Kansas City journal. [volume] (Kansas City, Mo.) 1897-1928, 1898-04-05
TOWN WAS ALMOST WIPED OUT OF
EXISTENCE.
RELIEF WORK WELL ORGANIZED
HELP COMING IN ABUNDANCE FROM
OTHER TOWNS.
Flood Burst Upon the Village With.
out warning-Nearly Two Score
Bodies Have Been Recov-
cred Thrilling Incl
dents of the Dis
aster.

Ridgway, ILL.,, April 4.-Shawneetown,
f%ood-swept last night, is threatened with
total destruction tonight 1nnumerable
more lives may be lost before another day
has passed.
Hundreds of people have not yet been res
cued from the houses in which they were
imprisoned, others are still in the treetops
and still others are afloat on the waste Of
the torrent. Late reports say the entire
levee will be destroyed by morning and
every frame house in town is certain to be
dashed to pieces. The wind is blowing
thirty-five miles an hour with rain that
cuts like glass. Great fear is expressed for
the rescue force now in Shawneetown, as
nothing can resist the power of the waves
dashing ten feet under the impetus of the
gale. II the storm does not cease, the en-
tire town Is doomed. as well as most OF
the people who have not yet reached the
hilltops. This Information comes by tele-
phone from the temporary station on the
hillside at Shawneetown.
Ridgway. ILL.,. April 4.-To-night almost
two score bodies Of victims Of the Shaw
neetown flood have been recovered, and
hundreds of homeless people are dependent
upon charity for food and shelter. The
death list Is likely to he largely increased
when definite Information from the negro
quarter, which suffered most, is secured.
The flood burst upon these people without
warning, and. owing to the weak construc-
ton Of the %shanties. they topplei over in
the rush water, leaving their inmates no
means Of getting out of danger. Hundreds
Of people who live farther from the river
front sought safety on roofs and in upper
%storiea, or made a retreat to the hills at
the west.
These are being removed as rapidly as
possible to places where they can be given
proper care. No offers have yet been made
to search for bodies, the attention of the
relief parties being directed almost entirely
TO the distribution Of supplies and making
the homeless as comfortable as possible.
The relief work is well organized. Tents
and blankets sent by the governor to-day
will be promptly distributed. Those who
escaped lost everything and their homes
are in ruins.
J. 7. Hogan. Of Omaha, ILL.,, left the scene
Of the flood half an hour before the dixie
broke. His brother-in-law. Sheriff Gallo
way, Of Gallatin county. whose home was
in Shawneetown, had the same good for
tune. The sberir's wife and two daughters
were swept away and their bodies have not
yet been recovered. Hogan's story of the
nnNd Sh0uc that fha fnuDSnpnnla had ah-
solutely no warning of the disaster.
About 5 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 it quickly spread to
twenty. and a wall of water ten or fifteen
feet high poured through the main street,
sweeping everything before 1t. About fifty
small frame houses along the line of the
leyee to the south were crushed like toys
and none of the occupants. most of whom
were poor colored folks. escaped.
Those living in the more substantial
houses managed to climb to second and
third stories where they chung 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 hardy steps for safety, most of them
fleeing to the top of the levee on the south
sid of the town. A large number also
reached the little hills which are a mile
from the town, and from there saw their
property crumble 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 substantial
buildings in the central business district
remain standing. Water is everywhere and
the relief work is being carried out under
great difficulties.
Ridgeway, a town twelve miles from
Shawneetown, was made the basis of relief
work. All rail communication being cut of
four miles out, boats were constructed and
a committee started to the scene. They
reached Cypress Junction, half way to
Shawneetown, and found dry land extend
ing toward the river. Following this. they
arrived within two miles of the flooded
town. More boats were secured. and the
rescuers crossed to Shawneetown. They
found a sad condition existing in the i'll
fated town. Hundreds of those who es.
capped the rush of water were perched on
roofs, trees and along the top of the levee
They were taken from their dangerous pc.
eitions as rapidly as possible. Owing to the
scarcity of boats, the work was very slow
but over 200 persons, including many WON.
en- and children, were taken TO the road
way. two miles from Shawneetown. to Cy,
Z = I III AAt ga poAN "
them are camped tonight, with very little
to eat and exposed to the driving rain ant
piercing wind.
Cypress Junction is almost surrounded
by water which has overfiowed the bank
of the Wabash and is covering the entire
country. The overflow from the broker
I'D at Shawneetown has backed two mile:
inland, but is tonight slowly receding
II will be impossible TO recover any bodie.
until the waters recede very materially. IL
fact, the rescuers are making very littl,
effort in that direction. but are working
To save those who escaped alive.
The Riverside hotel and court house ant
the Ridgeway bank are intact, and wer,
found TO have been used by the fleeing
inhabitants for shelter. The upper storiei
were crowded.
Several hundred people were promenad
Ing on the top of the levee Sunday after
neon. Sunday school had just closed ant
the children trooped merrily along tn
smooth walk, enjoying the bright sun
shine This proved a blessing TO them. !
large crowd had just passed Market street
where the break occurred. Luckily. n,
one was passing there just at that mo
ment.
The railroad station At Ridgway ha
been crowded all day, and despite III
steady ~downpour of rain, the people cluste
about the place. each anxiously ~iI.Iuirin