Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1913-04-03

THRILLING S TO r lie S.
Marooned on Crumbling Strips Of
Embankment With Water Stretch
ing For Many Miles.

Cairo, H., April 3.-With the river
guage stationery at $40 since ter
o'clock last night, six inches higher
than the water mas been in the his
tory Of this city, the conditions here
at 10 a. M, today were critical.
The fate Of the city is believed to
be in the hands of the men who have
been working night and day to
strengthen the levees and upon
whether the Hickman levee, built by
the government and inaccessible to
workers, can hold.
Probably the most thrilling of
these rescucs was that OF forty
eight members of Company G, of the
National Guard of Missouri, who
were taken from a strip Of levee 200
yards wide and 400 yards long near
Birds Point, Mo-, by detachment of
the Chicago Naval Reserves after
their officers had rowad to Cairo in
a skiff which threatened to overturn
any moment.
The men had been ordered to Birds
Point for flood duty by Gov. Major,
and the breaking of levees all about
them left them marooned on the
crumbling strip Of embankment with
water stretching about them for
many miles in all directions. The
heaviest boats were carried away in
a sudden sweep OF water and only
the skiff which could carry but two
men remained
Reports reaching here from Brook
port, Ky, near Paducah, are that
the town is under water An appeal
made for aid made 10 Springfield
caused the steamer "Rapid" loaded
with supplies and boats to be dis
patched there for rescue work.
From Brookpor: the boat will 20
to Shawneestowr. The situation at
Slrawnaestown is said to be very Sc
rious. A violent wind storm, add
ed to the effect of the high water, has
destroyed every house in the city, it
is reported, except few stone and
brick buildings, and ir these the 300
men who remained in the town are
said to be marooned.
Columbus, O., April 3.-The work
of searching for bodies Of victims of
the flood was renewed with vigor
today The total number of bodies
recovered up to date is 81. Another
squad of convicts and volunteer
| workers attacked the tons Of debris
south of the city where several more
bodies were expected to be uncover
ed. The local relief committee again
issued urgent appeals for money and
supplies today. Estimates by city
authorities showed that $3.50 homes
in the city had been completely de-
stroyed or badly damaged by the
flood. It was also estimated that prl-
vate loss amounts to over $1,OO0,OOo
public loss was placed at 81, 25,ooo
Shawneetown, Ill.,. April 3.-ln'
habitants of Shawneetown. encamp'
ed on the hills back of the toWr
where they fled for their lives, sal
helpless today and saw the waters o.
the Ohio river below sweep their
homes into the twisted mass OF
wreckage.
House after house was torn from
| its foundations, crushed into a shape
less mass and torn to bits IN the ed
dies of the swift current.
Little remains of Shawneetowr
From the hills the brick and ston
buildings alone appeared 10 be with
standing the rush of the torrent
These stood in from ten to thlrt
! feet Of water.
A high wind that sent the waite
r over against the north levee with
, such force that it broke in wild
!, gap, wrought the very damage tina
i the city council sought to prevent b
: dynamiting the levee below tn
e town. Both north and east levee
are submerged. No loss of life ha
been reported