The Fargo forum and daily republican. [volume] (Fargo, N.D.) 1894-1957, 1913-03-27
Fire and Pestence Adding to Horrors Of the Flood Vctm
Disease BEGINNING to Break OutFe Nearly Under Control
i'lMMARY OF
lind. SITUATION

indianapolis, Ind, March 27.-Last
night fell upon fiood-swept Indiana
with but little comfort for it's many
thousands of flood sufferers, the most
conservative reports from the state
estimating the loss OF life at not fewer
than 1875 drowned, while persistent
statements from various points indi-
cate that many more than that num-
Der may have lost their lives.
Three distinct flood districts prevail
throughout the state, each but a. few
miles wide, yet sweeping across the en-
tire width, yet sweeping across the en-
the towns and cities along the Wabash
and its larger tributaries are affected.
White river sweeps through central
Indiana, while White Water river
drains valley in the middle southern
portion of the state where many towns
and small cities have been affected.
Smaller streams throughout the VAL
leys, all tributary to one or the other
of the three principal rivers, are swol-
len and causing more or less damage.
Deaths May Never Be Known.
Flood deaths may never be accurate
ly known and probably it will be sever
al days before even approximately COR
rect figures may be obtained. Efforts
of all flood relief workers were directed
today toward rescuing persons still in
dangerous places and relieving the
suffering and wants Of the homeless.
The Peru death list is placed at from
sixty to 300 still. 1t is generally ad-
mttted that at least twenty have per-
tshed in West Indianapolis, where the
flood struck foreign quarters and poor
er homes with overwhelming sudden
ness last night. Six deaths were re-
ported from Fort Wayne, three from
Newcastle, two from Lafayette, one
from Rushville, one from Muncie, and
tiye scattering throughout tn estate, in
addition to indefinite reports of deaths
in several other places yesterday.
The most reliable information OBJ
tainable from Peru was to the effect
that but a single block of the city re-
mains altogether out of the water, and
that thousands are packed into build
ings in q small area down town. Six
We're said to have suffocated in the
crowds at he courthouse which still is
out of the water.
At Logansport flood waters of the
Wabash are 16 feet deep on the
floors of the Pennsylvania railroad
station and cadets from the Culver
Military academy were rushed to IIo-
gansport to aid in the rescue and re-
lief of scores of people marooned in
the business districts.
None of these intense sufferings ex-
ceed, however, the situation in West
Indianapolis, which added one pitiable
tale after another to the horrors of
the food story during the day. Night
falls there on an uncompleted work
of rescue. after more than 500 persons
had been taken to a single landing
station at Blaine avenue and Morris
street, where facilities were increased
to nineteen rowboats, launch, and
two canoes. From three to four per-
sons were brought in each boatload
from the second floors of houses and
from the roofs Of the one-story build
ings.
Poorer classes constitute majority
OF the population in this section of
the city, and nearly all of them lived
In squatty one-story houses now cover
ed by the water. It is this situation
that makes so uncertain the estimates
on the loss of life, as there is no man
ner of telling how many entire fami-
lies may have been trapped like rats
in these little dwellings.
Many women rescued in West In
dianapolis were taken from their
flooded homes unconscious, or sue
cumbed to the excitement after realiz-s
ing they were safe. Physicians were
unable to meet the demand for medic
al attention for the refugees and
worked at a great disadvantage, for
OH Ltl0 hOOu NIClIAIlS SulLSESu SS-
posure even after being removed from
the water.
Governor Ralston visited as much of
this section of the city as possible,
and the suffering he saw there COM
bined with reports of increasing dis
aster throughout the state, led him to
prepare late in the afternoon a proc
lamation to be issued tomorrow call
ing for contributions of money, food
and clothing,
Secretary of War Garrison offered
assistance from the war department,
but Governor 'Ralston said he will not
call for this aid unless Indiana citi-
zens are not able to take care of the
situation.
Indianapolis streetcars remain
standing in the streets where they
were stopped yesterday morning when
the power house was flooded, all inter-
urban lines are at a standstill, and
the steam roads are having poor sue
cess in getting trains out of the city.
The water service probably cannot be
resumed within thirty-six hours. All
available water supplies are being
Continued on Page Eight.