The Butler County press. [volume] (Hamilton, Ohio) 1900-1946, 1913-04-18
Trades Council Hall
Open to Flood Stricken People.

On the morning of March 25th
at 10 O'Clock the truste es of the CO.
operative Trades and Labor Coun-
Gil threw open the doors of both
meeting halls of the Cooperative
Trades and Labor Council at the
corner of Court and Second streets,
to anyone and every one who were
driven from their homes by the on
coming high water, 1t was about
one o'clock p. IN. on the afternoon
of this day that many people were
going in every direction on the
streets, but exactly where they did
know. However, it was not long
until they were obliged TO seek
place of safety on the second floor
of some building in the center part
of the city which appeared to be
the highest and most safest.
About % people took advantage
of Trades Council Hall but with
little knowledge that they were to
remain there for two days and two
nights The first to take possess
ion of the hall were Mr.. and Mrs.
Chas. Vaughn, Mrs Frank Kuch-
erbood, Edw. Etzler and Edw.
Weiss, who banded together and
when the water was coming down
the streets, made for the neighbor-
hood groceries and laid in a supply
of eatables for supper. When sup
per time came evei ything was in
total darkness and a search was
made for cooking utensils which
were found in the small room on
the second floor. A lamp was
borrowed from the Bismarck Cafe
which added much comfort and
consolation to the frightened guests
who were with us on both the dark
est nights. OF course the supply
of food that was purchased by the
few was divided with the rest, but
the first meals only consisted Of a
sandwich and half cup of coffee,
but it went a long ways with a
frightened crowd. Appetites did
not seem visible until on Thursday
morning, March 27, when the wa
ter went down did anyone seem
like themselves again.
One of the great problems was
the water supply which was shut
off early on Tuesday, but the CON
stant downpour of rain made it pos
: sible to hang out buckets which
were gradually filling up to the
satisfaction of everyone
Tuesday night was long night
and the sights that greeted our par
ty from the windows forever remain
, in the memories of all who were
present. Houses, sheds, piles o
/ lumber, all kinds of furniture, bug
gies, horses, automobiles and many
other articles that could not be rec
ognized through the darkness
came by with great speed.
D Nothing was more discouraging
/ to our already frightened party
than the Champion mill fire which
appeared to be only block away
and to add more terror was the fir
of the Lingler coal yard to the rea
D of the building. These fires tool
: all of the energy which remained
/ out of all of those who were at al
times trying to make the best 0
the situation, and furthermor
with the night watch who in ever,
half hour went down the stairwa,
: and came back only to tell the me1
o who were trying to sleep that th'
e water was still rising. 1t was earl,
!. in the night that it was decided OF
= by the gentlement in the Grove
that only they were to know tn
real facts, not the ladies, if the wa
ter was still coming up. Some Q
the ladies, however, were aware O
the situation by the awful roar an
noises of the rushing waters below
y 1t wGs not until Wednesda
II morning at about 3 a. N. that W
IL received the glad news that til
water was at standstill and som
time after that it had dropped on
" inch.
In our party were Mr.. and Mrs