Perth Amboy evening news., 1913-03-28

Columbus, O.. March 2S.- Columbus
has suffered an appalling loss of life in
the aood which Inundated the west
side of the city from the Scioto river
to the hilltops. Not until today did the
people of the east side realize the enor-
nifty of the catastrophe.
That part of the city between Cen
lral and Sandusky avenues is appar
entity almost wiped out, and estimates
IF the death toll Of the flood IN this
.ity vary from 500 to 5000.
1t was not until yesterday, when the
waters began to recede and after two
nights of horror, during which hun
dreds of people clung to the housetops.
while others sought safety In trees.
that the fact dawned upon the inhab-
itants that their city had been visited
by as great a calamity perhaps as that
which has fallen upon the Miami val
ley.
The bodies of 200 persons lie huddled
IN the United Brethren church on
Ayondale avenue. according to o. FL.
Ossman, an undertaken, who explored
the flood district In rowboat.
He says this report was made to him
by man who said he had been able to
reach the building and look through
the windows Police who sought to
confirm the story were unable to reach
the church because of the current.
Ossman said nineteen bodies had
been taken to his undertaking rooms
and that he has been asked 10 be pre-
pared to care for sixty-nine other bod
les. He says he counted fully 200 bod
les in wreckage on West Park avenue.
: Other men who have veutured into
the food district tell corresponding
stories of awful loss Of life. TO add to
the horrors of the situation reports
reached the statehouse that the build
ings In the food swept district were
being looted by men in rowboats.
Troops Ordered Out.
To meet this emergency and to bet
ter patrol the west side, which is under
martial law, Governor Cox ordered
Troop Il OF the national guard to pa
troll the ruined section Of the city.
1t was believed the cavalrynlen
could cover more territory than foot
kfdiers.
AS the waters recede the militia viii
guard the west eide under arrange
ments to be made between the adju-
tant generals department and Chair
man Mass Of the Columbus relief COM
mittee.
Hundreds Of people are still ma
rooned in flooded homes, their rescue
to this time being impossible because
Of the swift current of the river. Res
cued people IN dire straits have been
brought to the city hall in stream all
day, where people by the hundreds
wait to obtain news Of missing rela-
tives and friends.
Families are separated, and men,
women and children stand night and
day at the edge Of the water waiting
for the food to suDside, that they may
reach abandoned homes.
The body Of a man Is suspended in
tree near Glenwood avenue, beyond
reach Of the rescuing parties. Other
bodies are among debris washed up on
the edge Of the waters in the southwest
y
two submerged street cars, and in the
tree with the corpse nine persons were
SAID to have perished.
TWO TruckIoads of Bodies.
Many Of the refugees are In state In
stitutions ON the high ground at the
west end. The water has fallen several
feet. and some of the streets inundated
yesterday can be traversed, but In the
owlands, where 1t Is feared the great
est number of dead will be found. 1t
may be several days before thorough
search can be instituted.
Many buildings on business streets, 1t
Is feared, may collapse because Of
weakened foundations, and from these
structures the police have been rescu-
Ing those who sought refuge from the
waters In the upper stories.
Many Of the refugees were in q pit
liable condition when rescued. They