Evening journal., 1920-03-06
Continued from First Page.

niotI tlt0t ~ NUuiQ 10 ctftAtA bHf A.
fore the local plants could be again p
into full operation. but these were r
futed through the energy Of the ira
aion chiefs.
Warned by the officers who wei
Keeping an eyes on the Brandywir
River Chief Of Police Black hasiil
summoned all Of the available men
bers OF the force and crowding thel
into the ambulance and several con
mandeered automobiles, rushed 10 IN
flooded district over Eleventh stree
bridge when the bank gave way at
o'clock. u let loose flood OF Ice an
water. quickly driving from thei
homes every one living in that sectiol
OF the city bounded by Vandevsr ave
nue. to the river and from Churcl
street 70 a point below Clsymon
street
Members Of the independence Fire
Company the Delaware Fire Company
with their ladder truck, and a large
number OF persons living in that sec
ton. aided IN the rescue.
As fast as the people were taken
from their homes they were placed in
automobiles and the ambulance and
taken to the police station or other
places Of safety.
Arriving upon the scene and finding
hundreds OF persons maroOned In
houses that were likely TO be swept
away at any minute, Chief Black called
for volunteers. Boats were manned
snd began going from house 10 house.
but soon this became dangerous on
account OF the rush OF ice and water
and they were compelled 10 abandon
the boats and resort to the use Of the
extension ladders from the truck OF the
Delaware Fire Company.
Ladders were In some cases run
from the roofs OF houses 10 roofs OF
houses on higher ground. and short |
ladders were run from second-story /
windows. Many acts OF heroism were |
performed by the policemen. flremen /
and volunteers. Thanks 10 the quick /
work on their part no lives were lost,
no one was seriously injured, though
many persons doubtless will suffer by
being thrown or falling into the icy
food, from which they were dragged
by companions or members OF the res
culng party
Twenty-one refugees were taken 20
the police station and spent the night
on beds placed on the floors OF the wait
ing rooms and In the adjoining ONCE
The matron. aided by volunteers. made
coffee and sandwiches, which she was
enabled TO do from the larder OF the I
Kitchen on the second floor OF the sta :
tion which Is always stocked for such a
emergencies.
While the river was unusually high
the residents Of the flooded section, 7
lulled into feeling OF security by the {
presence OF a big river bank between s
them and the turbulent waters went 10 4
their homes last night without any
fears. n
The flrst trickle OF water began run Ell
ming over the dixie along the north side z
OF the Brandywine about 7.3O O'Clock n
and soon cut a huge ditch through Il
which a large volume OF water began {,
pouring Warning was at once sent 10 "
'esidents Of the section by the police 4
and attempts were made 10 move those q
IN the danger zone to places OF safety.
hut the rapidly rising water made it i'm NJ
possible TO do more than carry house "
hold effects 10 the second stories OF al
dwellings. Feeling that the flood would
soon subslde most Of the residents re- 81
mained in their homes until escape was re
cut or At this iuncture Chief Black NJ
TOOK personal charge OF the rescue III
work, remaining until the last house Of
had been emplled and every homeless SO
person provided for. Ia
Chief Black in discussing the work Of fe
rescue this morning stated that he had w
never before in all his experience put in er
sucn Wild night as last night The nc
work or rescue was made more difficult 10
by reason Of the binding snow and the
wind which made 70 extremely diflcult sa
10 handle the boats Several times the OF
rescuers were driven against the sldes re
OF houses and a number OF them nj
ihrown into the water. Finally thew
were compelled to fasten long ropes 10 M
me Doats and thus held in check were dii
illoWed TO iloat with the current until no
they reached some detached house and Fe
me occupants were taken from the sec tn
ond story windows. Then persons On co
lne shore began pulling and landing Sc
me refugees again. or
Patrolman Joseph G. Grussemever so
hearing children crying In one bo,,se
ABOUT which the water was rapidlv rIs- w
nS, plunged into the flood and rescued lro,
our ch~-ren ranging in age from w
.hree TO seven years OF age. who were
loalinS around on an old bed. Wrap- ov
,ing tle children In blankets he carried all
mem TO places OF safety. being com On,
,eiled at times to wade through water the
nat reached his chin Though wstsr 10
soaked and his garments freezing tbe lthe
'nlcer did not relinquish his task uniI ma
III were out OF the house. n
In all that section named oni,, o,o 10,
,erson decided to stick 70 her homo m
,loia Johnson, whose weight is some lket
hing more than two hundred nonnds NV
,efused to take TO the boats searino \
nat they would not be able Ia carr,, mo
Ter. This morning she was monarch - nm
III she surveyed, remaining in The COO lhlo
'nd story Of her little home tbo
AT Eleventh street bridge scoras -, str,
'oats We're either torn from their \
mornings and carried or down stresn, nel
'r crushed to pieces in the noafing en-,
&C. or hurled pell nell hieh on the ba1
hore, overturned and broken. sey
Among the policemen with cbias ~
Black were Pairolmen Riley. virdin ~,
irussmeyer. Graham and Others. Amonc ma,
ONE Of those rescued were. an
Mrs. Josephine Waters and her fo,,r n
nonths old baby Helen, 1850 Head we
treet ~.
Mary B. Redding. 1910 Heaid street \
John H. Selby. George Bryant, 1912 no,
eald street sur
Isaac Saffert 1910 Heald street lv
Russell Hayes. 1886 Heald street are
Frank Bais 1916 Head street sun
John +. Connin, Of No 1927 Railroad . :,
venue. rescued Ethel Deyaiinger. aged sfo,
4 W.