The evening times., 1898-04-04
ENGULFEO BY THE FLOOD
Mullitudes Drowned in the Tor
rents at ShawneetOWn.
NOT A MOMENTS WARN.A
Like n Tidal Wave Came the Rush az
uaters-Loss OF Life Estimated at
From 25O TO s00-1any OF the VIC
Tins Mere Swept Into the Ohio
River.

Carmi. Ill. April A courier arrived
here early this morning from Shawnee
town. He estimates the loss OF life by
yesterday evenings flood at from 200 TO
SEQ. 1t is impossible just at present TO Sc
cure anything like a correct list OF the
dead, but the following are known TO
have perished
Sheriff Galloway's family.
The wife Of Zach Meier.
Charles Clayton.
Paul Phalen's family.
The break in the levee, which occurred
Just about dusk last evening. was very
large. and within an hour scarcely a YES
tlge of the town was left
1t is believed that 250 of the people were
Haught in the sudden flood and drowned.
Hundreds of others were swept into the
Ohio, clinSing TO the roofs Of houses or
floating on pieces Of board. The disas-
ter came when the great majority Of the
people were in their homes eating sup
per. The break in the levee occurred a
mile above the town and was within ten
minutes more than half a mile wide.
A stream Of water from TO p feet deep
descended upon the unsuspecting people.
IL came down i'm great rush like a tidal
Gave There was no slow rising Of waters
TO give warning. The houses on the out
skirts were lifted up and rolled over and
over. Most Of them were torn into
Eplinters. Their inhabitants We're drown
ed in them.
Nearer the center Of the town some
brick structures stopped the onrush Of the
thirds of the dwellings were lifted from
their foundations and floated out into the
black current of the river
After a few minutes the horror of the
situation was added to by the catching Of
a large house that had started down the
stream Of others. As it struck one house
after another in its course some caught
fire and their unfortunate people were
compelled to intrust themselves to the
mercy Of the whirling water on tiny
floats Of wood, TO avoid more terrible
death by fire.
The break in the levee flooded four
miles Of the valley land, and cut of COM
munication on TWO railroads. the Balti-
more and Ohio Southwestern and the
Louisville and Nashville
Beside the hundred or more who were
on the roofs of the sound buildings. it is
known that nearly 1oo0 OF the inhabit-
ants managed I'm one way or another 10
make their way TO the high hills back Of
the town. or to houses in the higher sec
tion of the village itself.
The property loss is tremendous. 1t is
believed that the vaults Of one Of the
banks have burst, and that the contents
have been dissipated by the flood.
Mount Vernon. Ind. April 4.-The man.
ager of the telephone exchange at Shaw
neetown. H.. last night gave Mount
Vernon its first definite news Of the in
undation at the little city down the Ohio
River.
This is what he said: "Shawneetown
was inundated by break in the levee a
mile and half above the city at 4:30
O'Clock this afternoon. Three hundred
persons are believed to have been drown
ed. All the frame buildings were swept
away. and the brick and stone houses
and blocks are under water"
THE survivors are in great need Of help
and have sent me to ask neighboring
towns for immediate assistance. I am
four miles from Shawneetown now.
escaped and made my way here with a
portable telephone. ] climbed mp a tele-
phone pole and made connection. and
that is how you are getting the news.
'The flood came with terrific dash and
roar. OF course. the people had been
watching for any break in the lcvces.
but they thought they were safe. The
water came in an enormous wave. with
foam on the top. At first a muified roar
was heard. Ia grew louder and louder,
and before all the people in Shawnee
town who had OWNED what was coming
could rush to the hills for safety, ii over
took the town.
Most Of the people fed to the hills
back Of the city. and saved their lives.
but their possessions are gone They are
in despair and frantic with terror and
grief Send all the help you can"
Mount Vernon people We're advised at
once OF the news from Shawneetcyn and
began Immediately preparation for relief.
The three ferryhoats, capable of carrying
ten wagon loads each. and all the river
skirs were pressed into service. These
craft were loaded partly here and partly
in Evansville. and in tow OF two steamers
furnished at Evansville. proceeded to the
city Of death as quickly as possible.