The Bennington evening banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 19??-1961, 1913-03-29
LOSS OF LIFE HAS
BEEN GREATLY
EXAGGERATED
Streets of Dayton Being Explor-
ed BY Motor Boats
RELIEF WORK PROGRESSING
Water Receding Rapidly and Ma
rooned Sections of Flooded Dis
trict Can Be Reached.

Chicago, March 2S.-Revised esti-
mates which came in early today
| from the flooded districts of Ohio
and Indiana showed that reports OF
loss of life in many cities and towns
had been exaggerated
An accurate estimate of the num-
Der of victims of the flood at Dayton
continued to be an impossibility.
The death-tolls promise to be much
less heavy at Columbus, Ohio, than
first reported from the western part
of that city.
In the parts of Dayton which have
been explored by a motorboat the
death list has been greatly reduced
from first estimates, and unless the
number 81 victims in the north sec
ton of the c " is found to be large
the dead in the entire city may not
number more than 200. In Piqua,
where more than 500 persons were
reported drowned, fewer than twenty
lost their lives according to advices
today.
In Chillicothe, where the number
of drowned were reported to be
around 500, the dead do not exceed
twenty-five. Similar results were ex-
pected as to GAINESVILLE and other
Muckingum valley towns.
indianapolis continued to report
improved conditions during the night
with the estimates as to death
shrinking as more accurate reports
were made.
Dayton, Ohio, March 2S-Backed
up by the militia and hundreds of
special deputies, the citizens COM
mittee in charge of the relief work
in the various sections of the flooded
city control the situation today.
The work of clearing up the chao-
tic conditions brought on by he flood
is progressing rapidly
Today began with great promise.
A brilliant sun tempered the keen
ness of the frosty air. The food sub
sided perceptibly. Thousands of
! food victims, who had been penned
in the downtown sections of the city,
made their way to the suburbs On
main street in the heart of Dayton
1t was possible to pick a dry path
over the pavement.
Cooperating with the citizens com
mittee appointed by President L. b.
Smith of the Chamber of Commerce,
the militia began early to make ar
rangements TO handle the situation
in the downtown district Sight
seers were barred. Militiamen and
deputies were instructed to shoot Of
tenders against the plan of relief
work.
Shoot at the legs first. and then
shoot to kill" is the way the soldiers
were instructed to act.
In Columbus
Columbus, March 2s.-Some def
mite idea as to the total number of
persons who lost their lives on the
west side of Columbus, when the
Scioto River broke through the leyee
is expected to be gained today by the
rescue and relief parties.
Today dawned cold but clear and
indications are that it will get much
warmer during the day. Flood vic
tins suffered greatly last night from
the cold. However the river is re-
ceding rapidly, and rescue parties
will be able to reach many inundated
sections OF the west side, which were
MdANl
West Columbus remains practical
ly under martial law. Military COM
panies on duty have been ordered to
shoot hooters on sight. The city re-
lief station at the City hall and the
newspapers are compiling lists, both
of the rescued and the dead. Scores
of persons are still unaccounted fol.
and the officials are trying to verify
reports of persons reported drowned.
First CLEAN Of Hope
GAINESVILLE, Ohio, March 2S.-(By |
long distance telephone to Pittsburgh |
-Zanesvilles 10000 inhabitants, TO-
600 of whom are homeless today, saw
the first CLEAN of hope since the
flood in the Muskingum River swept |
through the city three days ago. The
river had begun to recede, soldiers. |
reinforcements for the National
Guard on duty in the streets. were
entering the suburbs and provisions
had arrived to a point within four
miles from the city. The sun rose
clear and bright.
Conditions are still frightful. The
electric light and water companies
are out of commission. One small
gas line is serving the city with a
fitful supply Of fuel and there is lit
tie, il any, coal available. Many
families in the flooded sections are
without food. Communication be
tween the city and the section
known as Putnam, where 1t is believ
ed the loss of life will be found to be
greatest. is still cut of and all pub
lie and private business is at a stand
still. Looting has commenced and
the military has been given orders to
shoot down the first theft caught at
work.
In Eastern Pennsylvania.
Philadelphia, March 2S.-Clear.
cold weather has lessened the dan
ger of further floods in eastern Pen
nsylvania. excepting the vicinity Of
Harrisburg. where the Susquehanna
Z River is expected to futher inundate
the lowlands. The Susquehanna is
receding at Wilkesbarre, loo miles
north Of Harrisburg. and the Lacka-
vana River Is falling at Scranton.
Railroads in the food districts are