Indianapolis Times, Indianapolis, Marion County, 23 January 1937 — Page 1

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-less Hoosiers ; River Valley flood area and

~ “there.

SCRIPPS = HOWARD

"The Indianapolis

ime

FORECAST—Fair and not so cold tonight with lowest temperature at 10 to 15 degrees above; tomorros foir with rising temperature,

VOLUME 48—NUMBER 273

SATURDAY, JANUARY 23, 1937

OHIO FLOOD HIGHES

COLD WAVEIS HEALTH PERIL -T0 HOMELESS

Still Is Rising Stricken Indiana Territory.

CREST IS YET TO COME

River in

Relief Workers Start Job of Caring for 40,000 Hoosier Refugees.

Falling temperatures this afternoon menaced the health of approximately 40,000 homein the Ohio

made rescue work more dif-

ficult. The Ohio was rising and engineers predicted a crest some time

_ tomorrow or Monday at nearly all

Indiana points. Red Cross, State or Federal relief workers had managed to reach nearly all points with some food, bedding, clothing and medical supplies. Telephone communication with Lawrenceourg, one of the hardest hit towns, was re-established at noon, and first calls from Red Cross workers were for typhoid and scarlet fever serums. Governor Townsend and other State officials prepared estimates of flood relief costs this afternoon. If necessary, the Governor said, he will ask a special appropriation from the Legislature Monday. Mayor Kern offered Evansville thex use of six Indianapolis street flushers for delivery of fresh water. Lawrenceburg, Aurora, New Albany and Jeffersonville were most

critically in need of assistance, Na-

tional Guard, WPA and State

~ Health officials said.

No report had come from .Vevay in the last 12 hours. WPA officials reported that Leavenworth, without phone communication, had been evacuated and that its 600 citizens had fled to the hills. Where serum was available in flooded areas, cittizens were ordered to appear for inoculation against typhoid fever. That disease might become epidemic hecause of polluted drinking water supplies. Navy planes’ were reported on their way to Evansville to drop

food and other supplies to several i

isolated persons. Adjt. from Indianapolis to survey the scene and work at Evansville this afternoon.

Medicine, Serum Sent

State Health Board officials sent medicine and serum to Aurora by several different routes in the hepe at least one batch would reach there. Scarlet fever was reported The Presbyterian Church was converted into a hospital. One child was reported dying of pneumonia. . Read Cross workers there said that one patient might require an appendectommy during the day. A mother in the hospital is expecting a baby soon. State Police, with a portable broadcasting set, established communication with Lawrenceburg for the first time since the flood started. The first message at 6:20 a. m. was a request for 2000 blankets, 4000 outfits of clothing, kerosene, coal, and food for 2000 persons. These supplies were to be dispatched by special train today. A (Turn to Page Two)

Gen. Elmer Straub flew |

@

SUMMARY BY TOWNS

LAWRENCEBURG—Six hundred persons stranded on second floors. Call for food. Boats issued. Nearly 100 persons ill. Water pouring over

levee, 10 to 35 feet deep in town. Water and power still off,

JEFFERSONVILLE—City health authorities order typhoid inoculation for all citizens. City cut off from nearby New Albany and Louisville. Bridge to Kentucky under water on Kentucky side. City virtually under martial law. No water, no power. Current too swift for boats.

NEW ALBANY—Water rising today at .2 foot an hour. Hospital established in county recreation center. Police estimated 150 families homeless. Expect Ohio to rise four more feet. Have food, clothing enough. Red Cross in charge.

AURORA—Expect supply trucks at 8 this morning. About 3500 last night slept in public buildings. Two scarlet fever cases better. Child pneumonia victim low. Food, fuel, clothing and bedding supplies very low. Red Cross in charge. River at 73.9 feet.

TELL CITY—People slept in cars last night. Two-thirds of business section is under water. No drug store operating. Food and fuel supply uncertain. Water rising about one inch an hour. No Red Cross or State aid.

CANNELTON—Seventy-five families out of homes slept in public buildings and with friends last night. Food and fuel supply uncertain. No ‘boats available. River over 1884 level and going up. Water polluted.

MADISON—About 140 homeless families being cared for adequately in homes still on high ground. City’s water plant closed. Sufficient water for residents being supplied by the Madison Light & Power Co. plant and the State Hospital for the Insane. About 15 blocks along the river front inundated. Water rising .2 of a foot an hour.

CORYDON—Swollen creeks back in banks. Electric power failed last night.

MAUCKPORT—Entire population evacuates town. Corydon. No reports of disease. River still rising.

NEW HARMONY—Serious flood threat from the Wabash lessened. Waters at standstill at 23.7 feet, four feet under 1913 stage. No families in main residential districts forced to leave homes. Several lowland families evacuated. ; VEVAY—No report has been heard from here for more than 12 hours.

