Albuquerque daily citizen. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1895-1903, 1898-04-04
FEARFUL FLOOD!
Five Hundred Lives Lost al an
Illinois Town.
Suspected Murderers Of Col. FOun-
tain Arrested and in Jail.
Consul General Lee Getting Ready to
Leave Havana.
NINE FLAsTED AT HAVANA.

Ridgway, Ill.,, April At is estimated
the food at Shawneet0wn. ILL.,, last even
ing.
The disaster came at 9 D. m when a
majority Of the people we're eating sup.
per. The break In the leyee occurred a
nile above town and was, within ten
minutes, more than half mile wide.
stream of water twelve 10 twenty feet
deep, carrying half the current OF the
food. raised Ia the Ohio aud descended
ON the uususpecting people In a great
rush, like tidal wave. There was no
warning. Houses on the outskirts OF the
town were lifted and rolled over and
over. Most OF them were torn 20 splin-
ters and their inhabitants drowned.
Nearer the center OF the town the
brick structures stopped the rush Of
water a few minutes, but about two
thirds OF the dwellings were lifted from
their foundations and fioated out into the
river. Horror was added 10 the scene by
a flre in large house that started down
stream with the others. People on the
roofs were already In danger OF being
thrown of by collisions, but the floating
hrebrand set flre 10 one house after an.
other. and the unfortunate occupants
we're compelled 10 trpst themselves 10
the swirling water on pieces OF wood 10
avoid the more terrible death by fre.
BY means OF RATS and swimming In
cold water seventy or eighty people were
transferred from the garret windows and
roofs 10 the fiat top OF the Gallatin cOun.
ty bank and the court house, which art
brick. IL was hoped these would with.
stand the pressure, but when single
courier, who rode for help 10 Cypress
Junction left ShawneetOwn, only those
two buildings showed above the broad
sheet OF food In the lower part OF the
town and II was doubtful II they would
not collapse. Nearly 1000 inhabitants
managed TO make their way 10 the high
hills back OF town or 20 houses in the
higher section OF the village itself
The leyee broke without warning.
catching the people like rats In trap.
The entire town IL submerged ten 20
twenty feet. The people are huddled at
the Riverside hotel, court house and
school house, two-story buildings. The
Evansville provision boats arrived this
morning and the people shouted, God
bless Evansville and her mayor"
A partial list OF the dead IA follows:
Colonel Collicott, W. II. Collicott and
wife; Mrs. I'D. Flake. three children OF
Paul Phakenj Mrs. Holloway and two
children; @. Reinhart; Mary McAllister
Allen MeAllister; Annie Rhinehart;
Grandmother Holley; Mrs. McLane; Mrs
Matilda Greer.
aFollowing are the names additional OF
people drowned at Shawneeton: Mrs.
Greer, William Thompson and family,
Charles Creighton and family; Mary
Welch and family; Mary McAllister.
relepone information places the number
Of drowned at 100.
Junction City reports the following
drowned: Wash CallicOtt, Peral Calf
cOtt. Mrs. I'd. Flake, Paul Phalen and
family, Mrs. G. X. Galloway and two
Anna Sarah Reinhart, Mrs.
Tanley, Mrs. MeClolse.
APPEAL FOR AID.
Evansville, Ind. April 4.-Mayor Car
ney, OF ShawneetOwn, appealed TO day 10
congress for aid for the destitute
people Of his stricken city. II is said
that the town Is absolutely destroyed,
and that there Is not food enough In
town for one meal. lie says that 300
people were drowned. This city sent two
steamboat loads Of provisions last night
that should reach ShawneetOwn this
morning. All telegraph and telephone
wires TO ShawneetOwn are down.
SnrinOnald IN Anril A -Gov Tannar