Richmond Palladium (Daily), Volume 38, Number 116, 26 March 1913 — Page 5
KIGHMO AND SUN-TELEGRAM SINGLE COPY 2 CENTS VOL. XXXVIII. NO. BICH3IOND, IND., WEDNESDAY EVENING, MARCH 26, 1913. TO) . 2 TeinrfM
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40 DROWN
IN A FLOOD TO SOOTH Raging Whitewater After Passing Richmond Hurls Itself With Fury on Little Brookville. BULLETIN CONNERSVILLE, Ind., Mar. 06. Forty or more persons .were drowned at Brookville, Franklin county, according to authentic information received Ihere today. The banks which protect the city where two forks of the Whitewater river meet, broke Monday night. .Twelve houses just back of the levee jwere crushed in by the wall of jwater and the inhabitants undoubtedly perished. Survivors tell of seeing one family consisting of the father, mother and five children clinging to a bed. They were swept into Main street and lost. . Railroad "bridges, the "paperf mill and miles of the , Big Four railroad to Cincinnati were wiped out. The survivors gathered in the churches almost immediately after the disaster arid prayed that some of those who were in the water's path might have escaped. No one has been rescued and so far as known no one escaped. -'.;' ; ' : 300 DEAD IN PERU INDIANAPOLIS, March 26. Senator Stephen B. Fleming of Ft. Wayne, has wired Governor Ralston that two car loads of provisions and one nunWired coffins will be within 2 miles of Teru by noon today. The latest estimate, according to Fleming, places the tnumber of dead at Peru between 200 !and 300. At 9 o'clock this morning only one square in the town was above "water and the residue of the population was collected at that spot. Local troops at Kokomo and Muncle fere on duty. Two hundred deputies liave been sworn in at Logansport, but the conditions in these places are In no wise as bad as in Peru. ' All communication has been broken bff with Brookville. The homes of 1,000 people in South Peru were swept away and the fate of the Inhabitants is unknown. Every means of communication .was practically wiped out. "Send word to Governor Ralston that from 200 to 400 have been drowned on the south side and that we need provisions, clothing and coffins," was the message the mayor of Peru flashed to Logansport this morning before communication was interrupted. A WARNING SOUNDED COLUMBUS, O., March 26. Weather forecasters this afternoon warned the inhabitants, of the Muskingham valley to move to the hills and high lands. They reported a stage of forty feet in the Muskingum river at Zanesville, six feet higher than ever before. One bridge at Zanesville has gone out. Local telephone companies are warning people in the surrounding country to flee to the highlands. TWO RICHMOND MEN Oil WALK TO PIQUA "XfSiSO this morning a report from "iW Cincinnati Enquirer to the Rich'.jHond'tJ9drwear company, stated that , there '.w 'no loss of life at Piqua. This dispatch is reported to be authentic " ' Al Flesh and A. L. Lewis, stockholders of the local underwear factory, who also own the Piqua factory," and whose families are in Piqua started to walk to that city this morning at 6 o'clock. Two hours later came the report that no lives were lost there. The men are still on their long hike.
ALL BRIDGES ARE DAMAGED THRU COUNTY
Many Bridges Have Been Washed Down N. 10th and N. 12th Street Bridges Have Been Condemned. $24,000 DAMAGE TO LOCAL PIANO FIRM Estimate Damage in Happy Hollow River Slowly Receding Roads Through County Are Cut. All bridges in the county are either down or damaged to such an extent that they are unsafe for travel. Many bridges have been condemned and boarded up. The North Tenth street bridge, leading to the hospital has been condemned and boarded up and orders have been given, watchmen to allow no person to drive across the structure, for fear that . it will fall down.. .The water has t washed the foundations of this bridge, as well aa the North Twelfth street bridge, which has also been condemned. The roads leading to the Reid Memorial hospital are in a very bad condition and several persons Injured yesterday, could not be taken to that institution because of the washouts. At the Starr Piano company's factories, South First and D streets, the force of the raging torrents was felt to considerable extent. Valuable lunm-ber-was washed into the swollen river and carried down stream. Yesterday morning the first floors of all the factory buildings were flooded but late yesterday afternoon employes of the big concern had succeeded in pumping the water from the buildings. It is estimated by officials of the company that the damage done to pianis will amount to about $24,000. Every available man was put to work yesterday in the moving of pianos to dryer places. Many men were paid $1 an hour for their work. The Rettig ice plant estimates its i damage at $2,000. One