davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Birmingham age-herald., 1913-03-28
TORRENTS HINDER
RESCUE WORK

The river forms a horseshoe around
the business dsWict, making 1t impos-
sibe TO reach that part until the tor
rents that are pouring down the valley
reoede.
Dayton View, West Dayton and River
dale are the only sections between which
communication is possible,
Hourly apprehension for the appalling
sights that will be uncovered when the
waters return to- normal are growing.
Pestilence is feared and already sanitary
and health officials are mapping out their
work Sewers of the entire city were
burst by the flood. manholes were sim
ply blown out of the earth. 1t will be
many days before the water service can
be restored and it will be more than a
week before street car companies can
operate Electric lights are something
which probably will not be known in
Dayton again for from 10 to IA days, and
authorities believe energetic measures are
necessary.
It is impossible to learn the names
of the dead recovered. Only one body,
in Riverdale, has been identified, and
those recovered are being taken to tenn
porary morgues, churches and private
homes so that an accurate account of
the bodies will be made impossible
The police and militia report that
looters are working In the central dis
triet All persons not able to give a
satisfactory explanation of their ac-
tions are arrested. Persistent, but un-
confirmed. reports tell of looters being
shot. Excitement is running riot. The
widest rumors were in circulation and
serious trouble is expected.
Six hundred persons trapped in Union
station here reported to have been
drowned were rescued tonight. For
three days they have been standing
packed like sardines in box.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1913-03-28
$50 BELIEVED
TO BE DROWNED

GAINESVILLE. o.. March 27.-It is be-
lieved here tonight that $50 lives have
been lost in the disastrous flood now
holding this city and vicinity in its
grasp. over half the town is under
80 feet of water Fifteen thousand peo-
pie are homeless.
A score of buildings, weakened by
the water, collapsed today. Tonight
the Builders supply company building
at Second and Main streets caught fire.
1t is not believed the fire Will spread.
The Muskingum and the Licking
rivers are still rising here. Relief is
needed at once. Only one telephone
line connects Zaneville with the outside
world and it fails frequently.
The weather has turned cold and the
homeless are suffering Intensely The
food supply is almost exhausted
From the hills around GAINESVILLE the
survivors of the onrush of the waters
looked down upon a scene of the ut
most desolation. What had been two
rivers was one great. destroying
stream More than 500 homes have been
swept away Although many persons
were saved ii is believed 100 is con-
servative estimate OF the fatalities
Late today two unknown young men
in a skiff rescued eight persons from
roofs. As the boat struggled through
the swift flood water it was suddenly
upset. All the occupants were swept
to their deaths
More than 30 bodies were seen float
ing in the raging water today, but 1t
was Impossible to reach any of them.
The gas supply is still on tonight. but
there is no water or electric light
The Birmingham age-herald., 1913-03-28
Relief Stations Crowded

Riverdale. Dayton. o., March 27.--
Relief stations in Daytonview, the
Longfellow school in Riverdale. and in
the Van Cleave school tonight are
crowded with refugees.
At both of these stations food and
dry goods We're plentiful, but pneu-
monia had attacked many of the women
at the Van Cleave school. The third
floor was turned into hospital and
all available doctors were sent there
The water Is receding rapidly in the
northern section of the city, showing to
some extent the great property loss
1t was said few bodies had been found
in the debris. Wrecked houses block ed
many of the streets. The wreckage
had travelled down thes current from
North Dayton. which is inhabited prin-
cipally by foreigners.
Financial committees of the several
districts report liberal responses from
their appeals. From the Daytonview
station $4,000 had been raised this aft
ernoon and other stations reported like
amounts.
Thrilling stories were told by refu-
gees who had been trapped in their
attics and on their roofs in the very
heart of the flood.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1913-03-28
Rising at Memphis

