The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1883-02-17

tween the branches OF q tall elm, and every
where this state of affairs obtains AS the
river rose and it became more and more evil
dent that the waters would not soon sub
side, the people fled for safety to the hills
and higher grounds. Four hundred and
fifty persons took refuge in the courthouse,
eventually being driven to the third story
where most of them still remain, dependent
upon the charity of their more fortunate
brethren elsewhere for food and supplies
Few of them escaped with anything save the
clothes on their backs.
In all the confusion and amid all the
misery and distress, two babies were born,
their births being brought on prematurely
by the exposure to which their mothers
were subjected. Another was born under
similar circumstances at the engine-house,
still another in a lawyers office in second
story, and three others in different quarters
of the town.
APPALLING DEsTITUTIoN.
The extent of the suffering among the
working class is appalling especially as in
almost every instance they have lost every
thing they possessed, and will be out of en-
ployment for months to come. There are
800 heads of families deprived of their only
source of revenue in Lawrenceburg, and for
the time being they are absolutely depend
ent upon charity for the necessaries of life.
1t will be a week, at least until they are able
to move back to their homes-that is, those
among them whose homes remain standing.
Five thousand mouths are being fed daily by
the committees at distributing points. 1t is
almost impossible to communicate between
the old town and the new town, so strong
is the current that flows between
them Residents of the former are
supplied from the wharfboat with
provisions from down the river, and those of
the latter from the engine house with pro-
visions from indianapolis. Hundreds have
fled to Greendale, above the city, on the
hills and hundreds, less fortunate in finding
| quarters, have slept in box cars, or have
found no refuge at all. There are absolutely
no facilities for cooking and without the
friendly aid extended, starvation would have
added its terrors to those furnished by the
river; but the responses of indianapolis and
the towns in the interior have been as gener-
GUS as they have been timely and no one
need suffer from hunger so long as they CON
tinue to forward supplies as they have thus
far.
| A FUNERAL IN BOATS.
Jacob Griffith died yesterday, from ex-
haustion brought about by exposure
and old age. He was buried this
afternoon from the residence of
his son, on High street, the body being taken
out of the second-story window into boat,
and followed by mournful cortege to the
grave. 1t was novel and distressing sight,
this funeral on the water-one long to be re-
membered by those who witnessed it, 1t
was with difficulty that the fat-boat contain
ing the corpse could be taken across to the
new town, but the currents were avoided.
| Everything like ceremonies were necessarily
dispensed with. Mr. Griffith was eighty-six
| years old, and had been a resident OF Law
renceburg since 1878 He was the father of
Mrs. James Boyd and Mrs. John Kittlewell,
OF Indianapolis.
| EFFECT OF THE DISASTER.
The effect the disaster will have upon the
city it is not easy to fortell. As rule, the
citizens are commercially courageous and
manifest determination to begin at once
the work of repairing the damage to as great
an extent as possible. Some are dsheartened,
and announce their intention to quit forever,
at their earliest opportunity, the scene of the
destruction wrought to them.
Mayor Roberts, whose untiring efforts in
behalf of the sufferers have won for him the
gratitude of all, said to-day, when asked for
his opinion of the result to the city:
"Oh, we shall rebuild as soon as the water
disappears. Most of us have lived here for
years, and all we have is here. The people
are energetic and courageous, have lots of
pluck, and will make the best OF very bad
predicament Our loss is incacuable, but
we will pass it over as lightly as possible, re-
membering that others, too have suffered"
The following foundries and factories are
permanently disabled, and some of them are
washed away entirely and will probably not
resume: The Miami Valley foundry, An
dregg's wheel-works, Fitchs mills, Miami
Furniture Company, Ohio Valley Coffin Fac
tory Moore's -four mill, Snyder & Bakers
mills, Snyder & Bakers wagon-works
Walsh & Barns eooper-shops. Lawrence
burg Furniture Factory Rodenberg's distil-
lery, Oester's distlllery, Walsh's distillery,
McLain's chair factory, Moores cooper
shops. Not vestige of the marKet-house
remains.
Just a few days before Lawrenceburg was
visited by the great catastrophe from which
1 it is now suffering, its citizens contributed
over $500 to the sufferers by the foods in
Germany.
The wind has been blowing hard all day,
causing great waves, which lash against the
buildings, and are really more damaging
than an additional ten feet of water
would be without the wind. The water be-
gan falling at noon yesterday, and had set