Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1913-03-27
Half Million People Homeless in Devastated Regon20OO Estimated
As Dead in Dayton Alone $40 in Piqua, $50 in Peru
And Other Towns Suffer- Immediate Relief HOPE
|eSS-Presdent Issues Nation Wide Appeal.
PROBABLY 5000 PERISH,

PROBABLY 5000 PERISH.
Chicago, March 26.-Three thousand
may have persisted in the deluge-
swept northern half of the Ohio river
valley, yesterday and today. Probably
half a million people We're made home
less by the flood in Indiana and Ohio
and property damage in both states
will he at least 800, 600 a04
These figures were compiled. this af-
ternoon, from reports received from
arious points in the stricken district
further reports may Increase the
number of dead and it is unlikely that
.ny decrease in financial loss will b.
made.
An additional horror is reported,
early this evening, from Dayton Fire
there which seemed widespread and
probably uncomfortable, in view of the
paralysis of the water plant probably
brought a horrible death to many who
sought to escape drowning by climbing
to upper floors of buildings. Follow
ing are the revised figures of the dead
Ohio-Dayton, 2Oo Piqua, $40; Della
ware, 100; Middletown, 100; Sidney, so
Hamilton, y; Tippecanoe, 3; Titiin, so
Fremont, Il; Scattering. 800. Totai
3066
Indiana-Peru, 80; Newcastle, 8;
Lafayette, 2; Indianapolis, IA; Mobiles
vile, >; Scattering, %. Total 1856
Grand total, 1862.
Reports unconfirmed said that ii
persons lost their lives in Fremont
and so at Tiffin, Ohio. 1t was rumor
ed in Indianapolis, early today, thai
200 persons were drowned in West
indianapolis, but this number was
later reduced to IA, though it was es
timated, early this evening, more thar
that had died South of indianapolis
| the flood is said to have caused death
| in a number of small towns and vii
lagos.
Fire at Dayton added to the fnan-
eial loss caused by the flood. Early
| estimates placing the damage in Ohio
and Indiana at $50000000 We're revis-
| ed to show, tonight, double that
amount.
Railroad officials We're authority for
| the statement that lines in convergine
into Indianapolis would have to stan6
loss of $25,000,o0 in that city and
vicinity alone.
Railroads are chief sufferers from
| property damage. 1t was said, to-
night. by engineers and construction
| bosses preparing repair trains for the
| flooded districts that strips of rail
roads more than half a mile each had
| been washed away in several places
| through Indiana. Concrete and iron
bridges, their supports undermined
crumbled before the strength of the
torrents hurled against them.
The loss through cessation of traf-
fc cannot be estimated
Chicago, March 26.-Day broke upor
| the desolation brought by flood through
| out Ohio and Indiana with slight hope
/ that the estimates of the loss of life OF
the night before might be somewhat re-
/ duced when search revealed more fully
fhe situation of the stricken cities.
At daybreak the casualties reported
were greatly reduced, the report of 5000
lost in Dayton dwindlcd to from 500 tC
100 In other cities, too, the death list
was much less. Rumors from Piqua
say $40. Delaware, 80 to loo ana othel
points throughout the State show grea'
loss of life. The grand total is esti'
mated at 1854 to 1919.
The first ray of comfort for Dayton
came with the reports of refugees ar
irving at Xenia. that the death list
which had been estimated as high a
5000 drowned, would range from 500 tC
1000. A similar reduction in the mum
Der of victims was reported by tele,
phone from Peru to South Bend, Ind,
the earlier figures from zoo to SOC
drowned dwindling to so, although s
report from warsaw, Ind, still esti'
mated that $50 persons had lost theil
lives.
In contrast to the slight hope held
Continued on Page Three.)