The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1874-08-04

about one hundred and fifty yards from
/ base 10 base. On either side of the stream
I are built dwellings, which were all occupied
/ ut the ime OF the catastrophe 10y the repre-
/ sentativeS of the poorer classes OF Germans
| \ sheet of the destructive element about
three feet i'm depth made its way down the
valley, bursting open the doors and win
dows of all the houses before il. The rain
falling in torrents, and the water rolling
down from the hill-tops, acted feeders
and in about ten minuts after the first Wis
itation of the aqueous element along O Hara
street and Center avenue, il had reached in
most places depth varying from fifteen to
nineteen feet. Many lives were saved by
speedy removal from the lower rooms
OF their dwellings 10 the upper parts
of the building. Amid such devastation
IL seems almost miracle that hundreds Of
Others did not fall vie inns To the angry wa
tiers. All along the line Of destruction moth
ing Is OBSERVABLE but masses OF collected
debris, horses. wagons, stables, par of
dwellings, houses overturned, all of which
form confus- mass of understandable mat
ter, and but a faint conception OF which can
he conveyed on paper. 2he number ofhair-
/ breadth escapes increases as we have
been able 10 learn the facts con-
necled with the awful affair. In
many ms anccs whole families persisted.
while in others. one or two are left from
large households, 10 tell the tale OF their de-
liverence. At every step il seems that the
angry waters only grew more furious and
We're dissa isfi d with their number of Vic
Tins, and seIZed the opportunity 10 carry
scores into eternity. Among those who had
| the fortune to escape, our reporter gained an
interview with only few, who related the
sad story OF their misfortunes.
RIDING IN THE CURRENT or A ROOF.
In one instance family 10y the name of
Giperick came down the current on the root
of frame house screaming for help, but no
one could lend a helping hand, as it seemed
every one had all they could do to save their
own lives. The building, with its precious
freight, moved on until it reached O'Hara
street, when the skiff Baby Annie" III
the hands of the 'DuqueSne boat cub.
| went TO the rescue, and Succes ded
i'm saving Mr.. Giperick. his wife and
child, ;pn infant nine days old. There WAS
also stn of the above named man. is wears
| of age who climbed over the moving mass 10
q brick building standing on the corner OF
Center street and Spring Garden avenue,
| upon the rOOfOf which he was compelled To
remain all night. His situation was terri
BILE, but he chung 10 life with an iron
grasp and succeeded i'm saving himself
| a widow lady hv the name of Fogie lived i'm
a small brick building, and hearing the
coming flood, ran TO Third street. She had
succeeded i'm saving three Of her children
and returned for the fourth child which she
took in her arms, and was about 10 carry il
away, when by The timely assistance of q
man, she was rescued from terrible deaf b.
In this we have an example Of moi herly
love. for this woman endangered her own
lite to save her remaining child, and
barely escaped a watery grave. ON
this same street. another widow resided
by the name of Clock, who had an only
daughter living with her. Her dwelling
in of I ha f.Arfrr
portions Of the whole line. While the water
was raging and the aqueous clement had
reached a depth of four feet. Curry Virgins. "A
young man, made his way TO the entrance OF
the dwelling and took the widow in his arms
and waded through the flood landing her
safely on high ground. He then returned and
seized the daughter and bore her safely to
the same spot. This was noble act, and for
such conduct he, no doubt. has the thanks
Ofthese parties. Yesterday morning num-
Der of live persons were found in the over
turned houses. One of the most remark able
ESCAPES which we have TO chronicle Is given
by Peter Shafer. On going TO a baildina
lodged near O'Hara street little child was
rescued from the roof and seemed reioiced
al It's deliverance. This same party relate.
one of the most
HEARTRENDING INCIDENTS
which can be conceived. \ woman, whose
name he could not give, was found in the
second story of her dwelling, fastened in
the debris with which she vas surrounded
with her babe in her arms. Both she and
her babe were in the arms of death. but just
above her. and resting on her body. was
another little child, which was also fastened
but which had managed TO keep his head
, above the water, and it was taken out alive
This was certainly one of the most remsrka.
, BILE occurrences OF the whole disaster IN this
l same house. the husband OF the unfortunat,
wife was drowned also. A house came dowl
! the valley, lodging below Concord street, il
; q half turned situation, in which we're founC
an old man. his wife and two children whs
were saved, being taken from the buildin.
7 at AN early hour yesterday morning. An
other of the sad events which occurred wa
/ that of lady who. with nine children, wa
3 taken from building lodged on Churcl
r alley. 1t seems that in this case the entir
: family were forced to succumb 10 TIN
! lsweeping current. ON O'Hara street
3 brick house owned by Mr.. Fox was occupied
! ! by himself and family and an unmarried
brother. 1t so happened that the building
? was in the direct course ofthe moving mass
: and it was capsized, emptying the bodies in
to the Hood, each to meet an unex peeteS
, death. There are various reports in regarC
| to the number of lives lost here. but il is be
lieved that the two Foxes, With the wife snS
child of the married brother, which consti
1-tuted the whole family. persisted. At leas
none of them have been seen since the disas
Ter. Next door to this house, Jacob Meter
and family resided, and they, too. were car
riesi away. In this row of buildings Alder
man Bolster lost little boy, Ave yesrs O
age.
BURYING THE DEAD.
THE INTERVIEWS OF THE DEAD-THE Nun
p
CAUSES OF THE SUDDEN FLOOD.