The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1883-02-28

are weak enough to give way to despair at
that which, coming upon them individually,
would have crushed them.
Innumerable instances of hair-breadth es-
capes and terrible suffering are reported,
though in the general calamity
they attract little or no attention. Two wo-
men-one in the school-house and another at
the pork-house-have died of childbirth. A
little boy was raked off one of the number
less skitfs as it was passing through a shade
tree on the main street, and was only saved
from going to death in the swift current by
young man named William e. Bowman
plunging in with his clothes on, and grasping
the child and the branch of tree, held them
until a boat came to his assistance. This is
the second life saved by young Bowman
during this food
When the tide reached such height that
houses began to rock on their foundations, a
request was made that passing steamers run
slowly past the town, but in numerous in
stances this was not complied with, and the
swell following in their wake sent many a
residence to its destruction. In one instance,
man made his escape by throwing bed con-
tanning babe into skiff just as the cooking
stove overturned behind him and his house
careened and sank.
Arriving at the wharfboat, we found that
large quantity of stores had been unloaded,
only enough being retained to supply Union
town, KY, where we landed on return trip.
Quite large crowd of citizens had gathered
to bid us goodbye, and as we steamed off
they gave US three rousng cheers for "Iadi-
ana, and Indianapolis i'll particular"
After reloading at Evansville, the Isabella
got off at noon and made a two-mie trip up
Green river, relieving six families in boats.
At Enterprise, on the Indiana side, we left
provisions for sixty people, with some bed
ding
No aid is needed at Owersboro On reach
De- -
ing.
NOTES AT sHAwNEETowN.
The river above Shawneetown is from five
to thirty miles wide.
Last Wednesday was the worst day for
houses floating away,
The nearest railway station is at Eldorado,
twenty-five miles away.
The river reached its highest mark on Sun
day, and that night began slowly to fall
The loss at Shawneetown is placed at about
$250,000, and 600 people are homeless and
destitute.
Three large saw-mills at this place were
swept away, together with large quantities
of lumber.
A report has been received of the accident
al drowning of seven or eight persons near
the mouth of the Wabash.
IhoSe VINO nave seen Doth LaWrenceDurg
and Shawneetown declare that the situation
here is incomparably worse than at the for
mer place.
Equality-twelve miles away-is the near
est telegraph station, the telegraph and tele-
phone wires having been swept away by
floating houses.
In one crib across the river 1900 bushels
of corn was lost A dealer says that between
Evansville and Caseyville not less than l.
100000 bushels have been swept away.
Shawneetown was laid out in 1911, in &C
cordance with an act of Congress. 1t wouldn't
be healthy for a congressman who voted for
the bill to visit the place just at this time.
The wife of Ebert NJ. Smith, ex-county
commissioner of this, Gallatin county, has
become deranged on account of excitement
from the high water. The family live i'll the
Wabash bottoms.
1t will be a lasting disgrace upon the Legis-
lature of Illinois if they allow constitutional
objections to stand between this afflicted
people and relief Such an occasion may not
recur for century.
Shawneetown has population OF but g.
600. and with 600 destitute on hands, many
of them sick, and are to be fed upon the con-
tributions of the charitable, there will of ne
cessity be much suffering. L. D. H.