davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Salt Lake tribune. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1890-current, 1913-03-26
NORTHERN OHIO
IN FLOOD GRIP

TOLEDO, o., March c5--Towns on
the Maumce river, Swan crock and Ten
Mile creek valleys have suffered from
the unprecedented floods. Many homes
have been washed away, railroad traffic
practically is at a standstin and tele-
graph and telephone communication out
of Toledo Is badly impaired.
Pemberville and Woodville are flooded
and both places have asked for rowbonts
with which to move families from their
imperiled homes.
Service on interurhan lines In north
western Ohio has been abandoned
In Finday hundreds OF lives arc in
danger and a thousand homes are inun-
dated. Al business has been suspended,
Police Captain McGown and Patrolman
Frank Henderson were drowned while at
tempting TO rescue family marooned in
their home In the river bottom. They
started for the house In row boat, but
a swirling current caught the boat and
upset it, The gas supply has been shut
Off
AT Defiance a woman gave birth to a
child in a flooded house and was carried
out OF the house in her bed.
The Salt Lake tribune. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1890-current, 1913-03-26
5000 ARE DEAD,
SAYS OPERATOR
By International News Service.

By International News Service.
CLEVELAND, March 25-Dayton is
under martial law. Three companies of
the Ohio national guard are aiding the
police.
The first direct word out of the city
after the breaking OF the levee was a
long distance telephone message 10 Rich
mond, Ind. from Frank Purviance. an
employ of the Terre Haute. Indianapolis
g. Eastern Traction company, Dayton.
been drowned there.
They're dying like rats in their holes
bodies are washing around the streets,
and there is no relief in sight" Purvi-
ance said. He added that water stood
twenty to forty feet deep In some of the
streets. Telephone communica ton with
utes tonight, then was broken again.
4 telephone operator in the Dayton Of
fee, who established communica ton with
Richmond, Ind. for few minutes, said
bodies we're floating past the window OF
the office. The operator begged the To-
cal offices to send an appeal for aid to
Governor Cox OF Ohio.
The telephone operator at Liberty. o,
a small town west OF Dayton, estab b.
lished communication with the local ex-
change late today. fIe reiterated the
before the wire to Liberty failed. the op.
orator said the levee near the Main
street bridge had just gone out and the
water was pouring into the town like a
tidal wave He asked that aid be rushed
to the town.
A relief train loaded with supplies left
Xenia, twenty-five miles east Of Dayton,
late this afternoon. but ii is doubtful if
1T reached Dayton. Red Cross officials
are being rushed TO The city from Cin-
cinnau to direct the rescue work
The Western Union operator at Dod-
son, O.. reported that his office was
filed with men who had fled from Day
ton. Looters were shooting people down
In. the streets. according to these
refugees.
The Salt Lake tribune. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1890-current, 1913-03-26
CHURCH BELLS
GALL TO RESCUE
Nv International News Service.

BY International News service.
MARION, O., March 25.-Marion coun,
ty business IS parnIyzcd and scores OF
families arc marooned In their homes
with the waters rising rapidly and tle
rain stilI falling. The damage wrought
is conscrvatively estimated a close 20
half a million dollars, the damage TO
pixies and bridges in the county alone
being 100000,
With cellars flooded and coal and gas
fires extinguished. with a chilling tenn
perature Marionites face a gloomy pros
pect In this city many residents are
cut off and boats are being propelled
through the streets which have been CON
vcrted into canals by tho heavy rains
Larue, Green Camp and Prospect are
under water with the floods driving mer-
chants out OF their stores and hundreds
OF people from their homes. In these
villages church bells tolled all day, call
ing farmers with their wagons to the
rescue Of the flood victims. Calls were
sent to the state ad1utant general for
some kind Of relief. Hundreds OF heads
of stock mostly sheep, have perished'
Al Caledonia the old cemetery is
flooded and several bodies are reported
swept into the raging torrents. ,
Two Big Four and G. NJ. Il 3. railroad
bridges have been swept away Tonlsht
the city is in total darkness on account
of the local light plant being put cut
OF commission.
The Salt Lake tribune. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1890-current, 1913-03-26
5000 DEAD IS
ONE ESIIMA TIE
BY international News Service

