The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1882-06-21
POgue's Run 0Yeril0ws Its Banks and
Sweeps Everything Before 1t.
A Bridge Gives Away, Precipitating
Thirty Human Beings Into the
Raging Torrent.
Fifteen of Whom Sink Beneath
the Muddy Waves, Never
to Rise Again.
Five Bodies Recovered and Diligent
Search Being Made for Others.
[Frnm Daily sentinel of the 18th

From Daily Sentinel of the 15th.l
1t is the painful duty of the Sentinel this morn
iDgtolay before its readers one of the most terri
BILE calamities that has ever befalen the city, one
ia which it is doubtful II twenty souls have not
been hurled into the great eternity; one in
which many happy homes have been made
mournful and one which has swept away
thousands upon thousands of dollars worth
of property Not since the fail of 1866 has the city
of indianapolis known how terribly destructive
are the rsvages of a flood. Then much property
was swept away, but not single PERSONS life was
lost The rain OF Tuesday afternoon continued
throughout the night, and at midnight It seemed
to gain new strength, and the water fell. as
it were, in sheets. Shortly after O'Clock
yesterday morning huge black cloud was seen
in the northwestern heavens, which swooped
down upon the city with terrible rapidity. The
wind blew, the lightning flashed, the thunder
rolled and the rain fell, if such possible
faster than at any time during the night. The
cutters which were already greatly swollen, now
could not carry the water or
and the streets were soon turned
into miniature lakes. Foot bridges and every
moyaole article on the streets were swept away
At day break the scene il the northeastern portion
of the city was simply
TERRIBLE TO LOOK AT.
Pogue's Run, which was already evens with its
banks. had overlooked, and that portion of the
city lying between the PERU Railroad and Home
avenue was under three feet of water, while the
frightened Inhabitants were padding about in
every conceivable description OF water crafts,
trying 10 save their household goods. New York,
Ohio, Market, Washington ana Noble streets wer
flooded, and many families residing on these
streets, who were awakend by the noise of
the flood, were compelled to flee to higher
ground, leaving their household goods to
bridge over the run Just east Of Ohio street
was the first object to show signs Of weak
ness, and several heavy freight cars were soon
upon the structure and held IL firmly In position;
Then the fence around Cobb < BTanhams coal
yard on East ohio street gave away and
was swept down stream. By this
time the water was into the mill and lumber
yard of William B. Dickson & Co., and pile upon
pile of lumber was carried away. As the stream
ton street bridge began 20 diminish and in snort
time the lumber had entirely closed uD this out.
into the middle OF the streets, carrying destruc-
ton with ii. The Union tracks from
the Washington street crossing to the
Virginia avenue crossing We're under
water. and all that portion of the city between
Georgia street and the run was flooded. The
bridges across the run AT the different streets. and
which In dry weather are none too safe were at an
early hour yesterday morning in tottering con-
dition, and in several instances gave away. About
confusion; the news OF the terrible flood had
marched up town, and by O'Clock
thousands OF persons had congregated along the
run between Delaware and Meridian streets. Just
east OF the depot on the south side of the run is
an old frame building, which belongs to the
Union Railway Company. but which is occupied
storage purposes. There is door ON the north
side of the building opening out on the run,
The run opposite this door was spanned by
bridge about twenty feet wide, upon which goods
are removed from cars into the house. Upon this
FRAIL STRUCTURE
seekers, who were anxious TO get glimpse of the
turbulent waters in their course TO the river
shorty DeIore CLOCK superintendent Whit
fearing ii would not bear the weight, warned
those upon 1t 10 get off, that he thought 1t dan
sgerous for them to be there. There were few
who accepted his timely warning, but the ma
ZION to him At O'Clock William Jackson.
who was looking after the property of the Com,
pany, passed by the building and noticed the
warned them OF the great risk they were running
in standing upon it. AS was the warning of Mr.
Whitcomb treated, so was that of MrJaekson. and
numbers Of others crowded upon the rickety old
paSs0geWay across the waters. IL is estimated that
at this time not less than thirty i've people. men,
women and children, were on this platform or
bridge, who were in high spirits, Watching the
muddy stream below, which was rushing by at
themselves or their dangerous SURROUNDINGS lust
twenty minutes after O'Clock the structure
gave way with terrible crush, sending all upon IL
INTO THE sURGING WATERS.
Then ensued scene that beggars description.
The screams OF the women, the cries of the chill
dren and the pitiful moaning of those in the
waters were terrible TO hear. Wien the structure
gave away those on the bank seemed be awe
stricken; Tor moment they stood like statues,
not moving hand or foot, but as soon as the ter
rible situation was realized there was break for
the Meridian street bridge, while one brave fellow
named Cyrus Bartlett, threw OF his coat and
LEAPED INTO THE STREAM,
and in the twinkle OF an eye had rescued two
young women from watery graves Others who
mad arrived at the Meridian street bridge were
able TO drag from the muddy water several Others
and in less than five minutes not less than fifteen
persons had been rescued from the remOrseleSs
stream. At the McNabb street bridge dozen or
fifteen men had stationed themselves to await the
coming OF those unfortunates who had had
strength enough to keep their heads above the
water during the passage under the bridge.
There we're several who came from under MoNabb
street, and these were eagerly grabbed by their
clothing and pulled TO the banks, but the rescu-
ing party at this point was not nesr large enough
and with cries OF horror they saw
FIVE wRETcHED BEINGS,
two ladies and three men, sweep BIZ them and dis
appear under the south street bridge |
never to appear again above the waters alive. |
and IL was with much difficulty that several OF |
+ hem were brought back 10 life. Two of the |
entlemen who were al the South street bridge |
ssert most positively that they saw four women |
swept under the upper end OF the bridge, and /
that they did not come out at tie south side Of !
the bridge, andare confident they sank under the |
bridge.
THOSE RESCUED.
It is certainly known that the following persons
were rescEed:
Mrs. L. g.. Hook Canton, o,
Miss Mamie Balser, Canton, o.
James Conlin, city
Stanton GribJe, city.
Frank Oakley, city.
Patrick Daugherty, city.
Annie Sensenbrenner, city.
Ruth HendTickson, city.
Florence Lynn, city.
Henry SendO, city.
John Eakers, who keeps store at No. Z Madison |
avenue. and his brother Frank. went down with |
the bridge. but were rescued at the McNabb street
bridge.
WHAT THE RESCUED SAY.
The two frst-ramed ladies were on their way |
from Canton. o., to Hot Springs, Ark. Mrs. /
Hook, in short talk with Sentinel scribe yes
terday, gave slight sketch of her terrible ride /
from the bridge to the South street bridge where