small ice house was completely carried away by the waters and between 300 and 400 tons of ice was destroyed. River About NormalThe river this morning was about normal although very rapid. Both the east and weEt branches of the stream have abated considerably and the water line is slowly receding. In Happy Hollow none of the houses can be inhabitated or. account of the flood of Monday night and early yesterday morning. In practically every yard a pond of water Is still standing and Bridge avenue has been washed out by the torrents. In front of the house of William Sparks, "17 Bridge avenue, the street was so cut by the water that it is almost a physical impossibility, Jo, walk along -the street. The avenue is a veritable sea of mud. The foundation of Sparks 'house has dropped, allowing the front part of the house to fall four or five feet. Damage On Avenue. Th following estimates were placed by Bridge avenue residents, as the amount of tueir loss by the flood: Fred W Weaver $800 James Williams 750 Henry Rodgers 800 John and Jjm .Carroll... 300 Gabriel Anderson 300 Wm. H. H. Sparks 500 Fred Kellar . 200 John S Winters . 200 William Austin ...:....' 200 George Winters "... 200 Jim Conti 100 Lorenzo L. Lammert. . . . 100 Hubert Burden 200 Preston Foster 100 All. of the unfortunate families have been provided for by hospitable neighbors on Newman's Hill. . County officials estimate the damage I to county bridges and roads at from ! $50,000 to $7i,000. The city will lose $10,000. This amount it Is believed will be sufficient to cover the damage to sewers and streets, and parks. -THE WEATHER STATE AND LOCAL Rainj colder Thursday.
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M'KEE TELLS SIGHTS HE SAW
All reports of the awful destruction of life and property in
the Dayton flood have been substantiated by Louis McKee, pro-
prietor of the McKee Auto Service, who returned to this city from Dayton this afternoon, arriving here about 2:15 o'clock. McKee
declares that bodies of men, women and children can be seen ft 1 J 1 A 1 1 11. A. 1 !
noaung in ine streets, ana mat side. McKee made the trip to
ventor of the Delco starter, and William Anderson, superintendent vf 4-Vio T1ol pn Qf oi4or rrmra n r tf Hovinn loatnnor itv vostor.
day morning and arriving in Dayton View about 7:30 last evening. "It is awful," asserted McKee, in speaking of the devastation of the stricken city. "I could not look long at the terrible scenes of women and children being drowned as I could be of no assistance to them. "Of twenty-four militiamen, I heard, who were instructed to guard the levee and keep people back, twenty-two were drowned. "One school house, crowded with school children, since yesterday morning, was filled With water, most of the children being drowned. "The river is three and one-half miles in width now. "The water was from twenty to forty feet deep last night, but now it is gradually going down. People want food."
MAROONED WORKERS ARE FINALLYRESCUED Men Stranded on Top of a Traction Car Towed to Safety Tuesday. ; (Palladium Special) WEST ALEXANDRIA, O., March 26.-Late yesterday evening ten employes of the Ohio Electric interurban company, who with their foreman, Bert Coleman, had been marooned on top of a work car in eight feet of water, east of this city, were rescued. The-men had been there for twentyfour hours without food or fire, standing in the heavy rain on top of the small car. A boat was sent out from shore with a life line which was finally thrown to the car, and the car towed to shore. None of the men suffered except from the exposure. The breaking of the levee above here caused the water to back up around the work car, shutting them off effectually from rescue parties until six o'clock last evening. CITIES AFFECTED BY STORM AND FLOOD Cities affected by the flood and yesterday's storm are: DAYTON, O. Thousands believed drowned. Flood hits city like tidal wave. HAMILTON, O. Nineteen drowned and thirty to fifty missing. DELAWARE, O. Sixteen drowned. LIMA, O. Flooded by the Ottawa River. Ten miles of trains . held up there by washout at Middle Point. SPRINGFIELD, O. Mad River and Buck Creek both out of their banks and several hundred houses flooded. Many factories compelled to close. LARUSE, O. Inundated. Many homeless and much suffering reported among poorer classes. WEST LIBERTY, O. Mad River overunning Its banks here. ST. LOUIS, .Mo. One person known to have been drowned and many families -in the western part of the city forced to leave their homes by sudden rise of the Des Ueres River. YOUNGSTOWN, O Fourteen thousand men are idle by reason of the closing down of mills and 'factories. The flood is the worst this city has experienced in many years. - LESLIE, Ark. Tornado kills one. RUMLEY, Ark. Five reported killed by storm. CLARKSVILLE, Ark. One - killed by storm.