Memphis, March s7.-The Mississippi
river at Memphis rose five-tenths of a
foot today, the gauge at Z o'clock to-
night showing stage of 80 feet, two feet
below flood stage. Weather bureau pre-
dictions are that the danger mark will
be reached Saturday
President o. n Killough of the st.
Francis levee board of Arkansas, APP
pealed to the governor of that state today
TO place 100 convicts at the disposal OF
the board for work on the levees.
According to a dispatch from Little
Rock, however the governor is unde-
cided as to whether the turning over of
the convicts to the levee board would be
permissible under recently enacted law,
which forbids the hiring or leasing of
state prisoners. The statute provides
specifically that convicts be employed on
state farms. Attorney General Moody
Will interpret the law for the governor
tomorrow.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1913-03-28
PROPERTY LOSS IN
OHIO WILL EXCEED
THE SAN FRANCISCO
DISASTER, SAYS COX
tContinued from page one,

penned up in the business buildings
were freed by the middle of the after
noon. In the main business section
the water receded to about IL inches
and with some difficulty foot traffic
was resumed.
On the west side 100 bodies were found
in bunch on Williams street. The re-
cession of the waters revealed only two
bodies in the business section.
GAINESVILLE presented a problem making
the nearest approach to the Dayton situ-
alton. Fifteen thousand people were
driven from their homes. What remains
of the ~ bridge was 20 feet under
water. Several structures across the
river were swept away.
Our great difficulty still remains the
lack of railroad transportation. The
Scioto is falling rapidly and a surprising
number of houses seem to have been
washed away in West Columbus Many
people contend that the loss here will be
1000 We are hoping this Is excessive.
"Chillicothe reports the loss of more than
100 lives. Piqua insists that the loss there
is 500 The two great reservoirs the
Lewiston and St. Mary's have been kept
intact, although it required hard fight
to save the Lewiston reservoir last night
at midnight.
With many towns in the Scioto and
was impossible to gather informa ton
that would tell the extent of the flood
in these sections. There is undoubt-
edly loss of life in these two valleys
but compared with the stag ggering death
tolls reported from Dayton, Columbus
and other points, the casualties were
small
Direct communication with Chilli
cothe, so miles south of Columbus, in
the Scioto valley, early tonight estab
lished the fact there had been loss OF
life there. 1t was said that at least
20 were known dead. but that the total
fatalities would LIT exceed %.
No information from the Portsmouth
or other points south in the Scioto val
ley could be obtained tonight. These
towns are known to be flooded.
Mount Vernon remains isolated but
information obtainable from round
about sources indicate that early re-
ports of heavy loss of life were exag-
gerated.
1t was impossible to establish COM
munication with towns east of Newark
in the Musllingum river today or to-
night
The Birmingham age-herald., 1913-03-28
MASS OF DEBRIS
UNDER WATER

This mass of debris is under several feet
of water with swift currents running IN
many directions. Mady of those rescued
tell of escaping from their homes by the
fraction of minutes just before the rush
ing waters swept their homes away and
crushed them like egg shells against
bridges. Scores of entire families, these
people assert, were swept down with their
relatives in the swift current. The state
Hospital for the Insane and the Mt. Car
mel hospital on the hill top is occupied
by refugees, according 70 those who in
yaded the stricken district -Four chill
dren are reported to have been born in
school on hilltop. Fire Chief Laurier,
who was marooned on the hill just beyond
the flooded section, reaching that point
of safety in his automobile just before the
waters swept the lowlands, said he saw
scores of people standing on their porehes
as the waters swept down, and that
he cannot see how scarcely any escaped.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1913-03-28
EXECUTIVE BOARD OF THE
RED CROSS TO MEET TODAY

President John l.. Kaul of the local
chapter of the American Red Cross has
called meeting of the executive board
this morning at 10 O'Clock in the offices of
A. III. Ford, president of the Birmingham
Railway, Light and Power company, to
consider the matter of obtaining relief
for the sufferers in the flooded districts.
over $500 was received yesterday by
w. FL. Manly, treasurer of the local Red
Cross, which will be devoted to relief
work.
Mai w. A. French of the Salvation
Army announced last night that the wag-
ons of his organization would at the
call of citizens collect food, clothing. ETC..
from the residences or elsewhere and turn
The Birmingham age-herald., 1913-03-28

with provisions. Nothing could be
learned of the conditions in the towns
east of GAINESVILLE or the Muskingum
valley either today or tonight from
this point. More than dozen towns
between GAINESVILLE and Marietta are
said to be under water The isolation
of these towns including Marietta is
complete and so far as telephone or
telegraph company officials at Colum-
bus knew tonight they had not com
municated with the outside World
from Il TO "a hours.
The true extent Of the awful tragedy
win not be known for days until the mass
of wreckage, houses and uprooted trees
which are strewn over the loWianus
south of the city are uncovered.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1913-03-28
THE OHIO RIVER is RISING
RAPIDLY; UNEASINESSs FELT

