The Batesburg advocate. [volume] (Batesburg, S.C.) 1901-1911, 1903-06-17

trlct attacked, SIX miles In area were
fleeing to higher ground. AS the
noise of the approaching Hood was
heard the flight at first rapid retreat
with some Semblance of order, as
sumed panic stage. All efforts to
assure the Inhabitants that there was
sufficient time to escape unless a gap
was washed through the embankmcnt
failed to convince them and most of
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 the
terror in the business section Of the
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
engulf the luckleSs inhabitants lie
tween two floods. by the thousands
they began to desert their homes and
run vainly up and down the sire is
seeking a place OF succor.
FLEE IN SCANT ATTIRE.
Hundreds of families from the
choicest residence portions of the city
carrying trunks, grips, bundles tf
and valuables began to cross
EadI bridge towards st. Louis. Most
of the refugees were scantily clad
Strong men carried aged women in
their arms. Barefooted children were
in the procession which continued
steadily over the bridge. Hundreds
of others sought protection i'm the
second story OF the public library
building. AS the water encroached
about many dashed through the shall
low overflow to find a more secure re-
fuge. In terror Of the rising tide OF
water refugees in hundreds thronged
the streets crowded the cars and be-
sought public officials. At the city
hall alone, 500 homeless persons with
Scant belongings as they had been
able to seize on short notice were as
Sembled. Provisions for the time be-
ing were supplied them.
business is totally suspended. The
streets are filled with almost panic
children in arms, men carryinE$ use
hold furniture, horses, dogs aud Gsher
remains of once comfortable domestic
establishments parade the streets
The common direction of all move
ment is toward the bridge over which
the refugees are hurrying TO St.IuuiS.
All traffic TO East st. Louis FROM the
west side has been suspendeakand
policemen turned back all WHO at
tempted the trip.
DEAD NUMBER THIRTY.j
Ats o'clock Wednesday Congress-
man w. a. Rodenburg estimated that
thirty lives were lost on the flooding OF
the lower portions of East ST. Louis
early that morning. While general
alarms were given by the police and
retreating levee workers with shouts
and pistols there was not time to call
at every house in the thickly settled
district and it is believed many fam-
lies in first story cottages awOke only
when it was too late to escape. Levee
workers 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.
Among the drowned Wednesday
night previous to the break in the
Illinois Central levee was Il. ID Sher-
wood and John ColliSh and three chill
dren. They lost their lives 10y the
overturning Of Il boat in the northern
part of the city. a negro was drown
ed at $ o'clock Thursday morning in
the waters which are climbingfup the
side of the embankment supporting
Broadway East st. Louis. The man
was trying TO get his team to higher
ground and remained in the rising
waters until the swift running or
rent upset the wagon. The team was
drowned. Everything obtainablc is
being used in the rescue of unfortunate
people from the second stories OF
dwellings I'm the submerged district.
Rats are being built, boats improviS-
ed and wagons even are put into use,
the horses Of which founder around
with only their heads above water
while on their errandS of mercy.
NAVAL MILITIA BUSY.
The naval militia OF st. Louis and
Alton are on duty. Lieutenant Gray
commanding the st. Louis Naval
militia, has his force spread out along
the cmbankment, guarding against
leyec cutting and deprcdationS by
hordcS Of negroes and buns that are
To be seen everywhere. Arms are
stacked at police headquarters where
reputable citizens may obtain carbineS
and ammunitatiOn to guard their prop
erty. y large number of arrests have
been made by the police who are
marching their prisoners across the
bridge To st. Louis as there is no
place To keep them i'm the flood city.
The East st. Louis city Jail is also
being emptied and the prisoners
taken to The -Four Courts in st. Louis
for safety. There is no place in East
st. Louis to feed and pay OF the
hundreds OF men who have been at
work strengthening the levccS about
the city. 1t was found necessary
Thursday morning to march them
over to st. Louis for their meals and
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