The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1883-02-27
eHE RELIEF STEAMER.

Down Shawneetown.
Special Dispatch from staff Correspondent of the
Journal:
EVANSVILLE, Feb. 26.-Messrs. George F.,
Branham, P r. Stroupe and c. A Rodney, of
indianapolis representing the Indianapolis
Board of Trade, reached this city Saturday
1ight, preliminary to starting on voyage of
felief along the river, the steamer Isabella
having been chartered specially for that pur-
pose Last night Dr. E. S. Elder, OF the In
danapolis Board OF Health, and William D.
Griffin, sanitary policeman, accompanied by
a representative of the Journal, Joined the
committee here, and the work of preparation
was begun.
The first carload of supplies, consisting of
medical stores, reached here yesterday morn
ing and under the direction of Major Bran
ham, was soon transferred to the steamer.
The boats medicine chest is as follows:
One hundred ounces OF cinchonida. in ounce
bottles so ounces of cinchonidia, in cans;
ounces morphia II bottles powdered
opium, "a bottles Dover's powders 20 bottles
chlorate potash, 20 bottles bromide potash,
80 bottles compound cathartic pills 900
sach), 20 bottles compound cathartc pills
100 each) 20 bottles tincture aconite 80
paregoric, gross castor OIL Is bottles sub
nitrate bismuth, / gross Browns Expector-
ant, l gross corks, 100 foursacks, l tin
scoop.
The value of these supplies is about 1925.
They were forwarded by express, arriving
here in advance of the provisions which did
not get in until midnight.
The original plan was to start from this
~ 10 Of
river above, as far as New Albany, but such
pressing calls for relief were received from
below that the order was changed, and it
was determined to make a trip down the
river, at least as far as Shawneetown Ill.
The situation there is indescrbably deplor-
able, and the suffering can scarcely be exag-
gerated In town of $500 Inhabitants all
but thirty families are driven from their
homes, and for a week or more have been
camping ON the hills, suffering for want of
food and insuffciency of clothing. The
river has not abated any from high
flood, the overlooking Wabash adding
its tide to the deluge from the
upper Ohio In addition to the houses
flooded, over 100 have been swept away and
QcoeIOy Gu do DlClSiN % tiAOuSh a lAlC itii
eaten them, and others are following hourly.
MAYOR MILLsPAUGHs STATEMENT.
private letter, received on Saturday from
J. w. Millspaugh mayor of Shawneetown,
says:
1.-The situation here continues TO grow
worse as the water still steadily rises, having
risen five inches in the past twentv-four
hours, and at this hour Is P NJ. Friday shows
IL l. 1 q AZ /
potsuccombed to the inevitable to-day and
aoated up and turned square across their
track. Ours still stands, though 1 think it
doubtful whether it will hold out, as more
than two-thirds of the roof is covered with
water have tied it with lines as best 1
could. Houses continue to float off their
foundations and move majestically down to
those that have gone before 1t is now TAX
ing the two-story frames, whereas hitherto it
has been content as rule, with moving
those of one story. Our people are ruined.
and hundreds of them are now homeless.
Every building capable of furnishing shelter
is full to overlooking, and hundreds yester-
day and to-day were forced to take their
goods (what few they had left) and go to the
hills to escape as they could no. find shelter
in town, and they are now camped along the
edge of the hills with no shelter save that
furnished by nature and many of them
without morsel to eat. We must have
Dtlp anu llldI SDeelllN OlCkHeSS mas aiTtHuN
begun; many being sick in the buildings
where those immense crowds congregated. A
party of us will be in your city Sunday on
our way to Springfield to besege our Legis-
lature for an appropriation"
In conversation with the committee, yes
terday, Mayor Millspaugh confirmed all the
above and declared that no adequate idea of
the distress prevailing in Shawneetown
.,Orld ha h ad h,, -bo hoJ r,;t
messed it. Moved by this appeal, it was the
opinion of all that it was plain duty that
that unfortunate place should be visited
first, after which the towns above here would
be visited in turn.
Accordingly, when the provisions arrived
by freight last night portion of them were
hurriedly transferred to the Isabella, and in
the wharf, bound down the river to the re-
lief OF the distressed Egyptians. The bill of
lading of the cargo from indianapolis is as
follows:
Five thousand pounds -four, in sacks 10. =
900 pounds fine hominy, in sacks; 10000
pounds corn meal, in sacks; 200 barrels
crackers, 1000 pounds spiced bacon, 1000
pounds sausage 1000 pounds souce, 5 900
pound packages; 600 pounds sugar in barrels;
300 pounds prunes, 500 paper bags, As mat
tresses, 80 cots, 100 comforts.
These are the things purchased by the
James Gordon Bennett donation and funds
collected through the indianapolis Board of
Trade, and will be the means OF relieving
much of the distress now prevailing along
the lower Ohio. The universal sentiment
here is highly complimentary to the gener-
ous donors of this bountiful supply train
The local committees here have not shown
that energy one would expect in city so
close to the scenes of suffering, but the I'M
fortunate in this immediate region are being
looked after and relief measures are being