The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1898-03-24
FLOODS N THE EAST
From Wheeling to Cincinnati
on the Ohio.
RAINING SINCE SUNDAY
Interior Points in Ohio and
Indiana Flooded

Cincinnati. O., March 23.-The Ohio
river is swollen by a peculiar and re-
markable food, peculiar in that. while
the stage of the water is phenomenal,
from Wheeling to Cairo no tributary on
the left bank of the river makes the
slightest contribution to the freshet Add
ed to an unusually high stage of water
at Pittsburg. there have been freshets
and foods throughout Ohio and Indiana,
and torrents are pouring into the Ohio
from the north. Throughout Ohio, In
diana and western Pennsylvania there
has been an almost steady downpour OF
rain since last Saturday. Nearly all of
the railroads in central and southern
Ohio are either crippled or totally disa-
bled, owing to washouts and weakened
bridges. Throughout Indiana, except
perhaps in the extreme northern parts.
railroad traffic is demoralized. In Gin
cinnati the stage of the river at 8 O'Clock
tonight was A feet inches, and the flood
was rising at the rate OF three inches an
hour. Rain is still falling.
A FIFTEEN-FOOT RISE.
GAINESVILLE. Ohio March 23.-Since mid
night Musikngum and Licking rivers
have risen fifteen feet and all the Eighth
ward and parts of four other wards are
submerged. Four thousand people have
been driven from their homes and very
few of them have saved any of their
household effects. The current of Lick
ing river has turned down Lee street
half mile and is washing out everything
in its path. There have been a score of
hairbreadth escapes and more than fifty
persons are missing. The supply of
skiffs was wholly inadequate TO rescue
get them on dry land. The number of
lives lost here is matter Of conjecture.
The only bodies so far recovered are
those of Mrs. Church and John Leach,
drowned in their homes before being res
cued. The work of rescue is going on all
night, Every railroad entering the city
is tied UP and all of them have expert
enced accidents. A bridge over Wakoto-
mika creek gave way while Baltimore
crossing the stream and the whole train
was submerged The passengers crawled
to the tops of the cars and were rescued
in skiffs. Two of the trainmen were bad
~ injured.
COLUMBUS INUNDATED.
Columbus. Ohio. March 23.-Owing to
unprecedented foods, only two OF the ff-
teen lines of railway centering here were
able to move trains out of the city today
The washouts were mostly in or near the
city. In the western part of the city
probably 1000 persons have been driven
out of their houses. or are living in the
upper stories. The water works pump
ing station is flooded and the water sup
ply in the central part Il the city rs shut
off.
SPRINGFIELD MAN DROWNED.
Springfield, Ohio, March 23-The water
in Mad river and Lagonda creek is four
inches higher than ever before known.
The damage is estimated at $3.50, 900 in the
city and county. James DonneIly was
swept from his horse into the river and
drowned.
DAYTON IN DARKNESS.
Dayton. Ohio. March 23.-The city is in
darkness. the electric light plant having
been flooded. Two thousand families have
been driven from their homes and are be-
ing cared for in private houses. the ar
mory and other public buildings. Over
900 dwellings are submerged in North
Dayton. and several cottages have teen
swept down the river. Railroad business
has been entirely stopped.
WHEELING WILL SUFFER.
Wheeling. w. Va, March 23.-wheeling
will suffer heavily from the flood which
is now invading both the wholesale and
retail districts. Manufacturing estab-
lshments employing 1000 10 1900 men
have shut down. either from want OF
natural gas. which was shut OF tonight,
or too much water. Trains have been an
nuIled on every road entering the city.
seven in number. On Wheeling Island
every family OF the 30 has moved TO the
upper stories. On the city side OF the
river hundreds OF families have done the
same thing as well as Martins Ferry.
BeIlaire. Benwood. Bridgeport and other
outlying communities.
FLOODS IN INDIANA.
Indianapolis, Ind. March z3.-Floods are
throughout the state Of Indiana
Many important towns are temporarily
cut of from communication and trains
have been entirely abandoned on some
railroads. There have been thirteen
rainy days In March. with total precipi- .
tation OF ~ inches. OF which as inches
has fallen since Sunday White river
Big Eagle and Fail creeks are OFT %
their banks and many families here have
been driven from thesr homes
7, Is reported tia, $40 zoo damage has
been done 81 Greensburg. where a. noon .
today eight heavily laden passenger .
trains had been stalled for sixteen hours.
owing 20 washoutz
At s.. Pau! TIRE Bickhart fo-riug mills
we're washed away. and other losses there .
TlI bring the total - q ~ 20
Wrecks have been reported from differ (
ent parts of the state and railroad 'raTic .
IA Indiana east ~ this city ia esrnoraHz-
81. Not a passenger train reached I1dt- .
SnaPo.ls from TIE east to-ight
AL tie bottom Land oUtlypsuz Tr6ianap-
oils = covered z1ta water aid WHITE
river Is slowly rising. But 70 Appreciation F..
Is FELT,
Enm PnEhO /