The Celina Democrat. (Celina, O. [Ohio]) 1895-1921, 1913-04-04
OhiO'S 1918 Flood
Breaks Records
Property Loss Enormous
and Death Toll Heavy
Latter Likely TO Be Between Four
and Five Hundred-DaytOn
Heaviest Sufferer.

columbus, Hamilton and Piqua Also
Suffered Heavy Death Losses~-Prop'
erty Loss Throughout the Buckeye
State VIII Mount High Into Mil
Ilons-ooverno Cox Called Entire
Military Force Of State Into Service
In Flooded Dlstrlcts-President VIII
son Sent Supplies.
Columbus, o., April 2. - The thir-
teenth week of the year 1913 will be
known in history as the year Of the
great flood in Ohio. Beginning with
a heavy CAwnpour of rain on Easter
Sunday, the clouds continued to re-
lease large volumes OF, water for sew
eral days, the area of humidity ex-
tending over Indiana, Ohio, Pennsyl-
vania and New York, with lighter pre-
cipitation in the eastern states.
By Tuesday morning every stream
in Ohio was a raging torrent, the sit.
uation along the Scioto, Mad, Big and
Little Miamis, Olentangy, Maumee
and CVyahoga rivers being the most
threatening. The breaking of the
levee in several places along the Sci
oto river sent the raging waters
through the west side of Columbus,
district inhabited by 10000 persons,
many of whom were forced to fee for
their lives before the advancing tor
rent, being unable to save any of their
personal belongings. Others were
caught in the upper floors of their
dwellings and compelled to remain
there for periods varying from one
day and night to three days and
nights, until rescued in motor and
rowboats. Their sufferings we're in
tense. It is believed that the death
list in Columbus will not reach the 100
mark, but the exact number of fatal.
ties will not be known until the low
lands along the river south Of the city
have given up the bodies Of many
who were seen floating southwark on
driftwood and the roofs Of houses, and
are believed to have perished. So far
so bodies have been recovered.
Hundreds Of houses and barns we're
torn from their foundations and swept
away in the swift current. Hundreds
of more substantial buildings were
badly damaged by driftwood and
baTns humping into them.
Dayton Hard Hit.
BY far the most unfortunate city in
Ohio was Dayton, where the flood
swept through the principal business
section, marooning thousands of peo-
pie in the third floors of hotels and
Office buildings. Fire added to the
horrors of the situation in Dayton,
Many fine structures, including
bank, theater church and a number
of large wholesale houses, in addition
to hundreds Of dwellings and smaller
buildings going up in smoke.
George F. Burba, Governor Cox's
private secretary, prepared the fol-
lowing summary of the situation at
the Gem City:
"Fifty thousand persons must be
cared for indefinitely, These are per-
sons who lost their all when their
household goods were swept away.
They must be provided with few
necessary household articles, such as
bedding, pots, pans, stoves and few
dollars. A half million dollars could
be used in this way by the relief com.
mittee. Fifteen thousand houses and
business buildings must be rehabili-
tated, Two thousand houses and busi-
ness str letures, or what remains of
them, n' be pulled down. Thou.
sands o ms of debris must be re.
moved.
"Following are some Of the accom-.
plishments since the flood broke over
the city Tuesday:
"The waterworks pumping station is |
in operation, but the distribution of
water is greatly retarded by open
pipes in wrecked houses. The press