The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1892-05-15
ALARM ALONG THE RIVERS
The Mississippi Away Above the Danger
Line at st. Louis and Still Rising.
lauds Submerged Up TO Alton and Along
the Missouri-Ieyees Broken.
srse,s, 70 the Ind,auspoi,s journal.


ties tonight received dispatch from ST.
Charles. No.. stating that Island No. IS. in
the Missouri river, three miles east of that
city. was in imminent danger of being sub
merged. The telegram stated that forty
eight people were stranded on the island,
and, unless assistance was speedily rem
dered. it was feared that they would perish
in the flood. Mayor Noonan has ordered
the police to organize relief corps. charter
tug and start for the scene of danger as
soon as possible. They expect to reach the
island at 4 o'clock tomorrow morning. A
relief party has also left st. Charles with
small boats TO assist in the rescue
The local flood in this city continues to
increase at a rapid rate. and at 9 o'clock
to- light the gause registered 1919 feet This
is two feet above the danger line. The
river is rising at the rate of one inch an
hour, and it is expected it will continue at
this rate until Monday morning. heavy
thunderstorm passed over the city this
evening, and the rainfall shows no signs of
abatement. As the water rises more and
more land in the northern and southern
parts of the city become submerged. and
hourly enoroachments are made on the rail-
road tracks and other property bordering
on the river. More land Is also inundated
on the east side of the river. and nearly
all the ground on the eouth side of
East st. Louis to East CarondOlet, q
distance of about five miles. is under water.
The large section of the country north of
East ST. Louis, reaching up TO the National
Stock-y ards. ia also submerged. Within
those boundaries scores of houses are
flooded and their former occupants have
been forced to abandon them and seek
safety on higher ground. Along the levee
In the central part of the city the situation
Is not materially changed. The water con-
tinually creeps mp the bank and the ground
floor stores are being invaded and their &C.
cupants are moving out. The prospect now
Is that three. perhaps four, feet more water
there will be not only great Inconvenience
to business. but immense destruction OF
property.
The passing of the danger line and the
continued rise of the river at oh increased
rnte of speed necessitated the closing down
of several flour-mills to-day. and will force
all river bank mills Co quit work after to-
day until the flood subsidies. This morning
the kcplor mills and the Regina MILL
ing Company. or this city. announced
on 'Cbange that their plants were closed
by the high water. They were followed in
this action by the Hazel Milling Company,
of East st. Louis. Other local mills are
expected TO make similar announcements
On Monday and probably the Riverside
grain elevators will he forced to
do the same. An elevator official on
prospect. He states that with very little
additional rise III tho river every river
bank grain elevator In the city
or on the east side will be forced
to close down: The river is already
vator building. at the foot of Clinton
street. and thcre are now grave fears that
the building may he destroyed before tho
| food subsidies
The levees on the Illinois side below AL
ton are expected to break every moment.
subinsrging the main lines of the Chicago
| * Alton, the Big Four and tho Wabash
| railroads. There have been no serious
| breaks in the Ievees between hore and the
gulf, with the exception of the crevasse In
| Panther Forest levee. below Arkansas City.
Reports from points along the Missouri
river Indicate that that stream Is rising at
| the rate of an inch an hour for almost Its
| entire length. The bottoms are oil over
| flowed and farmers have been driven ont.
M6nv packing houses are flooded in the
| suburbs of Kansas City.
The Illinois river has risen foot during
| the day. Naples. Ill, Is under water and
| much damage has been done at that point.
| The Hartwell, the Keech and the Kelley
levees, near Carrollton. ILL.,. broke last night
and 5000 acres of wheat were submerged.
II has rained all day over the greater por-
| tion of Illinois, and nearly all small sire ans
| are ont of their banks.
At Des MONIES the Des MONIES river ia
| stationary tonight. Many houses in that
| city are under water. and as rains are re-
| ported from all over Iowa another rise is
| expected. Bad washouts are reported on
| the Burlingt ton. Cedar Rapids 81 Northern
and Chicago. st. Paul q Kansas City rail
| roade near Waterloo.
In Kansas the rivers are falling. but all
railroads are suffering from washouts, the
Santa Fe tracks being under three feet OF
+ water at several points along the Kansas
river.
The Missouri river rose six inches last
night at Arrow Rock and Miami, and Is
| rising to-day. Two ferry boats were kept
| busy all night and to-day at Arrow Rock
resculng families stock and household eff
| fects.