The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1904-03-27
DANGER FROM FLOOD
WEST OF THE RIVER
Great Interest Conferred in the
Vicinity of the Washington
Street Bridge.

From the east bank of White river to Bel
mont avenue, and farther west along Mich
igan street, all territory north of West
Washington street was yesterday under
water and White river, whose currents and
eddies swept the city from there north to
Haughville, was twenty feet deep in places
which under normal conditions would be
but a few inches in depth.
Although the destruction of the flood was
more marked farther Up the swollen stream,
it's effect was most seen at the West Wash
ingtOn-street bridge and in that vicinity.
The river Strewn with wreckage, con-
sisting of everything from houses 10 wood
en- boxes
The carbarns of the indianapolis Traction
and Terminal Company were undermined
and fire engines and improvised steam
pumps could hardly keep the water out of
the furnaces. Residents along West Wash
ington street were forced TO move house
hold goods to upper stories.
The basement of the West Washington
street pumping station was filled, the water
here rising three inches an hour. Water
supply TO that part OF the city was almost
abandoned.
South of Washington street in the flooded
area water stood about one and one,half
feet deep and would not have inundated the
territory there save for the breaking of the
West Michigan-street levee. Here the flood
reached high tide and with roar and crash.
as fences and movable structures were torn
away, the water swept resistlessly toward
Washington street. Part of the current re-
Joined the course or the 11OOQeQ stream ana
part filled cellars and yards.
FIREMEN AT WORK.
At the West Washington-street bridge
detail of firemen from No. engine house.
with pixies and gaffs kept the channel clear
of wreckage. Due to their work the chan
mel was prevented from choking and the
course of White river kept clear Police
men were stationed on the bridge to warn
pedestrians of the danger.
At the power house of the traction COM
pany a gang of negroes worked unremit-
tingly with sand bags, walling up windows
of the power house basement, which was
even then filling from underground cur
rents.
CINE house, with one fire engine and two
steam pumps, worked with traction COM
pany employees to keep the water below the
| level of the boilers. Should they have failed
the entire street car system would have
| been paralyZed.
1t is believed that the only salvation of
| that part of the city from complete inunda-
ton was the break in the Vast Washing
! ton-street temporary bridge, which was
made during the January flood. Where
the supports of the bridge were not torn
away the rubbish and floating timbers
| lodged, making an almost impregnable dam
| half across the channel.
The space between was a maelstrom OF
! wreckage A large houseboat from Haugh-
Vile. fortunately deserted by it's occupants
! crashed into the bridge and in few sec
onds was ripped TO pieces Fragments OF
] the boat, with household goods, were scat
/ tered down the stream.
In the extreme western part of the city
| conditions were somewhat improved yes
! terday afternoon. Big and Little Eagle
! creeks which had been on rampage
! through the night, had fallen. Big -Four
/ Wrecking crews worked with carloads OF
/ sandbags to dam up the creek. This was
/ accomplished and false work built under
the tracks, which had been almost washed
away. Traffic to Chicago was resumed ovel
! this route Yesterday evening.