Oregon City Coarier.
A. VT. OHINII, Fnblisher.
OREGON CITY OREGON
NEWS OF HIE WEEK
Interesting Collection of Current Eveits
In Condensed Form From
Both Continents
In 6ake?dale, Wa8h., A. C. Lebold
Was accidentally shot by a boy, who
Was hunting squirrels. A bullet from
a 22-caliber rifle struck him in the
breast, and'physioians fear it has sepa
rated the cavity.
In accordance with a resolution
passed some time ago by the interna
tional union, the book and job printers
of San Francisco went on a Btrike Mon
day. The bone of contention is a 9
liour day instead of a 10-hour day.
About 800 men are out.
European dispatches announce the
butchery in Prance of an entire family
of six parsons by a robber named Cail
lard. This human wild beast shot and
.killed the husband, wife and two chil
dren, cut the throat, of a little girl and
blew out the brains of a bed-ridden old
woman.
The steamer La Bretagne has arrived
In New York with 11 survivors of the
crew of the British bark Bothnia,
which was wrecked off the Irish coast
on March 23. The Bothnia sailed
from Lobos do Afuera, off the coast of
Peru, November 5. When 50 miles off
the Irish coast, on March 23, a squall
struck the bark, upsetting her.
A seaman belonging to the British
battle-ship Resolute was sentenced to
a fortnight's confinement and doprived
of his good conduct badge, for wearing
the shamrock on St. Patrick's day, in
disobedience to orders. A recital of
the incident created a sensation in the
English commons, and caused an ob
jecting Irish member to be removed
from his sent.
Antoine Variole, of the French Geo
graphical Society, has arrived In New
York with a balloon, with which he
Intends to make a trip from Juneau to
the Klondike. A dozen persons are in
the party. Arthur Tervagne, L.L D.,
is president of the expedition and is
also correspondent of Figaro. Variclo,
head of the expedition, is 45 years old
and a well-known engineor and invent
or in France. He claims that his
balloon oan be steered with ease.
General Carlos Ezeta, the exiled ex
president of Salvador, has been vindi
cated by his people. His vast estates,
the stocks and money confiscated by
the government of President Oulterrez,
after Ezeta was forced to leave his na
' tite land fpur years ago, have been re
' turned to him, and Ezeta is again
worth more than 12,000,000. The gon
oral says he will never again interest
himself in Salvadorean politics. He is
now living in Oakland, Cal.
The committeo on interstate and for
eign commerce has favorably reported
Mr. Tongue's bill extending the time
for the ereotion of a bridge aoross tho
Columbia, by tho Orpgon & Washing
ton bridge Company, between Washing
ton and Oregon, The committee, how
ever, amended tho bill bo that instead
of having two years to bogin operation,
the company will have one year, and
instead of four years in which to oom
plute the work, three years is allowed,
all this time to be reckoned from the
date of the passage of the bill by con
gross, this is tne Drwgo it was pro
posed to build in the vioinity of La
Camas several years since in connection
with a road to North Yakima. The
aite is claimed to be tho best on the
Columbia.
A Cairo dispatch says: It is an
nouneed that tho gunboats and Anglo
Egvptiun troops attacked Shendy Hat
urday, destroyed the forts, captured
quantities of grain, cattle and ammu
nit ion and liberated over U00 Blaves.
The dervishes lost 100 men. There
were no casualties on the Anglo-Egyp
tian Bide.
A London dispatch says the ultun
tion in the far East is considered
gloomy and unsatisfactory, and there
is deep discontent hero over the results
of Lord Salisbury's diplomacy. Tho
belated movement of the British fleet
in Chinoso waters has caused as much
uneasiness in financial circles as satis
faction among other classes. This ap
prehension would have affected all
clauses of securities If American stocks
had not been remarkably buoyant, ami
curried everything upward.
