The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1897-04-03
DANGER AT ST. LOUIS.
The River Rising Rapidly and Over
flowing Both sides.

ST. LOUIS, April 2.-The aggravating
conduct of the Mississippi at ST. Louis in
pei sstently refusing to abide at the height
set for it by the Weather Bureau is
worrying forecasters. DR.. FRANKIE afield
said Sunday morning might find the river
at 2S.05. AT II o'clock tonight the gauge
shows 2s04 and as it was z1.07 at clock
it looks very much if the big river meant
TO scoop the forecaster again. Old river
declare the water will be over the
levee by Saturday night, The Weather
Bureau Notwithstanding. and they are max
ing extensive and expensive preparati tions
for that event. AS 1t is the Dig wharf boats
are virtually roosting on the lev,e. The
cellars of many houses along the river
front are already flooded and there is every
evidence that an immense amount of dam
age will be done. A very few more inches
will bring the water on TO the street which
tops the levee and there is every prospect
of il coming half way TO Main street. Mer-
chants along the levee are taking no
chances and the river front tonight pre-
sents very busy scene. hundreds OF labor
ers being engaged in transferring merchan-
disc and other movable material from the
levee stores TO places of safety and arrang-
ing TO keep as much of the water as pos
sibe from entering the houses.
The situation at East st. Louis is more
threatening. The water has already made
its way about twenty feet in on the banks,
and the predicted rise will move IL up TO
the railroad tracks, from which point II
will easily find its way over the island
as the country slopes downward from that
point. The bottom lands on both sides of
the river north and south of st. Louis are
already under water. and the overflow Is
being backed up into the country penind
il. 1t is this back water, intensified by the
predicted rise, that the people in East 81
Louis and in about Baden fear: VENICE
and the western portion of Madison, lii,
is submerged in water for some distance
east of the river. The Cahoki creek. from
runs through the town from north to
south. In dry weather this creek Is scarce
ly a foot deep. To-day 1t contained twenty
feet of water. Profiting by the experience
of 1sg2 at which time the creek left its
banks and inundated the town. the banks
have been raised somewhat, TO reach an
overflow now il will have to rise five feet
higher. but il is rising at the rate OF three
feet in twenty-four hours and is likely TO
The forecast for nearly every district
which can contribute to q rise is: Heavy
rain and thunderstorms. The heaVyralns OF
the past two days are having an erect on
the streams tributary TO the Mississippi and
Missouri rivers in Iowa, Illinois. missouri
and Kansas As a result they are s pour
the lowlands through which they flow.
causing considerable damage, but, as lar
as known no casualties. Weather OBJ
server Frankenfield to-day warned people
on this side of the river and in East ST.
Louis whose places are in danger of being
flooded that the danger line VIII be reached
within the next forty-eght hours. In addi-
tion, warnings were also sent to Clarks-
vile, Canton. Lagrange and Louisiana,
Mo-. and Quincy. Alton and Grafton. Ill,
apprising them of the expected rise. Mr..
Frankenfiel1 says the two points where the
greatest danger will exist for the next
twenty-four hours are Hannibal, Mo-, and
Quincy. Ill.
Railroads running west and south were
I'm much better shape to-day than on Thurs
day. Two trains were dispatched from
here over the Iron Mountain but none was
due TO arrive before late this afternoon.
Missouri. Kansas * Texas trains and those
on the Mobile 4 Ohio all late, but they
are getting through Great care is being
taken, for tracks are under water at many
points