The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1930-01-16

al guard tents and other eql
VincenneS area.
The state board of health
feared contamination of water
at Vincennes, because of the
flood, which may threaten the
city with a serious health
condition.
L. S. Finch, chief engineer Of the
health board, went with two assist
ants to erect emergency chlorinat-
ing systems in the stricken city for
use in event contaminated waters
get into the pumping system.
Smallpox had begun to spread in
the Oklahoma district of Vincennes,
and the city prison will be taken
over for use as an emergency hos
pital. DR.. William King, in charge
of state health service, advised per-
mission be obtained for use of army
blankets from Jeffersonyille for
refugees whose homes are under
water.
Meanwhile new high flood marks
were established as Swirling waters
of the Wabash and White rivers
mounted above disastrous levels of
1913, and continued to rise.
Reaches Record Mark
Az TyiY,nopYac fka VIC ho
at twenty-five feet today, one foot
above the 1913 high mark. However,
weather bureau authorities pointed
out that the twenty-four-foot level
during the great flood of 1913 vas
reached after levee berakS allowed
much water to flow over lowlands.
A sea of water ten miles long and
seven miles wide was creeping on
VincenneS from the south today as
the result of the worst levee break
of the recent flood, which occurred
two miles north of Decker WedneS-
day night. The PlaSs levee, protect
ing loWlandS on the west side of
PlasS ditch, a canal diverting water
of the Du Chez river from the Wa
bash to the White river, gave way.
White river had backed up In the
ditch until the levee could hold no
longer. The water rushed through
the break, spreading over Knox
county.
Under Four Feet
One hundred families were home
less as the result of the break,
which inundated all of Decker town
ship.
U. S. Al. was under four feet of
water in the flooded districts to-
day, and fear was held for the
three-mile $850,000 Hazelton fill,
where national guardsmen we're sta
toned Wednesday to guard against
alleged threats of dynaniting.
Belief that the fill was damming
up water, threatening inundation of
thousands of acres of lands, is said
to have inspired residents to con-
slider blasting the fill to relieve pres
sure.
State highway engineers declared
the fill did not act as a dam, al
thought the water on one side was
eighteen inches higher than on the
other side of the enbankment.
Albert j. Wedeking, chairman Of
the state highway commission, and
Charles Parrish, commission public
relations head, went to Hazleton to-
day to inspect the fill. More than
a foot of water swirled over the
pavement late this morning.
Added Menace Arises
An added menace to the fill arose
late wednesday when a strong
northwest wind started backwash
against the levee on the lower side.
Workmen strove frantically today to
save the embankment.
White river at Princeton was ris-
ing half an inch an hour today, but
still was three feet below the 1913
level.
Hundreds Of chickens in flood
regions have taken refuge in tree
tops, where they will starve to
death unless rescued, since the crest
Of the flood probably will not be
rear hed until Friday.
White river in the Washington
district was at standstill today.
TT. Wayne today reported that
Maumee. st. Joe. and st. Mary's
rivers reached their crest. after
many families were forced to vacate
their homes in lowlands. Three
schools were closed because of high
waters.
The Wabash began to recedee this
morning at Logansport. A hundred
families were homeless. About sew
enty-f1ve homes were isolated by
floods at Delphi.