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VOLUME XII.
ATLANTA, GA, FRIDAY, MARCH 28, 1913.
NO. 54.
NEW FLOOD HURLS ITSELF AGAINST INDIANA;
DEATH LIST IS JUMPING BY THE THOUSANDS
Largest Reservoir In
World Hurls Big Flood
Against Fort Wayne
1
Giant Reservoir at Celina, Ohio, Gives Way Sending Vol
ume of Water Into Indiana and Endangering Life and
Property in Fort Wayne, Peru, Decatur and All Along
the Wabash and St, Mary's Rivers - Many Devastated
Towns Will Now Suffer Greater Damage
TOWNS WILL >BE WIPED
OFF FACE OF THE MAP
COMPLETE MAP OF DEVASTATED TERRITORY
Latest Advices From Isolated Town of Piqua, Ohio, State
That the Whole Outlying Sections of-the Town Have Been
Washed Away and That the Death List Will Exceed Five
Hundred-Eastern Ohio Is Flood Bound by the Overflow of
Three Rivers
(By Associated Press.i
SOUTH BEND. Ind., March 27.—The Central Union Telephone com
pany at 11:30 o’clock today succeeded in getting confirmation here
of the breaking of the Celina reservoir. The Celina informant told
the local officers that the break came on the St. Mary's side and that
the water was sweeping towards Indiana with terrific force.
The first town in the path of the flood, according to the informa
tion given the telephone company .here, is Decatur, Ind.
For Wayne and Peru, as well as other flood-stricken cities in the
Wabash river valley will now face danger from a still more extensive
flood:
A report received here said that the water at Fort Wayne had
already risen four feet siiice 7 o’clock this morning. A relief train
was made up here and an attempt will be made to succor the citizens
at Fort Wayne.
S00 LIVES ARE GIVEN UP AT PIQUA;
ALL OUTSKIRTS OF CITY SWEP AWAY
(By Associated Press.)
COLUMBUS, March 28.—Five hundred were lost: at Piqua, accord
ing to- information received here at lA:30 by Senator Kiser, of Piqua.
His informant was J. Guy O’Donnell, prosecuting attorney of Miami
county. ,
The entire outside ot Piqua was swept away, according to Mr.
O'Donnell.
, Senator Kiser and Mrs. Kiser were in. Columbus before the flood,
and Attorney O’Donnell, in talking with him over the telephone today,
said his information was authentic.
Governor Cox is making an effort to get into communication with
Piqua.
75 ORPHANS MAROONED IN ORPHAN
ASYLUM OUT FROM FORT WAYNE
(By Associated Press.)
CHICAGO, March 27.—In response to a request from the mayor
of Fort Wayne, Ind., Captain Carlin and five men from the United
States life saving station in Chicago left here for the Indiana city today
with a power surf boat to rescue seventy-five children. The little
ones are marooned in an orphan asylum.
The Chicago association of commerce which yesterday pledged
$100,000, has already collected $55,000 of the amount. Several thou
sand blankets, suits of clothes and hundreds of tons of good canned
goods have been distributed by business firms.
RESERVOIR WATERS WILL INUNDATE
MANY SMALL TOWNS IN VALLEY
(By Associated Press.)
COLUMBUS, O., March 27.—Brigadier General Speaks received a
telephone message from Lima that the grand reservoir at St. Mary’s
had broken. He is making efforts to confirm the report. Telephone
communication between Lima and St. Mary’s failed this morning. Ow-
to the volume of water contained by the reservoir, if broken loose,
St. Mary’s, Rockford and other towns would be hit hard and the flood
would hop through Decatur and the Momanefe valley.
1,000 LIVES SNUFFED AS WATERS
CREEP OVER WESTERN COLUMBUS
(By Associated Press:)
COLUMBUS, O., March 27.—Between 600 and 1,000 persons lost
their lives in the flooded west side of Columbus, according to repre
sentatives of the Columbus Dispatch, who have just gotten into com
munication with the newspaper office from the previously isolated sec
tion of the city.
This same estimate is given by persons in charge of the relief sta
tions on the hill top west of the flooded sections.
Discoveries made this morning among the stricken populace, they
say, are appalling.
• According to those who invaded the stricken district, the big state
institutions and store rooms in the hill top section are crowded with
refugees, many of whom were rescued from the murky waters and who
tell stories of indescribable horrors.
