Ohio River at Cincinnati and Covington - 1883 Flood

TERRIBLE.

THE OHIO STILL SWELLING,

UNTOLD SUFFERING.

DISCOURAGING REPORTS FROM

ABOVE,

BUT CHARITY ABOUNDS.

At this point yesterday at 6 a.m. the gauge marked 64 feet 11 1/4 inches. At 9 a.m. the water had declined half an inch. It then commenced swelling again. The following will show the steady advance up to 1 o'clock this morning.

Wednesday .. 10 a.m. ........ 64      11 1/2

        do              12 m.    ....... 65       1 1/2

        do                3 p.m. ....... 65       6

        do                6 p.m. ....... 65      10 1/2

        do              10 p.m. ....... 66        1 3/4

        do           midnight ........ 66        2 3/4

Thursday             1 a.m. ........ 66       3 1/4

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IN COVINGTON.

The overflow in Covington is still confined to the houses in the western part of the city on the Ohio river bank, to a number of houses on the Willow Run banks, and to a number more in the southern portion, on the Licking river. The Chief of Police has employed six extra men to patrol the submerged districts, protect all exposed property, and render assistance when necessary.

Collections were taken up yesterday in all the public schools.

Mr. U. Shinkle lost one loaded coal barge yesterday, and Messrs. A. Montgomery & Co. had one sunk by a bridge striking it.

The Covington Dry Dock and several other wooden structures on the banks of the Ohio, though deep in the water, have not yet floated away, but may do so at any moment during the high water.

Last night six frame houses floated down the Ohio. A man was rescued by parties in a skiff at Ludlow.

The water on Twelfth street, in Lewisburg, is nearly fifteen feet deep.

Coal oil lamps and candles have received a boom, and the prices are slightly advanced.

The only gas in this city at present is in the residence and brewery of Lang & Knoll, in Lewisburg. About one year ago Messrs. Lang & Knoll, while boring an artesian well, struck gas. It was tested and proved to be of good quality. They immediately built a tank over it, and laid pipes from the tank into the brewery, and from there to their residences, and they have had a full supply ever since. The gas burns brightly and gives a good light, and the supply is apparently inexhaustible and has proven quite a bonanza to them.

The Cincinnati police last night discovered some of the skiff-owners charging Covington people fifty cents to convey passengers from the bridge to dry land, and would not allow them to land.

Last night about dusk a party consisting of Mr. Hack Worthington, two other gentlemen and a colored man, while returning from Cincinnati in a pontoon boat, lost their grip on the current on Front street, near the bridge approach, and were swept against a telegraph post, overturning the boat. The occupants, after floundering around in the deep water, managed to grasp a telegraph pole and held on for dear life until rescued by several other boatmen. The darkey floated down stream about a block before he was caught. He thought his last day on earth had arrived and was almost white with fright. It was a narrow escape for all and might have been more serious had it been dark.

Dispatches from all along the line of the Licking river as far as Falmouth report a rise of from eight to ten feet. On the West Fork there was no rise of any consequence. It will probably reach this city to-day.

It is feared that some of the older residences on Front street will crumble and give way when the water recedes.

Several houses in the West End are in immediate danger of floating away, although they have been anchored down and tied with ropes. The Fifth street bridge across the Willow Run has floated half a block away, and it is feared, will be a total loss.

This morning a portion of the Licking river bank on this side, near the "point," gave way and slid into the water.

Many of the families living on Front street are moving their household goods this morning.

The fire engine S. W. Coflin, lately purchased by the city, was placed at the foot of Madison street early this morning, and with two lines of hose attached, has been pumping into the water main at the rate of 800 gallons per minute. It is thought that if the large factories do not use water that they can pump sufficient to supply the town.

The water from the Ohio has crossed Third street and entered the back yard of the residence of Mr. Henry Worthington, on Forth street, causing the foundation of a new two-story bay-window on the west, lastly erected, to settle several inches. It is in danger and expected to fall at any time.

Officers O'Hara and Jim Sandford are doing good work in the flooded district, near Third and Main streets.

At 6 o'clock this morning the Covington Water-works gauge showed a rise of 66 feet 3 1/2 inches and the water at a stand still.

At Deglow's tan yard, on the Lexington pike, the backwater from Willow Run is within 18 inches of the road bed.

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