Phillipsburg herald. [volume] (Phillipsburg, Kan.) 1882-1905, 1898-04-07
APPALLING CALAMITY
A Levee Breaks and Shawneetown,
ILL.,, Is Washed Away.
Reported That 200 People Were Drowned
and the Total May Reach I,OOO--steam-
er's Cargo Burned-Family Drowned
Twelve Buildings Burned.

EVANSVILLE, Ind, April AT six
o'clock last night the levee at Shaw
neetown, ILL.,, broke n mile above the
town, and from all the information
that can be secured here IL Is learned
that great part Of the place has been
destroyed and that probably large
number of citizens have been drowned.
Shawneetown is 70 miles below Evans
vile, on the Ohio river. 1t is situated
in n valley of extremely low land,
with hills skirting it in the rear,
and with % foot levee 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, un-
der the pressure of the very high river,
the water shot through q 2O-foot OPEN
ing and struck the place like hurri-
cane, sweeping everything before it.
Houses were turned and tossed about
like boxes. The people were not
warned of the break, and for that rea-
son many were caught. Those at home
sought refuge in second stories and
on house-tops. Those in the streets
were carried before the avalanche
of water, and probably n majority
were drowned, Citizens came from
the place by skiffs to telephone sew.
eral miles away and asked for aid
from Evansville. They said that more
than 200 people were drowned, and
they had reason to believe it would
reach 500 or even 1000 The water
stands from 20 to 80 feet all over the
town. There is, of course, no fire and
no lights in the place and total dark.
ness envelops the desolate scene. Con.
sequently it was impossible for them
to have anything like definite informa.
ton. The men quickly left the tele.
phone and no communication has since
been had with the place.
A STEAMERS CARGO CATCHES FIRE.
SAVANNAH, Ga, April 4,-The Ocean
Steamship company's steamer City of
Macon, Capt. Savage, bound from Bos-
ton for this port, was discovered on
fire while off Martins industry light
ship, is miles north of Tybee. A
stream was Immediately turned in the
forward hold, where the fire was To-
Gated and the ship was started for
Tybee with all speed. She arrived at
Tybee roads and signaled the tug
Cynthia, which was on that station, to
come to her assistance. She was run
ashore, stern foremost, opposite Quar-
antine station. The tug Paulson
brought the City of Macon's passen-
gers, about % in number, to the city.
There was no excitement on board the
steamer during the night. The cargo
in the forward compartment, which
consisted of general merchandise, is
total loss. The ship is said to be I'M
injured.
FAMILY DROWNED.
PIGGOTT, Ark, April An. Wehren-
dorf, his three children and sister and
brother-in-law were drowned in st.
Francis river near st, Francis yester-
day afternoon. Their boat capsized.
None of the bodies has been recovered.
TWELVE BUILDINGS BURNED.
CHARLOTTE, N. c., April 4.-Fire at
Rock Hill, $. c., yesterday morning
destroyed 10 buildings, involving a
loss of $3.50, 900 upon which there was
an insurance of $l5O,OOO distributed in
Is companies. The origin is yet mat
ter of speculation.