. Former Mayor George S. Marshall, who was in telephone com
munication with Attorney Cecil Randall, his law partner, said today
that Mr. Randall said the death toll would reach at least 1,000.
Throngs of excited groups of people from the flood-stricken sec
tion of the city who were crowded into the temporary rescue quarters
asserted that the estimate of Mr. Randall is not exaggerated.
The true extent of the awful tragedy will not be known for days
until the mass of wreckage, houses and uprooted trees, which are
strewn over the low lands south of the city are uncovered. This mass
of debris is under several feet of water with swift currents running
in many directions. Many of those rescued tell of escaping from their
homes by the fractions of minutes just bfeore the rushing waters swept
their homes away and crushed them like egg shells against bridges.
Scores of entire families, these people assert, were swept down with
their houses in the swift currente.
Evsry available inch of space in the Columbus state hospital for
the insane and Mount Carmel hospital on the hill top is occupied by
refugees, according to thos who invaded the stricken district today.
Four children are reported to have been born in a school on a
hill top.
Fire Chief Lauer who was marooned on the hill top, just beyond
the flooded section, reaching that point of safety in his automobile just
before the waters swept the low lands, said he saw scores of people
standing on their porches as the water swept down and that he cannot
see how scarcely any escaped.
Property Damage Will Run
Way Beyond $100,000,000
(By Associated Press.)
COLUMBUS. Ohio. March 27—With
Ohio rivers and streams subsiding- to
day the state is emerging: from the
greatest flood it has ever known.
The loss of life has been heavy, so
heavy that the full extent will not be
known until the waters have receded.
(Continued on Page 6.)
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Map shows the main cities and towns, with number of dead at each, the flooded rivers,, broken reservoirs, and
threatened cities.
GEORGIA 15 SWEPT
Wind and Hail Cause Heavy
Damage in Northern Por
tion-Torrential Rain Falls at
Americus
Hail, wind and rain, which swept
over northwest Georgia and northeast
Alabama, between midnight and day
light Thursday, caused wild rumors of
serious damage and loss of life at
Dalton, Rome, Cartersville and other
points in Georgia and Alabama. Rock-
mart was also reported to have been
swept away by cyclone.
There was no lose of life, however,
and the damage was confined princi
pally to a few outhouses and telephone
and telegraph wires.
At Dalton, hail, rain and wind, with
flurries of snow fell during the early
part of the morning, but there was
no damage in the city.
Hall five inches deep is reported in
Sugar Valley and Reeves, near Rome.
There -was no damage at Rome.
Several barns and buildings w^re
blown clown at Rockmart.
Gadsden, Ala. was swept by a wind
CARROLL COUNTY WILL
GET TALLULAH POWER
CARROLLTON, Ga., March 27.—The
people of Carrollton and Carroll county
are highly elated ©vfcr the transmis
sion line now being erected by the Geor
gia Railway" and JPower company. This
will give Carrollton, Whltesburg and all
intermediate points as well as the dif
ferent manufacturing enterprises the
same power as that afforded the cities
of the state. This power will be fur
nished at a moderate cost to all con
sumers and will be cheaper than steam
or other power now attainable in this
section.
This line is in direct connetcion with
the main transmission line from Tallu
lah Falls as well as the Gainesville
Bull Sluice and other water powers con
trolled by this company, thus afford
ing an absoultely reliable, efficient
source of electric energy.
storm and considerable damage was
done.
LaGrange and Cartersville also re
port heavy rains and wind.
The storm at LaGrange caused many
persons to lea\'e their beds, believing
that the city was being flooded. This
city, was visited by two rain storms
during the night.
People in Gordon county hurried into
storm pits, fearing a cyclone.
The deluge was felt as far south
as Americus, where a furious gale is
reported to have caused considerable
damage to crops. Frightened people,
who had retired for the night, dressed
and prepared to leave their homes.
President Has Determined to
Hasten to the Flooded Dis
trict if His Presence There
Can Relieve Any Sufferers
(By Associated Press.)
WASHINGTON, March 27.—President
Wilson h£*.s determined to go to the
Ohio flood district if his presence there
can do any good.
