OHIO FLOODS.

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1709, 28 March 1913, Page 5

OHIO FLOODS.

GREAT AREA INUNDATED. DAYTON CITY COMPLETELY CUT OFF. ' 200j000 HOMELESS. By Telegraph—Press Association— Copyright New York, March 27. A messige from Columbus, Oliio, states that the area bounded by Lake Erie- and the Ohio River, the Indiana boundary,, and- the Pennsylvania boundary, is suffering from tlie Hood. Two hundred thousand persona are homeless. Harrowing tales are percolating through of stricken leople spending nights in trees and oh liousctops, and then, falling, into water when exhausted with the cold and wet. 1 Communication with Dayton is completely cut off. Zanesviile reports that fifteen were drowned there. Conservative estimates' of the death-roll are Dayton, 400-; Sydney, 200; Delaware, 50; Hamilton, 20; Piqua, 200. Surrounding.' villages' raise the total to a: thousand. ■ ' Tho worst. ravages were at Peru, in Indiana. The entire city was submerged, and bodies were borne off by the- swirling waters, none being recovered. The neighbouring States are organising relief, but there is great hardship in consequence of the lack of railway transportation. The' water' is now subsiding.

A HUGE EXPLOSION. Dayton, March 28. "A huge explosion, due to a fire, wrecked an. additional portion of the city. The floods 1 spread over the whole Business section, which was-ablaze. People were leaping from the burning roofs only to perish in the waters. Two hundred bodies have already been, recovered'. The fire-fighters .were helpless' owing to the flow of water. 1 The fire is reported to be due to an explosion. of an oil-tank.

INTENSE SUFFERING.. COLD 'AND FATIGUE KILL MANY. (Rec. March 26, 10.15 p.m.) New York, March 26. The citizens of Peru; Indiana, findiug that looting was rampant, have organised vigilance committees, aiid given notice : that all looters vtill be summarily =hot. Thousands were marooned at the Courthouse and hospitals. Snow is falling heavily, and the suffering is intense. Relief is beginning to arrive, but scores are perishing from- cold and fatigue. Flames are raging at Dayton, whew eight business houses - have- been burnt. There is l no means of checking the outbreak. Fifteen thousand people Have taken refuge in the hospitals, and are waiting fpithe floods, to subside. , The river at Dayton is four mil's wide. Men were rescued half-frozen from trees,- and many boats ate engaged in rescue work.. The terrific / currents, even in the streets, make tho .work dangerou3. . The' President has ordered the dispatch of tents, supplies,''and physicians immp-' diattly. An army corps has also been ordered to render aid. West ; Indianapolis reports 6tate that 150 have; been drowned there. The people of Peru are drinking contaminated water, and a pestilence .is feared. They have no blankets and no fire?. A midaight report States that tho ton Dam is weakening, and is likely to collapse. 1 The' Governor has dispatohed u special train with men and materials to strengthen ,the dam.