The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1898-04-05
RELIEVING THE SUFFERERS.
The ShaWneetown Disaster Was a
Terrible One.

The Number of Dead Has Been Consider
ably Reduced from the First Estimates
aud Is Now Placed at 100 -Worklof Re-
lief Going On.
Ridgeway, Ill, April 4.-1he number
who persisted by the breaking OF the
leyee at Shawneetown is now placed at
100.
j. T. Hogan of Omaha, His, left the
scene of the flood half an hour before the
dixie broke. His brother-in-law, Sheriff
Galloway of Gallatin county, whose home
was in Shawneetown, had the sams good
fortune. The sheriff. wife and two
daughters were swept away and their
bodies have not been recovered. Hogan s
story OF the flood shows that the towns
people had absolutely no warning OF the
disaster.
about. O'Clock last evening" he
said "the levee on the north side of the
town gave way OF the north end of Mar
ket street near the court. An opening
ten feet wide was at first made, but 1t
quickly spread to 20, and wall OF water
To- or is feet high poured through the
main street, sweeping everything before
it. About so small frame houses along
the line of the levee to the south were
crushed like toys and none OF the occu-
pants, most of whom were poor colored
folks, escaped. Those living in the more
substantial houses managed to climb to
second and third stories where they
clung for hours through the chilly night.
Houses in the, western part of the town
did not feel at once the effects OF the
| flood and residents made hasty steps on
the south, side Of the town. A large
number also reached the little hills
which are a mile away and from there
saw their property crumble in the muddy
| waters. When daylight came this morn
| ing the streets were full of water to a
depth of ten or twelve feet. Only the
most substantial buildings in the
central district remained. The relief
work is being carried out under great
difficulties.
Ridgeway, town IL miles from Shaw
neetoWn was made the basis of relief
| work All rail communication being
cut off for miles out. boats were construct
ed and a committee started to the scene.
They reached Cypress Junction, half way
to Shawneetown and found dry land
extending toward the river. Following
this theya arrived within two miles of
the flooded town. More boats were OBJ
| tanned and the resCuers crossed to Shaw
neetown. Here they found an appalling
condition. Hundreds of those who
escaped the rush of water were perched
~
levees. They were taken from their dan
gerous positions as rapidly as possible i.
Cypress junction is almost surrounded
| by water, which has overlooked the
banks of the Wabash and is covering the
entire country. The overflow from the
| broken dixie at Shawneetown has backed
up two miles inland, but is tonight
slowly receding.
The lower portions of Carmi, Ills, on
| the Wabash river, is entirely flooded.
The water reaches half way to the second
stories of the houses.
Gov. Tanner this afternoon started from
Springfield with 100 tents, blankets
enough for 500 people and sufficient
amount of prepared food for the imme-
diate relief of 1900 people. He also wired
W. S. Phillips, president of the Gallatin
county bank here to draw upon him
for $4,000 as an immediate relief fund.
Ed Flake, whose wife was drowned to-
house when the flood struck it. Only
himself and one other escaped. Mr. Flake
was hysterical and could not give the
names Of the lost. Marsh Callicut, the
son of Wash Callicut, who persisted,
secured a row boat and got. within 40
feet of the home where his father and
mother were imprisoned, but the swift
current prevented him from coming near
or. The parents stood in the yard in water
to their armpits awaiting the arrival of
| the boat Suddenly wave swept them
into the current and they were drowned.
| Mr.. Rookendoffer said that as he
fioated down the current he saw people
drowning on all sides.
The heavy rain continues and at 8
O'Clock stir cold wind sprang up, add
ing misery to the sufferers. At II O'Clock
| tonight telephone message was received
| from Shawneetown saying that the south
leyee was cracking and threatening to go
at any minute Should the ievee break 1t
will create current through the streets
that will prove dangerous. RI