Decatur Daily Democrat, Volume 11, Number 73, Decatur, Adams County, 26 March 1913 — Page 1

Volume XI. Number 73.

FLOODS SWEEP OVER INDIANA AND OHIO

|CAUSING DEATH AND GREAT DISASTER

Score of Dead Taken From the Streets of Peru Indiana— I Total Will Reach Three Hundred

HUNDREDS DEAD AT DAYTON I (United Press Service) L Peru, Ind., Mar. 26 (Special to ally Democrat) —Twenty-five persons are known to be dead and the estimate is placed at 100, in this city, as the result of the most terrible flood known to this section, occurring late last when the Wabash river roseunexpectedly fast. Hundreds of Peru people are marooned in buildings, which are likely to crumble at any time. Eye-witnesses counted a score or more of bodies, mostly women and «i|hildren floating along the streets, carried by the torrents. Two women ■were seen to slip from the roof of one building where they had dug for hours, until completely exhausted. Famine of food and water to drink is • adding to the suffering today. F Indianapolis, Ind., Mar. 26 —(special to Daily Democrat) —Paralyzed by a tie-up of industry and transportation, with a loss of lives estimated at from 100 to 1,000, and a property loss believed to exceed ten million dollars, Indiana is today suffering from the worst, flood in her history. Peru was the worst sufferer. The town of Brookville was entirely wiped out, but all communication is cut off. Estimates of the dead are impossible. The entire Wabash valley is a desolate scene. Its scores of prosperous cities are paralyzed and are cut off from the outer world. The loss of life along the rivers is very large. The conditions are fierce. Indianapolis has suffered a loss of more than $2,500,000 to property already. Ten thousand houses including some of the finest residences of the city are flooded. Th- homeless are in schools, public halls and scattered over the city with friends and relatives. When the Washington and Morriss street bridges gave way letting in the wild torrents of water, it gave rise to the report that many were drowned, but the rumor is not confirmed. Fort Wayne, Ind., Mar. 26—(Special to Daily Democrat) —Over five thousand people are homeless in this city as a result of the floods. The dyke in Lakeside gave away last night after a two days’ fight and hundreds were forced to flee for their lives. There is much suffering in 1 Nebraska, Bloomingdale and other sections of the city. The water is us to ■Within three bloks of the court house, and is ten feet deep near the interurban station. The water is at a standstill. One man named Cramer was drowned last night. He was taking Harry Hogan, the well known attorney, over to Bloomingdale to assist in rescuing friends when the boat overturned and Cramer was drowned. Hogan was rescued. Huntington, Mar. 26 —(Special to Daily Democrat) —Two hundred are homeless here as the result of the high waters and business is at a Standstill. Many of the business houses are badly damaged and stock in a dozen places ruined. At Markle seventy people are homeless, but no lives are reported lost. The water here fell twenty inches today. The property loss will be large. Bluffton, Mar. 26 —(Special to Daily Democrat) —This city was in darkness last night because of the fact that the city lighting plant went out of commission from the flood. All bridges have held, and there has been but little suffering here. Dayton, Ohio, Mar. 26 —(By message to Lebanon, Ohio) —Dayton is today a city of dead, dying, homeless and grief-stricken. The enormity of the catastrophe cannot be known until the last dead body has been taken from the flood that covers half the city, and the last charred body is taken from the ruins of the Are that is spreading unchecked through the south part of the city. The dead maynumber 100 or it may number 1,000. The whole story will never be told, the wonderful heroism of brave men, the martyrdom of queenly women. Many dropped quietly into a watery grave that some one else might be saved; others leaped to death rather than become victims of the flames raging all about them. Many waited in their homes for relief until the advancing flames came and destroyed them. An eye-witness declares that one man shot his wife, three children and then himself, rather than suffer death from the flames. The hotels are crowded with guests and the water is up many feet. The wares of the stores are floating away; the Jails filled with prisoners are Inundated; hospitals with thousands of patients are imprisoned .by floods. On the hills south of Dayton, last night, were camped 25,000 men, women and children, drenched by the rain, chilled by the winds and sorrowing over the loss of loved relatives and dear friends. People in the down-town buildings are imprisoned in the third stories. Columbus, Ohio, Mar. 26—(Special to Dally Democrat)—"The flood victims at Dayton will total 200, mostly women and children. A temporary morgue has been established. Twenty men in boats are serving as | a life-saving crew and connecting wires.” This was the contents of a I message received by Governor Cox this morning from the wire chief at W Dayton. Columbus, Ohio, Mar. 26-(Special t oDally Democrat)-Wlth more I than 250,000 people driven from thtir homes, whole towns laid waste and a loss Impossible to estimate, Ohio is today at the mercy of a flood that I shows no signs of abating. "It is the most terrible catastrophe in the history of Ohio,” said Governor Cox today in a messt-ge to President WilI aon, in which he appealed for aid, asking for 50,0 M tents, a million raI tions, medical supplies, surgeons and nurses. thousand, five hung dred militiamen are ready for service as so«n as transportation can be S* secured / ’ Columbus, Ohio, Mar. 26-(Special to Daily Democrat)-The city of I Hamilton has been practically wiped out by the flood, according to unconM firmed rumors. More than 500 are reported dead there.

