Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1898-04-07

Louisville, KY, April A special
from Evansville, Ind, says:
At 6 o'clock last night the levoe at
| Shawneetown, ILL.,, broke a mile above
the town, and, frum all tho information
that can be secured here, it is learned
| that great part of the place has been
destroyed and that perhaps 500 persona
| have been drownou.
Shawneetown has 1000 inhabitants
| and is IS miles helnw Evansville, on
the Ohio River. II is situated in
valley of extremely low land. with hills
skirting it in the rear, and with 25-
foot leyee in front, running from hill to
hill. The town is much in the position
Of fortified city. and, when the levee
gavs way mile above town, under the
pressure of the very high river, the
water shot through a 20-foot opening,
and struck the place like a hurricane,
swesping everything before It, Houses
we're turned ami tossed about like
boxes. The people were not warned OF
the break, and, for that reason, so
many were caught Those at home
sought refuge in second sturies and on
housetops. Those in the streets were
carried before tina avalanche OF water,
and probably a majority were drowned.
| The water stands from 20 to 30 feet all
| over the town. All telephone and tele-
graph wires are down, and outside com
munication appears to be impossible.
The disaster came when most of the
people were in their homes, eating
supper.
The break in the leves was, within 10
minutes, more than half mills wide. A
stream of water from - to 20 feet deep,
carrying half of the current of the
food raised Ohio. descended on tho
unsuspecting people. 1t came down in
a great rush, like a tidal wave. There
wac 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 inhabitants were drowned in
them. Nearer the centre of the town
Home brick structures stopped the on.
rush of the water for few minutes.
but about two-thirds Of the dwellings
were lifted from their foundations.
After a few minutes, the horror Of
The situation was added to by a large
house, that had started down stream,
catching fire. The people on the roofs
were already in danger Of being thrown
of by collisions with other floating
houses, but the appearance Of this
floating firebrand added horror. Ae il
struck one house after another in its
zigzag course, some caught fire, aud
their upfortunate people were compelled
to intrust themselves to the mercy Of
the swirling water on pieces Of wood, to
avoid more terrible death ny fire.
The break in the levee flooded four
miles of the valley land, and cut off
communication on two railroads, the
Baltimore & Ohio Southwestern and
the Louisville & Nashville.
BY means of rafta and swimming in
the cold water, 10 or 80 people wers
transferred from their garrett windows
and roofs to the fiat tops Of the Galltiu
County Bank, brick and stone build
ing, and the Court House. which 10 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 ShawnestoNn, only those two build
ings showed above the broad sheet OF
the flood in tho lower part OF ths town,
and its full force was being thrown
against them. 1t was doubtful IL they
would not collapse, and throw the
refugees into the river.
Besides the hundred or moro who were
m the roofs of the two sound buildings.
it is known that nearly 1000 of the in
habitants managed, IN Que way or
another, to make their way to the high
hills back of the town, or to houses in
the higher section of the village, Il
few of those houses survived the Ruddep
hurst of the waters, but their first aud
sometimes their second floors wers
under water.
Evansville Ind, April 4. = Mayor
Carney Of Shawneetown appealed. this
morning, to Congress for aid for the
destitute people of his stricken city.
He says that the town is absolutely do.
stroyed, and that there is not enough
food in town for ono meal He states
that 300 people are drowned. All goods
IN the city are lost, and the sisuation
is distressing in the extreme. Thia
city sent, last night, two steam6opt
loaGs OF provisions that should hays
reached Shawneetown this morning,
wAsnoUTs on RAILROADS.
st. Louis, Mo-, April 4.-Inquiry at
the offices Of the ueveral railroads having
connection with Shawneetown iutlioatas
that all trains for that point got of this
morning, and are proceeling on their
way. Indications are that there will
be trouble in getting near tho town, Is
washouts on seversl roads haYe pre-
vailed for tho last week, amoat isn
lating Shawneetnwn. Some uf the
roads cannot gst within 10 or 20 mica
OF the scene of the flood,
Ridgeway, H., April THE gap is
over 100 feet wide, to-day, in tho leree
at Shawnsetown, and gradually widen
ing. Water is from 10 to 10 feat deep
all over tho town, aud rain continues.
1t is known that from 40 to 90 peopIn
have lost their lives. None of the bodies
have beon recovered. Great destitution
prevails, ami relief is needed