Richmond Palladium (Daily), Volume 38, Number 115, 25 March 1913 — Page 5

UM AND SUN-TELEGRAM OL. XXXVIII. NO. 115. RICHMOND, IND., TUESD AY,EVENING, 3IARCII 25, 1913. SINGLE COPY 2 CENTS am Mm

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REGION OF HAPPY HOLLOW IS NOW MOST DESOLATED PART OF CITY-PEOPLE HOMELESS

Fourteen families were rendered homeless, and their household goods to a large extent destroyed by the yellow torrent, which swept through Happy Hollow last night. 'The residents would not listen to the warnings of the police, firemen and friends, who entreated them in vain to move their furnishings to a safe place, and vacate their homes. Obdurate to the last, eome of the residents had. to be taken from their homes, the patrol wagon being called into service to rescue gome of the women and children. Only one wall of the old Nixon Paper Mill stands today. It was sadly battered by ,the angry waters. The damage will total several thousands in - this small strip of land between the two forks of the river. Household goods were ruined by the flood which swept through the lower floors of the dwellings with such force as to break heavy window panes and force open the doors. Chairs, stools, tables, and small articles of furniture were swept from the homes and into the . swirling waters to be taken miles away and lost irretrievably...,; : Swollen Water.) Rose Rapidly. At ; seven -o'clocii- last- evening' the water had receded almost a foot from the five o'clock mark. At eight o'clock it had risen a foot. At nine it had risen two feet, and at ten o'clock a few farsighted members of households prepared for the inevitable. Most of them, however, refused to believe that the water would reach their houses. At ten o'clock two small streams of water touched in the middle of the hollow, and the union of the two branches of the river wa-j made. Ten minutes later with a rush and a roar that almost swept the volunteers from their feet, the snarling flood surged through . the hollow, into the lower floors of the houses. Weeping and trembling with terror, the women finally permitted themselves to be lead from their houses some of them being carried on the backs of the volunteers. In twenty minutes the water rose three feet. The patrol wagons manned by city police drove into the flood hub deep Dn the wagon, and rescued Mrs. Hubert Burden and her four small children, and Mrs. Jim Conti and her three Small children. William Sparks, the sage of the hollow, and his wife refused to move ven when they saw the yellow flood surge about their very door steps. (Their home is the highest in the hollow. Volunteers Did Valiant Work. A corps of young men of Fairview equipped for wet weather and carrying lanterns after the power plants suspended, rushed into the hollow at ten o'clock and carried practically all the heavy and valuable pieces of furniture from the homes of Fred Weaver, James Williams, John Carrol and George Weaver. The remaining houses vere under water also, but the owners had taken their goods to the second floor or refused assistance. The scene of desolution wrought by the water was awful. The two branches of the river, raging in their power, rose to a point unequalled for twenty or more years, eclipsing the previous high water mark of 1895. The street, Bridge avenue, was transformed into a surging river. At the home of Hubert Burden, the mother and four small children were taken from their home by the patrol wagon, the water being three feet deep. The family of Jim Conti, a wife and three children, were taken Jn the next trip of the wagon. The remaining residents of the hollow were either able to walk through the flood, or were carried out by the Fairview youths. Covered Bridge Was Weakened. At eleven o'clock the covered bridge below the Rumely company plant began to creak and groan." The stringers of the bridge Were breaking under the strain. The bridge was deemed unsafe, and traffic over it suspended except foot passengers. - Newman's Hill was crowded with the unfortunate refugees from the hollow, some of them in thin clothes, all they were able to save. The mad rush of the flood, when it finally came at eleven o'clock, was so sudden that the obdurate residents who refused to leave early in the evening were us