John G. Brady, governor of Alaska,
came down on the last steamer from
the north. He h on his way to Wash
ington in the interest of Alaskan legis
lation. Governor Brady said that all
saloons in Alaska will he closed, if it
is within his power. Ho does not ex
pect, however, that this will put a
stop to the uso and sale of liquor in
Alaska, it being his opinion that pro
hibition cannot bo successfully carried
out there. Governor Brady declared
himself in favor of high license. On
his visit to Washington ho will endea
vor to have tho general land laws ol
the United States extended to Alaska
Ha will suggest that a commission b
appointed to draft a code of laws for
the territory.
The senate committeo on appropria
tions has recommended that Cleve
land's forestry order, reserving large
areas of land In many states, be re-
tcinded. Should the older bo rescind
ed, the land, about 17,000,000 acres in
all, would lie restored to the puhlio do
main, and tho state of Washington
would be extensively affected. Senator
Wilson has secured an allowance of
140,000 for the military post at Spo
kane, Wash., and $10,000 for the
establishment of a fish hatchery at
.Uaker City, Or.
WHOLE TOWN DESTROYED.
But Little Left to Show Where
Sha
neetown Stood.
. Chicago, April 6. A Chronicle spe
cial from Caiml, 111., says: The disas
ter at Shawneetown, 111., came when
the great majority of the people were
in their homes eating supper. The
break in the levee occurred a mile
above the town, and was within JO
minutes more than a half mile wide.
A stream of water 12 to 20 feet deep,
carrying half the current of the flood
raised Ohio, descended on the unsus
pecting people. It came in a great
rush, like a tidal wave. There was no
slow rising of 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 center of town brick
structures stopped the onrush of the
water for a few minutes, but about two
thirds of the dwellings were floating,
careening out into the current of the
river.
After a few minutes the horror of
the situation was added to by the
catching fire of a large house that had
started down stream with the others.
The people on the roof were already in
danger of being thrown off by collisions
with other floating houses, but the
occupants of this floating firebrand
added horror. As it struck one house
after another in its oourse, some others
caught fire and their unfortunate occu
pants were compelled to trust them
selves to the mercy of the swirling
water on pieces of wood to avoid a
more terrible death by fire.
Tho break in the levee flooded four
miles of valley land and cut off com
munication on two railways, the B. &.
O. Soautliwestern and the L. & N.
When the water had slackened some
what, many bouses were still standing,
but it was quickly seen that the frame
ones would not last in the Hood, ay
means of rafts and swimming in the
cold water 70 or 80 people were trans
ferred from their garret windows and
roofs to the flat top of the Gallatin
county bank, a brick and stone build
ing, and the courthouse, which is of
brick. It was hoped that these would
withstand the pressure and the under
mining, but when the Bingle courier,
who rode for help to Cypress Junction,
left Shawneetown, only those two
buildings showed above the broad sheet
of the flood in the lower part of the
town, and it was doubtful if they
would not collapse and throw the ref
ugees into the river.
Besides the hundred or more who
were on the roofs of the two sound
buildings it is known that nearly 1,000
of the inhabitants managed in one way
or another to make their way to high
hills back of the town, or to houses in
the higher section of the village. A
few of these survived tHo sudden burst
of the waters, but the first and some
times the second floors were under
water. Those who made their way to
them wont only in the clothes they
were wearing when the water came.
No one had time to seoure either treas
ure or clothing. The property loss is
very great. v
The scene at the upper end of the
town, where men au-1 women were
struggling against the muddy water to
higher ground, some carrying babies on
their heads where water was up to their
necks, others half swimming, half
floating on oddB and ends of lumber
from homes that had gone floating
down tho river, many struggling in
vain and sinking in the roaring waters,
was one that will live in the memory
of every beholder.
In one place a mother had reached
a safe spot, and turned to help her
husband, who had followed with their
child. As she readied down from a
window for his hand he was thrown
from his footing, and he and the child
were swept away in the current. The
woman utiw him Bink and then threw
herself into the water.
