The Daily Missoulian. [volume] (Missoula, Mont.) 1904-1961, 1913-03-27
WORK Of RESCUERS
UNDER WAY IN PERU
Continued From Page. One)

because the various relief parties sent
from South Bend and other cities had
not sufficient means to carry them to
the nearest dry land, three miles
away; heavy snow is falling and suf-
fering is intense because of lack of
heating facilities; the city is in dark
ness except for a scant supply of Ian
terms.
The city has no electric light power
and no drinking water. The only
communication from Peru today was
maintained over a feeble telephone
line. Much food, clothing and blan-
kets already have arrived on the
scene, but more help is needed.
Rescuers Still Busy.
The difficulty of beginning any
thing like a list of dead was ex-
planned by the fact hat the rescue
parties devoted the day to carrying
away survivors who had climbed to
perilous positions on icy roofs. Men
who had remained for two days on
top of the tank at the water works,
became panic-stricken at the sight of
the first rescue boat. Most of these
men fell into the water in attempting
to jump into the boat and several of
them were carried away by the turbid
water rushing through the street.
A woman in an upper story Of a
building in Fifth avenue, the main
street of the city, begged so %piteously
to be rescued that she was helped
into an already Well-laden boat and
taken ashore.
How soon, If ever, the names of all
the dead will be listed or the number
known was given little thought by
the rescuers tonight.
our energies are being devoted to
saving those still living said Lieu
tenant Governor O'Neill. 1T is i'm
possible for us even to try to learn
the whereabouts Of the bodies lust
now
1t was said that many of those
taken to the hospital at Plymouth
had become sick through drinking
muddy water. To prevent this. by
supplying fresh water, was n of the
problems confronting the rescuers
One of the rescue party who made
the trip in the first BOAT thai entered
the city said:
w learned from the survivors that
the flood rushed in upon the city
about 10 o'clock Monday night. The
river rose six feet in three hours.
Warning had been given some of the
residents. but many families failed to
heed it.
THE cry to be saved from those
who saw h first boat was heart
rending. Some Of them threatened to
jump into the water if we didn't take
them aboard. But it was impossible,
with the scant boat supply, to take
all away at once"
Several buildings were torn from
their foundations and are on their wa
to the Mississippi.
A thousand refugees are encamped
tonight in the Miami county court
house. which is above the street level.
Several cases Of measles ave broken
out. Two babies were born in the
courthouse today. AT the German
Home for the Aged, there are many
cases of measles and humps among
the outcasts taken there yesterday
and they have no blankets and no fire.
A water patrol was established to-
day, but owing to the scarcity of
boats and the difficulty in propelling
them through the rapid water, only a
comparatively small number of fam
lilies were reached. People are dipping
up the contaminated water from the
streets. Hundreds are drinking the
germ-laden stuff and doctors predict
a pestilence.
The heavy snow which began fall
ing at / o'clock continued until ate
tonight. hampering the relief work..
but was a blessing in that it afforded
pure drinking water.
Four carloads of supplies arrived
near the city today on the Lake Erie
& western. Sixty boat We're used to
carry the foodstuffs to the courthouse.
Not one refugee went without a sup
per tonight. Many carloads of food
stuff are needed to prevent famine
The waters receded five inches dur
ing the day. Many lumber yards