Omaha daily bee., 1903-06-04
ST. LOUIS GETTING A TASTE
Crest of the Flood in Both the Big
Rivers Nearing the Mound
City.

ST. LOUIS, June 2-The Mississippi con-
tinues to rise, a stage of 31.2 feet being
shown at a. m. This is rise of 1.3 feet
during the last twenty-four hours. 1t IL
expected that thirty-two feet will be
reached some time today. In the meantime
people all along the river front both here
and in East st. Louis, are preparing for
the big food
The rivermen and government oficials
predict that the water will be over the
levee railroad tracks by noon today and
officials of the different roads affected are
busy making arrangements to place their
rilling stock where it will be safe.
Weather Observer Bowie says of the situ-
alton:
The river at Kansas City Is reported ten
miles wide. Whatever the cause of delay
In the arrival of the waters from that flood
stage. the outlook here becomes more en-
couraging. The Mississippi below here is
comparatively low, which means that the
water at presnt in the St. Louis district
permitting the Kansas City stage of water
to reach here Friday or Saturday, at a
time when most OF the flood from the Des
Moines river and upper Mississippi will
have passed here. -- ''.--
At the northern end of st. Louis county
the residents are moving their stock across
the bluffs and are preparing to follow II
with their household furniture IL the river
continues to RISE Hundreds of acres in
st. Louis and st, Charles counties, near
the Missouri's mouth, and thousands OF
additional acres are so situated that a
few feet additional in rise would cover
them. Vast crowds of spectators throng
Eads bridge and line the Ievee.
The water is slowly creeping higher but
unless there is a rise of four feet It will not
enter the buildings fronting on the levee
7 ed Na "a,
far more greater danger of heavy damage
| by rise.
Already large lakes have been formed in
the low section. North of st. Louis, from
Eads bridge, the water can be seen ex-
tending back over the lowlands between
that place and Granite City and forming q
veritable lake The same condition pre-
walls south OF East st. Louis.
River Coming Up.
Slowly the Mississippi crept up the levee
today inch by inch. the gauge marking g
rise of six inches, and tonight at 7:3t
O'Clock stood at S1.7 feet. The surface OF
| the swiftly flowing water was thickly
strewn with drift which seemed to in
crease as the day drew on, indicating tina
the crest of the flood. is approaching. A
number of frame houses, submerged al
but the roofs. passed st, Louis, and nov
and then a dead animal, but 20 human
| bodies were seen.
| Harbor department oflcials believe tina
tomorrow the river will rise more rapid!
and they look for a thirty-five-foot stag
| by Saturday. II their forecast comes true
the lower floors of buildings along tn
levee front will be flooded, but with al
the preparation that has been made. sucl
a rise cannot cause any great amour
| of damage to st. Louis. In North 81
| Louis employees of the lumber yards 10
Gated along the river spent all day re
moving the piles of lumber from the prox
unity of danger.
In South St Louis several houses alonl
the rivers edge have been flooded. bu
the occupants have removed their propert,
and vacated.
Among those who win feel the losse
most heavy are the truck farmers an
gardeners all along the river. On the I'LL
| nos side there is a more serious moo
condition. Venice, situated north of Eas
ST. Louis. Is in almost immediate DANCE
! of inundation. A rise of a foot more vii
submerge the west portion of the tow
and manufacturing industries will sufre
heavy losses. The water works plan
which supplies Venice. Granite City an
Madison Is situated on Grabet Island. Al
ready the water has reached the sill OF tn
boiler room floor and small further ris
will extinguish the fires and cut on tn
water supply Of those three towns.
Between Venice and East St. Louis 1
a lowland area used as farming lands
Water now covers this area 70 a depth o
twelve feet. forming lake about a mil
square Many "squatter'' families hav
been forced out. leaving everything behind
The river has encroached into the railroa
yards and the shipping district of East s
Louis and warehouses located along tn
levee are half submerged. With the fir'
warning stores were hurriedly removed b
yond possible reach of the water.
People along the river have received
general warning and it is believed that z
in danger have escaped to higher ground.
No 'outsIae help Needed.
DEs MONIES. June s-rhe work OF ca
ing for the 5000 destitute flood sufferers
still taxing the local relief committee to Il
utmost, but the committee has afirms
that there is no need OF outside asslstanc
Ten thousand dollars has been subscrib'
here, In addition 10 a large quantity
clothing and food.
At Atlantic two marooned families We
discovered in the Nishnabotna bottoms la
| pfaht rnnpad m In fhafr oxru horaaa hx ri