Another family paddled half way to
safety on a plank, which held them
out of the water. Tho current caught
them and sent them out toward mid
Btream, where in tho rougher water
they were seen to capsizo and sink,
An old man, named Griffin, living
on high ground, stepped in tho upper
story of his trembling house to secure
a hoard of money hidden under tho
bed. His son, a young man of 21, had
to climb up the porch to rescue him,
so quick was the rise of the water, and
when the two attempted to swim to
Bafety the younger man supporting the
older, a floating house came limning in
the current and overwhelmed them.
A woman, supposed to be Josephine
Simon, was warned of the danger iu
time to get to biglier ground, but in
turning back to help her mother, was
oaught with the older woman in an
eddy ami they wore drowned,
A woman made an effort to savo her
lover by throwing a clothesliue to him
from her house. His house was swept
away at tho moment, and he was
thrown into the wator. He swam to
the aid of the girl, but she was stand
ing on the side of a gable roof, and was
pulled from her footing. Both were
drowned.
These are some instances told by
John Giaham, who reached Cypress
Junction, from which place he tele
phoned here (or help, lie said that he
himself helped 13 persons out of the
water.
Governor Tanner, of Illinois,
issued an appeal for aid.
Congress will be petitioned also.
has
North Levee Gave Way.
Ridgeway, 111., April 6. According
to the best information obtainable here
as to the flood at Shawneetown, the
levee on the north was the one that
broke. The north end of Shawneetown,
except Main street, near the river, was
built up of one-story buildings of inferi
or construction, which were mainly
inhabited by negroes. It ia believed
the larger portion of those lost were
colored people.
TROUBLE HEAPING UP
Spain
Is Now in a Dispute
With Germany
OYER THE CANNAMABA AFFAIR
A Warship on the Way to Cuba to
force the Emperor's Demands
Sentiment Changing.
Berlin, April 5. The sentiment in
Germany in official and unofficial cir
cles ealry today was that the Spano
Amorican crisis had veered considerably
during the oourse of the week, and is
now deoidedly more favorable to the
United States. This, it is asserted, is
partly due to the moderation of Presi
dent McKinley and the conservative
manner in which the United States
minister, General Woodford, has dealt
with the authorities at Madrid, and
partly to the bitterness engendered by
the alleged attack of a band of insur
gents upon the German sugar refineries
at Cannamba, in the Trinidad district
of the province of Santa Clara, Cuba,
and the murder of four persons connect
ed with the refinery, March 18, which
has taught Germany that Spain is un
able to protoot even the lives of for
eigners in Cuba.
As previously announced, the Ger
man foreign office is demanding full
and immediate redress for this outrage,
and a German warship will soon be sent
to Havana if satisfaction is not forth
coming in short order. The Spanish
ambassador here, Senor Mendez do
Vigo, has had lengthy conferences
with Baron von Bulow, the German
minister of foreign affairs, who con
vinced the ambassador that Germany
intended to have complete satisfaction,
including an indemnity for the prop
erty destroyed and for the lives taken.
The ambassador was also informed
that, unless the redress was forth
coming, Germany would herself aot,
secure damages and punish the offend
ers. As an incentive to quick repara
tion, Baron von Bulow added that pro
visional orders had been cabled to tha
commander of the German warship
Gier to sail in the direction of Cuba.
The Spanish ambassador promised that
he would exert himself to the utmost
to oomply with the German demands.
The newspapers here are also chang
ing their tone, and now concede in the
main the justice of the Amerioan de
mands, acknowledging that Washington
has acted with the moderation which
many another government would not
have shown under similar circum
stances.
Three of the papers eulogized Presi
dent McKinley'a calm statesmanship
and express confidence that whatever
he ultimately decides will be direoted
by some good reason. .
The United States ambassador, An
drew D. White, in an interview said
that thus far, acting under instructions
from Washington, he has not formally
inquired of the German government
what its attitude would be iu the event
of war. He had, nevertheless, been
repoatedly assured informally by Baron
von Bulow that Germany would in no
case assume an unfriendly attitude to
ward the United States, nor join in
any possible combination of the powers
having that end in view.
In regard to Emperor W imam s per
sonal views, Mr. Whito says his ma
jesty has been grossly misrepresented
by the foreign press. The emperor has
repoatedly given Mr. White to under
stand that he felt most favorably dis
posed toward the United States in this
crisis.
