No loaded dice in 1913, or loaded climatologists.
The record snowfall that fell in Greater Lafayette on Sunday night and early Monday was similar to the half a foot that fell 100 years ago today at the height of the worst flood in Tippecanoe County history.
Despite the snow of March 26, 1913, the river began receding late that night after reaching a record level of 32.9 feet. While the snow didn’t worsen the flood, it came at a most inopportune time.
The Lafayette Morning Journal on March 27, 1913, told of some of the conditions residents faced.
• “The flood has carried away all the buildings on the levee. … Houses along the river road are flooded to the second story, and much property loss is reported.”
• “Many of the people are without coal oil and others are running short.”
Heavy snow a cold reminder of March 1913 flood | Journal and Courier | jconline.com
That’s a major piece of history for my alma mater , Culver Military Academy , which helped fight the disaster : http://www.painterandpoet.com/caseries/logansportgate.html . This year I’ll be getting to my 50th reunion and checking if their teaching of physics remains uncorrupted .