Indianapolis Times, Volume 48, Number 6, Indianapolis, Marion County, 18 March 1936 — Page 3

MARCH 13,1936

PITTSBURGH, JOHNSTOWN AND MANY TOWNS ARE FLOODED; W. VA., MARYLAND SUFFER

Two Serious Fires Rage in Pittsburgh; Waters Are Still Rising. (Continued From Page One) out the night. Many office workers remained in their business places while laborers were kept on duty pumping water out of basements, barricading windows and moving stock to nigher floors. Adding to the confusion was a SIOO,OOO fire at the Crucible Steel Company's plant on the north side. Firemen had difficulty with the flood waters which surrounded the plant, and had to plunge through waist deep water. After four hours the Are was brought under control. Five flremen were overcome by smokO, while a score of others required treatment for frozen hands and feet. Rowboats were the order of the day instead of automobiles. Bridges from the "Golden Triangle”—main business district—to the North Side and the west end were blocked off, and traffic barr'\■ , from them. Water raced along Penn-ave, which lies above the Aileghaiy River, and ran into Sixth-st to Lib-erty-av. There the display windows of two large department stores were disappearing under the water. On the Monongahela side of town, the water passed over Waster-st and entered the triangle. The flood was general in western Pennsylvania. Whe r ever there was a stream, there also was damage. Among the mast seriously hit towns was Punxsutawney. Water rose to a depth of nine feet in some portions of the borough vhen two dams burst. The deaths of a mother and two children were reported there. In nearby Rossiter, a family of four were drowned. The dead were Russell Saye, his wife and two children. The mining town of Huff was inundated. Its 200 residents evacuated their homes for higher grounds, where they spent the night without shelter. Three youths who sought to help rescue them met disaster when their canoe upset. They were last seen clinging to the boat. Many Rescued in Boats In Blair County the situation was serious also. Parts of Altoona were under water, as was Hollidaysburg. Many families in the latter town were rescued in boats. At Tyrone, Alex Steele, a druggist, was drowned while doing rescue work. Another man was reported drowned and two missing at North Vandergrift. The two missing were last seen in a canoe as they attempted to save the third man from the waters of the Kiskiminetas River. Five hundred families of North and East .Vandergrift fled their hor es and huddled together in a theater without adequate clothing or food. Factories Forced to Close Cities and towns on the Lower Monongahela, just above Pittsburgh, escaped serious damage. Many factories along its banks were forced to close because of high water. The business district in McKeesport was flooded. Residents in the lower section escaped after a warning yesterday afternoon. The American Sheet and Tin Plate Cos. abandoned operations. A third of the city of Tarentum, on the Allegheny River, was under water. Nearly 200 families left their homes when they were threatened. The Pennsylvania Railroad suspended service between Freeport and Kittanning. At Freeport, 70 flood-stranded persons were given shelter in the Municipal Building. In the northern tier of counties, snow and ice added to the hardships. Wires were broken down by the heavy sleet. At Corry, Pa., in Erie County, near the New .York line, three feet of snow blocked traffic. 20 Houses Swept Away In Brookville, 20 houses were swept away by the raging Red Bank Creek when it rose to the greatest stage in 50 years. Bridges were closed and the houses were dynamited so they would not lodge against the structure, causing added strain. In Mercer, Venango and Crawford Counties streams also were raging over their banks. All three counties were blanketed in one of the worst snow storms of the winter. In the southern end of the state, the coal fields of Fayette County were closed by water as were many manufacturing plants along the Monongahela River and its tributaries. The same situation was true in Washington County, also a great bituminous coal field. URGES KIWANIANS TO SUPPORT RESEARCHERS Dr. J. L. Bray, Purdue, Tells of Engineers’ Experiments. Dr. J. L. Bray of the school of chemical research, Purdue University, today urged Kiwanians to give moral support to research activities designed to find substitutes for dwindling natural resources. He told the Kiwanians, meeting at nocn at the Columbia Club, that Purdue engineers already are experimenting in synthetic gasoline and alcohol, liquid fuel, artificial rubber, stainless steel, electrolitic zinc and many other substances. BANKER RITES ARRANGED John S. Morris Is to Be Buried Tomorrow at Westport. Times Special WESTPORT, Ind., March 18.— Funeral services for John S. Morris, banker here for more than 35 years, are to be held at 10 tomorrow at the otist Church with the Rev. P ddson officiating. <rris, who was 78, died sud- ' Monday at the Westport Lmon Trust Cos., where he served many years as cashier. He is survived by the widow, Nellie and two daughters, Mrs. Eunice Davis' and Mrs. Helen Moore, both of here. Best Tech Talent Picked Best talent in the Drama Club at Technical High School has been selected from an amateur hour program to take part in the SketchWok in the Tech auditorium May 15.

