The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1903-06-09
WALL OF WATER
SIX FEET HIGH.
A Levee Breaks on the Illinois
Side of the River
And the Flood EnguIfs the
Town of Madison.
FIFTEEN DROWNED.
We're Overtaken While Trying
to Make Their Escape.
Damage to Property Is Esti-
mated at So, 100000.
The Great Flood Seems to Have
Reached Its Maximum.
And the Flood EnguIfs tn,
Town of Madison.
FIFTEEN DROWNED.
Were Overtaken While Trying
to Make Their Escape.
Damage to Property Is Esti-
mated at So, ,OO0,O 900.
The Great Flood Seems to Have
Reached Its Maximum.

ST Louis. June 9-The food has
reached the zenith of it's devastating
power and the situation is appalling.
The climax came when by a breaking
of a levee near Granite City a wall of
water six feet high rushed down on
Madison and engulfed the already
stricken city, sweeping houses from
their foundations and drowning Is refu-
gees who were vainly fleeing for their
lives The report was current that 15
workmen in the St Louis foundry
works had been drowned but later it
was found while seven employees had
lost their lives Is other men, women
and children had perished.
Hundreds of persons We're forced to
the roofs of the floating houses and an
appeal was sent to St. Louis for as
sistance. Every effort was made 10
force steamers against the heavy cur
rent to protect the stricken town but it
was noon before steamers, Mark Twain
and Annie Russell Iashed together and
their engines working under every
ounce of steam after five hours of bat
tie with the current were able to reach
Madison.
For the remainder of the day and in
to the night the work Of rescuing refu-
gees from floating or flooded houses, tree
tops and various high places proceeded
and there being no place to take them
nearer than St. Louis they are pouring
into the city by hundreds It is more
than possible that the estimate of 20
lives lost is below the actual number.
On all sides people are found who tell
of having seen men struggling in the
water too far from land to receive as
sistance or women apparently drowned
under various circumstances.
River thieves are lOoting the vacant
houses.
Mayor Cook went about seeing that
signs were posted offering men 81 cents
an hour to build the levees but the Of
fers We're ignored by most of the
throngs of unemployed negroes and
white men.
But citizens have started the work of
saving the city and the city is still dry
but menaced by the flood.
So great an extent of territory is COW
cred by the flood and so unreliable are
the various rumOrs Of devastation that
a substantial statement of the loss OF
life and property can not be obtained,
but Information from apparently re
liable source shows the situation to be
as follows:
River 37.5; stationary.
Twenty lives known to have been lost.
over 100000 acres of rich farming
lands under water
All OF Venice and the greater part of
Madison and of Granite City under
twenty-five thousand people home
less.
Freight traffic paralyzed and pas
senger traffic crippled
The shipping and manufacturing dis
trict of East St. Louis for three miles
along tho river front under water from
two to six feet
Hundreds of head of stock drowned.
ton Il
St Louis flooded only along the water
front
Entire property loss estimated at ss,-
600 600
The entire group of east side cities
4 lying Just north of East St. Louis and
including Venice. Madison Newport
4 Brooklyn and Granite City. under from
eight to ten feet of water.
Very little confirmatory reports of
drownings can be had as the places aT@
I all cut off from railroad service ana
! telephone communication is uncertain
al best
From police reports it is learned there
are 800 destitute flood sufferers in St.
Louis. refugees from East St. Louis.
Madison. Venice. Granite City ard
ugees in the city, but the remainder
have either secured transportation 70
other cities or are being cared for by
relatives or friends in St Louis and
7 environs The 2oO are being cared for
by the police A number have become
! i'll from exposure
There were 200 flood refugees in Ed
wards. Ill. last night from the tri-
cities and Newport Because of the
! congestion it was found necessary to
distribute the sufferers in the cities and
/ villages along the Wabash as far north
as LitchSeld.
Four-ffths Of the 5000 inha bitants IF
Z Granite City rema in within the limits Of
4 the toWa one-half of them are home<
less
The officials of Granite city and those
who have been most active in relief
work believe that no deaths have fol-
lowed the food there Reports o.
drownings have not been verified ana
there is said to be no sickness due to
1 the food.