Hard To Learn Particulars

St. Louis, Mo., April 5.- A special to the Globe-Democrat from Ridgeway, III., saya: It is hard to learn the particulars of the flood at Shawneetown, but it Is known that over 200 persons perished. Evansville, Ind., April 5.- The man who ventured out in a skiff at great peril to his own Ufe to cali on Evansville for help for Shawneetown said 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 case of danger. This man, who did not give his name, and who was so much excited that he could not be prevailed to stay long at the telephone, saiu that when he carne he floated through streets ringing with the frightened cries of drowning women and children and with brave words of exhortation by their rescuers. He said the whole neighboring country was flooded for miles. Major Carney of Shawneetown has appealed to congress for aid for destitute people of his stricken city. He says tho town is absolutely destroyed, and that there is not enough food in town for one meal. He says 300 people are drowned. All goods in the city are lost and the situation Is distressing in the extreme. This city sent two steamboat loads of provisions last night that should reach Shawneetown this morning. Those at home sought refuge in second stories and on housetops. Those in the streets were carried before the avalanche of water, and propably a majority was drowned. Citizens carne from the place by skiffs to 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 it would reach 500, or even 1,000. The water stands over twenty feet all over town. St. Louis, Mo., April 5.- Shawneetown is situated on the west bank of Ohio river. The streets were parallel with the river, the principal business street being but two blocks distant from the water. The level of the river is about fifteen feet above the city, and the levee bank is about twenty feet thick. Situated on this bank and level with the river is the Riverside hotel, a large, four story building built by Henry Docher. This hotel Is generally ocenpied fully all the year around, being not only a transient hostelry, but families also reside there. It is feared that the hotel has been washed away. When the river Is at its normal stage it is 1,000 feet wide at this point, and the c.itizer.s have long feared a catastrophc such as eccurred last night, as a tremendov.s pressure is brought to bear on the levee during fresheis.