The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1913-03-27
By Drowning, By Fire, By Starvation or By
Exposure is the Choice Of Thousands Of
Helpless People.
NIGHT OF HORROR, A DAY OF TERROR
Flames Whip Through the City on Winter Gale
While Water Washes the Buildings With
Great Waves.

But nothing could be done. Strong
men labored at oars, but were help
less against the rush Of the channel
water. Yesterday the fight for life
from the house tops was at least dur
able. Today with biting gale blow.
Ing ;a.nd the intense cold the struggle
for life Is a tragic one.
Early this morning Louis Ginsty, q
mail carrier who lived in a flooded
house on Wayne street, presented the
situation frankly to his wife. The fire
was on its way from the rear.
Its an even break, said Ginsty to
his wife.
I'D rather die in the flood than in
/ the fire. said the wife. So at 3
o'clock this morning he ventured into
the water. It stood as high as Gin
sty's hips. Then, one by one, he car
ried his four children across. His
wife chose to be last. They took the
winning chance.
Two hours later their home sue
cumbed to the fire.
Flood, or fire-which?
Shelly Burns presented the issue to
himself. Since last Tuesday he had
been lone prisoner in stable near
4 the fire. The fire was in back Of him
and the flood in front.
's1'll take chance on the food"
said Burns.
| He jumped into the flood and found
himself hanging by one arm from a
wedge made by wooden debris. He
hung that way until daylight. suffer
ing intensely from exposure and the
! pain of being suspended by his arm
He was rescued at daybreak.
The fire and flood issue faces 1000
persons in the burst milling plant
The fire is approaching the building
H. Sangfeld, 131 Frank street, and
fifty others agreed to take a chance
with the water. The others chose tc
1 trust to providence. Sangfeld and his
fifty made the trip safely over box
cars.
There are 1000 people in the
4 burst plant" said Sangfield. III the
fire reaches them before the water
goes down. there is no hope. They
have nothing to eat or drink and they
are suffering from cold. Many Of
them were soaked to the skin in last
nights rain and their clothing is froz
en- this morning.
Following directions given BY
| Sangfield, rescue parties from the Ma
tional Cash Register company hur
, ried to the scene at once.
{ Panic has seized 375 persons WHIT
are trapped in the upper stories OF thu
Curier Car company building at Eas
J Third street and the railroad crossins
I when the flames approached With.
persons attempted to swim to nearb!
box cars. Some of them succeeded II
, their battle with the Icy waters ant
: reached positions of safety from
which they were rescued. other
{ were carried away
u Many flremen were drowned thi
! morning in an effort to reach th
/ flames according to Fire Chief Franl
5 Ramby.
' II don't know how many men ar
: dead" said the chief. I'VE are work
ing with boats and many Of the boat
) upset"
! Two ambulance policemen VIII
r were stranded in the building whel
j, their machine was put out Of CON
e mission by the water attempted t
e stem the panic in vain. Some OF tn
+ terrified men grappled with horse
: which were swimming about tn
- building and went to their death
when the animals, weakened by thei
long fight with the water. we're born
9 under.