Ashland tidings. [volume] (Ashland, Or.) 1876-1919, 1913-03-27
MIDDLE WEST FLOODED
Terrible Damage and Heavy Loss of
Life in Indiana and Ohio
Cities.


Chicago, March 25.-Floods al
most unprecedented are following
the tornado and rains of the last
three days. Today they swept four
states of the Mississippi valley, caus-
ing loss of life that may reach into
the thousands and damaging prop
erty millions of dollars. Ohio and
Indiana in less degree, Illinois and
Missouri feeling the brunt of the dis
aster.
At Dayton, Ohio, scores of persons
are reported drowned following the
breaking of the Miami river levees
and Laramie reservoir fifty miles
above the city. Terre Haute, Indian
apolis, Lafayette and Peru, in Indi-
ana, Dayton, Middleton, Hamilton,
Columbus and Youngstown, in Ohio,
present particularly pitiful specta-
cles.
In all these cities there was a loss
of life, according to the authentic re-
ports available, and in each city the
property loss is particularly heavy.
Practically all of Dayton is under
water and those who were caught
without warning sought refuge on
the tops of buildings.
Terre Haute, swept by a disastrous
| tornado Sunday, was today in the
grip of wind and rain storm which
seriously interfere1 with the work
of relieving the stricken families.
Late today the death list was placed
at 20 at that place, while the num-
ber of injured is expected to reach
$50.
At Dayton three rivers, the Miami,
Saltwater and Mad, and another
stream known as Wolf creek, join.
For the most part the city is on a
level flat with the four streams
meeting in almost the heart of the
place. The town is protected by
levees about 25 feet high.
The levee protecting the Miami
broke about 6 o'clock this morning
and the flood was augmented by the
rapidly rising waters of the other
streams and finally made uncontrol-
able by the breaking of the Laramie
reservoir, and the waters swept
through the city with terrific force
All wire communication except one
telephone wire to Phoneton station
six miles away, was broken off, and
information regarding the status o.
affairs in Dayton was rendered eX
ceedingly difficult to obtain.
Adding to the trouble of the towr
was the dense darkness and the rush
, ing waters rendered navigation be
tween the different parts of the cit!
itself impossible.
} Columbus also suffered enormous
damage from the flood.
The washing out of several bridges
across the Scioto river resulted in al
} most total paralysis of railroad
traffic. Later the west side leve,
broke and large area in the west
ern part of the city was inundated
Fires in three large factories rageC
for many hours and for a tim,
threatened a large portion of th
city.
Conditions at Indianapolis, For
Wayne, Kokomo end other places il
central Indiana are the worst il
many years. At indianapolis the,
are the worst in half century. Fif
teen hundred families were driver
from their homes and electric ligh
> power plants are under water.
In addition to the Indiana cite
above mentioned these are also unde
water: Fort Wayne, Richmond, Ma
rion, Muncie, Rushville, Kokomo
Connersville, Petersburg, Newcastle
Frankfort, Anderson, Upton, Hart
ford City, Elwood, Bloomington, Lo
: gansport, Portland and innumerabl
smaller towns.
| In these places many of the resi-
| dents have been driven from thei
homes and others sought refuge OF
the upper floors. From many place
, frantic appeals for aid have been re
ceived, but the lack of transportation
: and crippled wire service forced th
} submerged towns to rely on thei
own resources.
| | 6,,so