The record-union., 1898-04-05

RIDGEWAY 0Il). April 4.-Shaw-
neetown. flood swept last night, is
threatened with total destruction to-
night. Innumerable more lives may be
lost before another day has passed
Hundreds of people have not yet been
rescued from the houses in which they
were imprisoned. others are still in the
tree tops, and still others are afloat on
the waste torrent. Late reports say
the entire Ievee viii 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 dash
ing ten feet high under the impetus
of the gale. If the storm does not
cease the entire town is doomed, as
well as most of the people who have
not yet reached the hill tops. This in
formation comes by telephone from the
temporary station on the hill sides west
of Shaw neetown.
Tonight almost two score bodies of
the victims OF the Shawneetown flood
have been recovered, and hundreds of
homeless people are dependent upon
charity for food and shelter. The
death list is likely to be largely in
creased when definite information from
the negro quarter, which suffered the
most, is secured.
FLOOD CAME WITHOUT WARN
ING.
The flood burst on these people with
out warning, and owing to the weak
construction Of their shanties, they top
pied over in the rush Of water, leaving
their inmates no means of getting out
Of danger. Hundreds of people who
lived farther from the river front
sought safety on roofs and in upper
stories. or made retreat to the hills to
the west
These are 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 parties being di-
rected almost entirely to the distribu-
ton of food and making the homeless
as comfortable as possible. The relief
work is wen 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.
THE MISSING.
The missing, SO far as known to-
night are: Colonel Callicot, Wash
Canicot, Mrs. CalIicot, Mrs. Galloway,
Dora Galloway, Mary Galloway. Mrs.
Hollis. Mrs. Greer, Mrs. Ed. Flake.
Charles Clayton, Mrs. Clayton. four
Clayton children. Annie Rhineholt,
Clarence Rhineholt, Mrs. Paul Phalen,
three T'halen children, nephew of the
Phalens. Mrs McClain, Florence Evans,
Ellen McAHister (coIored). Mary Nc
Allister (Color6d). Il. B. Hooker. Louis
vile and Nashville telegraph operator,
Henry King and four children (colored),
Miss Cora Sherwood. Frank A. Morri-
son, Mrs. A. n. Hathaway, Noah Walsh
and family. Mrs Zach Meier, Paul Nc
Allister, William NJ. Thompson. wife
and three children, NJ J. Hartnett, MIR.
Holly, Charles Cation and son.
Late tonight it is estimated that the
loss of life in the negro quarter may
reach fifty, besides those accounted for.
Ed Flake. whose wife was drowned,
came to Cypress Junction to-day and
said there were fifteen people in his
house when the flood struck the build
ing. Only himself and one other sue
ceeded in escaping before the building
toppled over. Mr.. Flake was hysteri-
cal from grief and could not give the
names of the thirteen who were lost.
HEROIC EFFORT OF A BOY TO
SAVE HIS PARENTS.
Marsh Callicot. the son of Wash Cal
licot and Wife, who persisted. made an
heroic effort to save his parents He
secured a row boat and got within
forty feet of where his father and
mother We're imprisoned The swift
current prevented him from getting
nearer. The parents stood III the yard
in water to their waists awaiting the
arrival Of the beat. Suddenly a wave
swept them into the swift current. and