The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1898-04-06
HUNDREDS DROWNED.
OF the 1900 Inhabitants Of shawnsetOwn,
Illinois, Possibly 500 Have Perished.

CARMI. H., April 4.-Shawneetown, a.
place of I,s00 inhabitants, near here,
was wiped out of existence 10y levee
bursting just about dusk last evening.
The break in the levee was very large.
and within an hour scarcely a vestige of
the town was left. Il is believed that go
of the people were caught in the sudden
flood and drowned. Hundreds of others
were swept into the Ohio, clinging to the
roofs of houses or floating on pieces of
board. The disaster came when the great
majority of the people were in their
homes, eating supper. The break in the
levee occurred mile above the town, and
was within ten minutes more than half a
mile wide.
A stream of water II TO 20 feet deep,
carrying half of the current of the flood
raised Ohio, descended on the unsuspect-
ing people. II tcame down in a great rush,
like tidal wave. There was no slow
rising of the 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 in
habitants were drowned in them.
Nearer the center Of the town some
brick structures stopped the onrush of
the water for few minutes, but about
two thirds of the dwellings were lite d
from their foundations and floated eareen-
ing out into the black current of the riv-
er. Aslsrge house started down stream
with the others. AS it struck one house
after another in its zigzag course some
caTght fire, and their unfortunate people
were compelled to intrust themselves to
the mercy of the swirling water on tiny
floats of wood to avoid a more terrible
death by fire.
The break in the levee flooded four
miles of the valley land and cut of COM
muniestion on two railroads, the Balti-
more x Ohio Southwestern and the Louis
vile IL Nashville.
Beside the hundred or more who were
on the roofs of thu buildings, it is known
that nearly LOCO of the inhabitants man
aged in one way or another 10 make their
way to the high hills back OF Ia town,
or TO houses in the higher section of the
village itself
The property loss is tremendous. tt is
believed that the vaults of one of the
banks have burst and that the cont ents
have been dissiPated by the flood.
Mt. VERNON. Iud., April 4.-The man
ager of the telephone exchange at Shaw
neetown, Ill, last night gave Mt. Vernon
its first definite news of the big inunda-
tion at the little city down the Ohio river
This is what hesaid ''Shawneet0wn was
inundated by break in the levee a mile
and half above the city at $50 o'clock
this afternoon. Three hundred persons
are believed 10 have been drowned. 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 as
sistanee. | am four miles from shawnee
town now. / escaped and made my way
here with portable telephone. climb
ed up telephone pole and made con
nection, and that is how you are getting
the news. The flood came with terrific
dash and roar. of course, tue people had
been watching for any break in the leveo
but they thought they were safe.
1.-THE water came in an enormous wave,
with foam on the top. At first mufled
roar was heard. IL grew louder and
louder, and before all the people in Shaw
neetown who had OWNED what was COM
ing could rush to the hills for safety, it
overlook the town. Most of the people
fled TO the hills back of the city and saved ..
their lives, but their possessions are z me.
They are in despair ard frantic with ter
ror aud grief Send all the help voc can"
Mt. Vernon people were advised.