The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1913-03-26

unite. This city is completely cut oil
from the. rest of the country by raj
and practically SO by telephone and
/ telegraph, but reports received show
! the greatest loss of life at Dayton
,, where the list may run from 500 to
1000.
drowned; Delaware, where the lost
will be over 80; Hamilton, 16 or more;
/ Troy, where great loss of life has
| been reported, with no definite fig
ureS available.
In this city three are known to be
mOred.
The flood is the greatest ever known
in Columbus and business activities are
practically paralyzed. The waterworks
shut down last night and will not be
in condition to furnish water for a
week, as two large mans have been
washed out by the flood which took
away every bridge il. the city. Last
night the city was in darkness as the
municipal electric light plant was
flooded.
Gas pressure is low and little hope is
held out that it will last throughout
the day. The flood in the Scioto and
Olentangy rivers came so suddenly yes
terday that workers of all classes who
had crossed them early in the cay were
unable to return to their homes OF the
west side when the torrents tore loose
the bridges connecting both sides of
the city All available state depart
ments We're thrown open to refugees
and thousands of dollars have been
raised to care for them. A bill will be
introduced in the legislature as an
emergency measure, providing that
$3.50, 900 be appropriated for the flood
sufferersy The street car system IS
operating under crippled conditions and
many lines are not running at all. Inc
failure of the water supply is most
81, fof 6pT1a rf q
of health has made preparations to cope
with any situation which may arise
from this cause.
Heavy Gas Pressure.
That pressure on the natural gas
mains added to DaytonS peril was IN
W. Hanley, head of the gas company
urgently instructing subordinate IN
Springfield to get out north OF Dayton
and cut down the pressure.
The number of dead will reach sew
eral hundred in Dayton, according TO
a telephone message Governor CoA
received from Operator Bell of the
Bell Telephone company at Dayton
this morning. Reports concerning the
number of fatalities have been eXag-
gerated, the operator told the COVER
nor, yet he said conditions beggared
description.
Relief trains are arriving in the
stricken town this morning, Mr.. Bell
said. and the water is receding.
GAINESVILLE was cut off from the out
side world today by the flood in the
Muskingum river. An unconfirmed
report from there says it is believed
that Is persons had been drowned.
Troops are on duty there. The
Muskingum river is ten feet higher
than was ever known.
Federal aid in handling the Ohio
flood situation was asked today when
Governor Cox telegraphed the war de-
partnent at Washington asking that
available for use and distribution by
the Ohio National guard
Modified at all points of the state
companies and regiments of the Ohio
forces were ready to start at
daybreak this morning for the stricken
ments for their transportation, the
most serious problem confronting the
headquarters, could be ar
Transportation for a company
from Bucyrus was arrange. Brfgadier
General John c. Speaks was in touch
with the railroads. He was bending
every effort to start a train with troops
to Dayton from any point and by any
route. Help was still cut off from
Piqua early today. The naval militia
at Toledo was entrained, but was I'M
able to leave that city because of the
From 1880 o'clock last night, when
General Speaks received the order from
the governor to call out the entire
militia force of the state, orders were
kept flying through the night from the
generals office as fast as
crippled wires would permit.
By morning all communication had
been established with all the regimen
tai commanders.
Adjutant General Speaks. with a
small detachment of troops and a
squad of linemen and operators, left
here early today in an effort to reach
Dayton. The cttempt will be made
by means of motor LoatS and automo
biles in the hope of establishing ade-
quate telegraph or telephone commu-
nication with Dayton.
Water Supply Cut Off.
Governor Cox received a telephone
from Dayton shortly before
IL O'Clock today, in which it was
stated that 200 bodies had been found. |
The bodies were located by men in
patrol boats. Bodies were found more
than mile from the river. At Fifth |
and Brown streets the water reached |
a height of ten feet At least one of
those drowned met death at the AL |
hotel. The governor also es-
ia bliShed communication with the re- |
lief committee in Dayton, and was
told that the greatest need of flood |
sufferers at present is water. The |
water supply has been cut off.
A relief train, made up at Spring |
field, has left that city for Dayton.
The governor also was told that
there was no loss of life at Sidney.
The flood in the Muskingum river
has swept away a large number of
buildings A family consisting of
seven persons is believed to have been
drowned and great havoc is being
as the flood continues to rise.
The Sixth street bridge and the B. &
D. bridges were swept away this
A large wooden factory col
apsed, but the employees had already
fled. AT 1890 o'clock the flood be-
gan entering the business district.
National Guard soldiers are on duty.
FLOOD BEGINS TO RECEDE.