It was announced at the White House
today that the president would await
word from Secretary Garrison after he
arrives in the flood district and decide
then if he will join the aid party.
RED CROSS FORCES BUSY.
Meanwhile, the Red Cross is urging
cities near the submerged area to sup
ply food and clothing and bedding, the
first necessities of the suffering thou
sands. The organization is holding the
majority of its workers throughout Ohio
and Indiana under marching orders, but
fears to assemble them all at Colum-
( Continued on Page Six, Col. 1,)
Thursday's Flood Situation at a Glance
The greatest loss of life in any flood disaster in the nation’s history is threat
ened and will probably result from the breaking of the great reservoir at Celina,
Ohio, the greatest water reservoir in the world.
Following immediately the Celina reservoir break, the large reservoir at Lew
iston, Ohio, let go and rushed down the Miami river adding deaths by the hun
dreds to the already appalling long list.
The breaking of these two giant water containers turns billions of gallons of
water down against helpless towns and villages and flight with all possible speed
cannot save many from being overtaken by the mad torrents.
Predictions are that the death list will mount into the thousands and prob
ably into tens of thousands. Besides the new towns overwhelmed by the latest
floods,, the waters are rushing against the demolished cities of the first flood where
hundreds of thousands have taken l'cfuge in the buildings which are being under
mined by the water currents and burned by raging flames above the water lines.
The menace of fire continues this morning’ in the flooded district of Ohio. Dav-
ton is still burning and appeals have been sent out for dvnamite to blow up build
ings in the path of the flames. .
A blizzard is reported from parts of the inundated area. Cold weather and
snow hamper the work of rescue and relief.
Relief measures are being perfected in many cities. Carloads of provisions,
clothing and other supplies are readv for transportation as fast as trains cau he
moved.
The Ohio national guardsmen also are ready to move to Dayton as soon as
.thev can enter the citv. .
At Zanesville the flood conditions ar e growing ■ worse everv minute. No fire
has been reported from that citv.
The Ohio river is rising, the danger stage at Cincinnati has been reached.
Western Pennsvlvania is facing a grave situation. Sharon and New Castle
report fifteen feet of water.
At Indianapolis. Ind.. the Vandalia railroad bridge over the "White river
went down this morning with a crash, carving with it ten cars put there to hold
it in place.
Four thousand homeless and light and telephone facilities are paralvzed at
Terre Haute, Ind.
Reservoir between St. Mary’s and Celina, Ohio, breaks and water is rushing
north.
10,000 MAY BE DEAD IN
DAYTON, O., SECRETARY
INFORMS GOVERNOR COX
“If the Death List Is Only 1,000 It Will Be Marvelous Dis
pensation, if It Is 10,000 I Will Not Be Surprised,” Wires
George F, Burba-The Real Suffering Is Yet to Come-Wa-
ters Recede, Fires Are Quenched but 70,000 Are Homeless
With Less Than One Day’s Ration Left
WATER FROM RESERVOIR
RUSHES ON RUINED CITY
In Dayton There Is No Drinking Water, No Light, No Food
and the Bodies of Thousands of Horses Are Decomposing
in the Muddy Streets While It Will Be Impossible to Even
Care for the Bodies of the Humans-AII Attention Is Turned
to Uptown Section While Thousands Are Dead on the
North Side
(By Associated Press.)
DAYTON, O., March 27.—Further danger from flood was passing
today but the apprehension of great loss of life from famine, exposure
and sickness was growing hourly. The flood waters receded three feel
during the night and it was expected that before darkness most ol
those maronsed in the downtown district would be liberated. Four
motor boats which arrived from Cincinnati this morning were takeD
to the water’s edge and an effort made to extend immediate relief to
the most urgnt cases found.
Although there are constant rumors of great numbers of deaths
from fires and floods In far parts of the city the fact remains that up
to the present there can be no actual knowledge nor intelligent esti
mate of the extent of mortalities.
George F. Burba, representing Governor Cox, today telegraphed
the governor urging that special emphasis be gives the great need ol
immediate supplis of provisions.
THERE IS NOT A FULL DAY’S FOOD
SUPPLY LEFT WITHIN THE CITY
There is not a full day’s fodd supply in the city and before night
it is likely "that 1,000 persons who have been held downtown without
food or water since Tuesday will be released and there will be no pro
visions for them for places to care for them.
