Richmond Palladium (Daily), Volume 38, Number 117, 27 March 1913 — Page 1

THE- KICHMOOT) PAIXABIUM'

AND SUN-TELEGRAM VOL. XXXVIII. NO. 117. RICH3IOXD, IXD., TIIURSDAYIARCII 27, 1913. SINGLE COPY 2 CEXTS CDpsratoir ILewnstowmi nDannm ESireailk

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WauFimnimcsj fl Pamra Cinm(ES At midnight the breaking of the great Lewistown dam, north of Bellefontaine, Ohio, occurred, making the situation in the Xattle Miami valley all the more serious. About that hour the operator at McMonigel, a little town frorth of Hamilton, wired Richmond asking them to warn Piqua, Bradford and other towns in that section of the state of the break. Asked how he had learned of the breaking of the Lewistown dam, far to the north of him, he replied that he had received a message to that effect over the C, H. & D. wires via Indianapolis. Later ti. similar warning was flashed from Oxford, 0., then Lima, 0., conJfirmed the breaking of the big dam, and further stated that it was probable the St. Marys reservoir would go out. The operator at McMonigel stated that he intended to set out foot to warn the people of Hamilton of the fresh calamity which threatened them and eight students from the university at Oxford set on a handcar to spread the alarm in Hamilton. This dam was reported to have been broken early Monday morning but according to the late advices it appears that the first Report was wrong. The latest reports from Piqua, Troy and Tippecanoe City ptate that the towns have suffered greatly from the flood, but that .there has been little, if any loss of life.

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The officials are requiring every person to register and the relief station at the plant hopes to have, by eight o'clock this morning,

a complete list of the survivors cared for at the Cash Register plant. They state that provisions are coming in from all directions and they think that they will be able to secure enough assistance in the next few days to relieve the suffering. The people at the relief station have placed the number of dead at 5,000. A communication was established for a few minutes shortly after midnight between theDayton operator and the Richmond operator. The operator was the wire chief who has stuck to his post alone during the long days and nights, sending out messages for assistance. It was only a few times that he called the Richmond office and told of the distress and appealed for help. At midnight he called the Richmond operator and told her that he was leaving his post in several feet of water on account of the fire being within a few feet of his room and he could stick by his board no longer.

PANIC OCCURS A Iwtor

CINCINNATI, March 27. This morning it was reported that the Larkin factory, a church and a number of residences in Dayton had burned with large loss of life.

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UllNUliNXNiVi l, u., iviarcn zo. ine runquirer laie tomgni, rereived a telephone message from" its staff correspondent who has reached the south outskirts of East Dayton, saying that the Beckel House was burning and that fire had also destroyed various other structures. No estimate whatever can be given as to the dead. There is absolutely no way of getting at conditions that exist within the heart of the stricken city, but there seems no doubt that hundreds of people were unable to reach places of safety. Even among those who did, suffering must be growing more intense every hour. The decided drop in the temperature during the day added to the discomfort of the thousands who had taken refuge in the upper stories of buildings that of course cannot be heated, while the less fortunate ones who are on tops of houses waiting for Rescue boats, are in grave danger from exposure. From Hamilton, word reached Cincinnati at 11 o'clock tonight paying that flood conditions have grown worse since noon today. The waters instead of receding have been rising with rapidity and while there are no accurate figures available, there is no question that the loss of life has been considerable. The Coliseum collapsed as a result of the waters undermining the foundation, and a part of the structure that was swept away crashed into an apartment house, wrecking that structure, and according to report, killing several persons. Cincinnati has been unable to get into communication with either Piqua or Troy, where flood conditions have been extremely grave and where property damage and loss of life have been reported during the last twenty-four hours.

LIBERTY, Ind., March 27. A switch engine and a car have been carrying supplies from Liberty, Oxford and other points to the stricken petople of West Hamilton, whose homes have been swept away by the flood and who are shut off from the city proper by the washing away of the bridges. Members of the relief train tell of horrifying spectacles they have witnessed. They have seen men, women and children perched in trees or on housetops washed down the rapidly flowing yellow torrent and knocked from their plaecs of refuge by the only bridge standing north of Hamilton. They state that one man, on a tree, saw the fate in store for him when he went under the bridge and committed suicide by cutting his throat. CINCINNATI, (2:30 a. m.) The Cincinnati Enquirer this morning at this hour says that the number, of dead at Dayton will be near 5,000, but that it is impossible to get any definite figures as no attention is being paid to the dead.' Only the living are being cared for. . .The conditions in Hamilton are growing worse hourly owing to the falling buildings. People are starving and there is great suffering on account of lack of clothing. Chief of Police Zellner, of Hamilton, committed suicide tonight when he returned to his home and found his wife drowned. He had been out rescuing victims and when he reached his home and found his wife dead he went insane and cut his throat. The city council of s Hamilton tonight " appropriated $75,000 for the relief of the victims of the flood.

