Lawrence democrat. (Lawrenceburg, Tenn.) 1884-1925, 1913-04-23
IS |. 0GhnaIS Escape
Of Dayton, Ohio, Flood

stances. Immediately after this a
a number Of people lay down TO rest as
they we're completely exhausted.
When daylight had aNived the
water had fallen 6 inches which looked
mighty good 10 US There we're many
greetings exchanged when it became
light enough to recoeuize your neigh.
Dor and alter that we all felt a great
deal better.
AT sun up some expert oarsmsn
came through the wild walers with a
number Of boats, which had been
organized during the night aud rescue
work began at once. OF course those
only were rescued who were in very
dangerous positions, such as had sought
refuge in trees aud those on roofs OF
one story houses, but II was such a
pleasing sight 10 see some rescued that
we forgot our own conditions IL was
certainly a great thing to see men risk.
ing their very life 10 save some unfor-
tunate fellowman aud not a few gave
up their life by doing so. We had
enough eatables for The first day.
The water fell slowly all day and
/ by night had fallen about three feet
Night again came on us but the people
we're in such a hopeful mood that lois
of them slept quite a bit had drop
ped on the bed fully dressed TO get a
little rest myself and when ! awoke al
ten clock the room was almost as
light as day aud at once realized that
the fire demon had again began
its destruction. | arose and went to
the window and found that the fire
was only about blocks away, but the
wind was blowing from the south west
and driving the fire away from us so
we were in no danger 1t was still
raining quite hard at this time AT
two o'clock the wind shifted TO the
northwest which put us right in the
path Of the fire, The moment
the sparks began falling about us and
far beyond us, the people again became
panic stricken and men shouted from
house to house to get ready to flee for
their lives. Just emagine the absurdi-
ty! fleeing when being surrounded by
ten feet of rushing water, in which
only boats manned by expert oarsmeu
could exist Again the cool.headed
men came to The rescue by assuring the
people that it would take at least OF
8 hours for the fire to reach us A
few boats we're sent through our terri
tory assuring the people that they were
, in no immediate danger and that boats
would travel ahead of the fire anC
; take every one to safety. AT this tint
{ ii began to snow hard and soon haC
+, the roofs of houses covered 10 the debtt
of an iDch which of course was in oul
. favor, as there was no danger of house
I catching aIire from sparks When day
: light came the water had fallen a few fl
. again and was quite navieable. and a
= once boats came to the rescue. Th
4 women were taken first including help
i less men, and by night over twothird
+ of the people were taken to safety
Again the wind shifted and we were i
i no danger from fire. | undressed 70
. the first time in three days and wen
9 10 bed without any fear and SleI
souudly until 7 o'clock Friday morning
. The water had receded TO little les
n than four feet, being great swimme
. in such debth of water, felt at my be!
" again and when the relief boat cam
sJ around and handed us good things
&c eat, and not being without good al
. petite ate very hearty breakfast an
4 enjoyed a good cigar. Things becan
h normal soon after this, for by Saturds
;s morning the water had almost entirel
, left the streets; but the sights that m
- ones eye of destruction was appallin
# Houses standing in the middle of ii
70 streets, some being totally destroYe
,s and others disappeared altogether, ar
ly the once beautiful city lay mass
Id wreck and ruin But the sadest fe
t. ture OF it all is the loss Of life which
is, not as large as one would emaeine III
ur der the circumstances We found dea
It dodes at our very gate and helped {
ry them out of the mud and debris, lOa