The Bennington evening banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 19??-1961, 1913-03-26

u
handicapped.
At Middletown it is reported that
probably Is were drowned when a
bridge on which a number of people
were standing watching the food
was swept away. Several bodies
were recovered from the stream.
Cleveland, Akron, Toledo and Spring.
! field also have sent out reports
which show that probably total of
l6 lost their lives. Owing to a dis
abled wire service and conditions in
the cities affected by the flood, it is
impossible to foretell accurately the
/ total casualties.
The mayor of Dayton in an appeal
made to the mayor of Springfield,
o., reported at 8 o'clock last night
/ that the water was Is feet deep in
the union station in Dayton and that
according TO unconirmed reports
5000 lives have been lost and fully
$4,000 are homeless. The Hydraulic
dam at Piqua, has gone out and
reports unconfirmed say that $40
lives have been lost. The major of
Dayton in his appeal asked for food
for the stricken people of his city
Xenia had already sent three cars of
food. There is considerable suffer
ing in Springfield, there being fully
500 families driven out of their
homes. Rumors have been received
OF loss OF life in the villages, but
these lack confirmation.
A Western Union telegraph opera
tor at Brookville. o., last night es-
tabiished communication with the
Associated Press office at Indiana
polls, Ind. He said: Practically
half of Dayton is under water from
80 to 40 feet At the lowest esti.
mate 200 lives have been lost. The
city is without electric lights, street
car service or water service. IL is
impossible to estimate the damage.
Ihere is much suffering and the PEG
pie are in need of food and clothing
All bridges have been swept away.
Inere Is no communication with the
outside world Many persons were
caught in their homes with all ave
nues OF escape cut off. The water is
still rising and heavy rain falling"
The last man to arrive at Brook
Vllle, o., last night from Dayton. ~
miles to the east. verifies the report
that the water is 80 feet deep in the
business center of the city and run
ming like a mill race He asserts 100
persons have been drowned. MANY
Oh them lost their lives when boats
IN which they were rescuing persons
marrooned in the second and third
stories OF office buildings were unset
by the rapid current He reported
III militiamen on guard at the levee
were carried downstream and drown
ed when the embankment gave away.
Inc telephone operator at Phone
ton says that reports from Dayton at
b o'clock last night were that there
was nine feet of water on Main
street. The central union depot was
surrounded by water and employees
could not get out. The work of dy-
namiting a bridge across the Great
Miami river was begun in an effort
10 releve the situation as much as
possible. A telephone operator in
the Dayton office who established the
communication with Richmond said
bodies were floating past the window
oi the Office. The operator begged
she local offices TO send an appeal
LOT ana TO Gov. Cox of Ohio. The
telephone operator at Liberty. o..
small town several miles west of
layton, reiterated the story told by
the Dayton operator Just before
the wire to Liberty failed the opera.
tor said the levee near the Main.
street bridge had just gone out and
tne water was pouring into the town
IKE tidal wave. He asked that aid
De rushed t5~the town.
GOV. Cox last night received a long
distance message from Phoneton.
SIX miles northeast of Dayton. saw.
ing that % bodies had been swent
through Troy in the Great Miami
IiNer. Ihis report tends to verify
Ine heavy loss of life at Sidney.
Shelby county. which was reported
partly wiped Que by the food as the
oodies noating past Troy are beliey-
cd 10 nave been from Sidney. A
message from Dayton to Gov. Cox
said that 10000 people in that CITY
were homeless and that four suburbs
including Edgermont, North DAYTON
hiVerdale and Dayton View. were in.
undated. The message said no esti-
mate OF loss of life was possible. but
only "a miracle could prevent il go.
ing to large figures.
"A telephone message from Phone
ton at $40 o'clock last night said the
vast National cash register plant AT
Dayton was reported to be on fire
me streets OF Dayton are said to be
iuli OF dead horses and other ami
mais. II was said that hooters were
shooung people down in the streets
columbus suffered enormous dam
age from the food. Railroad franc
was paralyzed early in the dav
flres in three large factories RACED
ior many hours and for a time threat
ened a considerable portion Of the
olstrlct Because Of the food fire.
men we're unable to respond 70 ar
appeals for assistance.
AT indianapolis 1900 families had
been driven from their homes ana
Tour deaths were said to have respIt