Portsmouth, OH Flood, Jan 1907

PORTSMOUTH IN FLOOD'S GRASP

Broad Famine Adds Terror to the Homeless.

Portsmouth, O., Jan. 20.-A terrific storm and the sudden breaking of the levees caused Portsmouth a night of terror and today found only a few scattered portions of the city had escaped the flood. Hundreds of people were asleep when the rush of the waters of the Scioto came and scores had remarkable escapes from drowning. The water rose so rapidly that people had no time to save anything. Few could render any assistance to the helpless. It was necessary to chop in roofs to rescue some imprisoned families.

Many found refuge in box cars and on house tops till daybreak.

The men in charge of the flood pumping station were forced to desert their posts and flee for their lives, leaving the structure in flames.

The river has reached 61.3 which is the highest record since the flood of 1884, but it is now about stationary. It is estimated that 10,000 people in this city and suburbs have been driven from their homes.

A fierce gale tore some houses and stables from their foundations and swept them down stream.

Street car traffic has been entirely suspended and all railroad trains have been annulled.

A bread famine and a lack of water, gas and light supply combined to make the situation extremely critical.

Morning World-Herald, Omaha, NE 21 Jan 1907

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Business Paralyzed.

Portsmouth, O., Jan 19.-The Ohio river passed the 59-foot mark and the outlook is decidedly serious. Flood defenses can not resist rising water much longer, and a great property damage is a certain result. Business is paralyzed. All the shoe factories and many other leading industries are shut down. Merchants on the principal streets are moving and are boarding up their store fronts. The additional schools have been thrown open for use of the flood sufferers, 1,000 of whom have been forced to flee from their homes. It is still raining.

The Newark Advocate, Newark, OH 19 Jan 1907

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Levees Gave Way.

Portsmouth, O., Jan 21.-A terrific storm and the sudden breaking of the levees caused Portsmouth a night of terror. Only a few scattered portions of the city have escaped the flood. Hundreds of people were asleep in their homes when the mad rush of the waters from the Scioto came, and scores had remarkable escapes from drowning. The water rose so rapidly that people had no time to save anything, and few could render any assistance to the helpless. It was necessary to chop in the roof to rescue some imprisoned families. Many found refuge in box cars and on housetops. Much live stock was lost.

The Newark Advocate, Newark, OH 21 Jan 1907

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Almost the entire business section of Portsmouth was under water and the entire north and west end floodbound, while 5,000 people driven from their homes were sheltered in schools and churches, and the city was without gas or water service.

The Newark Advocate, Newark, OH 22 Jan 1907
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Transcribed by Linda Houston. Thank you, Linda!