The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1898-04-05


the third stories Of what houses remain
standing need food ard fuel
survivors Crowded On the Levee.
Richard Bartlett. who also visited the
scene Of the calamity. returned on the
Isabella, and IN an interview he said:
The water 10 within three feet Of the
top OF the levee. The l@yee is fifteen feet
wide on the top. ard this space is crowd
ed with men. women and children and live
stock OF all descriptions I, was raining
last night. and many people could not find
shelter. The Riverside hotel. the court
house and upper stories Of dwellings were
crowded. The levee had not been In good
condition for several days. but no one
suspected that IL would break. Il gave
way between and . O'Clock Sunday aft
erncon. and caught many people on che
streets. Some climbed trees and were saw
ed. while others tried TO run 70 the hills.
though q Quarter-mtie back from The river.
sit we're caught by the rushing waters
and were drowned. NJ. J. Hartnett. editor
of the Shawneetown News. Is among the
missing.
Rescae Work Goes On.
The work of rescusag victims from trees
and honsetops was carried on all night and
covered when We left there at a. m.
Horses and cattle IN many instances
were pulled out OF the water into upper STD
rses and auar,ered with the people
All the neighboring towns are responding
literally TO the call for relief. There is ff-
teen feet Of water all over the town and
until i, subsidies there viii be much suffer-
lnS.
The Goyernor Appeals for Ala.
! sPRIvGFIELD. April 4-Gov Tanner
has issued the following proclamation:
ITO the People Of the State OF Illinois:
1t Is my painful duty TO announce that a
terrible disaster has overtaken the citizens
OF Shawneetown In this state. which. ow-
inR to the condition OF the public treasury.
I am powerinss to relieve without the vol
untary aid OF the charitable disposed.
"A, 4:4s o'clock on the afternoon OF
Sunday. April g. the levee which sur
rounds the city of Shawneetowa broke,
and the city is under water and in the
midst OF a raging flood pouring down
from the north, 1t Is SIX miles 10 land.
and the current OF the Ohio river is
sweeping through the town. am in
FORMED by Mayor Carney, OF shawnee
town. that approximately one-fourth OF
the population has been drowned. all the
property destroyed and that the people
are collected on the tops OF the houses
which remain above the water. exposed
TO the rain. without shelter ana without
one meal OF food.
s.It would do no good TO call the legisla-
ture In session 10 meet this emergency.
because 1t would have no power to raise
any money from which to order any APP
preparation from which 1t might be paid.
I have sent the secretary of the state
board Of public charities as my official
representative. to the scene OF the disas-
ter TO assist In the organization of emer-
gency relief work which requires to be
done. with authority TO draw on me for
what funds may be necessary In aEtlci-
patton OF the funds which will no doubt be
contributed by the public at large for this
purpose.
Il therefore make this urgent and in
slant appeal for contributions to enable me
TO do what the people will no doubt wish
me to do under the existing circuni-
stances All contributions should be sent
to Mr. w. 8. Philips. president OF the
Ridgeway bank. Ridgeway. ILL.,. which is
the point from which the relief can be car
RED ON.
This disaster appears to be more ap-
pallins and immediate than the Johns.own
food.
"Dcne at the executive office. Springfield.
H.. this ath day OF April. A. d. 1888.
JOHN W. TANNER, Governor"
Car Load of Coains Ordered.
DR.. Wines expects TO reach Shawneetown
some time tonight In an interview. Re
said:
II have seen Shawneetown under Hood
before | know that the whole town must
be under water, and there can be no ques-
ton Of relief except by boat. Many houses
must be swept away and. floating upside
down, have caught In the river against the
levee side OF the town The houses on high
ground especially the lower stories. must
be filled with water and business suspend
ed. as all stocks are destroyed. There
can he no doubt of the statement of the
mayor OF Shawneetown, that masses OF
people are on the housetops without
change ~ clothing. withou. food or mesins
OF cooking II. At first II Will require tenn
porary relief for food and shelter and then
10 furnish permanent relief. My aim sill
be TO give the local com nistee the means
az relief. This must be adequate. but tcpt
IN as narrow limits as possible and must
bc suspended az soon as possible. After
the water Is gone 1t viii probably be neces-
sary TO build houses for some OF the poor
err peop,e the same as VAS done at the
Johnstown nood"
A special train will leave here for Shaw
neetowr this afternoon with a supply tf
provisions and tents. Only few cas-
kets were found available and Adjt. Gem
Reese wires ST. Louis coffin factory to
load car with caskess immediately.
THIRTEEN wIDOWs ABOARD.