The Waterbury Democrat., 1937-01-25

water was boiled, and drug stores offered free vaccine to any persor who could reach them through tho water-filled streets.
 Some Misery Elsewhere
 The same misery, or lesser degree because 1t affected fewer persons prevailed in dozens of Kentucky towns and villages on the enragec Ohio from the West Virginia line or the east to Paducah on the west In the state as a whole 100000 were homeless. but the flood waters mounted steadily through city streets. threatening thousands more Mayor Neville Miller of Louisville ordered the entire section of the city west of 18th street evacuated. Power and lights were of everywhere ex- cept in tiny island in the center of the city. The Courier Journal and the Louisville Times, morning and afternoon newspapers suspend cd publication 50 that power for their presses could be diverted to hospitals. There was desperate shortage of boats to rescue marooned persons. Carpenters were put to work construction rude craft that could navigate the flooded streets and take sufferers to high ground. Mayor miller appealed to President Roosevelt for regular army troops to reinforce national guardsmen, police, members of the reserve officers training corps, and Boy Scouts. He also asked the federal government to send medical supplies.
 Few Deaths Recorded
 There were surprisingly few deaths from drowning chiefly because power boats and skiffs, operated by men who in many cases have been on duty steadily for two days, pa- trolled the streets doing rescue work. Trains still linked Louisville with Indianapolis, but the service was uncertain and locomotives cralwed at 10 miles an hour along right-of- ways lapped by flood water. Jeffer- sonvillc, across the river, was hard hit. The Red Cross here received a report that there were 200 per- sons in that town critically i'll of pneumonia and exposure. Hospitals were crowded. and strctchers were carried through hotel Hobbies, bear ing the seriously i'll to roomg. A large gasoline tank broke near the junction of Baxter avenue and Har- rison street, and gasoline spreading on the water. Warning was sent out to that section of the city that no one was 10 light a match.
 River Still Rising
 The river rose at the rate of onc- fifth of a foot an hour.
 It passed 54 fect--highest in his- tory--and there was no indication that the peak was near. Rain fell all Sunday and drizZle continued into the night.
 There were 264 inches of rain in a little more than 12 hours. Weather bureau officials said they could not tell when the crest of the Ohio river would strike here. Mayor Miller telegraphed officials in cities as far away as Atlanta asking them how many refugees they could take care of and what methods of transportation could be provided.
 No one stopped to count Louis ville's property damage. Business stood still, and almost all able-bod jed men were out in boats and truck, doing rescue work. How long tht rescue work could be continued wa. uncertain. because 1t depended en. tirely on the city's two radio station! which were broadcasting orders |, workers who had equipped theil boats and automobiles with radios
 Refugees Taken Away More than 1000 refugees were teken to Shelbyville. about midwa, between Louisville and Frankfort and housed in public buildings. pri vate homes and trucks. The Shelby vile power plant was prepared t' supply power for Louisville.
 Paducah, Ky, downstream iron here, was inundated according t. short wave radio reports That cit, of 33,000 persons. ordered evacuated by Red Cross officials, asked for 30' troops and nurses.
 Residents of the home for aget and infirm in Louisville were ma rooned. Other groups were strand ed in houses, in trucks and automo biles and store buildings throughou the city.
 Downtown Louisville was & mar row island. It was possible to pro ceed by automobile 10 blocks east 2 blocks west. three blocks soutl and three blocks north. All othe streets were impsggible.