CINCINNATI, (2:30 a. m.) The city of Cincinnati has raised a fund of $25,000 for the relief of the stricken people in the floodeddistricts. All the boats from Chester Park have been sent

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DOiN, (2:30 a. m.) At this hour the fire seems to be oyiw.y.ctjrat there are several blazes in the residence districts. A

large blaze was noticed m the neighborhood of the Steele High

School and it is supposed that this building or the gas plant is on fire. . . . . The business block which was burned yesterday covered the territory between Second and Third streets and Clair and Jefferson streets.

TO ASSIST DAYTON

Between fifteen and twenty automobiles, loaded with provis

ions, will leave this city jor Dayton, this morning. Louis inii, who returned from Dayton about 8 o'clock last evening will pilot the relief expedition from this city The machines will go east on the New Paris pike to New Paris, thence .to Lewisburg, thence to Brookville, to Salem, and down to Dayton Viewy Contributions were received at the Commercial Club rooms all

last night in response to the apeal made by the club and the may

or through the last evening s edition of the Palladium. The club had arranged to send motor trucks loaded with timber to the site of the old Sycamore bridge east of the city, which was washed away by the water, in order to get provisions to Dayton via the National road. This plan was given up last evening when it was learned that more bridges would have to be built. T Later last 'evening arrangements" were also' ma3e 6 'carry 'provisions from this city to the stricken Ohio city over the Pennsylvania railroad, by making two transfers. The first transfer would have been at New Paris, where a trestle had been partly washed

away, it was said at that town that one side of the trestle was safe

enough to walk over and that the provisions could be carried across by men. Another train was on the other side of the trestle. .However, this plan was given up, after Mr. Iliff returned and presented his plan of piloting automobiles to Dayton. Mr. Iliff declared that it was impossible to drive a motor truck along the roads. "Some roads we went over were washed and caved in, especially those nearest Dayton. We were able to get up to the Bridge in Dayton View. We learned that the water rose at the rate of a foot an hour and I guess it is receding at about the same rate. What they want in Dayton is bread or yeast, with which to make bread. They have plenty of meat but they must have bread."

COLUMBUS

FIFTY DROWNED

COLUMBUS, O., (2:30 a. m.) A terrific panic occurred here last night when word was received that a storoge dam on the Sciota river - had given way and was sweeping down on the city. Police reserves and bicycle policemen were sent out in all directions to notify the people of the impending danger. The people, men, women and children, ran pell mell to the high places and remained there until informed that the report was untrue. No lives are reported lost as a result of the panic, but it is believed the list of dead on account of the flood will be over 50.

Tells oil IS Trip

THE PALLADIUM SERVICE

In order that the people of Richmond and the surrounding territory might keep informed of the news from the stricken districts, the Palladium for 60 hours day and night has kept a force working on telegraph and telephone lines to get what little information is obtainable over the few wires that are not down. Yesterday morning the Palladium sent an automobile to Dayton with a correspondent and a lineman of the Richmond Home Telephone company to attempt to lay a line direct , into Dayton, the automobile reached the outskirts of Dayton yesterday afternoon and the party is still attempting to get a line into the city. During the day and night at intervals it was possible to get connections on a private wire of the Ohio Electric company, which wire has been temporarily connected with the Third Precinct Police Station of Dayton. This station is in West Dayton. Connections with Dayton have been attempted through the wireless instruments at the local high school hoping to pick up aerials from the stricken district, but up to this morning no communication in this manner had been obtained with Dayton. The condition of the telephone and telegraph wires make it almost impossible for direct and definite information but the Palladium promises to give its readers all the information that caiv possibly be obtained under present conditions.

A TRAGEDY CAPITAL IS

REPORTED

FIREMEN PERISH

DAYTON", O., 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

cue the people in the building. The National Cash Register buildings are not damaged as they are outside of the flood district.