BY International News Service
CLEVELAND, O., March 25.-Eive
TO eight thousand people were drowned
at Dayton, 1000 at Hamilton and SAC
in Pigua by flood which swept down
the Miami valley late this evening.
The mayor of Dayton, in an appeal
TO the mayor of Springfield at clock
stated that 5000 were drowned and 30,
900 homeless in that city and that the
water was thirteen feet deep in the
union station.
Late tonight fires that had started in
the debris Of wrecked buildings added
to the scene Of devastation.
Edgemont, North Dayton, Riverdale
and Dayton View are under water.
Dams were destroyed at Piqua and
Hamilton.
The mayor Of Dayton, in his appeal,
asked for food for the stricken people
of the city. Xepia TODAY sent three
cars Of food to Dayton.
The Springfield officials at once met
and planned to take action for the re-
lief of the flood sufferers.
A man who arrived at Brooksville
from Dayton stated that the water is
thirty feet deep in the business center
OF the city and running like mill race.
He reported that ten militiameu on
guard at the levee were carried down
stream and drowned when the embank-
ment gave way,
The known dead in Hamilton arc.
ROBERT SCHANK, an attorney.
N. O. McROBERTS, aged 6.
O'DELL.
HERMAN TIEMAN
LEON LUTZI, physician.
THREE UNIDENTIFIED WOMEN
AND TWO UNIDENTIFIED MEN,
j. NJ. Epsey, a Hamilton merchant.
saw a man and woman fall from a
boat as it swept past his house and
neither appeared on the surface again.
ROBERT SchaDk and DR.. LutZi lost their
lives while trying to save others.
Hamilton is in total darkness OWING
to the fact that the light plant was put
out of working order early
The Salt Lake tribune. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1890-current, 1913-03-26
PHONE LINEMAN
GIVES DETAILS

PHONETON. o., March 25.-(By long
distance telephone to Chicago "Details
OF flood suffering In Dayton were given
by telephone lincman who reached the
telephone building after Il struggle
The entire business section OF Dayton
Is like a stormy lake, according TO the
account. The water was ten TO twelve
feet deep. he said. and rushed into drifts
between the buildings.
One boat went by the Algonquin hotel
with two men in 1t rowing desperately
trying TO keep the bow to the waves
The boat overturned. but the men es
capped drowning by swimming 10 a lamp
post. They clunS To the post for half
an hour before a rope could be thrown
TO them. They were drawn into the sec
ond story window or the nearest build
Ing. A number or objects like bund es
Of clothing have been swept within sight
OF the telephone building. and these are
thought 10 be bodies OF drowned per-
sons. The flood passing the building car
ried many head Of cattle and horses
The whole city Is under water, accord :
ing 10 information shouted from house 10
house,
From this place. six miles north of
Dayton, IT is possible 10 drive 10 the
edge Of the flood-strickcn city, but com
munication beyond that point so far has
proven impossible Telephone com
The Salt Lake tribune. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1890-current, 1913-03-26
RESCUE FAMILY
FROM HOUSETOPS
Y international News Service.

BY International News Service.
COLUMBUS, O., March 25.-While be-
Ing swept down the channel OF the swol-
len Scioto river just darkness was
gathering late today, man, woman ana
child were rescued from the roof of a
house that had been torn from its foun-
dations by the flood. Two other chill
dren of The same family fell into the
water and were drowned. Reports or
other drowningS are current.
Because the city is in darkness and
the west side isolated from the central
portion OF the city, only meager details
inhabitants Is obtainable tonight.
Thousands Of people are separated
from members of their families tonight
and are frantic because they are unable
to get into communication with their
homes.
Rising, suddenly. the water cut them
off from their homes and tonight these
people only know that their homes are
The Salt Lake tribune. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1890-current, 1913-03-26

munIcation has been maintained inter
mittently throughout the day The wire
chief of the telephone company, now
ever. is pcnncd up in the top of four
story building and can tell only OF what
he secs 20 past this office. which Is
on one OF the main thorouehfares. re
saw carried on the flood a house on thc
top OF which were a woman and cnl!u'
The woman was beckoninG and crying ioi
aid, while the child lay motionless III
the dam and both the woman and child
disappeared Numerous fires have been
burning throughout Dayton and several
of tho buildings have burned TO the wa
tcr's edge.
Tippecanoe city. on the Ohio Indiana
state line, is reported to be half under
water.
Efforts to go to tho relief OF Troy,
Piuua and Tippecanoc have been unsuc-
cc3sfu.
The Salt Lake tribune. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1890-current, 1913-03-26
900 DROWNED
IN HOSPITAL

