The San Juan islander. [volume] (Friday Harbor, Wash.) 1898-1914, 1898-04-14
WHOLE TOWN DESTROYED.
But Little Left to show Whore shaw
ueetown stood.

ueetown stood.
Chicago, April GA Chronicle spe-
cial from Carmi, ILL.,, says: The disas-
ter at Shawneetown, ILL.,, came when
the great majority of the people were
in their homes eating supper. The
break in the levee occurred milo
above the town, and was within 10
minutes more than a half mile wide.
A stream of water IL to 90 feet deep,
carrying half the current of the food
raised Ohio, descended on the unsus-
pecting people. 1t came in great
rush, like a tidal wave. There was no
slow rising of waters to give warning.
The houses on the outskirts were
lifted up and rolled over and over.
Most of them were torn into splinters.
Their inhabitants were drowned IN
them. Nearer the center of town brick
structures stopped the onrush OF the
water for few minutes, but about two
thirds of the dwellings were floating,
careening out into the current OF the
river.
After a few minutes the horror of
the situation was added to by the
catching fire of large house that had
started down stream with the others.
The people on the roof were already in
danger of being thrown off by collisions
with other floating houses, but the
occupants of this floating firebrand
added horror. As it struck one house
after another in its course, some others
caught fire and their unfortunate occu-
pants were compelled to trust them
selves to the mercy of the swirling
water on pieces of wood to avoid q
more terrible death by fire.
The break in the levee flooded four
miles of valley land and cut off COM
munication on two railways. the B. &.
O. Southwestern and the l.. & N.
When the water had slackened some
what, many houses were still standing,
but it was quickly seen that the frame
ones would not last in the food. BY
means of RATS and swimming in the
cold water 70 or 80 people were trans
ferred from their garnet windows and
roofs to the fat top of the Gallatin
county bank, brick and stone build
ing, and the courthouse, which is OF
brick. 1t was hoped that these would
withstand the pressure and the under
mining, but when the single courier,
who rode for help to Cypress Junction,
left Shawneetown, only those two
l, oh oh ho oh
of the flood in the lower part of the
town, and it was doubtful if they
would not collapse and throw the ref.
ugees into the river.
were on the roofs of the two sound
buildings it is known that nearly 1000
of the inhabitants managed in one way
or another to make their way to high
hills back of the town, or to houses in
the higher section Of the village. A
few of these survived the sudden bur st
of the waters, but the first and some
times the second floors were under
water. Those who made their way to
them went only in the clothes they
were wearing when the water came.
No one had time to secure either treas
ure or clothing. The property loss is
very great.
The scene at the upper end of the
town, where men and women were
struggling against the muddy water to
higher ground, some carrying babies on
their heads where water was up to their
necks, others half swimming, half
floating on odds and ends of lumber
from homes that had gone floating
down the river, many struggling in
vain and sinking in the roaring waters,
was one that will live in the memory
of every beholder.
In one place mother had reached
safe spot, and turned to help her
husband, who had followed with their
child AS she reached down from a
window for his hand he was thrown
from his footing, and he and the child
were swept away in the current. The
woman saw him sink and then threw
herself into the water.
Another family padded half way to
safety on a plank, which held them
out of the water. The current caught
them and sent them out toward mid
stream, where in the rougher water
they were seen to capsize and sink.
An old man. named Griffin, living
on high ground, stepped in the upper
story of his trem bling house to secure
hoard of money hidden under the
bed. His son. young man Of 81, had
to climb up the porch to rescue him,
SO quick was the rise of the water, and
when the two attempted to swim to
safety the younger man supporting the
older, floating house came running in
the current and overwhelmed them.
A woman, supposed to be Josephine
Simon, was warned of the danger in
time to get to higher ground. but in
turning back to help her mother, was
caught with the older woman in an
eddy and they were drowned.
A woman made an effort to save hel
lover by throwing clothesline to him
from her house. His house was swept
away at the moment, and he waa
thrown into the water. He swan te
the aid of the girl. but she was stand.
ing on the side of gable roof. and was
pulled from her footing. Both were
drowned.
These are some instances told BY
John Graham, who reached Cypress
Junction, from which place be tele
phoned here for help. He said that be
himself helped IL persons out of the
water.
Governor Tanner, of Illinois, ha.
issued an appeal for aid.
Congress will be petitioned also.
North Levee Gave Way.
Ridgewav, ILL.,, April 6.-Accordinu