Mayor's Proclamation
Mayor Zimmerman this -afternoon issued the following proclamation: TO THE CITIZENS OF RICHMOND: . Owing to the distress that is prevailing in all parts of Indiana and . Ohio on account of the floods, I earnest? urge all citizens, churches and fraternal organizations of-the city of Richmond to assist in the relief of the suffering. In order that the work may be carried on systematically a general relief committee haa been organized which will receive clothing, food or cash contributions. .'.,.., Cash may be sent to the Commercial club or to any of the banks of the city, food and clothing will be accepted by committee. . 1 It is urgently requested that immediate response be madeas quick action is necessary. v . v , " W. W. ZIMMERMAN, Mayor.
awiui scenes can ue seen on every j Dayton with C. F. Kettering, in-
The Refugees Arrive In This City Today . Three, hundred men'. women. . and children, exhausted from a sleepless vigil of a day and two nights, stranded in two Pennsylvania passenger trains between two swollen streams near Campbellstown, arrived in Richmond at six o'clock this morning on a special train. The two trains left Cincinnati Monday noon, and were held up at Campbellstown with a bridge before and behind them washed out. Farmers nearby came to their rescue and killed their stock, depleted their larders, but kept the refugees from starving. When the train finally was permitted to cross the repaired bridge between this city and Campbellstown, it proceeded to this city where the men women and children spread over the entire city, trying to secure board and rooms. Many were almost prostrated from the shock, exposure and privation. The scene at the depot was one beggaring description. Women with small tots in their arms, frantically begged for rooms and a place to sleep and rest; They were almost dead from their sleepless' vigil. The deluge of refugees into Richmond taxed the capacities of the hotels, and private rooming houses to the limit. Restaurants near the depot were crowded by the homeless and famished people. They stated that they were well cared for by the farmers near Campbellstown, but , that there was not enough food to go around. Hospitable Richmond welcomed the unfortunates with open arms, and private homes in several instances were thrown open to the refugees. . ft CYCLONE . AT LIBERTY (Palladium Special) LIBERTY, Ind., March 26. A small cyclone, accompanied with a rush of waters that almost flooded the town swept over this city yesterday. Two houses and several barns were blown over by the wind and destroyed. No lives are lost. .. .
APPEAL MADE
TO PITI7NIC I I I I I I I I 11 I , v wiii-i.iiw Tfj 0 1 1 1 T llfl I 1 1 LI if r A II I J U I I L 11 1 U m "Trllr"ll Tf vTUIPIlm III fr J III I " The following appeal was made by the secretary of the Commercial Club this afternoon : The unprecedented floods of the last few days have not only resulted in untold millions of damage in property, but what is more distressing have cost the lives of thousands of people and made other thousands homeless, leaving them without food and necessary clothing to keep them warm. Richmond has been fortunate above all other cities in the wide flood territory, but our neighboring city of Dayton, Ohio, has met with one of the greatest disasters that has ever occurred in the central west. The loss "of life and property is most appalling, thousands have perished in raging waters, and many thousands more are driven from home and are crying for bread. Such a calamity must prompt every heart in this city to give relief. The Commercial Club, the City Officials and the City Press join in an appeal to our citizens for money and food to relieve immediate hunger and suffering. Already 1500 loaves have been dispatched from this city by the Commercial Club, but very much more is needed. The following persons have been designated to receive relief funds and we urge our citizens to make prompt and generous contributions: The members of the Relief Committee are: E. M. Haas, W. H. Romey, Gus. Kennepohl, Richard Sedgwick, T. H. Hill and L. B. Nusbaum. At another special meeting of. the Commercial Club this afternoon a re lief committee was appointed to receive contributions from all Richmond people who desire to assist persons ia Dayton. Within the course of ten minutes $1,275 was contributed, which will be used in the purchasing of provisions to be sent to Dayton. . The list of contributors follows: Teeter Motor Car Co.. $100.00 Mr. Hayes ...... 25.00 City of Richmond .... 250.00 Commercial Club .... 250.00 Jones Hardware Co... 50.00 : Robinson & Co 50.00 Romey Furniture Co.. 50.00 C. N. Teeter 25.00 John Teeter 25.00 - Dr. W. W. Zimmerman 25.00 L. B. Nusbaum 25.00 Light Inspection Car Co 50.00 : Seidel Buggy Co. . . . 25.00 . . Palladium Printing Co. . 50.00 Elliott Reld & Co.;... 25.00 Jordan, McManus & Hunt 25.00 Theo.;H. Hill.. 25.00 - : Richmond Baking Co.. 25.00 Geo. H. Knollenberg Co 50.00 John L. Rupe 25.00 FIREMEN PERISH DAYTON. 0 March 26.-11:35 a. m. A whole block at Third and Williams street was burned last night and many firemen perished while trying to rescue the people in the building. The National Cash Register buildings are not damaged as they are outside of the flood district.
