Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1913-03-28

tlllo, &heiI1Ii 'P'thN5Nii
500 and thousand persons lost their
lives in the flooded west side of
Columbus, according to representa-
tives of the Columbus Despatch who
have just gotten into communication
with the newspaper office from the
previously Isolated section of the city.
This same estimate is given by per
sons in charge of the relief stations
on the hilltop, west of the flooded see
ton.
According 10 those. who invaded the
stricken district, the churches. big
state institutions and store rooms IN
the hilltop section are crowded with
refugees, many of whom We're rescued
from the murky waters and, who tell
stories of Undesirable horrors.
Former Mayor George $. Marshall,
who was in telephone communication
with Attorney Cecil Randall, his law
partner, said. today. that the deaths
would reach at least a thousand.
Throngs of excited groups of people
from the flood stricken section of the
city. who were crowded into the
temporary rescue quarters asserted
that the estimate of Mr.. Randall IS
not exaggerated. The full extent Of
the awful tragedy will not he known
for days, until the mass of wreckage,
houses and uprooted trees which are
strewn on the level lowlands south of
the city are uncovered. This mass OF
debris is now under, several feet or
water. with swift currents running in
many directions.
MANY of those rescued tell OF
escaning from their homes by the
fraction of minutes, just before the
rushing waters swept their homes
away and crushed them like eggsheils
against bridges. Scores of families,
these people assert, were swept down
with their homes in the swift current.
Every available inch of space in the
Columbus State Hospital for the IN
sane and Mount Carmel Hospital, on
the hilltop is occupied by refugees.
according TO those who invaded ths
stricken district, today.
Four children are reported 10 nave
been born in a sehoolhouse on the
hilltop.
Fire Chief Lauer, who was marooned
on the hilltop, just beyond the Hooded
section, said that he saw scores of pee-
pie standing on their porches as the
waters swept down and that he cannot
see how any of them escaped.
The SECTION between Central avenue
and Sandusky street was almost wiped
out
After two nights of horror, during
which hundreds chung to housetops call
ing for help until their voices failed
while dozens were perched in the branch
es of trees. many were still beyond the
reach of the rescuers
With field glasses rescuers standing
on the Baltimore & Ohio Railroad neal
Central avenue could see several dead
forms lying on the roof of a building to
the east.
vandals looting the besieged territory
added to the horror.
Relief trains from Marysville and
London bearing food and clothing, re-
lieved the situation in the refugee quar-
ters on the hilltop
Relief work, Thursday. was directed
toward rescuing $50 from the marooned
plant of the Sun Manufacturing Co,
where they have been, for two days
without food or heat One boat. which
got within haiiing distance and was
stopped by the swirling current, was
informed that conditions there were ter
rible.
Estimates of loss of life in the ex-
trene west side are based upon the
stories told by the rescued, and upon
scenes witnessed by the rescuers. who
have been working continuously with
rough boats, for 40 hours.
The break in the levee near Central
cording to refugees from that section
there is not house standing Glenwood
avenue. and many of the parallel streets
are almost completely denuded of
buildings.