The central record. (Lancaster, Ky.) 18??-current, 1913-04-11
Lancaster People Have Narrowing Expert.
ence In The Great Flood Al Hun
tington W. Va.


conducted business in Lancaster, and
who married sister of Mesdames B.
F. Hudson and w. o. Rigney lives in
Huntington W. Va, where he conduct
ed a thriving grocery store and meat
market until the recent severe floods.
Mr.. Geiger lived in three story dwell
ing which set well back from the water
front, and which had hitherto never
been encroached upon by the water.
When the recent food came, his house
became a haven for many refugees who
had been driven from their homes by
the river. So secure did the Geigers
feel that they would feel no inconveni-
ence from that source that they failed
tc make any provision against the wat
err in the event it did reach them. But
all previous records were broken and
when it entered the lower story of their
home, and continued to slowly but sure
~ rise until they were compelled totiee
to the upper stories, it found them
without an oil stove or other means of
heating or lighting their homes. The
gas supply was cut off, but luckily they
secured every available vessel and filled
it with drinking water supply before
the water was cut off. Mrs. Ann Wal
ker, the aged mother of Mrs Geiger
was with them. Mrs. Walker will be
ninety years of age on the 2lst day OF
this month. She together with other
aged persons in the building and also
the younger children, were kept in bed,
and the hardship upon them thus reduc-
ed to the minimum. Mrs. Geiger hap
pened to have very large lamp and
around it the other members of the
party huddled seeking such warmth as
it would give, while Mr.. Geiger and his
son Walker kept sleepless and untir-
ing vigil from Saturday until the fol-
lowing Wednesday, when the waters
receded sufficiently to allow a resump-
ton of more comfortable quarters in
the house. During their confinement
the food supply was very limited and
such food as they received was served
in skillets and pans. and hot coffee was
brought to them in boats at intervals.
Mrs. Walker was finally removed to
more comfortable quarters in the home
of Mrs. Garlin, a sister of Mr.. Geiger' s
who lived in another and higher part
of the city, where she could be more
comfortable.
The experience was dreadful one,
marooned in the third story of house
which was partially inundated, the only
means of ingress and egress being by
means of boats, with a vast sheet OF
rolling surging water as far as the eye
could reach, with the food supply scan-
ty, and liable to b come more so at any
moment, little children huddled in bed
to keep warm, and with absolutely nc
certainty as to when they might ex-
pect betterment of their conditions,
and with the almost certain knowledge
that when they were permitted 70
again set foot on dry land, if they ever
die, they would find their worldly pos
sessions swept from them by the relent-
less waters, was enough to try the
souls of the most hardy.
MIR. Geiger's place of business was
completely inundated and is almost, if
not an entire loss. Their relatives here
have written for all of them to come
here until some semblance of order is
restored in Huntington, and Mrs. Gel
ger and her mother will probably do so,
but those who know Mr.. Geiger's in
domitable courage believe that he will
remain in the stricken city and try to
rehabilitate his lost business, and are
wishing him every success in the face
of his great misfortune.