Rock Island Argus., 1898-04-06
DEATH LIST Growing
Looks Like Il May Reach Near
Two Hundred by the Shaw.
naetoWn Flood.
SIXTY-FIVE KNOWN TO BE DEAD.

Over One Hundred Are on the Missing
List-FIood Came Upon the People Very
Eapidly--Rush of the Current Caused the
Mortality-People Only Waist Deep swept
OF Their Feet and Drowned-Narrow Es-
cape OF a Mother and Her Babe Cause of
the Break in the Levee.
Ridgeway, Ills, April 6.-With all that
has happened, and with what is liable
to occur at any moment, people con-
tinue to linger in Shawneetown. The
river is splashing and the strain upon
the levee is probably more than it can
long stand. The situation has not ma
terially changed since last report. not
for the better, as least. 1t is now claimed
that over 100 are missing and sixty-five
are known TO have been drowned. One
hundred collins have been ordered in
which to bury the dead as soon as re-
covered. The water is twelve feet deep
all over the town, and in many places
eighteen feet. The continued rains give
the waters no chance to recede; con-
sequently nothing can be done towards
recovering the dead bodies. Strong men
stand in groups and weep bitter tears
over the desolation that is visible on
every hand. Men who were well-to-do
On Sunday last have all they possess in
this world on their backs now.
Scene That Begsars Description.
The scene from the levee beggars de-
scription, and no one can realize the
situation without beholding it, Some
goods grows out Of the direct calamitfes.
and in few instances at Shawneetown
men who have been at dagger points for
years clasped each others hands and
Ieli on each others necks weeping. for
giving and being forgiven. Sheriff Gal
loway, who lost his wife andtwo daugh-
ters, is almost craZed with grief, and is
being guarded for fear he will commit
some rash act. There is no suffering
among the people. as all are being pro-
vided with food and raiment.
Close Gail of Mrs. Pillow.
The food which destroyed the embank-
ment was not at the time the damage
was caused and the people were
drowned over four feet in depth. 1t
that all people who We're caught waist
deep in the stream were drowned As
an example Of the speed with which the
flood came it may be mentioned that
Mrs. Charles Pillow had just removed
her dress for the purpose Of putting on
new gown. When she removed her
gown the dam was practically intact.
Before she could arrange herself in the
new goWn-and she lost no time in at
tempting the operatinE-the water was
six inches deep on her par!or floor She
Grasped her baby ana ran for the un-
broken part Of the dixie. but a few feet
away. Before she could reach it the
water was knee deep and she was
thrown to the ground and would in
fallibly have been drowned but for her
husband, who followed her closely and
| succeeded in getting her upon the un-
broken part Of the embankment.
Cause of the Break in the Dam.
The break in the dam has widened to
a gap of 80 yards It is said by those
who witnessed its first giving awaythat
the disaster was caused by quicksand
upon which its foundations rested. The
| first sign Of the disaster was a sudden
whirlpool about fifteen feet north cf the
dam, as though the bottom had fallen
out Of the river The water rushing into
this hole proved too much for thequick-
sand under the dam, and it went down
| All witnesses agree that the dam sank
toward The bottom Of the river and was
not carried inward by the rush Of the
water.