The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1903-06-06
Rapaciy Of the Rise is Les
SOned BY the Numerous
Breaking Of LsVees
BUILDINGS ALONG RIVER
FRONT ARE ABANDONED
At Kansas City the Situation Has Ma
terially Improved and the Flooded
Territory Is Bein... Fast Re-
claimed-Military Camps.

st. Louis, Mo-, June 5.-The terrific
force and the destructive magnitude of
the great flood that is sweeping down the
Mississippi is steadily increasing in vol
ume, and is now being felt in st. Louis
and vicinity to an alarming extent At
o'clock tonight the stage had reached
s4.2 feet, rise of Z inches since
o'clock this morning. Government Fore
caster Bowie tonight issued a bulletin
predicting a stage of SO feet by tomorrow
noon, Sc feet by Sunday and 81 feet on
Monday. The Mississippi north of the
mouth of the Missouri is rising still, but
the rapidity Of the rise has been dimin-
ished because of the breaks in the levees.
The great Sny levee, which extends for
miles slong the Illinois shore from Han
nibal, northward, broke TO-DAY, and the
waters devastated thousands of acres OF
fertile farming lands. Possibly some
lives may be lost, but no deaths had been
reported up to o'clock tonight.
Flood Forces Through Levee.
Later In the day the flood forced a pas
sage through the levee at Madison. ILL.,.
Just north Of st. Louis. This levee is
fifteen miles long, and for days Uen have
been hard at work endeavoring to
strengthen 1t. Carloads OF bags OF sand
and all other available material were
dumped In but the flood washed out the
filings and the break is constantly wild
ening. West Granite town of 1000 peo-
Pile, is under water.
In st. Louis the buildings along the river
front have practically been abandoned, as
the first floors are over foot under
water, which stands tonight two feet deep
on the top Of the steamboat levee.
Venice ILL.,, has been under water for
two days.
In South st. Louis fully 1000 families
living near the mouth of the river Des
Pres were forced to leave their houses
today Men and women in some cases
worked to their waists In the swirling
waters, anchoring their homes to high
ground. Many families had remained In
their homes even after the water had
risen several feet on the floors. but today
were driven forth.
Switch Engine Topples Over.
A Burlington switch engine, manned by
a crew of four men, toppled from the
undermined track into five feet of water
north of the Berchants' bridge today. The
menfet the track sinking, and, leaping
into the water swan ashore.
The interrupted train service has very
materially improved, although more or
less delays attend their running. Owing
to the fact that portions of the Wabash,
Missouri Pacific, Kansas and Texas. Chi
cago and Alton and Santa Fe tracks are
under water west of ST. Louis, the Mis-
souri, Pacific has temporarily become the
main outlet to the west.
The st. Louis and San Francisco rum
ming to the southwest has not been in
convenienced ~ the flood and is running
regularly. The st. Louis, Iron Mountain
and Southern running to the south along
the Mississippi has not been reached by
the high water and traffic is not impeded.
The Burlington trains running west are
using the Wabash tracks to st. Peters.
where they connect with their own lines.
Brighter Outlook at Kansas City.
Kansas City Mo-, June 5.--At dark to-
night the water had receded from one
tenth of the flooded area and the uncov-
cred property was promptly reoccupied.
The territory reclaimed included the
Union station and a portion of the rail-
road yards. The recession Of the flood
has caused a lively demand for un-
skilled laborers.
Two bodies were found under a rail-
road coach in the west bottoms today.
They were those of a Greek railroad la
borer and a negro cook The verified list
Of the dead now contains 10 per cent
A temporary bridge is building across
the Kansas river to carry the city aque-
duct, and pure water is hoped for within
three days.
George Gould today sent 5000 to the
Kansas City, Kan, relief committee and
President Burt of the Union Pacific sent
$1,000. There were other liberal contribu-
tions of money and supplies and the total
cash received in both cities is about
$4,000.
Not all the 10000 people driven from
their homes have received assistance from
the public, but food and shelter and
clothing were given to all who needed
them. Nearly all the sufferers had been
industrious and prosperous, and they will
return to their employment and homes as
soon as the water will permit. 1t is
thought that half the flooded area will
be bare by tomorrow noon. The conditions
are the same on both sides of the river,
except that Kansas City, kan, has much
the greater number OF refugees.
The military camp In Wyandotte opens
with 1900 inhabitants, whites and negroes
being separated.
The military camp in this city opens
with 500 inhabitants, the refugees who
have been In the churches. The conven-
tion hall camp, which accommodates 1000,
will be maintained. Sanitary conditions
are excellent in all camps and there is lit
tie sickness.
indianapolis Helps.
indianapolis, June 5.-The relief COM
mittee of the Board of Trade this morn
ing voted $500 for the relief Of the Kas-
sas flood sufferers. Secretary Smith wired
the governor of Kansas. asking him to
whom the check should be made payable.
The committee will vote another $500 IL
necessary. Three hundred dollars addi-
tional has been raised.
Colonel Jiminez Dead.
Orizaba, Mex, June 5.-ColoneI OF
Cavalry Joaqnin Jiminez, well known
- Ill T.