LEAVENWORTH—State WPA reports are that the inhabitants, about 600 of them, have taken to the hills and have appealed for food and shelter. SHOALS—Seventy-five families spent last night in the jail, churches and other public buildings. - Electric power intact. Food and clothing and fuel supply uncertain. River rising. Water supply polluted.

PRINCETON—Electric power restored. Water supply still polluted. Water receding. No one in danger or distress.

GRANDVIEW—Entire population of this Ohio River town, about 500, forced out of homes last night. Taken tc Rockport, where they were housed in hotels and churches. ROCKPORT—Only a few families near the Ohio River lowlands forced out so far, No serious emergency.

HAZLETON—Waters of White River receding slowly. A fall of one inch over night recorded on gauges. Sixty homless families, rescued Thursday, being cared for in church and lodge buildings. Al} utilities intact. United States Coast Guard lost one of its powerboats yesterday when it ran into a stump while doing relief wark. 3 EVANSVILLE—Streetcar service is stopped. Train service to the north is discontinued. Rivermen expect the city will be one-fifth under water at the crest, expected next week. Approximately 1000 will be driven from homes then. GRAND VIEW—The Red Cross, this afternoon, ordered evacuation of this town, population 700. HATFIELD—The Red Cross also ordered evacuation of the 300 residents here.

POINT TOWNSHIP, POSEY COUNTY—Two hundred still are marooned here at junction of Ohio and Wabash Rivers.

None homeless now.

Cared for in

Evansville Base of Operations For 40 Coast Guard Boats

By LEO DAUGHERTY Times Staff Writer EVANSVILLE, Ind. Jan. 23.—A fleet of 40 U. S. Coast Guard boats made Evansville their base today, plying the muddy. waters in rescue efforts as the Ohio River continued to rise. Relief to downstream refugees was administered from a Red Cross base here. The Coast Guard base is in charge® of Commodore S. B. Johnson, a veteran of the 1927 Mississippi River floods. More boats were expected from Great Lakes points. Evansville expected the crest of the flood, due probably tomorrow, to inundate about one-fifth of the city’s area. Many ouildings are expected to be marooned and the several hundred probably will be driven from their homes. There are five cases of scarlet fever here now. Physicians and Red Cross officials expect more, and today called for serum. It was flown here by special plane from Indianapolis.

reported they were operating on schedule. Red Cross officials today estimated more than 5000 Federal and State agency workers are in the flooded area, and more are standing by ready if needed. Charles Carr, co-ordinator of relief and rescue activities, said the worst handicap in aiding refugees was the difficulty of establishing communication with downstream communities.

QUIZ MATTSON SUSPECT

LURAY, Va. Jan. 23.—Agents of

1000 HOMES IN

INDIANA TOWN ARE ENGULFED

Lawrenceburg Wages Fight

Against the Threat of Disease. :

TWO DEATHS REPORTED

Towns Only Source of Power in Distillery Is Threatened.

By HEZE CLARK Times Staff Writer

LAWRENCEBURG, Ind. Jan. 23.—This town, an estimated 1000 homes and the entire business district under water, today continued its gallant battle against the ever-rising Ohio and its accompanying threat of disease. Scores of homes have been swept from their foundations. Hundreds of refugees are reine fed at commissaries established in the three big distillery plants here. Nearly 200 persons stil: are stranded on upper floors of homes, public and business buildings. . Five hundred have been treated in the temporary hesqital for disease and injuries. wa ter and power plants are out. All -this, and the crest of the flood

still'is at least 48 hours away, river men say.

Battle Against Disease

I came here by boat and auto today. Yesterday, I called from New Alsace after a four-hour 30-mile trip by boat and jruck. “There had been- no telephg renceburg until this rh Relief workers today concentrated on reaching citizens stranded in upper stories and on roof tops. The fight against disease which they fear will follow was intensified. Arrival of three National Guard medical division officers and five nurses from Indianapolis cheered the workers. First contact with the outside world was established this morning when Don King and Arnet Perry arrived and set up a temporary radio service for communication with State Police in Indianapolis.

Power Source Threatened

A crew was busy in the boiler room .of the Seagram Distillery Corp. pumping out the water which was within an inch and a half of the boilers and threatened to eliminate the town’s last power supply. (Turn to Page Two)

TIMES FEATURES ON INSIDE PAGES

AUiOS seveese 7 Bob Burns .. 8 BOOKS seeveee 9 Bridge 4 Broun ....... 10 Churches .... 8 Clapper ..... 9 Comics .ceeee 14 Crossword ... 14 Editorials «... Fashions Financial ....

