The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1915-08-02
FIREMEN RESCUE SCORE
FROM RUSHING TORRENT
Homes of Negros Along Shockoe
Creek Picked Up and F1oated
BY Flood.
CITY JAIL is THREATENED
Inmates Watch Thrilling Work Car
rted on BY Rescue Squad Directed
BY Fire Chief Raffo--Cty Stables
Inundated.

More than sixty colored men, wo-
men and children were saved from
death by drowning yesterday after
noon. when members of Truck CoH :
pany No. 2, led by Chief J. F. Rano, OF
the Fire Department. dragged them
from the overflowinG waters OF
shockoe Creek BY the quick ana
heroic actions OF the members OF
the rescue squad. a tragedy was
averted.
James Jones, twenty-five years OLD
and colored. made himself one or the
principle heroes OF the flood. stripping
and swimming a. long distance to the
floating home of a colored woman
and two children, and, with rope
held by Fireman Dawson, or Truck
Company No. 2, dragged the people
70 safety. The work of Dawson and
Jones shown brightly in the work OF
the heroes.
House Picked Up BY Flood.
Due TO the excessive rain, the
shockoe Creek, near Fifteenth and
Brown Streets. below the yiaduct,
ovsrfiowed. The lightning, which
caused trees to fall. and rains had
ehoked up one end of the canal ana
the overfiowing waters came as re-
suit Colored inhabitants of the
shanties near the City Jail were put
the mad rush OF water their houses
were taken up in the tide and floated
on the surface. Men and women
with children in their arms tried to
save themselves and jumped on the
roofs of their floating homes, Few
knew how 10 swim and an alarm was
sent for aid.
Fathers and mothers, seeing their
young one and themselves in danger.
cried out and people on the viaduct
and in the Jail house attempted 70
help them. Members of the guard
In the City Jail aided in giving out
general alarm while some OF the
neighbors of the unfortunate coiored
jewellers attempted TO help them. 1t
| is estimated that the water was SIX
| or seven feet deep. Mary OF the taller
| men walked with their women ana
children TO the steps leading 10 the
top OF the hill, near the scene Of the
flood.
Thrills In Rescue Work.
When Chief RATIO and the mem
bers OF his rescue squad arrived and
saw the danger OF the people in the
houses they rushed TO help them.
Many persons had been unable to
get on top OF the roofs Of the homes
and were taken through holes bat
tered in them by the siremen.
Hatchefs and picks were used in this
rescue work and probably a score
Of people were served in this one
way. The firemen also saved many
by hauling the half-crazed people to
the newly made shore on their backs
and shoulders.
A call for boat was made and
IL was forthcoming in a short while.
Under the direction Of Chief RATIO
the people on the house tops were put
into the boat and brought TO land.
Two or three trips were made by
the boat and the firemen worked
hard In getting the colored people
out OF their predicament
Most Of the household goods of the
people were destroyed or lost al
though much of the furniture fioated
on the water and was brought to
the shore. The people, bemoaning
their loss. thanked the firemen for
their good work. Their property win
probably be washed into the creek.
but efforts to save some of 1t were
made last night by willing neighbors
who desired to help their homeless
friends. The people were given
| refuge and clothing in the homes of
neighbors while a great many OF them
| were given these things and food in
| the city Jailhouse.
Water Threatens Jail.
The water narrowly missed getting
into the jail building, but lacked lust
about a foot from doing so. How
ever. the city stables and the crema-
tory were damaged by the water. IT
will be some time before the boiler al
the creamatory viii be ready for use
again. as It was almost completely
submerged
Some OF the mules and horses in the
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