Indianapolis Times, Indianapolis, Marion County, 27 January 1937 — Page 1
15,000 Are Homeless;
~ a. m. and 12:30 p. m. were
The Indianapolis Times
FORECAST: Increasing cloudiness tonight; probably followed by rain or snow tomorrow; rising temperatures.
FOURTH
EXTRA
VOLUME 48—NUMBER 276
WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 27, 1937
Entered as Second-Class Matter at Postoffice, Indianapolis, Ind.
PRICE THREE CENTS
PLAN MISS. VALLEY EVACUATION; VANSVILLE WARNED OF EPIDEMIC
Paging Mr. Noah—No Ark for This Bossy, But She JF loated Up on This Island’ in ers nile
LET LOUISVILLE BE A LESSON T0 ALL EVANSVILLE
&®
Evacuation Goes On Slowly.
BULLETIN Published press association dispatches that the Ohio River rose two feet at Evansville between 7
inaccurate. The correct figure was two-tenths of one foot rise in that five-and-a-half-hour period.
By ARCH STEINEL Times Staff Writer
EVANSVILLE, Jan. 27.— A warning that “if Evansville citizens will get out before they are forced to, the conditions of disaster being experienced in Louisville will not be present here’ was sounded today by Maj. Gen. Robert H. Tyndall, commander of National Guard flood ae-_| tivities for Indiana. Preceding this plea, Evansville authorities, after a conference, warned: “It is conceivable that within 24 hours we could have a terrible outbreak of dysentery or typhoid here.” Mayor William H. Dress, Col. L. L. Roberts, city attorney and commander of the 830 Guardsmen on duty here, and John Jennings, citizens adviser to the military, issued the warning. “We know definitely that the water now in the reservoirs is contaminated,” the warning said. “We are urging everyone to boil all drinking water, but we know that no such order can be entirely effective in a city of more than 100,000 persons.” Tank Cars En Route Tank cars bringing drinking water from several cities were reported en route. Mr. Jennings said: “We are facing a grave situation, but I would say it is well in hand excepi for the water problem. We are at a loss to know what to do about that.” At least one-fifth of the city is under water, the entire city is surrounded. Approximately 1750 persons were evacuated yesterday. Between 15,000 and 20,000 are homeJess, according to Mayor Dress, Elec@ic power has been shut off in some sections. Col. Roberts said they would remove some 1000 refugees now sleepfg in relief barracks from the city tomorrow. He said there had been no looting. : River Drop Forecast
Cheered by a predicted one to two feet lower river crest for tomorrow, Evansville residents today prepared for a 53 to 53':-foot stage. Col. Roberts and Mayor Dress began organization of a citizens com-, mittee to rehabilitate the fashionable East End district. It has been under water since the flood’s beginning. They said the purpose of the committee is to seek reoecupation of homes at the earliest possible time with as little confusion as necessary. The river stage was at 52.7 with rise of about one-tenth foot an hour. The crest, forecast originally for Friday by John Hagan, Weather Bureau official, was set up a day and fixed for tomorrow afternoon. ~ Forty workmen of the Southern Indiana Gas & Electric Co. operated the plant today, walled in by a two-foot slab of mortar, while the river left them isolated from the mainland. The city’s power service is not endangered, observers said. Hotels and business buildings are cold as tombs with all steam heat off. ~
TIMES FEATURES ON INSIDE PAGES
Bob Burns ...24 | Merry-Go-R’d 14 13 | Movies Mrs. Ferguson 13 Mrs. Roosevelt 13 Comics Music Crossword ....2 Curious World 23 Editorials ....14 Fashions Financial Fishbein Flynn
Scherrer Serial Story .. Short Story ...22
Grin, Bear It. 22 In Indpls .... 9 Jane Jordan ..10
State Deaths. . Sullivan
Johnson weaned Wiggam weesesd3
ay
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Refugee Dies Here; Indiana Rushes Rescue Job.
(Editorial, Page 14) By JOE COLLIER
Governor Townsend today called the drinking water shortage at Evansville “the gravest situation in the disaster,” as Indiana dug into its biggest emergency job. Nevertheless, he said, he had been able to persuade Evansville civil - authorities not to turn Ohio River flood water into the city mains. He said he was advised by health engineers that flood water would have left the mains dangerous to health for}
months.
