The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1903-06-12
Crisis, However, Is Believed to Have
Passed, with the River Station
airy at 37.9 Feet.
CITY A SCENE OF DISASTER
PROPERTY LOSS MAY AMOUNT TO
MILLIONS OF DOLLARS.
Number of Lives Lost Probably Not as
Great as First RepOrted-GOOd
Water Scarce.

ST. LOUIS June 11.-That the crisis of the
flood situation in East ST. Louis has passed
so far that city is concerned was gen.
orally accepted as a fact by the citizens
of East st. Louis tonight. Boat crews
which yesterday strained their energies to
the point of exhaustion in rescuing the
prisoners of the flood to-day occupied
themselves in saving property and in bring
ing to higher ground belated refugees who
previously had not believed themselves in
immediate danger. The river tonight is
stationary at 379 feet.
Since the break in the Illinois Central
levee the flood has made no dangerous
breaks, although the flood area was further
increased by seepage to-day. Tonight the
water continues to seep through Broadway
in various places, flooding the lowand be-
tween the street and Missouri avenue, the
next street north, with from two to six
feet of water. This section of the flood
extends between the two streets for miles,
interrupted occasionally by entertainments.
Some water has been finding its way into
the territory between Missouri avenue and
st. Louis avenue People in this district
however have not been compelled to leave
their homes, although it is necessary for
them to use boats to obtain food.
East st. Louis to-day as a whole was a
scene of disaster. No one could be found to-
day with anything like definite idea of
the property loss. Vague mention of mil
lions Of dollars" was the nearest even the
best informed citizens could come to it,
There was a general disposition, however
to accept minimum reports of loss OF life
rather than the stories originating in the
excitement of the moment when the flood
poured In. one undertaken averred that
there had been no loss of life directly in
the flood, although there had been deaths
later due indirectly to the overflow. There
were no reports of drownings to-day, nor
were any bodies recovered
The work to-day has been and will con-
tinue to. be that of caring for the refugees
The supply of food seems ample, but the
refugees still in the city would have been
more comfortable tonight had they had
more bedding. With the supply being re-
covered from submerged houses by their
| owners, and the contributions made by
citizens of this city and St. Louis, it is
believed this need will be supplied by to-
morrow night.
During much of the day East ST. Louis
was under quasi-military rule. but commu-
nica.ion with st. Louis was permitted
Mayor Cooks thinks all will be well
from IRON now on. on. Last night was
was considerable suffering as a result
among the thousands of homeless persons
on the east side, most of whom. however
were taken care of in comparative comfort
in tents and other modes of shelter. Lack
of drinking water is one of the worst in
conveniences suffered by the East st. Louis
ans, who were caught in the second stories
of their dwellings by the flood. Many are
| compelled to drink of the water that sur
rounds them all sides. and much sick
ness is likely to result If this continues.