0"
The
fooc
River
Glacier.
It's a Cold Day When We Get Left.
.VOL. IX.
nOOD RIVER," OREGON, FRIDAY, APRIL 8, 1898.
NO. 46.
Epitome . of the Telegraphic
' News of the World.
TERSE TICKS FROM THE WIRES
In Interesting Collection of Items From
the New and the Old World In a
Condensed and Comprehensive Form
. In Oakesdale, Wash., A. 0. Lebold
. was.- accidentally shot by a boy, wb
was hunting squirrels. A bullet iron)
- a 22-caliber rifle struck him in .the
breast and physicians fear it has sepa
rated the cavity. . , ,:".' -
In acoordanoe with a resolution
passed some time ago by the interna
tional union, the book and job printers
of San Franoisco went on a strike Mon
day. . The bone of contention is a 9
hour day instead, of . a 10-hour day.
About 800 men are out.
European dispatches announoe tht
butchery in France of an entire family
of six persons 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
blow out the brains of a bed-ridden old
woman.' . v - ; '-'.'.', ' ' X
The steamer La Bretagne has arrived
in New ork with 11 survivors of the
crew of the British bark Bothnia,
which was wrecked off the Irish ooast
on. March 23.; The Bothnia sailed
from Lobos de Afuera, off the coast of
Peru, November 5. ' When 50 miles off
the Irish ooast, 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 deprived
of his good conduct badge, for . wearing
the shamrock on St. Patrick's day, In
disobedience to orders.; A recital of
the incident oreated a sensation in thai
English commons, and caused an ob
jecting Irish member to ; be removed '
from his seat. . r :; '....;. -
Antoine Variole, of the French Geo
graphical Society, has arrived in New
York with a balloon, with vwhlch 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. " Varicle,
head of the expedition, is 45 years old
and a Well-known engineer and Invent
or tin France. He claims that his
balloon can be steered with ease. ,
General Carlos Ezeta, the exiled ex
president of Salvador, has been vindi
cated by his poople..-His vast estates,
the stocks' and money confiscated by
the government of President Gulterrez,
after Ezota was: forced to leave his na
tive.. land lour, years ago, have been re
turned to him, and Ezota , is again
worth more than $2,000,000. The gen
eral says hevwill never again ; interest
himself in Salvadorean politics.' He is
now living in Oakland, Cal.- ' . ;
The committee on interstate and for.
eigri commerce has. favorably reported
Mr.' Tongue's bill extending the time
for the erection of a bridge aoross the
Columbia, by the Oregon & Washing
ton "bridge Company, between Washing
ton "and Oregon. The committee, how
everj amended the' bill so that instead
of having $wo years to begin operation,
the 'company will have one year, and
instead of four years' in which' to oom
pletfl the work, three years is allowed,
all this time to be reckoned from- the
date of the passage of the bill by' oon
gress. V This is the bridge it was pro
posed to build in the vioinity, of La
Camas several years since in connection
with a road to North Yakima. . The
sitejs" claimed to be the best on the
Columbia. ; : '" ' .' ."",V .""
A Cairo' dispatch says:" It is an
nounced that the gunboats and Anglo
Egyptian troops attacked Shendy Sat
urday,' destroyed the forts, captured
quantities of grain, cattle and ammu
, nition a"nd "libera ted vover 600' slaves;
The dervishes lost 160 men. There
; were no casualties on the Anglo-Egyp.'
tian side. " - -
A London dispatch says .- the situa
tion in the far East is considered
gloomy and unsatisfactory, and there
is deep discontent here over the results
of . Lord Salisbury's diplomacy. The
belated, movement of the British fleet
in Chinese waters has caused as much
uneasiness In financial circles as satis
faction among other classes. This ap
prehension ' would have ' affected ." all
classes of securities if Amerioan stocks
: had not been remarkably buoyant, -and
carried everything upward. ;
John G. Brady, governor Jf Alaska,'
came down on the last - steamer from
the north. - He is on his way to Wash
ington in the interest of Alaskan legis
lation. . -Governor Brady Bai; that all
saloons in Alaska will be closed, if it
is within his power. ; He does not ex
pect, however, .'"that .'this will' 'put a
stop to the useA.and.jale of liquor in
Alaska Tt'betng his opinion that pro
hibition cannot be successfully carried
out there.' Governor Brady declared
himself in favor of high license. On
bis visit to Washington he will endea
vor to have the general land laws of
the United States extended to Alaska.
Ho will suggest that a commission bo
BDDointed to draft a code of laws for
he territory. - - -- '
WHOLE TOWN DESTROYED.
But Little Left to Show Where Shaw-
; ueetown Stood.
