The Indianapolis Star from Indianapolis, Indiana • 1

6:30 A EXTRA The Indianapolis Star VOL 10 NO 294 WEDNESDAY MORNING MARCH 26 1913 TWO CENTS 6:30 A EXTRA GREAT LOSS LIE IS EARED ON WEST SIDE TOTAL DAMAGE LIKELY TO EXCEED $25000000 WHITE RIVER AT STANDSTILL ALL CREEK SLOWLY ALLING TWO BRIDGES WRECKED BOULEVARD IS BROKEN Many persons are believed to have perished in the flood that swept West Indianapolis early last evening following the breaking of the White Biver levee at Morris street Statements made by rescue parties who returned from the flood ed district early this morning indicated that not all by far of men women and children trapped in their homes when the river burst from its banks were taken from their water surrounded homes Stories were told of cries for help that were heard from far beyond the district reached by the rescue boats cries that suddenly became hushed as though overwhelmed by the oncoming water Searchers were unanimous in the opinion that a visit to the houses in the flooded districts will disclose drowned victims and that others have persihed in the the flood from whom nothing ever will be heard An estimate was made early this morning that the total property loss due to the flood will not fall short of $25000000 and may ex ceed that amount by a large figure ears that a part of the south bank of all Creek between Me ridian street and Pennsylvania street would be undermined by tle stream and that homes south of that district would be flooded are believed to be without good foundation The stream ate its way under the boulevard drive at that place and caused a collapse of 100 feet of the pavement but it is believed that the water will not make its way through the remainder of the bank which is the original levee of the stream and much more solid than the base of the boulevard A span in the Meridian street bildge over IlU Creek was loosened and fell into the stream The bridge waa crumbling rapidly this morning toward the south end Piers and superstructure were car ried down by the torrent The all CreA bridge at Meridian street was one at the most beautiful along the stream and was built at a cost of $250000 White River Is playing havoc with "the West Washington street bridge? Early thia morning several sections of the floor ing had fallen carrying with them parts of the balustrade along the south side Two large houses and much other debris was rammed against the west end of the bridge The water also had eaten its way behind the east abutment and had torn out a large section of the pavement of the approach Reports from parts of White River and from all Creek at daylight this morning indicated that relief is to be expected It was said that While River was at a standstill and that the appearances were that the flood In West Indianapolis was receding Patrols along all Creek also reported that that stream was falling it appealed that the only place along all Creek where trouble might be Expected was at the stretch between Meridian and Pennsylvania streets The undermining of the all Creek hank caused the utmost alarm When the PUBLIC UTILITIES ALMOST TIED UP GASJNJANGER Loss of City Water Supply Adds to Suffering and Possibility of ire Horror STREET CAR SYSTEM DIES JUST BEORE NOON RUSH Lighting Company Wages Unceas ing Battle to Keep lood rom Plant danger appeared threatening patrolmen aroused residents and within a short The most complete and disastrous tieup of public service corporations in the his Ilme the entire neighborhood was lighted tory of Indianapolis was recorded at noon as though at early evening Automobiles stood at the curbstones for immediate use Most of the homes within four blocks of the boulevard soon were de serted The neighborhood was not quieted throughout the remainder of the morning CALAMITY IS GENERAL The work of the flood begun Monday with the rising of Eagle Creek above its banks was eugmented with disastrous results yesterday when White River tore through its levees at many points and all Creek leaped its banks flooding a large part of the North Side residence district the high water ending street car service putting the entire water works system out of commission and threatening other public service Corpora tions The gas service of the city also was threatened and the mails were held up by the flood CONDITIONS GROW WORSE The catastrophe which became greater and greater as the day passed resulted early last evening in the rupture of the Morris street White River levee which up to that time had protected West In dianapolis from the flood Within a short lime the raging river had swept down one span of the I it railroad bridge on Kentucky avenue and was threatening the wagon bridge at the some crossing The West Washington street bridge was being undermined and there were pre dictions that it might collapse at any time The breaking of the Morris street levee was the most disastrous of the day's hap CONTINUED