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 rush of water that followed. The people were literally trapped in their own houses.
OTHER TOWNS AFFECTED
Other towns affected by the flooding of the White River and its tributaries were Muncie, Elwood, Anderson, Noblesville, Bloomington, Washington, Newcastle, Rushville, Shelbyville, etc. At Noblesville the river was the highest it had been in thirty-three years, at Muncie a dike in the water plant broke and the city was without fire protection. At Rushville Flat Rock Creek waters rose with a roar, and clanging fire bells warned the people to flee. The entire business section was submerged. One person met death in Muncie; one in Newcastle; one in Rushville, and five in West Indianapolis.