The Washington times., 1913-03-26
MORE THAN 100000
HOMELESS IN OHIO
Reports of Loss of Life and
Property Meager Because of
Parabzed Communication.

COLUMBUS. Ohio. March 2s.-With
more than $4,000 driven from theiI
homes. whole towns laid waste. and
Ohio lay PROSTATE today tefore a flood
that showed no signs Of abatement.
Reports that reached Columbus today
from the stricken cities were meager
because railroad facilities were para
lyzed and only occasionally was Co.
lurlbus able TO get a telegraph or tele-
phone connection.
This is one of the most terrible ca
tastrophies in the history of Ohio" said
Governor Cox early today.
After working all night in the adju-
tant generals office in the State house.
officers of the Ohio National Guard
reported this morning that they had
succeeded in assembling $500 militia
men. ready for service in the flood dis
tricts as soon as transportation for
lished.
Score Laid Waste.
More than a score of cities in the
State have been devastated. No one
doubts that the death list will be more
than 100, while some reports say 1t may
run into the thousands. There were no
facts available today upon which to
base a report of the dead The home
less according to an estimate by Gov
ernor Cox. will number S0.oU0.
The property loss is almost beyond
comprehension. because Of its immen-
Dayton. Piqua. Delaware. Sidney.
Middletown, and Tippecanoe City suf-
fered most. All are situated within
fey miles of each other
The great hyrdauIic dam at Piqua is
said to have gone out during the night.
flooding the entire city. One message
placed the dead in Piqua at SO.
but this report is without confirmation.
Governor Cox early today received a
telephone message from Bellefontaine
saying that the immense reservoir at
Lewiston had burst its banks between
Lckeview and RusselPs Point, and
was sweeping through the Great Miami
vaer quantity of water. added to the
already overflowing river that inunda-
ted the cities of Piaua and Sidney. 1t
is considered certain that loss OF life in
the valley swept by such a wave would
run high
Asks Aid.
Appeals for supplies and aid were sent
out by Governor Cox to the governors
of Indiana, Kansas, Illinois. Michigan.
and West Virginia Tents. blankets.
and camp supplies were asked. Gov
ernor Cox prepared today TO ask the
Legislature to appropriate $3.50, 900 10 aid
In caring for the flood sufferers.
Scenes OF indescriba ble horror are re-
ported from Dayton. Loss of life is
estimated from loo to 5000, according
to various reports filtering in here. One
report IL that school house is inun-
dated and that nearly 100 children, who
were In II when the leyee broke, were
drowned. This, however. has not been
confirmed The entire city is under
from ten to thirty feet of water, and
people have sought the tall buildings
and the hills as places of refuge.
The flood that hit Dayton was due TO
the breaking Of the Loramie reservoir,
in Shelby county, about o'clock Tues
day morning. Rushing down the Miami
valley, the water carried everything be-
Carrollton, Miamisburg, and Hamilton.
Great Loss of Life.
That there has been great loss Of
life in the Miami Valley is certain,
but the exact extent IS at this time
largely guesswork. Among those who
perished at Dayton are said TO be ten
members of the State militia who
were guarding a bridge.
Adjt Gen. George II Wood whose
home is in Dayton, is directing the
work OF rescue and assisting in car
ing for the thousands of homeless
In Columbus the West Side is prac-
ticaIly wiped out. $4,000 or more are |
homeless. and the reported loss Of I,
life ranges from a half dozen to two |.
hundred Houses are floating down |
the river with people on their roofs. !
Several fires in the submerged dis i
trict have added to the horrors Refu-
gees slept in public buildings last |
night while militia helped the rolice !
patrol the streets. which were in total |
darkIIess.