DAYTON. o., March 25.-Dayton. eX-
cept for its most remote suburbs tonight
was covered with a seethng flood of wa
ter from eight 10 twenty feet deep. ANY
attempt to estimate the loss OF life is
hopeless. IT is sure to run into the hum
dreds and very likely into the thousands
The property loss will total millions Of
dollars.
The flooded district comprises prac-
teal circle with radius OF q mile and
n half and In no place is the water less
than six feet deep. In Main street, in
the downtown section, the water is TWEEN
~ feet deep.
The horror is heightened by more than
a dozen fires, which can be seen in the
flooded district, but out Of reach of fire
fighters.
Most OF the business houses have oc-
cupants, Down town the Offices are filed
with men unable to get home and on
the upper floors and on some of the roofs
of the residences are helpless women and
children. Hundreds of houses, substan-
tial buildings in the residence district.
many OF them with helpless occupants.
have been washed away or have col
lapsed.
The Salt Lake tribune. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1890-current, 1913-03-26

frame houses that had been washed rom
their foundations. These were swirle3
a bout Tor a time and, as though TO aid
In the passing OF the section by fire,
they were east into the path OF the
flames.
Persons hurried from their roof tops,
where they had been driven by the food,
to the roof tops OF adjoining houses.
Then the sun went down. leaving a
desoate. weird light from the fire show
ing as from one isolated spot against the
sky.
The first to seek safety by sliding his
body along the telegraph conduits was a
man, Then came four women. The first
OF the women was Mrs. Luella Meyer.
She is a widow with a son In knee
breeches, Her son got on the wire with
the agility of cat and was soon across.
But Mrs. Meyer, when over the boiling
torrent. swayed as though faint, slipped,
and the crowd stood by with bated
hrnn
The Salt Lake tribune. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1890-current, 1913-03-26
Heroine Saves Her Life.

With a lucky chance her senses came
back to her so that she could grasp one
OF the wires. Hand over hand she was
able slowly to pull herself to the nearest
pole. where she rested before again max
Ing the trial. This time she did not
falter but when she was picked up by
the rescuers at the farthest pole towar rd
safety she was limp from nervous and
physical exhaustion.
Then came two more women and, un-
der the advice OF the people standing or
safe ground. they kept looking up and
were not subjected 10 fnintness. Then
came a young man and his wife. The
wife he sent first and when She reached
safety she refused to get into The am
hulanca without her baby.
The Salt Lake tribune. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1890-current, 1913-03-26
Explosion Starts Fire.

A fire which started from an explosion
IN the Meyers Ice Cream company. near
wyoming street spread and burned The
bIock on South Park, about a block from
Wyoming. Another big fire Is reportee
10 have burned a downtown block
The breaking OF the carlton reservoir
which supplies the drinking wafer, Jeff
the city without water. and physicis ms
declared there was great danger az ~.
phoid in the use OF the flood water
There are no boats In DAYTON which
can resist the current and those on tn,
OUTSIDE gave UP attempts to reach Tho
business section
How many houses have been swent
away and how many occupants were
carried To their deaths cannot be learned
until the waters recede
Al wyoming street on the South side
where the National Cash Register com
pany centered It's efforts at rescue. mar
saved their lives by crawling on a tele-
phone cable. hundred feet above the
flood
The Salt Lake tribune. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1890-current, 1913-03-26
Water Thirty Feet Deep.

Al the edges OF inundated districts the
water ran from eight TO ten feet deep
Judging by this, that would be twenty
or thirty feet downtown. While those
marooned in the Offices and hotels are
in no immediate danger OF drowning
there is no food or drinking water for
them.
Those in the residences however. are
In constant danger both by flood and fire
First the Trailer buildings swept into the
stream, many showing faces Of women
a nd children peering from the windows
These were followed by more substantial
brick buildings. until II became evident
that no house In the flood zone was safe
The houses as a rule were washed but
a few blocks before disintegrating.
The body OF one gray-haired woman
floated down the stream only a few feet
from the watchers at South Park street
The body caught on a guard rope ibut
was swept clear and was gone before il
conll be rnc0Nered-
The Salt Lake tribune. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1890-current, 1913-03-26
TWO OPERATORS
ARE REROI.NES
: International News Service.

