The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1898-04-04

and blankets quickly collected by the
city officials.
When the river is at it's normal stage
1t is 900 feet wide at. this point, and
the citizens have long feared a cataS-
trophe such as occurred last night, as
a tremendous pressure is brought to
pear on the levee during freshetS. Sew
eral years ago, during a flood, the
water flowed over the levee and the
streets were under two feet of water.
Inc IeVee was strengthened and built
up afterward and the town has since
| considered there was no danger.
Chicago. April A special to the
Record from Cypress Junction, Ill,
says:
Two hundred and fifty persons were
drowned by the inundatiOn of Shaw
neetown, six miles from this place.
The north levee broke at 1920 o'clock
yesterday afternoon, and the Ohio river
moved over the town many feet deep.
Scores of houses are floating about
and many persons are clinging to the
wreckage in the hope that rescuers will
soon appear with boats to take them to
places of safety.
All communication with the town is
cut off. Trains can not reach there and
telephone and telegraph wires are
down The first report that reached
mere was that the entire population had
been drowned, but this is not con-
frmed.
ment, and was regarded as impreg-
nable, hence the people had taken no
precautions against possible flood.
1t is reported that the flood now ex-
tends four miles inland, and the people
are fleeing for their lives from all the
low land hamlets.
Darlington, KY, April AT S:45 last
evening, superintendent w. S. Martin
of the Henderson and st. Louis division
OF the Louisville and Nashville railroad,
stationed at Evansville, Ind, received
a telephone message from Cypress
Junction, Ill, saying that the levee
surrounding Shawneetown Ill, on the
Ohio river, had broken and the waters
had drowned every one in Shawnee
town There had been no railroad COM
municatiOn direct between Evansville
and Shawneetown for over a week, on
account of the high water In the Ohio
river.
st. Louis, April A special to the
Republic from Girard, Ill, says:
A telephone message has been receiV-
ed mere from Shawneetown, I'LL, saying
that at 4;9O O'Clock yesterday afternoon,
the levee about the city broke and the
water which had backed up for five
miles rushed down upon the city like
tidal wave. After the message was re-
ceived the telephone and telegraphic
communication with ShawneetoWn was
suddenly cut off.
ST. Louis. April At is reported that
the special relief trains on the way to
the Shawneetown flood are having trou-
BILE because of washouts. The trains
were hastily started last night, as soon
as possible after the first information
OF the disaster was received.
Evansville, April 4.-Mayor Carney of
Shawneetown appealed to congress for
aid this morning for destitute people of
his stricken city. He says the town is
absolutely destroyed and that there is
not enough food in town for one meal
He says 800 people are drowned. All
goods in the city are lost and the sit
uation is distressing in the extreme.
Th1s city sent two steamboat loads of
provisions last night, and should reach
Shawneetown this morning.
St. Louis, April 4.-Inquiry at the Of
hces of the several railroads having
connection with Shawneetown, ILL.,,
where last nights flood occurred, indi-
cate that all trains for that point got
on this morning and are proceeding on
their way. Indications are that there
Will be trouble in getting near the town,
as Washouts on a number of roads have
prevailed for the past week, almost iso-
lating Shawneetown. Some of the roads
from here cannot get within ten or 20
miles of the scene of the flood
Flora, II.,April 4.-Reports at this point,
20 miles distant from Shawneetown bear
out the first impressions of the inundation
of that town last night by the breaking.
of the levee. The railroads have stopped
traffic twenty miles south of here, as the
ROAD 10 SnaWno6IOWn IS deep under water.
TeIegraphic communication is cut off.
At Mills station the river is eight miles
miles. The following telegram was vas re- re-
ceived here this morning by Superintend-
ent Mills of the Baltimore & Ohio South
western railway from Conductor Charles
Ireland:
Halt of Shawneetown totally destroyed.
All stores wrecked with contents. Town
contains Is to 20 feet of water. South
levee covered with dead stock and houses
and all kinds of debris.
Partial list OF the dead follows:
Colonel CoIlicott.
w. G. Collicott and WIFE
Mrs. Ed Flake.
Three children of Paul Phaken.
Mrs; Galloway and two children.
Ellen McAllister.
Annie Rhinehart-
Grandmother Holly.
Mrs. McLane.
Mrs. Matilda Greer.
William Thompson and family.
Charles Creighton and family.
Mary Welch and family.
Mrs. Tanley.
Mrs. McCloise.
No bodies recovered.
4t Inc mayor of Shawneetown appeals for
tents and provisions. Help must come
quickly: There is great suffering among
Only small skiffs can be secured TO ferry
the provisions across the river and every
thing possible is being done by people in
the adjacent towns to hurry forward as
superintendent Mills also received the
following IIOIu u0upeFlnIenQ6nt Martin or
the Louisville & Nashville at Evansville
Ind:
ssThe mayor of Shawneetown reports $50
to 400 people lost. Not enough food in
town to serve one meal for the living"
Evansville, Ind, April 4-Superin-
tendent Martin of the Louisville 6,
Nashville railroad will send a free car
of provisions roundabout to Shawnee
town from Carmi. Ill, and the mayor
and business mems association of this J
city are arranging to send more pro-
visions by boat.