THE FLOOD IN EASTERN INDIANA
HORROR OF THE RISING WATER--THE FOUR FLOODS--DISASTER IN
BROOKVILLE--PEOPLE GATHERED IN CHURCHES--NEWS FROM LAUREL--SURGING
FLOOD AT FORT WAYNE.
"Every stream we crossed seemed to be a raging torrent, its waters
racing at top speed," said one traveler who arrived in Chicago on March
26th. "We could hear the swish of the waters and hear the cries of
people in distress," reported another.
Yet these eye-witnesses could not see the worst of the four vast floods
that swept over the state of Indiana, tying up the railroads, rendering
thousands of persons homeless, killing scores of others, wiping out
whole towns. Just how many persons lost their lives in the great floods
will probably never be known.
THE FOUR FLOODS
Indiana had known many devastating floods, but none like to this in
either destructive force or extent. On March 26th three distinct flood
districts prevailed--the eastern part of the state including the valley
of the White Water River and the Fort Wayne territory, the valley of the
White River and its tributaries, and the valley of the Wabash. Later
the flooding of the Ohio River and its tributaries added to the awful
tale of disaster. The entire state was practically one huge sea, and
every brook, creek and river exacted its toll of damage.
The overflow, coming with astonishing suddenness, caught farmers
throughout the state unprepared and the breaking of levees in many
places forced persons living along the rivers to desert their homes. In
the crowded cities it added woe upon woe.
The appalling swiftness with which the waters rose found city as well as
state unprepared. Streams that were brooks Easter morning had become
raging torrents on Tuesday. Persons who retired in apparently safe homes
Monday were rescued the following day from second-story windows with
boats. Lowlands became vast lakes.
The dawn of Wednesday, March 26th, found anxiety in Indiana centered in
Brookville and Connersville, on the White Water River, from which
frantic appeals for aid were received by Governor Ralston.
Other despatches from the same region declared that the smaller towns of
Metamora, Cedar Grove and Prenton were swept away completely.
DISASTER IN BROOKVILLE
Sixteen persons were drowned at Brookville, when they were caught by the
east and west forks of White Water River which meet in that town.
Survivors told of attempts of men, women and children to escape by the
light of lanterns. Cross currents rushing along streets and alleys
carried them down to a united stream a mile wide just south of the town.
Five children, all of one family, were seen clinging to posts of an
old-fashioned wooden bed when they were swept into the main stream and
lost.
The person from Connersville who first talked with the Governor said
that a break in the White Water River levee had flooded the valley,
sweeping many persons before it. After that it was impossible to
re-establish communication even for a few minutes. Militia were ready
all during the night to hurry to the town, but no train was operated in
that direction.
PEOPLE GATHERED IN CHURCHES
Five wagon bridges, the Big Four Railroad bridge, the depot and a paper
mill were utterly destroyed. Fifty summer houses on White Water River
south of Brookville were washed away, foundations and all. People, bowed
down by the calamity, gathered in churches, where religious services
were held. None of the bodies were recovered for several days.
Hall Schuster was drowned Thursday night in an attempt to cross the West
Fork of the White River at Brookville to rescue Harlan Kennedy, a
hermit, formerly a Methodist minister.
Two hundred and fifty children rescued from the flood had only night
clothes. Wagon trains carried food and clothing from Connersville to the
stricken people.
On Friday, March 28th, the list of known dead in Brookville was
sixteen. Heavy loss of property and a food and fuel famine imminent were
the precise situation.
There were six persons missing, and it was feared that they had been
drowned and their bodies washed away or buried in debris that had not
yet been searched.
Brookville was practically under martial law, and twenty men were driven
out of the city after they were discovered looting damaged homes and
buildings.
NEWS FROM LAUREL
News from Laurel reached Connersville on Saturday when Deputy Postmaster
George Lockwood came through on horseback. He said the White Water River
valley, eleven miles around Laurel, was flooded, and the damage
estimated at $300,000.
Four buildings and many small houses were wrecked in Laurel, but no
lives were lost. Several farmers in the valley between Brookville and
Laurel were missing and their houses had disappeared. Several other
towns in the valley were inundated and many houses had been swept away.
SURGING FLOOD AT FORT WAYNE
At Fort Wayne, in the northeastern part of the state at the confluence
of the St. Mary's and the Maumee Rivers, the flood surged for three
days.
A keeper in the Orphan Asylum and five men in a surfboat did splendid
work in saving seventy-five inmates of the asylum from drowning. All
life-saving stations in the flooded district devoted their utmost
efforts to the work of rescue and used their funds and supplies without
stint. The relief work was in every way well organized.
SITUATION UNDER CONTROL
On March 28th, with the flood receding at the rate of three inches an
hour, Fort Wayne had the situation in control and stood ready to assist
its less fortunate neighbors. Many of the refugees were able to get back
into their homes. The property loss was estimated at $4,000,000, and it
was almost certain that the loss of life would not exceed six.
The pumping station had been started up the previous night, two
locomotives sent by the Lake Shore Railroad furnishing the power. The
water was being pumped from the river. The only drinking water available
for several days was brought in bottles.