1884 Flood in Bellevue

What follows is the coverage of the 1884 flood from the Cincinnati Enquirers on February 15, 16, and 17, 1884:  

February 15, 1884

At Bellevue, Ky., things are still in a horrible condition.  People work all night, endeavoring to keep the floating houses anchored to keep them from floating away.  The Relief Committee have worked faithfully to keep down the suffering, but are poorly encouraged by the slow coming in of relief.  Some twenty or thirty houses are now in danger, and if the water recedes rapidly or a wind comes up they will be in still more danger.  The houses have been twisted all out of shape, and can not be settled on their original foundations.  People are cursing the Kentucky Legislature in every corner.  There is no great suffering in this place, but the damage to property will be great.  

February 16, 1884  

At Bellevue the distressed situation remains unchanged, and the Committee on Relief feel highly elated over the satisfactory work they have accomplished.  At this place there are forty-eight houses in the flooded district, twenty of which are afloat, and lifted from their foundations.  As the water recedes a vigilant watch is kept over them in order to settle them on their foundations.  The houses of Messrs. Smyrl, Gallagher, and Knapp are the only ones that have floated away.  The Relief Committee are feeding three hundred persons every day, and the number seems not to diminish with the water.  This place has been cruelly neglected in the way of relief.  The Committee has only received a total of $358 and of this amount, $300 was subscribed from their own little town.  There will be a large demand for coal in the next few days, and it is only fair to say that this committee should receive relief from some source.  Considering the noble fight the committee has made, it is but just that they should receive a donation of provisions or clothing from outside of the city.   The houses afloat were all secured yesterday by ropes to keep them from being carried out by the current.  

February 17, 1884  

Things at this place present a rather horrible looking sight, but nothing compared to Dayton, or Newport.  The Relief Committee have been encouraged recently by a few donations, and are striving hard to keep hunger from flooded people.  There is a large demand for coal, which is steadily increasing.  There is no actual suffering among the people and by next week the committee will have funds enough to run them through the week.