The Lexington dispatch. [volume] (Lexington, South Carolina) 1870-1917, 1913-04-02

Placed at Two Thousand.
Chicago, March 26 Three thous
and may have perished IN the deiuge
which swept the northern half OF the
Ohio River Valley yesterday and to-
day. Probably half million we're
made homeless by the food IN Indiana
and Ohio and property damaged in
both States will be at least 500, 0,oo0,-
600.
An additional horror was reported
this evening from Dayton. Fire there
which was wide spread and uncon-
trollable in view of the paralyzation
the water plant, brought death to
many who sought to escape drowning
by climbing to upper floors of build
!, ings.
Railroad officials are authority for
the statement that lines converg1ng
into indianapolis would have to stand
3 a loss Of S25, 600, 900 in that city and
vicinity alone.
DAYTON UNDER MARTIAL Law.
Dayton, Ohio, March 26.-Flames
that destroyed eight buildings in Day
TOMS submerged business section to-
night cast red, weird glow over the
food stricken city that added to the
fears Of thousands Of refugees and
marooned persons and led to the ap-
preheusion that there may have been
many of the waters prisoners in the
burned buildings.
Soon after notice was posted lnhead-
quarters of the emergency committee
announcing that the city was under
martial law and several companies OF
soldiers arrived from neighboring Ohio
cities. The soldiers were employed to
patrol edges of the submerged district
and prevent further looting of homes
freed from the foods grasp. Up to a
late hour tonight there had been no
material disorder.
FATE OF HUNDREDS IN DOUBT.
Rescue squads worked franticaily to,
day to throw back the veil that hides
the true story Of the Dayton disaster
the number of dead. Late tonight the
arrival of motor boats gave the hope
that by tomorrow the northern section
Of the city nov cut off by the big
Miamia's impossible barrier, may be
penetrated, and then may be. learned
the fate of hundreds imprisoned by
the torrent that poured down from the
broken Tarleton reservoir.
The list Of six known dead was add
ed to this afternoon by the death of
refugee. It was reported late tonight
that number of dead had been found
in houses in 55h and Eagle streets. but
when rescuersss worked their way into
the partially suome geddwellings they
found number of the foods prison
ers were weak from fright and hun
ger.
COLD INCREASES SUFFERING.
Already overburdened victims of
the waters wrath were compelled to
suffer again today in q cold, smarting
rein.s
Fire that appeared to threaten the
business section tonight was confined
to the block bounded by 2nd and 3rd
streets and Jefferson and St. Clair
streets, 1t was impossible to get with
in two miles of tie fire and from that
distance what appeared to be explo-
sions, probably of drugs, made the
fire seem of larger proportions than it
was. It appeared to have about burned
itself out and was not believed it
would spread to other blocks.
1t was impossible to ascertain even
approximately the number of persons
who might have been marooned in
this section and who died after being
trapped by food and fire. Neverthe-
less, rescue work went steadily on, and
about 5000 persons were housed in
places Of refuge tonight.
At least 50 ,0O0s persons are imprison-
ed in homes and in business buildings.
Il is feared that their two days, i'm
prisonnent with accompanying hun
ger and fright has caused tremendous
suffering.
The food came with such sIddenness
that food supplies in homes were whisk-
ed away by the torrent that reached to
second floors in almost the fash of an
eye. Skiffs skirted tae edge Of the
flooded district, attempting to take
food to those whom it was impossible
to carry off, but the fierce current dis
couragingly retarded this work.
REGGED TO BE RESCUED,