able to save but little except the clothes on their backs. With what small articles, such as jewelry and money, they could gather into their hands, they climbed to the hill, and watched the yellow demon, encircle, rise and sweep into through their homes; they saw their goods float away on the tide and realized that fate had again dealt them a Jbrutal blow. Aged William Sparks with his wife was the last to leave the Hollow. They would not believe that the water would reach their home, although they could see the flood approaching slowly but surely. Finally they . consented to move, and crying and weeping, Mrs. Sparks carried a few cherished pictures into the covered bridge where she awaited her husband. He refused to leave until the water was almost knee deep on his front porch and was entering his front door. When he did leave he waded through the water, refusing to be carried. A corps of volunteers assisted by the city firemen carried practically all the perishable goods in the house into a moving van which stood in two feet of water while the goods were transferred to It. The Conti and Burden families moved to tho city building where they remained all night, but this morning found a home with neighbors.' Their goods are stored in a barn. At two o'clock this morning the crest of the flood was reached, when the swinging bridge in Happy Hollow was three feet under water, and practically every house in Happy Hollow had water even in the second floors.

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 BridgeAve. 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 mill property. Hubert Burden, 67 Bridge Ave. Preston Foster, 75 Bridge Ave. Geo. Winters, 59 Bridge Ave. Jim Conti, 66 Bridge Ave. Gabriel Anderson, 62 Bridge Ave. PASSENGERS MADE' APPEAL FOR FOOD Trains Held Lip Near Campbellstown By Culvert Washout. (Palladium Special) CAMPBELL.STOWN, 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 them with all the fruit available here. RAINS WASH CAR TRACKS (Palladium Special) EAST GERMANTOWN, 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. THE WEATHER STATE AND LOCAL Rain; colder Wednesday.

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This afternoon Charles Green, chief clerk of Superintendent McCullough of the Richmond division, denied that a passenger train had been wrecked between Greenville and New Paris, but admitted that local railroad officials entertained grave fears regarding the fate of a wrecking crew sent out over that line from Richmond. "All that I can say now is that we fear the wreck train has gotten into serious trouble," said Mr. Green. "We have been trying to get into communication with Greenville and Gettysburg, but without success." He also stated that it was impossible at this time to state the nature of the accident to the wreck train or whether any lives had been lost. He also said that it was impossible to send a relief train to the scene of the reported wreck because of washouts between Richmond and New Paris.

(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 le.vees 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. r. 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 police station and city jail have been vacated owing to the inrush of the rapidly rising waters. The state capital and court house have been turned into places of refuge. A scene of great disaster exists all along the river. The STATEMENT MADE BY SUPT. MTOULLOUGH The following statement was made by Superintendent J. G. McCullough: "We are unable to furnish the trav eling public on the Pennsylvania lines much information. One of the worst cases of high water ever experienced by the company has been encoun tered. The traffic has been inter fered with between Indianapolis and Columbus, O., via Bradford and Piqua,

For a time today it appeared as though there would be no issue of the Palladium, owing to the two power plants suspending operations. The Terre Haute, Indianapolis & Eastern Traction company kindly consented to give the Palladium the use of its current, and the Home Telephone company was prepared to run a line into the Palladium office tapping the wires of the traction company, but before these arrangements could be carried out the City plant resumed operations and the Palladium was able to operate its linotypes and press with that power, so a four page paper, published under the greatest difficulties, is possible for today.

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fire department has.rushed an automobile with clanging gongs to order all residents vacate their homes in the cection in thie range" of thfe "flood. n . 1 he water., is rising so- rapidly that it is feared nuiny will be drowned. The levee just north of State street near the Broad street bridge broke at noon and the flood waters are pouring through. 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 in 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. 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 and Logansport and are running a local accommodation. Train 35 leaves Richmond at 5 p. m. Train No. 40 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.