10 Are Reported Dead in Johnstown; Save 2000 From Homes. (Continued From Page One) made up at Pittsburgh to rush supplies to Johnstown.” "What is the temperature there this morning?” "Approximately 40 degrees.” (Eight degrees above freezing). "You have heat?” "We have no heat and we have no electric light.” “Is there much deposit of mud and silt in the town?” "There is. On our stairway at the bottom, thdre ivere over seven inches of mud.” 'Relief Work Speeded By United Press JOHNSTOWN, Pa., March 18.— Flood waters raging through half of Johnstown receded slowly today while state officials raced here from Harrisburg to take charge of the gravest emergency since 1889 when 2300 persons drowned in a flood. Police estimated that at least 10 had been drowned, though authentic caualty figures were impossible. Police believe that almost all persons marooned during the night in the two-mile square area that had been inundated to a depth of 18 feet hid been rescued. Approximately 5000 refugees had been taken to makeshift camps and private homes in portions of Johnstown not. flooded. Boats manned by police- and volunteers poked about through the streets, searching roof tops where during the night the marooned had cried pathetically for help. A close police guard against looting was established around the district. Almost all Johnstown banks were flooded as were practically all business establishments and they offered a tempting field to looters. Gov. George H. Earle mobilized all forces of the state for relief work here and in Pittsburgh and sent Mayor Lyxm G. Adams, superintendent of the state police, and Maj. Gen. Edward C. Shannon, National Guard commander, by airplane to take charge. Local police had the situation in close control and authorities said there was no intention of inaugurating martial law. Havoc Is Great As the waters receded, the havoc of the swirling flood currents became apparent. Many buildings, mostly frame, had collapsed and city authorities feared many had been made so unsafe they would have to be torn down and rebuilt. Streets were torn up, railroad tracks had been swept away, bridges demolished. It will be weeks, authorities said, before the city can be returned to normal. The rescue work proceeded until a clear sun-streaked sky, in contrast to the many hours of heavy rain that melted thousands of tons of snow in the surrounding mountains, unloosed the torrents that swept through the business and industrial district, comprising two square miles, yesterday afternoon and rose to a height of 18 feet. This morning the waters had receded to seven feet. But the entire business and industrial district, approximately two miles square and scene of the disastrous flood of 1889 that took 2300 lives, still was a raging sea, red brick and stone buildings—the tallest 12 stories—rising from it like lighthouses. Four boroughs of Johnstown— Dale, Prospect, West Mount and Roxbury—were dry and safe and there the pathetic groups of refugees were taken—weary men and women, bedraggled, wailing children, all hungry, all suffering from exposure. Property Loss Millions They were taken to public buildings and to private homes—scores of which had been thrown open by their owners to less fortunate fellow townsmen. The four boroughs are on the bluffs surrounding tlie low-lying valley containing the business and industrial districts. They have Stony Creek on one side and the Conemaugh River on the other. It was these streams that poured their torrents into the streets, factories, office buildings, and stores causing a loss of life that can not be determined finally until the flood has receded, and property damage that will total many million. There seemed no danger of an epidemic, but a food shortage appeared imminent unless supplies arrive quickly from the outside. Householders carried canned goods and other food from their pantries to schools, churches, and other private buildings converted into relief stations. CCC, WPA Join Rescues Most of Johnstown’s retail and wholesale food concerns and warehouses were in the flood district, much of their stocks ruined. Doctors and nurses were mobilized to fight any outbreak of disease. Tales of heroism and of tragedy flew over the stricken city even as rescue workers poked their row boats and motor boats into the currents swirling through the streets and ground floors of stores and buildings. The rescuers concentrated in a workers’ residential district where frail dwellings are banked against the bluffs. It was feared that the heaviest loss of life had occurred there. The rescue workers included men from CCC camps, WPA workers and volunteers. Many of the boats were equipped with hooks and ladders taken from fire trucks. Everybody Wonders — Everybody Asks— Glslojujjll L£- t

