The Washington times., 1937-01-27
RELEASED
T0U. 5. ARMY
BY MAYOR
Property Loss Placed
At S1OO,OOO,OOO; Fire
Toll. 100000

three days OF 1lOOQ diseases, IN al
dition to 20 drowning deaths.
In the last 48 hours, fires re-
sulting from the flood have caused
$2,000,000 damage.
Every available doctor watched
fearfully for new outbreaks Of
typhoid and malaria. Hundreds of
cases Of pneumonia developed
due to lightless, heatleSS, foodless
homes, and exposure.
The peril of official Squabbling
which marred the gigantic work
of relief vanished after a three
hour early morning conference
between Federal Army and civil
authorities.
Troops Take Over Rule
As a result OF the agreement,
the Federal troops from Fort
Benjamin Harrison. Ind. took
over police duties at 7 a. m, re-
lieving Louisville'S exhausted
patrolmen.
, The problem Of policing had
been further complicated by a
crime wave centering in the
wealthier section Of town.
A total of 900 Federal troops
were expected to be in the city
before nightfall. The monumen-
tai task of Succoring and recon.
struction in this city Of 100000
after the waters recede is even
more serious than the flood itself.
Major Miller said in his appeal
for police:
There is constant threat Of
disease and epidemic Elec-
trio service is completely out
1t would be impossible to
cope with q major fire
From constant duty for four
days departments Of the city
are experiencing q physical
breakdown
Chicago and five other large
cities sent sufficient patrolmen to
fill the city's needs.
This writer arrived here at 8
O'Clock last night after being ma
rooned for two days in the COM
pletely inundated town of Jeffer.
sonville, Ind, across the Ohio
from Louisville. A fleet Of United
States Coast Guard surf boats,
manned by guardSmen from Cape
Charles, arrived at JeffersonVilie
late yesterday on the Pennsyl-
vania Railroad. After unloading
the boats we started through the
seven miles Of deep backwaSh
towards the Ohio River.
1t was dangerous trip, but an
interesting one, as the boats filed
through the tops Of trees, slid un-
der dead high-power electric lines
and scratched under telephone
and telegraph wires, twisting and
turning over farm houses, between
barn roofs, lodging telephone
poles and other distractions. 1t
was possible to view at first hand
the havoc along the banks of the
Ohio.
FlOtiIIa Loses Way
The Flotilla became lost or ran
up a blind street leading into a
school house or building. Houses
and roofs floated dangerously
close, trees, debris, lumber and
other objects caused a constant
peril.
At nightfall a moon gave the only
light as Capt. C. A. Mister guided
his boats into the Ohio. There
was little or no debris floating
down it. But there was a strong
current, estimated by Captain Mis-
ter at about 10 miles per hour.
While going up the river the
boats were stopped to take in tow
one Of the Culver Military Acad-
emy cutters sent here by the
school and manned by striking
New York Seamen. The cutter was
towed to the north approach of
the municipal bridge. where a
hospital representative was wait
ing for an invalid refugee being
carried by the cutter.
Straight across the river went
the six boats, where they tied up
at the U. S. Coast Guard station
at the foot Of Fourth Street.
Smoking Forbidden
A row boat was obtained and
Captain Mister and this CORE
spondent were taken up Fourth
Street nearly three blocks to dry
land. The water was more than
two stories high in places and
filled with dirt, filth, debris and
oil.
No smoking, was the rule.
After reaching dry land the
streets were covered with a thick.
slimey oil. Not a light could be
seen, nor policeman, nor a Ma
tional GuardSman, as we walked
eight blocks to the city hall An
occasional fire truck was busy
pumping out a basement. One or
two automobiles were on the
street, and a handful Of pedes-
trians.
Within a few blocks Of the city
hall was a long line Of shivering,
poorly clad, soiled, tired and worn
men, women and children. 1t was
the food line" where those in
want were given free food. Three
hours later the line was still NOV
ing slowly forward.
Sand bags surrounded the city
hall, as do squads Of emergency
patrols, fire-fighting apparatus,
and a pushing. janming crowd.
The mayor has his office on the
first floor. 1t is a hustling,
busting busy place with tired men
and women fighting to keep their
composureS.
Drinking water Is at q premium