Other top developments were: 1,Maj. Gen. Roberti H. Tyndall, commanding National Guard troops, s leading a rescue party to Tell City and Cannelton, which he says have been unreported for several days. 2. Oscar © Snyder, Jeffersonville distillery employee who came here from the flood district Monday, died of exposure today at the home of Sultan G. Cohen, 5831 N. Pennsylvania St. He was 35 and the first flood victim to die here.
Survey Lawrenceburg
today
3. Military medical men survey Lawrenceburg and order immediate cleanup as water recedes. 4. U. S. meteorologists predict rain or snow over the Ohio Valley tomorrow. 5. Hospital train from Indianapolis sent to Jeffersonville sector, to bring bedfast refugees back here. 6. State begins negotiating for Federal grants in rehabilitation work. 7. Disaster donations pour into Red Cross Chapter office here at more than $2000 an hour. They reached $115,421 at 11 a. m.
May Extend Tax Period
Governor Townsend also said that the Legislature may pass a joint resolution to extend for 30 days the grace period on gross income tax Payment to southern Indiana. He said Federal aid would be asked for rebuilding schools, and said all teachers would be paid, even though their schools were not in session.
Trains left as they were available from Indianapolis bearing medicine, food and clothing for refugees. And they returned with hundreds upon hundreds of victims who ware distributed in concentration camps according to available accommodations. Along the entire river front, health officers, Indiana National Guard, WPA and CCC workers by the thousands labored to keep down disease, to save lives and property and to feed and clothe people. ‘Indianapolis was the -base. A relief authority, created by Governor Townsend, began to function today as a clearing agency for all flood rescue activities.
Book Directs Purchases
William B o o k, Indianapolis Chamber of Commerce executive vice president, was in charge of all purchases and disbursements. Maj. Claude Crooks, Indiana National Guard, was in charge of all evacuation activities. Governor Townsend urged that all sick and injured refugees be brought to Indianapolis. He said evacuation of river towns on a major scale has “only begun.” Indianapolis citizens broke all records for disaster contributions to Red Cross funds with a total of $109,000 in three days. Dr. Verne K. Harvey, State Health Director, joined forces with tine U. S. Public Health Service to purify (Turn to Page 16)
CINCINNATI FACING HAZARDS FROM FIRE
By United Press CINCINNATI, Jan. 27, — Flood and fireswept Cincinnati today was threatened with a new fire menace today—the shortage of high pressure water. Most of the city was without adequate protection. Only near the muddy river, which had receded slightly to a level of 7¢.6 compared to a crest of 80 feet vesterday, could sufficienf water be Plsiped to control large blazes,
—Times Photo by Cotterman.
ALTON—Only two or three houses untouched by flood.
AURORA—Evacuation to Dillsbore.
Water today is receding.
Emergency lights are operating and situaiion today is relieved. Twentyone cases of pneumonia reported. Some looting reported and arrangements made for National Guard patrol. .
BOONVILLE—Water rising in
drinking water will last only three or four days.
Authorities fear Five hundred refugees,
pumping station.
mostly. from Kentucky, housed in school building. . BROOKSBURG—Completely under water. BULLOCKTOWN-—Two hundred refugees sent here. CANNELTON—Remaining population quarantined after reported
outbreak of scarlet fever, Water
four days.
supply sufficient only for ‘three or
CHARLESTOWN—Emergency hospital headquarters for Jefferson-
ville area set up here. ing cared for.
EVANSVILLE—Sanitation situation serious.
installing sanitary outdoor privies.
Several hundred refugees from Jeffersonville be-
Health Board engineers Authorities fear outbreak of dysen-
tery or typhoid. Drinking water supply contaminated. Order to boil drinking water issued. Supply turned on 1 hour daily for private use,
HATFIELD—Residents evacuated to Boonville,
JEFFERSONVILLE—Five thousand remain in city, after complete evacuation is ordered by Adjt. Gen. Straub. Flood crest apparently
reached.
LAWRENCEBURG—Sanitation
pletely inundated. Almost completely evacuated. National Guardsmen
report some looting.
LEAVENWORTH—Seventy-five tional supplies in 48 hours.
survey taken. “Old Town” com-
homes’ washed away. Need addi-
LEWISTOWN. Ky.—Five hundred persons trapped in flooded village,
300 in school building. services available. = Evacuation. to Guard from Tell City.
