The Kenna record. (Kenna, Roosevelt County, N.M.) 190?-1924, 1913-04-04
DAYTON, OHIO, SUFFERED MOST
Reeedins Water Showed That First
Estimates Of Loss of Life Were
Greatly Exaggerated-Death List
May Not Exceed 500
All Told.

OOuIH LAY JOus O0IO.- nun
dred dead is the average estimate of
seven-eighths of Daytons under
takers, called together for a confer
ence. They reported so bodies had
been recovered and now are at vari-
Gus places in the city. Individual es
500 to 1000, but the consensus OF
opinion was that 500 would be a con-
servative figure.
Exploration of several recesses If
the city by newspaper men hardly
would justify such an estimate.
Orders had been issued for all bodies
to be taken to a general morgue, es-
tablished in a garage. This had not
been done, however, as less than half
the number of bodies found, accord
ing to the undertakers, had been
taken there.
There has been keen competition
between undertakers for possession
of unidentified bodies, and many
bodies have been taken to undertake
ing establishments not under water.
A general call for all undertakers
to meet was sent out by John H. Pat
terson, in charge of relief work, in
an effort to have the task of recover
ing bodies organized. Thirty under
takers were present, and said they
based their estimates of the dead to
a general survey of the situation.
Louisville life savers made trip
into Riverdale and North Dayton sec
tions, where it was feared there had
been great loss of life. They did not
find body, and said they believed
few would be found. An expedition
of Cleveland naval reserves brought
| practically an identical report.
Estimate Is Surprise.
AS large part of the city had been
explored and information obtained
failed to bear out earlier estimates of
great life loss the announcement of
the undertakers came as a surprise
to those most familiar with the stu
alton.
The property loss probably will ex-
coed $50,000,000 This includes dam
age to real estate, public works, au-
tomobile stores and personal property,
much of which was owned by the
more prosperous residents; to manu-
| featuring, mercantile and jewelers.
stocks which were swept away; pub
lie utility plants and equipment; and
1t includes also the cost of rebuild
ing miles of asphalt streets and walks
which were ripped from their beds.
The loss of life is confined almost
entirely to North Dayton, inhabited
by foreigners and laborers In West
Dayton, which comprises districts Of
more substantial character, and N
Riverdale, Dayton View and other res
idence districts, there was almost no
loss of life. Several lives are known
to have been lost in the business dis
trict, but none of the rumors that
human beings had persisted in the FIRE
which swept two city blocks would
stand the test of searching investiga-
ton.
Say None Burned to Death.
In fact, a score of cool-headed men
who were in one of the buildings and
others who watched the fire from
across the street assert that every
occupant of the burned buildings es-
capped
The flood assumed dangerous as
poets early Tuesday morning before
most people had started to work,
Consequently the loss of life in River
dale, North Dayton and West Day,
ton was oecasioned when dwellings,
mostly of light construction, were
swept away and shattered by the
swiftly moving current, leaving the
occupants who had fled to safety In
the second stories to fight for their
lives in the water.
There are not more than 30 such
houses in Riverdale, and possibly rs
In North and West Dayton. Many
houses were moved from their foun.
dations. but remained upright and
kept their occupants safely until they
were rescued.
In telegram to Secretary Barba,
Governor Cox said this about the
president of the National Cash Reg
lister Company:
"Mr. Patterson Is entitled to every
consideration. The whole state is
speaking in praise of his work. Please
tell Mr., Patterson that the tel