The herald., 1898-04-05
SEARCH FOR DEAD
POSTPONED UNTIL THE LIVING
ARE CARED FOR
HOMELESS HUNDREDS
LEFT UTTERLY DESTITUTE BY
THE FLOOD
PROMPTITUDE is ADMIRABLE
Illinois Officials and Private Citizens
Provide Relief for Shawneetown
Flood Victims
PROMPTITUDE is ADMIRABLE
Associated Press Special Wire

Associated Press Special Wire
RIDGEWAY, ILL.,, April 4.-Tonight al
| most two score bodies of the victims of the
Shawneetown flood have been recovered
and hundreds of homeless people are de-
pending upon charity for food and shelter.
The death list is likely to be largely in
creased when definite information from
| the negro quarter, which suffered most,
| is secured.
The flood burst on these people without
| warning, and owing to the weak con-
struction of their shanties they toppled
over in the rush of water, leaving their in
| mates no means of getting out of danger.
| Hundreds of people who lived farther from
the river front sought safety on roofs and
in upper stories, or made a retreat to the
| hills on the west. These are being removed
| as rapidly as possible to places where they
| can be given proper care. No effort has
yet been made to search for bodies, the at
| tention of the relief parties being directed
almost entirely to the distribution of food
and making the homeless as comfortable
as possible. The relief work is well or
ganized. Tents and blankets sent by the
governor today will be promptly dis
tributed. Those who escaped lost every
thing and their homes are in ruins.
LIST OF MISSING
The missing, so far as known tonight are:
Col. Calicotte, Wash Calcotte, Mrs. Cali
cote, Mrs. Galloway, Dora Galloway, Mary
Galloway, Mrs. Hollis, Mrs. Greer, Mrs
Ed Blake, Chas. Clayton, Mrs. Clayton,
four Clayton children, Annie Rhineholt,
Clarence Rhineholt, Mrs. Paul Phalen,
three Phalen children, nephew of the Pha-
lens, Mrs. McClain, Florence Evans, Ellen
McAllister (colored, Mary McAllister
(colored), r. B. Hooker, l.. & N. telegraph
operator, Henry King and four children,
(coloredD, Miss Cora Sherwood, Frank A.
Morrison, Mrs. A. A. Hathaway. IL.
| Late tonight it is estimated that the loss
of life in the negro quarter may reach
| fifty, besides those accounted for.
| Ed Flake, whose wife was drowned, came
to Cypress Junction today and said there
were fifteen people in his house when the
food struck the building. Only himself
and one other succeeded in escaping before
the building toppled over. Mr.. Flake was
hysterical from grief and could not give
the names of the thirteen who were lost
Marsh Calicotte, the son af Wash Calicotte
and wife, who perished. made an heroic
effort to save his parents. He secured a
rowboat and got within forty feet of where
ms Ia.ncr uiu nU.A.ei i...l4 ..,o..
The swift current prevented him from get
ting nearer. The parents stood in the yard
in water to their waists awaiting the AZ
rival of the boat. Suddenly wave swept
them into the swift current and they were
drowned before their sons eyes. David
Rookendeffer and wife were In their home
directly in the path of the huge wave that
swept through the broken dyke. Their lit
tie son in the yard saw the wave coming
and hurriedly climbed a tree The father
and mother had time to rush upstairs when
the house was swept from its foundation
They climbed on the roof as the house
floated off and heard their little son in the
tree say: Goodbye, papa and mamma"
The agonized parents were powerless to
go to his assistance, and in few moments
the house had been carried beyond the
reach of the boys voice. They fioated from
the north levee to the south levee, a dis
tance of mile, and were taken off in safe
ty. The little son was subsequently res
cued from the tree-top by boat and the
family reunited. Mr.. Rookendoffer said
that as he floated down the current on the
house-top he saw people drowning on all
Sues LIE COlOTtu quarter OIL tHe' city,
known as NEGRO Flats" was completely
inundated by the rush of waters. 1t is be-
lieved that a large number of colored peo-
pie perished. Tonight the water stands
twenty-five feet deep in that locality.
]. T. Hogan of Omaha, H.. left the scene
of the flood half an hour before the dyke
broke. His brother-in-law, Sheriff GAL
loway of Gallatin county, who was in
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 danger.
About S o'clock last evening he said, the
levee on the north side of town gave way
at the north end of Market street near the
courthouse. An opening ten feet wide was
at first made but 1t quickly spread to twen-
ty, and a wall of water ten or fifteen feet
high poured through the main street,
sweeping everything before it. About fifty
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 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 at once feel the effect of the
flood, and residents made hurried steps
for safety. most Of them going to the levee
on the south side Of town. A large number
also reached the little hills which are a
mile from the town and from there saw
their property crumble In the muddy VS.
tiers. When daylight came this morning
the streets were full Of water to depth os
ten or twelve feet. Only the most subs tan
tial buildings In the central business dis
trict remain standing.
R!dgeway, which is twelve miles from
shawneetown. was made the basis of re-
lief work. All rail communication being
cut on for four miles out, boats were con-