Indianapolis Times, Indianapolis, Marion County, 28 January 1937 — Page 1

h

Rain turning to“snow and colder tonight with lowest temperature 20 to 25; tomorrow fair and colder.

‘Indianapolis Times

FORECAST:

SCRIPPS — HOWARD

VOLUME 48-NTUMBER 277

THURSDAY, JANUARY 28, 1937

Entered as Second-Class Matter

at Postoffice, Indianapolis,

Ind.

PRICE THREE CENTS

A

FIGHT DISEASE AS OHIO R ~ U.S. ARMY

BATTLE ON RISING MISSISSIPPI RIVER

J

|

~ Loss Already Put at $400,000,000; Count 225 Dead.

BULLETIN By United Press NEW ORLEANS, Jan. 28.— United States Army engineers today decided to open the gigantic Bonnet Carre Spillway early next week and divert the rising waters of the Mississippi River into Lake Pontchartrain, 22 miles above New Orleans.

By United Press WASHINGTON, Jan. 28.—Gen. Malin Craig, Army Chief of Staff, announced today that Army engineers now believe that Mississippi River levees will hold firm under the advancing crest of floods from the Ohio Valley.

By United Press The U. S. Army, directing tens of thousands of workers, hurled its power against the raging Mississippi today to prevent repetition on a larger scale of disastrous floods which have claimed at least 9295 lives, driven 1,000,000 persons from their homes and destroyed more than $400,000,000 worth of property in the big river's tributary val-

leys. . Maj. Gen. Stanley H. Ford, commander of the Seventh Corps Area, assumed full command of the battle against nature at what for the moment was its most critical point— eastern Arkansas. ari With the glutted Ohio slowly receding over most of its course after ravaging hundreds of communities and millions of acres in six states, the four-state region of the MidSouth became the area of greatest danger. Army rescue teams from Omaha, Neb., Seventh Corps Area headquarters, moved into eastern Arkansas Where provisional martial law prevailed. ' Governor Carl Bailey, superseded in authority by Gen. Ford, continued to employ all his state’s resources in the frantic effort to evacuate inhabitants of lowlands in the .path of the flood and to prevent recurrence of levee ' breaks which inundated communities at the mouths of rivers pouring into “the Mississippi. Convicts Sent to Levees

‘He ordered 930 convicts from two prisons transported to the Mellwood levee area, 45 miles below Helena to join hundreds of Army engineers and farmers in bolstering the bulging dikes. The Mellwood levee system was the region’s most critical flood front. ‘With 50,000 Arkansans in relief camps, National Guardsmen, at gun point in some instances, virtually drove farmers to higher ground. Refugees poured into Helena at the rate of 700 families a day. Scores of families living at the mouth of the L’Anguille River, south of Marianna, were isolated when a levee went out. Rescuers in motorboats went to. their aid. The recession on the Ohio, general from Pittsburgh to Cairo, Ill, except at Evansville, Ind. revealed new horrors. Searchers at Louisville, Ky., found the bodies of 20 more « persons who had been trapped in (Turn to Page Four)

FLOODS INESCAPABLE, WALLACE DECLARES

16 Inches of Rain Makes Control Impossible, Belief.

By Scripps-Howard Ncwspaper Alliance WASHINGTON, Jan. 28.—Sixteen inches of rain in 26 days in the Ohio-Indiana-Kentucky area caused the current floods and no floodcontrol projects could have prevented them, according to Secretary cf Agriculture Wallace. This was the greatest concentration of rain in such a short period ever recorded in America, he said. In 1922, 20 inches of rain fell between Feb. 22 and May 2 in southern Arkansas, Mississippi, Louisiana and western Missouri. In 1927, 30 inches fell from mid-December to April 29 in eastern Arkansas, Mississippi, Kentucky and Louisiana. “In the current flood areas the rainfall has been five to six times the normal amount,” the Secretary asserted. “Water covers 1782 counties and 100,000 farmers are affected. ! “A complete flood-control program, including reservoirs, dikes and agricultural practices designed to hold water and prevent erosion might have cut the crest by one, two or three inches. But these things could only mitigate and not prevent a flood under such abnormal circumstances.” :

