The Indianapolis journal., 1903-03-13
Flood situation at Evansville Improv-
ing, but Still Bad at Shawnee
town and Below.
EAST MOUNT CARMEL COVERED
WABASH FLOWING THREE TO FIF-
TEEN FEET DEEP IN STREETS.
Caruthersville Surrounded by Water
Conditions at Memphis, New Or
leans and Elsewhere.

Special to the Indianapolis Journal.
EVANSVILLE, Ind, March 12.-The river
this evening was 42.1 and falling slowly.
The weather is clear. Much water above is
coming this way and there Is a prospect of
another rise of some two feet before an
other week. The Cairo observer says there
will be but slight change here during the
next two days. All the streams along the
river in this section are still full and their
condition prevents a rapid fall above, while
it accelerates the rise below. AS far as can
be learned here tonight there is little relief
In the situation between here and Vim
cennes. The rivers are still out Of their
banks and fields covered with water.
The situation In the sections above Is said
to be no worse than for several days past.
The lowlands above and below are still SUBJ
merged. but the greatest danger now is to
the winter wheat, which may be washed
away
While the situation here has improved. It
Is growing worse down the river. Passen-
gers arriving on boats say the Ohio at
many places between here and Cairo re-
sembles a lake. At one point the river Is
thirty-five miles wide. The losses to farm
much sickness when the flood subsidies. Ad-
vices from Princeton. Ind. say the White.
Patoka and Wabash rivers will all be sta
tionary by Sunday. II there are no further
rains. All the lowlands are entirely sub
merged. The town of East Mount Carmel
has not an inhabitant. the water being
from three to fifteen feet deep In its streets.
Thousands of acres of growing wheat will
be lost.
With the river stationary at some points
and falling at others the people of Shaw
neetown. ILL.,, have become reconciled to
the general situation and have for the
present abandoned the idea of cutting the
levee and allowing the town to become
flooded. They are on their guard, however.
and prepared for the worst. Since the dis
aster there few years ago, when the levee
broke and a large number of people were
drowned, the government has enlarged and
strengthened the levee. yet as the water
crept up gradually the citizens of the
place took alarm and a meeting was called
early in the week at which the question of
cutting the levee was discussed. Had the
situation continued to look ominous the
chances are that the levee would have been
T..
the town would be flooded at its highest
places to a depth of from two to four feet.
By letting the water in at the present stage
the town could be flooded without danger Of
wrecking and sweeping away buildings. as
was the case at the time the former levee
broke. Travelling men from Shawneetown
report that business is at a standstill.
Many merchants have carried their stocks
to the hillsides beyond the town. while
others have removed their stocks to second
and third stories of their stores. People
living in two-story houses in most cases
have removed all their effects to the upper
floors and have laid in quantities of coal
and other fuel so they would not be caught
short for warming and cooking purposes
Most of those living in cottages have
moved to the hills and are living in tents
and improvised homes. There is more or
less suffering and the people are absorbed
with the work Of preparing for safety
rather than turning their thoughts to busi-
ness.