Evening star., 1937-04-29
OHIO RIVER FLOOD
IS RUNNING OUT
Little Additional Damage
Expected, as Waters
Are Subsiding.
BY the Associated Press.

BY the Associated Press.
MARIETTA, Ohio, April 29.-The
overburdened Ohio River, a we'll
trained stream compared with its
two major ravages of the past IA
months, eased away here today from
its flood crest which slowly crept
toward Pomeroy and Gallipolis, SIS and
IS miles farther down Ohio's eastern
border
Little Drainage Expected.
Pomeroy residents boarded up store
fronts and prepared in some sections
for to 3 feet of water-only ankle
deep compared with the January in
undation.
River men said the flood was run
ming out" and little or no trouble was
expected at Ironton, some so miles
southwest of Pomeroy, or at Ports
mouth, 25 miles farther
The slow-moving Ohio climbed 3.4
feet above flood crest to 1874 feet here
late last night, remained virtually
stationary for several hours and grad
ually receded with only property
owners of several lowlying districts
receiving wetting.
The 35-foot stage was passed at
1ronton, but the river was not ex-
peCted to reach a 40-foot level, which
would put State Route 50 under
water. Portsmouth, with a 62-foot
food wall, did not expect crest of
more than 40 feet.
At Cincinnati, far downstream. rain
continued to fall, but it was re-
garded by weather observers as no
threat.
The swirling muddy waters were
still feet above flood stage at Wheel
ing, w. Va, this morning, but the river
was expected to return to its banks
before nightfall
The crest had moved into the vicin-
ity of Parkersburg, w. Va, where lit
tie damage was expected from a stage
Of 80 feet, three above flood level.
Refugees Return to Homes.
Industries in this region resumed
to their homes and transportation
lines were opened while hundreds of
workers sought to erase marks of the
high water.
No estimate Of the damage was
available but the food claimed toll
of nine lives in Pennsylvania and West
Virginia. The ninth death occurred
last night when 9-year-old James
Kovacic tumbled into the swollen
Conemaugh River at Johnstown, Pa.
From that historic flood city" to
New Cumberland, w. Va, 33 miles
north of Wheeling, the Ohio River and
its tributaries we're below food stage
and falling rapidly.
Parts of Wheeling Island, residential
district Of 10000 population, swept
by the flood at its As 9-foot crest, were
out of the water and all of the main
business district of Wheeling was free
of the rivers grip.
New Martinsville, 38 miles south
ward, was the last outpost of the flood.
The river reached a crest of 429 feet,
SIS feet above flood stage, and para
lyZed all business in the little COM
munity OF 1000 persons, then began
falling.
ONTARIO VILLAGE ISOLATED.
CHATHAM, Ontario, April 30 (Can-
adian Press) Flood waters of the
Thames River crept higher today in
Chatham's low-lying areas and iso-
lated the village of Thamesville, 16
miles up-river
Six families had evacuated two
apartment houses in the north side
district of Chatham and farmers in
the Northwood region moved to
higher ground.
The flood left 5000 homeless and
property damage of more than s3,O0O,-
900 in London, which suffered most
Dry stretches of pavement appeared
today where there had been water
since Sunday.
More than half the 800 residents OF
Thamesville spent the night in the
villages one hotel and its opera house
TO escape still-rising water that in
some streets was 8 feet deep. They
watched one farm house sweep by in
the street, along with other wreckage
The flood crippled Thamesville S
gas and electric services and the
drinking water supply was inadequate
All roads into the village were covered
with water and some farmers were
rescued in boats.