The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1904-03-27
HUNDREDS OF FAMILIES
DRIVEN FROM HOME
Special to the indianapolis Journal.

Special to the Indianapolis Journal.
ANDERSON. Ind. March 26.-Anderson
to-day has passed through one of the worst
floods in it's history All records of high
water have been passed, and 500 Anderson
families are sleeping tonight on cots in an
emergency lodging house rugged up for the
occasion ON Mayor Forkner's orders. Suf-
fering has been intense, for the severe cold
which followed the rain caused work in the
water to be fraught with many pains.
The first indication of serious results from
the flood came about Friday midnight,
when the police were notified that Green's
branch. on the extreme southwestern part
OF the city had overfowed its banks and
was forcing the residents of that locality
from their homes. a detail of police was
sent out and several families were taken.
to places of safety. Before morning u tract
OF twenty acres was flooded and over one
hundred houses surrounded with
water. many as high as the window-sills.
A pathetic case was that of Mrs. Saun-
ders. seventy-two years old. and bedrid-
den. who lay awake during Friday night
and saw the water enter her room and rise
until il reached the bed. She was found in
the morning and carried out on a stretcher
White river began rising about s o'clock
this morning and by was entering the
houses in Park place. east of the river. The
rise at the rate of sixteen inches an
hour throughout the day and until o clock
this afternoon over 175 residences in that
part of town were flooded and all the people
were carried to places of safety in boats
or wagons
At O'Clock the water had reached a
point two feet higher than the memorable
flood of 1872 prior to this the record-break-
ing flood of the city's history.
The fire department men went to Park
place about o'clock this morning to res
cue the residents. Mrs. Ed Walters and
her baby. one day old, were taken from
seven families in his skiff
About this time word was received that
the water had surrounded forty houses in
lrondale addition, on the west side of the
river. and. as the police and fire depart
ment were both engaged in Park place
Mayor Forkner hired twenty-five men and
hurried them 10 that point William Hail.
his wife and two children were taken out
OF the second-story window of his home
His horse and two cows drowned in their
stable. Others were rescued in this vicin-
ity and taken TO the central part of the
city, where an emergency home had been
arranged in the old armory building
Mayor Forkner and Trustee Jerome Brown
bought cots and placed the building in
comfortable shape for the homeless people
Business on the Union Traction lines is at
q standstil1. General Manager A. l.. Drum,
Freight Agent George A Sawyer and Aud
itor F. s. Sage left Anderson on the private
Car Martha for Indianapolis early last even
ing a washout in the track caused them
10 turn back. but another washout in the
rear made IL necessary for them TO remain
on on the car all night Workmen are build
ing cofferdans about the power house to
Keep the waters of killbuck creek from
the boilers There is no service north or
east The track between the city and the
power house is several feet under water
and the bridge over the river is being held
IN place by cut of coal cars heavily
loaded
Mayor Forkner has issued a call for a
mass meeting at the courthouse at 10 o'clock
. TOMORROW morning To discuss measures for
caring Tor the homeless inhabitants.
I Details have just come 10 light of the
most daring of all the rescues here. Mrs
Ira Hollenbaugh lives near the river in
the exNeme western part of town. Her
husband left home early this morning not
dreaming OF Hood. About . O'Clock work.
men at the Buckeye factory discovered
water pouring through the front door of
the Hollenbaugh home. Some OF them
knew that Mrs. Hollenbaugh had a baby
but one day old and indications were that
the house would be washed away In a few
hours "A heavy wagon was procured but
attempt 10 drive To the door failed. as
the mules fell and had 10 be cut from the
harness TO prevent drowning Another team
= Of horsts met the same fate. Four men
then walled up TO their necks TO the house
carrying stretcler. and bore Mrs. HoI-