CHAPTER XII. OHIO RIVER FLOODS.

Climate of the Ohio Valley— Conditions Favorable to a Great Flood— The Flood of 1788-89— 1832— 184?— 1882— 1883— 1884— Disastrous Effects at Lawrenceburgh— Relief for Sufferers Table of High-water Marks at Cincinnatl

AN account of the most disastrous floods of the Ohio River will be given in this chapter in the order of their occurrence.

The Ohio Valley is subject to greater vicissitudes of climate, perhaps, than any other part of the world of like proportions. A change within forty days has been experienced from a temperature 20° below zero to 65° above— the cold of Canada and the warmth of the Gulf in the same winter. The conditions favorable for a destructive flood in the Ohio are a frozen ground throughout the immense region drained by the river, a thick covering of snow spread over fields and forests and accumulated in immense snow-banks in the mountains, lastly warm winds from the Gulf and the Southwest superabundantly laden with rain, and day after day pouring out many inches of water. The ground being frozen is impervious to the water from the rain and melted snow, and the torrents from four States are poured into the mighty river.

The agency of the removal of forests and the cultivation of the soil in increasing the number and destructiveness of floods had been much discussed. Forests with their roots, fallen leaves and branches, act as sponges, and to some extent hold back the water. The clearing and cultivation of the land and the increase of tile and ditch-drains, facilitate the discharge of the rain-fall into the streams; but it would seem that the effects of these changes from a state of nature in causing floods have been exaggerated. Certainly the destruction of forests cannot be the cause of floods, for there were disastrous high waters at the very earliest settlements. Dr. George Sutton, of Aurora, has vigorously attacked the theory that the removal of forests produces our great floods. He says:

"The advocates of this theory seem to have forgotten that there have been fluctuations not only in temperature but in the amount of rain-fall over different parts of the globe in all ages, and that the vast amount of moisture accompanying our continental storms is brought from the ocean by great atmospheric currents, and that this moisture is deposited over the country and along the valleys of our rivers independent of local influences.

"A combination of circumstances may produce a flood similar to what we had in 1884, forests or no forests. It is known that the fall of one inch of rain is equivalent to 2,000,000 of cubic feet of water to the square mile. If five inches of rain fall suddenly upon a deep snow lying upon frozen ground in the valley of the Ohio Biver, the forests would certainly have but little influence in preventing a disastrous flood. From alluvial deposits we have conclusive evidence that great floods have occurred in the Ohio River long before the country was settled by the white man."

1788-89. — There was a great flood in the latter part of the winter in which the Miami country was first settled. The troops arriving at the mouth of the Great Miami were prevented by the high water from occupying Fort Finney. The new settlement at Columbia in January was under water; "but one house escaped the deluge." The soldiers were driven from the ground floor of the block-house into the loft and from the loft into the solitary boat which the ice had spared them. John Cleves Symmes in a letter to Col. Dayton, dated North Bend, May, 1789, says that the whole country thereabout had been inundated, and that "the season was remarkable for the amazing height of the water in the Ohio, beino" many feet higher than had been known since the white people had come into Kentucky."

A memorandum by Judge Goforth reads thus: "September 25, 1789, Maj. Stites, old Mr. Bealer and myself took the depth of the Ohio River, and found there was fifty-seven feet of water in the channel, and that the water was fifty-five feet lower at that time than it was at that uncommonly high freshet last winter. The water at the high flood was 112 feet." '

It is evident that there is an error in these figures. If they were correct no house in Columbia would have escaped the deluge. It is probable that these early observers made a mistake in measuring the height of the marks of the flood or that they struck a hole in the river.

1832. — Passing over the high waters of more than forty years we come to the first great flood of which a correct record exists, that of February, 1832. On the 1st of February, the ground was covered with snow, but the weather was warm and pleasant. The snow melted rapidly until the 6th, when the rain set in. On the 8th and 9th it rained continuously; on the 10th the rising of the waters in the Ohio began to attract attention at Cincinnati and Lawrenceburgh; on the 14th many merchants at Cincinnati were compelled to remove their goods to the second story of their houses; the river continued to rise rapidly until Saturday morning, February 18, when it came to a stand.

The flood was of a most distressing character; the Ohio did more damage by overflowing its banks than had ever before been done since the first settlement of the country. Nearly all the towns on the Ohio were inundated in whole or in part. Fences and movable property were swept from all the farms on the river bottom from Pittsburgh to Louisville. Houses, barns, grain and haystacks were seen floating down the river in great numbers. Hundreds of families were turned houseless upon the community. At^Cincinnati the water covered between thirty and forty squares of the city which was then nearly all crowded into the bottoms.

