Richmond Palladium (Daily), Volume 38, Number 117, 27 March 1913 — Page 17

S EICHMOM) TA AIM ! ! AND SUN-TELEGRAM VOIi. XXXVIII. NO. 117. RICHMOND, IND.f TIIURSDAY,EVEXING, MARCH 27, 1913. SINGLE COPY 2 CENTS

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STAFF CORRESPONDENT DAYTON, O., 1:00 p. m. A condition exists here in Dayton that is too terrible to picture and it is impossible to imagine the situation of the victims of the flood. The people of Richmond should be told that what Dayton needs is food and clothing and not-sightseers and that anyone not bringing supplies is not wanted. It is absolutely necessary that all the common foods and necessary clothing be rushed here with all possible speed. People are starving and freezing to death for lack of assistance. The Richmond automobile relief expedition is here, but the supplies they bring will go but a little way towards feeding and

clothing the thousands of victims. 15,000 people are homeless and thousands of the population are shut off in the upper parts of buildings without food. There is no gas, no drinking water and no fuel to cook food with so that all food supplies that are sent must be ready to eat. The rich people of the city are practically the only ones that escaped as they had homes on the higher grounds. These are now doing the rescue and relief work. The greatest loss of life will be among the Polish settlement which was wiped out entirely. --Hundreds 4f people ar ioilged injeet and many, people spent the night on the Third street bridge. Groups of people have been exposed to the weather for two days and nights without food or water. The condition of these victims is horrible. The fine home of Mrs. Roland DeWees and its contents .was entirely destroyed, but it is reported that she is in the Algonquin Hotel. Mrs. DeWees was formerly Miss Maude Westcott, of Richmond. Sixty dead bodies have just been taken from the Lennard Building and every undertaker within a radius of ten miles has been sent for. Dayton spent a most horrible night last night. Yesterday afternoon a cold rain set in and later turned to snow which developed into a blizzard which added to the suffering of the victims. Many blocks of the business section of the city have been burned and all during the night the sky was lit with the blazes from the burning buildings. Many people perished in the buildings rather than jump into the surging current. Many died from cold and hunger. The National Cash Register plant last night used its

own current and was the only building in Dayton that had light of any kind. The people of Richmond and the surrounding territory must hurry provisions into this city or else the list of dead will be doubled. The situation is more critical than any mind can imagine. The Government is beginning to get supplies into the city but the work is very slow and it will take some time to make any headway. (National News Association) 1 . . .. DAYTON, O., March 27. Fire consumed that portion of Dayton bounded on the north by First street, on the East by St. Claire, on the west by the Boulevard and on the east by Third street. This territory comprises nine blocks in length and two blocks in width, including the jail, the Beckel House, the Tallahand bank and the court house. At 11 o'clock many fires were still raging in both the business and residence sections. The scene of devastation beggars description. At .the Van Cleve school house, where police headuarters "have been established, terrible scenes are witnessed. Refugees brought in, collapse and are famished and frozen. Many may die from exposure. No doubt hundred of persons trapped in the upper stories of the fire ruined buildings were burned to death, but how many may never be known. "While we had food enough for. a few days our supply must be replenished or the suffering will become acute," said Chairman Hendrickson of the Riverdale relief committee. "We will need coffins and bread in particular. From north of Dayton the farmers have responded nobly to our request of food, many of them having driven as much as forty miles to bring us what supplies they could spare. "We can do nothing now but remove and care for the refugees but later we will face a more serious situation." In other sections of the city food conditions were more serious and provisions are being rushed by autbmbbiles and special trains -from surrounding towns as far away as Richmond, Ind. A lack of bread is felt throughout the city. Three men entered a Pennsylivania1 station in West Dayton where temporary Western Union j headquarters had been established and seeing some bread on a tajble exclaimed: "That?s the first bread we have seen since Monday." iThe fuel situation also is a serious one. Persons with bags, wheelt barrows, tubs and wagons were helping themselves to coal that was standing in the Pennsylvania yards.

.STAFF CORRESPONDENT DAYTON, O., 2:2 p. m. It is reported here that Trenton, , Ohio, a town of a population of between 600 and 700 persons has been wiped off the map. Attempts to substantiate this report have been made but it is impossible to establish telephone or telegraph, communication with persons near that place. Trenton is

yfjgn jlainuton and Middletown.

