New-York tribune., 1906-06-10
NO W ATER In CINCINNATI
CITY IN GREAT DISTRESS.
Little Prospect of Relief Until Noon
T0-dQy-VGLUc Broken.
TBy Telegraph TO The Tribune.l

Cincinnati, June 9.-Cincinnati tonight is
without drop Of water. More than half the
city has been without the precious fluid since
o'clock last night. and o'clock to-day the
main that supplies the downtown part Of the
city went out Of commission. One broken valve
and the inconpetency Of the Water Department
are responsible for il all.
The city is in the grasp Of a typhoid fever cpl
denic One hundred and twenty-four cases We're
reported this week prior 10 to-day.
StTeetcars, both the interurban and local.
have been tied up since i o'clock; sick by the
thousands in private homes and in the hospitals
crying for water. which cannot be given
them and many Of them are actually dying from
thirst Elevators in the skyscrapers and hotels
have stopped; dining rooms in the hotels and
many restaurants were forced TO close up be-
cause Of the lack of water with which 10 cook
and wash dishes; the telephone system is partly
crippled. The main exchange, which depends
upon its oWn power. was forced TO suspend,
but some Of the branch exchanges are still in
operation.
There is no prospect Of water until noon to-
morrow.
The greatest danger is from fire. Should one
occur in the business district now it would be
almost impossible to check it The water famine.
coupled with the excessive heat, has driven the
management Of the local hospitals frantic Most
Of the institutions are located the outskirts
Of The city, and up on the hills where the water
has been short for several days.
fu, supply was expected by last night.
bur instead the entire city is now without any.
and the hospitals had made preparation.
Their supply Of mineral waters is exhausted.
cisterns are empty and. result, there is
terrible suffering among the patients. In spite
Of the fact that Mayor Dempsey has issued an
"a F.rhlf noe n Ky
there is panic on every hand. Mass meetings
were held in many parts Of the city tonight TO
protest against the retaining of the alleged in
competent head of the waterworks system,
Anthony Herschede, whose only experience with
tools and machinery had been on a jewelers.
beacE
Wash Meredith master mechanic of the water
works charges that the famine is due TO valve
ranipule t!cn Director Eerschede, however. viii
not second the charge He said this afternoon
tAa, he docs no, care to make direct accusations
o: deliberate attempt to cEipple the water sup
ply by persons interested politically but he is
al loss To account for the famine. The broken
valve banned for il supplies only one section OF
TIE city vet The entire city is without water.
stormy meeting OF the Board OF Public Safe
y. al which were present tine Mayor and City
Solicitor, was held this afternoon. Director
Herschede who is a member Of the board. and
a The same time superintendent of the water
works. was temporarily relieved Of the latter
pac~ and John w Hill. recently on trial in
Philadelphia is connection with the. waterwOrks
scandal there. was put in charge At the meet
ing II developed that the city had no plan of the
water main valves Only one man knows where
every one Is. and should he die the city would
be unable 10 turn water on or of in any terri
tory. As a direct result Of the water famine
there were fifty heat prostrations to-day, as
against six yesterday, when the temperature was
nuch higher