Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1898-04-06
TWO HUNDRED PERISH.
Shawneetown, Ill, the Scene
of a Disaster.
L9vee on the Ohio Breaks and the Whole
Town is Flooded.

Evansville, Ind, April 1.-The town of
Snawneetown. ILL.,, was inundated at 4:3O
o'clock Sunday afternoon by the break
ing Of the north levee, and scores OF
people have been drowned, and the sur
yivors are asking for aid. The waters
swept through the place with the speed
of a racehorse, giving the people but bit
tie chance to reach places of safety.
1t is impossible to tell at this hour the
number of victims, the estimate ranging
from 100 to 800 lives.
Many people hastily mounted to the up
per stories of their houses, While others
endeavored to reach high ground out OF
reach of the swirling flood, but the swift
waters speedily engulfed many and swept
them away. Many small buildings were
carried from their foundations, with their
inmates clinginC to the roofs. The full
extent of the disaster has not been
learned, as all communication by tele-
phone and telegraph has been cut off.
Shawneetown is seventyfve miles be-
low Evansville on the Ohio river. 1t IS
situated in a valley OF extremely low
land. with hills skirting it in the rear
and with a twenty fve-foOt levee in front
running from hill to hill. The town Is
very much in the position of fortified
city. and when the levee gave way mile
above town. under the pressure of the
very high river. the water shot through a
twenty-fCot opening and struck the place
like Il hurricane, sweeping everything be-
fore it.
Houses were overturned and tossed
about like boxes. The people had no
warning of the break and for that rea-
son so many were caught. Those at
home sought refuge in second stories and
on housetops. Those in the streets were
carried before the avalanche of water
and probably a majority were drowned.
Chicago. H.. March AT 12:3O last
night the operator i'll the Long Distance
Telephone companys office at Mt. Yer
non. Ind. informed the Associated press
that the estimate on the loss of life at
ShaWneetoWn was at that hour, 200
Mt Vernon is but thirty miles from
Shawneetown and the information on
which the estimate is based is believed to
be reliable.
The operator said the company's wires
TO the stricken city failed soon after 4
O'Clock yesterday afternoon.
At that hour it was known that the
dam was giving way, but it was not
thought that it would go to pieces quickly
enough to cause loss of life.
BY s o'clock it was known in Mt. Yer
non that many people had been drowned,
the estimate then being 100.
A relief boat bearing food, blankets
and surgeons was started down the river
and was expected to reach ShaWneetown
before morning.
Gradually the reports Of loss Of life in
creased the estimates. stories coming
from various points near the scene of
the food showing clearly that the dis
aster was far more serious than ut first
believed.
People from Mount Vernon and the
surrounding country besieged the tele-
phone and telegraph offices, frantic for
tidings from relatives and friends in the
flooded town.
No attempt at an accurate list of the
lost was possible, however, and the
crowds stood all night before the bulle-
tin boards on which were posted the mea-
| ger reports being received.
ShawneetoWn is the county seat of Gal
latin county, 1872 miles southeast of
Springfield and 81 miles below Evans
vile. 1t is the terminus of the Ohio &
Mississippi railroad and is on the line of
the St Louis q Southeastern railroad
Its Industries are coal and lead mining
sash. door and blind making, the manu-
| facture of barrel slaves and general mill
| ing.
The popula ton was about 1000 when
| the last census was taken. The place has
a fine courthouse, FIVE churches, ma
tiOnal bank and some private and state
| banks roo hotel +h1aa ,1aN,-cna 1,o,u