The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1883-02-14

and are almost entirely without both food
and fire. and there is no prospect of immedi-
ate relief. The water is now two feet deep
in the highest part of the city, and the peo-
1 pie living in the lower portions, who took
refuge in the second stories of their
houses, have had to abandon them. The
| top of the lower levee is still a few inches
above water, and this is crowded with
/ people and household goods. Yesterday the
/ water forced the people from the second
stories, and Notwithstanding the number of
boats WHICH had been made, there were not
half as many as were actually needed. Many
persons were obliged to wait in the water
until assistance came to them. All of the
coal in the city is buried deep under water,
but there is some in boats out in the river
which is procured with great difficulty. If
they had ever so much fuel they have no
stoves in which to burn it, There are about
800 people in the courthouse, about 800 in
the wooden factory and 300 in other build
ings. Some of these are sick. many are help
less, and the able bodied are unable to do
anything to relieve them. There is plenty
of flour here, but no way to cook it. One
small bakery in Newtown is kept running
day and night to its fullest capacity, but it
does not furnish one-twenteth part of suf-
ticiency.
THE CRY FOR BREAD.
The people would be satisfied with bread
alone, and that is all they are asking for.
The writer told the owner OF John boat
| that he would give him 81 if he would row
him about the town for an hour, but the
owner OF the boat refused the offer. He said
that he would take him anywhere ne wished
to go if he would get him loaf of bread.
Everybody appears to have plenty of money,
but it is bread they want, and money won't
buy it. The people OF Petersburg, KY, sent
up lot of cooked provisions this morning,
and those of Rising Sun sent up 200 loaves
of bread, cooked meats etc. but with all
this there was not enough to go half around.
One of the principal lawyers here, in good
circumstances, having heard that some bread
had arrived, asked your reporter where it
was, saying that he was out, and that his fam
lily needed some very much, If this be the
condition of this class, one can well imagine
what that of the poorer classes must be.
Bread was ordered from Cincinnati
yesterday, but there have been no trains or
boats to bring it. This being the case tie
steamer Little Queen was chartered to-day
by the mayo r and dispatched to Cincinnati
for 1000 loaves Of bread. When the boat
reached Cincinnati. which was about 5
o'clock, it was impossible for a long time to
get to shore, butSuperintendent Mccullough,
OF the Mail Line, when he heard of the state
of affairs at Lawrenceburg, placed a yawl
and men at the disposal of the party.
If the water should begin to recede at once,
it would be several days before the people
could help themselves, and provisions from
Cincinnati, indianapolis and neighboring
towns should be sent at once. To add to the
trouble here, the Big Miami is running out
and there is astrong current running through
the streets, rendering many of the hastily
constructed boats useless, and frequently
overturning load of household goods, and
sometimes a family with it. Strange to
say, no deaths by drowning have yet been
reported.
Tn rowing about the town one can look in
the windows of deserted houses and see
pianos organs and furniture floating about
the rooms. Many of these instruments are
new, having been purchased since the flood
last February, The same general scene of
desolation meets the eye, no matter where
one goes Ia Germantown, which consists
mostly OF cottages, the houses are overturned
and floating about promiscuously.
Henry Fitch, the owner of the large saw
mill, is seriously sick, being unconscious
this evening, his illness having been brought
on by overwork and exposure in trying to
save his property. The damage to property
here will amount to $1,000 Trains No 9
and 10 fronI1t- Louis arrived, here Saturday
night, and are still here The passengers
were transferred by the steamer Minnie yes
terday
The old part of the town is entirely under
water the tops of many of the houses being
covered. The citizens had taken refuge in
the upper stories OF the puDllc buildings. Ihe
courthouse is filled with women and chill
dren and no possible chance for their escape.
The Methodist church. that stands upon dry
ground, has been turned into temporary
asylum for The relief of the unfortunate
The suffering is great, and unless the water
runs down soon the suffering must increase,
if not death. Nothing but water can be seen
as far as the eye can reach; but one little
spot of dry ground can be seen in any direc-
tion-a small embankment on the railroad.
The destruction of property at this place is
appalling,