Cincinnati, March 27-The Ohio river
has been rising steadily here all day, and
stiii is climbing tonight. At s o'clock
the gauge showed 90, a rise of more than
three feet since the same hour this morn
ing
East and west of this city on the Ohio
side OF the river the lowlands have been
Inundated and much damage has been
done. In the low section of the city many
houses have been flooded Z
Across the river at Newport and Gov
ington, Ky, similar conditions prevail
and the police early today took the pre-.
caution to warn dwelters in the low lying
The Birmingham age-herald., 1913-03-28

1t over to the local agents of the Red
Cross.
The New York Central railroad will haul
free consignments for the food stricken
area. The following telegram was re-
ceived yesterday by J. j. Fahey, COM
mercial agent of the lines, stationed in
Birmingham, from Carl Howe, manager
of the fast freight lines:
lowing to disastrous and appalling con-
ditions in flooded districts, New York Cen
trail lines will handle free any food, cloth
ing or other supplies contributed for re-
lief flood sufferers and consigned tc
mayors or relief committees in flooded
districts Mr.. ingalls, has instructed all
agents to accept and bill free such con-
signments. Notify all concerned.
CARL HOWE
The Birmingham age-herald., 1913-03-28
$50 Are Homeless

Wabash, Ind. March 27.--Seven hundred
and fifty persons are homeless as the
result of the high flood in the Wabash
river. The city is without gas. water or
lighting facilities. The mayor this after
noon issued proclamation ordering that
all saloons and business houses closed at
6 o'clock and instructed the police TO
keep people off the streets, on account OF
the fear of fire. There has been no loss
of life. but the property loss will be more
than $4,000.
No communication with the outside
world has been had since Monday until
this afternoon. W
The Birmingham age-herald., 1913-03-28

sections OF the danger that threatened.
Larger areas on that side Of the river
are flooded because of he greater extent
of the lowlands and also because of Mill
creek. which flows through both cities.
Dayton and Ludlow, other Kentucky
suburbs of this city, also are sufferers
from the rising flood, and many houses
are completely under water No lives
have been lost in this district.
The weather bureau here predicts that
the river will have reached a stage of
nearly 70 feet by tomorrow night, almost
as high as it was on February ID, 1884,
ghen the gauge showed Il feet, the high
est on record.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1913-03-28
Vote S125O Relief Fund

Galveston, Tex, March 27.1The board
of city commissioners of Galveston to-
night voted an appropriation of $3.50 for
the relief of the Ohio and Indiana flood
sufferers
OF the appropriation $40 is to be tele-
graphed to Governor Cox of Ohio and
$500 to Governor Ralston of Indiana.
Mayor Fisher has issued a proclama-
ton urging all citizens of Galveston to
contribute a fund for the relief of the
sufferers. Bishop N. A. Gallinger of the
Catholic diocese of Galveston. after send
ing substantial personal check. issued
an order to his dioceses, embracing south
Texas counties, urging contributions.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1913-03-28
In Urgent Need

Columbus. o.. March 27-Money by
telegraph is the urgent need of Ohio's
flood swept districts, according to a
proclamation issued by Governor Cox
today. He said that it is impossible
to get supplies to the districts strick-
en-, because railroad trains are unable
to operate and that supplies can best
be procured at the nearest points to
the cities and towns affected.
The officers of the Red Cross are
here and ready to give assistance
Food and coffins are needed badlyfin
Dayton, according to a message to
Governor Cox this afternoon from Adju-
tant General Wood, who is in the flood
stricken city. The survivors are nearly
starved and there must be coffins in
which to place the dead bodies as they
are recovered, according to the adjutant
general
The Birmingham age-herald., 1913-03-28
TOO LATE TO CLASSIFY

AGENTS can make $40 to $40 daily
selling 81 book on Horrible Disaster
by Flood and Tornado greatest OPP
portunity for agents since ''Titanics'
enormous demand for authentic
book. $50 pages, so illustrations; rep
resentatives sent to scene of disaster
for true account and photographs OF
appalling calamity; big profits for
agents who begin at once; part OF
publishers profits contributed TO
Red Cross relief fund: purchasers
thus help sufferers; highest commis-
sion, so per cent or better, freight
paid. credit given; EXTRA Inducements
TO general agents or crew managers:
outfit free. act quick, be first around
and make $40 to $50 day. Interna-
tional Bible House. Perry Bldg, Phil
adelphia. 3-2S-3t
The Birmingham age-herald., 1913-03-28
More Than 500 Mar00ned
Are Saved in West
Dayton
HELPLESS TO. AID
MANY SUFFERERS
Water in All Inundated Districts
Falls OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES
cal Situation Hampers
the Rescue Work