“If the death list is only 1,000 I will consider it marvelous dis
pensation,” telegraphed Mr. Burba to Governor Cox. “If it is 10,000
I will not be surprised.”
“Horrible as this Is,” he said, 1‘the real suffering will grow worse
for days. There are 70,000 homeless. The refugees are being fed
from hand to mouth with less than a day’s food supplies ahead ot
them. There is no water and there is no light. Probably within a
day there will be bodies of thousands of horses decomposing in the
muddy streets and It will be impossible eves to care for the bodies of
the humans.”
THOUSANDS ARE DEAD AND DYING
AMONG FOREIGNERS ON NORTH SIDE
The crowded north side of the river, where it is feared there may
he thousands of foreigners dead and dying is still far beyond reach.
No one speaks of it, the immediate needs of the known survivors call
ing for every attention. If the downtown section is relieved by night
it may permit the city authorities to get together with the militia and
the relief committees and make some organized attempt to give aid
to the north side tomorrow.
Except for a solitary branch of the Dayton, Lebanon and Cin
cinnati, the railroad over which a single train can creep cautiously at a
time, railroad communication has not been restored. It takes 12 hours
for a train to come up over this line from Cincinnati, a distance of
a little over fifty miles.
Mayor Hunt, of Cincinnati, has been urged to see that a trals
load of supplies be kept constantly on the move on this road.
An effort Is being made here to Induce all who are able and who
Mayor Hunt, of Cincinnati, has bees urged to see that a train
service will permit.
Needless suffering was caused by the announcement today of the
breaking of the reservoir when men rushed through the uptown streets .
shouting: “Flee for your lives; the, reservoir has broken!”
Families living outside the danger zone gathered their babies and
belongings in their arms and fled for the cash register office, crush
ing into that already overcrowded structure.
The reservoir contains 17,000 acres of water space and it was
pointed out that the flod district is estimated at several million acres
so the worst possible effect of its breaking would be to retard the
work of rescue and could not cause a rise of more than one foot. The
waters already are seven feet lower than the high water of Mnday
night.
An effort ,was made to drive some of the panic-stricken back to
their homes, but in the main they stood helpless on the streets.
The constant rain since Monday turned to snow in the night, but
the downfall ceased at daylight. The sun made its first appearance
of the week at 11 o’clock today. Today, however, was considerably
colder than the first days of the week.
First alarms of the breaking of the reservoir were spread by a
policeman who was posted on the edge of the flood district. There
were others quick to take up tlye cry and soon thousands crowded the
streets.
Many of them fled straight for the hills, but hundreds hurled
themselves past guards and Into the main office building of the cash
register company.
Not until John T. Patterson had addressed the frihtgened throng
was any semblance of order restored.
Mr. Patterson has been appointed military aide in the southeast
district of the city with full control under martial law.
Mr. Patterson at once ordered every available motor car and truck
to scour the farm houses south of the city and confiscate all available
food supplies.
While the farmers in this vicinity have contributed so heavily
their bins are believed to be nearly empty, It Is hoped to obtain enough
potatoes and vegetables to prevent starvation here.
A fearful fire that destroyed blocks of central Dayton last night
with a large loss of life was raging today until noon. ■
Hundreds of persons are known to have been driven to the top
floor of the structures by floods. Water in the streets there is ten
■to twenty feet deep. It is impossible to render any aid to the people
in that district as it is completely surrounded and boats cannot live in
the raging torrents.
People in other sections of the city watched the sight from across
the river and saw several persons frantically racing to and from.’ the
roofs. During the night a driving snow started and continued until
noon today.
BEG TO BE SAVED.
Two expert oarsmen took a boat into
parts of Third and Jefferson streets
yesterday and saw persons in every
building’, who pleaded with them to save
them. They did not traverse that por
tion believed to have been burned.
Word was received early today that
sixty motor boats with men to operate
them were coming from Cleveland and a
few from Cincinnati.
Unless conditions become worse it is
believed practically all- of the submerg
ed section can be explored today.
That conditions will improve is not
assured, however.
Reports today from the vicinity of
Lewiston were that the huge reservoir
there was expected to break any minute.
A high W'ind was blowing water over
the reservoir banks, the dams were
(Continued on Fags 6.)
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