Condon globe. (Condon, Gilliam Co., Or.) 189?-1919, 1898-04-14

Oh{o12o, April GA Ohroniole 1pe.
oial from Casni. hi, says: The aiaas-
ter II ehawneetowns Ill, came when
The great majority Of the people were
in their homes eating supper. The
breSk In the lesee occurred mile
aboRe the town, and was within 10
minutes more than Q half mile vida
A skrnam Of water IL to 30 feet deep,
carrying haif the.c current Of the flood
raised Ohio. descended on the unsus-
pecting people, II came in q great
fush. ike a tidal wave. There was no
slow rising Of waters to give warning.
The houses on the outskirts were
lifted sup and rolled over and over.
Most Of them were torn into splinters.
Their ,sinha6itants were drowned in
them. Nearer the center Of town brick
structures stopped the onrush of the
water for q few minutes, but about two.
thirds OF the dwellings We're floating,
careening out into the current Of the
river.
After few minutes the horror Of
the situation was added to by the
catching fire Of a large house that had
started down stream with the others.
The people on the roof were already in
danger Of being thrown of by collisions
with other floating houses, but the
occupants OF this floating firebrand
added horror. As it struck one house
after another in its course, some others
caught fire and their unfortunate occu-
pants were compelled to trust them
selves to the mercy of the swirling
water on pieces OF wood to avoid a
more terrible death by FIRE.
The break in the levee flooded four
miles Of valley land and cut of COM
munication on two railways. the B. g..
O. Southwestern and the l.. q N.
When the water had slackened some
what, many houses were still standing,
but 1t was quickly seen that the frame
ones would not last in the food. BY
means Of RATS and swimming in the
cold water 20 or so people were trans
ferred from their garret windows and
roofs to the fiat top Of the Gallatin
county bank, brick and stone build.
ing, and the courthouse, which is Of
brick. 1t was hoped that these would
Withstand the pressure and the under
mining, but when the single courier,
who rode for help TO Cypress Junction,
left Shawneetown, only those two
buildings showed above the broad sheet
Of the food in the lower part of the
town, and it was doubtful il they
would not collapse and throw the ref.
ugees into the river.
Besides the hundred or more who
were on the roofs Of the two sound
buildings it is known that nearly l,00C
of the inhabitants managed In one way
| or another to make their way to high
hills back Of the town, or to houses in
the higher section Of the village. A
few of these survived the sudden burst
Of the waters, but the first and some.
times the second floors were under
water. Those who made their way to
them went only in the clothes they
| we're wearing when the water came.
No one had time to secure either treas
ure or clothing. The property loss il
very great.
| The scene at the upper end of the
| town, where men and women were
struggling against the muddy water te
higher ground, some carrying babies on
their heads where water was up TO Their
necks, others half swimming, hal
floating ON odds and ends OF lumber
from homes that had gone floating
down the river, many struggling ii
vain and sinking in the roaring waters
was one that will live in the memory
OF every beholder.
In one place mother had reached
safe spot, and turned to help he
husband, who had followed with theil
child. AS she reached down from |
window for his hand he was thrown
from his footing, and he and the chilt
were swept away In the current. Tht
woman saw him sink and then threw
herself into the water.
Another family padded half way Il
safety on a plank, which held then
ont Of the water. The current caugh
them and sent them out toward mid
stream, where in the rougher waite
they were seen to capsize and sink.
| An old man, named Griffin, living
on high ground, stepped in the uppe
story Of his trembling house to secure
hoard Of money hidden under ths
bed. His son, young man OF 81. hae
TO climb up the porch to rescue him
30 quick was the rise of the water, ane
when the two attempted to swim Il
safety the younger man supporting tht
older, floating house came running IL
the current and overwhelmed them.
A woman, supposed to be Josephine
Simon, was warned Of the danger Ii
time to get to higher ground. but Ii
turning back to help her mother, wa
caught with the older woman in al
eddy and they were drowned.
A woman made an effort to save be
lover BY throwing clothesline to hin
from her house. His house was ewep
away at the moment. and he va
thrown into the water. He swan t
the aid Of the girl. but she was stand
ing on the side Of gable roof. and wa
pulled from her footing. Both wer
drowned.
These are some instances told b.
John Graham, who reached Cyprea
! Junction, from which place he tele