WdDEPS

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DAYTON

NEWS

IS WHAT ALL ARE SEEKING Richmond . people are taking the keenest interest in the Dayton situation, owing to the large number who have relatives and friends in that city. The newspapers and telegraph and telephone companies are being besieged for news all houi'3 of the day and night and tr.e employes of these concerns are almost exhausted from the strain of work for the past eighty hours, for they have been, on duty nearly al the time. ' There have been two or three hundred people stranded in this, city because of the paralysis of railroad and traction operations, and nearly all of them are from cities affected by the floods. In their frantic endeavors to obtain some information of their families they have thronged the newspaper, telephone and telegraph offices but there has been a very ; few instances where they have obtained any news of a personal nature. . A Palladium correspondent ,Carl Emerson, sent to Dayton, In a personal message sent from Dayton View this morning stated that he had located his sister . Katherine, in the Algonquin hotel by-meeting a woman who had seen her there. Another - Palladium reporter, Howard Smith, has received np Information regarding iia, father, Philip Smith;' who Is come place in Dayton. ' Alvin Kemper, advertising manager of the Palladium, has obtained no information of his sister, Mrs. John Stud3baker. . Practically all the employes of the Automatic Tool works,-Beallview, are from Dayton and many of them have families residing there. None of the men desire to work until they receive news of their loved ones so the plant has suspended operations. Will Wilcox, the oldest conductor on the Ohio Electric traction company, who resides in Dayton, but who has been stranded here, has received word that his home is under water and he does not know the "fate of his wife and children. Mrs. Mary Seaman, 1413 North B street, has received word that her three brothers, Clyde, Frank and John Fogleman, are safe in Dayton J. H. Mills of this city has received no word from his wife who had been visiting In Dayton but he believes she has found refuge in the Phillips House. Mr. and Mrs. Van Arsdell of Dayton, who have been in-Richmond on busines shave appealed to Mayor Zimmerman to assist in locating Mrs. Van Arsdell's mother, a proof reader on the Dayton Journal, and the parents of Mr. Van Arsdell, who had been taking care of Mr. and MrB. Van "Arsdell'a child. - " Mr. and Mrs. Roland De Weese, the latter formerly of this city, are .believed to be out of danger. Mrs. J. W. Ferguson received a telegram from her husband this morning that he was safe in a hotel in Middletown, O., but he said the situation in that place was desperate, the town being half under water. William Butler and eight other Cambridge City men having relatives in Dayton passed through Richmond in automobiles today enroute - to the stricken city. Mr. Butler will search for his cousin, Mrs. Bessie Darnell, formerly Miss Van Meter of Cambridge City. William Waking called the Palladium representative on a private wire yesterday and asked that his wife be notified that he had just left Dayton and was on his way to Richmond. All of the relations of the Wakings are reported safe except Grace Wells, Mrs. Waking's sister. When informed that her sister was cut off from communication, Mrs. Waking almost swooned, exclaiming, "My God, don't tell me any more." Josiah Knight,, living near Fountain City, is in Richmond, hoping to secure some information about the fate of his sister, Mrs. Emma Robinson, in Dayton. . ' ' VRichard Genn" would like to receive information concerning Earl Judy, formerly of this city. The Fifth street car barns he thinks can supply some news. Minnie Bicknell. 29 North Ninth street, this afternoon received word from her sister, Mrs. W. C. Arc-ells, from Kokomo, saying that she was in safety, although the streets of the entire' city were flooded, i : . Mr. and Mrs. Arcells formerly lived in this city, having moved to Kokomo about three months ago. - Mr. Arcells was employed here by Thomas Butler, a blacksmith.

