by anxious inquiries in the dis
trlcts where the water had not yet
reached The Wharfboat officials, it is
needless to say, experienced one Of the
busiest days of their life. At noon the
river had covered the wharf entirely
and was ascending the p, c., u & ST.
l.. railroad wall. Shortly after noon
it began to creep over the railroad
tracks. At two o'clock the track was
submerged, cutting off traffic entire
ly. The water kept constantly spread
ing and at 4 o'clock the w. & E. G.
car tracks at their turn from Twelfth
street We're being touched. During the
morning the wnarfboat was toWed in
until its plank lay against the p, c., c.
& St. l.. railroad wall. At 430 p. m.
the river had reached such a stage
that iG was found necessary to have
the plank raised to the top of the
railroad wall where it is now rest
ing. The fence on top of the wall was
removed.
The Ben Hur arrived at the landing
from Parkersburg about 1870 p. m, on
her trip to Pittsburg. The steamer
landed directly opposite the Hotel
Windsor. Campt. kimple ordered the
steamer tied up until the water has
fallen to stage that will insure navi-
cation with safety to the smoke-stacls
while passing under the bridges. The
freight for this city was unloaded, but
the freight for Pittsburg win be kept
aboard. On account of the strong cur
rent in the river along the landing, the
Ben Hur was later moored to the
lower end of the p, c., c. & St. i. rail-
road wall, where it could be tied in
such a manner as to remain firm.
TIP steamer Ruth was the only
local packet to arrive at the wharf yes
terday. She got in with the Ben Hur
and on account of the big stage was
compelled to land alongside of the lat
ter steamer to load and unload her
freight. The Ruth departed at 8: so,
her usual time, for Sistersville, but
will not be up until the present con-
ditions have improved.
The highest marks on the p, g., G.
& St l.. railroad wall is Al feet In
order to learn the accurate stage of
the river, City Engineer White has
placed perpendicular wooden gauge
at the top of the wall in line with the
marks
At SIS p. m. Capt Crockard, Of the
Wheeling wharfboat, talked by long
distance telephone with a couple of re-
liable coal men, learning that the
Monongahela had taken on another rise
at its headwaters. The captain stated
that this action of the Monongahela,
in harmony with the Allegheny, looked
very ugly and renders the situation
very discouraging.
The general freight manager of the
p, c., c. & St. l.. railroad stated yes
terday afternoon that all business had
Moundsville. He further stated that
the stage expected would cause gem
eral suspension of business The p,
c., c. & St. l.. freight station is sub
merged, and in anticipation of the
water all the goods were removed in
cars to Fifth street, where they will
remain.
The steamer Kanawha arrived at the
wharf yesterday morning from Pitts
burg, and owing to the strong cur
rent of the upper river, caused by the
heavy volumes of water the side
streams are putting out, was a couple Of
hours late. She departed for Charles
ton at 9 a. m. where she will tie up
until the river subsidies.
At p. m. the water continued to
spread along Water street, and had
covered both the p, c., c. & st. H.
and w. & E. G. tracks along the en-
tire thoroughfare. At this hour the
water was about to enter the P, c.. c..
& ST. L. freight station at Water and
Fourteenth streets. The park at the
lower end of the wharf is a thing out
of sight.
With Tuesday nights and Wednes-
day mornings rains, which were gem
eral along the Ohio and Allegheny
rivers, coming with the river at such
a height as at present, it Is not at all
improbable that the largest food since
February, 1891, will sweep through the
Ohio valley by this evening. In 1891
the river reached "A feet IL inches.
This time local rivermen are looking
for not less than 45 feet, with probable
tiles that these marks will be passed.
The probability of having more than 45
feet was strengthened by yesterday
mornings reports received at the
wharfboat from upper points which
showed that rain was falling along
the Monongahela although that river
is falling The morning reports show
ed the Allegheny river continues to
rise.
The early morning reports from up
per points were as follows: Pitts
burg, 25 feet 4 inches. rising, cloudy
Rice's Landing. RS feet inches fall
ing: Oil City. Q feet 2 inches, rising,
cloudy: Parkers, il feet inches. ris-
ing. rainy; Morgantown, IL feet, sta
tionary. rainy; Greensboro, IL feet 10
inches, falling, rainy; Brownsville, IS