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

in their share of water and the suffering at
the lower portions of the First ward is said
to be very great.
SCENES IN RAT ROW.
Imagine fifteen persons in one room, the
floor covered with dirt and filth of all kinds;
little stove in one corner, smoking and
smoldering. Around it four or five bare
footed, dirty, ragged children, some crying
for food, others so benum'Ied with cold as to
be seemingly past all care Tor what goes on
around them. In another corner sits pale,
plnched-faced woman, her hair hanging drag
gled about her head, and sorrow and suffer
ing depicted i'll her countenance. In her
arms she holds puny, sickly-looking child,
which she is sucking. Another woman
stands staring vacantly out of the window,
She is the picture of poverty in everything
about her. On the floor lies a man,
snoring loudly, sleeping off the
effects of his last drunk. instead of beng
out in search of something to relieve the
hunger of his starving family. This is the
picture which met the gaze of the reporter as
he visited many places, only varied by
greater or less deprivation. These persons
said they had had but one meal in twenty
four hours, and that was not enough to sat
isfy all of them.
At night the scene about these quarters is
indeed a sad one. Passing along in boat
all is as still as death save the kissing of the
water as it PUSHES by and eddies and whirls
around the corners of the buildings, and the
occasional wall of some forlorn child crying
for the relief that does not come. Here and
there can be seen the twinkling lights of the
patrolmen as they go over their beats in
Skiffs. Then breaking the stiffness comes
the call OF some man to another, the sound
of patrolman's horn, and all is again STILL
. .. 4.
than ever, shutting in to itself the misery
and desolation of Rat Row.
THE CITY IN DARKNESS.
The lack OF gaslights, as matter of
course, enveloped the city in cloud of dark
ness; so to speak, last night Up to midnight
the central portion of the city was brightly
illuminated by the electric lights before the
different hotels and stores, but after that
hour it presented gloomy and forsaken APP
pearance. Few pedestrians were found on
the streets, and every dark passageway was
eyed askance until passed. The gentle sex
evidently remainedin the house, as but a
small number made their appearance. Even
the hotels were deserted, and the cracking of
billiard and pool balls, so well known to the
ear ola Cincinnatan, was unheard. There was
certainly danger in being on the streets alone
at late hour, and every one seemed to APP
preciate it. The reporters in their wander
ings, were suspicious of even shadows, and
carefully CROPPED their way in the darkness.
The policemen and the guards reported I'M
usual quietness. In the neighborhood OF the
river everything was pitchy darkness. A
hand could not be seen a few inches before the
face. Almost the stiffness of death prevailed;
only the swishng smashing of the water and
the crash of timber against a house as it
was swept down the river could be heard.
At times the plash of oars and the cracking
of the row locks of patrol boat breaks the
stiffness. Under such conditions, when there
is no excitement, to attract attention. one
can realize the enormity of the damage done
by the swollen river.
A GANG OF PIRATES
"Do you know l was kept in my room over
two hours this morning before L could get
anybody to row me out of the wet" SAID one
of the drivers of Dan Stones coal wagons to
a reporter at the Third-Street station house
yesterday afternoon. That's fact There
were lots OF skifs and boats about but they
were filled with class who didn't seem to
care cuss for the poor people. They were
rowing around, Paaring into ennpty houses
and looking for good places to make raid.
Why there is gang of pirates down there
watching every opportunity to steal and
taking advantage of it too. Talk about rob-
bers! The man who rowed me out charged
me 81 for doing it. and 81 is a pretty steep
sum for poor man to pay out when every
thing he's got in the world is under water.
But there's some people in this world who
don't know what charity means"
A MAN OF PLUCK.
1t was sight worth going some distance
to witness the trains come in on the Little
Miami railroad and plow through the water
in front of the water-works. 1t was hardly
enjoyable to the switchman, however, who
stood up to his middle in the water, and,
when he was required to change the switch,
was compelled to reach under the water for
the ground-leYer until only his back was
visible. The verdict of the lookers-on was
that he earned all the money he got for tie
job.
NOTES.
The First Ohio revenue district received
only $3.50 on Monday, from stamps for
liquor. the average amount being s25, 900.
The upper stories of the headquarters of
the Newport Barracks were only visible on
Monday afternoon. This was never known
to be the case during former floods.
A rural gentleman, with his ''gripsack'' in
hand, inquiring for the Plum-street depot,
was the cause of considerable merriment.
He found the depot but failed to catch the
train.
Newport KY, note in Enquirer: BOOSTERS
are perched on a number of houses and
fences, and every time they crowed Ohio
visitors would say: Listen to that rebel
yell! They don't give up even in the hour
of distress and desolation:"
When Gerke & Lippleman came to the con-
clusion, and it was at very late hour, that
something must be done to save their stock,
skiffS and dugoutS were in demand. They
were hired at from So to 81 an hour, and in
one instance $50 was offered for a skiff which
in ordinary times would not have brought
$40. Even this price was refused, and the
two men who occupied it went of on sal
wage securing expedition.
The men who could mustera small amount
of capital, and who had nerve enough to go
into business on their own hook, reaped
small fortune on Monday, in going about the