The Ocala evening star. [volume] (Ocala, Fla.) 1895-1943, 1913-03-28
NATIONAL HELP FOR
THE FLOOD SUFFERERS

President Wilson has thrown open
the resources of the federal govern
ment to the homeless thousands fight
ing against water, flame and famine
in Ohio and Indiana.
More than $500 already has been
expended and the president is deter
mined that no red tape shall stand in
the way of instant relief everywhere.
Secretary Garrison of the war depart
ment left yesterday on orders from the
president to survey the situation in
Ohio and direct the governments re-
lief expeditions and Mr.. Wilson an
nounced that if communication with
the flood districts continued imperfect
and the presence of the chief execu-
tive was required to issue emergency
executive orders, he would go to the
zone of the disaster himself.
Not only are the war and postoffice
departments straining every effort to
be of service but the navay department
has issued orders to its recruiting
stations in the Central West to send its
marines, physicians and officers train
ed in rescue work to cooperate with
the army medical stats. Power boats
and skiffs have been dispatched from
naval stations on the Great Lakes.
Secretary McAdoo, of the treasury de-
partment sent Surgeon General Rupert
Blue Of the United States public
health service to the flood districts
and placed at the disposal of the gov
ernors Of Ohio and Indiana all United
States life-saving stations in those
states. Secretary McAdoo has waived
customs regulations so that the relief
supplies could enter free from Can
ada.
Secretary Redfeld. of the depart
ment of commerce, has ordered all
available boats in the lighthouse SER
vice near the Ohio river to take part
in the relief work.
Condensed Reports of the Calamity
Revised estimates of the losses OF
life in Dayton. o., received last night
give ground for hope that the dead in
all sections affected by the flood will
not exceed 1000 and may go below that
figure. Investigators who penetrated
the flooded section found hundreds safe
whom it was feared were lost Unless
swelled by a death list in the foreign
settlement on the north side, as yet
unreached, there may not be more than
200 dead in the whole city.
From other points than Dayton the
death list grew rapidly yesterday and
last night. There was heavier loss OF
life in the west side of Columbus, o.
than was thought One estimate placed
the number of dead at more than 500
Apparently authentic reports from
Piqua indicated that twenty were dead
there. At Peru. Ind, the authorities
estimate the death list will reach al
least $50.
From Hamilton fifty persons were
reported drowned in the collapse of q
hotel where they had sought refuge
Twenty five deaths were reported from
Troy. o., thirty in Niddletown and five
at MassiIon.
Deaths from the flood in Chillicothe
will not exceed twenty-fi five
a report from Linton, Ind. gave
Twenty-Five miles south of Terrt
Haute
There were ten deaths at Sharon, Pa
Estimates are that 10000 person:
marooned in Dayton's flooded distric
where $4,000 homes have been sub.
merged. Rescue stations are proyid
ing for 5000 homeless. The propert,
damage in the city is figured at s25,.
100000.
Later reports from GAINESVILLE ar,
that fifteen lives are believed to hav,
been lost there. About $4,000 ar,
homeless. A score of buildings col
lapsed Fire broke out at one poin
but it was not believed it would
spread.
Fires in Dayton's flooded distric
subsidized yesterday but broke out again
last night
Flood conditions along the Ohio ar
growing worse. low lands are inun
dated. Still higher stages and furthe
damage is predicted.
Flood conditions in West virgini;
have become dangerous. Eastern Penn
sylvania is suffering severely.
/ Northern and Western New York ar
lhood-stricken. Heavy property dam
Iage has followed in the Hudson an
Mohawk valleys and in the western
part on the southern tier