DECATUR DAILY DEMOCRAT

“DECATUR CAN AND WILL”

Decatur, Indiana. Wednesday Evening, March 26, 1913.

THE WATERS ARE RECEDING Went Down Three Inches Today—Reached High Water Mark at 7 a. m. THE ICE HOUSES GO Conter Ice Cream Co. Loses Heavily—Flood News from About Decatur. According to C. C. Ernst, who has been watching the flood at Monroe street crossing and particularly the levee just east of town, the building of which he superintended last fall, estimates that the river when it reached its highest point at 7 o’clock this morning, was four feet and eight Jnches higher than ever before in history. He estimates this statement from the fact that the water was never closer than fourteen inches to the old bridge and adds the Increased height of the new bridge. According to his figures the water fell three inches up to 2 o’clock this afternoon. Ice House Goes Out. At 6:30 o’clock this morning the large Conter ice house near the north St. Mary’s river bridge, could not withstand the swirling floods of water that dashed about its walls to a depth of six feet or more, and the entire building with its 800 tons of ice was swept down the river. The loss on the ice will be about $1,500. The building which belonged to Julius Haugk will be a loss of about $1,200. The Conter plant has five other ice houses filled with ice and four of these it is expected will go at any time. Three are located at Steele’s park and are in water about six feet deep. One of the others which is in a similar depth, is located near the Conter Ice Cream plant, and a second near the plant has not yet been touched by the water. Boat in Swift Current. Sheriff Durkin received a call for aid Tuesday evening near dusk from the McClure family at Steele's park, who asked for a boat to be used in getting to their horses in the stable. There was ten feet of water between the house on dry ground and the submerged stable. Mr. Durkin sent out Charles Moore and Albert Haverman, two young men, who left the east river bridge in a boat. The boat got into the swift current and was drawn over near the Teeple sand pit, where it could not be moved one way or the other. The oars fitted in only one oar lock and in an attempt to get the other in place, Ilaverman got up and pounded with his foot. , Anxious watchers expected to see him go back into the water or upset the boat. They finally got over and they were telephoned to not try to return during the night. They returned here this morning and brought the McClures along. Rides from Wren, Ohio. Mrs. Oliver Johnson and daughter, Ruth, of south of the city, returned home Tuesday afternoon from Wren, Ohio, near which place they visited over Easter with her sister, Mrs. Belle Lichtensteiger, who lives three miles from wren. Mrs. Johnson come in over the Erie, arriving here at 4 o’clock on a train made up at Lima, Ohio. She was the only lady passenger on the train. At Wren, Ohio, the town is flooded and the water comes up into the store buildings. In driving to the depot, Mrs. Johnson passed through water hub-deep in places.

