Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, March 28, 1913, Image 1

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. I , . . - / frttrtmJ 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.) $ 1 (/. <S U .11 micH V- “^FREMONT- H 5 yTlFFIW -50 ?j»AKRW PERM JcC iso ceuj/A slpNB y^ 0 f * ,10** spvvEnc j z v - £(. 0 iDEL/VWARr *noblesv > , PS Tim«ANoe4S > 1U-E / . TlPPtCAN UNDlAMAPOLttf 9* '"sgvzr pi TOW*' too IOO S > jmwBime 5LUMBUS L ICKXJ V) t HULf ARIETTA MO sp 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.) / 4 kb.