Asked for an Armistice.
Washington, April 5. The Spanish
minister has received a telegram from
Havana stating that the autonomist
cabinet had addressed an appeal to the
insurgents asking them to adjust an
armistice to fix terms of peace. Tho
full text of the message could not bo
scoured tonight, as its translation was
not made at the legation. The insur
gents are appealed to on the ground
that they are all Cubans and should
unite for peace and liberty, which all
want. The appeal also states that
Spain is willing to enlarge the present
Bcope of autonomy, and will suggest
ouch a plan to the cortes, which is soon
to meet.
Spain's Ships In Knit Way.
London, April B. The London
Times correspondent has ascertained
from reliable sources that the Spanish
ships are in bad condition. The Polayo
started from Toulon for Cartegena last
night in tow, with 125 French work
men on board fixing her boilers and
making other repairs. The Carlos V
started yesterday from the Seine ship
building yards at Havre for Ferrol,
with her turret out of condition and her
guns unmounted. Neither ship will be
ready for service for a month, lhey
have left French waters presumably in
fear that war might begin before tho
repairs wore finished, in which event
they would not be permitted to leave.
Minister Woodford Advlaea.
Chicago, April 5. A Tribune spe
cial from Washington says: Minister
Woodford has boon given by oable an
abstract of the president's forthcoming
message, and informed of the temper of
congress. He will communicate tho
facts to Spain. This is iu the nature
of an ultimatum.
Chicago Carpenter's Strike
Chicago, April 5. Three thousand
carpenters will go on strike in this city
tomorrow. About 80,000 men will
probably be laid otf on buildings, re
pairs, etc., as they cannot work unless
the carpenters do. The strike is due
to the refusal of the journeymen to
agree to the demand that no work shall
be done for business outside of the
Builders' Association.
Six thousand people sleep in the open
sir in London every night.
WAR CANNOT BE AVERTED
Unless
Spain Surrenders
Backs Down.
Cuba and
Washington, April 6. The Post
says that unless Spain, within 48 hours,
yields by surrendering Cuba, war can
not be averted. It sums up the situa
tion as follows:
President McKinley's message to
congress will be a, ringing, vigorous
document that promises to meet the
full expeatation of congress and the
people. It will be a scathing arraign
ment of Spain, showing that she has
demonstrated her utter incapacity to
govern; that her colonies have de
clined in population as the result of
misrule and oppression; that American
commerce has been damaged and Amer
ican lives and property imperiled, and
that existing conditions should and
will not be tolerated by this govern
ment. The destruction of the battle-ship
Maine and tho slaughter of 266 officers
and seamen serving under the United
States flag will be commented upon in
strong language, and Spain will be held
responsible for that disaster. The pres
ident will make no direct recommenda
tion, but his message will point clearly
to the necessity of armed intervention
to restore order and peace. He will
not recommend the recognition of the
independence of the island, because the
insurgonts have no established form of
government, and the president and
cabinet believe that a travesty would
bo presented to the world if following
the recognition of independence of the
island the United States should, as a
result of war, take the independence
away by seizing and annexing the
island.
The president's message will be
equivalent to a declaration of war, and
hostilities can now only be averted by
Spain yielding all.
Pope Leo XIII is mediating between
Spain and Cuba. The efforts of his
holiness have already resulted in an
appeal from Spain to the insurgents
through the autonomist cabinet for an
armistice pending an agreement for
peace and independence. It is learned
that his holiness has represented to
Spain that it is the part of wisdom to
make every possible concession, even to
surrendering the island absolutely,
rather than go to war with the United
States, which would inevitably result
in the loss of Cuba and other Spanish
colonies, and at the same time endanger
the dynasty.
The United States has ceased all
negotiations, and will not accept media
tion. The administration and congress
see no alternative but war.
Mines in Ilnvana Harbor.
New York, April 6. A dispatch to
the World from Havana says: Forty
floating submarine mines were secretly
planted in Havana harbor last Wednes
day night by the Spanish government.
