The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1892-05-19

No Hope of Saving Madison, UI.-East st.
Louis Likely to BE Cut or
Special TO the Indianapolis Journal
ST. LOUIS, Mo-, May 1s-The Mississippi
passed the thirty-six-foot mark at 10 p. NJ.
1t is rising steadily and slowly. The wind
has added it's force to complete the work of
desOlation commenced by the waters. A
strong gale has prevailed throughout the
flooded section during the entire day, lash.
ing the waters against such levees or en-
bankments as have so far withst0od Its
force, causing sections of the earth to
crumble away. 1t 10 this feature which
has caused the greatest fear to day.
Tonight all hope of saving the town
of Madison in the northern part of
st. Clair county. Illinois. was given mp.
At nigh tfaIl q strong force of men was still
resolutsly at work trying to stop small
stream of water which came through q
break in the railroad nkment. but
they felt that their work would be for
naught. 1t is believed that Madison will
be under six feet of water by tomorrow
morning.
Tonight the main portion of East St.
Louis was still safe. but the outlook Is
most threatening. But for several rail-
road embankments, the city would be an
island. These embankments connect it
Win tuo CauS UEluSo W tuo Wocss anu I'LL .
Pittsburg bluffs to the east. Many Of the
residents of the city have moved out.
The American bottom. the most fertile
section of Illinois. ls now o sea twenty-five
miles long and five miles wide. Thousands
of acres of farm land, which one week ago
were green with the growing crops and
which promised to yield an abundant har-
vest, are now beneath froE, ten to twenty
feet of water. The crops are lost; at least
one third the stock has been drowned:
nj haf far hnn y n
many of them have been H0atod away.
Worst of ALL the deposits of sand and
gravel left by the river W hen it falls may
leave the land utterly valueless. The loss
millions. The work of rescuIng the farm
ers from their h0usetops and supplying
them with food is being prosecuted with
A wild rumor reached this city about
noon that the Bowman dyke and the EN-:
| bankment of the Ohio 81 Mississippi road
had gwen way and great loss Of property
| had resulted. This proved to be untrue,
above the level of the Bowman dyke, and
| that the space to the south of it is fill ling
| with water, which Is encroachlng on the
railroad yards in that vicinity. North OF
East St. Louis considerable damage is
being done.
At Alton. ILL.,, the situation Is practically
| unchanged tonight. although the water as
risen three inches in the past twenty -four
hours. Nearly every mill and factory
along the river has ceased operations.
ALI the farmers in the low lands OF
| Missouri and on the Illinois side
south of Alton have been rescued and
taken to that city. Thieves are making
their presence felt. The river is ten miles
wide. and the high wind to-day caused q
Alton. Burlington and Big Four roads
transfer by boat from Alton to st. Louis
At Alton. ILL.,. to-day two unknown men
4 tn nl int ariv frO IN,
sized skltf but before aid could reach them
they had passed from sight. Search
ers are out. after the bodies.
The wateI-works at Alton. 1T il
down as have practically all the manufact
uring establishments. The town is cut off
too. from abroad connection with st.
Louis. and mails get to the town now iI
the assistant postmaster's gripssck via
boat.
On this side the river in North st. Louis
the rise in the river is greatly increasing
the damage. The lumber companies OF
the. city, nearly all OF which hav.
their yards, in that section. have
with two or three exceptions. Tht
Farmer Elevator Company's building. or
| Madison atreet, is in thirteen feet of water
and operations have been suspended. Hero
banks. washing away large sec
tions and necessitating hard work
to prevent the serious erosion
In this vicinity hundreds of poor peopl,
living in the low lands have been com
PEELED to move. Along the levee the grea
father of waters is taking his way int
the first floors of buildings there located
and all business Is transacted by boa
| to second floors. Boats are still able {,
take in cegoes. but with difficulty. and 4
the rise goes much further 1t will be impos
sible for freight to reach the wharf boats
| and business will have to sus
pend pending fall. In soutl
! st. Louis frame houses and othe
| light material are mere sport for the ris
ing waters. and the losses by tho foo,
increase each day, though in no marked
particular to-day. The Southern Paclhc'
| southern yards are now In seri0u
danger and all the manufacturers of tn
South are shut down. Here. too. back
water in the river Desperes aids in the of
tack from two sides of that part of towl
and increases the wreck and ruin.