West Dayton. o., March 25.--Condi-
tions in West Dayton and the central
part of the city became acate tonight.
Loeters are at work, according to the
militia. Communication with the
downtown districts IL cut off except
through the national gunrdsmen. They
refuse to let anyone venture Into that
district. The militia say a score of per-
SONS suspected of being bent ON 1ootinR
have been arrested. An ex-poIice man
caught coming out of n deserted house
fs In prison.
The Fourth National bank building
still is burning.
Z The blaze IL lighting up the sky for
miles and though several engine COM
panies are fighting the blaze they are
making little headway. All lights In
the central district have heen ordered
extinsuisked because OF fenr that the
natural gas, which was supposed to
be turned off, is on.
West Dayton, o., March 27.--After a
nay of grueIling work, volunteer res-
cuers have recovered more than half
hundred bodies from the waters of
the Great Miami river and Wolf creek
and saved upwards of 800 who for two
days have been cIinging to roofs or
living in upper stories. With the COM
ing of nfghtfalI the efforts to rescue
more persons was sIackened and all of
Dayton, not I'm the central flood dis
trict. waited in dread for the nightly
fires which have added horrors to the
situation.
No fires have been seen in the central
district since noon, but the knowledge
that thousands of persons are trapped on
upper floors of the buildings where they
cannot be reached, added to the terror
tonight.
The water in all the inundated districts
has fallen from three to five feet today
have Stacked SO that it is possible, except
in the centre. for small boats to reach
sufferers.
Company + of the Ohio National Guard
from Eaton, o., is patrolling the streets
of West Dayton. Adjutant General Wood
today wired Governor Coz asking that
militia, either Ohio or from any nearby
state, be rushed here
In addition to the militia members of
the local police force not caught in the
central flood district and volunteer
guardsmen are on duty.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1913-03-28
RIVERS RISING AS
RESULT OF FLOOD;
DEATHS REPORTED.
Ohio, Kentucky, Mississippi
and Wabash Rapidly
Reaching Flood
Stage


Frankfort. Ky, March 27.-fIigher than
at any time in the Hast 30 years, the
Kentucky river here stonight reached a.
stage of 37.s feet and is believed to be
practically on a stand. Much Of the city
just back of the old statehouse Is flooded
and two inches more of water will shut
down the lighting and power plant. Prop
erty damage will reach thousands.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1913-03-28
Relief Trains Ready

Toledo, o., March ga New York re-
lief train and other relief trains which
ioined il Ell route sent message to the
Associated Press tonight requesting that
the authorities in Dayton be informed
that enough food, medical and clothing
supplies would reach Dayton Friday aft
ernoon to materially relieve distress. The
purpose of the message was to have Day
ton authorities prepare unloading facil-
titles.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1913-03-28
46.2 Rise at Cairo

Cairo, ILL.,, March 27.-The Ohio river
tonight reached stage of 46.5 feet, with
every indication it would rise to the 20
foot level before Sundays Thousands Of
acres of lowlands are flooded and today
refugees began to pour into Cairo. The
city council has appointed committee
to look after relief work The entire
wheat crop in the rich bottom lands Is
Iosf
The Birmingham age-herald., 1913-03-28
Trapped in Overflow

indianapolis, Ind. March 27.--An uncon-
firmed rumor reached here tonight that
several families were trapped and
drowned by sudden rise and overflow of
lower Salt creek in Brown county. The
county has meagre telephone connections
and those are out of service. cutting on
all means of communication. The ru-
NOR says property losses will be $50, ,000s
The Birmingham age-herald., 1913-03-28
GAINESVILLE KNOWN
TO SUFFER HEAVILY

