The Washington times., 1913-03-28
CHAOS MADE WORSE
BY PAUC|TY OF NEWS
Relief Crews and Newspaper
Men Sent Into Flooded Dis
trict Seem Swallowed.
By GEORGE H. GALL.

The unprecedented chaotic condition.
! in Ohio and Indiana are emphasized by
| the fact that no one known to be in
| the flooded cities has come out of them,
| and those who have been sent IN to
! take help or get news have likewise
been swallowed. In those portions of
of from the outside world, people are
hopelessly wondering how to reach their
relatives and friends and how to get
some news of them.
| / left Washington last Monday after
noon on the Broadway limited of the
Pennsylvania road. the last time that
train has been sent out. The Train
was due in Chicago Tuesday morning,
but when the passengers awoke they
found themselves in Columbus.
They were told by the trainmen that
the train ahead, which had been sent
cut for Chicago via the Big Four had
broken through a bridge and was then
In river. IT was impossible to pro-
coed further west or north and the wa
ters were rapidly rising in the rivers at
Columbus.
Our train was started back eastward
with the purpose. we were told. of find
ing some correction to the North. Not
n single line was open. however and we
were taken all the way back to Pitts
burgh.
Land Under Water.
All along the line of the Pennsylvania
between Columbus and the Ohio river
rivers were out of their banks, and
farmss, woods. and fields were all un-
der water. At places the water swirled
against the road bed with such force
that II appeared as though the tracks
would momentarily be swept away.
The train was finally sent out 10
Cleveland, and thence TO Chicago over
the tracks of the Lake Shore and Mich
iSan Southern Grad, reaching Chicago
Wednesday, twenty-five hours late.
Returning the same night from Chi
cago 10 Cleveland, a blizzard was en-
courtered that put the block system
out of business. and wires down, so
that the only road connecting Chicago
with the East was gcratly hampered
in operation.
impressed upon everyone by the very
fact that not a single person who had
been in the flooded section was met.
and only occasionally would a frag-
mentary message be received Tele-
graph and telephone companies wer.
ford any means of communication.
Railroad depots. telegraph and tele-
phone stations everywhere were be-
sieged with anxious inquirers. and a
sense of utter helplessness wa every
where prevalent.
Eager For News.
People have not yet had time to think
OF the consequences of the floods. of
how much damage has been done to
property. or of how long il will take
10 restore normal conditions of travel
and communication. The only thought
is to learn whether loved ones are still
living and If so. whether they have
means OF sustenance.
Hour after hour passes and there is
no answer. Railroad. trolley, automo-
cess TO and from the sufferers has been
cut off We could readily see how i'm
possible II would even be to attempt to
tramp overland from the nearest point
of approach, for every stream in the
country was out of its banks and rush
flooded to the foots of the hills.
In Cleveland, business is at a stand
still. and the sole thought in peoples
minds IL to discover some means OF
score OF other cities and towns in the !
central part Of the State that have been !
cut off entirely by the floods. Nearly |
every Cleveland business house and |
most Cleveland residents have interests |
or relatives in the stricke nsection. |
Cleveland newspapers have sent men |
after men into the flooded district, only !
TO hear nothing from them.
Cleveland itself. the center Yesterday |
of a binding blizzard. last night was !
beginning TO feel the effects of the gen |
eraI rains and SHOWS. The Cuyahoga |
river was out of its banks and piles of !
lumber we're being swept from the /
Yards out into Lake Erie.
Hits Power Plants.
one electric power house furnishing
light to a large section Of the city was
aooded and the electric light and gas
companies late yesterday sent out
warnings through the newspapers that