Charles E. Burchfield (1893-1967)

125. could not get to it; I call up Denehey who is not in. His wife directs me to W M (William) Penn Hotel.

     I arrive there, and find few lights in the street, general confusion. When I went into the lobby of the hotel; water dripping down on steps, with buckets to catch it (this I thot a part of the flood but it was not) few lights on; only a handful of people. I learned there were no lights in the rooms. Candles around on most counters. Depressed, I went outside again, and after parking my car, I stood on a corner and tried to think what to do. The feeling of desolation was complete. Once I had the wild idea of embarking at once for home, but only as a fleeting thought. Finally go back to hotel, and secure a room. After I am in it, and learn there is hot water, it seems not so bad, and begins to feel like an adventure.

     After calling home, and Denehey, I go to dining room- or grill- which is jammed with people who are laughing and chatting gayly (sic). Only half the lights are on, the air full of smoke.

     After dinner, walk down Grant Street towards river. All the streets leading to down-town guarded by troopers: Pumps going, buildings black and lifeless; a chill damp. Out on bridge over river. Here signs & building of flood are gone.

17^th Day- Wednesday-25^th

A.M. To see Denehey - to see station master Kurl and we go to see passenger station - view from end of one platform seems interesting to me. After lunch with Denehy go out boulevard to see how station looks from above. Not as interesting as below; makes studies all afternoon. Get new room at hotel with outside northern window; make tracing of study for the [n.d.] work.

     Evening walk as before out over bridge as nothing else to do. The new moon sliver upside down in the sky above the darkened