>

DIRECTS

At a Glance ‘IN THE UNITED STATES

By United Press INDIANA

Twelve dead. Seventy-five thousand homeless. Evansville awaits flood crest Yer than originally feared. Ohio drops 10 inches at Aurora and refugees prepare to return to homes. Red Cross reports health conditions good. Southern counties under martial law,

KENTUCKY

Two hundred fifty thousand homeless. One hundred fifty known dead in Louisville. Ohio River recedes slowly at Louisville. Fpidemic threat increages. Tennessee, Ohio Rivers rising; at Paducah where refugees are evacuating at 800 an hour,

ARKANSAS

Twenty-nine dead. Sixty thousand homeless. National Guardsmen patrol Mississippi River front. Martial law in effect in southern district where residents refuse to leave threatened homes.

TENNESSEE

Nine dead. Thirty-five thousand homeless. Memphis prepares to care for 50,000 refugees. Doctors report 500 influenza cases in one refugee colony. Flood, relief directors informed nearly :3,000,000 acres inundated in Arkansas, Tennessee, Mississippi and Missouri.

MISSOURI

Fourteen dead. Thirty-five thousand homeless. Residents warned to evacuate New Madrid. Charleston jammed with refugees. National Guardsmen patrol southeastern flood areas. MISSISSIPPI

Four dead. Four thousand homeless. Levee dynamited to relieve water pressure at Marks.

LOUISIANA Three thousand homeless. deaths reported. ILLINOIS

Six dead. Fifty thousand homeless. Three drown when levees burst and flood Mounds and Mound City. Engineers believe Cairo saved. Harrisburg, Shawneetown, New Haven inundated.

No

OHIO Fifteen dead. Two hundred fifty thousand homeless. Ohio River receding. Cincinnati gets first electric power, estimates damage at $25,000,000; begins planning reoccupation. Portsmouth announces bond issue for flood relief. PENNSYLVANIA Three dead. Four thousand homeless. Rivers receding. Pittsburgh counts more than $1,000,000 damage. WEST VIRGINIA Ten dead. Ninety thousand homeless. Wheeling prepares to clean up as river recedes. Crisis believed passed. ]

IN EUROPE

By United Press Spain—Heavy rains and floods impede Spanish civil war, endanger | Rebel positions outside Madrid.

Gibraltar — Hurricane batters shipping, strands liner and passengers.

Portugal—Gales, sweeping up coast from Gibraltar, scatter fishing fleets, wreck steamship.

England—Thames Valley floods reach London; change in wind saves city from high tide overflow.

Ireland—Ocean liners report worst crossing in years as Atlantic gales drive passengers from decks, slow up ‘hips. Denmark—Gales disrupt communications with mainland, delay North Sea shipping, wreck ships on Danish and Norwegian west coasts. France—Cloudburst floods Cannes race track. Avstria — Snowstorms, weather in Danube Valley scores of Jugoslavian, and Bulgarian towns.

Germany—Terrific Baltic Sea storms drown 200 seamen; Reugers Island icebound.

Safe Water

By Science Serviee WASHINGTON, Jan. 28.— Persons living in or traveling to flood areas where the water supply may be polluted temporarily can assure themselves of a safe drink of water by adding a drop of iodine to each glass of ter. The ordinary tincture of iodine for first aid treatment of cuts does the trick of destroying typhoid fever or other harmful germs. A drop will make as much as a quart of water safe for drinking. Persons traveling can carry with them the little ampules made for first aid use. : The value of iodine for this purpose was discovered by Maj. A. P. Hitchens of the U. S.

freezing isolate Rumanian

INDIANA SUMMARY

AURORA—Looting reported as water recedes. Eighty-one additional National Guardsmen stationed in- Aurora-Lawrenceburg sector. Four police patrol boats requested by Maj. Walter Fowler, National Guard commander stationed at Lawrenceburg. Many persons reported floating down Ohio River in boats from Cincinnati. Tsenty-nine persons reported ill with pneumonia, ’

BATESVILLE—Red Cross base for Lawrenceburg-Aurora-Rising Sun sector established in furniture plant here. BOONVILLE—Warrick . County situation under control after estimated damage of $300,000. Seven bus loads of refugees sent to Daviess County. Two babies born to refugees. z BULLOCKTOWN-—Most of population sent to Boonville. ; CHARLESTOWN—Jeffersonville evacuation base located here; work slowed by lack of boats. CLARKSVILLE—Looting reported. Twenty-8ight National Guardsmen arrived early this morning. Two hundred refugees housed in schoolhouse. : y

CORYDON—Telephone communication cut oft.