I *A:l:*sk*sk***ik** $ THE WEATHER. * * * Unsettled, with rain or snow * tonight and Thursday. Colder * tonight. sfc I * « * This is the government’s pre- * * diction issued today and offers #' * but little hope for relief from the * * floods. Another twenty-four $ * hours of rain would mean even * greater disaster than heretofore. * * Your prayers should be for fair * * skies. * *******s*****s Great fear was occasioned in crossing the railroad bridges ,and in many places the track was under water. Guarding the Bridges. Two men, Adam Deain and Walter Noack, in boats, watched Tuesday night at the Interurban bridge over the St. Mary’s river north of town, and had it not been for their care in clearing away the debris, floating trees, lumber and rubbish, it is thought the bridges would not have been saved. Another force of men was sent out today to guard the bridges, and it is thought that both county and interurban bridges at this point will be saved. The effort made yesterday to raise the interurban cars at the car barns above water failed. The raising was attempted by placing jacks under the cars, which punched holes through the cement floors, which gave way when the lifting was attempted, and it was necessarily abandoned. The cars are now in about two feet of water. From 4 o’clock yesterday afternoon until 3 this morn-| Ing, the water raised five inches. The engine room, which is about six feet higher than the boiler room, is en-' tirely clear of the water and the engine will luckily be saved, free from injury. About five or six barrels of oil was stored in the power house basement. Half was saved. News along the line is hard to get. About a quarter of a mile of the track north 1 of the river bridge is washed away, against the poles at the side, where it is held in place. The track at the 1 Monmouth bridge is under water, as 1 is about a quarter of a mile at the Marion bridge near the Hockemeyer place. Food to the watchers at the bridge is being taken out in boats. A Milk Famine. The milk, butter and egg supply in the city is running low. Dairymen from out of town have not been able to make their routes, and the city is dependent upon what few cows there are within the limits. In cases of bottle-fed babies, dependent upon a certain cow’s supply, the case may be serious. Butter is also running low, as the farmers cannot come to market. Eggs also are running low. It is thought the supply of staple provisions in the city would last a week or two without replenishment from the outside world, though butter, oleomarbarine. butterine, etc., would be unknown luxuries. Picture Show Famine. Will Parent, of the Crystal theater, Is wondering what moving picture showmen will do when the extra films they carry, are used. There will probably be a ceasing of shows until the new films can come in from the outside world. Condition on the G. R. 4 I. The latest reports from the officials of the G. R. & I. railroad is that the road is in no greater danger than yesterday. The steel bridge crossing the St. Mary's river in the north part of (ConUnuee on rage 2) * NATIONAL CALAMITY. * * * * Washington, D. C., Mar. 26— * * (Special to Dally Democrat) — * * President Wilson today Issued * * the following appeal In connec- A * tlon with the floods: "The ter- * * rlble floods In Ohio and Indiana * * have assumed the proportions of * * a national calamity, the loss of * * life and the Infinite suffering In- * * volved, prompts me to Issue an * * earnest appeal to all who are * * able to assist the workers and to * * send contributions at once to the * * Red Cross Society at Washing- * * ton.” * **>)>««*** * *‘ * » » ♦ 1

ARE OPENING UP Rural Routes Out of City More Passable-Carriers Go Further Out ON ROUTES TODAY Mail is Only Local—No Mails Received Over Railroads Today With the subsiding of the creeks and smaller streams during the night, the rural carriers out of this city were able to make further deliveries today. The mail h.owever, is chiefly local, as no mails from the outside world have been received since the two of yesterday. Those were in the morning over ■ the G. R. & 1. from Fort Wayne; and from the west over the C. & E. the train due here at 1:30 yesterday afternoon arrived an hour late. trains on the Erie for today were also ! announced annulled between Salamonica, N. Y., and Chicago. Clyde Rice, carrier on Route 5, made half his route by automobile, when he was stopped by a cluvert washout of two feet, near the Pete Brown road, south of the city, and also by two feet of water near the J. P. Davis home. Three carriers it is thought would be able to cover their routes. They were Henry Fuhrman, 4, In Preble and Root townships; Ray Christen 11 in Preble township; and Will Engle, 2, in Kirkland and Washington townships. I Elmer Archer, got as far as the Lutz home, south where he was stopped by the floods over the road; 'Warren Mamerick, route 10, got as far the John Leimenstoll and Henry Meyers farms south of town, and Earl Butler, 1, found his route blocked at the Suman home near the fertilizer plant. Five rural mail carriers whose routes take them out over the east and north river bridge, where I the water still covers the road, were unable to go out at all. They are; Martin Jaberg, 8; Will Biggs; Roy Wolford, 3; Maud Magley, 12; S. S. 7. The city carriers made little excursions out with small batches of drop letters and circulars, which came in from time to time from local boxes. One carrier had several which he was taking back to the sender, marked “no such postoflice known" as adressed. o — ATE THE TABLETS Little Daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Harry Fleming Has Narrow Escape. CLIMBED TO TABLE And Got Medicine Left for Mother—Had Several Convulsions. Loura, two-year-old daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Harry Fleming, had a narrow escape from death Tuesday, when she crawled to a table and got some tonic tablets left for her mother, and ate one or more of them. It was not thought at first that she had eaten any of them, but she went into convulsions and the great danger soon became apparent. A doctor was called, who emptied the stomach, administered a hypodermic, and antidotes and the little one was soon out of danger. She suffered about four or five convulsions during the time of her Illness. The occurrence should prove a warning to everybody to keep all medicine away from the reach of a child. — o — UNCLE HEZEKIAH OBSERVED. T hev th’ name uv hearln’ things furst is no credit except t’ a nusepapur reporter.