One death, one birth reported. No medical
be attempted by Indiana National
MADISON—RIiver stationary at 728 feet, 10 feet above 1884 high
mark. One hundred buildings under water.
across swollen river for emergency
Carrollton, Ky., girl brought operation. Building of new bridge
approach ordered on Kentucky side to restore communications. MIDWAY——Residents evacuated to Chrisney.
MITCHELL—Two flood refugees from Louies;
here of exposure.
MOUNT VERNON—Water mains filled with river water. supply of drinking water in ice plant well. hundred fifty residents to evacuate.
NEW ALBANY—Population placed on water rations.
Ky., are deaa
Limited Town short on rations. Two
Authorities
ask 75 National Guardsmen and military court to help enforce evacuation
order.
Food supply adequate for 10 days, but medical supplies low.
NEW AMSTERDAM—Abandoned; half under water,
O0SGOOD—Private wells running dry. Authorities request drinking
water from Indianapolis.
PATRIOT—Only three homes are dry.
the homeless.
Churches and schools house
PRINCETON—Patoka River again rising , althougls White River is falling slowly. Use of city water supply permitted only six hours daily.
Town in no danger of flood waters.
RISING SUN—Seven hundred down the river.
evacuated. Three houses washed
ROCKPORT—Thirty per cent inundated.
ROME—Completely surrounded
SELLERSBURG—Emergency hospital caring for 400 patients.
contagious diseases reported.
by water and halt submerged.
No
SPEED—Town acting as distributing center for Jeffersonville-New Albany hospital patients. Typhoid serum requested for 2000 townspeople.
SUNMAN-—State Police bring additional diphtheria antitoxin.
TELL CITY—Business district submerged, but
dential section has escaped.
greater part of resi-
TROY—Refining company ruined.
VEVAY—Business section safe.”
VINCENNES—Emergency hospital set up to care for invalids and’
for administration of serums.
WASHINGTON -Anangemelis, made to’ Sstommodate 500 Evansvike .| refugees, :
>
SUMMARY BY TOWNS|"
Cling to Sails Bits of Debris Appealing in Their Own Way for Help.
By HEZE CLARK Times Staff Writer ABOARD LAUNCH CRUISING IN JEFFERSONVILLE, Jan. 27.— There are other victims than people in this flood. There are animals that have died or have suffered for days on end in cold. Pets, which belonged to households that have been scattered to Indiana refugee camps by the ruthless Ohio River, have been left behind. Livestock has been left in the path of the waters because owners had neither time nor {facilities to rescue them. I saw a cat, miserably wet, huddled on a piece of board that was snagged in a little eddy current in 10 feet of water. It seemed half dead. I was in a boat and we came within 20 "feet of it. Bul couldn’t rescue it. We had people to .rescue. ' The livestock death toll has been terrific. A cow, which apparently had been swimming about for several days, finally was washed ashore here—half alive.
Catch Marooned Rabbits
As I made my way on this boat through a deep channel along the west side of the Big Four Railroad
small board that had drifted against |
a ‘pole. A number of rabbits have been captured by boatmen during the last three days. stumps and high places and can be caught by hand. Among the animals we saw drifting on logs was a cat—a different
kind of a cat. The: boatmen gave |
this polecat plenty of room. A police dog stood on the sill of a window in another factory, Another dog that became too hungry to stay in his master’s flooded home any longer, was swimming in the cold water, willing to take a chance in its struggle to find nourishment. As. our boat reached the more thickly populated section of the city, we saw two more dogs standing on a
(Turn to Page Seven)
Let Us Help!
ONEY urgently is needed to relieve suffering in the flood regions. About 1,000,000 persons—nearly three times as many. as live in Indianapolis— are homeless, disheartened, their possessions ruined. They need help. a Indianapolis is responding magnificently to the Red Cross disaster fund appeal : Citizens are giving generous-, ly to Mile-of-Dimes, which . The Times in response to public request started yesterday for Red Cross aid. But the need still is great. Give to the Red Cross! Give to the Mile-of-Dimes!
o 88 During the first 30 hours, Mile-of-Dimes donors placed
approximately $449.30 in silver oe sidewalk line for flood
sufferers.
we’
They patk on
cas SEEKS DATA ON ISOLATED AREAS
National Guard Commander
Is Concerned Over ‘Lost’ Towns.