Flood Recalls Days of 1889 Johnstown Disaster

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LESLIE ATTACKS TAXPAYMENT State Citizens Paid Levy Four Years Early, He Claims. Indiana taxpayers paid a gross income tax i'our years earlier than they should have had to do, it was contended by Harry G. Leslie,, former Republican Governor, in an address before the Hoosier Republican Club in the Columbia Club yesterday. Thirty-five Republican legislators attended the luncheon. The former Governor declared that state finances were such when he left office that it was unnecessary to pass a gross income tax to pay the state’s obligations. Attacks Administration He attacked the state, administration for creating an unneeded surplus and asserted that the administration spoke "untruths” when it said his term in office had placed the state in debt. He declared a $17,000,000 balance had been left for Gov. McNutt. Centralization of power, with the creation of larger state pay rolls, was scored by Mr. Leslie. "The Democrats have destroyed the check and balance between the legislative and executive departments of government by placing the legislative branch under the thumb of the executive branch,” he said.

17 CONVICTS SEEK LENIENCY OF BCAFD Elkhart County Life Prisoner Asks Clemency. Lawrence Mountjoy, Elkfiart County farmer, who has served more than 24 years on a life sentence, was among 17 inmates of the State Prison and Reformatory whose leniency petitions were considered today by the State Clemency Commission. Mountjoy was sentenced in Elkhart Circuit Court Nov. 1, 1911, on a criminal assault charge. Foster Jones, Texas youth, serving 25 years on a robbery charge from Lake County, also sought a parole. Jones, who lost an eye in an explosion at the Reformatory last year, was sentenced in Lake Criminal Court June 2, 1929. LOST? A purse? A ring? A pet? Some papers? Times want ads play a vital part in contacting loser and finder. LOST—Font ain wrist watch in Irvington Sunday; north of Washington. Reward. IR-2660. For Tther Lost and Found ads turn to Page 17.

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THE INDIANAPOLIS TIMES

This was Johnstown, Pa., in 1889. This was the wreckage to which one resident, the late Frank P. Longsdorf, father of John G. Longsdorf, Indianapolis Power and Light Cos. employe, returned from a business trip that, fortunately

’B9 Refugee Fears Worse Disaster if Dam Breaks Woman Recalls Horrors of Great Flood as She Serves Coffee to Victims of Present Tragedy. Mrs. Frank Shafler was driven fro m her home as a girl of 8 by the 1889 Johnstown flood in which 2300 persons drowned. Another flood made her a refugee again today. Although 56, she was making coffee and serving doughnuts to other unfortunates in a police station when a United Press staff correspondent got this story from her. BY MRS. FRANK SHAFFER (Copyright, 1936, by United Press) JOHNSTOWN, Pa., March 18.—I was 8 years old at the time of the big Johnstown flood, but I remember it plain. My father, my mother, my sister, my pup and I lived in the attic from Friday to Sunday night. If any of the dams should break today this would be a whole lot

