Richmond Palladium (Daily), Volume 38, Number 115, 25 March 1913 — Page 1

THE RICHMOND PALLADIUM AND SUN-TELEGRAM VOL. XXXVIII. NO. 115. RICHMOND, IND., TUESDAY, EVENING, 31 MARCH 25. 1913. SINGLE COPY CENTS 8,000 People in Dayton Are Victims of A Castastrophe; News Is Difficult to Secure

TIDAL WAVE SWOOPED ON CITY TODAY

BULLETIN 7:30 P.M. Communication with the traction terminal station at Dayton was obtained for a few minutes this afternoon by a traction employe at New Paris, 0. He talked over the traction telephone line and spoke with Frank Purviance, formerly of New Paris. Purviance stated that he was just about to board a rescue rowboat by crawling through a second story window of the building. He said the catastrophe was due to the breaking of the dam of the Lewistown reservoir, north of Dayton. "I don't know how many are dead but there must be thousands," said Purviance. When asked if the death list might total 8,000 he said there was absolutely no way to make any estimate but that it was possible there had been that number of victims. Water in the streets was thirty and forty feet high, in some places, and in most places it was twenty feet high. The Richmond telephone exchange reports that it established communication with an operator in Dayton for a few minutes, talking over a Western Union telegraph line. The exchange states its informant said people all over the city were firing guns and revolvers to attract the attention of rescuers and that the top stories and roofs of buildings were black with terrorized people. ''They are drowning like rats and the death list is increasing every minute. I cannot estimate the total number of deaths," he said. " Late this afternoon the chief operator of the Richmond Home Telephone company succeeded in establishing communication with the telephone operator at Liberty, O., a little town about eight miles west of Dayton. The Liberty operator begged the Richmond office to do everything in its power to communicate with Governor Cox of Ohio and urge him to send assistance to Dayton as soon as possible. "The situation in Dayton is very, very serious. It is terrible," said the Liberty operator. "In many parts of the city the water is twenty feet deep and people have taken refuge in the tops of tall buildings." When asked what she estimated to be the number of drowned in Dayton she said that she could not say. Meager reports which have come into Richmond late today by telephone and telegraph place the number of dead in Dayton at least two thousand. The Liberty operator said just before she lost communication with Richmond that the levee at the Main street bridge in Dayton had broken in several places and a huge tidal wave of flood waters was pouring into the stricken city. Local telephone operators also caught a call from Piqua, O., late today, stating that the situation in that city was extremely critical and asking that word be gotten to Governor Cox asking him o dispatch clothing, food and tents to the city as soon as possible. The loss of life in that city is estimated anywhere from two hundred to five hundred. It was reported this afternoon that the city government of Dayton had ordered the dynamiting of the Pennsylvania railroad bridge over the Miami river as it was collecting debris and forming a dam, diverting the flood waters into the city. The following message was received in Richmond at four o'clock this afternoon over a special line, running through West Alexandria. It is now impossible to use the line. "I am a lineman in the second floor of the Ohio Electric station. The water is now up to within one foot of this floor and rising so rapidly that this talk has to be short. It may be my last one. I am going to build a raft or something to keep afloat if the water gets to me. "Just now a little baby, its clothes caught in branches of a small tree floated past the window. The yellow water is everywhere, twenty feet deep or more, and it looks as if Dayton is going to be wiped off the map. Some of the smaller wooden houses are floating about in the streets and jamming into the brick and heavy buildings. "The people are drowning like rats. Every few moments you can hear a scream and a gargle. The bodies are floating in the streets by the score. The tops of the big uptown buildings are black with people. Those who could get to the buildings climbed there and those who could not are either floating about here now or re being swept down into the yellow torrent. "The water is several inches higher than when I first started talking. I" there was a series of snaps, and communication was broken off. The Ohio Electric building is in a comparatively high section Of the city, and water in the second floor of this building means that water in the lower downtown sections must be twenty feet deep. With the fact establihed that the Lewistown, O., reservoir was the cause of the catastrophe which has appalled the United States, grave fears are entertained for the lives of the seven thousand inhabitants of Sidney, O., and for the six thousand people In Troy, O. No communication from either of these cities can be obtained, jwid as they are on the Little Miami river, and in the direct path of

