The herald., 1898-04-05

Wines, Secretary of State Board OF Char
tiles, and Miss Julia Lathrop will leave on
first train for Shawneetown. The doctor
represents me in caring for the sufferers.
Cooperate with him in forming relief
committees. authorize you to draw upon
me for $4,000. Have issued proclamation
city sent two steamboat loads of provi.
sions last night. All telegraph and tele-
phone wires to Shawneetown are down.
AID NEEDED AT ONCE
SPRINGFIELD, April 4.-The following
was issued today:
To the People of the State of Illinois: 1t
is my painful duty to announce that a ter
rible disaster has overtaken the citizens Of
Shawneetown, in this State, which, owing
to the condition of the public treasury,
am powerless to relieve without the volun-
tary aid of the charitably disposed.
At 4:45 o'clock on the afternoon of Sun
day, April 3rd, the levee which surrounds
the city Of Shawneetown broke and the
city is under water and in the midst Of a
raging flood, pouring down, from the north
1t is six miles to land and the current of the
Ohio River is sweeping through the town.
1 am informed by Mayor Carney, of Shaw
neetown. that approximately one-fourth
of the population has been drowned all
property destroyed and that the people are
collected on the tops of houses and upon
what remains above water of the levee. ex-
posed to the rain without shelter and with
out one meal Of food.
1t would be of no use to call the Legisla-
ture in session to meet this emergency be-
money from which to pay any appropria-
oh ha h.
Secretary Of the State Board of Public
Charities to the scene of the disaster to as
sist in the organization of emergency re-
lief work which requires to be done, with
authority to draw on me for what funds
may be necessary, in anticipation of funds
which will no doubt be contributed by the
public at large for this purpose.
l therefore make this urgent and instant
appeal for contributions to enable me to
do what the people will no doubt wish me
to do under the existing circumstances All
contributions should be sent to Mr.. w. 8.
Phillips. president of the Ridgway Bank,
Ridgway, ILL.,, which is the nearest point
from which the relief work can be carried
on. This disaster appears, from what can
be learned, to be more appalling than the
Johnstown flood.
Done at the Executive office, Springfield,
ILL.,, this 4th day Of April, A. D. 1898.
JOHN R. TANNER, Governor.
AN AWFUL SCENE
MOUNT VERNON, Ind, April 1.-The
tug Isabella, which went to the relief Of the
Shawneetown sufferers last night, re-
turned here today for provisions. City
Marshal L. M. Holman returned on her
and reports the situation there appalling.
He said:
people who have not visited the scene
cannot picture in imagination the awful
suffering and restitution that exists there.
In the Riverside Hotel last night, there
were at least five hundred women and
children budding together, their clothing
wet. and nothing with which to build fires.
Women were wringing their hands and
crying, searching for members Of their
families who were missing, and many men
even were weeping. 1t is impossible at the
present time to give correct estimate OF
the loss of life, but it will probably exceed
one hundred"
TANNER TAKES ACTION
SPRINGFIELD, Ills, April 4.-Governor
Tanner has received the following message
regarding the Shawneetown disaster:
"RIDGEwAY, ILL.,, April 4.-Governor
Tanner: The ground gave way under the
levee at Ais PM, and the loss Of life is
nearly one-fourth of our population. We
have no provisions to feed our people for
one meal. We need tents. clothing and
burial caskets. Help us at once.
I'D. M. CARNEY, Mayor"
"CARMI, Ills, April 4.-Governor Tan
ner: Mr.. George Goetzman, a reliable
merchant of Shawneetown, just now con-
firms reports of levee break last night.
He says the Mayor sent him to the nearest
point of communication to get a message
to you to you send tents. provisions and
burial caskets Immediately via East st.
Louis and Infield, where train from
Ridgway will be waiting. Goetzvan says
the scene is worse than Johnstown. Four
hudred estimated drowned and all property
lost, and remainder of people on levee and
house tops, and rain adds to the distress.
Answer me here and 1 will communicate
by telephone JOHN M. CREDBS,
president White County Telephone Com
pany."
The Governor sent the following an
swer:
wv. s. Phillips, President Ridgway
County Bank, Ridgway, Ill.-Hon. Fred.
Wines, Secretary OF State Board of Char
tiles, and Miss Julia Lathrop will leave on
first train for Shawneetown The doctor
represents me in caring for the sufferers
Cooperate with him in forming relief
committees. I authorize you to draw upon
me for $1,000. Have issued proclamation
appealing to the public for relief Of the
flood sufferers. Am preparing to send the
train with tents to shelter and accommo-
date 1000 people; 300 blankets and 1900 emer-
gency rations.
JOHN r. TANNER, Governor"
PROVISIONS ARRIVE
EVANSVILLE, Ind, April 4-The Louis
Vile and Nashville Railroad accommoda-
ton train from Southern Illinois arrived
here at O:30 O. clock. The train men bring
the report that the family of Sheriff Gal
loway was completely wiped out by the
flood at Shawneetown.
Mr.. c. l.. Storrs, who had charge of the
provision boat from Evansville, telephones
from Mount Vernon, Ind, that he had
just returned from shawneetown. Mayor
Carney now estimates the loss Of lie atloe.