ON PAGE 9 COLUMN 1 yesterday when the street car system was abandoned the city water supply was shut off and a warning was issued that the Indianapolis Gas Company might shut off its supply of gas at any momenl The electric light companies were con tinuing their service last night but the Heat and Light Company had been forced to wage a battie all day lO keep the water from the canal out of its plant PHONE SERVICE SUERS Telephone service was greatly im paired but last night conditions had been improved by the increase in 'the force of operators The inundation of the Indianapolis Traction Terminal Company's power plant at West Tenth street und White River put the city street car system out of service at 11 o'clock yesterday morn ing COMPLETELY ABANDONED Officials of the company said last night no assurance could be given as to when service would be resumed Nothing an CONTINUED ON PAGE 13 COLUMN 3 OERS PUBLIC PURE WATER Albert Lieber Places Supply of ifteen Wells at Disposal of Citizens Albert Lieber made an offer that is both unusual and generous considering the premium on good water There are fifteen wells of pure water at the Indi anapolis Brewing Company's plant at High and McCarty streets Mr Lieber says the supply is now at the disposal of the public I I Weather Bureau Promises No Relief immediate lelicl from the flood sil iitition was promised last night ii Hie local office of the United States Weather Bureau Verne IL Church section director said that it would continue to rain through the night and probably today and that White River would coni inue to rise during the night It mus impossible to measure the height of the water as the gov ernment gauge on the river was submerged but the height was esfi niilcd at about feet A report from Anderson indicated that the river still was rising (here late last evening there was J08 inches nl rainfall in Indianapolis during the twenty four hours ending at 7 last evening and 554 inches Xuid fallen since the rain started Sunday morning WEST WASHINGTON STREET A VERITABLE LAKE ''7 7 $: HHh Ti i araMlMi 7 '1 i WMaagEMMalWB W' xT I a MrJhsae 4 7 BBgL I Y'MjSgxSSW' 1 A :77777777:7 7 1 1 SIXTY PERSONS DROWN IN PERU SCORES SUER ROM EXPOSURE PERU Ind March 26 (Via Telephone to South Sixty persons are believed to have been drowned and hundreds more are marooned in dan gerous positions on the roofs of buildings accord ing to an inspection made by boats through the flooded streets of Peru at 4:30 this morning Water from the overflown Wabash River is rush ing through the streets at depths of from five to twenty feet Many bodies of women and children have been carried out into the fields Several interurban relief trains have arrived from South Bend Culver and other towns but these have been unable to get within reach of the scores on the roofs and upper floors of buildings where they are suffering from cold exposure and hunger The city is in darkness and the water supply Is made useless IGHT WAGED TO SAVE OPERATOR TELLS STORY Arthur Moore a telephone operator who Is isolated in the top floor of a build ing in the downtown district and who worked all night by candle light was reached over the telephone from another HOMELESS THOUSANDS "I have been looking from part of the city I "Sixty persons drowned Is the nearest I to a correct estimate of the said Moore Thousands of families in lhe flooded districts of Indianapolis spent last night hungry terrorized by the rising water and in many instances penniless after a life time of saving Not in the history In i (ftanapolis has a flood brought such dis aster Hundreds of acres are under water and from the most inaccessible places come Arles for help from families im prisoned by the flood Relief crews are at work In all parts of the city particularly the west and southwest where the catastrophe is greatest but their work is progressing slowly and there is no as surance when they will be able to answer all the calls for assistance Schools lire stations refuge homes and other places have been opened to the vic tims and every effort is being made to provide succor as rapidly 'as possible Boats are working in ail the stricken neighborhoods fond is being supplied and volunteer workers are thronging to the assistance of the police and the national guard which are doing their utmost tion to handle the serious emergency eases and tuok up the question of rdW with Mayor Shank After a conference the city officials appealed to Governor Ralston who after a thorough review of the situation ordered the conimanders of the mililia to furnish necessary supplies and men The Held hospital staff is under the command of Maj John Boaz and IJeut Pettijohn It can pceomnwdate 7 62 patients with Its own equipment In ad dition to its supplies Brig Gen Charles A Garrard ordered 750 ots and addi tional supplies taken from the State House to the hall Equipment will be installed to care for about 350 patients