This information comes from official
sources and is absolutely correct. The
mines oontain sufficient force there to
paralyze the biggest ships afloat.
IS HELD RESPONSIBLE.
Impatient Senators Make Open Charges
A gainst Spain.
Washington, April 6. It was frankly
and openly charged in the senate today
by Perkins (Cal.) in a 6et speech that
Spain was responsible for the Maine
disaster, as it had been brought about
by Spanish machinations and Spanish
treachery. The speech of Perkins was
only one of four prepared addresses on
the Cuban question delivered in the
senate today. Clay (Ga.), while hoping
for a peaceful solution of the problem
the country is now facing, doolared
strongly in favor of the independence
of the Cubans, and pledged to the ad
ministration the loyal support of the
South, which, in the event of war,
would have to bear the brunt of the
conflict. Perkins took substantially
the same grounds, and his vigorous
treatment of the subject aroused the
crowded galleries to enthusiastic ap
plause. Mantle (Mont.), while expressing
confidence iu the administratoin, main
tained that the time for action had
now arrived, and that action must be
to the end that Cuba should be free.
Rawlins (Utah) entirely eliminated
the president from consideration in his
epeeoh, contending that the case
against Spain was already made up and
that with congress rested the responsi
bility of declaring war, and that forc
ing us to wait longer was only to in
vite criticism. He declared for tho
most vigorous action immediately.
In the House.
Washington, April 6. While there
was no attempt to force consideration of
a resolution regarding the Cuban situ
ation in the bouse, there was a brief
outbreak, in the course of which the
war-like temper of the crowded galler
ies was so manifest that Speaker Reed
threatened to clear them if it was re
peated. The outbreak occurred over a
bill to authorize the president to erect
temporary fortifications in oase of
emergency upon land, when the writ
ten nsent of the owner was obtained,
without awaiting the long process of
legal condemnation. This led to a de
mand by Bailey, the Democratic lead
er, for information as to the facts
which warrauted all these war meas
ures. The Oregon at Callao.
Callao, Peru, April 6. The
States battle-ship Oregon has
here.
United
arrived
Freparlng to Flee.
Havana, April 8. The Mangrove
and the Bache are expected here to
morrow to take to Key West such
Americans as desire to go. Consul-
General Lee has been authorized to
hire merchant vessels if necessary, and
will probably employ the steamer Flor
ida, due here tomorrow, the Mascotte,
which is due here Wednesday, and the
Olivette, which is due here for an extra
trip on Thursday. The Fern will re
I main here, so far as is known.
THE ISSUE MADE UP
President Regards War as
Inevitable.
IMPORTAT CABINET MEETINGS
Spain's Answer Is Entirely Unsatisfac
tory to This Country The Mat
ter Goes to Congress.
Washington. April 4. There is lit
tle doubt that the president and mem
bers of his cabinet now regard a con
flict with Spain as almost inevitable.
In his message to congress, which in
all probability will be sent in early in
the week, it is understood that the
president will review at some length
the record as it stands between this
government and Spain, but will not in
sist upon further time in which to con
tinue negotiations looking to a peace
ful settlement of the Cuban problem.
The cabinet meeting this morning
was unquestionably the most important
held in many years. It received Spain's
answer to the ultimatum of this gov
ernment, and finding it unastisfactory,
praotically decided upon a policy which
at this hour seems certain to involve
hostilities. The whole record will be
laid before congress, and the question
is now under earnest consideration of
what shall be the particular form our
policy shall take in bringing to an end
the horrors in Cuba, and securing the
independence of the island.
Propositions ranging from a simple
recognition of Cuban independence to
a straight out declaration of war have
been urged at the capitol, but there is
hardly a doubt that the majority of
congress await the executive lead be
fore taking action, and are disposed to
adopt Mr. McKinley's suggestions on
this point. It is not thought that any
of the resolutions, except, possibly, a
simple recognition of independence,
would lead to war.