worse. “I remember it was Memorial Day when the 1889 flood hit us. It rained all day and night before. There was a celebration going on in town. Backwaters around two and three feet deep began flooding the business section around 2 p. m. When we got word the dam had broken (the South Fork Dam, 10 miles east of Johnstown) we knew it was bad, but nobody dreamed how bad. Within 10 minutes after we heard about the dam the water rose from two or three feet deep to about 17 or 18 feet. Think what would happen if one of the dams broke today. The water now is 21 feet some places, I hear —add 15 feet to that. Ran to Attic of Home We ran to the attic of our home and stayed there 48 hours or more. It was from Friday afternoon to Sunday night. I wasn’t afraid because the folks made it seem like a picnic to me. I guess my father and mother were, though. We saw any amount of people go by floating on debris, roofs of houses and other objects. We picked up 11 bodies right in our yard when we got out. We saw people drow r n— more than I care to remember. The city was in an uproar for months. State militia were here for weeks. We all ate at state commissaries set up in every section. No matter how much money you had, you couldn’t buy anything. CHAPLIN AND GODDARD ARRIVE IN SINGAPORE Film Pair Refuse to Comment on Rumored Marriage Plans. By United Press SINGAPORE. Straits Settlements, March 18.—Charles Chaplin and Paulette Goddard arrived today, apparently bent on immediate marriage but noncommittal. An agent for the film star has* made inquiries about a special marriage license while Chaplin and Miss Goddard were on the way here from Manila. A suite at the Adelphi Hotel was engaged. The hotel prepared for a reception and it was announced Chaplin and Miss Goddard —then to be his bride —would fly to Bali Sunday for a honeymoon.

took him away just before the ruinous crest that swept more than 2000 persons to their deaths. When he retunred, Mr. Longsdorf took this picture of the wreckage. The gentleman standing and surveying the ruins was not identified by Mr. Longsdorf.

Sure, I’m scared now. I guess I came up here to make coffee with the other ladies because I needed some company. If the dams break it would be just too bad for Johnstown, Pittsburgh, or any other place in the way. The Quemahoning, the '.- T ortb Fork and the Mill Creek dams up above us are the biggest in the state. The Quemahoning is seven miles long. You should be scared yourself, young man.

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2300 DIED IN 1889 DISASTER 20-Foot Waii of Water Hit Johnstown When Dam Cracked. by United Press JOHNSTOWN, Pa., March 18.—At 2p. m 'an afternoon 47 years ago, almost to the month, a two-day rain sent the little Conemaugh River and Stoney Creek gently over their banks and into the business district of Johnstown, exactly as yesterday. The water didn’t rise as high as it stood today. But up the valley above Johnstown a few hours later the great North Fork Dam cracked, broke, released with a rush and a roar audible for 20 miles, a lake of water 70 feet deep and 700 acres in area. In 10 minutes the wall of water, 20 feet high, struck Johnstown at 20 miles an hour. Next morning 2300 persons were drowned or battered to death by debris of the demolished city. No other flood disaster of American history compared with it. More than 750 bodies were not identified and were buried together in a cemetery overlooking the city from a high hill. A national subscription fund raised $4,000,000 for relief and reconstruction of the city. In 1889 Johnstown’s population was slightly over 33,000. Toclay it is 66,000.

CONCLUSION OF EXTRA SESSION IS DUEJODAY Adjournment Expected Late This Afternoon as Work Nears Finish. (Continued From Page One) ment sine die probably will come around 5:30 if that schedule is adhered to by both houses. Leaders Are Hopeful There was some question as to whether the House enrolling room would be able to get the amended bill in shape for final action by both branches of the assembly. However, leaders in both houses were hopeful adjourment could be achieved by 6 at the latest. Speaker of the House Edward H, Stein said the program of working through the noon hour on the job insurance bill amendments was to get the bill to enrolling room as soon as possible. Anti-administration leaders declared that a vast amount of bookkeeping is involved in the change of the method of calculating unemployment benefits through a Senate amendment which ha. c , been reported favorably by the conference committee. But leaders of a labor group say the amendment saved the bill from a “joker.” Rep. Martin Downey (D., Hammond), labor spokesman, said: "The charge that it will create a larger pay roll is just an effort to conceal a Joker.” Bill Sent to McNutt Final action was taken yesterday by both branches of the Assembly on the public welfare act and the bill sent to Gov. McNutt for his approval which may come some time today. This measure is expected to double the number of recipients of old-age assistance, and to provide substantial increases in the monthly allowances based on need and not exceeding S3O a month. It also provides assistance for the blind, needy and dependent children and concentrates in anew state welfare board administrative authority over the state’s penal, corrective and benevolent institutions. The job insurance bill was sent to conference yesterday afternoon when the House refused to concur in amendments made by the Senate. Named to the committee were Reps. Fred E. Barrett, Indianapolis, and George W. Wolf, and Senators I. Floyd Garrott, Republican floor leader, and Thurman Gottschalk of Berne. Just before the House was to convene, Rep. Barrett declared that the committee had succeeded in iioning out the major differences in the bill as passed by the respective houses. Deducted by Emplojer Mr. Barrett corrected an impression that under the bill employes would be called on to pay only .9 of 1 per cent of wages paid them beginning in 1937. The levy starts at 1 per cent for the workman and is to be deducted by the employer, Mr. Barrett said. The worker pays one-half of the amount paid by the employer to the Federal government up to 1 per cent. The employer levy starting in 1937 fe to be 2 per cent. “The committee has concurred in the Senate amendments with the exception of a few clerical changes and will report it to the House for concurrence,” he added.

