Omaha daily bee., 1907-01-20
OHIO RIVER STILL RISING
Fear that the Great Flood Record Of 1884
Will Be Tqu,lled.
FORTY THOUSAND PERSONS ARE IDLE
Fifteen Thousand Driven from Homes
and Many Are Depending Upon
Charity-POrtsmOuth EN-
bRnkment Breaks.
FORTY THOUSAND PERSONS Ar; lOlI

CINCINNATI, Jan. l9--With the crest OF
the food not yet in sight and a prospect Of
a near approach to the loss Of February.
1884. attempts were today made to estimate
the losses from the present flood in this
city. The commission houses. which are
principally located in the lowlands have al
ready suffered damage estimated at 100000.
Many thousands. will be lost by factories
through enforced idleness and unproduc-
tiveness. and more than 1000 persons will
lose wages. Not Lees than 1900 persons
have been driven from their homes, most
OF them being forced to depend on charity
for their food and lodging.
Reports from river cities. both above and
below Cincinnati, continue to come In with
pleas for help and food. From some OF the
nearer flooded towns refugees came to this
city and are lodged wherever quarters can
be found. Portsmouth saw the breaking Of
the food entertainments and the people fed
in terror to the highlands. The high water
| from the Scioto is being added TO the food
| in the Ohio at that point that and the
| flood from the other tributaries holding
back the regular high water from higher up
| the river. so that the second rise seems
sure to overtake the main flood and in
crease its damage.
| At s o'clock this morning the stage
at this point was sixty-two feet the water
that OF February, 1884, during the night.
For a distance of four squares from the
normal water front the lower portions of
the city are flooded, The bridges are cut
/ of from the land except for narrow foot
passages. leaving the railroad bridges the
only means Of communication for foot pas
sengers between the Kentucky side and this
city. This affects seriously several thou
sand people who work in Cincinnati and
whose homes are in Newport, Covington
and other Kentucky suburbs.
The town of California. Just above the
city. is reported completely under water
| In Newport it is estimated that fully
5000 people are homeless and almost desti-
tute There are nearly 100 blocks under
| water
All schools have been closed and are being
used to house the homeless. Free soup
houses were opened there today.
| 1t is estimated that at least 15,Oc0 people
are homeless today on account Of the flood
ing of the lower sections OF Cincinnati and
the cities on the Kentucky side Fully 5000
have been driven from their homes in Cin-
cinnati, nearly 5000 residents Of Newport
have been compelled to vacate their homes
and all tho other cities within ten miles Df
this city report thousands more suffering.
A special meeting Of the city council to-
|
for the relief Of flood sufferers, and the
mayor was authorized also TO draw $1,000
additional for relief
Louisville Dixie weakening,
| LOUISVILLE, KY, Jan. l9.-The flood
situation shows no signs of Improvement
today the most serious development being
the discovery that the dixie which protects
the upper east end of the city is weakening
slightly. Repairs are being made and men
are. patrolJng the banks. Ne fear of
break is expected. The crest of the food
is not expected before Monday.
District Forecast, Ofhclal Walse says:
! The Ohio has continued rising during the
last !. twenty-four hours throughout its
length, but is falling IN upper TRIBUTARIES,
The rate of rise has also decreased The
river Will rise steadily at Madison, lnu.,
and Louisville for the next several days
and will reach Q stage of thirty-eight feet
Sunday, with sth further rise Monday.
Portsmouth Embnnkment Breaks.
| PORTSMOUTH, o., Jan. 19I-tBack water
from the Ohio caused the Sciota river to
cut through the flood embankment at the
north end today Threatened families had
received warning of the impending danger
and fed in advance. although the remov-
ing Of the sick was accomplished under
the greatest difficulties. The break was
| shortly afterward followed by the water
| rushing over the west end dam, ana the
Ohio also invaded the, same quarter from
the south The whole downtown district
is rapidly filling up and hundreds Of houses
and stores are under water. The river
has passed the ffty-nine-foot mark and Is
still rising an inch an hour
shawnee Levee Holds.
4 GIT. LOUIS, Jan. 19.-Long distance tele-
phone communication, with 6hawneetown,
/. M. regarding flood conditions there today
brought the information that the Ohio
9 river continues to rise. but the levee is
g holding. b.
$ Shifts OF citizens are patrolling the levee
: day and night. crack In the embank
o ment was discovered and sand bags were
e hurriedly used. preventing a. break. Al
though the danger appears no greater than
o II did yesterday, people are becoming more
r and more uneasy and continue to leave for
! the BLUFFS The tents and provisions fol-
> these refugees sent by Governor Deneen
e have not yet arrived and many are suffer
II ing. But little business is being carried
e on All the factories are closed and also
r. many business houses. So far no fatalities