Scioto River Flood Letter

              1 
Saturday Feb 9th [superscript] 1884 [in different color ink] 
My own Dear Ettie 
I believe I will write a few lines 
to you, for I have a dread of the flood that is 
coming, one cannot tell what [underlined] may happen - I Love 
you my Darling I love you. 
The water is still [underlined] rising.  Will has been going 
about town all day, seeing the dreadful destruction 
the water is causing.  I expect some family will 
soon be here to ask for our stable, for we are 
on the highest ridge in town.  Last year we 
could not see the water in any direction from 
our house. 
Sunday Morning 
At 6 oclock we were wakened by the fire bells 
ringing.  It sounded terrible for the Water Works 
stopped Friday.  At 9 oclock Will returned.  The 
fire was in a block entirely surrounded by 
water.  Will went in a boat to see it.  They 
had to take the Engine on a coal barge to 
reach it, nearly a block burned containing 
the Telegraph office, and the Telephone 
office.  Ettie! I can see the water coming 
in the gutter from our front gate.  It comes 
two ways!  It is the back water of of the Scioto. 
Perhaps it will reach us!  We cannot hear from 
above.  The Telegraph and Telephone office is 
gone.  Telegraph poles down.  The Rail cars 
cannot get near [underlined] here.  They don't run Steam 
Boats.  I don't know why_ We are shut 
off indeed.  No one can help us. !