1913 Flood

Market Sreet, south of Fourteenth street, is pond of muddy water, and many amusing as well as serious scenes were enacted throughout yesterday and last night. Boats of almost every description were being operated on the street and in the store rooms and other places of business, those who were riding past were able to see distinctly and clearly that much damage was being done. The district lying between Fifteenth street and the creek bridge especially was severely handicapped as a result of the water, and but for the fact that the water reached far above the floors of all business houses in that section, Market street might have been likened unto a small Venice.

Parties of every description plied back and forth on the waters and, although the winds at times were biting and cold, those who were out apparently had no concern. They were happy and the "red-eye" flowed as the water became higher and toward evening there were many who had partaken of quite a large quantity.

Boats were at a premium and at times there were dozens of persons standing on the high places and in buildings along the route awaiting an opportunity to secure a boat to go either to the business district or to South Wheeling, and many others who were returning from their daily work were held up by the small number of boats. In many cases exhorbitant prices were charged for a trip, but those who were forced to ride or swim, parted with the coin.

The flood caught many business men on Main street unprepared and as a result the loss will be very heavy for some. Merchandise of every description was caught in the rise and one local wholesale house reported that practically everything on the first flood had been lost.

One saloon on the south side was apparently vacated by the proprietor hurriedly, as much of the stock including a line of choice liquors were left upon the bar, and afforded a temptation to many to try to get within to get at it. In a confectionery on Market street a bunch of bananas was left hanging in the window and the water had reached to the bottom of the bunch.

Retaurants in the deluged portion of the business district suffered considerably and the water was high within the rooms. Furniture, food and fixtures could be seen floating around on the water within the buildings. The day was an exciting one for citizens of the city in general and for many who were fortunate enough to own boats it was a profitable one. High fares were asked for passages and in the majority of cases, the prices were paid.

Wheeling Intelligencer, March 28, 1913, p. 5