The Telegraph-courier. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1888-1946, 1913-04-10
.REsCUERs CLOSE TO DEATH
Former Y. M. G. A. Worker in Kenosha
Tells of Suffering Among People
Rendered Homeless by Big Flood that
Swept Ohio Cities Week Ago.


7. Farrill, formerly pastor of the First
Congregational Church in Kenosha, and
for many years well known among the
younger men of Kenosha, was one Of
the band of rescuers in the flood dis
tricts in Ohio and he has written some
interesting letters in regard to MS ex-
perienees in the big flood. Mr.. Far
rill is boys secretary of the Y. M G..
A. at Lima, o., and he was among the
first to volunteer for service in the
rescue party. In writing Of his ex-
periences during the flood he says:
Lima was visited by q terrific
windstorm beginning Friday, March 2S
andocontinuing through the Goth. The
Y. M. G. A. building lost doors and
windows, and a part of its roof. Great
damage was done in the city those two
days, and also by the tremendous down
pours of rain which followed the wind,
and continued through Saturday, Eas-
ter Sunday and Monday. Tuesday night
at ten O'Clock I went with hundreds
of others to watch certain section of
the city which was being overfowed
by what was commonly called an in
significant little creek All means of
communication with that part of the
city were cut off, except a trestle be-
longing to the G., HI. & D. R. R. We
saw houses swept down the swift cur.
rent, some Of them dashed to pieces as
they reached the trestle. Horses, swim
ming for their lives, were watched as
they were helplessly borne through the
waters. There was but one human life
lost. Great excitement prevailed, and
business was almost at standstill for
several days.
"wednesday morning, an urgent call
for volunteers came to Lima from OF
tawa, a city 90 miles away. General
Secretary Eberhart and [ went with
many others, on train which carried
men, provisions, boats and fuel. On
reaching Ottawa, they found the place.
under several feet of water, with
railway trestle the only connection
with the outside world. Seventy cars
loaded with coal had been run onto this
trestle to make it more secure. Over
the tops of these cars, single file of
these volunteers had to pass, to carry
the supplies brought from Lima, to
freight cars which stood at the further
end of the trestle. Those willing to
manage boats were entrusted to take
the supplies to the suffering people. [
happened to be given strong boat of
steel, and this was steered through the
streets of raging water, it being espe-
cially dangerous at the street corners,
where the currents met. The boats
rode over fences and posts and other
obstacles, at great risks. Once my boat
was carried up on the front porch of a
house, the bow of the boat going
through a window. Heart-rending APP
peals of many people had to go en-
tirely unnoticed, as they called from
the sceond-story windows for help of
all sorts, medicine for sick and dying,
funl food and c1otlinU
"From one home we took tele-
gram from a father whose child had
just died, the little one having con-
tracted cold from exposure during
the flood. The father waded in water
up to his hips in order to reach a win
dow and the boat.
Sat one time while eight of the
Lima volunteers were handling sup
plies on the trestle, one part of it gave
way, and they came very near to los
ing their lives After that some of
the men backed out. They were at
work where the raging water was 40
feet directly below them. We remained
with the rest who continued to carry
supplies, and while a chance was Of
fered to return to Lima when night
came, we stayed with few others, and
they spent the night in one of the ho-
tells with hundred or more men and
women who were entirely cut off from
all communication with anything out
side. They had no lights but dim
lamps, and no fuel till the Lima men
arrived with coal which they burnt in
fre-places in stories above the first.
1t was like being on vessel in mid
ocean. In boats, the rescuers pushed
off from the hotel Thursday morning,
and rendered further assistance to the
helpless ones in their homes, returning
to Lima in the afternoon. Outlines the
men were drenched to their skins, but
no harm seemed to overtake any of
them.
eve could have made all kinds of
money if we had been willing to re-
ceive the gifts urged upon US. Many
sneaks and thieves were on hand, ready
to take advantage of the dreadful con-
ditions, but they were dealt with IN