HIGHEST IN HISTORY

Evening Post, Volume CXXIII, Issue 20, 25 January 1937, Page 9

HIGHEST IN HISTORY

REFUGEES' PLIGHT ROOSEVELT IN CHARGE CINCINNATI, January 23. Thirteen deaths, more than 100,OCK homeless, and damage running into mil-, lions of dollars were caused as the Ohio River and its tributaries reached their highest stages in history, spreading suffering, destruction, and danger of typhoid and pneumonia to twelv* southern and middle western States.

A score of cities and towns in Ohio, Kentucky, and Indiana are faced with the threat of cold and darkness, as they are warned that there is a possibility of gas and electricity being cut off during the night. Telegraph and telephone lines are down in many areas. Highways are under water, and all the customary modes of transportation are halted. Boats are the only possible means of transport, but use of them is dangerous owing to floating trees, houses, and debris.

Federal, State, and city government's Red Cross have pressed all available resources into the service of housing, feeding, and clothing refugees and transporting them to places of safety.

Inoculation clinics have been established at many points to prevent a typhoid epidemic, which is a .great peril in time of flood.

President Roosevelt took personal command of the Federal relief organisation, ordering every agency of the Government to help. The coastguard has ordered 64 radio-equipped surfboats and four amphibian aeroplanes to the danger-points, and.24 other surfboats are already in use. Additional national guardsmen have been mobilised throughout the stricken areas. The Works Progress Administration has assigned 8000 men to relief and rescue work. Admiral Grayson, chairman of the Red Cross, issued an appeal for contributions of 2,000,000 dollars to aid the sufferers. FOOD AND MEDICAL SUPPLIES. Snow, sleet, and freezing temperatures in many parts of the flooded areas increased the suffering and handicapped the relief workers. Planes will be used to drop food and medicine to isolated communities, several of which are already reported to be suffering. A lack of drinking water .i« reported in many places. The flood poured over the top of the 1,000,000-dollar 60-foot anti-flood wall at Portsmouth, Ohio, despite the opening of the sewers following the evacuation of low-lying portions of the country. Troops, police, and firemen patrolled the streets of Louisville, Kentucky, more than half of which is expected to be under water. At the State capital, Frankfort, 2900 convicts manned the pumps as the waters entered the reformatory, which may have to be evacuated. | The Mayor of Louisville ordered afe tram services to be discontinued save the current. Factories closed ai the waters neared the power station. A suspension of power is faced ai Cincinnati, where the radio station has lowered its wattage. The use of telephones is restricted to emergency calls. Firemen waded in water to the armpits to save a burning railroad shop. Five persons screaming for help .were washed down a river In a house. Their fate is unknown. Leaking tanks left a film of gasoline oil on the waters in several places, causing fear of the dreaded floating fire.

Additional levees broke in many places, and dams arc guarded to prevent dynamiting.

The scope of the flood is already nearly as great as that of March last which caused loss amounting to 300.000.000 dollars, and the rivers art still rising-