The Laurens advertiser. (Laurens, S.C.) 1885-1973, 1913-04-02
Ohio, Indiana and Illinois
Devastated.
TERRIBLE LOSS OF
LIFE AND PROPERTY
Great Disaster Along the Ohio River
and Its Tributaries when Flood Wa
ters Rush Through the Towns Caus-
ing Immense Loss Of Life and
Property.


the wake of the high waters Of the
contributary streams flowing into the
Ohio river from Pennsylvania, Ohio,
Indiana and Illinois last week and
this week. Dayton, Ohio, which re-
ceived the brunt Of the attack of the
onfiowing waters, suffered the loss
of hundreds and hundreds of lives and
millions and millions Of dollars in
property. Early reports of the dis
aster from the whole area suffering
first placed the loss of life at over
three thousand and the loss of prop
erty at hundreds of millions Of dol
lars, but later estimates have reduc-
ed these figures. 1t is now estimated
that the total loss of life, while ter
rible enough, will hardly go over the
five hundred mark. The loss in prop
it will not fall much below the first
estimates. The first high estimates
as to the loss of life were reduced
after a large number Of people who
lost were found to have survived by
clinging to the tops Of houses, tele-
phone poles, floating planks and 9TH
er things. Stories of heroism and
selfsacrifice have come from the
stricken area in linAitless numbers.
Superb efforts were put forth by pri-
vate individuals, by citizens COM
mittees and by public officials to aid
in the rescue of the injured and
drowning and to reduce the loss of
property. The governors of the diff
ferent states took direct charge of
affairs in some OF the districts and
in others the military took over the
powers of the civil authorities. Presi-
dent Woodrow Wilson kept closely in
touch with the situation, sending Sec
retary of War Garrison to the scene
of disaster to keep in personal touch
with the situation. All red tape was
done away with in the war depart
ment and food and other supplies
were dispatched to the flooded district
without delay. The governor Of Ohio
issue call for assistance and the
people Of this nation and others re-
sponded with hundreds of thousands
of dollars. Chicago gave over $780,
600 during the first few days of the
disaster and other cities came to the
rescue equally as freely. So great
has been the liberlity of the people
of the United States that the last re-
ports stated that more than enough
supplies Of food and clothing were on
hand for few days to feed and
clothe the entire district, but that
vast sums were still needed to defray
to defray those little incidental ex-
penses that go toward placing in the
hands of the poorer people the small
necessities needed for house keeping.
The Red Cross society has had its
organization represented at all i'm
Dortant points and immense sums
of money have gone through its hands
to aid in alleaviating the suffering
The disaster was one OF the worst
in the history Of the country, prob
ably exceeding that of Chicago Gal
vaston, Baltimore or San Francisco.
Flood waters according to- the Co
lumbia State, receded sufficiently Fri
day night to show that the number
of persons drowned in all the affect
ed cities, in Ohio and Indiana may
not exceed 500. While many resons
are still missing to friends and rela-
tives Investigations made today indi-
Gated that many were safe who had
been thought lost.
In Dayton careful estimates placed
the number of deaths at 200 or few
err although a meeting of the under
takers asserted that the total might
be 500. Relief work went on rapidly
in Dayton and all parts of the city
were reached.
Columbus will have the next to the
largest loss of life, GO bodies having
already been found in the inundated
portion of West Columbus.