6op^gfilbu^7i0^rnmeKr 1913 && SPECMUlYPHOKfflAPHCQ. 'Dayton. 06lo. v. un ©CU34 7048 Jlijotograpijic Contemplation of 0m of JJature'S Cataclysms With Respect To An Inland City, The Deluge at Dayton, March 25, 19U, Was The Greatest Since The Days of Noah. wrought and N March 'J. - ,, Dayton, strong and buoyanl in its more than a century's growth; hope- ful and planning in the bright sunshine of past achievements and industrial pos- sibilities; righteous and profane in accordance with the temperament of its cosmopolitan population, was unmade. Flood and fire, undreamed of and appall- ing, bore its beauty to the mire, dashed present hopes to the depths of stunning loss, and made its population objects of the same kind of pity and abundant chari- ty which had touched the quick of its human soul so many times when its business, church, fraternal and commercial kin in other places suffered. In one short week Dayton was unmade and born again. Her rippling Miami, unhar- nessed and rebellious, wrought the destruction and now the placid, yet still murky stream, sighs a mellow and eternal requiem over the havoc she chimes entrance to Paradise of the hundred souls site claimed. Forty- seven years ago the stream went on a similar rampage, and fifteen years ago water flowed through the streets of Dayton; but not since L789 to 1792, when the troublesome Miami Indians gave cunning, daring and relentless warfare to early settlers, has then' been such desolation and despair upon her classic banks. Major Benjamin Stiles, Major John Stiles dans and Judge William Goforth negoti- ated for the strip of territory lying between the Miami and Mad rivers on June 13, 1789, and they called the site Venice. Yet only once during half a century has the community ever taken on the appearance of ;i Venice, with boats and rafts and barges floating in her streets. Major stilus once wrote: "What can give its currenl such velocity in the midst of so level a country is a matter of astonishment to all who behold it," Writers of to-day voice the same sentiment — nor do they at- tempt to explain the phenomenon of the deluge. The rain appeared to be only normal, yet the flood was abnormal. Hut there remained in the embattered hulk of the Gem City that spark of virgin strength, determination and plan which will undoubtedly make it a real gem in the diadem of its country's municipalities. Although Dayton was well-nigh mortally wounded, yet she girded her tattered garments about her shivering and bleeding form and pitched into the battle of reconstruc- tion ami rehabilitation. The Gem City had to do it — there was no other course open, if she was to live. To-daj she has practically recovered from her wounds, and gains strength steadily. Through the kindly offices and gentle ministrations of sister cities and communities, she litis thrived on the charity nursing and stands erect and without a totter. The city has buried her toll of dead; through large forces she w'iped away the last vestige of her unpleasant battle with the elements; properly aided by State and National authorities, ami her own inherent desire, she safeguarded her health -until she stands a pillar of strength on the ashes of her past. It is probable that no citj on earth ever took such rapid snides as did Dayton, once her flood waters receded. The majesty of her enterprises lias asserted itself, and her citizenship has taken hold with a firm determination in retrieve the losses. Memories alone will retain the horrors of the occasion, and events of the future have been dated from March 25, 1913. What a short lime ago was a washed path of destruc- tion is to-day a hive of industry, just as before the fatal day. Wrecked businesses and sundered homes have been transformed into real commercial centers and havens of abode for a contented ami happy people. In the presenci of a great disaster the human mind is appalled, the human tongue is silent save in supplication for aid. and the human pen is often paralyzed. However, the Mood of l ;i l :; directly affected 93,000 persons, 20,000 homes and entailed a property loss of approxi- mately $200,1 ,000; Hie stretch of water was two miles wide, with a depth varying according to ele- vation and depression of land from I to 26 feet; while the lives of thousands were in jeopardy, and many answered the inexorable fiat of Nature. Emblazoned across the heavens tire the names of Innumerable ones whose deeds of heroism mark them as men and women of real character, who meet the full measure of (bid's own plan. So. to the memorj of the souls who passed through Death into Life Eternal amid the Hood, and to the service of their surviving kin and sorrowing neighbors, who cherish their memory while mourning their departure, in humble submission to the will of an All-Wise ami Inscrutable Providence, this booklet is dedicated. clarence ii. Greene. • . NORTh YTON A SIDE SIDE y LEHMAN ST.lWERDALE SHOWING 'HOW 'TRAVEL SWEETS WERE TORN AFTER WATER HAD RECEDED HAYES- ST RIVER DALE it: I WA'SHOUf of TRAOjtf at UNION 'DEPOT GERMANTOWN' STREET EAST from BROADWAY MAIN ST WVERDALE — - „ _ ^ ^ PHOTO. 3YMAYFJELL VIEW OF FIRE ZONE LOOKING WEST FROM ST CLAIR DEBRIS at MORTOJV $ BROWN VIEW ON THIRD ST VIEW OH EAST MONUMENT A V£ .*t0,^2lL$>. SOUTH SUMMIT ST LOOKING EAST OH THIRD j^csm cTEEFERSOfrf LEHMAN ST, RIVERDALE FERTILIZIMQ PLANT y^Vvimil^BV REAR OF COOPER MEDICINE CO CANAUSX ■Dm a- M . >* iftSKIj? VIEW IN EDGE MONT OR GBEEN CASTLE 3rd ST EAST FROM MIAMI CITY CATHERINE ST. NORTH fioin FAIN GROUND Sf 'b* .. MAIN J3T. LOOKING SOUTH * BRQAHV&££_ &. ojT GERMAN-TOWN BR(J/mST NORTH J?om MORTON AW. BUINS of FIRE on ST CLAIR ST. 3 re/ £T. LOOKING EAST from. BOULEVARD mk-~- ->r ?&- WEBSTER ST LOOKING NORTH FROM 2ND ST PALMER ST FROM MIAMI BLVD •i»wf<- RUINS qTFIRE from. rd §> eJEFFERSOlY SCENE AT WHITE CITY VIEW NORTH DAYTON FROM WEST END HERMAN ST BRTDGE ^■..■_4*Qategw B f£ i* >• >' n w&sm i TROY ST VSEST t*ffirii-«wit i rti»nitT-niii i »Miiii |i i iii | ; ■ I 1 n • |; THE OLD MULE CAR IN SERVICE AFTER FLOOD c - . -. .-TV.-'.. ' -^r TROY ST LOOKING EAST Tm ■ p \ He r MAIN ST. NORTH ftcm EMMETT 1 *P« %& '913 LOOKING NORTH & QZB BRIDGE a-t FIFTH LIBRARY OF CONGRESS P14 752 160 2