GAINESVILLE is known to be suffering
from the flood and telephone advices
from that point late today said there
was 3 feet of water in front of thar
city late today. With the exception of a
wagon road, it was said tonight that 1t
was Impossible for get within IL miles
of that city
Food supplies in GAINESVILLE were re-
ported to be running very low and eff
forts We're being made to reach there
The Birmingham age-herald., 1913-03-28
MILITIA HASTENS
TO STRICKEN CITY

From all sections of the state, mllltla
equipped with food and blankets are has
tening to the relief of the Dayton suf-
ferers and it was reported during the
night that the advance guard was pa
trolling the principal streets in boats and
checking inclpient ruffianism.
The appeal of Governor Cox for outside
help has received quiclSened response, and
provisions, cots and supplies of all kinds
were being hurried from neighboring
states. The list of known dead in this
city has been increased 10 Z, with miss
ing list of 90. At Delaware the known
dead number 80. Sydney reports 100 dead
and Tiffin So 1t was believed this morn
ing that the Lewiston reservoir near Day
ton, which had threatened to break dur
ing the night, had been so sufficiently
bolstered that no further danger need be
feared. Resumption of rail traffic Will
be made today if possible Not only are
bridges washed out everywhere, but the
tracks of many of the principal roads
are still flooded and washouts are num-
erous Fearing a typhoid epidemic the
state board of health department is maxi
ing arrangements to clean up the larger
cities visited by the floods.
Col ID. N Oyer, an attache of the city
sanitary department, reported today that
two truck loads of bodies We're removed
from one point on the West Side. Hun
dredS OF people are SUN indrooieu III iioou-
ed homes their rescue being impossible
because of the swift currents. Many boats
already have been overturned and the
lives of several rescuers have been added
to the death list.
Twenty five persons were drowned
and great property damage was
wrought by the Scioto river floods at
Chillicothe, which had been cut off
from communication until late today,
according to the statement of G. w.
Perry, editor of the Chillicothe Gazette,
over the long distance telephone this
evening.
Governor Cox had previously re-
ceived a message that 500 persons had
been drowned there.
Mr. Perry said that while many per-
sons were missing the known death
list will not exceed 20. A great part
of Chillicothe is under water
The Birmingham age-herald., 1913-03-28

In the eastern end of the state the
Mohawk and Hudson valleys are eXper-
iencing the worst flood in years. In
Albany power plants have been put out
of commission, street traffic practi-
cally suspended and schools and fac
tories closed. The south end of the
city is under water and the police res
cued residents there in boats.
In Troy the water front streets are
submerged and there has been con-
siderable financial loss. Watervliet re-
ports many streets under five feet of
water with citizens travelling about in
boats.
The huge plants of the General Elec-
trio and American Locomotive com
panies in Schenectady are threatened
tonight by the flood from the Mohawk.
The river is 1876 feet above normal
and slows1y rising.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1913-03-28
Food Supply Committee

Pittsburg, March 27.-Under the direc-
ton of the food supply committee of
Pittsburg, organized to aid victims of
the Ohio floods, the steamer Dewey will
leave here in the morning for Zanes-
Vile, o., loaded with provisions and
clothing. 1t is planned, however, to ex-
tend aid to all intermediate points in dis
tress
The Birmingham age-herald., 1913-03-28
Oscar Newton Dead

Crystal Springs, Miss. March 27-Prof
Oscar Newton, aged SO, who founded the
Newton institute here more than 80 years
ago, died in class room here today
professor Newton collapsed while hear
ing class and died before he could
be given medical aid
The Birmingham age-herald., 1913-03-28
Acres Under Water

Owensboro, KY. March 27.-Thousands
of acres of Indiana lowIands opposite this
city are already under water and the
Ohio river here tonight is still rising at
the rate of four inches an hour. Green
river has passed flood stage. Illinois
Central trains for Chicago from the south
are being detoured through here.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1913-03-28

band, william Lowell, and two small
children.
The funeral of Penry NJ. Lewis was
held yesterday morning from the resi-
dence of the family at Nineteenth street
and Park avenue. Services were con-
Quoted by DR.. A. w. Moore and the
Rev. George Eaves of Birmingham. A
large number of friends of the young
man and family attended the funeral,
which was an especially sad affair ow-
ing to the tragic circumstances of the
death. The young man was run over
by train of cars and instantly killed
at the Semet- Solvay plant in Ensley.
This evening at the residence of Mrs.
c. II. Baker at Shadyside dime social
will be given by the Busy Ants or
ganization of the Christian church.