The Red Cloud chief., 1913-05-22
An Interesting Letter From
"A Dayton Flood Victim

the following letter from her sister
May, which describes the flood at Day
ton, Ohio, In vivid way. We repro
duce the letter this week, and would
have did so a few weeks ago, but owing
to lack Of space 1t was crowded out
Sr. LOUIS. Mo-, April 18TH, 1913
Dear Sister Lottie.
Your good letter came duly and we
all thank you so much for it,
Yes, my dear folks. we have had
most trying time.
It simply poured all the way to Day
ton, Ohio, and when we got there at
1920 p. III. the Conductor would not
cross the bridge, as 1t was unsafe, so
we were still standing on the track
near the depot, when the flood came.
II could write for hours could not
begin to tell you of all the horrors Of
it. The train crew were brave noble
fellows or we would have had a poor
show. All day we saw the waters
creep up higher and higher. The
crews made RATS and rescued many
from their homes. One family they
could not reach anyway, but by get
ting on top Of big lumber building
(brick) and making a pulley and Il
basket seat of rope they took them up
to the top and then down thro the
building to our train. The train had
been pulled up three times on dry
land, and off the RATS some were pull.
ed in ut the Pullman windows.
Toward night they decided to get us
down to the Depot and up to the 2nd
floor, the lower floor being under
water siuce morning. We we're all put
in coach and pulled down and just
got to the sheds when the engine died
(the water put the fire ouU our car
filed with water and we had to get In
it, be pulled out on top Of shed and mp
to the porch covers and then in thru
windows. Three Of us got out at back
Of car windows aud had to walk the
length of the car too. Had to dry our
things on US, and were huddled in like
sheep, all kinds and conditions dogs,
niggers, etc for two nights aud days
Then the rain turned to snow and u
cold west wind and the water began to
20 down. The 3rd day they took us
down with ladders and we were very
comfortable in the Pullmans aud had
o coach to eat in, when the second
official warning came, there would be
another flood, three times worse than
the other, SO we walked four miles up
the river, ON the Levee, across tive
bridges to the Highlands, where We
were kept in what was luxury after
the hardships aud oh how good Wa.
that first nights sleep in bed. Will,
we were msrooned in the Depot. ".
had little to eat. They fshed VI
barrels Of apples, crates Of oranges
olives and other things as the waters
receded. OF course the women ant
children came first, but there wer,
lots Of mean men as SO many were VI
the low down type, We had only on.
Policeman for six hundred people, bu
there was all our passengers and traii
crew, and some more noble men, SO ",
got thru it all, but nothing to me bu
, the dear Lords care aud love evel
took US thru. We were until Ssturda!
when our Conductor sent word 0u
that they would try ana take US out o.
Dayton and to be at the train by fou
O'Clock. We were taken down In ,
I Red Cross wagon thru the wreck ant
ruin Of Dayton and at = p. m the.
!, started and were four hours going Av
| miles, 1t being over newly made track
!, Was very dangerous, but at the end o
| two miles they came in and told u
b the worst was over, We just crep
/. along and 1T midnight we arrived u
Xenia fourteen miles from Day ton
). Staid there till Monday and wer
!; treated royalty BY the people. The
on to Columbus, where We could onl
Q get within six miles Of the UniO
I station on the train and were trans
!, ported by carriages and bus thru tn
: most awful devastation, by food,
ever want to see. That night on I
b Chicago and the next on to st. Loui
v taking 8 days and nights in maxim
what is only l41l hour trip. Imesu
to tell you while We were in the cal
we saw houses burn on the water an
y folks waving from windows In distress
horses drowning, etc. In the fri
floor Of the Depot there were seve
5. horses with their heads just abo,
water. All the time we could loC
down on them, they al lived but on
it broke his leg and had to Re she
But oh the sights after the water wei
: down.
We all send love to you sll.
SISTER MAY.