The Detroit times., 1913-03-27
RESCUER, IN STORY,
TELLS OF HORROR


N(ootsnoSo run Ua8e -OoGJ
water. They were pulled out and
saved. We then rowed down to
Clinton-st.. and there got two girls
out Of residence. They had been
standing for eight hours. up to their
waists in water. We took them to
the hospital in boat and one OF
them died on the way never again
want to live a night like this"
Fire Adds To Horror.
The business section Of fiood-drown.
ed Dayton Is aflre and q biting big
zard Is sweeping the flames directly
towards the penned thousands OF
men, women and children.
A holocaust of staggering proper
! tons IL thought to be imminent, but
men stand here on the south bank OF
the river and watch the thing happen.
! Frenzied men are rushing up and
down the south shore.
! The fire began yesterday afternoon,
at Third and st. Claire-sts., and al.
ready two blocks have burned down.
II IL spreading north, east, south and
west as the wind shifts.
Fire engines cannot reach 1t. The
blizzard has joined to the horror of
fire, fiood and famine.
The thousands OF imprisoned men,
women and children are making .
one-to-four fight with death--death by
drowning; death by fire; death by
starvation. or death by exposure.
The one chance In favor Of the VIC
tins was rescue within the day by
! the little boats which are lighting
futilely against the current
500 Coffins Not Enough.
The 500 cOffins ordered for the 500
supposed dead Of the flood will not
be enough now, 1t is thought. Hourly
the toll of known dead grows. Every
refugee who has won the fight to safe
ty tells of q new instance Of miser.
able death In the food.
To the south shore of the river the
I mrense wind carries the cries Of dis
tress Of hundreds who are held by the
water on the roofs OF their homes
and are threatened with death by fire
when the flames from the large build
ings communicate with the clustered
frame dwellings that have fioated In
from everywhere and coverged at the
street corners.
For Gods sake come over and
help U.s." was the plea that came
across the water. There are women
here"
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 housetops was at least en-
durable. Today with q biting gale
ALLOW. intense cold made the strug.
gle for life a tragic one.
Fire Or Flood Only Choice.
| Early this morning. Louis Ginsty, a
mail carrier, who lived in a flooded
house on Wayne-st., presented the
situation frankly to his wife. The
hre was on its way from the rear.
Its an even break" said Ginsty to
| his wife.
I'D rather die In the food than in
the fire." said the wife.
So at 3 o'clock this morning he ven-
tured into the water. II stood as high
as Ginsty's hips. Then, one by one,
he carried his four children across.
His wife chose to be last. They took
the winning chance.
| Two hours later their home sue
cumbed to the hre.
| Flood or fire-which?
| Shelly Burns presented the Issue to
himself Since last Tuesday he had
been a lone prisoner in a stable near
the fire. The fre was back Of him.
and the food in front.
'Tll take q chance on the food"
said Burns.
Hung BY Arm All Night.
| He Jumped into the food and found
himself hanging by one arm from q
ledge 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 hre and flood Issue faces 900
persons in the burst milling plant.
+, The IRE IL approaching the building.
II. Sangfeld. No. 131 Frankst.. and 80
/ others, agreed to take chance with
the water. The others chose to trust
to providence. Sangfeld and his so
made the trip safely over box cars.
There are 1000 people in the
burst plant" said Sangfeld. III the
! fire reaches them before the water
goes down there IL 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 IL
frozen this morning"
i Following directions given BY Sang.
field. rescue parties from the National
Cash Register company hurried to the
scene at once.
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