Times Specinl IN THE FIELD WITH NATIONAL GUARD COMMANDING GENERAL, Jan. 27.—Maj. Gen. Robert H. Tyndall, commanding 3000 Guardsmen in Indiana flood relief work, today sought to establish contact .with small towns between Evansville and New Albany which have been “missing” for several days. Tell City, Cannelton and: other towns are isolated with no contact vy boats or automobiles. Meanwhile, it was reported ‘that a guardsman had reached. Cannelton and had returned to Evansvilie. He is said to have informed guard officers that the town and others nearby probably would have to be evacuated. Gen. Tyndall said ne was “greatly concerned” about the towns. He started a systematic questioning of
1efugees from this area in hope of
obtaining information that might aid relief work. He said he believed the towns might be in an “acute condition.” "Gen. Tyndall is inspecting refugee camps, emergency hospitals, en(Turn to Page Four)
RAIN PREDICTED FOR SOUTHERN INDIANA
HOURLY TEMPERATURES 19 10 a.m... 29 20 11 a.m. 33 .m... 22 12 (Neom) 35 ms. 25 1pm, 3
River-swamped southern Indiana is. to have more rain tomorrow, with rain or snow in the northern section, the Weather Bureau indicated today. Rain and slightly warmer was the forecast for Indianapolis tomorrow, with rising temperature today.
By United Press
{through Louisville streets to-
»
500,000 TO BE MOVED BY U.S. IF LEVEES GO
Shoot to Kill Boden Given All Guards In Louisville.
LOUISVILLE, Ky., Jan. 27. Federal soldiers. marched
day and were assigned to posts in the business district to maintain order. The men were equipped with rifles and received the same instructions as police to
“shoot to kill” looters.
Platoons of soldiers were escorted to “beats” by Louisville policemen. Six hundred soldiers arrived yesterday from Ft. Benjamin Harrison. As the soldiers were led to their posts, airplanes from many cities landed at Bowman Field. They carried policemen for whom Mayor Neville Miller had appealed in a nation-wide radio broadcast last night when it appeared that Army officers would refuse to lend him the military unless “insurrection” occurred. The Mayor's quarrel with the Army was dissolved at a conference with Brig. Gen. Daniel Van Voorhis.. The troops were ordered into the city proper from Bowman Field, crossing over a pontoon bridge which rested on whisky barrels. There were strong indications that the crest of the flood may have been reached at Louisville. The Ohio River here had maintained a stage of 57.1 feet since 2 a. m. and Weather Bureau officials believed it might begin to drop late today.
Conferred With Naylor The Mayor, a slim, dare man in his middle forties, called for the police from other cities in a radio broadcast in which he described in detail the terror which prevailed in this city of 200,000 homeless. He explained 600 regular soldiers were stationed six miles out of the city, but could not enter unless the city was declared in a state of insurrection. : He left the microphone to confer with Brig. Gen. William K.’ Naylor, (Turn to Page 16)
MEDICAL OFFIGER AT AURORA MAKES TOUR
Lawrenceburg Sanitary Conditions ‘Terrible.’
By JERRY SHERIDAN Times Staff Writer
LAWRENCEBURG, Ind. Jan. 27. —Maj. Juan Roderiquez, military madical head of the refugee field! base at Sunman, this afterncon surveyed sanitary conditions of the
Lawrenceburg-Aurora area. He was to report to general headquarters at Indianapolis what supplies and troops will be needed to begin the all-important task of rendering sanitary and habitable the flood-wrecked city. Sanitary conditions are terrible. Maj. Roderiquez said that immediate steps must be taken. A.’ F. Eberhart, Lawrenceburg City .official, said county and City records probably have been destroyed. Water was high in the second story of the Court House. By moonlight early this morning I saw Lawrenceburg, a ghost city choked with debris and muddy water. It was an eerie sight. The ceas- : (Turn to Page 16)
Lawrence Tibbett Fears He Killed Singer Friend
By United Press NEW YORK, Jan. 27.—Lawrence
| Tibbett played the leading role in
a real life tragedy today. The opera star, hero of many an operatic tragedy, believed he was
| responsible for the death of Joseph
Sterzini, his friend of 15 years, who died five hours after he was stabbed accidentally by Mr. Tibbett during a dress rehearsal of the opera, “Caponsacchi.” Physicians said “the wound was “trivial.” Although the cause of death cannot be ascertained until an autopsy is performed today, they agreed that the cut scarcely could have caused it. But Mr. Tibbett, who learned of
h while he rested "
between acts of “La Traviata” in Newark, N. J. last r "it, declared it was “the most terr. : thing that has ‘ever happened to me.”