The flood reached its highest point on the 18th; two days later it had declined two feet four inches; on the 24th the river was within its banks. The bottoms about Cincinnati and Lawrenceburgh may be said to have been inundated for about twelve days — six days while the flood was advancing and six days after the decline began. The Lawrenceburgh Palladium, published by David V. Culley, in its issue of March 3, 1832, said of this flood:

"The late great flood in the Ohio and its disastrous effects being subjects of painful interest to all, we have collected in our paper to-day statements from the different towns on the river. From Pittsburgh and as far down as we have been able to learn; the destruction of property has been great beyond a parallel in the West. The height of the water in this place, over the great flood of 1815, was five feet nine inches, and over that of 1825 about eight feet. High Street, the most elevated part of the town, was covered with from four to six feet of water its whole extent. On some of the cross streets the water was still higher, and the inhabitants were compelled to seek refuge in the buildings along High and Walnut Streets. All the two story buildings on these streets were filled to overflowing — some having three, four and five families in them."

Although Lawrenceburgh suffered much from this flood, some of the statements concerning the condition of the town at the time of high waters were gross exaggerations. A Cincinnati newspaper stated that "the town of Lawrenceburgh is wholly inundated, so that there is scarcely a house to be seen but the spire of the church." To this the Statesmen replied: "Now the truth of the matter is, the flood was perhaps about six or seven feet higher than it has ever been known two small frame or log dwellings on the low ground were floated away, and some light, empty frames removed from their foundations, but no lives were lost and no very serious injury sustained, indeed not nearly so much as was expected while the flood was up and before it subsided. The whole of the old part of the town was inundated, but the principal part of the new town was not touched with the flood. * * *

* * * * No white man can recollect when the water has been of sufficient height to overflow the principal street in our village, and except the small cupola on the court house there is not a spire, dome or sky-light on a church or any other building in the town."

1847. — The flood of this year is the only destructive one in the Ohio of which we have any record, occurring in the month of December. The rise was from streams on both sides of the Ohio emptying'their waters into the Ohio above Lawrenceburgh. The Ohio began to swell December 10, 1847. December 15, there was a heavy fall of snow. On the 17th the waters reached their highest point, when there were sixty-three feet and seven inches of water at Cincinnati.

1882. — The flood of February, 1882, although the waters were not so high as in 1832 and 1847, was disastrous and appalling at Lawrenceburgh. We copy from the newspapers of that city:

"For several weeks the Ohio River, at this city, had been rising gradually, until Monday evening, February 20, it had reached a point at the junction of the till in the fair grounds and the "Big Four" Railroad, when it became necessary, on account of the depression in the fair ground embankment, to raise the bank at least two feet in order to keep the waters which had been accumulating from flowing over the bank into the city. Mayor Roberts promptly secured a force and went to work with energy and determination to do all that could be done to keep back if possible the waters, and up to midnight Monday had succeeded admirably in holding them in check. But the continued rains for the past few days had swollen the White Water and Miami Rivers to such an extent that it was soon evident that it would be impossible to keep up the embankment of the "Big Four" Railroad from this city to Hardintown, and the most that could be expected was to hold the waters back until morning or daylight. But at about 4 o'clock Tuesday morning, the 2l8t, the waters from the Miami were thrown against the "Big Four'' Railroad track with excessive pressure, on account of the barrier formed by the Ohio & Mississippi Railroad, which would not permit the accumulated waters to pass into the Ohio River, when at a point just below the locks, at Hardintown, and a point opposite the Trough Pond, near Nicholas Fox's, the water broke through, and it was not long until it was rushing with fearful velocity, and in vast volumes through the upper end of the city, carrying terrible destruction in its wide and rapidly extending pathway. The screams of the people in the lower parts of the town, when they were aroused to the fact that they were surrounded by the flood of waters, were distressing in the extreme. The Mayor had arranged for giving a signal of alarm by the ringing of the church bells, and when it was known that the flood was coming the bells pealed out their terrible warning, and at the same time the flood gates at the lower end of the city were opened, and the torrent of waters came rushing from both directions with equal destructive force until they met at Walnut Street, like two mighty giant monsters of the deep amid its angry waves struggling for the supremacy of the sea, until both ended their existence in death, and thus the waters ceased their angry flow.