ENGLISH—Mrs. Lucinda Parr, a refugeé frogn Alton, died of pneumonia here. She was 100 years of age. )

EVANSVILLE—Fifteen inoculation clinics s&t up; 39 scarlet fever cases reported. Flood loss estimated at $16,875,000. Crest of 53 to 54 feet predicted. Drinking water brought in from Terre Haute.

FRENCH LICK—Maj. Gen. Robert H. Tyndall requests Adjt. Gen. Elmer F. Straub to send him 100 Army engineers®to begin rehabilitation work in the New Albany-Jeffersonville sector. Qomplete evacuation of both cities ordered. :

GREENDALE—Nine hundred refugees being ‘cared for. Improvised generators furnishing power for lights. Twenty-four hour fire patrol maintained. HAZLETON--Both forks of White River receding. Roads into town badly damaged. HANOVER—College gymnasium houses sevegal hundred - Jeffersonville refugees. Drinking water being boiled. Six8y cottages at Hanover Beach destroyed. v : HATFIELD—Evacuated. ! : JEFFERSONVILLE—Four hundred refugees housed in Colgate plant near river front and 270 in Rosehill School.

Only tall trees and business buildings can be seen ‘above water.

LEAVENWORTH—Four hundred evacuated; y fifty houses reported washed away. : LEWISPORT. Ky.—Military guard requested.

MADISON—Food supply sufficient for two more days. National Guard takes over toll bridge, only link between Kentucky and Indiana.

LAND—Completely under water.

MIDWAY—Village deserted after evacuationyof residents to Chrisney. MITCHELL—Mayor closes all bars and forbids any refugees to leave town without passes. MOUNT VERNON—Twenty-five pneumonia cases reported. shortage feared among 2000 overcrowded refugees. NEW ALBANY—Floyd County bankers estithate damage here in excess of $10,000,000. Crest passes. Military court to be established. NEW AMSTERDAM—Half under water. NEWBURGH—Every spare bed and cot utilized for refugees.

Food

boat to care for four babies born in a schoolhouse without medical aid.

PAOLI—Nightly entertainment with music organized for 350 refugees in high school building. -

7 PATRIOT—"“The forgotten town” is heard from, one of the most completely inundated towns on the river. Only four houses and church still above water; 750 homeless." a : PRINCETON—Drinking water service restored. White Rivers receding slowly. School reopened. RICHLAND—Evacuated. r : RISING SUN—Half under water. All relief in hands of citizenry. Professional river men reported using outboard motorboats to salvage furniture and other valuables. SEYMOUR—Jeffersonville officials set up hehdquarters ity where 1500 Jeffersonville refugees are being He for. in Clty Hal),

SHOALS—White River recedes. Repairs mhde to B near here. Regular -schedules may be resumed Sunday. Ose . SUNMAN—AII refugees removed to Indianapolis.

TELL CITY—One hundred additional National Guardsmen arrive.

. UTICA—Physicians, aided by National Guard Troo - tions because of lack of sanitary facilities, Town is ig Same - = VEVAY—Only two streets inundated. WASHINGTON—One hundred fifty Evansvill : Mary's School, ) refugees housed in St.

YANKEETOWN—Residents evacuated to Boonville,

Wabash, Patoka and

LAWRENCEBURG—Fear of typhoid . epidemic speeds evacuation.

ORVILLE—MTrs. Charles Decker, Hazleton, braved high water in a

GIRLS’ PARENTS ARE. MISSING

Youngsters Remain Silent After Dramatic Rescue.