; Chicago, April 6. A Chronicle spe
olal from Carmi, 111., say st The disas
ter at Shawneetown, 111., came when
the (Treat majority of the people were
In their homes eating supper. The
break in the levee occurred a mile
above the , town, and was within 10
minutes more than a half mile wide.
A stream of water 12 to 20 feet deep,
oarrying half the current of the flood
raised Ohio, desoended on the unsus
pecting people. ' It came in a great
rush, like a tidal ware. 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 oenterof town brick
structures stopped the onrush of the
water for a few minutes, but about two
thirds of the dwellings were floating,
oareening 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
ocoupants . of this floating firebrand
added .horror. , As it struok one bouse
after another in its course, some others
oaught fire and their unfortunate boon
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.
: The break in the levee flooded , four
miles of valley land and -cut off com
munication on two railways, the B. &.
O. Soauthwestern and the L. & N.
When the water had slackened some
what, many houses were still standing,
but it was quiokly seen that the frame
ones would not last in the flood. By
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, whioh is of
brick. It was hoped that these would
withstand the pressure and trie under
mining," but when the single 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 the sudden burst
of the waters, but the first and some
times the second floors . were under
water. Those who made their way to
them went 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. - '. " "
The scene at the upper end of the
town, where men-" and women- were
struggling against the muddy water to
higher ground,' Some carrying babies on
their headi where water was up to their
necks, . others half swimming, half
floating on odds and ends of lumber
from homes- that had gone floating
down the river, many Struggling in
vain and sinking in the roaring waters,
was one that will, live in the memory
of every beholder, ; i;; : '. ... i
In one plaoe a mother bad reached
a safe spot, and turned i to help her ,
husband, who had followed with their
child. . As she reaohed 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 saw him sink and then threw
herself into the water. -X
Another family pa'ddled half way to
safety on a plank,-whiob""held them '
out of the water. The ourrent caught
them and sent them out toward mid
stream, where in the rougher - water
they were seen to capsize and sink. -
, ,An old man, named Griffin, living
on high ground, stepped In the upper
story of his trembling house to secure
a hoard of money hidden under the
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
Safety the younger man supporting the
older, a floating house came running in
the ourrent and overwhelmed them.
A woman, supposed to be Josephine
Simon, was warned of the danger in
time to get to higher ground, but in
turning baok to help her mother, was
caught with the older woman In an
eddy and they were drowned. .' " .
A woman made an effort to save her
lover by throwing a clothesline to him
from her house. His house was swept
away at - the ' moment,' and ' he was
thrown into the water. 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 Graham", - who ; reached 'Cypress
Junction, from. whioh place .he tele-
phoned here for help. He said that he
himself helped 12 persons out of the
water. ; ' -: -. "
Governor Tanner, of Illinois, has
issqed an appeal for ai4, .
IN THE EMPLOYvOF RUSSIA
Chinese Foreign ' Office Ao
: ". eused of Treachery. . -
SAID TO , HAVE. BEEN BRIBED
1.1 Hung Chang Aoensed of Complicity
. A Demand Has Been Made That Be
- Be Beheaded. "
; Shanghai, April 5. It is announced
that a person of , the highest rank has
memorialized the emperor in the most
vigorous language, aoousing the whole
tsung-li-yameh (Chinese foreign office)
of being in the pay of Russia. He
asserts that Russia expended 10,000,
000 taels in bribery during the recent
negotiations regarding the cession of
Port Arthur and Talien Wan, etc., and
claims that Li Hung Chang's share was
1,500,000 taels. --
The personage referred to demands a
full investigation, - and asks that Li
Hung Chang be beheaded if the accusa
tions are proven, the memorializer offer
ing to be executed himself if his charges
are not sustained. ' ... . .,.
- The 'Russians have permitted two
British gunboats to enter and leave
Port Arthur freely. - " '.
The British first-class cruiser Graf
ton, flagship of Rear Admiral O. P.
Fitzgerald, second in command on the
China station, and the first-class cruiser
Narcissus, the second-class cruiser Rain
bow, and other vessels of the squadron,
left Che Foo Saturday. 'I Their destina
tion is unknown, but it is reported to
be Chemulpo, the port of Seoul. The
movements of the various ships exoite
the greatest interest among foreigners
here. It is supposed they will make a
demonstration, possibly in support of
some British demands for concessions.
WAR OR PEACE.
Question Will "Be Determined by the
President's Message. ' ..
