New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1913-03-28
CRAzED WOMEN At PERU
END LIFE WHEN SAVED
Maddened by Terrible Sights,
They Leap from the Boats
That Rescue Them.
WILD ANIMALS AT LARGE
Elephants Escape from Circus
Burglars at Work-Epi-
demic of Disease Adds
to Horror.

description OF the horrors OF the food
that swept Peru. Ind. was given to-day
by Gilbert Kessler. one OF the heroes OF
the calamity. Weary and unnerved from
loss Of sleep and the sights he had wit
messed. young Kessler staggered from the
relief train returning from the stricken
city.
Kessler's most vivid picture was OF the
suicide OF several fear-crazcd women. who
leaped from the rescue boats. maddened
by the terrible sights.
1T was cold and damp and misty said
Kessler. "and the sight Of tho black wa
ter rushing on pitilessly seemed 70 take
the heart out OF most Of US, especially
the women.
Night and day you could hear the
shrieks OF women. I was plotting one OF
the rescue boats to our landing. the court
house. and the boat was pretty well filed.
one OF our passengers was a woman. W.
were moving rather shaklly through one
Of the main streets. when ell OF sudden
| saw this woman rise from her scat and
begin TO wall. oh, what is the usei
Wen all be drowned. anyway she cried,
I
"The next moment / found myself IN
the water. ! saw an arm stick UP for
moment made a grab for It, but Il
went down There was no chance 70 swim
i'm that Niagara. ! struck the stern OF
our rowboat and seized II with one hand.
Then I gradually drew myself aboard
picked mp one OF our oarsmen little
later lie was still alive.
All Thrown in Water.
Later We were bringing another boat
load to the courthouse. when woman
leaped out desparingly and all OF Us
went over Again IL was a fght and |
engaged in saving myself. -Four times
altogether ! was thrown out and I'm
stu wondering how managed 70 escape.
The current swept around street cor
ners with tremendous force. and only TIE
most experienced oarsmen could propel
craft with any degree Of safety. One Or
the lie savers from Michigan city took
too wide "a turn. and we an landed IN the
treetops."
Kessler also gave a description Of the
food on the first night
we heard tho roaring of lions and
neighing Of horses and realized that the
circus which has winter quarters al Peru
had been ingulfed The lions and other
animals In cages died in the trap. roaring
until the water swallowed them. TIE
elephants escaped into the water ana
started for the shore. and that was the
last we saw OF them
Peru. Ind March I.-Aithoush hgf
water prevents search OF the distric'
which suffered most 90 Monday food.
the authorities assert that one hundr,e
persons are missing and atty dead
The business district is emerging from
the flood which rs recedirg ar the rag
OF three inches an hour. The water hae
steadily fallen since yesterday uoIhlhs.
nut the current is 80 SWIFT I'D anton
stroat and In south Peru that i
il iupossible to investigate the disiric,
where the heavy loss of hfe occlrreo
There is three inches Of snow on me
ground and II rs stu falling
The Mayor Of Michigan CITY has been
requested to send the lifesaving crew here
10 facilitate the search for the dead.
There ia an unyeridcd report that eight
were drowned In Sth street when a large
boat capsized.
Disease already has evidenced Itself m
the form Of more than nifty cases o'
dlphtherla. measles and mumps among
children of the destitute. The physicians
look for scores Of cases OF typhoid from
drinking the contaminated water which
flows through the streets. Il VIII be Two
or three weeks before the waterworks
resume. so far the one pump IN the
courthouse yard and melted snow have
furnished the only pure drinking water
Eight carloads Of provisions arrived 10.
1av. The interurban line sent a cariosu
of foodstuns TO the vicinity OF south
Peru. across the river. This Is the nFs'
relief the 1000 residents there have mad
Nothing IS known here Of their situation
which must be materially worse than
here.
The only telegraph wire working IS on'
north on the Lake Erie & Western kan
road. The telephone companies have ohs
circuit. Its use is restricted 70 reHe'
messages. s L. era
Hundreds OF persons marooned u 'n'
second stories OF their homes have "p
pealed TO passing boats for food fuel an.
water Fishermen have seized some VI
the boats and have been taking the curious
sightseeing. Persons who appropriate
boats and tie them up will be arresleu