THE DESOLATION OF INDIANAPOLIS AND THE VALLEY OF THE WHITE RIVER
THE TWO FORKS OF THE WHITE RIVER--WORST DAMAGE IN
INDIANAPOLIS--SYSTEMATIC RESCUE WORK--THIEVES BENT ON
PLUNDER--PREDICAMENT OF WEST INDIANAPOLIS--THE RECEDING
WATERS--FLOOD VICTIMS HELPLESS--AN APRIL WEDDING--OTHER TOWNS
AFFECTED.
The two great forks of the White River and their tributaries drain about
half of the area of Indiana. Indianapolis, the capital of the state, is
situated on the West Fork. In this city and more particularly in West
Indianapolis the torrent roaring through the White River valley did its
worst damage.
Hundreds of spectators were watching the river on Tuesday evening, March
25th, when, with a roar that could be heard for blocks, hundreds of tons
of dirt in the Morris Street levee crumbled under the pressure, and
great walls of water rushed through the opening.
Men, women and children fought through the water toward a near-by
bridge, which seemed to offer the only safety. Many houses were torn to
pieces by the rush of the water, and others were carried away. Families
in one-story homes were at the mercy of the sudden rush of water that
followed. The people were literally trapped in their own houses.
OTHER TOWNS AFFECTED
Other towns affected by the flooding of the White River and its
tributaries were Muncie, Elwood, Anderson, Noblesville, Bloomington,
Washington, Newcastle, Rushville, Shelbyville, etc. At Noblesville the
river was the highest it had been in thirty-three years, at Muncie a
dike in the water plant broke and the city was without fire protection.
At Rushville Flat Rock Creek waters rose with a roar, and clanging fire
bells warned the people to flee. The entire business section was
submerged. One person met death in Muncie; one in Newcastle; one in
Rushville, and five in West Indianapolis.
Indianapolis awoke the following morning to find the waters higher than
ever appeared before, with a property loss that two days before would
have been unbelievable. It was hard to bring the full realization of the
damage to the people, who had no thought of a flood from streams that
ordinarily are unimportant, aiding only in beautifying the city's parks
and boulevard driveways.
A NIGHT OF DISASTER AND FEAR
During the night the water advanced upon the exclusive residence section
along Fall Creek. It tore away one bridge, destroyed the city's most
pretentious driveway and forced the families living along its banks to
desert their palatial homes.
A few hours before they had no idea they were in any danger, and were
awakened by the militiamen to be ordered from the threatened buildings,
only to find every hotel in the city full. They were cared for at the
homes of friends.
The Washington Street bridge over the White River that connects
Indianapolis and West Indianapolis, which was closed for traffic late
Tuesday night, in the early morning was torn apart by the waters, the
floor of the structure being carried away.
A DESOLATE CITY
With the breaking of day came the proposition of feeding the refugees.
The city appropriated money to supply immediate needs and a relief fund
was started. Drinking water was at a premium, and water for bathing was
practically unattainable.
Schools were closed, and there was a general suspension of business. The
water in some of the streets north of Fall Creek, only fifteen miles
from the business district, swept everything before it. The street cars
remained standing in the streets where they were stopped when the power
house was flooded. All interurban lines were at a standstill and the
steam roads had poor success in getting trains out of the city.
Passenger trains were shut out of the city on the lines entering from
the West, and the passengers were forced to share the lot of the
homeless refugees.
By Thursday conditions in Indianapolis were such that Governor Ralston
was impelled to issue a proclamation asking for general relief. Five
hundred refugees from West Indianapolis were brought in small boats to
the Blaine Street wharf. Some of these had been clinging to trees for
hours. Others were taken from floating houses. Women with babies were
taken from the upper stories of houses. The refugees said that many had
been killed in Wolf Hall when the floors of that building gave way under
the strain of hundreds who had taken refuge there. Reports of death were
everywhere exaggerated, owing to the difficulty of accurate knowledge
and the shattered nerves of the sufferers.