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Tales ofi Aire TcdM DAYTON, O., March 27. All fires were under control at 1 o'clock this afternoon. Many bodies are being removed from the river at Riverdale and are being stacked on the banks. The official estimate of the dead is 5,000. RESERVOIR BREAKS LIMA, O., March 27. The east bank of St. Mary's reservoir, the largest body of artificial water in the world broke at 10 o'clock this morning. The flash came from the oil station, located a quarter of a mile from the reservoir. The message ended: "can tell no more, must run for my life." The entire town of St. Mary's, a city of 6,000, is in danger and all residents have been warned to leave the city. The rush of water will go to Pecatur-.Ind.;.Ft Wayne, and a score of other cities, and these places have been given warning. THREE ARE DEAD INDIANAPOLIS, March 27 Three persons are known to be dead as a result of the flood here,, 7,000 are homeless, many of them seriously ill, while White river, Fall creek and other streams rapidly receded today. All public utilities remain para lyzed except two car lines, one receiving current from Ander son and the other getting power from Springfield. It was expect ed the water supply would be reestablished by this evening. MANY ARE RESCUED ; DAYTON, O., March 27 On Third street in West Dayton this afternoon a flat car weighted down with pig-iron was being run down into the flooded districts on the street car tracks to bring out water; bound persons. Six men went on the car and. a hundred or more drew it through the water by a huge cable. They rescued persons who for two days have expected death. They were lifted from the car to waiting automobiles and removed to shelter. They were given coffee and wrapped in warm clothing. Women and children collapsed and strong men were so weak from, cold that they had to be carried.. After hanging on to the roof of their home for 36 hours dur ing heavy rains and snows and with strong winds blowing, Walter Schmidt, his wife and two children were rescued this afternoon. None of them could move a muscle. "I would have fallen into the water if it hadn't been for daddy," exclaimed the little girl who was the first of the four to be sufficiently revived 'to talk. "When the waters came into the house we had to climb onto the roof. Daddy " helped me and mama helped brother.""" It' was terribly cold. I . thought -1 was going to die, but daddy saved me." In one house a baby two years old was found alone. Its parents were robably among the flood victims. . .-- . In the foreign settlement a father shot and killed his four children, his wife, and- then jumped into the flood and was J drowned.

TERRE HAUTE FACING NEW

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(National News Association) TERRE HAUTE. Ind.. March 2T. One thousand people in West Terre Haute, three miles across the Wabash river are in imminent' danger of losing their Hves by the flooded waters. The river embankment, north of West Terre Haute is giving away rapidly and the people are now on the housetops. The authorities at Paris, III., have been asked by phone to send boats to rescue the stricken people of West Terre Haute as the bridges spanning the river here have been condemned and are practically impassable. In response to a fire call the Terre Haute fire department attempted to cross the bridge, but in doing so three firemen were thrown into the river. They were rescued by catch lines of hose thrown to them by their companions. West Terre Haute has a population of 6,000. L T IS F Logansport, Ind., is in a serious condition. This information came through Harry Stewart, 212 North Eleventh street, a Pennsylvania engineer, who effected his escape from that devastated city yesterday afternoon. Stewart escaped from that city by crossing the railroad bridge spanning the Wabash river and walking through driving rain and snow to the Anoka Junction. After boarding an interurban for this city with several companions he was very nearly hurled to his death by a bridge breaking under the car. The city is under eleven feet of water in many places, he says, and the anguish of the suffering Is - horrible. Water is flooding the streets. Toledo street is a mass of swirling, gushing water. ' The Eel and Wabash rivers have risen to such a height as to merge Into one. The once strong iron trestle spanning the Wabash is now a swinging bridge, he says. This bridge was crossed by the refugees with great risk of life. The destruction of, this bridge will bring the loss to the railroad up to many more thousands. The Third Street interurban bridge is also reported destroyed. The Union Station Is completely submerged, only the roofs of coaches being above the water line. Water in the yards is to such a height as to cover the engines with the exception of the smoke stacks. There are 150 engines in the Logansport yards. All the churches are being nsed to shelter the suffering. These places being packed with homeless people. Men, women and children are continually crying for food. Rain and snow continues to fall and greatly hampers the work of rescue. FIRE SWEEPS BLOCKS (National News Association) DAYTON, O., March 27. Adding to the terrors of the elements, snow fell here today and hundreds of persons are suffering from exposure. Hefugees are being taken out of the Hickory street schooL Almost the whole of the downtown section of the town has been swept by fire and the flames are leaping hundreds of feet into the air. Several blocks In the heart of the business district have been destroyed by the conflagration.' A temporary morgue has been established at Fifth and Eagle streets but it is a physical impossibility for grief stricken men and women to reach that point. Hundreds of homeless persons are housed at the National Cash Register works where the suspense is intense. The wind Is bitter cold. Many have been trapped on top of their homes since the levee broke. THE WEATHER

