The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1904-03-26
GREATEST FLOOD IN YEARS
FROM ANGRY POGUE'S RUN
CAUSE OF GREAT DAMAGE
Large Area OF the City Covered
with Water to a Depth OF
Several Feet
UNUSUAL FALL OF RAIN
Sewers Inadequate to Carry Off
Water, Resulting in Property
Loss and Inconvenience.
ALL HANDS TO RESCUE
Hundreds of Homes Practically
Ruined-White River Rising
Effect on Traffic.
Ii HANDS TO RESCUE

The climax of a season OF SHOWS and sud-
den thaws. rains and disastrous floods.
came. yesterday. when the rain that had
fallen almost necessarily since 1850 O'Clock
the night before. at times in torrents. Gre
ated flooded condition in parts of the city
that was worse than at any time, since the
memorable outbreak of Pogue's run in 1892.
Pogue's run and Pleasant run. the tiny
streams that often dry in midsum-
mer, were raging torrents yesterday. their
banks overflowing and their swollen cur
rents wreaking thousands of dollars worth
of damage TO property. incopvcniencing
thousands of people in the loss OF time and
the disarrangement of business plans and
putting a complete stop to street car serv-
ice on. several lines.
Hundreds of acres of city streets and
private property were under water for
hours. and. although the flood sGbsided
later last night. the situation was still bad
will not subside, Scores of families were
rendered temporarily homeless. while
scoresl more had 10 contemplate the dis
couraging sight of their household goods
ruined and their homes drenched and rem
dered scarcely habitable by the flood OF
muddy water. The full extent Of the flood
was not at first realized. but thousands
learned of the situation 10 their sorrow
when they found great difficulty in getting
to their homes at the end of the days
work
WHITE RIVER HIGH
Although White river and Fall creek were
very high and steadily rising at late hour
last night comparatively no damage had
been charged against these streams. At $50
O'Clock the river registered nine feet six
inches above, low water mark on the water
works guage, and was rising at the rate
of about foot an hour. but little damage
had been done by it because the stream was
free from heavy driftwood. The continu-
ance of the heavy rain. however, boded no
good, and the situation was full of menace
to property.
AT O'Clock this morning the river was
twelve feet four inches above low water
any time during the January and February
floods of this year. Although its rise
not as rapid as it had been earlier in the
night, it was continuous. and the fact that
great deal of water from the rivers smaller
tributaries is bound to reach it later makes
ii altogether probable that IL will 90 still
higher. The high water mark is seventeen
feet three inches.
At the same time the condition of affairs
in the vicinity of Pogue's run was greatly
improved, as that stream subsided last
night almost as rapidly it rose during
the day. The rain ceased before midnight.
and at o'clock none was falling. A cool
wind was blowing. giving prospect of
fulfllment of the weather bureaus forecast
of cooler temperature. The situation. aside
much better than il did yesterday after
noon and evening.
INTEREST IN PoGUE's RUN.
Greatest damage was cone by Pogues
run. and here chief interest centered.
Practically all the distance from Brook
side Park TO the vicinity of the Union Sta
ton this stream overfiowed its banks and
spread over a territory from two TO three
squares on either side of IT, with the water
from one TO six feet deep in the streets
and on the railroad tracks.
The situation was so bad that IL was diff
ficult TO obtain more than a general idea
of the damage that was being done TO prop
erty, with no estimate 9f the loss >ossible.
That bridges would be damaged. some
of them perhaps washed away. seem in
eritable, but the high water made 1t inn
possible for the city officials TO obtain any
detailed information.
Houses were flooded. with cellars full OF
water and often with water over the first
floors Business establishments were
compelled TO stop work. stables had
to be vacated. families were often
imperiled and had TO be taken
from their homes. while of the streets
crossing the flooded district was restricted
to weIl-buit vehicles attached TO staid
horses that could be depended upon TO
wade through water that at times reached
TO their bodies. men In hip boots and boats
Street-car service on the East Washington
street, East Michigan-street and East
Tenth-street lines was stopped completely.
and the only way that passengers on these
lines could get from their homes was
by mounting a passing wagon or dray.
some of the owners of which drove a thriv-
ing business in transporting people.
SITUATION GREW WORSE.
The situation. bad at first, grew worse
and worse as reports came down town from
some OF the outlying districts in the vicin-
ity OF Pogue's run. Especially was this
true of the territory near the Atlas engine
works and in Jackson place. Here the
water rose TO a depth of Ave and six feet.
covering thirty or forty city blocks. in
places waist-deep cement walks The
suffering that will result can be better sm-
agined than described.
The torrents OF muddy water that swept
down the streets running at right angles
and parallel TO Pogue's run in its immedi-
eiate vicinits washed out block 2ayemeats