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OFFICIAL WEATHER _ United States Weather Bureau _

Sunrise 5:51 I Sunset 5:55 TEMPERATURE —March IS. 1935 7 a. m 28 U. n. 41 —Today— 6 a. ra 25 9 a. m S3 7a. m 2* 11 a. m 35 S a. ra 30 12 iNoon) .... 41 10 a. m 31 1 p. ra 45 BAROMETER 7 a. m 29.98 1 p. m .... 29.91 Precipita'->n 24 hrs ending 7 a m-. OO Total prt,lptation since Jan. 1 5.1 t Deficiency since Jan. 1 3.68 OTHER CITIES AT 7 A M Station. Weather. Bar. Temp, Amarillo. Tex PtCldv 29 73 44 Bismarck. N. D Cloudy 29 64 40 Boston Cloudy 29 80 46 Chicago Clear 30 06 33 Cincinnati Clear 29 88 26 Denver Clear 29 66 42 Dodge City. Kas Clear 29 66 42 Helena. Mont Cloudy 29 96 32 Jacksonville. Fla Clear 29 80 44 Kansas City. Mo PtCldy 29 80 48 Little Rock. Ark Cloudy 30.02 38 Los Angeles Cloudy 23.98 56 Miami. Fla Clear 29 9* 52 Minneapolis Cloudv 29.76 32 Mobile. Ala PtCldv 30 02 40 New Orleans PtCldy 30 06 48 New York . Rain 29.54 54 Okla. CHv. Okla Cloudy 29.80 50 Omaha. Neb Clear 29 68 48 Pittsburgh ...Cloudy 29 54 32 Portland, Ore. Clear 30.20 36 San Antonio. Tex Clear 29 98 50 San FTanctsco Clear 29 98 50 St. Louis Clear 30.04 3* Tampa. Fla Clear 29 90 50 Washington. D. C Cloudy 29.46 46 SUDDEN, SAYS EYE-WITNESS Johnstown Surprised by Quick Rise of River, Woman Reports. (Continued From Page One) section. I stood there dumbfounded as I saw the water swirling about the very buildings I had been in only a few hours before. The water never got up to our place, which is a half mile above the business district, but we were able to see what it was doing to the rest of the town until darkness fell. Then there was nothing to see but the dark outlines of the taller buildings and the black, swirling water from Stony Creek and the Conemaugh River. It was so frightening. From what I can tell, Stony Creek is more to blame than the Conemaugh. It seemed to be rising so much faster. There were a lot of rumors about dams on the Stony breaking, but the rumors are growing faster around here than the river is rising. Our telephone is one of the few that can be connected in Johnstown, and we have had phone calls from people all over the United States asking about their relatives. It seems so strange to hear the operator say "Chicago calling” and have some strange voice ask "Do you know if Aunt Mamie is all right?” Fear Hundreds Stranded It almost breaks my heart when I have to tell them that I don’t know their Mamie and if I did, I probably wouldn’t know whether she is all right. A few folks who have managed to get out of the downtown section in boats tell me the water reached 15 feet high at least down in the main streets. Most of them haven’t had anything to eat since lunch or even breakfast, so they grab a bite in our confectionery, and then go on to some relative’s or friend’s house. They tell me that there must be hundreds stranded in the buildings. There’s a lot of talk about people drowning, but no one knows for sure what is happening down in those dark waters.