The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1913-03-27
BY ASSOCIATED PRESS.

-
Dayton, March 26.-FTames that da-
stTuyed eight buildings In the sub
merged business section tonight cast a
red, weird glow over the food strick-
en- city, added to the fears of thou
sand Of marooned refugees, and led to
apprehension that there may have been
many prisoners In the burned struc-
lures.
A notice was posted tonight that the
city Is under martial law. Several
companies Of soldiers are here from
neighboring cities patroling and at
tempting to prevent looting. Rescue
squads worked frantically today and
tonight, but late tonight the total
number Of dead Is still q mystery
Only seven bodies had been recovered.
The already over-burdened victims
were compelled tonight to suffer a
cudd, smarting rain. The fire appeared
to threaten the business section.
Tt was reported late tonight that the
Beckel hotel is burning. with two hun
dred and fifty inmates. Efforts TO
reach Il were Intellectual
The confagratiou is ragtng I'M
checked Eight business houses were
burned and there appears no hope OF
stopping it. People are jumping from
burning structures into the water.
The fire originated In the business
district late this afternoon and gained
renewed headway at 11:30 tonight. It
was impossible to designate accurately
ri.shing torrents in the principal
streets preclude approach nearer than
a mile and a half Of the fire center.
Although it is denied, reports that the
Beckel hotel is burning are still per-
sistent.
A gang Of toughs went through the
southern part OF the city late tonight
irstructing the people to extinguish
the lights for fear Of a gas explosion
and then began raiding. University
students from Cincinnati and traffic
officers dispersed the gang.
The arrival OF several motorboats
late today brought hope. Sldffs and
rowboats cannot live in the torrents
The big plant Of the National Cash
Register Company has heen the relief
headquarters. j. H. Patterson, presi-
dent of the company, Is in charge OF
the relief work.
Until late this afternoon the nearest
wire communication was at Lebanon,
1s miles distant. Only tonight direct
was established with
Cincinnati and Chicago.
GREAT TOLL TAKEN.
How great toll the deiuge In Day
ton has taken seemed tonight almost
as much a matter OF conjecture as
yesterday. The great Miami river Is
swollen to All unprecedented width and
running at a terrific currenI barred the
way to specific information. Thousands
are still marooned on roofs in the cen-
tral part OF the city. Only a few
corpses have been recovered. Il Is
believed IN the northern section, to
which the rescue parties are unable
10 penetrate, win be found the greatest
loss of life. ]. H Miller. secretary of
the board of health, tonight estimated
the death list at eig igl1t hundred.
Expert oarsmen, who braved the tide
IN the business section this afternoon,
came back nerve-racked. relating mar
rattves of pftiaible appeals by hundreds
on the top floors OF tall buildings
about whose lower floors swirled the
food threat tening to destroy founda-
lions In the exclusive residence dis
trfct they were offered fabulous sums
TO rescue the prisoners.
Darly tonight three thousand home