"Although it was generally known that it would be impossible to keep the waters out of the city, and that many of the houses were ten feet or more below the surface of the water in the river, yet comparatively few persons were prepared when the rush of waters came. The result was the loss of individual property has been very gi-eat. Not so much in the aggregate of dollars and cents, however, as that it came to a class of people not able to lose anything — yet in many cases it took all they had, even to their houses. Both in the upper and lower end of the city quite a number of small houses could be ween overturned, while others had floated away from their foundations. It is surprising how many families were driven so hastily from their homes, on account of the sudden rise of the water within the city limits, which in its mad career seemed to wash, upturn and drive everything before it. Hardly two hours had elapsed from the time the water broke its barriers until it was in every part of the city doing its work of devastation, and yet we have heard of but one death.

"The men employed in their skifi"s and hastily provided boats did noble work in rescuing the people from the great peril in which they were so suddenly found. Large numbers of families took shelter in the public school buildings, in the court house, in the stove works, in the lodge rooms and other large rooms on High Street, as well as with private families, and it may be said that over a thousand persons were made homeless for the night at least. It was but a short time after getting housed until they were provided with food and made as comfortable as it was possible to make them under such unforeseen circumstances and the short time which was given to work.

"The waters continued to rise until about 4 o'clock Tuesday after noon, and from that time until midnight there was but little change, when it began to fall. In the afternoon it had covered High Street, with the exception of here and there a small portion of the center of thend of the city, carrying terrible destruction in its wide and rapidly extending pathway. The screams of the people in the lower parts of the town, when they were aroused to the fact that they were surrounded by the flood of waters, were distressing in the extreme. The Mayor had arranged for giving a signal of alarm by the ringing of the church bells, and when it was known that the flood was coming the bells pealed out their terrible warning, and at the same time the flood gates at the lower end of the city were opened, and the torrent of waters came rushing from both directions with equal destructive force until they met at Walnut Street, like two mighty giant monsters of the deep amid its angry waves struggling for the supremacy of the sea, until both ended their existence in death, and thus the waters ceased their angry flow.

1883. — Early in February of this year the continued rains and gradual rising of the river had been a topic of conversation at Lawrenceburgh, but notwithstanding the Ohio and Miami Elvers had been making encroachments on the high lands, hopes were entertained that the river would not exceed that of 1882, and that the levee, though known to be weak at the points filled after the washout of the preceding February, would be sufficient to hold the waters in check, but the people were doomed to bitter disappointment. The whole city was completely submerged except a few squares in Newtown. High Street, the highest street in what is termed Oldtown, or the principal part of the city was under water on an average of about six feet, and there was not, in the main part of the city, a single house of which the first floor was not under water. The stores all along High Street had an average of about five and one-half feet of water in them, and along Elm, Short, Walnut and other streets leading from the river, the depth of water increased, and in many cases the water reached the second story. In 1882 the waters were enabled to flow over High Street by the aid of a boom from the Miami, but the Ohio failed to reach this street, the highest street in the city, only at the extreme upper end. In 1888, however, the Ohio Eiver became the ruling master, and took complete possession of the city, and covered its highest street to the depth of six feet.

With such a depth of water running with rapid current through the city, it was to be expected that the loss of property would be enormous. Aside from the loss of merchants, grocery men and business men, the destruction of houshold goods and personal property was enormous. The loss of buildings also was great. Eight manufacturing establishments, 2 business houses, 40 dwellings, and 3 stables were entirely destroyed, and 179 dwelling houses, 133 barns and stables, 19 shops, 6 business houses, removed from their foundations. Graham & Marshall lost heavily in lumber and had their saw-mill swept away, while Henry Fitch's losses were nearly as large, although his mill stood firm.

As the water disappeared the destruction of property became more apparent. The houses generally presented a very shattered appearance; the windows were broken out, doors and sash smashed, and where the furniture had not been removed, bureaus, bedsteads, tables, and safes were tm-ned upside down, mirrors smashed, carpets, bed-clothing and wear ing apparel covered with slimy mud, and pianos injured beyond rep air.

1884. — The flood of February, 1884, was by far the greatest and most destructive known since white men took possession of the Ohio Valley. In December, of the winter of 1883-84, a great amount of snow fell; over this was spread several inches of fine hail, so that the amount of frozen water spread over the Ohio Valley was very great. Throughout January more snow fell, only a portion of which melted. Three feet of snow had fallen, and much of it was spread over the valley, or accumulated in drifts. At last came the warm storms from the southwest, and day after day there were heavy rains. All the conditions existed for a disastrous flood. Nowhere was it more destructive and frightful than at Lawrenceburgh. On Wednesday, Februai-y 6, 1884 at about noon of that day, the levee was still holding back the water between old Lawrenceburgh and Newtown and Hardintown; but along High Street, between Elm and St. Clair Streets, the waters from the Ohio began to pour into the city. Up to 10 o'clock at night but a very small part of the city had been visited by the waters, but at about this hour the levee at the locks, just below Hardintown, gave way, and the rushing element came with all its fury, spreading in wild confusion over the fields beyond, and in a few hours extending with rapidity all over the city, but, unlike 1882, it met the water from the Ohio, and thus the force of the current was broken, and but little damage was done to property on account of the rush of waters.

