The Waterbury Democrat., 1937-01-25
MARTIAL LAW IN
 SOUTH INDIANA
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 situation grew more critical hourly. Officials said the city's power and transportation system might be paralyzed should the river pass the 5A-1oot mark. &
 Red Cross Arrives
 Dr. William De Klein, medical di- rector of the American Red Gross, and his stan arrived in the city last night from Washington to direct res- cue work. Meanwhile, 24 coast guard boats reached Evansville from New York and Wisconsin with 94 men, Rains, which fell for hours last night, lashed the waters to new fury and observers reported that river gauges had bees, washed from sight. The rising waters reached the cerl- tral downtown heating plant. Busi- ness houses were left without heat. The city still had electricity and drinking water. Lawrenceberg, down the river from Cincinnati, O., oper- ated on an emergency lighting sys- tenn, which engineers predicted might fail yaomentarily. The town was deprived of its last outside con- tact when police radio in 8 dis- tellery failed shortly after midnight. The Ohio river at Lawrenceberg was at the 76-toot level and rising rapidly.
 Aurora Surrounded
 Aurora, Ind, was completely sur rounded by the Ohio river and with ( t light, heat and water. About 1000 persons were estimated ma rooncd and rescue attempts were immediately impossible because of the swiftness of the current and lack of heavy boats. Boats from In- dianapolis were ordered to the scene.
 Reports said that water had reach ed the second floors of Aurora homes and that there was imminent danger of an influenza epidemic. There was enough food to last until rescuers can remove residents to safety. Throughout the flood area, there was fear of disease. Red Gross workers at Lawrenceberg ask ed that physicians be hurried to help avert threatened epidemic. Five were dispatched from Indianapolis. National Guards There Five members of the national guard medical corps were ordered to q CCC camp at North Vernon, where 800 regugees were headed for ghcl- ter and medical aid. National guards evacuated Jenersonville, and sped residents to scottsburg, Hcnryville and Speeds in box cars. The White river tore out tracks of the Balti- more and Ohio railroad at three places east of Washington, Ind. Mount Vernon sheltered 2,600 refu- gees from Posey county. National guards operated 90 boats near the confluence of the White and Wab- ash rivers and forcibly evacuated hundred other reluctant to leave their homes. In PoSey county. the water was 55 feet deep, two feet above the all-time high of 1913. A relief train from Indianapolis ar- rived at Sunman to remove 700 refugees.
 Governor Gives Orders
 The order for martial law in the area was issued in Indianapolis by Gov. Clifford Townsend. The or- der included the towns of Brook vile. 0reensburg, Columbus, Bloom- field. Linton, Sullivan and all con- inunities south.
 State officials announced that B. 900 national gupardsmeri would be in the field by afternoon. An estimated 30.000 were home iess in Illinois. One was dead.
 Mass evacuation proceeded at Shawneetown, H., where hopes of saving Ohio river levees were aban- doned. The steamer Patricia Bar rett stood ready to push scow with l,CN refugees to higher land. Red Cross workers appealed for typhoid serum to inoculate 5000 persona. They reported 20 cases of influenza.
 The crest of the flood Is not due in southern Illinois for several days. Illinois officials speeded evacuation from already threatened cities and hoped current evacuationS would clear the path of rising floods suf- Gciently to avoid serious loss of life. |