The Marlboro democrat. [volume] (Bennettsville, S.C.) 1882-1908, 1903-06-19
failed to convince them and most Of
them fled without any effort to save

them fled without any effort to save
property.
Messengers were sent to the main
portion Of the city telling Of the dan
ger and the greatest excitement pre-
vailed. AS the bottoms filled and the
river gained larger entrance tho
terror in the business section Of tho
city grew intense. 1t was all the
greater because Of The darkness and
fear that while guard was maintained
in one direction the torrent would
break through at another point and
cngulf the lucklcss inhabitants tie
tween two Hoods. BY the thousands
they began to desert their homes and
run vainly up and down the stre2ts
seeking a place of succor.
| FLEE IN sCANT ATTIRE.
Hundreds Of families from tho
choicest residence portions Of the city
carrying trunks, grips, bundles oi
clothing and valuableS began to cross
Eads bridge towards ST. Louis. Most
OF the refugees were sclntIy clad
Strong men carried aged women in
their arms. l'arcfOotcd children were
in the procession which continued
steadily over the bridge. Hundreds
Of others sought protection In tic
second story of the public library
building. As the water cncroacIlcd
about many dashed through the shall
low overflow to find IL more secure re-
fugc. In terror Of the rising tide OF
water refugees in hundreds thronued
the streets crowded the cars and be-
sought spublic officials. At the city
hall alone, 800 homeless persons with
scant belongings as they had been
able to seize on short notice were as.
scmblcd. Provisions for the time be-
ing were supplied them.
Business is totally suspended. The
streets arc filled with almost panic
stricken inhabitants. Women with
children in arms, men carrying house
hold furniture, horses. dogs and other
remains Of once comfortable domestic
establishments parade the streets,
The common direction Of all move
mcnt is toward the bridge over which
the refugees are hurrying to ST. Louis
All traffic to East ST. Louis from the
west side has hccn suspended and
policemen turned back all who at
tempted the trip.
DEAD NUMBER THIRTY.
At9 o'clock Wednesday Congress.
man w. A. Rodcnllurg estimated that
thirty lives were lost on the flooding OF
The lower portions Of East ST. Louis
carly that morning. While general
alarms were given by The police AID
rctrcating leycc workers with shouts
and pistols there WIS not time to cal
ut every house in the thickly settled
district and it is believed many fami-
lies in first story cottages awokc only
when 1T was too late to escape. LcveC
workcrs'whO laid down to rest on en-
bankments worn out with hard labor
were caught and drowned by flood
like rats, 1t may never be learned
how many died In this way. - 3. - :: -
:|sst{A A,nongl the drowned, Wy Ycdnesday
night previous to the break in the
Illinois Central levec was T.. d Sher-
wood and John Collish and three chill
dren. They lost their lives by the
ovcrturning Of Il boat in the norLhcrl
part OF the city. A negro was drown
cd at O'Clock Thursday morning in
the waters which are climbing up tho
side Of the cmbankmcnt supporting
broadway East ST. Louis. The mal
was trying to get his team to higher
ground and remained in the rising
waters until the swift running cur
rent upset the wagon. The team was
drowned. Everything obtainabc is
being used in the rescue Of unfortunate
people from the second stories OF
dwellings in tho submerged district.
Rats are being built, boats improvis
ed and wagons even are put into use
the horses Of which tloundcr around
| with only their heads above watcl
while on their crrandS Of mercy.
NAVAL MILITIA BUSY.
The naval militia OF st. Louis anG
Alton are on duty. Lieutenant Gray
commanding the ST. Louis Naval
militia, has his force spread out along
the cmbankment, guarding against
levec cutting and deprcdations b,
hordcS Of negroes and buns thaa are
To be seen everywhere. Arms arc
stacked at police headquarters where
reputable citizens may obtain carbines
and Communication to guard their prop.
erty. large number of arrests have
been made by tho police who arc
marching thcir prisoners across Tho
bridge to So. Louis as there is II,
place TO keep them in the Hood city
The East -. !.onis city iail is ais,
being cmpticd and the prisoner.
taken to The -Four Courts in ST. l.ulli.
for safety. There is no place i'm Eas,
81. Louis to feed aud pay Off tlll
hundreds of men who have been al
work strengthening the lcvccs about
the city. 1T was found nccessnr,
Thursday morning to march then
over to ST. Louis for their meals anG
then back again to work.
BROADWAY UNDER WATER.
broadway, running east and west
through EAST ST. Louis, divides that
city in two. 1t is built up i'm places
standing > feet above the surround
ing country 1t is first thought thi.
street would serve as Il protection tC
the northeast half Of the city but tic
Hood that covers the southern part
has broken through in Il small stream
between Sth and 9th street. Should
the cmbankmcntS formed by liroad.
way give way as it is threatened il
will send wall Of water Is feet higher
over the remainder Of the city The
Hooded district in East st. Louis due
to the breaking Of the cmbankmcnts
early Thursday morning is one mile
wide south from broadway and four
miles long from cast to west. 1t com