Decatur Daily Democrat, Volume 11, Number 74, Decatur, Adams County, 27 March 1913 — Page 1

Volume XI. Number 74,

latest reports increase thehorror

I PERU IS A CITY OF DEAD! I I Dozens of Bodies Float Down River™' | Bhzzards add to the Sufferings of I the Homeless at Dayton ■ (United Press Service) | Indianapolis. Ind ., Mar . 2 7- ( s P9Clal to | ter. in Indiana are considered to be lowering but intense suffering is re;g ported in the Wabash river valley cities, which have been without food, >■* drinking water and fuel for three davs a t „ nays, a relief train reached Peru I late last night and sixty boats are engaged in carrying supplies over the intervening waters to the 3,000 refugees ln the I Peru, Ind., Mar. 27-(Special to Daily I>mocrat) _ The i OB9 of Hfe ® here is still unknown. More bodies , uwujr a.e Hourly reported and dozens are I seen floating down the streams. Twelve bodies were found in one house. I Twenty bodies floated as far as Logansport and were taken from untfer | the interurban bridge. Reports from Log aDßport are that many Hve , were ■ lost in that city. Several hundred inhabitants have fled to the hills and I thousands of others are crowded in the school houses and churcheß Iden . titled dead at Peru are: MRS. ROSE WHITLAND. MRS. OPIE SMITH. Two babies were born in the county building. In the few houses in the center of the the town, still untouched by the flood the refugees are crowded and remain in bed to keep warm. People are dipping up the yellow oose of the flood and those fortunate enough to be near a stove are hailing it; others are drinking it without to quench the awful thirst. Measles and mumps are prevalent and many new cases are reported in the buildings where hundreds are crowded. Doctors predict a pestilence that will, take more lives than did the flood. The dead body of a woman with her arms clasped about the body of a man were seen whirling down the river. The family of the roadmaster of the Lake Erie railroad are said to have floated down the river in a house. A woman and child were taken from the front porch of a house, where they had been for thlr ty-six hours. The child had the mumps and was gasping Its dying breath when found. Men and women slept on the concrete floors of the court house last night without covering and without bedding. One negro occupied the judges’ chair. Where there are stoves up, the people are burning the furniture to keep warm, a prayer of thanks went up when the first boat from the relief train arrived with food. Twenty car loads will be necessary to avoid a famine. Kokomo, Wabash. Logansport and Lafayette ar> in a terrible plight without any relief whatever in sight. Several persms have gone insane from thirst and hunger. No further reports haveoeen received from the flooded region along the White river in I'rankh county. The latest estimate is that 17 persons were drowned at prokville and the loss of life at Whitemore, Cedar Grove and New Tr.nton, which were wiped out, is unknown. Springfield, 0., Mar. 27—(SpecU to Daily Democrat)—Charles VanHorne, a rescuer, who has gone further into the flood and fire district of Dayton, reached here early his morning unnerved by what he saw and heard. His is the first stor; of an eye witness to be given to the world. No man so far darel to venture this far because of the swirling currents which made the tip a very perilous one. His story follows; “J hope my eyes will never agam be furnished to such sights as those of the past few hours. This awtil banning cannot be exaggerated. It has been said that 500 are deal. I should place the number at 2,500 We ■went to Third and St. Claire streets, which is further than anybody has ever gone. Twice the boats were struck by swirling bodies. They turned like spools on a machne in the whirlpool. We reached out and touched a woman s head one, and when we reached for her the second time we touched the bearded face of a man. We went as near the fire as possible. Some of the people in the buildings saw us and we heard their frantic and terrible cries Or help. We looked up and saw them wave to us and then fall back Into the flames. We could’nt do a thing for them. When we finally had to letve, the fire had covered two blocks and was spreading rapidly. We heard screams and cries for help on every hand,, and some of these cries same from the direction of the Beckel building. The whole of Dayton will be burned unless the fire is in some manner ex.vi ~ ’nhoned to the Adams wholetingulshed We can do nothing here, we puuuvu . j □ cmi.vrp above and they were able to sale house which is situated half a square auo e J . v min. was at that time threatened with destrucrescue five women. The building was at tnai uu. In the second story window but on account tlon by Are. The women were in the secona aw j . . unable to get close to the window, of the swift current, the boats were unable to g 1 ib.- wnmen tumped into the water and Screaming for help and rescue the women . We then rowed to Clinton street and were pulled out by the rescuers, we tnen , rrnm a residence. They had been standing waist there we got two girls from a reßln 1 u were Immediately taken to the hosdeep in water for eight hours. They .. jon the way. I never again want to live Vital in the boat, bXtt one died on the way. through such a nigjht of horror. , ’ March 27~(Speclal to Dally Democrat)—The bust-, pringfield, Oh , frightful blizzard is sweeping the ness section of Jtayton is on fire -d a Jri g t « Fount ,/ st c..« «'«'• “> b , lna> , wn . A Wtelara down. It is s Jreadlng in all directions as the add. to til horrors of condiHuntingaon, Ind., • d The lighting plant got into shape tions here fare considers!) y ■ wander ed O ff the levee here last night, /giving much re t ■ riTer go!ng down glowly y-terday, f bu t was rescued At M»rk and the pJ. o ple are moving back int -■<-

