Indiana daily times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1914-1922, 1920-04-20

SN6IS III some SSCtlOHS we're
eSked into many cellars.
Water backed up from the sewers into
s the basement of the Methodist hospital,
North Capitol avenue and Sixteenth
street, and il was necessary to move pa
tients 10 upper floors.
This is the first time in five years
that the basement has been flooded, &C
ccrding to hospital officials.
All patients in the basement were
moved with ease, it was said. Patients
took the matter calmly.
Water began backing into the base
ment at O'Clock this morning and
could not be STOPPED.
The basement is really a first floor, &C
eording TO hospital officials. there being
exceptionally good light and ventilation
The city experienced a near cloud burst
sjust after a. m.
kHEAVIEST DOWNPOUR
IN LAST FIVE YEARS.
/ In thirty-seven minutes % inches Of
rain fell, according to the weather bureau
reports.
L The only other time we have ever
had such a rainfall, since we began to
record the rainfall by minutes. was in
1913. when 2.1S inches Of rain fell in
forty minutes" said J. II. Armington,
weather observer.
The White river gauge at Tenth street
early today showed the river had risen
1.6 feet since yesterday, when it was
H1s4 feet.
the White river watershed in the last
twenty-four hours is 1 70 IL inches, the
weather bureau reports, but in Indian
spoIis the rainfall was much hearler.
There has been 321 inches rainfall here
in the last twenty-four hours.
RIVER TO REACH
1s-FOOT STAGE.
The food stage in White river here
is set at eighteen feet" said Mr.. Arm
fngton-
Last year we had stage Of 1T.2 feet
and there was little damage. 1t is prob
able that the river will rise TO seventeen
or eighteen feet late today and begin
recedlng sometime during the night
In the food Of 1918 the stage was
2oiz stset.
The little creeks will overflow and
recede rapidly and White river will
overflow in low piaces, but no serious
damage is expected in the city"
Street, car service in several sections
OF the city was seriously crippled by
food conditions.
The Brightwood line was put out of
commission when the water washed over
the tracks at Valley avenue.
twas not until $50 o'clock that street
cars were able TO reach the extreme
northeast part Of the city.
Hundreds Of Brightwood men, who are
|. employed in the Big -Four shops in
Beech Grove were unable to reach Union
depot IN time TO catch the special trains
j that take them 10 their work.
INTERURBAN HELPS
BRO0KsIDE CROWDS.
The Brookside car lire also was tied
up for a period, but an interurban car
plowed through the mud, bringing many
persons downtown.
James P. Tretton, superintendent Of
the indianapolis Street Railway Com
pany, said that many motors were
knocked out by the storm.
Riverside cars could not get through
lfter reaching Indiana avenue and Mont
blm street because the tracks were in
Undated.
Wes-~IndiararOlis cars had to wait for
sSater to pass away under the Ken
Eucky avenue elevation before they could
gSget through.
!. The bridge over Pogue's Run at Jeffer-
Won avenue was put out Of commission
8Hhsn water washed planking out Of its
renter.
Homes in Happy Hollow a district
In the lowlands OF Big Eagle creek, near
Ikentueky avenue, were drenched and
"a half dozen houses were surrounded by
water on Belmont avenue south of Min
nesOta street, residents being forced OFT.
At Troy avenue and Harding stree: tie
back water of White river broke over
the river banks 7nd rushed in a torrent
across a concrete roadway.
Lowlands in the neighborhood of
Riverside park resembled a lake.
At Ray street back water OF White
river had made a big lake and hun
4 dreds OF wild ducks were reported to be
4 swimming about.
At Pike and Ralston avenue the water
was two feet deep in the street.
At Hillside avenue and Twenty-ffth
,street the water reached the level with
the hOor of the 'front.' porches OF many
houses.
Big Eagle creek was falling until 4
O'Clock this morning. when it began 10
@rise and within an hour was seven inches
&above its low mark OF the morning. A
Further considerable rise would food
arge districts in the southwest part Of
he city.
= POLICE RUSHED
WITH FLOOD REPORTS.
Reports of flooded cellars and danger
sus conditions of the city's streams We're
&ceived in rapid succession at police
sadquarters after midnight.
~ Because Of the seriousness Of the situa-
or, policemen were stationed at various
points along the streams TO watch cOnd1-
ons
Lieut.. Fletcher was in charge Of a
rge squad along the banks of White
Ia. Big Eagle creek and Little Eagle
Elevator service in several hotels and
sfice buildings in the business section
Las crippled by a food in substations
Il the indianapolis Light and Heat
5ompany.
Az At substation No. on South Illinois
. rect. service was cut of completely for
a aMyeral hours.
"a. O. Meloy. street commissioner. said
put his entire street repair department
work opening up sewers, which proved
htireIy inadequate to carry of the
Gater.
An inspection of foodgates was made
nd MelOy said they were in good shape.
Complaints of OverfOws and stopped
NJ HT1T L. De-.