The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1913-03-31
TWO COMPANIES
ARE IN READINESS
They Are Awaiting Orders to
Go to Aid of Covington
Authorities.
WORK OF LooTERs is FEARED
City Is in Darkness, and Appeal
for Help Is Made to War
Department.
by Associated Prcss.I

Cincinnati, Ohio. March 30.--Two
companies Of the Ninth United States
Infantry. stationed at Fort Thomas
Ky., are being held In readiness to
march at ali instant's notice 10 Cow
Phillips fears the city may be In need
OF military protection. due To high
water that virtually is surrounding the
town. When the river stage reached
Inorc than sixty eight feet to-day. the
lighting plants. electric and gas were
nut out OF commission, and the city Is
in darkness.
The soldiers were issued marching
orders at the request OF Mayor Phil
lips, to tho War Department. at Wash
ington. That the troops he sent 10 his
city. At the same time the Mayor
tclcSraphed request to Governor
McCreary that he declare martial Law.
Tho request for United states troops
was referred to Secretary OF War Gar
rison aud Major General Wood who
to-day returned from al inspection
tour of tho flooded district in Ohio.
Later a conference was held. at
which Police chief Henry SCHUYLER
pointed out tina, as yet the local
authorities were in position to cope
with the situation
Lootcrs Are Feared.
NJ dirorders haze Yet ,oGcprIed. >bpt
Il is feared by the Mayor that with the
city In almost total darkness. looters
will begin their work Mayor Phil
lips also has ordered that all citizens
remain off the streets after nlghtfan.
under penalty OF being arrested and
lodged in jail.
Tonight tile stage OF tho river had
registered SIS feet, u rise OF exactly
one foot since 3 o'clock this morn
Ing. According TO the Weather Bureau,
the rise has been at tho rate of >
foot every three hours. The weather
authorities tonight said thcy expect
cd the crest OF tho food 10 reach Gin
cinnati tomorrow morning. and that
tho stage then would he between six
;y-nine and seventy feet, after which
the river would gradually begin to
subside. Conditions here practically
remained unchanged to-day, With the
exception that tho river has nrc-empt-
cd more Of the section lying along the
water front. The streets in that sec
ticn are all under water. and relief
measures arc going forward Win
energy. While many OF the residents
nave been driven from their homes
others. who live in tho alley build
ings. refused TO leave. and food is he
ing supplied them with motor and row
boats.
Poor Grentest Sufferers.
In this city the poorer people are
the greatest sufferers, As that section
in which they make their homes. has
been completely inundated. and many
OF the houses have been swept away
by the swift current Of the river As
tho water rose. however, most of these
people had an opportunity Ia bring
away their personal belongings, and
tents OF their homes.
The property loss in the Cincinnati
water front section will he very large.
II is estimated by competent authori-
tics that The loss to valuable stocks
OF merchandise will reach nearly 81
600 900. This does not take into &C
count the damage 10 many Of the
older buildings. where the foundations
have been undermined hy the rapid
current
This will be great In tho opinion
of experts who have made an cXamina
ton OF the district, and are familiar
with conditions
To-day the river front was the Mecca
OF thousands OF curious slghtsecrs who
had been attracted by the spectacle
of the rushing yellow food OF the
river inundatirg the city south of
Third Street, to poin. almost as high
as that attained by the record food Of
1884. when stage of 7l.2 feet was
registered.
Relief measures are more than ade-
uuate and so far there has been no
suffering. The inundated district is
being patrolled by an extra police
force and also by officials OF the city
health department.. There has been
but one life lost directly attributable
to the high water, and precautions
have been taken to prevent persons
from taking unnecessary risks in saw
ing their personal belongings. The city
was prepared for the rush OF water
from the upper reaches OF the Ohio and
it's tributaries to the east north and
south.
Heavy Loss to Factories.
The south bank of the Ohio, oppo-
Site this city, is not so fortunate, and
there the greatest damage, In proper
ton to the size OF the several smaller
cities will be done. Important manu-
featuring plants are completely flooded
and much money will be required to re-
place them in condition for operation.
There also will be great loss in
wages to the operatives of these plants.
who will be out of employment for
many weeks.