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“DECATUR CAN AND' WILL”

DAYTON FIRE j STILL RAGES Twenty-one Big Buildings Have Been Consumed and Loss is a Million. RED CROSS AID Is Asked by Governor Ralston — President Wilson Sends Secretary West. ************** * THE WEATHER. * * * * Indianapolis, Ind. Mar. 27— * * (Special to Daily Democrat)) — * * For the first time In many years * * no official government weather * * prediction was issued today. The * * skies are fair here and it is hop- * * ed the rains are over. * ************** (Received from United Press at 3:00 o'clock this afternoon.) Dayton, Ohio, Mar. 27—(Special to Daily Democrat)—The fire that has been raging in this city was still burning at 2:45 this afternoon. Twen-ty-one large buildings have been destroyed and the fire loss is one million dollars now. At one time it was reported to be under control, but it got away again. Over 1,000 people along the right-of-way of the Pennsylvania railway have been rescued by a relief train on that road. — Columbus, Ohio, Mar. 27—(Special to Daily Democrat) —Governor Cox at 2:15 this afternoon received a message from the adjutant general at Dayton that 500 coffins were needed there at once as the rescue work is about to begin. Columbus, Ohio, Mar. 27—(Special to Daily Democrat) —Reports from rescue boats which have entered the flood districts on the west side of the city indicate that the death list In this city will reach several hundred. Bodies were found In trees, others lodged in debris and others were seen floating in houses. A city fireman says he saw 100 bodies in a United Brethren church on the west side. Washington, D. C., Mar. 27—(Special to Daily Democrat) —President Wilson this afternoon, after he had decided to go to Ohio himself, changed his mind and ordered his secretary of war to make the journey and to give him a complete report and survey of the conditions In Ohio and Indiana. The president declares that he will go himself If this Is not hurried and satisfactory. Indianapolis, Ind., Mar. 27—(Special to Dally Democrat) —Governor Ralston has asked the Red Cross society at Washington for aid. A plea for expert help In managing the dlsease wave that Is expected to follow the flood was sent. Lafayette, Ind., Mar. 27—(Special to Dally Democrat) —An Indirect report from Logansport says that a numOONTIN* T BD ON PAG7D THREE ************** * "GOVERNOR CALLS US. * * * * At 11:30 o’clock this morning, * * Governor Ralston called this of- * * flee and asked for the condition * * of the flood, having heard of the * * breaking of the reservoir at St. * * Mary’s. Calls came from all over * * the country and the scare was a * * genuine one while it lasted. * **************

Decatur, Indiana. Thursday Evening, March 27, 1913.

********* *****! * ESTIMATE OF DEAD. *' * * I * OHIO. * I* Dayton ..2500 * Zanesville 15..* * Piqua 400 * * Troy 200 * * Columbus 150 * * Tiffin 50 * * Hamilton 200 * * Miamisburg 800 * | * Delaware 33 * * * * INDIANA. * * West Indianapolis 200 * * Peru 300 * * Brookville 17 * * Fort Wayne 4 * * Logansport 25 * * Scattering 50 * ************** FEW DEMOCRATS Listed Among Rural Mail Carriers in Indiana-Re-publican Majority HAVE APPOINTMENTS Adams County Has Six Democratic Rural Car- • riers According to Cox. 1 __ i A staff correspondent for the Indijanapolis Star from Washington, D. C., : says: “The result of an investigation into . i the politics of rural mail carriers in Indiana has just been filed with Postmaster General Burleson by Louis ! 1 Zoercher, secretary to William E. Cox, , representative from the third Indiana ' district. “It shows that under the operations . of the civil service by the administration of former President Taft an overwhelming percentage of those who have secured appointments as rural 1 carriers in Indiana are republicans, i; “Through the various democratic i district chairmen Representative Cox ' set machinery in operation to gather ' rural carrier statistics for each coun'ty. The results as turned over to 1 Postmaster General Burleson are in 1 the nature of a preliminary report, as i a number of Indiana counties have i not yet been heard from. I “A summary report submitted by Mr. Cox, through his secretary, shows I the politics of rural carriers in Indi- • ana counties as follows: II First District —Ginson county, all . republicans; others, 1 prohibitionist, 1 socialists; 13 democrats; 95 republicans. Second District —Martin county, all ; republicans; other counties, 13 dem- ; ocrats, 72 republicans. ) Third District—Eight democrats; I 42 republicans. Fourth District—2l democrats, 184 republicans. ' Fifth District—2l republicans. Sixth District —6 democrats, 140 re- . publicans. Seventh District—29 republicans. Eighth District — • Tenth District—3 democrats, 59 republicans. Eleventh District—Twelve republi- . cans. , I Thirteenth District—l democrat; 31 republicans I In the entire list of counties on ' which the report is made Brown Is the only one where the number of • democratic carriers exceeds the numi ber of the democrats having one more carrier in that county than the republicans—3 democrats and 2 republicans in all. ' | The greatest discrepancy is in Randolph county, where there are thirtyfive more republicans than democratic carriers. It is expected that when the new ! administration issues an order reopi. ening postal places to civil service : competition the table sumbitted by : Representative Cox as to conditions : in Indiana will be cited as the basis ! for justification of a change in meth- ; ■ ods that will accomplish a more neari| ly equal division of postal jobs. Cox :, also is compiling similar statistics i with reference to the politics of Indi- ' ana fourth-class postmasters.