Washington, April 6. The opinion
almost universally held in Washington
tonight by public men and diplomats Is
that the crisis will reaoh its climax this
week and that the question of war or
peace will ' be determined within.-the.
next few days. Senators - and repre
sentatives conferred all day about the.
gravity of the situation, and at the
White House the president consulted
with several members of his oabinet
and other confidential advisers regard
ing the message he is preparing to send
to congress. At the state, war and
navy building, aotive work was 'going
on and altogether it lias been a day of
suppressed feeling. ;
No day has been announced as the
day when the message , will be sent to
congress. - Besides the physical work
of preparing the comprehensive docu
ment, upon which the president expects
to rest his case with the world, there
are reasons why those in charge of the
war preparations will welcome every
hours' delay.' War material which
we have ordered abroad " is not yet
shipped, and the faotories in this coun
try wllli work day and night, making
powder and projectiles and are anxious
for delay. ' Some of the faotories in
Connecticut with oontraots have tele
graphed Representative Hitt, urging all
delay possible. They say . every day
now is preolons. --- ..-
Paclflo Base of Supply. : , .
Honolulu, - April 4. The United
States ship Mohican arrived' on the
10th, nine days from San Franoisco.
She brought ammunition and supplies
for the United States ship Baltimore,
whioh will leave for Hong Eong tomor
row. A telegram received from Wash
ington the 19th says that in the event
of war with Spain, the neutrality of
these islands will not be kept, but they
will at once be made a depot of naval
supplies. A lengthy dispatoh was re
ceived by the Hawaiian government on
the same date from Minister Hatch,' at
Washington. It gives practically the
newspaper accounts of delay with the
treaty on account of the Maine disaster.'
The minister mentions that one of the
assumptions of the situation is that in
case of war the islands would be made
a base of supply by the United Statos
fleets operating in the Paolfio.
'; 'Beady for Flight. ; ,'! , ."'
- Berlin, April 5. The German am
bassador at Madrid reports to the for
eign offloe here that the Spanish royal
family fears an outbreak at home unless
the differences between the ; United
States and Spain are very soon settled.
The Carlist movement .is assuming a
more active form, and the royal family
fears especially a pronnnciamento by
Weyler and the military party.
. Everything is prepared in the royal j
Castle for flight. : The boy king, Al-
fonso, will be taken to San; Lucar de
Barrameda, where a yacht is kept ready j
for sailing. The replies to the queen's :
letters asking for the intervention of
the European powers have been wholly ,'
.unsatisfactory. . - " ;. .'
Astoria Boad Completed. '
tfacklaying. crews on the- Astoria. &
Columbia River, railroad completed the j
air-rail connection between Astoria and
Portland at a point pear this plaoe at
4:80 P.. M. today. Several hundred
citizens of this place, headed by the
Clatskanie band, were nresent to wit-
nesjjhejjrlving o.f tfe$ lajj spike. I
WAR CANNOT BE AVERTED
Unless Spain Surrenders Cuba and
Backs Down.:
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 McEinley's message to
oongress will be a ringing, vigorous
document that promises to -meet the
fall expectation of oongress and the
people. It will be a scathing arraign
ment of Spain, showing that she ' has
demonstrated ber utter incapacity to
govern; that her oolonles have de
clined in population as the result of
misrule and oppression; that Amerioan
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 the 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 recommend a
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, beoause the
insurgents have no established form of
government, and the president and
cabinet believe that a travesty would
be 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. Tho 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 . tne 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 oongress
see no alternative but war. ". '. -
Mines In Havana Harbor. .
New York, April 6. A v 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 contain sufficient force there to
paralyze the biggest ships afloat ,
IS HELD RESPONSIBLE.
Impatient Senators Make Open Charges
Against Spain. .
! Washington, April 6. 'It was frankly
and openly charged in the senate today
by Perkins (Cal.) in a set Bpeeoh that
Spain was responsible for the Maine
disaster, as it had been brought about
by Spanish, machinations and Spanish
treachery. ' The speeoh 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, deolared
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. : .C ' ' i i .
"Mantle (Mont), while expressing
confidence in the administratoin, main
tained that the time , for aotion had
now arrived, and that aotion must be
to the end that Cuba should be free.
Rawlins - (Utah) entirely eliminated,
the president from consideration in his
speech, ; contending ; that ; the case
against Spain was already made up and
that with oongress rested the responsi
bility of declaring war, and that foro
ing us to wait longer was only to in
vite, criticism. He declared for the
most vigorous aotion immediately.
In the House. ..' t ..
Washington, April 6. While there
was no attempt to force consideration of
a resolution regarding the Cuban situ
ation in the house, -there was a brief
outbreak, in the course of which the
war-like temper of the orowded 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 case of
emergency upon land, when the writ
ten consent of the owner was obtained,'
without awaiting the long process of
legal condemnation. This led to a de
mand by Bailey, the Democratic leader,-
for information as to - the faots
which warranted all these war meas
ures. ;- -' .-." '-' v--
The Oregon at Callao. '
. Callao, Peru, April 6. The United
States battle-ship Oregon has arrived
here.