By International News Service
CLEVELAND. o., March 25.--It re-
mained for two girls TO be the chief FAC
tors In giving to the world the news Of
the first day OF the flood
Both are telephone operators but in
different lines. One, a telephone opera :
Tor In the main exchange OF Dayton.
flashed the last tdIngs that came out OF
the stricken city by telephone and also
gave the news to Governor Cox which
enabled the executive to grasp the sit
uation and start the rescue work
The other is the operator at Phoneton,
eight miles north OF Dayton, who served
as relay operator for the girl in Dayton.
Both stood to their posts as long as the
wires held and the young woman at
Phoneton, Mrs Rena White Eaken,
worked all during the day and night.
The Salt Lake tribune. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1890-current, 1913-03-26
Hospital Wrecked; 600 Die.

The st. Eliza beth's hospital with SOC
patients, was reported 10 have been
washed away. The building was known
10 be in many feet Of water and indi-
cations are that the report may prove
true
The electric light plants were pat ou!
Of operation early in the day and total
darkness, coupled with a torrential
downpour, added to the horrors Of the
night.
Famine also became an Immediate pos
sibiity. All OF the supply and grocery
houses are In the submerged district
and al midnight II was said there was
NOT enough bread TO last the survivors
another day.
John Fl. Patterson, president OF tho
National Cash Register company who
headed the relief work In the south end
of the city, sent out an appeal for food
supplies and for doctors and medicine
Tonight 5000 homeless were housed In
the cash register office
The Salt Lake tribune. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1890-current, 1913-03-26
Flood Comes at Daylight.

The flood came soon after daylight this
morning after the residents had spent
last night In terror.
The main levee OF the Big Miami broke
at Webster street about o'clock An
hour later the water was through In a
dozen places and wall OF water ten
feet hiRh swept through Main street Just
above the juncture OF the Big Miami and
the Mad river and where the water OF
saltwater river poured into the Miami
the flood reached Its height and rolled
into the business section, a wall twenty
feet high.
The Dayton News was under twenty
feet Of water. The flood rose to the sec
ond floor OF the Algonquin hotel and all
along Main street occupants were driven
10 the third floors. What happened to
them since no one on tie outside can
tell
House looting began early in the night
and while the local militia are on duty
they are wholly incapable OF handling the
situation.
Incidents without number are mar.
rated OF persons In the flooded district
waving handkerchiefs and otherwise Sig
mailing for aid, being swept away be-
fore the eyes or the watchers on the edge
OF the waters. Many OF the rescue boats
were swept by the current against what
had been fire plugs. trees and houses.
They were crushed How many died In
this way no one knows tonight Canoes
and rowboats shared the same fate What
HE exists in the district that the water
covers is IN constant danger and helpless
unul the flood subsidies.
Fears of Governor.
The Salt Lake tribune. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1890-current, 1913-03-26
wee Breaks; Water 80 Feet Deep in Daytol

flooded and that the members OF their
families arc dependent for food. money
and shelter on their more fortunate
nelghbors.
Wringlng their hands, weeping and
appealing vainly for help scores OF girls
are crowAIng as closely TO the water s
edge in the darkness tonight as state
troops on duty and policemen will allow
them; but 1t is doubtful II they will ba
able to cross the stream to their home
district by morning.
six companies OF the state militin,
with headquarters in Columbus, are pa
trolling the streets In the vicinity OF tho
river banks,
It is estimated tonight that 10000 are
homeless on the west side. Besides this.
It is said that $1,000 aro> living on the
second floors OF their homes.
Only about 10 per cent OF the street
cars are able to operate. owing TO the
flood. and railroad and interurban lines
are tied up.
The loss which Will result from the
flood Is estimated to mount into the
millions of dollars.
The Salt Lake tribune. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1890-current, 1913-03-26
GAUNT FAMINE
IS THREAT TENED
By International News Service.

By International News Service.
MASSILDON, o.. March 25.-Hundr eds
OF families here were made homeless to-
night by the rise Of the Tuscarawas river
and are being housed In the schools.
churches. city hall and private residences.
The east side of the city Is cut off from
the south and west sides by broad eN-
run into the hundreds of thousands.
Not q. train has reached the city in
twenty hours and telephone and telc-
graph communication has been almost
cut off.
The pumping station OF the city VA .
terworks has been submerged and gas,
water and bread famine threatens. Thou
sands of men are out OF work Stores
ara closed and railroad traffic has been
suspended.
The Salt Lake tribune. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1890-current, 1913-03-26
HERMAN TIEMAN
DIR. LEON IUTZL.
LOWER PART OF
CITY IS FLOODED