By PAUL BOXELL Dorothy, the tiny one with the big inquisitive eyes, is about three and sits up in bed and looks through her picture book. She's been looking at the same book for almost two days now. : Mary, the older one, about four, round faced and blue ‘eyed, plays with her wooden toys, refusing even to nod her head when questioned. You'd never guess that these tiny Indianapolis visitors, now being entertained at City Hospital, are flood “orphans.” They appear perfectly happy and unconcerned about their plight. Meanwhile, search for their parents goes on. : The children, evidently sisters, arrived here on a refugee train and were brought to the hospital by a Jeffersonville doctor. : He told a dramatic story of their rescue from a tree, to. which they had been tied, near Clarksburg. The abandoned children were carried through deep. water to a point of safety. Paper tags on which their names were scrawled were found pinned to the girls. The writing almost was obliterated. Rescuers decided their names are (Turn to Page Four)

LAWRENCEBURG HAS REHABILITATION JOB

75 Per Cent of Homes Have Been Washed Away.

By JERRY SHERIDAN Times Staff Writer

LAWRENCEBURG, Ind. Jan. 28. —With only the tops of tall trees and business buildings showing above the Ohio River, Lawrenceburg today laid plans for her rehabilitation. Her two distilleries operating at near capacity until the levee cracked a week ago tonight, Lawrenceburg was enjoying a boom. Now it faces a long and difficult job of rebuilding. Some fear the town may have been washed’ from the map with an estimated 75 per cent of the homes collapsed or washed away. The town proper, formerly populated by 6000 persons, today contains a handful of National Guardsmen and Coast Guardsmen. Maj. Walter Fowler, military head in charge, said. that martial law would be enforced strictly to prevent looting. A sanitary sewage system, he said, would be installed (Turn to Page Four)

TIMES FEATURES ON INSIDE PAGES

Help Flood Sufferers! Red Cross—Mile-of-Dimes

In an emergency like this it is very easy halfway under the false assumption that tho a i i the Shricken area the worst has just begun. ° p : e work of rehabilitation has just started. the inadequately clothed are just being lim the Hungsy, threat of disease is'a worse menace potentially than all the water Now is the time to give to the Red Cross. * : Now is the time to give to the Mile-of-Dimes,

. EE ——————————————— After about 48 hours of operation, Mile

Army Medical School.

T -of-Dimes contri for Red Cross aid totaled $831.70. (Photo, Page 4) Con ributors

Merry-Go-R’d 14 3 | Movies 10 Mrs. Ferguson 13 Mrs. Roosevelt 13 Music . Obituaries ... 24 Pegler ....... 14 Pyle... 13 Radio 23 Scherrer 13 Serial Story.. 22 8 | Short Story.. 22

Bob Burns .

Bridge Broun .... Comics 3 Crossword ..- Curious World 23 Editorials .... 14 Fashions .... 16 Financial .... 18

ceo ses

Forum Grin, Bear It 22 In Indpls..... 24 Jane Jordan.. 16

Sullivan : State Deaths .. 5

1 Johnson eso do 14

Aa

Wiggam coon 23

Orphans of, the Storm Found Tied to Tree

Sickness Is at Minimum in

Retugee Camp

(Refugees Registered in Indian- : apolis, Page Nine)

Inspection of downstate refugee bases showed an encouraging minimum of sickness in camps adjoining the flood front, officials reported today. Assistance to the stricken in the devastated area has been developed on a surprisingly well-organized

basis, according to Maj. Gen. Robert H. Tyndall. Gen. Tyndall established headquarters in French Lick today after inspecting evacuation camps and flood towns from Boonville to Lawrenceburg. He estimated 8000 persons were being cared for in the camps. :

Situation Well in Hand

Gen. Tyndall, who has been in charge of guard patrol and relief operations since Monday, reported (Turn to Page Eight)

STREAM DROPS SIX INCHES AT AURORA

Without Utilities.