By 1 o'clock Thursday morning, the waters covered High Street, with the exception of that part of the street between Charlotte Street and the railroad crossing at the Miami Valley Furniture Factory. This point, the highest on High Street, was the last to become submerged. From this hour (Thursday morning at 6 o'clock) at which time there was about twelve inches on High Street, the rise was gradual until Thursday, the 14th; at 5:45 P. M., it came to a stand-still, and then remained apparently stationary for nearly five' hours, when it began slowly to recede, until on Thursday morning, 21st inst., the most of High Street was again visible, after being beneath the flood of waters for two weeks.

The water rose to such height that the force of its lifting power alone was sufficient to upturn buildings and break them in two; but to this force was added a boisterous wind-stoi'm that shook the buildings to their bases and lashed them with the furious waves until hundreds of buildings of various kinds left their foundations to be tossed upon the waters, broken to pieces or carried bodily into the river and lost forever to their owners.

On Thursday morning, February 15th, at 6 o'clock, the waters reached their highest point, being two feet eight inches higher at Lawrenceburgh than ever before known. The heights at various places in the city are here given:

Ferris' drug store, 8 feet 4 inches; Jordan's drug store, 8 feet 7 inches; Indiana House, 22 inches on second floor; Hilhnan's store, lOfeet 5 inches; Kieflfer's store, 5 inches on second floor; postoffice. 9 feet 5 inches; court house, 4 feet 6 inches; People's Bank, 8 feet 10 inches; Methodist Church, 1 inch on second floor. •

The entire village of Hardintown was under waterfor twelve days, and its inhabitants took refuge in the Bellview Church and with friends. Relief committees were organized and contributions were promptly sent from all parts of the country. The Lawrenceburgh Relief Committee received and disbursed over S20,000.

Large quantities of provisions were bought, and liberal donations of bedding, clothing, food and coal were received from various parts of the country to relieve the distresses of the 3,000 persons driven from their homes by the flood. When the waters subsided many houses were found wrecked, which the owners were unable to repair. A blank form of application for relief was prepared and the owner was required to show, under oath, his or her inability to repair the damages. One hundred and eighty -seven of these were tiled, of which 160 were granted.

Eleven houses were completely swept away, tifty-four were off the foundation, some of them several hundred feet, and fourteen of them turned over. An efficient force of movers, carpenters, stone and brick masons, plasterers, and laborers were engaged to repair the damages.

The executive committee compromised a large number of cases, allowing the owners to do the work themselves, or have it done, and the amount was paid on certificate that it was completed.

The following is a table of the highest water marks, as kept on record at Cincinnati, for the years mentioned below:

1833, February 18 64 feet 3 in.
1847, December 17 63 feet 7 in
1859, February 22 55 feet 5 in.
1862, January 24 57 feet 4 in
1865, March 7 56 feet 3 in.
1867, March 14 55 feet 8 in.
1870, January 19 55 feet 3 in.
1875, August 6 55 feet 5 in.
1882, February 21 58 feet 7 in.
1883, February 15 66 feet 4 in.
1884, February 14 71 feet 3 in.

The river gauge at Cincinnati is at the water works. The zero of the guage corresponds, as nearly as it was possible to make it at the time it was established, with the Four-mile Bar above the city. The figures above given show the depth of the water on that bar, and are not a true guide to water in the river channel. When there is twenty-three inches of water on the Four-mile Bar there is fifteen feet in the channel opposite the water- works. If thirteen feet, therefore, be added to the above figures, it will approximate the depth of water in the channel at Cincinnati,

On account of the greater quantities of water poured out from the Great Miami at some floods than others, the relative heights at Cincinnati and Lawrenceburgh are not the same; thus, in 1884, the waters at Cincinnati were four feet eight and three-fourths inches higher than in 1883, while at Lawrenceburgh they were but three feet four inches higher.above given show the depth of the water on that bar, and are not a true guide to water in the river channel. When there is twenty-three inches of water on the Four-mile Bar there is fifteen feet in the channel opposite the water- works. If thirteen feet, therefore, be added to the above figures, it will approximate the depth of water in the channel at Cincinnati,

Footnotes:Taken from the Book "History of Dearborn and Ohio Counties, Indiana"