OGANSPQR

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STATE AND LOCAL 8 now and con- . Unued cold. - . "

TO THE BUSINESS

While the business men and citizens of Richmond have responded liberally to our call for contributions, the committee has learned that the demand for immediate relief of the sufferers is much greater than we had anticipated and we must therefore urge every citizen to do all In his power to assist in this work. RELIEF COMMITTEE.

A Md f rata ; tows OHy.1t-: Idpiffiir A special, train, filled with provisions and clothes left this city this morning for Dayton. At the New Paris trestle, which was washed away, a transfer was made to another train on the east side of the creek and the car was taken on to Dayton where it was unloaded. - - Two more cars will be filled tonight and will leave early tomorrow morning for Dayton. Capt. Deuter, head of the local branch of the Salvation Army, announced this morning that he had arranged to receive contributions of any kind at the branch's headquarters, Rhoda Temple, 515 North A street, every day,, until the suffering at Dayton and neighboring cities is. alleviated. Donations will also be received at the Commercial Club. -Braving the driving, snowstorm. earlyJthisraonunx.j;,bQiit twenty-five men in twelve or fourteen automobiles and one auto truck left this city for Dayton, carrying provisions and clothing. The roads are very treacherous, according to local motorists who have made the trip, to Dayton, but despite this fact the local men will make every effort to reach the flood and fire stricken city, and in addition to distributing provisions and clothing they will do what they can in the work of rescuing persons imprisoned in buildings in the flooded district. . - The local automobile owners who placed their cars at the disposal of the Richmond Commercial club reported at the Jones Hardware company's store, Tenth and North E streets, at 6:30 this morning. All the cars were immediately loaded and the last car left the store at 7 o'clock. ' - At 10 o'clock this morning the relief expedition arrived in the outskirts of Dayton and immediately telephoned to- the Richmond Commercial Club that food must be sent to that city without delay. Charles Jordan, secretary of the club, was notified that the condition of the railroad bed is fairly good all the way to Dayton with the exception of the washout at New Paris. Contributions were received at th CnmmATiMal r"liiK

- - m. wiua last night in response to the apeal made by the club and the mayor 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. Mr. Ilif f 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, f 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 thejrmust have bread."

BAREFOOTED BOYS ' ARRIVE III CITY Two, little barefooted boys with hardly enough clothes on them to keep their little bodies in comfort from the biting cold strolled into the -Pennsylvania depot this afternoon having been brought here from Dayton. The boys were unable to speak good English. A collection was started by one of the men present and more than $50 was donated. The names of the little youngsters were not learned. They will be kept here until word can be received from their parents.

Ralston 's Appeal to Citizens

TO THE PEOPLE OF INDIANA: Tornadoes and high waters have levied a heavy toll on the citizenship of Indiana. They have destroyed I if and property and removed the roof from ovsr thoueande ef men, women and children. The number of dead can not be approximated, while the lose of property runs into the millions. A crisis Is therefore upon the state and it must be generous-' ly and speedily mtt. The demand is imperative for food, clothing and shelter for these who have survived the appalling calamity, and I appeal to all who are willing te give of their means to provide these necessities, to make their' contributions without delay. Monty, may be sent by check or draft te th Hon. Hugh Oaugherty, as trustee, Indianapolis. Food and clothing may be sent to Adjutant General George W. McCoy at the State House. . Those who are willing to provide beds and places to sleep should indicate their desire to help in this way to the proper local authoritiee or committees. SAMUEL M. RALSTON, Governor

MEN OF RICHMOND

STRAUGE ANTICS PLAYEJH1Y WATER One of the many strange antics played by, the waters was the carrying of a shed, sheltering an automobile and a buggy, belonging to Henry Holxapfel, in South Richmond, to a submerged teld. a mile or two south of the city, and depositing it in a small lake of water. The shed was turned upside down. As it is impossible to reach the shed, it is not know what damage was .done to the machine ond buggy.

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