THE FLOOD IN EASTERN OHIO
MOUNT VERNON HARD HIT--MILLERSBURG CUT OFF--THE TUSCARAWAS
RIVER--COSHOCTON IN DISTRESS--ENTIRE CITY OF ZANESVILLE UNDER
WATER--MARIETTA FLOODED--SCIOTO RIVER AT CIRCLEVILLE--STRUGGLES OF
CHILLICOTHE--FLOOD AND FIRE IN PORTSMOUTH--HOMELESS IN EAST
LIVERPOOL AND WELLSVILLE--FLOOD WASHES STEUBENVILLE--HIGHEST FLOOD
IN HISTORY OF GALLIPOLIS--IRONTON REQUESTS AID--A CRITICAL
SITUATION.
In the eastern part of the state there were two great floods, the flood
of the Muskingum River and the flood of the Ohio River. Besides these
there were many local floods of grave importance.
Mount Vernon, in Knox County, was hard hit by the flood. Many lives were
lost, communication was entirely cut off, and thousands of dollars worth
of damage was done. Miles of track on the Pennsylvania, Baltimore and
Ohio Railroads were washed away.
MILLERSBURG COMPLETELY CUT OFF
For two days Millersburg was completely cut off. The river rose four
feet higher than ever before. It swept through the Cleveland, Akron and
Columbus Railroad depot two feet deep, driving everybody out. Water, gas
and electric light were shut off with the exception of one gas line.
Telephone service was limited, hence nothing could be sent or received
for two days--until intermittent communication was re-established.
THE TUSCARAWAS RIVER
The flood in the Tuscarawas River was the worst in its history. All the
lowlands were under water, and a highway bridge west of Dennison was
carried out by the tide. Two bridges on the Baltimore and Ohio, near
Uhrichsville, were washed away, and the village of Lockport was cut off
from all communication. Supplies in Lockport were exhausted and two men
were reported drowned.
Eighteen families were marooned in the school house at Port Washington,
ten miles west of Dennison, on the Tuscarawas River. Operator A. W.
Davis, of the Pan Handle Railroad, was isolated in a signal tower for
several days without food or fire.
Newcomerstown was isolated for four days. All houses in the village,
with the exception of those on Rodney Hill, were flooded by the
Tuscarawas River. There was no death, but great damage.
Conditions throughout the Tuscarawas Valley were very bad. From a point
near Uhrichsville, about one hundred miles west of Pittsburgh, to
Coshocton, a distance of thirty miles, the valley was one great lake.
Thousands of acres of the richest farm lands in Ohio were under water
and the loss of live stock was heavy.
COSHOCTON IN DISTRESS
The Tuscarawas and Walhonding Rivers unite at Coshocton to form the
Muskingum River, and it is the water from these swollen streams that
poured down to Zanesville, thirty-two miles below, and thence to
Marietta.
Reports from points along the Muskingum River, all told the same story
of destruction, flooded towns and great property damage. Many days were
required to restore railway communication.
Above Coshocton on the Walhonding River many villages were flooded and
the loss to farmers was great.
Coshocton itself naturally suffered. A railroad bridge on the Columbus
division of the Pan Handle Railroad went out, and scores of highway
bridges throughout the section were washed away. All the streams were
torrents.
ENTIRE CITY OF ZANESVILLE UNDER WATER
"Entire city under water. It is coming into our office. Have placed the
records as high as I possibly can and have done everything possible. The
building next door has just collapsed and I am compelled to leave now
for safety----"
This message flashed across the wire as the operator at Zanesville fled
for life. With fifteen reported dead, and the Muskingum River at a stage
of forty feet and still rising, the city faced the worst flood in its
history. The big Sixth Street bridge had already been swept away by the
flood, and much of the business section was inundated.
At least two thousand had been driven from their homes by the high
water. Food was growing scarce and the water was threatening the light
and water plants.
The suffering during the night was intense. The temperature took a
sudden drop and the thousands who were forced to spend the night
marooned in buildings or on the hills without heat and proper clothing
presented a spectacle to excite pity.
With the break of day on March 27th, disorder and terror prevailed
throughout the whole city. The Muskingum, in its rampage, was sixteen
feet higher than the previous record mark set in 1898. The city was one
vast lake and the waters covered the valley from hill to hill. Only the
buildings high on the sides of the slopes escaped the ravages of the
deluge. The water varied in depth from one to fifteen feet. Many lives
were sacrificed.
Six hundred buildings were torn from their foundations and swept away by
the mill race currents, while many others collapsed and were hurled
against those still holding.
The water reached a depth of eight inches in the Clarendon and Rogge
hotels at noon on Thursday. The court house was surrounded.
In sections which were bearing the brunt of the deluge little could be
done to relieve the people who were marooned in their houses and in the
large buildings. Every effort was being directed by the city officials
and volunteer relief parties to lend aid to the sufferers, but the
swift, onward rush of the waters made the undertaking extra hazardous.
The authorities turned their efforts toward relieving the suffering of
women and children driven from their homes by the high water, and some
progress had been made. Putnam lay in ruins. Muskingum and Linden
Avenues had been washed out, and where three days before stood many
residences, watchers from the highest buildings saw nothing but a waste
of swirling waters.
MARIETTA FLOODED
The valley between Zanesville and Marietta became a surging lake, which
picked up buildings and everything movable and carried them along with
incredible speed. The loss of property was tremendous.
Marietta suffered from the swollen waters of both the Muskingum and Ohio
Rivers. The situation was serious on Wednesday; by Sunday it was
alarming. At eight o'clock Saturday morning the river had reached the
stage of 60.6 and was still rising. All the business section of the town
was flooded and many residences were under water. There were no public
utilities in operation and food and medical supplies were sorely needed.
