Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1886-03-31
ROsTON'S FLOOD.
Scenes and Incidents In the Distribution
of Food to the Imprisoned Families.

from the Boston Journal
One of the most interesting features
of the flood was the distribution of
food and fuel to the imprisoned fami-
lies. This work has been carried on
under the direction of the overseers of
the poor. With tireless zeal the men
have rowed from house to house to
furnish the necessary food for the
hungry people. Yesterday morning
the bread began to arrive from the
ovens of the house of correction, and
was stored at the headquarters of the
relief corps. The boats we're loaded
on Culvert Street, near the corner of
Cabot Street, and from there they
scattered to the distant localities of
the flooded district. Many OF the
families were able to supply their own
wants from the store OF provisions on
hand. They thanked the messengers,
and directed them to other houses
where no food was to be found. At
these places eager hands were stretched
through the windows to grasp the
bread that was offered. The tears of
the children were changed to smiles
when they saw the food. Many q
"God bless you," reached the ears Of
the boatmen as they rowed away.
At one house their loud "Hullo !"
brought a woman to the window.
"We've got food enough" she said,
"only wecan't cook it. Our coalis all
down cellar" No further explana-
ton was necessary, and a stalwart
boatman lifted q basket of coal and
wood through the open window. The
smoke that poured from the chimney
g. few minutes later showed that they
were making good use of the fuel.
These scenes were repeated throughout
the day. At O'Clock, when the Off
GERS were removing families from a.
house that threatened to fall, a loud
outcry was heard at a house in the
rear.
eli, there!" a shrill voice cried,
t'can't yer bring us somethin' ter eat !?
We hain't had nothin' ter eat all
day. We're hungry" Two other
heads were poked out OF the window,
and two other voices chorused, $50
are we.
''All right" responded the officer.
<'We'll bring you something in few
minutes" and off he ran to the COM
missary department.
AS the night advanced lights began
to stream from the windows, their re-
Elections from the surface OF the muddy
waters making a strong contrast to
the surrounding darkness. The Ian
terms in the boats-now distributing
oil and fuel-danced like Will-C-the-
Wisps over the fences and sheds.
The most exciting feature of the aft
ernoon was the removal of a family
from the brick building III Vernon
Street. The inspectors of buildings in
their search for dangerous walls found
that the lower part Of the rear wall had
caved ir Nearly twenty feet of brick
wall had been washed away, leaving
an ugly hole through which the water
poured. The building was in great
danger of falling. Fricks were contin-
ually being washed away, and it
looked as though prompt action
would be necessary. Six families,
numbering twenty-eight souls, lived
beneath it's roof. Word was sent to
Station 10. Chairman Whiting, OF
the police commissioners, and Capt.
Twombly, with half dozen officers,
jumped into the express wagon which
Is kept ready for such emergencies,
and the horse was sent on the run to
the place. The occupants of the con-
demned house ran to the window, at
tracted by the unusual sight of so
many officers approaching their dwell
ing.
'You must put on your things in a
hurry and leave the housel" shouted
Capt. Twombly. "The rear wall is
gone, and the house is liable to fall at
any minute"