8 O'CLOCK EXTRA! the avalanche of water which overwhelmed Dayton, sixty miles from the reservoir, it is presumed that the death list in these two towns will run into the thousands. A conservative estimate places the death list from the breaking of the reservoir at ten thousand, with a possibility of the list totaling twelve thousand. At Lewistown, the location of the big reservoir, the Little Miami river flows within a few miles of the reservoir. When the supporting banks of this monster body of water gave way, the water was thrown into the channel of the Little Miami river. The banks were unable to hold the water and the sudden deluge swept over the country for miles on each side of the channel, spreading death and desolation in its wake, and plunging the whole state of Ohio into mourning. Gathering strength from the smaller tributaries, the river, swelled to a mighty mountain of water, swept steadily southward, sweeping everything before it. Reaching Dayton this morning, without warning the monster yellow flood reached out, enveloped and strangled the residents of the city in its grasp. Those who could climb into the buildings did so, and reached the roofs in safety. The smaller wooden buildings were as straw in the hands of a giant. They were tossed and buffeted about in the power of the torrent as straws and battered against the brick and stone buildings, then born away on the crest of the todal wave which swept onward to the south.

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(National News Associat'on) COLUMBUS, O., March 25 A report received at the state house this afternoon stated that forty persons lost their lives when, levees along the Miami river let go this morning. Practically all wires are down. An unconfirmed report reached here from Dayton that 2,000 lives are believed to have been lost there in the breaking of the Miami river levee. Scores of persons are missing and at least 5,000 have been rendered homeless. The property damage is estimated at $5,000,000. A LITTLE GOOD NEWS. WASHINGTON, March 25. All rivers throughout Ohio, Indiana and Illinois will reach normal within 48 hours. Warning has been sent from St. Louis and Columbus to formers to beware of the flood. Prof. Henry of the weather bureau stated that practically every river in this section would be effected and that the lower Mississippi probably would reach a high record as a result of swol len streams in the north. THREE BRIDGES GO DOWN. COLUMBUS, O., (1 p. m.) March 25. The State street bridge across the Scioto river has just gone out. The bridges at Mound and Ridge streets went out an hour ago and the big Broad street bridge is expected to be Washed away at any moment The po lice station and city jail have been vacated owing to the inrush of the rapidly rising waters. The state capitol and court house have been turned into places of refuge. A scene of great disaster exists all along the. river. The PIANO COMPANY'S FACTORYJLOODED Factory Compelled to Shut Down Damage Cannot Be Estimated. Damage at the Starr Piano plant will be especially heavy. Late yesterday the officials cf the plant set a large number of men to work to remove the more valuable lumber to safe ground. The water caught a large amount of valuable lumber, despite efforts to save it. and washed it down stream. The water fjowed into the engine room, and practically every room of the plant, causing the large plant to be shut down today. Every available man is being put to work to clear away the debris, that work may be started as soon as possible. Until the water is pumped from the buildings of the big plant, and an inventory is taken the damage cannot be estimated. Several small boys in skiffs- rowed among the buildings of the plant.

