Norwich bulletin., 1913-03-27

Dayton, Ohio, March 26.-That a fierce fire which appeared to he sweep ing through the half submerged busi- ness district of Dayton late tonight had desroyed the BeckeI house, where there were supposed to be more than two sensuS of opinion of scores of watch CTS atop of a manufacturing plant building nearly two miles from the scene of the flames.
 Eight Buildings Destroyed.
 The flames destroyed eight buildings In Daytons submerged business sec tion tonight. casting red weird gloom over the flood stricken city that added to the fears of thousands of refugees and marooned persons and led to ap- prehension that there may have been many of the waters prisoners in the burned buildings
 City Under Martial Law.
 Soon afterward notice was posted In headquarters of the emergency committee announcing that the city was under martial law" and several con1paniesS of soldiers arrived from eighborIng Ohio cities. The soldiers were employed to patrol edges of the burned district and prevent further footing of homes freed from the floods grasp Up to a late hour tonight there had been no material disorder
 Motor Boats to Be Used.
 Rescue squads worked frant5 calIy to- day to throw back the veil that hides the story of the Dayton disaster-the nuubersaef dead Late tonight the ar rival of motor boats gave hope that by tomorrow the northern section of the city, now cut off by Big Miani's iInpas- sable barrier. may be penetrated, and then may be learned the fate of hun dTeds imprisoned by the torrent that poured down from the broken reser- Voir-
 |. The list of dead was added to this Afternoon by the death of 8 refugee.
 Weak from Fright and Hunger.
 It was reported late tonight that a number of dead had been found in houses at Fifth and Eagle streets, but when rescuers worked their way into found number of the foods prisoners who were weak from fright and hun ger.
 Already overburdened victims of the waters wrath were compelled to suffer again today in a, cold snarting rain
 Fire Confined to One Block.
 Fire that appeared to threaten the to the block bounded by Second and Third streets and Jefferson and St. Clair strets. In the block are the Fourth National bank the Lattimer Drug company and several commission houses. It was impossible to get with in two miles of the fire and from that distance It appeared that explosions, probably of drugs, made the fire seem of larger proportions than it was
 65,oo0 Persons Imprisoned.
 It was impossible to ascertain, even approximately, the number of persons who might have been marooned in this section and who died after being trap ped by flood and fire. Nevertheless. rescue work went steadily on and about 5000 persons were housed in places of refuge tonight. At least 65.- 900 persons are imprisoned in homes and in business buildings. It is fear-' ed their two days Imprisonment, with accompanying hunger. and fright, have caused tremendous suffering. le&s Food Supplies Swept Away.
 The flood came with such suddenness that food supplies in home were whisk- Cd away by torrents that reached to second floors in almost the flash of an eye. Skis skirted the edge of the flood district. attempting to take food to those whom 1t was impossible to car ry off, but the fierce current discour- asingly retarded this work
 Thousands of TeIegrams.
 Dayton was practically cut off from @ire communication until late this aft eRnoonf Then two wires into Cincin- @Ati were obtained, and operators plunged into great piles of te1egrams from Dayton citizens, almost frantic in their desire to assure friends outside of their safety Operators at opposite ends of the wire reported that thou sands of telegramS were piled up at re- lay offices. These were from people anxious over the fate of Dayton kins- men.