There were, of course, all sorts of
rumors in circulation, inoluding re
ports of mediation by some European
powers, but no such suggestion has
come to this government, for as late as
6 o'clock, in response to a direct ques
tion, Secretary Day said there had
been no offer of mediation by any for
eign government.
Cabinet Member's Statement.
One member of the cabinet, in
speaking of the meeting today, said:
"In the morning, it was apparent to
all of us that, having exhausted all
diplomatic efforts to bring about a bet
ter condition of affairs in Cuba, the
whole question must be submitted to
congress. At our afternoon meeting,
the president requested each member
of the cabinet to express freely his in
dividual opinion as to what should be
done. The discussion was entirely on
the lines indioated by the members.
Nothing definite was decided upon,
and no conclusions reached. The pres
idant will now take the views submit
ted to him under consideration, pre
paratory to his message to oongrees,
which will be sent early in the week.
"President McKinley has done a
great deal of work recently, and ap
pears pretty well fatigued. Conse
quently, he will take some little rest
before beginning work on the message.
Ha has not yet determined what rec
ommendation will be communicated to
congress.
"My own individual opinion is that
but little faith can be put in promises
made by Spain, and this makes me hes
itate about accepting with any confi
dence her latest proposals. In the first
place, she promised a long time ago
that tne reooncentraiios would be re
leased; the result shows this promise
has not been kept. Now elie proposes
to release them, but keep them undor
military supervision. Who can tell
whether she will adhere to this ex
pressed intention?
"Broadly, there appears to be three
courses open to the president in dealing
further with this matter. The first of
these is to accept the proposals submit
ted by Spain in reply to the Amerioan
representations, the second to relegate
the whole matter to congress, and lot
that body do as it seems proper
which Ithink would mean interven
tion and the third, to take a middle
stand. But, as I said before, nothing
has yet been determined upon by the
president, or, if he has reached a de
cision, he did not communicate it to
tho cabinet.
"Yes, reference was made by Spain
to the Maine matter in the reply she
sent through Minister Woodford. She
made no offer to pay for the loss, but
suggested that the matter be settled by
arbitration. So far as I recall, she ex
pressed no regret for the sad occur
rence, and the whole thing was regard
ed as a cold-blooded statement."
The reply of Spain is Bald in effect
to be representation that the independ
ence of Cuba means the parting or
cession of Spanish territory, which
cannot be done without the consent of
the Spansish cortes, which will not be
in session until April 24. Then a
counter-proposition is submitted that
the Cuban matter shall be Bottled upon,
a basis equitable among nations. The
United States is asked to give Spain
time to treat with the insurgents and
ascertain what can be done in the na
ture of a peaceful settlement.
At Porto Rico.
Madrid, April 4. The Spanish tor
pedo flotilla has arrived at Porto Rico.
Kruger Was ot Assassinated.
London, April 1. A report was cur
rent on the stock exchange today to the
effect that President Kruger, of the
South African republic, has been shot
and killed. The general representative
of the Transvaal discredits the report.
The story is probably a stock exchange
canard.
ENGULFED BY A FLOOD.
Terrible Loss of Life at Shawneetown,
111., by Breaking of a Levee.
Louisville, April 5. A special to th
Courier-Journal, from Evansville, Ind.,
says: This evening the levee at Shaw
neetown, 111., broke a mile above town,
and from information obtained, it is
learned that a greater part of the place
is destroyed and, perhaps, a large num
ber of citizens have been drowned.
Shawneetown is 75 miles below
Evansville, on the Ohio river. It is
situated in a valley of extremely low
land, with hills skirting it in the rear,
and with a 25-foot levee running from,
hill to hill. The town is very much in
the position of a fortified city, and
when the levee gave way a mile above
town undor the pressure of very high
water, the water shot through a 20-foot
opening and struck the place like a hur
ricane, sweeping everything before it.
Houses were turned and tossed about
like boxes. The people were not
warned, and for that reason many were
caught. Those at home sought refuge
in second stories and on house tops.
Those in the streets were carried before
the avalanche of water, and probably a.
majority were drowned.
