FALSE REPORT CAUSES PANIC
Needless suffering was caused during the day by an announcement of the breaking of the Lewistown reservoir. Men rushed through the uptown streets shouting:
"Run for your lives! The reservoir has broken!"
There was really no danger. The reservoir contained 17,000 acres of water space, but it was pointed out that the flood extended over several million acres and the worst possible effect of the breaking of the reservoir would be to retard the rescues and could not cause a rise of more than a foot. The waters at the time were seven feet lower than the high water of Tuesday night.
The alarm was spread by a policeman who was posted on the edge of the flood district. Others were quick to take up the cry.
Soon thousands of men and women crowded the streets. Many of them fled for the hills, but hundreds hurled themselves past guards and into the main office building of the National Cash Register Building, which was already crowded.
Not until John H. Patterson, president of the company, had addressed the throng was any semblance of order restored.
Mr. Patterson was appointed military aide in the southeast district of the city, with full control under martial law. He at once ordered every available motor car and truck to scour the farmhouses south of the city and confiscate all available food supplies.
Colonel H. G. Catrow arrived with his military aides from Columbus in the afternoon and took charge of the militiamen.
SIGHTSEERS BARRED FROM CITY