e-president of the Dayton, Lebanon and Cincinnati
Railroad, succeeded during the night in getting communication for a
short time from Dayton to Lebanon. He said that the situation was
appalling and beyond all control.

"According to my advices, the situation beggars description," said Mr.
Brandon. "What the people need most of all is boats. The water is high
in every street and assistance late this afternoon was simply out of the
question. My superintendent at Dayton told me that at least sixty had
perished and probably a great many more, at the same time assuring me
that unless something that closely approached a miracle happened the
death list would run considerably higher. We are now rigging up several
special trains and will make every effort possible to get into Dayton
tonight."

It was on these scenes of indescribable horror that the shades of night
closed down.

CHAPTER III

DAYTON'S MENACE OF FIRE AND FAMINE

FIRE BREAKS OUT--HUNDREDS IMPERILED BY FLAMES--THE CITY
THREATENED--70,000 IMPRISONED BY THE WATER--"SEND US
FOOD!"--PATTERSON CONTINUES RESCUE WORK--PHONE OPERATOR BELL A
HERO--EXPERIENCES OF THE SUFFERERS--INSTANCES OF
SELF-SACRIFICE--LOOTERS AT WORK.

Scarcely had the appalling horror of the flood impressed itself on the
stricken people of Dayton before a new danger arose to strike terror to
their hearts--fire that could not be fought because there was no way to
reach it and because the usual means for fire-fighting were paralyzed.

FIRE BREAKS OUT

One fire started from the explosion of an oil tank containing hundreds
of gallons which bumped into a submerged building.

The fire started in a row of buildings on Third Street near Jefferson,
right in the heart of the business section, and not far from the
Algonquin Hotel, the Y. M. C. A., and other large buildings.

The report of the fire was sent out by Wire Chief Green, of the Bell
Telephone Company, who said the fire was then within a block of the
telephone exchange in which was located John A. Bell, who for more than
twenty-four hours had kept the outside world informed as best he could
of the catastrophe in Dayton.

A. J. Seattle, owner of the house in which the fire started after a gas
explosion, was blown into the air and killed instantly.

Mrs. Shunk, a neighbor, was blown out of her home into the flood. After
clinging to a telegraph pole for half an hour, she finally succumbed and
was sucked under the waters.