Beginning today the hospitals of the city expect to receive additional demands on their facilities Exposure and minor injuries are expected to cause numerous I patients to arrive todaj' and later suffer ing from pleurisy anil possibly pneu monia The more serious cases will bo CONTINUED ON PAGE 5 COLUMN 3 number of bodies have seen floating down the street I think the number of drowned will not exceed that number "Only four blocks In the city are above water In the other sections the sur vivors have climbed to the roofs and many are passing the night there SUER ROM COLD "Their suffering from the cold Is In tense and unless boats scon are able to carry them to safety other deaths will follow Before dark I saw more than one of these survivors drop from exhaustion and slip Into the water "Several of the special Interurban trains which brought relief from nearby towns have arrived to points two and three miles out of town but owing to the darkness and the lack of boats the relief has not reached the sufferers By day light it is hoped the work of rescue will begin "That many more people were not drowned was due to the fact that resi dents had several warning The CONTINUED ON PAGE 5 COLUMN 1 IMPRISONED IN SCHOOLHOUSE One of the most serious phases of the flood is the proposition of feeding about 500 families in the flooded region that have taken refuge in the upper stories of their houses and refuse in leave Nearly 300 persons took refuge' in school No 16 Bloomington and Market streets and plans were made Iasi night to carry them a motor boat full of sandwiches Capt Coffin was sent out from head quarters to take charge of thefn That the refugees are safe for the time being is the opinion of Lester Jones who is connected with the city dog pound With a city team Jones assisted Capt Coffin and BicycJemen Gollnlsch and in taking the victims to the building which offered the only available safety when the last of the persons were removed to it Sergt ranklin plyed between houses In a motor boat during the entire day and last night carrying persons to safety and attempting to rescue all who were in danger A large number of automobiles motor boats and canoes were placed at the disposal of the police and these will be used in carrying food HOSPITAL IS OPENED Late last nighty arrangements were made with the field hospital staff of (he Indiana National Guard to take charge of Tomlinson Hall and equip it for an emergency hospital The City Hospital was practically filled early In the evening The city board of health realized that room had to be kept at the city instltu Mayor Issues lood und Appeal The Star Will Receive Donations Mayor Shank yesterday afternoon issued the following appeal to the public: The city is facing one of the gravest situations in its history the flood having made hundreds of families homeless The city is doing everything in its power to alleviate the condition of the suffering and unfortunates but it will be impossible for the city to care for all of those who have been made homeless I appeal to all citizens to co operate with the city authorities and the charity organizations in trying to lessen the sufferings of the flood victims unds are need ed and will be needed for some time to come for relief purposes and I suggest that citizens seeing the great need and who desire to help send contributions to the office or to the offices of Indian apolis newspapers This money received will be used as a relief fund for the citizens of The Star will receive contributions to a fund for the relief of flood sufferers and the money will be turned over to the city officials or proper relief authorities Dallas Tyler called at The Star office last evening and left a check for $100 to assist the flood sufferers us give them some bacon and eggs he said They will be hungry in the morning 5000 DEAD IN DAYTON LATE TOLL 1 Confirmation of Disaster Indicates Repetition of Johnstown Tragedy 50000 Homeless Crowded Hospitals and Schools Washed 1 Entire City Under Water 1 Special to The Indianapolis Star DAYTON March 26 2:30 a (by Telephone via Xenia) rom 2000 to 5000 people have lost their lives in a tremendous flood in this city and environs according to an estimate made early this morning after a night of terror perhaps unequaled since the Johns town disaster The bursting of the main levee which had been holding back the flooded Big Miami River caused nearly a tidal wave to descend on the city early yesterday morning without warning The property loss will run into the millions and the danger ia unabated ires of large proportions have swept several in the flooded district amine is now imminent as nearly all sources of food have bisen destroyed or can not be reached The current is so strong that rescue I by boats is virtually impossible At least half of the population is homeless This means that probably 50000 persons are without their regular shelter WATER TWENTY EET