okville 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.

CHAPTER XIV

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