THE AMERICAN CALAMITY

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LV, Issue 263, 29 March 1913, Page 5

THE AMERICAN CALAMITY

BLIZZARD, FIRE AND BLOOD. A COLOSSAL DISASTER. By Cable—Press Association—Copyright. New York, March 27. The lilizzard is raging again at Dayton, and is adding to the horrors. A fearful fire has destroyed a large section of the town, and is still raging. Several scores of people have perished in the flames, and the disaster is assuming the proportions of the San Francisco earthquake. AVater is still in the streets.2s feet deep, making it impossible to render aid by people in boats, which are unable to live in the raging torrents. At Lewiston the,, reservoir is reported to have burst, a"M the flood from there j is certain to increase the loss of life I greatly. Driving snow is hiding the flame-lit town. '• Hundreds of the relief workers at Dayton are helpless in the face of the new disasters, which are occurring every hour, and it is estimated that the death roll will total 1000 persons. The grand reservoir, situated at Chelina, is weakening, and further floods are feared. Canadian towns are sending relief. Six hundred are dead at Columbus. Franklin, a town in Ohio, is burning, and the floods prevent assistance being rendered. The dead bodies at Dayton are stacked three deep on the bank of the river, where they were recovered. Fire destroyed twenty-one city buildings. A hundred persons who were taking refuge in the workhouse became semihysterieal when the flames threatened them. Their peril is not immediate. Prisoners in the gaol are half frantic, and are appealing for release.

MORE REPORTS OF DISASTER. DEATH ROLL OF 150. RELIEF OF THE DISTRESS. Received 28, 0.40 p.m. Indianapolis. March 28. Continuous reports of disasters are arriving. Sixteen persons were drowned at Mowesville, and thirty were marooned on the house-tops. Twenty-live were drowned at Chillicothe, six bodies being recovered. Latest reports from Cay ton state that the flood waters are ujder control, and further loss of life is unlikely. Zanesville is submerged to a depth of thirty feet. The death-roll is definitely stated at 150, while lifteen thousand people are homeless. Washington, March 2S. The Secretary for War has organised widespread relief measures. Tents, food and ambulances have been despatched to the stricken centres.

The President has appealed to the nation for funds to relieve the distress. It is now stated that the loss of life' at Hamilton was less than a hundred. It was previously given as a thousand, FLOOD WATERS SUBSIDING. DANGER OF PESTILENCE. Received 28, D.40 p.m. New York, March 27. Fifty bodies have been recovered from the great Miami river. Five hundred persons were rescued from tree-tops and wrecked houses. Hundreds are still marooned on the house-tops, beyond reach of succour. The fire in the business section of the town has been extinguished. The blizzard prevented its spread. The Hood waters are falling, and rescue work is proceeding slowly. Temporary morgues were established. There i were scenes of frantic grief when the bodies arrived. Relief trains are relieving hunger, and the sanitary authorities are organising health squads, to prevent pestilence. Numerous outlying points have been cut off bv the inundations throughout the State The loss if life is not known, hut it i- believed to exceed fifty.