Johnson ce... Merry-Go-R’d Movies Mrs. Ferguson Mrs. Roosevelt MusiC «cece Obituaries ... Pegler «.ceoese PYIC ¢eseionss Radio c.eeves Scherrer «.... Serial Story..

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13 Are Injured As Temperature Goes Down to 4

HOURLY TEMPERATURES 10 a. m 3 la m.. [@8f 12 (Noon) . i3

6am... 17 7am. 4 8a m... 10 9am. 12

ce in Law-.

Adjt. Gen. Elmer Straub flew down from Indianapolis for a survey of flood conditions and made Evansille his headquarters. Street car sarviece was discontinued here. Railroads

the Federal Bureau of Investigation today questioned a prisoner held liere in connection with the investigation of the Mattson kidnaping case.

Fishbein ..... Flynn Forum ...... Grin, Bear. It Jane Jordan.

Short Story.. Society cceees Sports cceecees State Deaths. Wiggam .....

15

1p. m... 8

A blanket of snow covered Iidianapolis today as local flood coiditions remained unchanged. No requests for boats or other iid were rceived during the night, although water remained in seveial areas, police and Deputy Shelifis said. Slick streets, which slowed £1 bfic, were blamed for injuries to 13 persons who lost their footing. ¥our were hurt seriously. Lowest tiiermometer reading was 4 degttes above zero at 7 a. m. Work on the temporary jetty at the Indianapolis Power & Light (jo. dam, on White River, contintied through last night. The riter, which has risen only a few inciles during the last 12 hours, appareliily has ceased its destructive work for the present. {

Forecast of Fair Weather | | Brings Hope of Decline

By United Press i WASHINGTON, Jan. 23.—U. 8S. weather forecasters today brought hope to the flood-devastated Cio River Valley with a prediction Uta rains which have sent rivers on record rampage will cease n¢ n week. The forecast came as the Fede al Government and Red Cross officiils united in a mighty drive to re all citizens from the -flood’s pa th and bring aid and comfort to iiundated regions. The Red Criss launched a drive for $2,000,000 to aid in flood relief. The Weather Bureau forecast some rain and sleet in the Ohio Viilley Monday but declared indicaiidy were for generally fair weathér ¢: cept for brief precipitation in milweek. Rising temperatures at the Beginning, of the week are expecfid to be followed by.cold nday night and Tuesday. Cold would britiz suffering to flood refugees but would aid in curbing the tremendous fiw of water. Latest reinforcement ordered in in the flood region was a new Doulas plane dispatched to the Olio Valley from Biloxi, Miss. The plang, equipped with loud speakers, ordindiily is used in warning coastal residents of hurricane dangers. It will be employed in broadcasting wartiings and information to regions cub off from communication.

DONATIONS TO TT FUND ASKED HERE

Red Cross Reques Requests Citizens To Contribute.

The Indianapolis Red Cross Chap - ter today asked citizens to cor tribute to the $2,000,000 emergency flood fund asked by the national ofr ganization. William Fortune, shapler chaitit man, received a telegram frei Washington headquarters toda, saying that 270,000 men, women aiid children in the flood zone are noi or will be dependent on the Rei Cross for food, shelter and, medics care. Mr. Fortune said contributions would be received here at chapter headquarters in the Chamber ¢f Commerce building, or that they could be mailed to Indianepolt newspapers.

A ©

at Louisville, said the river stage

Entered as Second-Class Matter at Postoffice, Indianapolis, Ind.

WORK TO SAVE 200 FAMILIES INNEW ALBANY

Relief Crews Already Have

Removed Estimated 2000 to Safety.

MORE BOATS SOUGHT

Rules Tantamount to Martial Law Rigidly Enforced By Mayor.

By SAM TYNDALL

Times Staff Correspondent

NEW ALBANY, Ind., Jan. 23.—Workers were laboring this afternoon to save 200 marooned families in this city. About 2000 persons already

have been saved.

Mayor Jacob Hansweld ordered all but official cars off the streets. All bars and taverns are closed. The Mayor laid down rules that followed closely those in effect when martial law is declared.

J. L, Kendall, U. S. Meteorologist

at noon was 49.8 feet and predicted a crest of between 5112 and 52 feet some time tomorrow. Mayor Hansweld asked Coast Guard officials for more power boats for rescue work and was told that 40 were due to arrive by rail tomorrow in Cincinnati. Some of the refugees housed on (Turn to Page Two)

HERRON TO EXHIBIT FAMOUS DUTCH ART

Rembrandts Inc Included in Show to Begin Feb. 27.

