Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-06-09
.STLOU|S PAST DANGER
Raging Torrent Has Reached
Its Limit.
NINETY FEET DEEP
RIVER BROKE ALL RECORDS FOR
FIFTY YEARS.
Many People Imprisoned on Buildings
in Observation-Disclosures Are Ac-
tive and Vigilant.
NINETY FEET DEEP

from eight to ten miles an hour the Mis-
sissippi river, over half mile wide and
ninety feet deep in the channel, 1s pouring
past st. Louis toward the gulf. For
week the river slowly at first. and then
gaining in speed, crept out of its ordinary
confines until, on June s, 1903, 1t had estab-
lished a high water mark Of S7.5 feet, the
highest food tide since the same mark was
unofficially established in 1853. The river
is now receding. Thirty feet above low
water mark is the danger line for St Louis,
and the river rose 7I2 feet above the danger
line.
The crest of the food has passed St
Louis and any further destruction to be
wrought will be from the possible crum-
bling of undermined buildings and to the
country below this point, danger of which
is lessened by the spreading of the river
over the lowlands.
Rapid falling of the water, II is expected,
will quickly drain the inundated section on
the Illinois side, where the property loss
will be heaviest and repairs to the dam
aged property will soon be possible.
The Death List Growing.
Reports are coming in from Madison,
Granite City and Venice, which indicate
the death list may be larger than at first
estimated 1t is known that at least twen-
y
ity A report was received early today
from Newport a small town three miles
from Granite City, that a school building.
In which are sheltered fifty children, was
tottering and threatened to collapse at any
moment. Appeals were made for assist
ance. but there was way to reach them
from st. Louis or East st. Louis.
City Attorney Robert Hagneur of Venice
is reported by his relatives to be missing.
and they fear he perished when the city
overwhelmed. Deputy Coroner Will
lam Balhorn of Madison county and his
son, who lived in Venice, have been given
up as lost Louis Kisher and wife, who
lived in Madison are believed to have been
drowned in the breaking of the levee that
flooded that town. William Anchor and
Mrs. Clifton and her infant have been miss
ing for 1everal days, and it is thought they
perished.
In one party of refugees near Erwards-
VILE four cases of smallpox developed yes
terday. The officials of Madison county
are doing all in their power to isolate the
cases and prevent spread of the disease.
Numerous families, penniless and having
no friends to whom to go, refuse to leave
their flooded homes. In many cases these
people are actually starving, and food will
be furnished them at once by men in
skfrs.
The merchants exchange has raised
flood relief fund of $1,000. OF this amount
81 600 each has been sent to Topeka and
Kansas City, Kan. The remaining 5000
will be used in relieving suffering in this
vicinity.
Twenty-Five people with their household
effects have been rescued from Mullanphy
Island in the Mississippi river north or
here. where they had been marooned for
several days.
River Forty Miles Wide.
Word was received last night that the
levee at Kempers landing thirty five miles
below st. Louis, had broken, flooding thou
sands of acres of fine Illinois farming land.
w. r. Wilkinson. a commission merchant
at Cape Girardeau, 15O miles below st.
Louis, arrived here last night by boat
after a long, hard struggle against the
current. and reports that the damage to
crops between st. Louis and Cape Girar-
deau will amount to 100000.
The river is forty miles wide below st.
Louis in low districts. The steamer was
unable to render any assistance to many
refugees seen clinging to floating houses
on account of the swift current, and Mr..
Wilkinson thinks 1t probable that several
lives have been lost.
Hundreds in Danger.
ST. LOUIS, June 9.-At I am. the official
gauge registered 37.4 feet, a decline of one
tenth OF foot over night.
In the tri-cities, Madison Venice and
Granite City. 1t is estimated this morning
that at least 1000 men. women and chill
dren are in a precarious condition. They
are awaiting rescue many in the second
| SlOTlcS anu on Jfie tops OF nOuSeS anu OtneE
points above the food, less in danger of
death than starvation. Immediate steps are
being taken to remove these people to
places of safety and comparative comfort.
In East st. Louis, where the railroad
yards and the part along the river on both
sides of the Eads bridge are flooded, the con-
ditions are the same as yesterday. All of
last night men were at work strengthening
the levee that is keeping the water back
from the business and residence sections of
the city.
The railroad situation shows no improve
ment
Destitute Sufferers.
From police reports 1t is learned there
are only 800 destitute flood sufferers in ST.
Louis today. The remainder have either
secured transportation TO other cities or are
being cared for by relatives and friends In
St. Louis. number have become Ill from
exposure.
There were 1900 flood refugees in Ed
wardsville, Ill, last night from the tri-
cities and Newport. Because of the con-
gestion II was found necessary to dis
tribute the sufferers in the cities and VIII
lagos along the Wabash as far north as
Litchfeld
Fourth-ffths of the 5000 inhabitants of
Granite City remain within the limits of
the town One-half of them are homeless
The officials of Granite City and those
who have been most active in relief work
believe that no deaths have followed the
flood there. Reports of drownings have not
been verified. and there is said to be no
sickness due to the food
Memphis is Alarmed.
MEMPHIS. Tenn. June 9.-Some concern
Is felt here over the food of the Mississippi
river to the north. A stage of thirty-four
feet is thought to be probable at Memphis.
and large forces of men are engaged in re-
pairing the breaks left in the Arkansas
leVees north of the city made by the late
flood
Repair work at two breaks has given way
and water is passing to the country behind
the levees. flooding considerable area A
pile driver and 10000 sacks have been dis
patched to these points. Much trouble Is
being experienced i'm securing laborers for
the work.