The evening herald. [volume] (Shenandoah, Pa.) 1891-1966, 1898-04-05

Death List-Cnring For stricken Ones
Ridgeway, Ills, April 5.-Almost two
score of bodies Of victims Of the Shaw
neetOwn flood have been recovered and
hundreds of homeless people are de-
pendent upon charity for food and
shelter. The death list is likely to be
largely increased when definite infor-
nation from the negro quarter, which
suffered most, is secured The flood
burst upon these people without warn
ing, and owing to the weak construc-
tion of their shantles they toppled over
in the rush of water, carrying the in
mates to death. The relief work is
well organized, and the tents, blankets
and foods sent by the governor viii be
promptly distributed. Those who es-
capped lost everything and their homes
are in ruins. 1t is now known that
over a hundred were drowned, and the
loss of life may be higher.
j. T. Hogan, of Omaha, Ills, 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 at Shawneetown, had
the same good fortune. The sheriff's
wife and two daughters were swept
away and their bodies have not yet
been recovered. Hogan's story of the
flood shows that the townspeople had
absolutely no warning of the disaster
about 5 o'clock in the evening"" he
said, the levee on the north side of
the town gave way at the north end
of Market street, near the court house.
An opening, ten feet wide was at first
made, but it quickly spread to 2O and
| a wall of water 10 or is feet high
poured through the main street sweep
ing everything before it. About 80
small frame houses along the line of
| the levee to the south were crushed
! like toys, and none of the occupants,
most of whom were poor colored folks,
escaped. Those living in the more sub
stantial 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 at once feel the effect of
the flood and residents made hasty
| steps for safety, most Of them fleeing
to the ton of the levee, 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 the streets were
full of water to a depth of IL feet Only
the most substantial buildings in the
central business district remain stand
ing. The relief work is being carried
out under great difficulties
Ridgeway, town IL miles from
Shawneetown, was made the basis OF
relief work All rail communication
being cut off four miles out, boats were
constructed 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, they arrived
within two miles of the flooded town
More boats were obtained, ,Sld the
rescuers crossed to Shawneetown. Here
they found an appalling condition
Hundreds of those who escaped the
rush of water were perched on roofs
trees and along the top of the levee
They were taken from their dangerous
positions as rapidly as possible. Owing
to the scarcity of boats the work wa:
very slow, but over 200 persons, in
Guiding many women and children
were taken to the roadway, two mile;
from Shawneetown, thence to Cypres!
Junction. Here the greater part O
them are camped, with very little tC
eat and exposed to the driving rail-
and piercing wind.
Cypress junction is almost surround
ed by water, which has overfowed tn,
banks Of the Wabash and is covering
the entire country. The overflow from
the broken dixie at Shawneetown ha
backed up two miles inland, but is to
day slowly receding. 1t will be impos
sible to recover any bodies until tn
waters recede. In fact the rescuer
are making very little effort in tina
direction, but are working to saw
those who escaped. The Riverside no
tel and court house and the Ridgewa,
bank are intact and are used by tn
fleeing inhabitants for shelter. TIL
upper stories are crowded.
The lower portion Of Carmi, Ills, ol
the Wabash river, is entirely flooded
The water reaches half way to the sec
ond stories of the houses.
Ed Flake, whose wife was drowned
- said there were Is people in his hous
when the flood struck the building
Only himself and one other succeeds
in escaping.
Mr.. Richard Barnett, who visited tn
scene Of the calamity, returned t
Mount Vernon on the relief tug lisa
bella. In an interview he said:
"The water is within three feet c
the top of the levee. The levee is per
haps IS feet wide on the top, and thi
\ space Is crowded with men, women an
children and live stock of all descriI
tions. 1t was raining Sunday nigh
and many people could not find shelte
NJ. j. Harnett, editor of the Shawne
News, is among the missing. The wor
n of reaching victims from trees an
e house tops was carried on all night an
e this morning. But few bodies had bee
recovered when we left there. Th
loss to property will run into the hur
dreds of thousands"
Mayor Larkn, of Mount Vernon, calle
R the Mount Vernon council together yes
terday and a donation of 5000 was mad
with which to buy food.
The. following is a partial list Of thos
d who are missing and probably deac
Colonel Callcutt, Wash Callicutt, Mr.
Callicutt Mrs. Galloway and tw
daughters, Mrs, Holly, Mrs. Greer, Mr.
Ed Flake Mr.. and Mrs. Charles Clay
ton and their four children, Ann
Reinholt Clarence Reinholt Mrs. Pa,
Phalen and her three children,
nephew of the Phalens, Mrs. McClai
Florence Evans, II. S. Hooker, tell
or graph operator; Miss Cora Sherwoo
ia Frank A. Morrison Mrs. A. A. Hath,
way, Ellen and Mary McAllister Geo
ored), Henry King and four childre
(colored) Noah Walsh and fami
Mrs. Zach Meier, Paul McAllister, vii
lam Thompson, wife and three chi