The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1913-03-28
Big Decrease Expected in
Death List Estimates.
PEOPLE LEAVE DANGER POINTS
Those Who We're MarOOned
Able to Reach Safety.
Soldiers Ordered to Shoot Of
tenders Against Relief Plans.

ing reports that lOoterS well armed
were active in the district from wh1ch
water had partly receded have reached
the emergency committee. Mlntld are
preparing an expedition TO queh uiS
orders s
The loss of life in Dayton by tlooo
will not be more than 200 people.
This was the general agreement
here today, after government hte-saV-
ing crews had penetrated every part
of the water-bound city. Up to the
present forty-five bodies have peeHl
recovered. Twenty of these were IN
Riverdale. fifteen in West Dayton. flVe
in the business section and five IN the
south side residence section 1nree
deaths from diphtheria were reported
today and there is fear of an cpl
demic. ~
From his headquarters, Colonel Zlm-
norman listened to the appeals Oh more
than 1000 persons before noon hun
dreds of the visit, RS, waiting for hours
in long lines of humanity that clrcleu
through the park up to military nedu-
quarters Most of these sought passes
to go through the flood area, Where
reach marooned friends and kinsmen.
OnIv' a few of the throng were allow
ed to go and they were compelled 10
prove especial causes before passes
were issued. To those who asserted
they had starving friends lmpr1soheu
Diied that boatloads of provisions were
continuously going into the inundated
district
Comparatively few dead were found
in North Dayton today by the LOUIS
willie lifesaving crew, the first to cross
the Miami into the section where II
was thought the heaviest loss OF ire
would be found. Indications there ana
in Riverdale now are that the total
loss by flood will not be more than zOO
persons.
The Fourth National bank building,
which was reported to have been de-
stroyed by fire. was untouched by the
flames. although building adjoining
il was burned.
The newspaper ofSS}nss the News, Her
aid and Journal areNSsafe, but are not
issuing papers
Money is of no use in Dayton at
present. Every facility is free to every
one without cost.
Refugees not living in DAYTON are
leaving the city by the hundreds on
foot.
Taken From Hotel
Among the refugees taken out of
the ALGONQUIN hotel today were
Steven Patterson and his wife VINO
pere guests at the hotel when the
flood water swept down upon the i'll
Catad citv. Mr.. Patterson is a brother
of John H. Patterson, the manufac-
Anxiety had been felt also for the
safety of Mrs. Frank Patterson, a
sister-in-law- The latter was found 1S1
safe in her home on West Fifth
street, although the water had almost
invaded the second story.
An attempt to reach the Algonquin
hotel late yesterday by the son ana
nephew of John H. Patterson was
successful and to the astonishment of
the VITO young men, they found that
the marooned guests were in need of
no food. Supplies which the would
be rescurers had brought with them
were declined.
Dayton, Ohio, March 2S.-The flood
situation in Dayton today is this:
Previous estimates of the number
drowned are greatly exaggerated.
The property loss from fire will not
exceed more than million and a half
dollars. The damage caused to mer-
camille houses, factories and resi-
dences will run anywhere from $15,-
100000 to $20,000,000- The water
has receded from the business section
of the city and from a large part of
the residence portion.
Residents in portions still inundat-
ed are being taken to sections not af-
fected by the flood.
There is no lack of food. The tele-
phones are being restored There is
much suffering from cold, but all
available fuel has been appropriated
lief SO far there has been no epi-
demic of sickness. One thousand mi
litiamen, arriving today, have the city
in rigid control effectively squelch-
ing looters. sightseeing that will in
terfere with rescue work, and all dis
order Touring the business section
today, officials found the high stage
of the flood was nine feet at the cor
ner of Third and Main streets, which
is in the very heart of the city. The
onrushing water flooded the first
floor of every store in the business
district. This constitutes the chief fl
nancial loss. The tower of Steel high
school was leveled and the Leonard
building on Main street was under
mined so that it collapsed. Many
houses were swept away in Riverdale.
West Dayton. North Dayton and Edge
mont.
The following buildings withstood
the flood and furnished shelter to
about 1000 people who were ma
rooned in them from Tuesday until
Thursday:
Conover building, Kuhns building,
the Arcade, two Cappel buildings. Cal
lahan bank buildings. Scwind build
ing, Commercial building Mendenhal
buildings. Rice Kunler building. Rel
bold building, United Brethren Pub
fishing company's building.
None of the public buildings were
destroyed. Among the latter were the
Dayton club. Victoria National and
Colonial theaters, city hall, court
house, Beckel, Phillips, Algonquin and
Atlas hotels. Masonic temple, postof-
flee, Y NJ. C A and all churches
The fire loss is positively limited to
the destruction of the DAYTON Gas,
Light and Coke company's plant, the