The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1904-03-27
HEROIC WORK OF RESCUERS
IN THE EARLY MORNING
Persons Living Along Fall Creek,
Near Indiana Avenue, Taken
Away in Boats.
POLICE WORK ALL NIGHT

About twenty-five acres belonging to the
city and lying just west of Fall creek near
Indiana avenue and Tenth street were
covered by water early yesterday morning.
Perhaps at this point occurred the most
dramatic rescues of any that have taken
place during the flood period. About l
o'clock yesterday morning colored woman
by the name of Wilkerson and her three
children walked into the police station and
asked for shelter, saying their home was
full of water and they had no place to go.
Captain Hyland questioned her and found
out that number of families in that dis
trict were calling for help.
A small wagon was sent for and Captain
Hyland, Sergeant Hagerman and Bicycle
men Samuels and Morgan drove with all
speed to the unfortunate district. On ar
irving there it was seen that boat would
have to be used in order to rescue any
one. The patrol wagon at police headquar-
tiers was sent for to bring out the steel
boat which had performed such good SER
vice the afternoon previous. AS as
the boat reached the district an attempt
was made to use it, but the current proved
too strong and it was unmanageable. a
rapid search was made in the surrounding
neighborhood for boat and large fiat
bottoIned one was found. An old river
man by the name of Hasselberg was found
VINO understood the currents better than
the police officers: This boat was sent to
the barn or the old pesthouse, where FAM
lily by the name of Lotterback was impris-
oned There were five children and the
mother and father in this small dwelling.
The father was blind and crippled. The
children were loaded into the boat first
and the trip to the shore was commenced
On account of the rapid current the boat
had 10 go about two squares down stream
before a landing could be effected.
BOAT INJURED.
About the middle of the stream a snag
was struck which almost threw the occu-
pants into the water. A large hole was
torn in the bottom of the boat and the
water began seeping through faster than it
could be baled out All speed possible was
made for the shore. The children, besides
getting little damp, were landed in safety.
| 1t was seen that the boat could not be re-
| paired for further use and it was ahand-
| oned. Another boat was found near Eight
eenth street and this was soon put into
| service. The first trip of this boat was
made TO rescue the father and mother of
the children who had been taken out some
moments before When the boat reached
the house the second time the occupants
were standing OF top of a table to keep
from getting wet.
At this time an appeal for aid could be
! west bank OF Fall creek The boat was sent
out there and old colored man named
Larklns was found in the house He
| thought that his last moment had come
for when the rescuers arrived he was ON
! top OF the bed fervently praying If all of
the dressings come to the rescuers that
this old man asked for them they will ali
be millionaires before long. The next per-
| son 10 be rescued was William Read who
| with MS horse, was the proud possessor
OF one-room shanty right in the center
| HOOD. 4
prlng him out without letting him take
his horse in the boat with him. The horse
was nnally tied to the back of the boat and
mace TO swim TO the shore. 1t was now
! getting daylight and the rescuers could
! see TO do their work better
THE LAST RESCUE.
The last family to be rescued in this dis
| trict was that of Richard Meadow. com.
posed of himself. wife and four children
The house occupied by them was the hard
est to reach. 1t took over an hour and q
half to row against the strong current AND
get the people out.
During the early hours of the morning
before daylight ii was dramatic scene l.
| stand on the bank and watch the small
boat battle with the angry waves anC
every now and then hear the faint cry OF
some bloodhound person for aid. While
the rescuers were there the water rose over
one foot compelling the people whose
| homes were near Indiana avenue to f1e,
from them. There is great distress amOnf
the people of this district as they haC
only time to get themselves out without at
tempting to take anything else. In one
house on Indiana avenue near the FaI
creek bridge seven families were trying Il
keep warm over small fire early yester
day morning. Many of the sufferers ar,
small children with hardly enough clothe,
to cover their bodies. Sergeant Hagermar
was the nurse of the rescuing crowd anC
II is said that at one time the big ser
geant was walking down the levee will
five children in his arms