The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1904-03-28

before in the history of the city, Indian
apolis faced a situation yesterday after
noon and last night that was fraught with
incalcuable danger. Sections of the city
that had up 10 that time escaped from
the fury of the raging waters were inun-
dated, hundreds of lives were endangered
and a property loss was inflicted that can
not be now estimated. while even larger
sections of the city that had hitherto been
deemed absolutely safe from any danger
by food were seriously menaced.
Traction and Terminal Company flooded,
the machinery was stopped and every car
in the city was stranded, leaving thou
sands of people miles from home, forced to
walk or ride in cabs Water on the
floor of the pumping room of the lower
power house of the indianapolis Water
Company, near Washington street and
White river. threatened to stop it's ma
chinery and shut the city off absolutely
from all water supply.
So serious was the situation regarded,
that, in response to the appeal of the mayor
and sheriff, Governor Durbin ordered two
companies of indianapolis militia to report
to the civil authorities to aid them in
watching bridges and levees and in as
sisting people whose homes were imperiled
to escape from danger.
MILITIAMEN DEPUTIES.
Members of these companies, H and d
of the Second Regiment, i. N. G.. were
sworn in as deputy sheriffs last night and
relieved many policemen and firemen who
had been on duty for hours.
Reassured by information that the waters
of both Fall creek and White river were
falling residents of the city who were not
near the scene of danger were startled
yesterday noon by the unwelcome intelli-
gence that the river was again rising rap
idly, bringing the threat of more danger
and destruction. From that time on the
river rose swollen by rains from points
above indianapolis, until at o'clock last
seventeen feet five and one-half inches
above low-water mark, two and a half
inches higher than it had been during the
flood of 1883, the greatest hitherto known.
The resulting situation was unprecedent-
ed. The turbulent water of the swollen
stream. far too great in volume to be con-
fined within the banks of the river, over
flowed into every lowland. broke over
levees already weakened by the strain of
levees that protected large residence dis
tricts, invaded manufacturing plants.
menaced bridges already ripe for destruc-
ton and harmed at least one other bridge
that was regarded as proof against high
water
BIG DISTRICT UNDER WATER
The Iowlands of Riverside Park were in
undated, and sections of the city toward
Haughville that were under water Satur-
leading to the bridge ran out between the
swollen current of Fall creek and inun-
dated lowlands to the south like a long
and narrow quay into the waters of the
lake, and lowlands north of West Michigan
street were under back water from the
| drains to the depth of several feet.
the territory lying between the river and
Agnes street, along West New York street
and on both sides of it for several squares,
extending on the south clear to the Love
Bros. cotton mill. The break in the levee
protecting this territory partially flooded it
Saturday. but yesterdays rise placed the
whole district under water, affecting sew
eral hundred homes.
People living here were rescued by the
wagons, and all were brought out safely,
but the property loss must be very great
1t is not believed that the river ever came
as high in this district as yesterday.
Along New York street last night electric
lights were reflected in several feet of wa
ter a far from cheering spectacle to the
hundreds OF homeless people, who had to
seek quarters elsewhere.
POWER HOUSE FLOODED.
Rushing in back OF sne street-car power
house, a flood of water swept south and
west from the river across Washington
street extending from about half square
west of the bridge 10 Belmont avenue, put
ting business houses and residences under
several feet of water. Across this flooded
district various vehicles ferried those who
had to cross repeating the tactics pursued
Friday on East Washington street at
Pogue's run
South of the Washington-street bridge
the river cleaned in the moonlight like
turbulent lake, stretching at points TO a
width of fully half mile. All of the low
lands that lie to the east bank were food
ed, and manufacturing plants were invaded
by the water, but West Indianapolis was
unharmed, as the levee protecting IL held
fast.
At only one point. where a small leak al
| lowed the water to seep through. was there
any danger. but this was not thought TO
Lie D. water at that place >sas
ct. Had this seepage