Flood Diaries & Letters: Friday, April 4, 1913

J. G. C. Schenck, Sr.

“Worked at house all day cleaning up—had 2 men & Georgia. AES also stayed all day & wiped dishes etc. We left for Stoddards at 5 PM.”

Bishop Milton Wright

“I wrote to Reuchlin and to Flora Stevens. The day is cloudy.”

Edward Neukom to his brother-in-law Tom in Pennsylvania:

“April 4, 1913

“Dear Tom and all the rest,

“Nellie is decidedly better this morning… Our Refugees are gone and the house is quiet. Yesterday Everett gave out too, but was all right again last evening and this morning. We had another 12 hour Thunderstorm and pouring rain. Got several letters yesterday—none from you folks—my California cousins offered assistance, all the money I wanted etc. Received a letter from Lisetta from Detroit, letter dated March 26^th it took 8 days to get here, usually it takes 6 hours by train from here to Detroit. Got a letter from Castors in Brooklyn—7 days on the way. Was at our office for the first time, it took me 50 minutes to get there, climbing over piles of debris, mud etc. in a round about way.

This photo by Everett Neukom on March 28, 1913, shows the strength of the water: that overturned stone had been moved! (ms128_3-2-4)

There is a house thrown on our office Front steps; in our Shops some castings weighing over 2000 lbs. were washed a distance of several hundred feet. 60,000 people are fed on short rations from out at 25 different Relief Stations. Just now while writing was a terrific explosion somewhere, it shook our house. We have now water to drink in the city mains, but no gas yet are still cooking in the furnace. Fortunately we had ½ ton coal and one ton coke in the cellar when the flood came Banks will open April 8^th Martial law will last indefinitely. All lights must be out by 9:30. Nobody allowed on the streets after 6 P.M. Soldiers everywhere. All automobiles have been commandeered for Relief work; every man who is able has to work at the point of a gun. They hauled out over 100 [men] who wouldn’t work, had hidden themselves in houses, so the soldiers went there and give them the choice: work or be shot on the spot. Well, I’ll have to begin to work also, cooking breakfast.

                                                                                                “Love to all, Edward”