skingum 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
a