The Scranton chronicle. (Scranton, Miss.) 1897-19??, 1903-06-13
Big RIVER ON A BOOM
Rise at st. Louis on Sunday Marked
n Foot and a Half.
OVER SEVEN FEET ABOVE DANGER LINE
Two Hundred People Imprisoned on .
Nearby Island With No Hope Of Res
cuo--eteamers Unable to Pass un-
der the bridges, and smaller
Crafts Can't Breast Current.

81. Louis. June Like a millrace
the swollen Mississippi Is surging
past st. Louis. with stage of 1863
feet at o'clock tonight, rise OF
one and one.half feet since the same
hour last night. The government
forecast is that the rise will continue
rapid until midnight, and then for
tho next two days the stage will
creep up slowly. probably reaching
3s feet. ald begin to recede.
Imprisoned on an Island.
No word was received today from
the 200 people imprisoned on low
island at Black Walnut. northwest
from ST. Louis about twenty Ave miles.
and In peril of their lives from the
rising waters 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 un-
Til It is veritable sea with swift
current, and. although every effort
| has been made To reach them, moth
| Ing was accomplished today, and there
| has been no means of communlcat-
ing with them.
Forced TO Turn Back.
Between Black Waliut and ST. Louis
the Bellefontaine bridge stretches
across tho Missouri, and the high
stage of the river precludes any large
steamer passing underneath. No
steamer is available at st. Charles TO
go down the river after them. The
Spread Eagle, moored at Alton, ILL.,,
above St Louis, was hurriedly manned
and started for the imperiled colony
late last night but was forced to turn
back Mt the Bellefontaino bridge. A
private yacht at ST. Louis was manned
with a company OF policemen today
and started for Black Walnut, as the
craft sat low enough In the water to
pass all bridges.
Haffied by the Current.
But another factor had to be reck-
oned with, and that was the swift cur
rent All steam was turned on and
the yachts screw churned the muddy
against the current, and after vainly
gtemmlng the food for several hours
without making 100 yards tho yacht
returned to shore and the venture
was abandoned. None of the large
river steamers In St Louis harbor ca
| pable OF forcing their way with their
powerful engines against the mill
race current can pass under Eads
bridge and Merchants bridge, and
II they could the Belefontaine bridge,
which Is lower. would prevent them
reaching Black Walnut
Black Walnut Is located In broad
and fertile valley of the Missouri, and
the land surrounding II is said TO be
the richest land in the State. Aside
from the loss Of life II such catastro-
phe shall occur, the property loss
will be very heavy. as the entire val
ley is under water and homes have
been washed away, farms destroyed
and stock drowned.
Reported Drownlngs.
Reports of supposed loss OF life
have been received saying that per-
sons have been seen 10 disappear.
but there is no proof that any one
was drowned. Near Madison dixie
broke this afternoon and a wall OF
water rushed through. Mrs. Anton,
clasplng an infant In her arms, was,
according to the story of witnesses,
swept away and drowned
There are reports Of five employees
of the American Car and Foundry
works losing their lives.
stesmer for Black Walnut.
At 10 O'Clock tonight a small steam
boat with a powerful propeller was
secured and hastily prepared for
trip to Black Walnut TO rescue the
people imperiled there. The steamer
swung out into the current and at
once began to make headway. The
steamer should have no difficulty in
reaching Black Walnut.
Levec Laborers Shy.
East st. Louis was unable TO secure
enough mel to work on the leyee to-
day. Men apparently needy refused
offers of 30 cents an hour to pile
sand bags on the Ievee. City officials,
citizens and even professional men.
sprang into the breach and worked
with a will TO keep the water out
Of the city. while crowds of men ap-.
pare1tIy needing employment stood
about and refused all offers Of work.
Police officers temporarily became
employment agents and invaded sa-
looms TO secure workmen, but, al
though the saloons were crowded,
small percentage Of the patrons were
willing to help protect the city.
Breaking Of Records.
The food stage tonight has broken
all high water records at ST Louis
since May 10. 1853. when the high
water mark was 37.5 feet. The high
est mark known here was reached
BY the great food OF June ~, 1914,
when 41.4 was reached,
Earth to stem the threatened
breaks in railway leyees In East ~. |
Louis was taken from the World is
Fair sfte today and an army Of men |
witb wagons hurried II across tho |
bridge TO strengthen the water bar
rfCrQ