The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1898-04-05
Structures Swept Away Like Houses
of Straw.
DEATHS HARVEST LARGE.
Hundreds Of Corpses in the Wat
cry Tomb.

Ridgeway, Ill.,, April 4.-Almost two scors
victims of the Shawneetown flood have
have been recovered, and hundreds Of
ity for food and shelter
The death list viii be largely increased
when definite information from the negro
quarter. which suffered most, is secured.
The food burst upon these people with
out warning, and, owing to the weak cons
structlon OF their shanties. they toppled
over in the rush OF water leaving their
inmates no means of escaping.
Hundreds of people who lived farther
from the river fronts sought safety ou
roofs and in upper stories. or made a re-
treat to the hills at the west. These ara
being removed as rapidly as possible To
places where they can be given proper
care.
No effort has yet been made to search
for bodies, the attention of the relief par
ties being directed almost entirely to pro-
vding supplies and making the homeless
as comfortable as possible. The relief worH
is we'll organized and the tents, blankets
and foods sent by the Governor to-day
will be promptly distributed. Those who
escaped lost everything and their homes
are in ruins.
]. T. Hogan of omaha, ILL.,, left ths
scene of the flood an hour before the dixie
broke. His brother-in-law, Sheriff Gallo-
way, of Gallatn county. whose home was
in shawneetown, had the same good for
tune. The sherlff's wife and two daugh-
ters were swept away and their bodies
have not yet been. recovered. Hogan's
story of the food shows that the towns
people had absolutely no warning OF the
disaster.
About o'clock last evening" he said,
"the levee on the north side of the town
gave way at the north end OF Market
street near the court house. An opening
ten feet wide was at first made, but ID
quickly spread TO twenty and a wall OF
water ten or fifteen feet high poured
through the main street, sweeping every
thing before 1t. About fifty small frame
houses along the line of the levee to the
south were crushed like toys and none OF
the occupants, most of whom were poor
colored folk, escaped Those living In the
more substantial houses managed to climb
10 second and third stories, where they
clung for hours through the chilly night
Houses In the western part of the town
did not at once feel the effect of the flood.
and residents made for safety, most OF
them fleeing to the top of the levee on the
south side of the town.
"A large number also reached the little
hills which are a mile from the town.
and from there saw their property crum-
bic in the muddy waters.
When daylight came this morning the
streets were full Of water to a depth OF
ten or twelve feet. Only the most sub
stantial buildings in the central business
district remain standing. Water is every
where and the relief work is being car
ried out under great difficulties
Ridgeway, town twelve miles from
Shawneetown, was made the basis of relier
work All rail communication being cut
off four miles out boats were constructed
and a committee started to the scene Thew
reached Cypress Junction, half way u
Shawneetown, and found dry land extend
ing toward the river. Following this they
arrived within two miles of the flooded
town. More boats were started and the res
cuers crossed 20 Shawneetown.
They found sad conGstion existing i'm
the Inflated town. Hundreds Of those who
escaped the rush Of water we're perched on
roofs, trees, and along the top OF the Ievee.
They were taken from their dangerous po-
sitions as rapidly as possible. Owing TO the
scarcity of boats the work was very slow.
but over 200 persons. including many wo-
men and children, were taken 70 the road
way. two miles from Shawneetown, to Cy-
press Junction. Here the greater part of
them are camped tonight with very III
tie 70 cat and exposed to the driving rain
and piercing wind.
Cypress Junction Is almost surrounded
by water, which has overhowed the banks
of the Wabash and Is covering the entire
country. The overflow from the broken
dixie at Shawneetown has backed up two
miles inland. but is tonight slowly reced-
ing. IL win be impossible TO recover any
bodies until the waters recede very mate-
rally In fact, the rescuers are making
very little effort In that direction, but are
working to save those who escaped alive
The Riverside Hotel and court house ana
the Ridgeway Bank are intact, and were
found to have been used by the fleeing in
habItants for shelter, The upper stories
were crowded.
Several hundred people were promeuad-
ing on the top Of the levee Sunday after
noon. Sunday schools had lust
closed and the children trooped
Continued on sixth Pagel