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fire department has rushed an autom biie with clanging gongs to order (.11 residents to vacate their homes in the ueciion in the range of the flood. The water is rising so rapidly that it is feared many will be drowned. The levee just north of State street near the Broad street bridge broke at noon and the flood waters are pouring thiough. The governor has ordered three companies of militia to patrol the flooded section on the west side. The city will be in darkness tonight and the water supply has been shut of? by the Hooding of the municipal water plant. The situation at this hour is extremely grave and is growing worse every hour. DELAWARE MAYOR DROWNS COLUMBUS, O., March 25. Loss of life in the flood at Delaware, O., was confirmed shortly after noon when a Big Four railroad wire was opened long enough for the operator at Delaware to notify Columbus that ten persons, including Mayor Leas, had been drowned and that the entire town is submerged by flood waters. Hundreds of persons are marooned in their homes, the water is still rising rapidly and hundreds are in danger of being drowned. BOAT SINKS; THREE DROWN. COLUMBUS, O., March 25 Three men are reported drowned in the Scioto, when a boat, bound for the municipal light plant overturned ia midstream. Mayor Karb has issued a proclammation to all automobile owners to assist in the work of rescuing the hundreds of flooded families on the west side. STATEMENT MADE BY SUPT, M'COULLOOGH The following statement was made by Superintendent J. G. McCullough: "We are unable to furnish the traveling public on the Pennsylvania lines much information. One of the worst cases of high water ever experienced by the company has been encountered. The traffic has been interfered with between Indianapolis and Columbus, O., via Bradford and Piqua, between Richmond and Columbus, via Xenia and Dayton, because of wire trouble. We are unable to give any information as to when the lines will be open. Because of high water we are unable to arrange a through schedule between here and Chicago. We now have the line open between Richmond a ad Logansport and are running a local accommodation. Train 25 leaves Richmond at 5 p. m. Train No. 4i leaves Logansport at 2:40. "The division between Richmond and Cincinnati has suffered the loss of two bridges. It will be two or three days before they can be repaired. "

IN THE MIDDLE OFT J. R. Ressler, Living North of the Hospital Held Prisoners By Raging River For Many Hours. RETTIG ICE HOUSE NEARLY DEMOLISHED Yellow Stream Batters Down A Big Section of the Building Great Damage Done By Floods. The river points between Happy Hollow and Sixteenth street is 400 yards wide and has washed out the low land to a level with the river. At North Twelfth street, the river has crossed the road on the north side of the bridge and has formed a channel several feet deep through the road bed. The Rettig Ice houses were almost submerged and the water was swirling through the buildings destroying a lafge amount of ice. One of the buildings - is crushed through, the double boarded sides having been unable to withstand the force with which the heavy logs, trees and other debris f battered against it during the night Part of the roof was carried away and deposited on a rise in the ground farther down the river. A hundred yards west of the ice houses, Mr. and Mrs. J. R. Ressler and three children were forced into the attic of the building formerly used for flax mills. It was not until noon that a little band of volunteers was able to brave the force of the water surrounding the building to go to the rescue. The family was confined in the place all night and early last evening was forced to the second floor. At 2 o'clock this morning the trees and logs were striking the old and weakened structure with such force that it was expected momentarily that the walls would collapse. At that time the. waters rose to such a height that the floors of the second story were covered with two feet of water t and the family was forced to ascend another floor to the attic where the mother and three children were confined until the father managed to sig-, nal to land for help. The Main street dam near the Starr Piano company's lumber yard was tvashed away at an early hour this morning Below the Light, Heat and Power company's plant in the river bottom, the earth has been cut up into large blocks and on these, adventuresome boys were playing this morning. Four boys were out on a large block of earth, standing 20 feet from the bank, when several tons of the dirt gave way, causing one of the boys to fall. He was able to grasp a part of a tree root and save himself. He and his companions fled wildly to the bank plunging through several feet of water. At the site of the dam which is be ing built across the river at North Seventeenth street, the river Is 400 yards wide and yesterday had carried away the materials which were recently taken there for the construction of the dainyA carload of cement was washed aWay causing a loss of several hundred dollars. A large amount of lumber was carried away yesterday and later, several of the small construction buildings floated down the river to a point several hundred yards below where they lodged against a pile of brush and trees. The only trace remaining of the camp is two "buildings. In the middle of the river the stack of the engine ofthe pile-driver can be seen above the waters. FUNERAL OF MRS. LESTER WAS HELD (Palladium Special) HAGERSTQWX. Ind., March 25. The funeral services of Mrs. Opal Lester, 28, were held yesterday morning at the Christian church. Death was due to tuberculosis. She is survived by a daughter. Ermadine, aged one year, and husband, Jesse Lester. Mr., and Mrs. Cjias. Smith are the parents. Mrs. Harry Thalls a sister and Stewart Smith ,a brother. . "

