The Marlboro democrat. [volume] (Bennettsville, S.C.) 1882-1908, 1903-06-19
failed to convince them and most Of
them fled without any effort to save

| portion OF the city telling or the dan-
ger and the greatest excitement pre-
vailed. AS the bottoms filled and the
river gained larger entrance tho
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 tie
tween two floods. BY the thousands
they began to desert their homes and
run vainly up and down the streets
seeking place Of succor.
FLEE IN sCANT ATTIRE.
Hundreds Of families from the
choicest residence portions Of the city
carrying trunks, grips, bundles Of
clothing and valuablcS began to cross
Eads bridge towards st. Luuis. Most
OF the refugees were sclntily clad. /.
Strong men carried aged women in
their arms. Isarctootcd children were
in the procession which continued
steadily over the bridge. Hundreds
OF others sought protection in the
second story Of the public library
building. as the water cncroacllcd
about many dashed through the Shall
low overflow TO ilnd a more secure re-
fugc. In terror Of the rising tide of
water refugees in hundreds tilrongcd
the streets crowded the cars and be-
sought ~public officials. At the city
hall alone, 800 homeless persons with
scant belongings as they had been
able to seize on short notice were as
Scmblcd. Provisions for tic time be-
ing were supplied them.
business is s-totally suspended. The
streets arc filled with almost panic
stricken inhabitants. Women with
children in arms, men carrying house
ho.d furniture, horses. dogs and other
remains OF once comfortable domestic
establishments parade the streets,
The common direction of all move
mcnt is toward the bridge over which
the refugees arc hurrying to ST. Louis.
NJ! traIlic TO east ST. Louis from the
west side has been suspended and
policemen turned back all who at
tempted the trip.
DEAD NUMBER THIRTY.
Ats o'clock Wednesday Congress
man w. a. Rodcnilurg 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
retrcating lcvcc workers with shouts
and pistols there was not time to call
ut every house in the thickly settled
district and it is believed many rami-
lies In llrSt story cottages awolc only
when it was Too late to escape. Lcvee
workerS'whO laid down to rest on en-
blnkmcnts worn out with hard labor
were caught and drowned by Hood
like rats. 1t may never be learned
how many, died In this: way. s.i -. - :
AmOng the drowned Wednesday, y
night previous to the break in the
Illinois Central lcyee was T.. d Sher-
wood and John Collish and three chill
dren. They lost their lives by the
ovcrturninS Of Il boat in the northern
part Of the city. a negro was drown
cd at O'Clock Thursday morning in
The waters which arc climbing up the
side OF the cmbankment 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 cur
rent upset tho wagon. The team was
drowned. Everything obtainablc is
being used in the rescue OF unfortunate
people from the second stories of
dwellings in the submerged district.
Rats are being built, boats improvis-
eel and wagons even are put into use.
the horses Of which llounder 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 cmbankmcnt, guarding against
lcvec cutting and dcprcdations by
llordes of negroes and buns that are
to be seen everywhere. Arms are
stacked at police headquarters where
reputable citizens may obtain carbnes
and ammllnltation to guard their prop
crty. a large number Of arrests have
been made by tho police who are
marching their prisoners across the
bridge To S6. Louis MS there is no
place to Keep them in the Hood city.
The East ST. !.oniS city iail is also
being cmpticd and The prisG:.nrs
taken to The -Four Courts in ST. Louis
for safety. There is no place in East
81. Louis to feed aud pay or the
hundreds of men who have been at
work strengthening the lcvccs about
the city. t 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 cast and west
through East ST. Louis, divides that
city in two. 1t is built up in places,
standing Is feet above the surround
ing country. 1t is first Thought this
street would serve as Il protection to
the northeast half OF the city but the
Hood that covers the southern part
has broken through in Il small stream
between Sth and 9th street. Should
The cmbankmcnts formed by Broad
way give way as it is threatened it
will send Il wall Of water 5 feet higher
over the remainder Of the city. The
Hooded district in East st. Louis due
to the breaking Of the cmbankmcnts
early Thursday morning is one mile
wide south from broadway and four
miles long from east to west. 1T com
priScS about Onc-fourth of the city.
rh1t p1rt, pf JIact ST mic l,,,,,,,,,,