The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1913-04-04

Shawneetown. ILL.,, April 4.-With the
work of preventing further flood dam
age practically abandoned, Shawnee
town has turned itself toward seeking
relief for the thousand refugees camp
ed in canvas colonies behind the town.
or scattered among country friends In
the hills. Provisions have been run
ming short since the town has been
cutoff from the outside world and the
situation is very grave.
Expected relief from state and other
sources had not arrived, despite re-
peateds appeals. When Captain w. K.
Naylor, representing the United States
army, arrived on a relief steamer and
learned of the threatened famine, he
Immediately headed back up stream in
quest of supplies.
Captain Lang, representing Governor
Dunno, had already gone up stream on
a similar mission. He started for
Mount Vernon Ind, to see If the citi-
zens could not be induced to come to
the aid of the stricken people of Shaw
neetown. Word has been received that
the government ordered sent here ra-
tons from Louisville, but nothing of
the supplies have been seen.
Unless provisions are received to-
night many refugees will suffer ex-
tremely. Their plight today was made
worse by persistent showers that
drenched their tents and rendered total
~ Inadequate the few household ar
ticles they had brought from Shaw
neetown-
The river continued to rise and by
nightfall was near the 59.5 mark, three
feet and one inch over the high water
mark of the 1884 flood, when 80 persons
were drowned by the swapping of the
levee.
Most of the downtown stone and
brick buildings are standing but hard
w fTar1 Of in town
damage.
With the river still rising, fear is
held that a suddenly formed current
will sweep through an unexpected d.
rection and complete the work of de-
vastation.
Ohio Has Gone Mad
The Ohio river this morning was a
river gone mad A rs or 80 mile gale
sweeping straight upstream, churned
the water in swells and pillows that
approached ocean proportions. Most
small crafts kept behind the leVees,
but a 15-foot motor boat that breasted
the ten miles of rolling foaming water
from Dekoven, KY, was tossed about
like rubber bali.
None can tell what part of three
and a quarter miles of levee stands, as
all is under a foot or two of water. 1t
is known that great sections went out
before the water climbed over the
the great gap in the northern levee,
with tremendous velocity. 1t is not
impossible the river will form new
channel straight through the town
Scattering reports of great destruc-
ton and suffering caused by high
waters in neigh boring towns are re-
ceived here At Uniontown, KY, ten
miles up the river fifteen hundred per-
sons are quartered at the fair grounds,
many of them glad to obtain accom-
cd horse ShedS.
Caseyville, KY, three miles south,
was wiped off the map. Two hundred
people fled to the hills.
Dekoven, KY, ten miles south, and
normally two miles and. half from
the river, is marooned, except for boat
communication. Railroad traffic is
impossible, except for a few miles
each way. So
Flood waters in the Ohio began to
rise again today. At a. M, the gauge
viousIy lowered about the 54.6 mark
for nearly II hours. despite the fact
that a steady rain fell during most
of the night. A medium wind from the
south was considered a deterrent to
the current.
Reports from the Reelfoot levee dis
trict said more than 1000 men were
working to save a break in the levees
in this section which is well down the
Mississippi. A break there would
bring relief to the situation here within
an hour.
The weather early today was chilly
and the wind had switched to the
north. Considered from every stand
point, conditions were held out as
hopeful for at least another week.
Issue Bonds for Aid.
Dayton, O., April 4.-Through a ter
rifle lightning storm and over roads