Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1913-04-02
DESCRIBES CONDITION
in STRICKEN CITY
CLARENcE3%E.@ @DITTMER WRITES
OF FLOODS in STATE OF
OHIO.
ASSISTS IN RESCUE WORl
Was Eyewitness to Flood scshes
in the City Of colum-
Z, bus. r. rE 4

Clarence E. Dittmer, in lette
written to his, parents, DR.. and Mrs
H. A. Dittmer, tells in an interest
ing manner Of the awful destruction
Of life and property wrought by thu
recent floods which visited the cit!
Of Columbus, and many other large
cities throughout the state Of Ohio
Mr.. Dittmer is connected with thu
Ohio State Journal, a daily newspa
per of Columbus. Through the kind
ness Of DR.. Dittmer, The Democra
is permitted to print extracts from
Mr.. Dittmer's letter.. which will be
read with interest by our readers:
Columbus, Ohio, March 26
Dear Folks e e
Can you imagine city Of 10000
! without light, gas or water, and with
thousands Of people homeless, while
we estimate that Is or 20 drowned
following the highest mark ever re
corded in Scioto river? Such, condi
tions have existed here for the last
tWenty-four hours. Latest reports from
Dayton show that city to have suf-
fered terribly, and the loss of life is
estimated at 1000 to. 5000. Condi-
tions here are as chaotic as one may
imagine and the sights have seen
in the last forty-eight hours are those
which have been indelibly impressed
on my memory.
came to work Monday afternoon
at one, o clock. had no idea that
the situation was so serious, until the
city editor asked me to remain on
the job a while Part Of the time /
waded in water to my knees and
was soaked from head to foot by the
falling rain In two instances I as
sisted in the rescue OF families from
their. homes, and kept the office in
formed at all times OF the situation.
q Fire was raging on the west side.
During the afternoon four bridges
were carried away by the terrific
current Of the river, and the fifth
one was carried down stream at one
O'Clock this morning. This leaves
the west side isolated from the re
mainder of the city. Street car ser
vice had been discontinued. ! spent
most Of the afternoon in the flood
zone. Ny special officers badge
which I secured when first came
was handy this time, and wore 1t
on the front Of nv rain coat This
allowed me the privileges, Of the regu-
lar officers It has rained almost
continually since last Saturday night,
and nearly six inches of water has
fallen. No trains have either enter
ed or left the city for the last twelve
hours, and there seems no immediate
of q return to service. There
is no telling when you will get this
letter. ss
Conditions among the flood-strick-
en- are heart rending. Columbus
homes, the city hall, hospitals, thea
ters, and all public buildings nave
been opened and several thousands
are being cared for at these places:
Food and clothing as well as cots ana
bedding, are supplied. Hundreds OF
homeless people have been wandering
the streets for hours and 1t Is pitl-
ful sight to see man and wife, DaDles
and children wandering aimlessy
about the streets.
The loss Of property will run into
the millions.
Father and mother, your hearts
would break if you could only see
one-half Of the sights ! have seen
Yesterday. and today. 1t is terrible,
awful, and absolutely without paral-
lei in the history Of Columbus.
AS an instance Of the terrific STRAIN
under which people Of this city have
,een living for sixty hours, must
ell you Of what happened here about
i've O clock last night. northwest OF
lere is a storage dam, a big reservoir
lbout six miles long and one mile
vide, and for the last two days, SIX
y feet deep. At five O'clock two
nen ruched down the main street OF |
Columbus on motorcycles, warning
he people that the dam had broken,
ind to rush for high places to save
heir lives. We estimate; that many
thousands passed the office within
ew moments. Women were, scream
ne and many tainted. Men tore
rantically at their fellows, and
scores of automobiles rushed up the
street to the danger OF pedestrians.
rhe sight was appalling. Never Will
forget it, Hundreds of stores along
hree main streets We're aDso-
utely deserted. People fought each
,ther to get into the elevators, which
would take them to the higher build
ngs, and at the state house there
vas a pitched battle between men and
who sought to get up the
tairway into the tower. The great
r part of this happened, in front of
he office where l could see nearly
Ii. 1t was awful, and to the relief
f all the report proved groundless.
was on the streets later and count
d fully a score Of women who were
obbing and crying, I presume solici-
ious for the welfare OF the members
t their families. Truly, you can ut
le realize the situation here. And to
hink, that at Dayton, tonight, fire
as added to- the horrors of the car
age wrought in that city.
The water supply has been turned
n again, but there is fear Of con-
ageon from typhoid. The list OF
cad here runs even higher than we
ave anticipated and may come close
, a hundred. We have had reports Il
+ people dying in trees and of all
of, distress. We have had no
lail for three days, and are isolated
n all sides, and a government relief
rain is stalled this side of Pittsburg,
nable to reach here. Clarence.
Mr.. and Mrs. A. B. Terril Went
} Grinnell on Saturday morning for
visit Of a few days with Rev. Tut
e and his family, and other friends
4 the college city.
A. F. Slack went to Dubuque On .
Wednesday,, to attend the state con-
ention of Ice Dealers association,
'hich is holding it's annual meeting
1 the Key City today and tomorrow.
Art Wolfe. who has been in the