The accident occurred during reHearsal of the last act of “Caponsacchi.” Mr. Sterzini had the role of one of several bandits who were holding Guido Franceschini. role played by Mr. Tibbett. In the ensuing struggle, Guido preduces a stiletto and pretends to stab another player. “Mr. Sterzini’s right hand got in the way of the dagger,” Mr. Tibbett explained. “The point of the dagger clipped the flesh between the finger and thumb.
the |
Mr. Tibbett stopped singing. He + (Turn to Page
1,000,000 Homeless 3 Army Attempting To Quiet Fears.
By United Press WASHINGTON, Jan. 27.— The U. S. Army mobilized as in war time today to effect unprecedented mass evacuation of 150,000 square miles of Mississippi River lowlands in - event its billion-dollar levee system weakens and crumbles under an advancing avalanche i of flood waters.
The War Department feared that a half million inhabitants of a danger zone extending 50 miles on each
side of ‘the treacherous river might
be added to the more than 1,000,000 refugees which the Red Cross egtie mates have been made homeless by fioods farther upstream. The Army rushed plans to dise patch thousands of railroad cars and trucks to lowlands on both sides of the lower Mississippi ready to take refugees to concentration camps on higher ground at'the first indication of bursting dikes. All other agencies of Government, working under active direction of « President Roosevelt, co-operated with the Red Cross in combating : the worst flood calamity in the his- : . tory of the nation. :
Residents Calmed
War Department officials issued * reassuring bulletins designed to ° calm fears of residents along the : lower Mississippi after it was re- : ported many were panic-stricken by : publication of the Army's evacua- : tion plans. : They emphasized that the evacua= : tion program is of a precautionary « : nature and may not need to be biaced in complete effect. One bulletin, issued under the heading “Army Preparing for High aler on the Lower Mississippi,” sai : “The War Department and others concerned are making plans for assisting the people in the lower Mise sissippi Valley in evacuating to high ground, should it become necessary. “From present knowledge it appears likely that the flood waters will pass down the valley without: causing wide inundation—and :
now is to plan carefully £ ly evacuation where necessary. Te is hoped that no widespread evacuation will become necessary. “At present the Memphis gauge reads 44 (44 feet of water in the river banks) and is not expected to go above 53.5.”
Indication of Fear Although it was emphasized that evacuation will net begin in any area until levees either burst or appear inevitably doomed, the unprecedented Army plans appeared to indicate that the War Department engineers fear the giant leves system built on ihe lower river during the last decade may not hol firm against the tremendous pres ” sure. -The Army engineers fisodsconirel program on the Mississippi south of Cairo, Ill, to the Gulf, it was pointed out; has not yet been comevleted. ) : War Department engineers watched the advancing crest of the Ohio River flood as though it wers an invading army. Thousands of soldiers and civilians were mustered to strengthen dikes along the Mississippi. Secretary of War Harry Woodring and Gen. Malin Craig, Army Chie? of Staff, directed a staff of officers who planned the evacuation pro= -
Ta OS RN
gram as they would a military came.
paign. Plans were made to set up “evacue ation headquarters” at Jackson, : Miss, in the heart of the lower river section. High ranking Army officers will be dispatehed to Jacke, son ‘immediately. Use Trains and Trucks te Through the entire valley the Army will place supplies of railroad” cars and huge Army trucks, each. capable of carrying scores of refils . ‘gees to safety. War Department officials emphas: : sized that their evacuation plans de"
not contemplate declaration of Feds 3
eral martial law in affected regions. ! All the work, they said, will be conducted in co-operation with civil * authorities of various states. Presi= dent Roosevelt has power to declare .
which would give the Army complete authority in the flood area, but Army officials said there was no presnt intention of taking such Ld