Spain's Answer. Is Entirely
; Unsatisfactory. I '-;
REPLY SENT TO CONGRESS
An Important Cabinet Meeting Held
: A dmlnlstration Has Done All in Its
; Power to Settle Matter Peaceably.
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 oongress, whioh 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 y 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. Itreoeived Spain's
answer to the ultimatum of . this gov
ernment, and finding it unastisfaotory,
praotically deoided upon a policy which
at this hour seems oertain 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 scouring , the
independence of the island. -j
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 load to war. . '
There were, of course, all sorts of
rumors in circulation, including 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, Seoretary 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 oondition 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
ident will now take the views submit
ted to him under consideration, pre
paratory to his , message to congress,
which will be sent early in the week.
'"President MoKiney 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.
He 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 the reconcentrados would be re
leased; the result shows this promise
has not been kept.. Now she proposes
to release them, but keep them under
military supervision. Who . can tell
whether she will adhere to this ex
pressed intention? (-v--"' '
"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 let
that body do as it seems proper
whioh . Ithink would mean interven
tion and the third, to take a middle
stand.-i But, as I said before, nothing
has yet been determined upon by the
president, or, if he has reaohed a de
cision, he did not . communicate it to
the cabinet. .. , ; '. '"
-5 "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 pt Spain is said 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 oortes, which will not be
in session until April ; 24. Then a
counter-proposition is submitted . that
the Cuban matter shall be settled 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.
ENGULFED BY A FLOOD.
terrible I.oss of Life at Shawneetoirn,
- 111., by Breaking of a Levee.
? Louisville, April 5. A special to the .
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 under, the pressure of very high . ;
water, the water shot through a 20-foot .
opening and struck the plane 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 wore ,
caught. Those at home sought refuge .
in second stories and on house tops. '
Those in the streets were carried bofore '
the avalanche of water, and probably a
majority were drowned. ' "
Citizens came from the plaoe by -Skiffs
to a telephone several miles away .
and asked for aid from. Evansville.
They said that . more than 200 people
were drowned, and they had reason to
believe that the number would reach
600, or even 4. 000. The water stands
from 20 to 80 feet all over the town.
There are, of course, no fires or lights -;
in the plaoe, and total darknees envel- '
opes the desolate oity. . Consequently,
it is impossible for them to have any
thing like definite information. - .
At 10 o'clock two steamboats started .
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 Garmel says
the disaster is probably worse than at -
first' supposed, and the loss of life will '
be over - 200. The survivors will be
without food or fire, and will suffer con- .
Biderably. Communication with the
ill-fated place will not be had for sev-
Bral hours. - . v '
.- " Communication Cut Oft". ,v
Chicago, April 6. 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 oity 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'clook it was known ,
in Mount Vernon that many people ,
had been ' drowned. A relief-boat
bearing food, : blankets and surgeon!
was started down the rivor, and was -expeoted
to reaoh Shawneetown befors .
morning. Gradually the reports of losl ;!
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 frantioally asking for tid
ings from friends and relatives in the
flooded town. : No attempt at an ao
curate list of the lost was possible, how
ever, and the crowds stood all night bo
fore the bulletin-boards on which were '
posted the meager reports being re ,
ceived. - ' ; '; .. .: v '..
. levee Had Shown Weakness.
, Evansville, Ind., April 6. The man
who ventured out in a skiff at great
peril to his life to call on Evansville for
help for Shawneetown . says that tha
dam had shown weakness for several
dayB. ;- However, the people were lulled
into security by the faot that a guard
was put on the levee to give warning
in case of danger. This man, who
did not give his name, and who was so
much excited that he could not be pre-;
Tailed upon to stay longer, said that -when
he came he floated through -streets
ringing :with the frightened
orles of drowning women and children,
and with brave words of exhortation
by their rescuers. ; He said the whole
neighboring country was flooded foi '
tnileS. , . "' ' ''.- ''::..';- 1 .,-.'..
Places Iioss at Five Hnndn d.
Chicago, April 5. A Chroniole dis
patch from Carmi, ,111.,' says: A
courier has .' just reaohed here from
Shawneetown. He estimates the - losa
of life at from 200 to 500. ; His nama
is Jaokson 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 Ridgeway,' 111., says:
It is hard to learn the particulars oi
the flood at Shawneetown, but it ii
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.
. South Carolina Town Burned.
' Charlotte, N. C, April 5. Fire al
Rock Hill, S. O., destroyetd 12 build,
ings involving a loss of $250,000, upon
whioh there was an insurance of $150,- "
000, distributed in 16 companies. Thfl
origin is yet a matter of speculation. ;..
The Charlotte fire department arrived
there aftor ify) fire was "odor control,