Rembrandts, Hals, Vermeers, and other famous paintings are to be brought to Indianapolis by the John Herron Art Institute for its exhibition of Dutch Masterpieces of the 17th Century, Feb. 27 to April 11. Wilbur Peat, director, said today the exhibition will embrace more than 60 pictures of 40 masters. This probably will be the most important show of the kind in the country outside the largest metropolitan centers, it was said. Four paintings by Rembrandt have been chosen from different periods in the artist’s career to illustrate his development. They include the important “Standard Bearer,” lent by Jules S. Bache of New York, and “Christ Washing the Disciples’ Feet,” newly discovered and recently acquired by the Chicago Art Institute. Rembrandt’s social portraiture will be represented by “Portrait of a Lady,” from the eollection of Samuel Kress. Representing his later period will be the “Head of an Old Man” from the collection of Dr. G. H. A. Clowes of Indianapolis. Six paintings by Frans Hals will be shown, two by Pieter de Hooch, and two of the six Vermeers in this country. Others whose works are to be shown include Ter Borch, Ostade, Paul Potter, Hobbema, Nicholas Maes and Gerard Dou, a pupil of Rembrandt. Mr. Peat is now negotiating with the Rijksmuseum of Holland for additional masterpieces.

Fr HOME

PRICE THREE CENTS

HISTORY

®

300,000 FLEE: DAMAGE HEAVY; FEAR EPIDEMICS

Blizzard Increases Suffering in 11 States; 26 Known Dead; Hundred Reported Missing From Portsmouth to Memphis.

Photos, Pages 3, 12; Map of Flooded Indiana Areas, Page 3; Other Stories, Pages 2, 3, 4, 8, 12.

Nearly 300,000 refugees fought hunger, cold and illness in a flooded “no man’s land” today as rivers of the Ohio and Mississippi Valleys surged to their highest points in history, Floor damage in 11 states from Pennsylvania to Tennessee and Mississippi already was estimated at more than $10,000,000. Industry counted its losses at least equal to that amount as the swirling streams forced factories and stores to close and left additional thousands without jobs. Twenty-six were known dead and hundreds were feared missing. Rescue workers feared a repetition of the 1884 disaster, In Washington the Red Cross inaugurated a $2,000,000 drive for funds to aid the homeless. Approximately 14,000 WPA, NYA and CCC workers were withdrawn from regular proj ects and hurled into the fight against rising rivers. In Washington, President Roosevelt, concerned over the situation, issued a proclamation calling on the people of the United States to contribute at least $2,000,000 to the Red Cross for relief work,

- Blizzard Alls to Suffering

Homeless crouched in flimsy shelters on hilltops, in abandoned schools, in city halls and churches, and ha ily, converted emergency .centers.>. 1 A blizzard sweeping across the Ohio and part of the Mississippi Valleys brought hopes that the rising streams would be halted. But suffering of refugees was doubled. Wholesale influenza and pneumonia epidemics were feared. Typhoid serum was rushed to isolated communities, The situation by states: :

PENNSYLVANIA —Flood crests were believed passed as streams hesitated, then started to recede slowly. A cold wave from the Northwest added to suffering. Flood waters were 7.9 feet over flood stage at Pittsburgh.’

40,000 Homeless at Wheeling

WEST VIRGINIA—Ohio River flood waters rose more than three inches per hour at Wheeling and covered streets in the business section. Forty thousand were homeless. Damage in: the steel and coal mining area approached $1,000,000. Villages reported wholesale evacuations. OHIO—The river was 22 feet above flood level at Cine cinnati and was expected to rise another two inches before reaching the crest. Red Cross shelters operated on a 24-hour basis. Police boats patrolled the area. One new death was reported. An epidemic threatened Portsmouth where a shortage of food and medical supplies was reported. KENTUCKY—The state was experiencing the “worst disaster in Kentucky history.” Water supplies were rationed to Louisville residents where 15,000 were reported homes less. State officials prepared to evacuate 4900 inmates at the Frankfort Prison. Eight were reported drowned at Henderson. ; . INDIANA—Tent cities sprouted on hilltops as 40,000 were reported homeless. Two thousand National Guards

men, Red Cross workers, and Coast Guardsmen were ordered (Turn to Page Two)

LAWRENCEBURG WOMAN RESCUED . . . .

An aged Lawrenceburg woman rescued from her inundated home. Trapped by the sudden overflow of the Ohio, she wap taken from her howe by neighbor and ue WoFkiers. !

—Times Photos by Wheeler.

who saw her distress up,

John, 6, and Eugene Stahl, 5, go to bed in the Seagram distillery aft being rescued from Ri and flood of their home. Susian Munies, . their srandmothel}

. YOUNGSTERS PUT TO BED IN DISTILLERY ‘ A

Thomas, 12, looks on,

BOATS CARRY

Se have evacuated

Another boatload of covers them large distillery plants Being used

REFUGEES TO SAFETY + & uo. x vs 4:4 4

of. citizens, forced from their homes, on the way to one of the three used for hospital ang A housing, purposes. An estimated 5000