SYSTEMATIC RESCUE WORK
Systematic rescue work was rendered more difficult by a storm of snow
and sleet. Tomlinson Hall, the great civic gathering place of the city,
was converted into a temporary hospital. The homeless men, women and
children from West Indianapolis, Broad Ripple and other suburbs
devastated by the White River were taken to the hall and were fed and
given medical attention. From Fort Benjamin Harrison 500 blankets and
500 mattresses and cots were obtained. Citizens' committees were in
charge of the work of distributing food and of raising money. It was
estimated that 10,000 persons in Indianapolis alone were in need of
immediate assistance.
The situation was rendered graver by the outbreak of contagious
diseases. Five women rescued and taken to Tomlinson Hall were suffering
from pneumonia, and cases of whooping cough and measles were discovered
among the refugees.
There were numerous cases of pneumonia. Measles and whooping cough
attacked the children. Nearly all of the doctors of the city volunteered
their services and asked for volunteer nurses.
Those suffering from contagious diseases were removed at once and
inspectors from the city board of health aided by a corps of nurses
detailed from various hospitals of the city set to work to prevent
exposure of the refugees to contagion and to take care of the other
sick.
THIEVES BENT ON PLUNDER
Thieves took advantage of the wrecking of lighting plants to plunder
deserted houses and even to rob survivors of the flood. In West
Indianapolis the vandals and robbers became so bold that Governor
Ralston placed that section of the city under martial law and sent a
company of militia to guard the streets. Orders were given to shoot on
sight any one caught at robbery.
PREDICAMENT OF WEST INDIANAPOLIS
The greed of provision dealers angered Governor Ralston to such an
extent that he started an investigation. Before the supply of bread
available on the West Side had been exhausted, loaves were selling at
twenty cents each. The supply of meat was entirely exhausted.
That section of Indianapolis lying west of the river, where martial law
was proclaimed, is the poorest in the city. The supply of meats, eggs,
milk, coffee, bread and butter was practically exhausted before noon.
Little except canned goods remained on the shelves of the grocers.
Relief trains loaded with provisions were unable to enter this district.
Members of the board of public safety and other city officials inspected
the entire flooded district from motor boats and directed efficient
organization of the relief workers, aiding the state troops and state
officials in every possible way.
THE RECEDING WATERS
By Friday the White River had begun to fall slowly, and the work of
caring for the suffering could be prosecuted vigorously. It was
estimated that the property loss in the city and environs would reach
$10,000,000. Part of this loss was in destroyed bridges. The Vandalia
Railroad bridge over the White River went down Friday, carrying with it
ten loaded cars.
By Monday, March 31st, White River waters had returned to almost normal
channel, and the areas that were covered were being searched to locate
the bodies of any who might have been drowned. The city board of health
prepared typhoid serum for 50,000 treatments to aid in warding off an
epidemic. State troops were withdrawn.
On Tuesday hundreds of homes were cleaned and, with furniture which
could be salvaged and that supplied by the Relief Committee, the owners
were able to resume housekeeping. Relief funds were still increasing
and all persons who lost homes or furniture in the flood were being
cared for.
Many persons in the West Indianapolis flood district were treated with
an anti-diphtheria vaccine, and Dr. T. V. Keene, in charge of the
medical relief work in the flooded districts, said he feared no
epidemic.
FLOOD VICTIMS HELPLESS
Hundreds of thousands of dollars were reported necessary to relieve
suffering among the flood refugees in Indianapolis, according to the
report of the General Relief Committee, made on Wednesday, April 2d, at
a meeting in Mayor Shank's office.
Plans for raising a vast sum of money, to be made available immediately
to the sufferers, were discussed and it was decided to start popular
subscriptions and designate places for contributions.
Joseph C. Schaf, one of the investigators for the committee, said:
"The flood victims are helpless. They need money and need it
immediately. The men are trying to hold their jobs and let the women
clean up the homes, and it is a disheartening task for which many are
not physically able. Give them money immediately so they can pile their
water-soaked mattresses and other furniture in the street and touch a
match to it. That will give them new heart."
Mr. Schaf increased his donation by $1,000, and several other members of
the committee did likewise.