DEEP DOWNTOWN The city is a river three miles wide The water from six to twenty feet deep extends a mile and a half each way from Main street the principal business thoroughfare The deepest water is in the business section Only remote suburbs escaped being covered by the seething flood Tliti crvKt WUH reai'lvd Mliorlly uflor midnight and lli waler in now falling hall' an inch an hour 'The flooded dlRlri'l rompriJM1! prac tipul circle with a radius of a mile and a half and in no plm in the water lens han six feet deep The worst of the flooded dlst ri'ts In cludes all of North and West Paylon all et the downtown sections Ihc South Side us far as thkwoorl and all of flic resi dence suhiirli Glendale district has a normal population of more than 560'tti MAY NOT BE EXAGGERATED Rescuers ami those a I the hospitals said an estimate of 5tH)u dead niighl he as aiciuale as an estimate of I10 While hose marooned in the oflh'es iiii iiHlM lire In no IriHii'ilinte ln iik o' of (liownliiK tli re is no way food or dilnk Ing alfi rem rreich IIhiii until the waler recedes i Those in tlm residences however are In constant danger both by flood and Are I'lrsL tin frailer buildings were swept Inlo the stream many showing the fams of wonif and children peering from the windows NO HOUSES ARE SAE These were followed by more subslan Lial brick buildings until it lioraim evi dent ha I no house in llm flood zone was sa fr The houses as a rule floated only a few blocks until disintegrated The Hood came soon after daylight yes terday morning after the residents had spent a night In terror The main levee the Big Mia mi broke At Webster street about o'clock An hour later the water uis through in a dozen daces und a wall yf waler ten feet deep swept through the main si reel just above the juncture of the Big Miami and the Mad River WATER WALL TWENTY EET HIGH Where the waler of Stillwater River poured into the Miami the flood reached its height and rolled 'inlo the business section a wall twenty feet high I The office of Hie Dayton News which Is owned by Governor Cox was soon uu i der twenty fee! of water The flood rose to the second floor of the Algonquin Hotel and all along Main street occupants wore driven to 11jp third floors Whil happened to them since no one on the outside ran tell MILITIA CHECK THIEVES House looting began early in the night and while the local militia is on duty it is Incapable of handling (hr situation Incidents without number are nar rated persons in the flood district wav ing handkerchiefs' and otherwise sig nalling for aid bring swept away before the eyes of the watchers on the margin uf Hu waters Many of Hie rescue boats were swept by the current against what hud been fire plugs trees and houses They werf crushed How many died In this way nu one knows Canoes and rowboats shared the same fate What life exists in the district (but tho flood covers Is in constant danger and helpless until the flood subsides St Hospital with 600 pa LATE OHIO BULLETINS DAYTON March 26 5 a The wind veered suddenly from south to north at 4 o'clock and fires that had been burning sprang up anew There are numerous unconfirmed re ports of men shooting their families and committing suicide when they saw escape from flood or fire impos sible COLUMBUS March 26 At the suggestion of Governor Cox a bill is to be4presented to the Legislature to day appropriating $250000 for relief of the flood sufferers of the state Governor Cox is sending out ap peals for aid to the Governors of Pennsylvania West Virginia Michi gan Indiana and Kentucky Tents and provisions are greatly needed HAMILTON March 26 5 a The Champion Coated Paper Company plant a $2000000 concern took fire early this morning and is at the mercy of flames CINCINNATI March The mayor of Middletown has appealed for assistance He estimated the total dead there at fifty XENIA March 26 Refugees from Dayton who arrived in this city early this morning report that between 500 and 1000 persons were drowned there They say the town of Miamisburg twelve miles below Dayton has been washed away Miamisburg has about 4000 inhabitants Mouls js report od to have been washed away The building was known io bo In many feel of waler Gloom reigns supreme Tlie Algonquin Hotel is surrounded in waler up Its third story and above this level in the downtown district oflieo buildings hotels and business houses arc places of refuge SCHOOL WITH 400 GONE A school building that was known to have homsed IUU school child vet) sbmtlv before tho water rushed in that diroetion is submerged and ns far as can be ascet tained all of the children perished AMINE IS IMMINENT The elect vie light plants were put mit of business emly In the da and lotal darkness rnnplpd will) a turronlal down pour added to the hot ors of the night also became mi inmu fliale pos sibility AH of the supply and gry' 'ery houses yi'f in the submerged district and CONTINUED ON PAGE 4 COLUMN 4.