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BULLETIN. NEW PARIS, O., March 25. Ten men of a Pennsylvania wrecking crew out of Bradford, O., were drowned near New Madison, O., between this place and Greenville, O., when their train went down with a weakened trestle. The crew was in charge of Jacob Henderson, who was among the men drowned. The other victims of the tragedy are unknown. It was several hours before the barest details of the accident could be obtained. The crew was sent out last evening and soon ran into a washout, wrecking the train. Repairs were made and new men took the places of those who were injured. This morning at New Harrison the train crossed a trestle. Just as the rear of the train was over the center of the bridge, the girders sank into the river, tearing the caboose and rear end of the train from the engine, and hurling the ten men imprisoned in the caboose into a watery grave. They were like rats in a trap and had absolutely no chance to escape. Wires between here and Bradford are down and names of the dead men cannot be obtained. The engineer and fireman of the train were safe on the west bank of the creek, when the wreckers were drowned.

TWO INJURED Hi C. k 0. WRECK NEAR BOSTON ' - ' - - A (Palladium Special) BOSTON, Ind., March 25. One of the strangest wrecks in the history of the C. and O. railway occurred this morning near Kitchell's Corner when Fireman Frank Ridgeway suffered a broken arm and Engineer George Ewing suffered a strained right leg. The engine of the train, a northbound passenger, ran into a weak culvert, recipitating the men , to the ground and derailing but not overturning the engine. The men were taken to Richmond in an ambulance and given medical attention.

CITY IS TO SEND BOATS TO DAYTON In answer to the appeal for help from Dayton, council this afternoon in a special meeting, unanimously decided to send all available boats on a special car to Dayton. Mayor Zimmerman telegraphed to the Dayton city officials asking them what other assistance could be given them by Richmond. Charles Fetzer, who rents the boat house at Glen Miller park, has offered ten boats. The Pennsylvania will furnish a special car for the transportation of the boats to Dayton as soon as trains can be run to that city. CAR TRACKS EAST GERMAXTOWX. Ind, March 25. One hundred yards of track of the Terre Haute, Indianapolis and Eastern Traction company east of this place was washed out this morning. Interurban traffic is completely paralyzed. BRIDGE AVENUE RESIDENTS' LIST James Williams. 31 Bridge Ave. Fred W. Weaver, 43 Bridge Ave. John and Jim Carroll. 43 Bridge Ave. William Austin. 65 Bridge Ave. Lorenzo L. Lammert, 22 Bridge Ave. Wm. H. H. Sparks. 17 Bridge Ave. John S. Winters, 90 Bridge Ave. Fred Kellar. 82 Bridge Ave. Henry Rodgers, old miU property. Hubert Burden. 67 Bridge Ave. Preston Foster, 7a Bridge Ave. Geo. Winters. 59 Bridge Ave. Jim ContU 66 Bridge Ave. Gabriel Anderson, 62 Bridge Ave. Explained. I like that man you Just introduced. He knows enough to keep bis mouth shut at the risbt time. "Yes. he's trying to get accustomed to his new Cleveland Fiain

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pmjmg NO TRAIN SERVICE TODAY That the flood rains and recent storms . have caused much damage to railroad traffic is shown by the fact that no trains have left the union station this morning. All trains due north are delayed at Marion by washI nut a Tha St I .mils K'.v Vorlr train is stalled at Cambridge Cambridge City and all trains west bound can not pass New Paris. Official reports say that these trains are delayed on account of weakened bridges. No trains will be allowed to go over the condemned trestles until the water is greatly diminished. The chances are that no train service will be given until late tonight No interurbans, G. R. & I, Pennsyl-' vania or C. & O. trains were run this morning. PASSENGERS MADE APPEAL FOR FOOD Trains Held Up Near Campbellstown By Culvert Washout. (Palladium Special) CAMPBELLSTOWX, Ohio. March 25. Two northbound passenger trains on the Pennsylvania railroad were held up here last night at midnight by the destruction of a small culvert east of here. The trains were crowded with passengers who were unable to obtain food. Residents of Campbellstown, hearing of their plight, furnished tbem with ail the fruit available here. Character. Character Is the habit of action frmn the permanent vision of truth. It carries a superiority to ail the accident of life. It compels right relation to every other man domesticates Itself wit sirs a gars and ananypa, E,rfrvr