The Democratic banner. (Mt. Vernon, Ohio) 1898-192?, 1913-04-01
CITIZENS INVADE
FLOODED SECTION
Estimate Oayion's Number Of
Dead at Two Hundred.
VICTIMS MOSTLY FOREIGNERS

Local Experts, After Careful Survey
Of Damage Done by the Flood In the
Gem City, Declare the Property
Loss viii Reach Fifty Millions.
Narrowing incidents Of the Delvoe
at Dayton.
Dayton, O., March 29.-Dayton's
loss Of life probably will not exceed
200. This eytimate is based upon q
personal canvass Of almost 100 OF
Dayton's leading citizens, who have
Been engaged in relief and rescue
work In every section OF the city ever
since the rising waters invaded the
business section.
The property loss. purely tangible
and real, will probably exceed $780,
100000. This includes damage to real
estate and public works; TO manufac.
turing. mercantile and jewelers. stocks
which were swept away; public utility,
plants and equipment, and II includes
also the cost Of rebuilding miles Of
asphalt streets and walks. which were
literally ripped from their beds.
The loss Of life 10 confined almost
entirely to North Dayton. inhabited
by foreigners and laborers. In West
Dayton. which comprises districts Of
. more substantial character; In Riv.
erdale, in Daytonview and other resi-.
dence districts there was almost No
loss Of life. Several lives are known
to have been lost in the business dis.
trict. but none of the rimors that hu.
man beings had perished in the FIRE
which swept two city blocks would
stand the test Of searching investisa-
ton.
The hood assumed dangerous ~
poets early Tuesday morning before
most people had started TO work. Con-
sequently the loss Of life In Riverdale,
North Dayton and West Dayton was
0ccasioned when dwellings, mostly Of
light construction, were swept away
and shattered by the swiftly moving
current, leaving the occupants who
had fed to safety in the second
stories to fight for their lives in the
water.
Charles Potter. his wife and SIX
children were ,drowned while attempt
Ing to escape from their wrecked
home. The wagon In which they were
being conveyed to a place Of safety
overturned and all lost their lives.
Horrors OF a food refugee center
were supplemented here by interest
taken in an infant, for two days prob. |
ably the sole occupant Of floating
house. The baby, girl. about two
weeks old. was found wrapped IN |
blankets and apparently little per. |
turbed because Of its perilous situa.
ti0n, and brought 10 the National |
Cash Register company police head. !
quarters. There was nothing on the
baby or found In hurried inspection
of the place where II was found, to
indicate whom it's parents might be. |
Adtutant General Wood ordered |
that all saloons be kept closed and de- !,
clared that no one will be permitted |
on the streets after dark. Fl. u. Tai. |
hott mas been appointed chief engl
neerins officer with full control over
all streets. roads and sewers.
A daring robbery was thwarted |
when the police arrested man who
was escaping from the city with al
satchel containing $4,000 in dia.
nonds and iewelry. which he had sto-
len from downtown jewelry stores.
The entire business section Of Day.
Ton 10 practically ruined. All stocks
b basements and street floors were
swept away BY the food and front |
windows demolished.
nsssrveir Out Of Danger
lockwood. O.. March 2s.-The CO