The record-union., 1898-04-06

SHAWNEEIOWN Ul1), April o.
TWenty-three unknown dead, a posi-
bility that the list may reach thirty,
1900 people in actual need OF the ne
cessities of life, 700 homeless, and dam
age to the amount of %23,},t00 is the
net result of the flood which swept
through ShawneetoWn late Sunday
evening.
There is no danger of further dam
age to the town, unless storms should
set in, and even then it is difficult to
see how matters can be made worse
than they are. The entire town is
buried under ten or fifteen feet OF
water. with the exception of houses on
the embankment Immediately fronting
the Ohio River. All of these have
water in the cellars. and most of them
are flooded to the second story.
The water began to fall to-day, and
about o'clock this afternoon had re-
ceded eight feet from the highest mark
of Wednesday. A high north wind
was driving the waves before and if
no more rain comes it is probable that
the town will dry in two weeks. Not
a single body has been recovered as
yet, and there is no probability that
any will be found until after the waters
have entirely subsidized.
The leyee broke on the north side of
the town sweeping what is known as
the first second and third wards clean
of all buildings. All Of the people who
We're drowned met their fate in the
First Ward and northern part of the
Second Ward, which was nearest to
the break.
1t was an hour and a half after the
dyke first broke that the town was
completely submerged. The family Of
Charles Clayton was entirely wiped
cut, with the exception of Neil Clay
ton. grandson of s years. He, in
come manner, managed to reach the
roof Of the house, and was taken off
by Lloyd Rowan
The family of Riley Galloway, Sher-
if OF Gallatin County, was entirely
lest. one nephew being the only mem
Der 10 escape. There was report that
q young lady visiting the family Of
Sheriff Galloway was also lost but this
report could not he substantiated.' Some
said the young lady was with the fam
iIv, but others den'e7 it, The Sheriff
is distracted. and it is feared he Will
lost his mind
Mrs Reinholt. three of whose chill
dren were drowned. was carried
tIIIO utsH the Tow II pll al DOtiiQ WHICH
she had managed to grab When the
resCUeTs reached her they were unable
to lift her into their sl1iff she being a
very large woman. and throwing her
rope they towed her half mile to Il
place of safety.
David Kookendorfer and his wife,
finding their escape cut off through the
door, rushed to the roof BY the time
they reached it the house was floating
southwark. In Il few minutes it part
ed Mr. Kookendorfer being on one half
and his wife on the other. For the
second time the roof parted under Mr.
Kookendorfer. and he sailed away on
what was left to him. III fortune still
pursued him. His portion of the roof
came floating down, and for a few mo-
ments he f1oated on that. That broke
under him just as a hen-coop came
along, and he abandoned his roof and
got on the coop. This proved his sal
walton, and he was finally able TO reach
the levee where he climbed in safety
Mrs. Kookendorfer remained upon her
half. and rachel the levee without any
Interruptions that met her husband.
Paul Phalan, whose wife and aughter
were both drowned, had a narrow es-
cape from death. The two ladies
reached the roof. Mr.. Phalen being close
behind them. The roof broke as he was
about to emerge. pinninS him in the
scuttle hole Being slight man. he was
unable to extricate himself. and to this
fact he owes his life. His wife and
daughter were washed from the roof
and drowned. Mr.. Phalen was carried
about a quarter of a mile before he was
picked up He is now in a critical con-
dition. and it is feared he Will not re-
cover.
The breaks in the dam widened to-day
to a sap of $50 yards. 1t is said by those
who witnessed its first giving away that
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 of The
dam. as though the bottom had fallen
out Of the river. The water rushing into
this hole. proved too much for the quick
sand under the dam. and it sank down
ward. All witnesses agree that the dam
sunk toward the bottom Of the river. ana
was not carried inward by the rush of
the water.
The total amount of damage is esti-
mated by Tax Assessor Jonus at S-'H0090
Charles Carroll. Chairman Of the Re-
lief Committee said to-day that the
things most needed were blankets. meat.
bread. meal and bacon. There was
enough food in the town to-day and
known to he on the road to feed the
hungry until wednesday noon. 1t IS
said by that time that al actual suffer-
ing VIII have been relieved Contribu-
tions viii he necessary for two weeks,
urti the people arc able to enter their
stores and resume business once more