The Butler weekly times. (Butler, Mo.) 1881-1918, 1913-04-03
DAYTON, OHIO, IS
SWEPT BY FLOODS
Heavy Loss to Life and Property in
Raging Waters.
OTTER CITIES ALSO SUFFERED
Recedins Water, However, Sho vs.
That First Estimates of Loss Of
Life Were Exaggerated
Columbus Hit Hard.

South Dayton, Ohio.-Eight hun
dred dead is the average estimate of
seven-eighths of Daytons under
takers, called together for a confer
ence. They reported 80 bodies had
been recovered and now are at vari-
GUS places in the city. Individual es-
Inmates Of the undertakers were from
500 to 1000, but the consensus of
opinion was that 500 would be con-
seryativc 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 general morgue, es-
tab!ished in a garage. This had not
been done, however, as less than half
the number of bodies found accord
taken there.
There has been keen competition
between nndcrtakrrs for possession
of unidentified bodies. and many
bodies have been tahru to undertake
II establishments not under waite"
: general call for al undertakrrS
20 Tl'es WIS sent ont by John H. Pat
fC"@~n. in Charge Of relief work, IN
Au effort to have the task Of recovc,
ing Lodics organized Thirty under
'aEors Norr present, and said they
H@~"d their estimates of The dead to
q general survey Of the situation.
l.ouis> He life savers made trip
into Rivcrdalc and North Dayton sec
tjl0$ whore ii was feared there had
hc"n-=1r"at loss of life. They did not
find body. and said they believed
feV would he found. An expedition
of Cleveland naval reserves brought
practically an identical report
Estimate is Surprise.
As large part O. the city had been
explored and Information obtained
tailed to bear ont earlier estimates Of !.
great life loss the announcement OF
The undertakcrs. came as Il surprise
to those most familiar with the stu
alton.
The property loss probably will ex-
coed S50,0On, o10. This includes dam
age to real estate, public works, an
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 /
ic utility plants and equipment; ana
t Includes also the cost of rebuild
M miles OF asphalt streets and walks
which were ripped from their beds.
The loss of life is confined almost
entirely to North Dayton, inhabited
~ foreigners and laborers. In West
Dayton, which comprises districts of
| moro substantial character, and N
tiverdalc. Dayton View and other res
dcnce districts. there was almost no
oss of life Several lives are known
o have been lost in the business dis
riot, hut none of the rumors that
human beings had persisted in the fire
which swept two city blocks would
'tand the test Of searching investiga-
ion.
Say None Burned to Death.
In fact, score OF cool headed men
Who were in one OF the buildings and
,thers who wat.hed the fire from
lrros5 the street assert that every
occupant Of the burned buildings cs.
aped
The flood assumed dangerous as.
,--l--
most people had started to work.
Consequently the loss of life in River
Iale, North Dayton and West Day
on was occasoned when dwellings,
lostly of light construction, were
wept away and shattered by the
Witty moving current. leaving the
occupants who had fed to safety in
he second stories to fight for their
ives in the water
There are not more than 80 such
ouses iii Riverdale, and possibly IS
4 North and West Dayton. Many
ouses were moved from their foun.
ations. but remained upright and
ept their occupants safely until they
Tere rescued.
In telegram to Secretary Barba,
overnor Cox said this about the
resident of the National Cash Reg
tier Company:
"Mr. Patterson is entitled to every
The whole state is
oeaking in praise of his work. Please
III Mr.. Patterson that the tel {
graphic orders sent to me for funds
ygregate $250.OOO Contributions are
,ming from Canada. Rations SUM-
ent to feed 100000 for one day will !
rive from Columbus soon. We will
ave them in Dayton by the following
~. Advise Mr. Patterson that the
ate will take charge of the rail- /
'ads IL necessary in order to prevent
ghtseers and robbers going to Day
n"
Flood waters receded sufficiently to