There were many rumors concerning loss of life, but the swift current
prevented communication to those parts of the city where persons were
reported drowned.
Immediately upon reciept of the message from Whipple, a station on the
Marietta Branch of the Pennsylvania Railroad, that Marietta was under
water, preparations were made by the railroad company to send out a
relief train from Cambridge. It reached Whipple Saturday night and from
there help was brought to the distressed city.
SCIOTO RIVER AT CIRCLEVILLE
The flooded Scioto River, which surged through the streets of Columbus,
carried destruction down through farm lands and towns to the Ohio River.
Circleville, Chillicothe and Portsmouth, being the principal towns on
the river course, suffered most.
At Circleville on March 26th all the bridges had been washed away, and
the Scioto River stood three feet higher than ever before. Another rise
was promised. The city was cut off from railroad communication, and all
trains on roads entering Circleville were annulled.
STRUGGLES OF CHILLICOTHE
Many dead, one hundred houses washed away, and property loss of
$1,000,000--such was the tale of destruction in Chillicothe. On Friday,
March 28th, the waters had begun to recede, leaving seven bodies hanging
on the Kilgore bridge, three miles south of the city, but it was
impossible to recover them immediately.
Conditions were much improved, the light plant having been able to
resume service, and the water supply also was now adequate. The water
had receded from the streets, and all public utilities resumed
operations.
The homeless refugees were being cared for in the homes which withstood
the flood and in school houses. Provisions were plentiful and there was
no disorder. Many citizens were sworn in as deputy marshals.
The looting problem was one difficulty for the authorities.
Notwithstanding their efforts much looting took place.
Near Omega, to the south, Mr. and Mrs. Hatfield and their family of
seven children were drowned when their home, barn and all their other
buildings were swept down the river.
FLOOD AND FIRE IN PORTSMOUTH
Portsmouth presented a picture of distress as the flood from the swollen
Scioto and Ohio Rivers advanced. On the night of March 27th the Scioto
bridge was swept away by the flood. By morning hundreds of persons had
been driven from their homes, school houses had been thrown open to the
homeless, the streets were filled with household goods and merchants in
the heart of the city were moving their wares to places of safety in
anticipation of flood conditions more serious than ever before.
On March 29th the Ohio River stood at sixty-eight feet, the highest ever
known, and was rising.
Fire broke out in several places and was difficult to control because
the flood had interfered with the water facilities.
Efficient management, however, soon brought the situation under control.
The arrival of the steamers, "Klondike" and "J. I. Ware," on March 31st,
brought sufficient provisions to supply those in need for a week.
HOMELESS IN EAST LIVERPOOL AND WELLSVILLE
We have already seen the swollen waters of the Ohio at Cincinnati,
Portsmouth and Marietta. It remains to treat of the devastation wrought
in other Ohio River towns in the eastern and southern parts.
At East Liverpool on March 27th, more than a thousand families were
driven from their homes, five thousand potters were deprived of
employment temporarily and the city water works were out of commission
as the result of the flood. The electric light plant was seriously
threatened and trolley lines were tied up.
The following day the river had eclipsed the 48.8 foot stage of 1884. A
stage of at least fifty-one feet was expected.
Conditions remained the same, but the situation at Wellsville, a city of
ten thousand, three miles south, was perilous. Over three thousand were
homeless. The city is located on a flat promontory, with the eastern
portion a slight apex against the fast rising stream.
Back water had already made an island of the city, precluding any
possibility of escape to the high hills.
Both East Liverpool and Wellsville were in darkness because of the
shutting down of the power plants. All the river front potteries and
mills were idle. Street railway and railroad traffic was at a
standstill.
Police and fire departments of Wellsville and East Liverpool made many
thrilling rescues during the day. Seven Italians, dumped from a skiff,
were taken from the water half drowned.
Food supplies were diminishing at Wellsville, there was no electricity
or gas, the supply of coal was constantly lessening and the river still
rising.
FLOOD WASHES STEUBENVILLE
At Steubenville the Ohio River at 9 o'clock on March 26th was at the
34.4-foot stage and rising at the rate of seven tenths of an inch an
hour. The west part of the town was under water and twenty-five houses
flooded. Many families were rescued by wagons. Five large manufacturing
plants were forced to close down, throwing 1,300 men out of work.
HIGHEST FLOOD IN HISTORY OF GALLIPOLIS
The river at Gallipolis reached the sixty-seven-foot stage, six feet
higher than ever before, but was gradually falling. The State Hospital
remained unharmed, and was for a time taking care of two hundred people,
while the town was taking care of three hundred. There was no loss of
life. Traffic was at a standstill, and train service into Gallipolis
suspended.
IRONTON REQUESTS AID
Ironton suffered by both flood and fire. A block and a half in the
business center of the city were consumed by fire and several buildings
were dynamited to check the flames. No loss of life occurred.
A citizen of Ironton wired to a friend in Philadelphia:
"Floods here awful. Any charity funds that can be directed here through
clubs or otherwise would be appreciated."
A CRITICAL SITUATION
Even taking into account the tremendous seriousness of the flood in
Dayton and Columbus, the situation all along the Ohio River was one that
called for sympathy and sustained relief. Governor Cox, of Ohio, in one
of his early proclamations covering relief work said:
"There is every indication that the Ohio River will reach the highest
stage in its history. Calls for food and clothing are coming from
unexpected parts of the State. A critical situation has developed in all
Ohio River towns. We are still greatly in need of help."