AnntoiranoMIle
BY STAFF CORRESPONDENT!
LEWISBURG, O., March 26. The reports of a heavy loss of life in Dayton and the devastation of the city by the high waters have not been exaggerated, if the stories of the refugees the occupants of the Palladium's special automobile met in this place this afternoon. Three-fourths of the city is under water, but en
trance to the city in a few places can be gained and we expect to be in the city of desolation and death by late this afternoon or this evening.. At Lewisburg we met three men, refugees from Dayton. Two left the city by automobile and one by motorcycle and the reports of these three men agree that the death toll will run into the thousands. One man stated that the various sections of the city are completely isolated from each other and the residents of one part of the city know but little of the fate of their fellow townsmen in the other sections. . . "I saw three men clinging to a telephone pole. Five firemen in a boat attempted to rescue them, but the boat capsized and the firemen were drowned," said one man. The men state that early yesterday morning a wall of water swept down the mad river and joined with the already overflowing Little Miami, then a great tidal wave swept down on the defenseless city, carrying levees before it like sandpiles, and hundreds of people were drowned in their homes like rats. They think the loss of life was heaviest in North Dayton. "Many , women and children can be seen on the top stories of high buildings. They are without sufficient clothing and have no food. What the people need above all else is food," said a refugee. I was informed that the flood waters have reached the second floor of the Y. M. C. A. building in the center of the city and that the water extends to the big iron works a mile east of town.
BIG BUILDING BURNED AT DAYTON.
Talking to a Palladium reporter over the traction company's telephone wire at 2:30 this afternoon, Lieut. Purcell of the Dayton police department stated that the Botts Dancing Academy building, on Third street near the Third street bridge, burned this forenoon. It had seventy-five inmates, whose fate is unknown. "Those who say the reports of a heavy loss of life are unfounded do not know what they are talking about. My officers are constantly reporting fatalities to me," said Botts. He states that it has been reported that Miamisburg, a Dayton suburb, has been wiped out. Botts also told of two men, two women and three children, marooned on some debris in the middle of a vast stretch of water, the only survivors of a large number of people who had taken refuge in a moving van. ;
FIREMEN FIGHT FLAMES IN BOATS WOLF CREEK STATION, O., U P. M. One thousand dead, fifty thousand marooned inhotels and office buildings without food or heat and property losses aggregating many millions is the result of flood and fire at Dayton. The entire city is under water except at a few high points. While the estimate of 1,000 dead may be increased or decreased when more accurate figures are obtainable this number was not considered extravagant. Numerous fires which broke out were fought by firemen in boats and great quantities of dynamite were used to successfully stay the flames. ; , The bursting of the main levee of the Big Miami river precipitated a tidal wave which came without, warning. The people in North Dayton suffered, the greatest toll, being. caught in their homes like rats in traps. ( - Most of the railroad bridges around Dayton were washed away. The city today stands under 15 feet of water. The appeal for aid sent broadcast was, "for God's sake send
T fWI VV fnn'r WHAT A POLICEMAN SAYS. The Palladium this afternoon was in direct communication with . Lieut. George Purcell, of the Third Precinct police station, Dayton. The restoration of the telephone service on the private line of the Ohio traction line . made communication possible. ' "The stories of the damage done to Dayton and the losses of life have not been exaggerated,' said Lieut. Purcell. "though no means . are . at hand just now to even estimate either with any degree! of accuracy.- The thing that now must be done fs appease the sufferings of the living, and this is the task that will require assistance from aeigaboring cities. At noon the -water
was falling rapidly in the flooded diatrict and the Urst real significance of the catastrophe was apparent. There is suffering on every side and thousands of the survivors are absolutely homeless.' Lieut. Purcell said that the work ot relief was going on as rapidly aa possible, but 'necessarily was not effective because of the lack of supplies which must come from the outside. The police department is endeavoring to systematize the work of getting a list of the dead as well as to assist survivors. The escring gas, due to broken mains all eoer the citv. ! a nw
J ace, Lieut. Piwell Raid, while the int ' (Continued on. Last Page)
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