The L'Anse sentinel. (L'Anse, L.S., Mich.) 18??-current, 1898-04-09

ret windows and roofs to the fiat tops
of the Gallatin county bank, a brick and
stone building, and the courthouse,
which is of brick. 1t was hoped that
these would withstand the pressure
and the undermining, 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 flood in the lower
part of the town, and its full, sullen
force was being thrown against them.
1t was doubtful if they would not col
lapse and throw the refugees into the
river.
Took Refuge on High Land.
Beside the hundred or more who
were on the roofs of the two sound
buildings it is known that nearly 1000
of the inhabitants managed in one way
or another to make their way to the
high hills back of the town or to houses
in the higher section of the village it.
self. a few If these survived the sud
den burst of the waters, but their first
and sometimes their second floors were
under water. Those who made their
way to them went only in the clothes
they were wearing when the water
came. None had time to secure either
treasure or clothing.
The property loss Is enormous. Mer-
chants will lose their goods which had
not been moved to upper stories of
buildings, as no danger was appre-
| hended.
Awful scenes.
| -. q Al
end of the town where men and wom-
en- were painfully fighting their way
against the muddy water to higher
ground, some carrying babies on their
heads, where water was up to their
necks, others half-swimmng. half-foat-
ing on odds and ends of lumber from
homes that had gone floating down the
river, many struggling in vain and sink
ing in the roaring waters, was one that
will live in the memory of every behold
er. 1t was perhaps more terrible than
that on the bosom of the food, where
members of families chung in at least
temporary security TO the roofs of their
floating dwellings.
At one place q mother had reached a
safe spot and turned to help her hus-
band. who had followed with their child.
As she reached down from window
for his hand he was thrown from his
footing and he and the child were swept
away in the zigzag current. The woman
saw him sink the second time and then
threw herself into the water.
Another family padded half way to
safety on broad plank that but half
held them out of the water. a side cur
! rent caught them and sent them out
! toward the middle of the stream, where
in the rougher water they were seen to
capsize and sink.
An old man of the name of Griffin,
living on high ground. stopped in
the upper story of his trembling house
to secure hoard of money hidden nm
der the bed. His son. young man of
81, had to climb up the porch to rescue
him, so quick was the rise of the water,
and when the two attempted to swim
to safety the younger man supporting
Che other, floating house that came
rolling. and tumbling on the current
overwhelmed them.
Died Helping Her Mother.
4 school-teacher whose name is sup
posed to be Josephson. was warned of
the danger in time to get to the high
ground. but in turning back to help
her mother was caught with the elder
woman in an eddy and both were
drowned One woman made an effort
to save her lover by throwing clothes
line to him from the roof of her house.
His house was swept away at the mo-
ment and he was thrown into the water.
He swan manfully to aid the girl.
but she was standing on the side of
a gable roof and was pulled from her
insecure footing. Both were drowned.
story of an Eye Witness.
These are some of the incidents of
the disaster witnessed personally by
John Ora ham, the single survivor of the
disaster, who reached the wires Sun
day night. He made his way to Cypress
Junction, from which place he tele-
phoned here for help. He said that he
had heard that in the first rush of water
50 houses were carried away in one lot
He said, when closely questioned, that
/: was possible that half of the town
was lost in the great disaster He was
of the impression that about 1000 peo-
pie escaped to high ground, but he could
not be sure of his statements because
Of the darkness, the confusion of the
scene and the horrors that were every
where before his eyes. He had himself,
he said. pulled ~ persons out of the
water.
On the levee close by the landing
place stood the largest hotel in that
section of the Countrywide Riverside
house-and it is feared, although not
positively known, that this has been
carried away by the gradual destruc-
ton of the levee. When Graham left
the water-swept village the levee was
fast disappearing under the action of
the water and there was every prospect
that the Riverside house would be I'M
dermned before two hours had passed
away
FIGHTING EDITOR DEAD.
I n. 81. IL. L.. n.