Martial Law Is Declared
I. This city is now in possession of the military forces of the State of Ohio, who have come to restore peace and order and to enforce the laws of the said State of Ohio, under authority and by command of the Governor of said state.
The Colonel commanding said military forces therefore makes known and proclaims the objects and purposes of the said state in thus taking possession of the said city of Marietta Military District, and the rules and regulations by which the laws of the United States and the State of Ohio will be for the present and until further proclamation, maintained for the guidance of all persons within said military district.
II. There exists in the said city of Marietta conditions caused by the recent flood, making it impossible for the civil authorities of the said city to enforce the laws of said state of Ohio and to protect the property of its citizens. The Military District Commander, therefore, will cause the said city to be governed until the restoration of the civil authority and his further orders, by military authority.
III. The persons and property of all well disposed citizens will be protected and safeguards will be furnished wherever necessary and possible.
IV. All rights of property of whatever kind will be held inviolate, subject to law. All persons in the district will be required to pursue their usual vocations. All shops and places of business except as hereafter mentioned are to be kept open in their usual manner as in time of peace.
V. All saloons and places where intoxicating liquors are sold as a beverage will be closed and kept closed until further orders.
VI. Violations of the law of the said State of Ohio and interferences with military forces will be referred to proper authority for trial and punishment. Misdemeanors will be subject to the civil authority if it chooses to act. Civil cases will await the ordinary tribunal.
VII. All assemblages of persons in streets or highways, either by day or by night, tending to disorder, are forbidden.
VIII. Vagrancy will not be tolerated.
IX. It is hoped that martial law hereby established, will be mild and gentle in its enforcement, but it will be vigorously exercised when occasion demands.
By order of
Colonel Harry D. Knox, Military District Commander.
Noalis E. Herzer, Adjutant of the District.
College To Resume
Marietta College will probably resume, next Monday morning. The state militia, which has been occupying the buildings, will in all probability vacate them sometime this week.
10 Buildings Are Condemned
The building inspectors who have been at work but a short time have already condemned ten buildings located near the mouth of the Muskingum river on the East Side. Two of the buildings are in the business district. These buildings have been closed and are no longer fit for use. The former occupants have found homes elsewhere, and the merchants who occupied the condemned buildings are arranging for other quarters.
6000 Persons Were Affected
According to the report of the precinct committeemen, 984 families were in the flooded district. This report does not include precincts A and B, of the first ward, and D, of the second ward.
The committeemen in these districts have not as yet filed their reports and it is estimated that over 1,200 families in all were in the flooded districts. Over half of this number had the water in their second floors.
The number of people represented in the 984 families out side of precincts A and B of the second ward is 3,550. The total number of people in all flooded precincts is estimated between 5,000 and 6,000.
Beverly's Great Loss
William Lansley returned Monday afternoon from Beverly, having walked to that place Sunday from Fern Cliff park and back, Monday. He reports the damage done in Beverly very great.
It is estimated that 43 buildings, the greater part homes, were carried away by the current. In one square only two buildings are left and these were partly demolished.
It is estimated that 3,500 wagon loads of drift and debris, under which are buried the carcasses of several cows and horses are piled in the streets. In many places the drift is piled as high as houses.
The town is still cut off from the world as far as transportation is concerned and the only way the people have of entering Beverly is either on foot or horses. The only mail which has left the city has been taken overland to Dexter City.
Many of the families have abandoned their homes in the flooded district and have made arrangements to build on the hills.
The work of cleaning the streets is progressing rapidly and Sunday the ministers were in the streets with brooms and shovels. Today is farmers day in Beverly. Appeals were sent to the residents of the rural districts to help clean the streets and today several responded. it is the plan of the committee to have the greater part of the debris cleared away before night.
Mr. Lansley reports the tracks of the P. M. & I. U. Ry. Co., from Beverly to Fern Cliff park are in bad condition. The trestle at Coal Run is partly demolished. The tracks in other places are either washed away or the road bed torn up.
Lowell also suffered severely. Most of the damage was done by the fire. Nearly an entire block along Canal street was demolished by the flames. The water flooded the entire town and was nearly over the roof of the restaurant owned by H. H. Young, formerly of this city. Lowell did not suffer the loss that Beverly did and is rapidly recovering.
Cleaning Streets
The city today is rapidly being cleared of mud. Many laborers and teams are at work and by tonight Front and Putnam streets will be cleaned. The men are in charge of the police. Officer Charles Ray has thirty men and six teams at work on Putnam and Second streets, while officers Chamberlain and Wolfe have charge of the men on Front street. The mud on this street is being loaded upon an electric freight car.
Belpre People Need Some Help
Steps were taken at a mass meeting of the citizens of Belpre last night to formulate some plan where by the needy at that place may be properly cared for and if possible established in their homes again. There are between 40 and 50 people there who are homeless and who have lost all they had. These people are being cared for at the old Blennerhassett hotel building, which was thrown open by the B. & O. railroad company several days ago. The people who reside in the vicinity to the north of Belpre are assisting in caring for them. It is believed that if arrangements were made to establish them in homes again that they would be able to take care of themselves.
Family Tells Thrilling Tale
An Assyrian family residing on Putnam street tell a thrilling story of their escape from the flood.
On Thursday evening, nearly two weeks ago, when the water started to enter the second floors of a number of Putnam street houses, the Assyrian family, consisting of the father, who goes by the name of John, his wife and two children were asleep on the second floor of the building located near the corner of Front and Putnam.
The rush of water under their bed awakened them. The room was pitch dark. There was no gas light to be lighted. Every second, fearing he would fall down the stairway into the water or break through the front window, John crawled in the water over the floor in his apartments in search of something from which he could make a light. He finally located an olive oil bottle and by dipping a piece of rope into the oil he succeeded finally in make a torch.
Then he led the way, his wife and two children following to a side window which adjoins the Pfaff bakery property. A heavy board was secured and the marooned family was helped across this by the father and through the window into the Pfaff residence.
Here they found conditions about the same as they had left. Their cries for help brought no response, as it was late in the night and no boats were on the water. The olive oil light went out. The waters were rising more rapidly, it seemed to the frightened family, and the mother with her two children in her arms was standing in water up to her knees.
Realizing that something had to be done and that at once, John, by standing on several pieces of furniture succeeded in reaching the third floor of the building through a hatch overhead. Then with great difficulty he pulled his wife and children up after him. Some old clothing was found, a bed was made and soon the mother and her little ones were made comfortable and they fell asleep.
When daylight came, several men in a patrol boat found John, the brave and faithful Assyrian in the third story window. He had kept watch over his loved ones all night.
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