By SAM TYNDALL Times Staff Writer AURORA, Ind. Jan. 28.—I came over three wagon trails to get here. When I arrived I had. to take to boat. The boat. guide; who looked pretty tired, said the river had gone down six inches-from e¢rest, =. “This didn’t impress me much because the next statement he made was: : - “You are now passing over the Delaney house.” ‘Thera are no lights, heat or water. Headquarters has been set up in the postoffice.” It is the only public building not under water. The telephone operators, working: in fourhour shifts, plug in calls with. their feet in. water. The switchboards have been moved up so far that the plaster in the ceiling of the second flood had to be chiseled out to make room for the operators’ heads. All boats have been confiscated by authorities to prevent looting. There are 125 National Guard troops and State police here and they have set up radio communication. Several thousand white oak whiskey barrels from Seagrams’ distillery have floated away down the Ohio. It is said around here that the distillery will pay $4 a barrel for all you catch and return. It must be true. About the only going business in these parts is capturing them, roping them to trees and poles (Turn to Page Four)

4

Town Still Is Deluged and|

Evansville Confident Crest Will Come Tonight.

By ARCH STEINEL Times Staff Writer

EVANSVILLE, Jan. 28.— Confident the Ohio would reach its crest sometime tonight, without further damage, flood-weary Evansville today started mapping re-

habilitation plans.

At 10 a. m. the river stood at 53.1 feet, just .1 higher than at 7 a. m,, according to the United States meteorologist here. He predicted a crest of 53.5. Backwater of the river rose rapidly today, partially flooding several additional residential blocks. Residents carried their belongings to the second floors and prepared to stick it out. They believed the waters would begin receding by tomOrrow.

Officials to Confer

Paul H. Schmidt, Red Cross chief, called National Guard and civil authorities to discuss rehabilitation. Provisions for sanitation and prevention of looting and fire were to be discussed. Lieut. Col. Louis Roberts, military commander, today ordered all milk, pasteurized or raw, boiled. The order affected Vanderburgh, Perry, Spencer and Warrick counties. Flood losses here also were being

counted today. According to John

K. Jennings, civilian adviser of military authorities, this city has Tost $16,875,000 in flood damages to homes and industries. He fixed the weekly wage loss during the flood at $550,000. ; Smoking on Street Barred

If you live here, you use fastmelting snow to wash your hands. ; wasn’t allowed to smoke a cigaret ifr~the west section of the city because of the danger of gasoline on the water. But workers, visitors and residents of all classes, ages and races were taking the variety of discomforts philosophically. Sixty men are in the plant of the Southern Indiana Gas & Electric Co., working day and night shifts during the emergency with a good city block of water. between them and dry land. A home-made boat with an outboard motor carries supplies across the muddy Ohio backwaters to a bridge built from the plant to a substation. The plant doors haye been mortared to keep out flood waters. : One bridge, that at West Maryland St., is. under water and is the only link connecting the sector with the city proper. Lines of trolley cars stand idle near the barns. The water was reported rising in the fashionable East .End, now under water for an estimated 300 blocks. Trucks Distribute Water

Tank trucks distributed water to thirsty residents from cars shipped into ‘the city. Water stationsy were to be set up throughout the business and residential districts. Health authorities discussed the feasibility of street comfort stations and several were placed in operation. ' Evansville meteorologists predicted the river's crest for today at between 53 and 54 feet. Martial law offenses, such as looting, were: to be dealt with by Circuit Judge John W. Spencer Jr. following an order issued by the (Turn to Page Five)

RAIN, THEN COLDER IS PREDICTED HERE

HOURLY TEMPERATURES 6a m... 33 10a. m... 38 a.m... 34 11am... 39 8a. m... -:36 12 (Noon) 40 9a m... 37 :

~~ With more rain due to bring new discomfort to the southern Indiana flood area today, the prospect of colder weather is in store for tomorrow. Similar weather conditions will prevail in Indianapolis, the Weather Bureau here forecast.

By United Press Francis K. Bowser, Warsaw, resigned at public counselor of the Public Service Commission today

at the request of Governor Townsend. Ralph Hanna, Delphi, an assistant Attorney General, was appointed to succeed Mr. Bowser Feb. 1. Dissatisfaction with delay in settling a rate case against the Indianapolis Power & Light Co. reportedly prompted the Governor to ask Mr. Bowser for his resignation. U. S. Senator Sherman Minton

Townsend Asks and Gets Resignation From Bowser

started the case when he was public counselor, filing an order for the power company to “show cause” why it should. not reduce rates. Power company attorneys challenged legality of the “show cause” order and the State compromised by withdrawing it and launching rate hearings. The hearings have been held intermittently since then. Mr. Bowser said last week that they wouid be completed soon. He was appointed public counselor by ex-Governor McNutt Nov. 5, 1935, succeeding the

CEDES

INDIANA RELIEF HEADS TO MEET HERE TONIGHT

Complete Evacuation Of Jeffersonville Is Ordered.