Citizens came from tne place oy
skiffs to a telephone several miles away
and aBked for aid from Evansville.
Thev said that more than 2U0 people-
were drowned, and they had reason to
believe that the number would reach
500, or even 1,000. The water stands
from 20 to 80 feet all over the town.
There are, of course, no fires or lights
in the place, and total darkness envel
opes the desolate city. Consequently,
it is impossible for them to have any
thing like definite information.
At 10 o'clock two steamboats Btarted
for Shawneetown under a full head of
steam, and it is thought they will ar
rive there before morning. They car
ried large supplies of food and blankets,
quickly collected by city officials.
Late news from Mount Carinel says
the disaster is probably worse than at
first supposed, and tho Iosb of life will
be over 200. The survivors will be
without food or fire, and will suffer con
siderably. Communication with the
ill-fated place will not be had for sev
eral hours.
Communication Cut Off.
Chicago, April 5. At 12:30 this
morning the operator in the long-distance
telephone office at Mount Vernon,
Ind., informed the press that the esti
mated loss of life at Shawneetown was
at that hour 200. Mount Vernon is
80 miles from Shawneetown, and the
information is based on reports be
lieved to be reliable. The company's
wires to the stricken city failed soon
after 4 P. M. At that hour it was
known that the damage was heavy, but
it was not thought the levee would go
to pieces quickly enough to occasion
loss of life. At 8 o'clock it was known
in Mount Vernon that many people
had been drowned. A relief-boat
bearing, food, blankets and surgeons
was Btarted down the river, and was
expected to reach Shawneetown before
morning. Gradually the reportsof loss
of life increased, the estimates coming
from various points near the scene of
the flood showing clearly that the dis
aster was far worse than was at first be
lieved. People at Mount Vernon and
surrounding towns besieged the tele
graph offices frantically asking for tid
ings from friends and relatives in the
flooded town. No attempt at an ac
curate list of the lost was possible, how
ever, and the orowds stood all night be
fore the bulletin-boards on which were
posted the meager reports being re
ceived. Levee Had Shown Weakness.
Evansvillo, Ind., April 5. The man
who ventured out in a skiff at great
peril to his life to call on Evansville for
help for Shawneetown says that the
dam had shown weakness for several
days. However, the people were lulled
into security by the fact that a guard
was put on the levee to give warning
in oase of danger. This man, who
did not give his name, and who was so
much excited that ho could not be pre
vailed upon to stay longer, said that
when he came he floated through
streets ringing with the frightened
ories of drowning women and children,
and with brave words of exhortation
by their rescuers. Ho said the whole
neighboring country was flooded for
miles.
Places Loss at Five TTnndred.
Chicago, April 5. A Chroniole dis
patch from Carnii, 111., says: A
courier has just reached here from
Shawneetown. He estimates the losa
of life at from 200 to 500. His name
is Jackson Phillips and he has lost a
wife and two children in the flood.
Some of the Victims.
St. Louis, April 5. A Globe-Democrat
special from Eidgeway, 111., says:
It is hard to learn the particulars of
the flood at Shawneotown, but it is
known that 200 persons perished,
among the number being Sheriff Gal
loway's family, the wife of Zach Meier,
Charles Clayton, Wash Callicott and
wife, Paul Phalen's family, and others.
Sonth Carolina Town Bnrned.
Charlotte, N. C, April 5. Fire at
Rock Hill, a C, destroyetd 12 build
ings involving a loss of $250,000, upon
which there was an insurance of 150,
000, distributed in 18 companies. The
origin is yet a matter of speculation.
The Charlotte fire department arrived
there after the fire was under control.
Arbitration Is Suggested.
Paris, April 6. The French Inter
national Arbitration Society has Bent
letteis to tha Spanish minister, Gullon,
and to the American secretary of state,
Sherman, urging the advisability of ar
bitrating the differences between Spain
and the United States.
Justice Willie, of the supreme court
of Texas, has rendered a decision that
debt paid to the state of Texas in con
federate money daring the war is void
and does not satisfy the debt.