LATE REPORTS WORSE Forty Dead at Brookville, 300 at Peru, 2000 at Dayton, 50 at Tiffin, 300 at Piqua, Hamilton in Ruins (Received at 2:30 p. m.) South Bend., Ind., Mar. 26—(Special to Daily Democrat) —“We have positive assurances from Peru this afternoon that the death list will reach three hundred," said the manager of the Bell Telephone company. The South Bend exchange has been In d rest communication with the stricken city for several hours. Twenty-five persons were drowned in the county building alone. There are 300 people crowded in the upper story of that building while 1,000 are huddled about the foundations of the building, with the flood lapping their feet. The water la receding rapidly this afternoon and it is believed that rescuers will be able to get on the streets to search for bodies by tomorrow. 4 Connersville, Ind., Mar. 26—(Special to Dally Democrat)—Forty persons were drowned at Brookvjlle, Franklin county, Indiana, when the banks of the river, east of town, gave way Monaa ynight, according to authentic information received here this afternoon. Twelve houses were swept from their foundations and the occupants were undoubtedly drowned. The townspeople believed the water would not damage the levy as they had stood other serious floods. Survivors tell of seeing one family of five children clinging to a bed which was kept Into the main stream and lost. Railroad bridges, the big paper mill and miles of the Big Four track on the Cincinnati branch are wiped out The survivors gathered in the churches immediately after the accident and prayed that those swept away might be saved. Not one has been rescued and so far as known none escaped. No bodies have been recovered. t Tiffin, Ohio, Mar. 26 —Special to Daily Democrat) —Fifty are dead here in the worst flood in history of this section. The chief of police and the mayor are missing and are believed to be drowned. Sidney, Ohio, Mar. 26 —(Special to Daily Democrat) — Between three and five hundred drowned is the toll at Piqua, Ohio, according to dispatches received here this afternoon. The streets are in torrents. Columbus, Ohio, Mar. 26—(Special to Daily Democrat) —George Burba, secretary to the governor, today wired from Springfield, where he had gone in an attempt to reach Dayton, the governor’s home: “Death list may reach 2,000. Property damage is ten million dollars. River four miles wide. Can’t get anywhere. Worst calamity since the Galveston flood.” Hamilton, Ohio, Mar. 26—(Special to Daily Democrat) —The paper mills valued at $500,000, including building and machinery, collapsed this morning. At midnight the plants of the Columbia Carriage Works and the Dumer Cotton Works went down with a loss of $50,000 and SIO,OOO. During the night the Champion paper mills, second largest of the kind in the world, and the Bender planing mill, valued at $200,000, burned to the ground.

PLAY HERE TONIGHT. “The Light Eternal” company showed last night to a fairly good-sized audience at the Bosse opera house. The bad weather kept many from witnessing this wonderful dramatic production. The show is one of the best ever staged here and everyone enjoyed it to the utmost. On account of the high waters which compels them to stay here tonight they will show again. Te price of admission will be fifty cents for downstairs and twentyfive cents for the upstairs. You will not regret the money spent for admission if you see this wonderful production. ILLINOIS SELECTS SENATORS. Springfield, 111., Mar. 26—(Special to Daily Democrat) —Col. James Hamilton Lewis, democrat, and Lawrence Sherman, republican, were today elected United States Senators from this state after a three months' struggle. The election was accomplished by a combination of demorcats and republicans. SETTLES FOR INJURY. Charles Helm received a check yesterday from the Southern Surety company for sl2 which covered the amount due James Smith for injuries that happened to him while working at the Vail Hoop company. —a BIRTH OF A BOY. Joseph Wertzberger is the name of i the big bouncing boy born to Mr. and ■ Mrs. Barney Wertzberger of this city Tuesday morning.

Price, Two Cent*.

MRS. GEN. TOM THUMB. At the Bosse Opera House Thursday, March 27. This world’s famous little woman, formerly wife of General Tom Thumb, but now the Countess Magri, is now 71 years of age, the most remarkably preserved woman in America. She does not seem to grow old. Mrs. General Tom Thumb has been before the public for fifty years, appearing in all the principal cities of the United States and Europe. Her husband, Tom Thumb (Charles S. Stratton) died tn 1883, and after mourning for a considerable time, she married Count Pleno Magri, an Italian nobleman, also a Lilliputian. They were married in 1885. Mrs. Thumb Is the possessor of a comfortable fortune, and at the end of this season It is her Intention to bid good-bye and farewell to the public, and make her abode for the rest of her days at her beautiful mansion, Idlewild, at Mlddleboror, Mass. Matinee at 8:80, Children, 1 10 c; adults, 20c. I — ■ ■ o » GENEVA WATERS HIGH. Geneva, Ind., Mar. 26—(Special to Daily Democrat) —Geneva is suffer- ■ Ing little from the floods, though the ■ waters are higher than the oldest res- » ident remembers. Three railroad ’ bridges on the G. R. & I. which are In ? danger of washouts, it Is thought, will be saved. This is the one over the Wabash a mile north of Geneva near Ceylon, the one Over the Lob and the f one over the Lfmberlost south of 1 town. Bags of sand were used in rer inforcing the Wabash bridge. All trains are cut off from the town.