Flood Difficulties

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THE MIDDLE OF TORRENT J. R. Ressler, Living North of the Hospital Held Prisoners By Raging River For Many Hours. j 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 large amount of ice. One of the buildings is crushed through, the double boarded sides having been un able to withstand the force with r which the heavy logs, trees and other debris 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 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 signal to land for help. The Main street dam near the Starr Piano company '8 lumber yard was hashed 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 being buUt across the river at North Seventeenth street, the river Is 400 yards wide and yesterday had carried away the materials which were recenUy taken there for the construction of the dam. A 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 of the pile-driver can be seen above the waters. FUNERAL OF MRS. LESTER WAS HELD (Palladium Special) HAGERSTOWN, Ind. March 25. The funeral services of Mrs. Opal I .ester, 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. Chaa. Smith axe the parents. Mrs. Harry Thalia a sister and Stewart Smith jk, brother.

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The record rainfall in Wayne county and vicinity, 9 inches from Sunday morning until 8 o'clock this morning, resulted in th most disastrous flood on the Whitewater river and its tributaries in the history of this section of the country. The crest of the flood was reached this morning at 2 o'clock and it flooded miles of territory, inflicting loss to property which it is almost impossible to estimate, but which will run well into the thousands. Factories today depending upon current from the two local power plants could not operate their machinery, for the yellow torrent invaded the two plants late last night and effectually stopped operations, plunging the city into darkness and causing a large consumption of candles and coal oil. ( Railroad traffic on the Pennsylvania, G. R. & I., and the C. & O. was blocked by the washing away of several bridges, the weakened condition of others, and the lakes which covered their lines at various points. ' ' -

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line was brought to a standstill by the washing away of the bridge over Nolan's Fork, west of Centerville, and no cars will be operated' today. f The Pennsylvania railroad bridge at Greensfork is so badly sprung that it has been declared .unsafe and several trains on each side of the stream were blockedhere today. The middle pier of the large C. & O. bridge which crosses the river just below the Rumely plant was washed away ias night and the tracks on it are sprung twelve inches in several places. One train crossed it this morning and the bridge rocked and swayed to such an extent that the train crew were a badly frightened set of men when the passage was finally ended. A large artificial lake on the farm of R. G. Leeds, south of this city, broke the earth embankments on each side of the concrete dam and flooded all that section of the country, doing a great amount of damage, the extent of which had not been estimated up to noon today. Residents of Happy Hollow were rescued from their homes last night by policemen, firemen and a band of volunteers, and most of their belongings were saved. Water reached the second floors in the homes in that district and the old Nixon paper mill was practically demolished. The rescuers had a number of narrow escapes. An ancient landmark, the old covered bridge just above its prototype in Happy Hollow was washed away, being carried as far south as Test's mills. Practically every town in the immediate vicinity of Richmond was badly damaged by the floods and it is impossible to obtain a list of highway bridges washed away or partly destroyed. There were very few houses in Richmond which escaped the storm with dry basements and countless number of roofs weakened under the strain of the torrential rain. Practically all the roadway within twenty feet north of the North Tenth street bridge has been swept away, leaving only a strip two yards wide on the west side, so direct access to the Reid Memorial hospital, except for. pedestrians, has been cut off. The bridge withstood the strain satisfactorily and there appears to be no danger of it being carried away. All the work started on the dam for the artificial lake at Hawkins Park was washed away and contractor I.s A. Smith estimates his loss in cement and lumber to be $500. County Commissioner Anderson was informed today that the new concrete bridge on the national road, just east of the Sycamore school house, had been washed away. The west abuttment broke down, dropping the structure into the stream. Three township bridges in the eastern section of Wayne township have been washed away. Anderson said the county's loss from the flood would run into the thousands. South of the city many of the important roads are impassable today. On a high fill of the Straight Line pike, 2 miles south of Richmond, a ditch fifty feet wide has been cut, while the Liberty pike near Backmeyer's is a lake. This afternoon it was reported that a bridge on the Pennsylvania railroad near New Paris had been washed away. ( It was estimated this afternoon that it will require over $25,000 to place the streets and sewers in Richmond in condition. . . N. H. Johnson, superintendent of the municipal plant, announced this afternoon that the plant had resumed operations and was supplying current to every section of the city except West Richmond and Fairview. These sections are cut off because the

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