The Mitchell capital. (Mitchell, Dakota [S.D.]) 1879-1918, 1893-05-05
Swell of the River at st. Louis Touclcs
1t aud the River Still
Rising.
Factories and Stores Along the Lcyee
Flooded and Water Works Pumps
Stopped.
Many Citizens at Springfield, o.,
Danger-Being Rescued in
Boats.

81. LOUIS, May S.-All through the
night the river steadily rose at the ratp
of an almost an inch per hour and the
swell now touches the danger line-32
feet. The body of the stream, how
ever, isa few inches below this and
will not reach the danger point until
night The current is running at 8
miles an hour and the heavy swell is
causing great anxiety to owners of
warehouses, elevators and stores on tho
east side of the river. In the northern
part of the city residents and storekeep-
ers along the levee are moving their
goods and chattels to upper floors. The
squatters on the low lands are
Driven Out of Their Cabins
by water pouring over their floors to a
depth of two feet. Along the levee the
water is up to the railroad tracks and is
gradually forcing its way toward the
stores that line the front of the city.
The storekeepers have taken warning,
and are moving their goods to places of
safety Experienced and conservative
river men predict that the flood will
exceed that OF last year.
On the east side of the river, from
Alton to East St. Louis, the flood has
already caused great damage. At Alton,
Wood river has overflowed its banks,
damaging the Equitable powder mills,
and throwing the bridge OF the Chicago,
Burlington and Quincy railroad out of
line so that it
Cannot Be Safely Used.
The 20" officials are endeavoring to ar
range with the Chicago and Alton road
for tile use of their line for partof the
distance until the bridge can be re-
paired. The st. Louis, Keokuk and
Northwestern railroad is using the AL
ton line to Louisiana, Missouri. their
lines in Missouri south of Old Monroe
having been totally destroyed. The
water is pouring into the lower floors
of the glass works and they will have to
shut down. The vinegar factory has
closed. The waterworks have stopped
the big direct pressure pump, as the pit
is full of water. The Bluff Line rail-
road has given up all attempts at con-
nection on account of being washed out
in a. dozen places, andcovered with land
slides and water.
American Bottoms Flooded,
The water is all over the American
bottoms below Alton. The driving
park is submerged and crops are de-
stroyed. The water is now up to the
windows of the Eagle Packet company's
office and nearly on level with the
railroad tracks on the levee.
At East st. Louis the river has filled
Cahokie creek and it is now running
flush with the sewers. The racetrack
is but few feet above water Many
stables have had to be abandoned on
account OF the high tide. In the terri
tory surrounding East st. Louis the
low lands are flooded. and already COM
munication with several towns is cut
eff. The levee between East st. Louis
and East Carondolet. occupied by the
farmers to protect them from the back
waters from C:tllollie creek, is in danger
and all day and throughout the night
farmers by the score were at work
strengthening it. Tt it gives way
Their Farms Will Be Ruined.
Reports received from various points
south of here show that all the rivers in
Southern Missouri. Arkansas, Southern
Illinois. Kentucky and Tennessee are on
the rampage pouring heavy vol umes of
water into the Mississippi.
At Fort Smith, Ark, traffic on the
Frisco road south from the city is sus-
pended. AT one place 40 feet of trestle
has been washed away and it is hard to
tell when traffic will be resumed.
Van Buren, Ark, reports not train
running on the Santa Fe road since last
Saturday. Three bridges have been
washed out.
At Pine Bluff, Ark, the river is with
in four feet of last years high water
mark and is steadily rising.
Warehouse Collapses.
Trainmen coming in from the East
say the water practically covers all of
Brooklyn and that numbers of people
are moving out of their houses. Venice,
o