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

being kindled and the screams which re-
sounded from all Sides A Courier-J ournal
reporter arrived on the scene about an hour
after the breaking of the dam, aud v hen the
confusion was at its height.
REsCUING SURVIVORS.
The screams seemed to come from a hun
dred places at one time, and as many lights
could be seen moving rapidly around, mark
ing the course of the houses About 100
people had already been rescued, and each
fire was surrounded by half a dozen men,
women and children, most of them being
scantily clad and drenched with water.
Nearly as fast as they were rescued the men
on shore conducted them up to the dry
ground and from thence they were removed
to No. 10 engine-house and to Clay-street
station, where they were left until some
place could be provided for them. The de-
struction seemed to be complete, and the
boatmen stated that in the whole dis
tance from Jackson street to the bro
ken dam there was not a
house left standing. The reporter
stepped into one Of the boats. manned by
volunteer ife-savlng crew, and was soon
pushed ont in the direction of light mark
ing floating house, from which the screams
OF woman were issuing The journey out
was dangerous one as at every stroke OF the
oar the boat was driven against some piece of
floating timber or other obstacle. The house
proved to be that of Mr.. Joseph Gadient, and
had been moved nearly a hundred yards
from its foundation and was floating around.
light was seen on the roof, and, pulling the
boat close to the side, the whole family COM
posed of himself and wife and five children,
were found clinging to the shingles and
nearly exhausted. They were at once taken
into the boat and pushed in to shore. Every
article OF furniture had been destroyed,
the family scarcely saving enough to
clothe them. When this load was safely
landed the boat pushed out again, this time
going considerable distance up stream, and
nearly over to the river proper. Not light
could be seen, but numerous screams could
be heard issuing from the darkness. Pushing
the boat in the direction of the spot from
which a woman's voice could be heard, to the
astonishment of all the bow almost struck
against the limbs of a tall tree, and cinging
in the branches were negro named Henry
Reed, his wife and two children He stated
that the family were all in bed, and knew
nothing OF what had occurred until the water
struck the side of the house with terrible
force, sweeping it from its foundation almost
instantly. He managed to catch his children
up in his arms and made his way onto the
roof OF the house, where they remained until
it lodged in the branches of the tree and be-
gan to sink, when they cTawled off, and were
found as described.
SEEKING SAFETY IN TREES.
Six men were found clinging in trees at
the upper end OF the valley, and number OF
women were caught on floating timbers. One
old woman named Gatman was found sitting
on the roof of her house, bare footed and
bare-headed holding in her arms, hugged
close to her breast a slick-looking, well-fed
pig. Her husband was pulled up out of the
pt n holo in Of half f1,.ax
When they landed they nearly fpo1e before
they could be removed to the engine-house,
and their bare feet were cut by the frozen
ground, leaving bloody marks,
Henry Narble, who did noble work i'll
saving lives, had very narrow escape
the rescue CT woman who was
fastened in the second story of her
house, which was floating and filled with
water. There was no way in which to get
her out, except by cutting through the roof,
which he proceeded to do While he was
hammering away with his ak the building
turned beneath his feet, dashing him under
the water where he was held by portion of
the roof One of his companions plunged
in, and after bard struggle pulled him out
alive.
As matters remained at . clock this morn
ing, there is no possible way of estimating
the loss of life with any degree of accuracy,
but it is supposed that at least thirty met
their fate. Nearly 200 were missing, but the
greater portion of them are on the tops OF
their houses, and are being rescued every
moment 1t was impossible 10 get any cew
as to who were saved and who were not,
on account of the great confusion. Even
the watchmen could not learn whose
houses they had visited as none of them re-
mained on the original sites In many in
stances half of a family would be rescued by
one boat and the remainder by another,
which would land at different place. and
thuse get them separated. Mothers were
running up and down the railroad fill look
ing for their children, who, in majority of
instances were safely on their way to shell
ter.
TOM MARsH's STORY.
Tom Marsh, Woodworking man, sat by
the stove drying himself, and clad in attire
that showed how hurriedly he had made away
from the flood.
Il live on Lloyd street, he said, "but
1 don't think you could find any
such place now with a lantern. We
had no idea the flood would reach us,
and suddenly, about Ills o'clock, it broke
loose with force chat made us fly with what
we could pick up. I've lost everything My
house was upset, and | guess by this time it
has sailed past the bridge L got my wife
and children out and they are safe with
some kind people down the street here. Mine
was the first house to go, and all those on the
other side of the street from the block in
which live went also, besides the houses on
my side"
How many in all were swept away?' the
reporter asked.
About fifteen so far as / could recon. No
one was drowned I'm quite sure, though
many were struggling with the waters until
rescued. The houses that were swept away
carried with them all their contents, and the
inhabitants of them lost everything except
what they were able to carry away"
WORK OF THE LIFE-sAvING CREW.
Louisville Commercial.
Two Commercial reporters were on hand
with the life.savers and the ouartatte ynre