The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1904-01-23
MEN RISK LIVES TO
SAVE FLOOD VICTIMS
Heroism of Morrison and Order.
Who Fought for Schowe's
Life.

One Of the most frightfuI incidents of the
breaking up Of the ice in the White river
yesterday was the fate OF John Schowe and
his wife. who lived a houseboat on the
west side OF the river near the Norris
street bridge When the ice gorge. groan-
Ing and crashing on top of the turbulent
waters. struck the little river home of the
Schowe family and threatened to wreck
it the man and his wife attempted to save
themselves. but Mrs. Schowe. invalid
became insane from fright and jumped into
the whirling waters and sank out of sight
before her husband could lend her any
assistance.
Schowe succeeded in gaining a foothod
upon a submerged island. and in the icy
waters he chung TO some bushes while the
river surged and rushed around his shout
ders, which were barely visible above the
surface of the stream. Schowe called for
help. and his cries We're answered by sew
eral employees of the Indianapolis Abattoir
Company, who were on their way to work.
Ro!fo Morrison, one Of the abattoir COM
Pany employees, volunteered 10 go to the
relief of the suffering man. who at that
time was almost crazed from the cold and
exposure TO which he had been subjected.
The man had been in the water since 8
o'clock in the morning, and a skiff was not
secured until $50 O'Clock Morrison jumped
into the little boat and rOwed out into the
swift current TO where the frenZied house
BOAT QWelier was cllnSlnS TO the bushes,
and with mighty effort ne lifted Schowe
into the boat and started 10 row back TO
shore Schowe, however. became demented
and desperately fought his rescuer.
BATTLE FOR LIFE.
For few moments the watchers along
the shore expected to see both the men
pitch headiong into the angry river. Nor
rison proved equal to the occasion. though.
and after a long and hard fight he succeed
ed in throwing Sehowe into the bottom of
the boat. With long rope which was in
the boat Morrison tied the crazed man to
the bottom OF the craft lashing him secure
ly to the braces along the side OF the boat
With SchOwe a prisoner Morrison again
picked up the oars and started to pull for
the shore and safety seemed assured One
of the oars slipped from his hands. which
were numb from the cold. and fell into
the stream and in his efforts TO recover the
oar Morrison lost his balance and fell into
the river.
He succeeded in swimming TO a water
rescued schowe. but in the meantime me the the
boat. with Schowe dashed TO the bottom,
fioated on down the river at a terrific rate
OF speed Many people followed the drift
ing boat and another party was organized
10 go TO the rescue OF Morrison, who was
fast becoming numbed by the chilly water
In which he was standing. Ii was some
time before a boat could be found I'm which
TO rescue Morrison. but after about an
hour a private rowboat was secured from
a resident OF Silver avenue and IL WAS
hastily carried 10 the river and launched
into the swiriing stream.
Warren Order, a coal shOveler at the
Belt rcundhouse. volunteered TO go after
Morrison. and with great difficulty ne
rowed 10 where Morrison was standing in
the water and helped him into the boat
After a desperate tight against the rapid
current he managed TO reach the shore
with his unfortunate passenger, who by
that time was almost unconscious from the
exposure. MorrfsOn's first words when ne
stepped from the boat TO the shore were;
Come on boys let's 20 after Schowe "
Morrison was taken 90 his home by friends
but Order jumped back into the rOwbOai
and started down the stream after Schowe
who had disappeared around a bend in the
river more than an hour before. Order has
not yet returned
DEAD IN a BOAT.
The little rowboat with Schowe tied fast
TO the bottom was seen late yesterday aft
ernoon about fifteen miles down the White
river Schowe could be seen lying appar-