River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1903-06-11
MISSISSIPPI RAGING.
The Great River Rushing Past City OF
st. Louis at Furi-
GUS Rate.

st. Louis. June S.-Like a mill race
the swollen Missippi is surging past
st. Louis with a stage of 1863 feet,
making rise of one and one-half feet
since seven o'clock Sunday night. The
government forecast is that the rise
will continue rapid until after mid
night, and then, for the next two days,
the stage will creep up slowly, proba-
bly, reach IS feet and begin to recede.
No word was received Sunday from
the 200 people imprisoned on low
island at Black Walnut, northwest
from ST. Louis about % miles, and in
peril of their lives from the rising wat
ers of the Missouri river. Word was
received last night that at that time
rescue must be effected immediately
or they would probably be swept away
by morning. The river has spread out
around the island until it is veritable
sea with a swift current, and, although
every effort has been made to reach
them, nothing was accomplished Sun
day, and there has been no means of
communicating with them.
Black Walnut is located in broad
and fertile valley of the Missouri, and
the land surrounding it is said to be
the richest wheat lard i'm the state.
Aside from loss of life. if such catas-
tropre shall occur, the property loss
will be very heavy, as the entire valley
is under water and homes have been
washed away, farms depleted and
stock drowned.
Earth to stem the threatened breaks
in railway levees in East ST. Louis was
taken from the worlds fair site Sun
day, and an army of men with wagons
hurried it across the bridge to
strengthen the water barriers. Ru-
mors have been current that the flood
would shut off the st. Louis pumping
station and stop the city's water sup
ply. These rumors have been without
foundation. as the river must rise at
least eight feet more before the pump
ing station will be in danger. Just be-
low st. Louis and in the vicinity OF
the River Des PereS is the little fisher
mems settlement of Happy Hollow.
The denizens live in fatboats for the
most part, and until to-day had been
beyond the ravages of the flood. But
the advancing water invaded the tract,
to-day and the inhabitants had to hur-
riedly move out. Some families moored
their households and remained.
All Venice, Madison. portions OF
Granite City and $4,000 acres of rich
bottom farming land are in the grip
of the food north of East st. Louis.
40,
foundations and sent adrift. The dam
age already done is enormous and hour
ly the flood reaches farther inland,
more ana more gripping railroad traf-
tic and engulfing additional homes,
farms and factories. The east approach
to the Merchants bridge is reported
severely damaged. A large section of
the 40-foot embankment has been eat
en- away where the East ST. Louis street
car line passes under the bridge.
Reports of loss of life have been re-
ceived. Men who were viewing the
flood from the bridge approach told Of
having seen man on the roof of a
floating house. The house was over
turned by the current during the aft
ernoon and the man disappeared. Near
Madison a dixie broke this afternoon
and wall of water rushed through.
Three women, endeavoring to escape,
were seen to crouch bewilderedly be-
hind board fence. The wall of water
three feet high swept the fence away
and only after strenuous efforts
were two of the women saved. The
third, Mrs. Anton, wife of a saloon
keeper, clasping her infant in her arms.
was according to witnesses, swept
away and drowned. There are reports
of five employees of the American Car
d Foundry works losing their lives.
They were fleeing from the advancing
deluge, but. thinking to save their
tools, went back into the plant and did
not return.