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GREENFIELD, Ind., The T. B. I. & E. operator at Greenfield, late last night secured access to Indianapolis for a short time, and from the company operator at Indianapolis, secured confirmation of the report of the Wolf building disaster, in which two hundred people are thought to have been killed. This report states that in- the flood district of the west side of Indianapolis, over two hundred flood refugees entered the Wolf building, which became so crowded that it weakened and collapsed. Those victims not killed outright were drowned, the report says. Every bridge over the White river is out with the exception of the ' Norrls

street bridge, reported to be still standing at 2 a. m. but liable to go

down at any moment. The snow andk

sleet storm has added to the terrible privation of the flood victims, and absolute terror reigns supreme among the hordes of homeless outcasts. '

Dr. Mora Bulla returned to Richmond last night from a trip to Dayton made via automobile. Most of the automobiles that made the trip to the stricken city yesterday followed circuitous routes in order to avoid washouts in the roadways, but Dr. Bulla followed the Dayton and Eaton turnpike all the way, with the exception of a short strip just east of Richmond near the Sycamore valley school house where he was forced to turn north and take to the right-of-way of the traction company. No difficulties of consequence were met with and the party reached West Dayton in comparatively

quick time. "We got down into the city as far as Euclid avenue," said Dr. Bulla to the Palladium last night, "and this was several blocks west of the river, though as a matter of fact everything is river there now and for a distance of three miles east from the flood line in West Dayton there is nothing but water. I met and talked with Dr. Swisher, a relative of mine who is an active member of the Dayton relief committee. I 'was informed by Dr. Swisher that the committee had no evidence of great loss of life, at least insofar as could be determined from West .Dayton. Twelve dead . bodies were all that the committee had record of up to 3 o'clock yesterday afternoon, though of course what has occurred on the east side I do not know. However, Dr. Swisher seemed to believe that stories of great loss of life as reported in Richmond and elsewhere over the country are exaggerated. In fact Dr. Swisher surprised me by placing the estimate at twenty-five. What will be revealed when the water

i recedes suficiently to get into East

Dayton is of course speculation. Dr. Lane, health officer of West Dayton, was of the same opinion as Dr. Swisher with regard to the loss of life. The relief work is progressing well and boats are bringing refugees from the east side as fast as possible. So far as the residents of West Dayton are concerned there appeared to be little suffering and Dr. Lane, the health officer of West Dayton, told me that there was no shortage of food supplies at present."

BROOKVILLE

IS CUT OFF

FROM WORLD

LIBERTY. Ind.. March 26.. - (11 p. m.)Brookvllle'8 inhabitants are quartered tonight In the court house and the school house and the school building. Even those residents of the higher section of the city, which has not been touched by the flood waters of the Whitewater river, have abandoned their homes to take up quarters in the two public buildings to conserve the scanty fuel supply. I Four people living In the lower sec tion of the town are known to be dead and a dozen are missing and have been in all probability, drowned. The town

is in absolute darkness. Will Ketner. a farmer, living seven miles north of Brookville. telephoned to Liberty tonight that all today unsuccessful efforts had been made to shoot a line across the river with rockets to send provisions to the river beseiged townspeople. Only one bridge is standing in Franklin county and it is impossible to enter Brookville. Every house in the lower section of the town has been washed away. At Metemora, Franklin county, only three houses are standing. The rest have been washed down the river. The loss of life there cannot be esti--mated. . It' is believed the entire town of Laurel has been wiped out.

MARTIAL LAW ROW

AIIOERSO

RICHMOND, (3:00 A. M.) Communication was established by the Bell Telephone company at 2:40 a. m. this morning with the National Cash Register plant at Dayton, which is being used as a relief station for the victims of the flood. At that hour there wprp

J5.000 refugees in the building and more are coming in slowly. I

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 earnestly 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 has 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. It is urgently requested that immediate response be made as quick action is necessary. W. W. ZIMMERMAN, Mayor.

