The diamond drill. (Crystal Falls, Iron County, Mich.) 1887-1996, 1898-04-09
TORRENTS OF WATER.
Bring Death and Destruction to
Shawneetown, Ill.
ohio River Breaks Through a Gap I'm
the North Levee-NeighborinR
Cities Are Prompt In
Extending Aid.

Extending Aid.
Shawneetown, H., April 5.-The suf-
fering throughout Shawneetown Is
most pitiable. The only direct com
munication is by telephone from sta
ton first established two miles west
of Shawneetown. SO far 65 persons
are known to be drowned. AS yet no
systematic attempt has been made to
recover the dead bodies. Eight hun
dred people are being sheltered at the
Riverside hotel. Two hundred are
missing.
The north levee broke at 4:20 o'clock
Sunday afternoon and the Ohio river
flowed over the town many feet deep.
Many corpses have been taken from
floating homes where families were sit
ting around their supper tables when
the flood rushed upon them without
warning. The disaster is the worst
that has occurred since the famous
Johnstown flood.
Two Hundred Houses Gone.
The food swept 200 houses from their
foundations. Noble rescue work was done
with skiffs. People were found clinging 20
bousetops. trees and other debris Many
families are being sheltered In small
houses. Seventy-five negroes have passed
the last "A hours in a small schoolhouse
two miles from Shawneetown. So far 1000
worth OF provisions have been sent I'm from
Carmi. McLeansboro, Mount Vernon and
Nashville. Three relief expeditions have
arrived from Evansville, and the Louisville
e. Nashville and Baltimore & Ohio South
western roads have sent special trains car
rying provisions.
The town presents an awful sight. Water
stands over nearly every foot OF the town,
the business district being under from ten
10 twenty feet, and this varies 20 three and
four feet. The entire business part OF the
city. II Is believed, has been ruined, as in
many OF the stores the water reached the
ceilings and is pouring into the upper floors.
Frank Robinson and Marshal Callicott.
In a skin, rescued 81 people from floating
debris and saw many drowned. Cyrus
Deveres rescued 10 people, among them
three little children floating on a house
roof The father and mother had per-
ished.
Ridgeway. ILL.,. April 81. 4. Hogan, OF
Omaha, ILL.,, left the scene OF the flood half
an hour before the dixie broke His brother
in-law, Sheriff Galloway, OF Gallatin coun-
~, whose home was In Shawneetown. had
the same good fortune. The sheriff wife
and two daughters were swept away. and
<heir bodies have not yet been recovered.
Hogan's story OF the flood shows that the
townspeople had absolutely no warning OF
the disaster. About five o'clock Sunday
evening"" he said, 1.-The levee on the north
side OF the town gave way at the north
end OF Market street, near the courthouse.
An opening ten feet wide was at first made.
but Il quickly spread to 20 feet, and wall
OF water ten or fifteen feet high poured
through the main street, sweeping every
thing before IL. About 80 small frame
olo Of q
south were crushed hike toys, and none OF
the occupants most OF whom were poor
colored folks, escaped. Those living In the
more substantial houses managed TO climb
70 second and third stories. whore they
chung for hours through the chilly night.
Houses I'm the western part OF the town
did not at once feel the effect OF the food.
and residents made hasty steps 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 mile from the town. and from there
saw their property crumble In the muddy
waters. When daylight came tho streets
were full OF water to the depth OF ten or
twelve feet. only the most substantial
buildings I'm the central business district
remain standing. Water is everywher5
and the relief work Is being carried out
under great difficulties.
Ridgeway, a town i2 miles from Shaw
nectown, was made the basis or relief
~
Off for miles out, boats were constructed
and a committee started TO the scene.
They reached Cypress Junction. half way
TO Shawneetown, and found dry land ex-
tending toward the river Following this,
they arrived within two miles OF the hooded
town. More boats were. started and tho
rescuers crossed to Shawneetown. They
found a sad condition existing In the ILL
fated town. Hundreds Of those who es-
capped the rush OF water were perched on
roofs. trees and along the top or the levee.
They were taken from their dangerous po-
sitions as rapidly as possible.
The Work of Rescue.
Owing to the scarcity OF boats the work
was very slow. but over 200 persons. in-
Guiding many women and children, were
taken TO the roadway, two miles from
6hawneotown. 10 Cyprus Junction. Here
the greater part OF them are camped, with
very htte TO eat and exposed TO the driv-
ing rain and piercing wind. Cypress juno
tion is almost surrounded by water, which
has overlooked the banks OF the Wabash
and is covering the entire country. The
overflow from the broken dixie at shawnee
town has backed up two miles Inland; but
IS slowly receding. IL Will be impossible TO
recover any bodies until the waters re-
cede very materially; In fact; ths res : re
tion, but are working 10 save those who
escaped alive. The Riverside hotel and
courthouse and the Ridgeway bank are
intact, and were found TO have been used
by the fleeing inhabitants for shelter. Tho
upper stories were crowded.
Carmi Flooded.
The lower portion OF Carmi, ILL.,, on tho
Wabash river, IS entirely flooded The wa
ter reaches half way to the second stories
OF the houses. The water Is level with the
floor OF the iron road bridge, but tho rail-
road bridge Is still two feet above at one
point on the Big Four A mile north or
carml the track IA but one foot above wa
ter for a quarter OF mile.
The Stricken Town.
shawneetown, ILL.,. has n population. OF
about 1000 inhabitants. and Is situated on
the west bank OF tho Ohio river. The
streets were parallel with the river, the
principal business street being but two
blocks distant from the water. The Level
OF the river Is about 10 feet above the CITY,
and the levee bank ~ about 20 feet thick
Situated on this bank and level Win tho
river IS the Riverside hotel, large, FOUR
story building built by Henry Docher.
When the river IN at lts normal stage " -
1000 feet wide at this point. and the citi-
gems have long feared catastrophe such