COLUMBUS, O., March 25.-With a
great roar the levee at the foot of
Broad street let 20 shortly before IL
o clock today, sending deluge Of
water that swelled the Scioto river,
covering great area. Several small
buildings collapsed
The police at 10:40 o'clock ordered all
persons IN the part OF The town along
the river to leave their homes quickly
and fee for the high lands. All fire and
police officials assisted in the work The
cltzens were told not TO stop for clothes
or valuables, No loss OF life has vet been
reported.
Tie washing out OF several bridges
across the Scioto river I'm and near the
Columbus resulted In almost total paraly-
SIS Of railroad traffic out Of Columbus
today.
The west side ievee has ovorfiowed a
The Salt Lake tribune. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1890-current, 1913-03-26

necessary for us to call on the outside
world for tents and supplies in order 20
make provision for the worst calamity
that has ever befallen this state said
Governor Cox In telegram he sent to-
night to the New York World
The governor also informed the New
York paper that troops were ordered out
for duty in the capital city and that the
naval reserves were dispatched from
Toledo to Piqua.
The Dayton companies are on duty In
that city, he said
The Cincinnati companies presumably,
the governor said in his message. will be
dispatched to Hamilton and Mddletown
in the Miami valley which sent out dis
tress signals shortly after noon.
The Salt Lake tribune. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1890-current, 1913-03-26
LUMBER SWEPT
INTO WATT
By international News ssry,

BY international News servl,. Y
CLEVELAND, O.. March 3
mated ma loss OF between $500 y ! n
ovo by lumber companles =.
the flood OF Cuyshoea river "a.
lngnt by several officials Of -;
that suffered the largest los,., We Z
eStiinated e6 IN , that between sag&ol'
40. 100000 feet Of lumber was csy..,|
Lake Erie by the torren, ~,
through the river and lumber s ,s.,,
Damage to buildings ana
$3.50, 600. voc w
The Salt Lake tribune. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1890-current, 1913-03-26
BRIDGE BREAKS.
IRAlNMEN DRou

By lnterna tional News s.,,
M .SSoRWALk, o. March !,
" peel'ng & Lake Erie ,rsIn,.A y, !
ytke or Toledo, engineer: VIII WIFE 6
Massiilou, fireman. and n,ct IA go
MaSSlllon, head brakeman ~ ~ ~ -
bali. went to death Im oi "a
near Brighton about o'cloe. I'a ~
ing when the bridge over ~, -
weakened hy the heavy roIs "a
The engine and a nunbor -
prccipttated into tho floods, y ~
The Salt Lake tribune. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1890-current, 1913-03-26

large area In the western part OF the city
and hundreds OF persons We're driven
from their homes.
AT 1880 today Governor Cox on request
OF city officials ordered out the national
guard TO do patrol work in the flooded
districts OF this city, Safety Director Bar
ger said food conditions were the worst
in the history OF Columbus
Bridges connecting the west side with
the eastern portion OF Columbus We're
swept away at State and Broad streets
shortly after noon. Dozens OF small
bridges have gone out. Hundreds OF men
are ma arooned In factories on the west
side and police and troops are making
rescues in boats where possible All
street car traffic has been abandoned.
fliteen hundred homes have been
flooded
The Salt Lake tribune. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1890-current, 1913-03-26
Boats Capsize in Flood.

AT iirst lincmen crept along the cables
carrying tow ropes TO which this 0at
bottoTued boats were attached When
the flood became so fierce that the boats
no longer were able TO make way against
II, men and women crept along the CA =
hles 10 safety. Others. less daring, saw.
darkness fall and gave UP hope OF res
cue.
Those willing TO risk their lives in
the attempt 10 rescue. found themselves
helpless In face OF the water
seventy thousand OF Dayton's popu-
lanon. II is reported. are homeless
The National Cash Register pia nj Oh
high Hill, offers the only haven in the
south end. Three women became moth
ers in the halls OF it's office building
c>hf
The Salt Lake tribune. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1890-current, 1913-03-26
Saves Baby in Pillow.

Another five minutes and her husban nd
had been brought out to safety He had
the baby In the pillow slip and the
youngster celebrated his arrival to the
ground by lusty yell Others followed
TO safety.
clude all of north and west Dayton, all
OF the downtown sections, the south side
as far as Oakwood and all OF the resi-
dence suburb Of Glendale. The district
has a normal population of more than
80. 900.
Rescuers and those at the hospitals
said an estimate OF 5000 dead might be