HAPPENINGS OF THE NIGHT IN SUMMARY

Serious fires threatening the business section of Dayton were reported. Dispatches said the M. D. Lark factory, a church and a number of residences had burned with considerable loss of life. Citizens of Hamilton, Ohio, warned to flee for their lives because of the expected break in the Lewisvllle dam. Just north of the city. Lima reported the breaking of the Lewistown, or Indiana lake dam, north of Bellefontaine, and the very probable overflow of the St. Mary's reservoir, south of Lima. Liberty, Ind., reported that the situation in Brookville was alarming. A large number of lives were lost, it is said. The Inhabitants spent the night in darkness in the court house and school building. - Laurel, Ind., reported -wiped off the map and Metemora, Ind., has only three houses standing. The Whitewater river at Richmond rose three feet early in the evening, but the situation was not considered serious. A great section of Indianapolis is under water and most of the public utilities have suspended operations. Snow and sleet storms raged in that city. A brief dispatch . was received from a Palladium staff correspondent stating that he had arrived in the outskirts of Dayton. Another Palladium correspondent sent word that he had succeeded in penetrating some distance into the city. This morning a report stated that the heart of the business district was on fire and that the loss of life mould be heavy. ' Three thousand Dayton people have taken refuge in the National Cash Register plant. A false report of the breaking of a dam at Columbus, Ohio, caused a

panic.

LARGE DRUG STORE 111 DAYTOII BURNS

DAYTON, Ohio, (4:20 p. m. Lieutenant Purcell at the Third Precinct station at Dayton, said: "We have telegraphed Gov. Cox at Columbus, O., by way of Eaton. Ohio, to save Dayton from the destruction by fire which threatens us. The gas mains are broken and leaking, and the gas is collecting in the buildings. We have one large fire on here now, and no way of fighting it. ' If the gas can be shut off, we. may stop the fires, as this is the cause of them. "Gov. Cox, we have just heard from

Eaton," said Purcell, "has telegraphed to the West Virginia fields to tell them to cut off the gas at the wells. This may save Dayton. "A big fire is now raging in the Burkhart drug store, one square east of Third and Jefferson avenues, the main corner of the city. This fire is being fought by the firemen, but without success, as they have only a few boats in which to work. The rain is now falling again, adding to the difficulty of the work. 4 '4

"The fire in the drug store threatens

to reach the city building, and to the Beckel house, which were reported early this afternoon to have been burningThis early report was not" true." Reports of numerous fires throughoat the city are true in a small measure. The three story Burkhart drug store is the largest building in the city yet burned, but several smaller buildings have been burned. "If yon send us food at once we will send it out to the churches and to the school houses where the refugees are now crowded like so many cattle." said PurcelL "Here where we are we can get along for twenty-four hours without any more food, but it may be more than twenty-four hours that we have to stay here. The water is only five or six feet deep here now, but it is raining bard again, and the river may rise, and wipe out ail the work we have eo fax accomplished," . - -

Anderson Ind.. is now under martial law. and the city is under command of Lieutenant Charles Howells. who is in charge of sixty-three national guardsmen. Park Place Is flooded, and hundreds of people living in the lowlands are homeless and are being sheltered on the hills by hospitable neighbors. No lives were lost, but the property ,1088 will be extremely heavy. CapL M. P. Nolan, in charge of the national guard, relinquished his office to go to Dayton, O., where he has a wife and family living near the center of the flooded district. lie arrived In Richmond last evening at seven-thirty, and is attempting to get to Dayton.

WEST END UNDER WATER.

INDIANAPOLIS. (1:00 a. m.) The rain has turned to snow but the wind has quieted down. The entire west end of the city is under water and over, 2,000 people are homeless. The entire city is without fire protection and drinking water. The gas is likely to be shut off any moment. The South Meridian street bridge and two railroad bridges went out tonight. The river at this hour is receding slowly.

CHURCHES TO AID VICTIMS At a called meeting of the Ministerial association last night it was decided to have churches in different sections of the city open all day Thursday to receive such clothing as the people of Richmond may desire to send to the flood sufferer in. Dayton. The Reid Memorial church will b ethe central depot, to which all goods may be brought, and the following churches have been designated as sub-stations where goods may be left by those In their respective neighborhoods: Second Presbyterian, on N. 19th street; East Main Street Friends; St. Paul's Episcopal Parish House; St. Paul Lutheran, Third M. E church, in Fairview; and for the West Side, the Second English Lutheran and the home of Murray S. Kenworthy, 602 National Road. . It is hoped that a quick response will be made to this call as it is understood that the need is very great. Please act at once tomorrow will be late. ARTHUR CATES, Pre

THE WEATHER STATE' AND LOCAL Rain; colder Thursday. . ......