BELIEVE HE SUICIDED Dr. W. R. Brayton, Geneva Physician, Found Dead in Office Today. CHLOROFORM BOTTLE Empty, Found by His Side —Had Been Despondent for Some Time. Geneva, Ind., Mar. 27 —(Special to Daily Democrat) —Dr. W. R. Brayton, aged sixty years, a well 'known Geneva physician, was found dead in bis office in Geneva this morning at 8 o’clock. An empty chloroform bottle found at his side, and the fact that he has been despondent for some time and often remarked to his friends that he thought he would end his life, gives rise to the belief that he commited suicide. His wife died three years ago and since then—he has been having his sleeping apartments near his office. He took his meals at a restaurant and when he did not show up regularly, his associates who feared for him, looked up to see that all was well. This morning late he had not appeared and Marshal Dickerson and Frank Zirkle went to his rooms. There they found him in his office, in his night clothing, lying face downward on the floor. It is believed he took the chloroform and then got up and | was walking when the fatal attack came. Prior to coming to Geneva twenty years ago, he practiced medicine at New Corydon. He leaves three sons and two daughters. The sons are: Ralph, a druggist, at Newcastle; Frank, an oil man in Ohio; George Brayton. The daughters are: Mrs. Carl McWhinney of Kendallville, and Mrs. William Pontius, believed to be living in Fort Wayne. DIED LAST NIGHT William Geary, Venerable Night Watchman of Decatur, Died Wednesday. FROM ULCERATIONS Death Occurred at Home at 10:3 0 O’clock—F uneral Saturday Morning. William Geary, the venerable night watchman, who acted in that capacity for twenty-eight years in this city, passed away into a higher life Wednesday night at 10:30 o’clock, death being due from ulcerations of the stomach and hemorrhages. Mr. Geary was one of the best known and well liked residents of this city and the sad news of his death will be felt very much by his many loyal friends. Tn 1873 he took the post of watchman in this city and serving for twenty-eight years, made one of the best watchmen Decatur ever had. His service as watchman was greatly missed by the different business houses when he was forced to resign on account of poor health, this being last year. He was among the first watchmen in Fort Wayne to receive a uniform. He served three years in that city from 1869 to 1872, then moving to Decatur. In 1873 he claimed Miss Agnes Naville of Fort Wayne as his bride and to this happy union were born six children. They are: Misses Rose and Catherine and Frank of Ft. Wayne; William and John of Sidney, Ohio, and Miss Agnes, of Sidney, O. Mr. Geary was 74 years, 1 month and GONWNUIyu 047 PAG® TXfllK I

THE RESERVOIR INTACT Water Let Out to Relieve Walls Caused Big Excitement Here—Conditions In and About Decatur

