The Topeka state journal., 1916-07-18
LOSSES GROWING
Four States Swept With De-
vastating Waters.
Score Dead, Is Million Damage
Is One Estimate.
VANDERBILT ESTATE INUNDATED
Women Cling to Trees Until
Exhausted and Perish.
Food Situation Now Tense;
Supplies Seized by Town.

Atlanta July 1S.-Flood waters
throughout the stricken districts OF
North and South Calorina, Tennessee
North and South Carolina, Tennessee
latest reports increased the death list
from fifteen to nineteen. The proper
ty loss also continues TO grow ana
when towns and counties now cut or
from communication are heard from
the first estimates of from s1o, ,0oO,oo0
to S15000,0OO damage probably Will
be increased. Railroads apparently
have suffered far more than was. at
first realized.
Reports from western North Gallo
lima are that some lines there Will
have to be almost entirely rebuilt.
Measures for the relief of passengers
on trains marooned near AsheVille
were taken today, automobiles being
employed to carry the passengers to
the nearest cities where they can be
properly fed and housed.
Reports 20 Drowned.
Raleigh, N. c., July 1S-An ap-
pailing toll of damage and loss of
| life taken by the storm which swept
North Carolina was revealed by every
delayed dispatch reaching here this
afternoon.
Twenty persons are known to have
perished.-
| Six were drowned at Asheville, ten
at Mecklinburg three in Alexander
county and one in Wake county. Many
others are missing and given up as
dead, by relatives.
Drop Exhausted Into Flood.
Asheville, n. c., July 1S.-Si>
known dead and a property loss of
| $3,00O,00O is the latest estimate of the
damage caused IN this immediate il
cinity by the floods.
The dead are:
J. C. Lipe. Mabel Foister, Charlotte
and Louise Walker. sisters. drowned
at Biltmore. n. c.; Ionic Trexler and
| Luber Frazier, negroes, drowned at
the Southern depot. Asheville.
| Seven are reported drowned at
Charlotte, n. c.
The food situation at Asheville and
Biltmore is serious and none is ex-
pected to arrive here for two days at
least. according to railway officials.
| City officials are planning to take over
the supply to regulate the sale.
| The police took over the supply of
gasoline in town. The latter was
| boosted by some holders to a dollar a
gallon, when it was promptly seized
| for the use of the fire depa rtment
received from the Black Mountain
district and it is feared the loss of life
in that section will be great. Farm
losses are expected to run into mil
| lions.
Rescue Efforts Fail.
1 OHly One DOdy mas Deen recovered
at Biltmore that of Charlotte Walker,
which was found at the lodge gate of
! the Biltmore estate. About twenty
persons reported missing Sunday night
were found yesterday. clinging to trees
on the Vanderbilt grounds. When
| the Swannanoa river let it's banks
| inundating the country. John Lipe,
Mabel Foister and Charlotte and
Louise Walker attempted to escape.
but were caught and carried half a
! mile before catching a tree. Lipe
the Walker sisters, Miss Foister and
| Kathleen Lipe clung for hours.
Charlotte Walker became exhausted
| first, and releasing her hold, was car
| ried down stream. Louise was the
| next to go. AS soon as dawn came
a number of volunteers attempted to
| swim to the tree. William Cooper
Y NJ. c. A. student, after wrapping
a rope about himself. swan to within
a few feet of the tree. Miss Foister
! let go the tree in an effort to reach
| him. but sank almost instantly
! Cooper was carried down stream, but
was rescued several hours later from
a tree top.
Makes Rope of Bathing Suit.
Finally Robert Bell tore his bathing
suit into strips, made a rope, and after
an hours work, securely tied Kath-
leen Lipe to the tree, with her head
but a few inches above the water. A
boat reached the tree later in the aft
ernoon and she was taken ashore. She
will recover
Five hundred families in Biltmore
were left without shelter. They are
being cared for at the home of Mrs
| George Vanderbilt