(“Floods Must and Can Be Tamed,” Page 13)

By JOE COLLIER Heads of all emergency flood organizations are to meet here tonight to consider a long-range program of sanitation and rehabilitation of the flood area drawn by U. 8, Army engineers. The meeting was called this afe ternoon by Maj. Gen. Robert H. Tyndall, commander of National Guard troops in the flood area from his French Lick headguarters. It is to be at 7:30 p. m.7in the State House. At the conference will be Gen, Tyndall, Dr. Verne K. Harvey, State Health Board director; Wayne Coy, WPA State administrator; Wil liam H. Book and Maj. Claude Crooks, of the Governor's Relief Authority committee. Adj. Gen. Elmer F. Straub, Col, John Boaz, National Guard medie cal officer; Gen. D. Wray DePrez, Col. Robinson Hitchcock, Coi. Gie deon Blain, Capt. -Russell Moore and Col. Forest H. Spencer of the National Guard. : Col: J. M. Petty, U. S. Army engineer and chief of the planning force of 18 U. S. Army engineers, is to present the plan. ‘Meanwhile sanitation forces bate tled in the flood area for the health of more. than 70,000 Hoosier home= ess. The situation at a glance: 1. The entire National Guard was mobilized for the first time in peace time history. : 2. Evacuation of towns for rescue had ceased; evacuation for sanitae tion was to proceed. 3. The National Guard took a sur= vey of drinking water in all quarters and reported the Evansville crisis had eased. 4. The military locked the stricken area against refugees who tried to return to their homes. Fund Reaches $150,000 5. Local Red Cross disaster fund reaches $150,166.55; mile of Dimes reaches $831.70. 6. Rain, predicted by United States meteorologists for the. Ohio River Valley today, began to fall a noon in some places. 7. National Guard patrols prowled the rural flood’ areas for possible unreported” isolated people. : 8. Water at Evansville continued a slow rise, with a crest of 53.5 feet expected tonight. 9. Col. John Fishback, distriet commander at French Lick, reported a survey showed conditions near Leavenworth, Alton and New Amsterdam were. “very . serious.” Many famers and their livestock, marooned on hilltops since the flood waters first rose, were contacted for the. first time on his trip today, he said. 10. Adj. Gen. Straub this after noon ordered the complete evacue tion of Jeffersonville. He acted on recommendation of Dr. Harvey, who said, “Sanitary conditions are very bad, and unless complete evacution - is made it is feared that serious and widespread illness will result.” National Guard and Red Cross officials here said the drinking water situation throughout the flooded and concentration camp area was the most immediately pressing. i They asked medical officers in’ charge of all sections. to send ine - formation as to the supply, quality, number and type. of water ’ (Turn to Page Five)

SICK AND DISABLED | RUSHED FROM AREA - |

~

Doctors on

Indianapolis N. rect Preparations.

Train Di

By ALFRED GRECO Times Staff Writer ABOARD HOSPITAL TRAIN IN NEW ALBANY SECTOR, Jan. 28.— Racing the Apocalyptic horseman, Pestilence, Indianapolis physicians and nurses rushed preparations to= day to evacuate sick and disabled patients from this area. : Their medical train lay overnight: on a dry spot in the Louisville rail= road yards and was to be moved to" New Albany this morning to coms= municate with other points in the. flood zone. Meanwhile, refugees were . being evacuated from the New Albany= Jeffersonville district by F. R. Kime ble, civilian in charge, and Nation= al Guardsmen acting on orders from Maj. Gen. Robert Tyndall. The or der said all were to be taken out The mercy train left India early yesterday with its des tion Charlestown. If carried s

late Fred A. Weicking. » 2

(Turn to Page Four)