The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1903-06-11
FLOOD CLAIMS MORE VICTIMS.
SWEEPS INTO EAST ST. LOUIS AND
20 or MORE PERISH.
Ten Thousand Homeless-Break In the iii.
noss Central Embankment Let the
water In while City slept-Main Levee
SIN Mslds- Negroes Shot by Patrols.

0tin Holde-Ne8roes SnOt 0y Fatros.
ST. LOUIS, Mo-, June lo.-Breaks in the
Illinois Central embankment at an early
hour this morning allowed backwater
from the Mississippi TO sweep through
and inundats the populous southern SEQ
tion OF East St. Louis, driving from their
homes nearly 10000 persons, most OF whom
were in bed and sleeping at the time. Many
fed In their night clothes, while others
were imprisoned in their submerged houses.
Reports Of death by drowning are numer-
Gus, but thus far only ten have been posi-
lively identified. It Is believed that this
number will be increased when search il
made a. the waters subside. The esti-
mates a. to the number OF lives lost range
all the way from 20 to 200. Mayor Cook
insists that the number will not exceed
twenty.
The water which came through the
crevasses in the southern dixie swept north
ward, running up stream, until 1t had
reached Broadway, the main thoroughfare
OF the city from west to east and the dividing
line between north and south East st.
Louis. This street runs on high elevat ion
and 10 depended upon to sta y the progress
OF tho food. However, two breaks have
occurred beneath Broadway. The water
Is spreading out to the north and eastward
as far as Ninth street, and has rendered
homeless hundreds Of people and flooded
many business houses.
The main protection levee, to the north
and west, mile and a half in length, is
still intact, though at places water seeps
through. This has been raised some three
feet by means Of bags OF sand and crushed
rock. II the water-soaked embankment
can Withstand the weight Of these, the main
portion OF the city may be saved from in
undation. Should the water remain st it's
present stage for the next forty-eight hours
II is feared that this embankment will
crumble at its base. against which the
water has been pressing for three da va
and nights.
All boats and skRs on both sides Of the
Mississippi have been pressed into service
to rescue citizens from submerged houses,
many OF these craft having been for
chilly seized from the river pirates who
were preying upon food sufferers. An
| other large contingent of ST. Louis police
has bean sent over to the East Side to aid
In the work Of rescue, protect the property
Of refugees and generally assist Mayor
LOOK ana ms alOPS, VINO nave IIldO6 euCn n
gallant fight.
The business men Of Fast st. Louis. not
outstanding the fact that one-third Of
their city ia under water, bitterly resent
even the suggestion that they are In danger
| from the doods. Newspaper artists have
been beaten and their cameras destroyed
becAuse they were detected in the act Of
photographing the submerged city.
| Thus far two negroes have been shot and
killed by patrols-one because Of his at
| tempt to cut dixie. and the other for refus-
ing to work in strengthening levee.
| Churches, schoolhouses and public
buildings are packed with refugees who
have been driven from their homes. 1t Ia
estimated that from 5000 to 1900 have
crossed to this side OF the river Some Of
| these we're driven out Of their homes by
water, Others dreaded the thought OF spend
ing another night Of horror in the
water-invested city, which has water
! on three sides-west. south and east
and Is threatened from the other side.
Every wagon or vehicle OF any kind which
could be utilized has been pressed into SER
| vice to remove the household effects OF
people living in the inundated districts,
| and many have transferred such of their
property as they saved from the Mood
! to the west bank OF the Mississippi, where
| they will live In the future.