************** * HOW IT HAPPENED. * * * * St. Mary’s, Ohio, Mar. 27— * * 2:00 p. m.—(Special to Daily * * Democrat) — Frantic telephone * * messages to Lima, Ohio, and De- * * catur and Fort Wayne, Ind., to- * * day telling of the breaking of * , * the Grand Reservoir and the pre- * * eminent danger thereof, proved * *at noon to be premature. For * * three days a hundred workmen * * have been doing everything pos- * * sible to save the reservoir and * * this anorning decided to allow a * * portion of the water to escape * * from the banks that this might * * relieve tne pressure on the walls. * * It was this water which fright- * * ened the people of St. Mary’s, * * who already in a state of panic, * * quickly sent out cries for help. * * At noon the walls were announc- * * ed to be intact and safe for the * * present. * ************** Told by the United Press. (United Press Service.) Lima, Ohio, March 27 —(Special to Daily Democrat)—The banks of the Grand reservoir at St. Marys, twentyfive miles south of here, the largest artifical body of water in the world, broke at 9:20 this morning. The word came from an oil pumper's station located a quarter of a mile from the I Bulkheads and said: “Cannot tell more, must run for life.” The entire town of St. Marys, a city of 6,000 is in danger and all residents have been ordered to leave city. The rush of waters will go north to Decatur and Fort Wayne, Indiana, and ] will affect several smaller places along the line, winch have been given warning. Lima, Ohio, March 27—(Special to Daily Democrat)—At eleven o’clock it was announced that the leak in the Grand Reservoir had been repaired and it was believed would hold. A message from Celina also confirmed this. The long-looked-for bug bear happened this morning, when a few minutes after 9 o’clock the news was flashed across the wires that the big St. Mary’s reservoir had broken at the St. Mary’s end, east arm of the biggest artificial body of water in the world, and that the water from the 17,000 acres which comprises the lake was pouring into that little city through a gap in the concrete wall, sixty feet wide. The first news came in a flash over where an appeal had been sent for help from the apparently stricken city. A moment later the same news came from Lima and soon after other messages confirmed the rumor. The announcement spread over Decatur rapidly, causing much anxiety and alarm. The public and parochial schools were dismissed and everybody big and little showed the fevor of excitement, added to by the terrible strain of the past few days and the fact that the St. Mary's river at this place is five feet higher than ever known, and that during the past three days a dozen towns and cities in Ohio and Indiana have been swept away by the unprecedented floods. The big reservoir contained 17,000 I acres of water, is ten miles long and five miles wide. The city of Celina

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is located at the west end and St. Mary’s at the east end. The Wabash river has it source near Celina and the St. Mary’s just north of the town of St. Mary’s. The big dam broke at the only possible place that could have affected this city, and just how much that would be was a matter of much conjecture this morning. Groups of men gathered everywhere. This office was crowded with men who ha? various ideas concerning the effects, and when it was all talked out, no one could do anything but wait to see how near they guessed. The St. Mary’s has its source about two miles north of the town of St. Marr's, but an ordinarily small and lazy creek known as Dog Creek connects the reservoir and the river and this would no doubt be the carrier. However, the general belief was that the river here would not be raised more than fifteen inches, and that much of the water would be carried off to the east and south. General flood conditions in this vicinity have changed but little during the past twenty-four hours, but that little has been for the better and that ought to help some. At 10 o'clock this morning the water at the Monroe street bridge measured 21.70 feet, a fall since yesterday at the same hour of sixteen inches, according to the measurement taken by Engineer Kintz. At the Chicago & Erie bridge the wter fell 23 inches since yesterday morning. Conditions of the railroads are about the same as for several days past. The only train entering the city from any distance is the Chicago & Erie from Chicago, which runs as a special, arriving here in the afternoon. All the roads are prepared to make speedy repairs as soon as the waters recede enough to permit it. Another day or two without rain would place Decatur in the safe column, while a day or two of rain just now would be quite serious. Relatives In Danger. Many Decatur families are anxiously waiting word from relatives living in the stricken cities. Miss Lydia Bollman has many nephews and nieces residing in Peru, where so many were lost. John Christen and the late Godfrey and Albright Christen have a sister, Mrs. Eliza Amend residing near the Miami river, in Dayton, Ohio, the very center of the floods here. No word has been received from them and it is feared they are numbered with the thousands who lost their lives. Mrs. I. Bernstein has an uncle residing in Peru. Charles Cole, a son-in-law of Alphonse Kohne, resides at Hamilton, Ohio, where he owns a hardware store, two doors from the river. No word has been received from them. Cash Andrews is much worried over no news from his son-in-law, Paul Tribolet, formerly of Bluffton, now agent for the Wabash Valley Traction company at Peru. No communication can be received from them. Mrs. Tribolet is a sister of Mrs. Burt Mangold. Word received from Ed Vancil and eon, Don, who left Monday for Lafayette, is that they are safe. Don is attending the university there and Mr. Vancil is working in that district as I traveling salesman. Ralph Amrlne, whose home is at . DeGraff, thirteen miles from flooded Sidney, can get no word from relatives there. A call to a cousin at 1 Lima, Ohio, brought word that the t country around Sidney Is covered for miles, but all communication with the I Amrlne home is cut off. In Motor Boat. 1 A party of five stopped off here (CMMBMk OS D J