Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1913-04-06
AUTOS MADE GOOD
|NFLOOD DISTRICT
TrainIoad of Trucks Rushed
to Dayton for Transport
Service.
INDIANAPOLIS FACTORIES
.-. NIT. BY HIGH WATER
Scores OF Machines Used in Rescue
Work in Hoosier Capital-Novel
Power Installation.

That the automobile played an impor-
tant part in the flood sections in the mid
die west Is shown by dispatches which
have been received here telling Of the
work which was done and assistance
rendered in rehabilitating the stricken
cities and villages.
In response to urgent messages from
Gov Cox Of Ohio and ]. HI. Patterson,
who directed the relief measures at Day.
ton, the Packard Motor Car Company
shipped eight Packard three-ton trucks
to the National Cash Register Company
headquarters. These trucks were loaned
to the authorities in restoring people in
their homes and caring for those who
were without the necessities Of life, and
Transporting food, clothing, ETC., as fast
as it was received from various parts of
the country. The trucks were accom-
panied by ten men from the factory, eight
drivers and two traffic experts. who d.
rected their operations under the super
vision OF Mr.. Patterson and his aids.
A special train was made UP in Detroit
to convey the trucks which were shipped
within two hours Of the receipt of Mr..
Patterson's telegram. They were placed
at the disposal of the citizens commit
tee and are still engaged In relief work.
indianapolis Factories Flooded.
With Indianapolis. slowly recovering
from a devastating flood of several days
the people are realizing that the automo-
bile industry of the Hoosier capital
proved the means Of saving many lives.
Three Of the Indianapolis factories were
submerged in the flood that followed the
breaking of levee in west Indianapolis.
namely, Marion Motor Car Company.
Motor Car Manufacturing Company and
Nordyke Marmon Company. Another
factory closely allied with the automobile
industry to suffer was the r. J. Irwin
Body Company, which was also sub
merged.
When the flood started to creep over
the banks Of Fall creek In the residential
section of the city all the test cars from
every factory began bringing people to
high ground through the flooded streets.
This was followed by the Gripping of the
street car service and factories donated
cars and trucks to transport people to
their homes. Nearly every available
truck in the city was detailed to the serv-
Ice Of the police department and hauled
boats to the flooded district.
With the breaking OF the levee every
touring car that was available was put
in service under the direction Of the Red
cross society ana Carried people u the
hospitals and relief stations, az there were
not enough ambulances to take care of
one-tenth OF the Hood sufferers. Test cars
from the Cole. Henderson. National.
Stutz, Premier. Marion, Pathfinder and
Marmon plants drove through the flooded
streets, sometimes with water over the
floor boards. carrying people to safety.
c. p. Henderson. president Of the Hen
tierson Motor Car Company. closed
down the factory to assist the food suf-
ferers, and put every man that could
drive at the wheel OF. q. car to assist
In the work. The Henderson plant es-
capped damage. although the water rose
to within fifty feet OF the plant. ''Old
Bolivar" the first Henderson car built.
was placed at the disposal of Superin-
tendent Of Police Hyland and is still
working with the department transport
ing officers to the posts and carrying
boats in the early hours Of the flood.
Harry B. Whitney. retail sales manager
OF the Henderson company. rescued sew
eraf families with his personal car. Whit
ney is the first lieutenant OF Battery A.
l. N. G., and with the other militi3men